Elemental
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- This article is about alchemic elementals. For other uses of the term, see elemental (disambiguation).
An elemental is a being first appearing in alchemical works. Paracelsus enumerates four: gnomes, earth elementals; undines, water elementals; sylphs, air elementals; and salamanders, fire elementals.[1] All of these are found in folklore as well as alchemy; their names are often used interchangeably with similar beings from folklore. [2]
Such beings are often regarded as supernatural creatures found in Neo-Pagan religions.[citation needed] It has several meanings, according to different definitions. One is that it is a creature that is heavily associated with an element like fire or air. Another is that all the nature spirit creatures like gnomes or elves are elementals, and others say that almost any spiritual entity is an elemental.
Elementals of Air, Earth, Fire and Water
In mysticism, magick and alchemy, an elemental is a creature (usually a spirit) that is attuned with, or composed of, one of the classical elements: air, earth, fire and water. The elements balance each other out through opposites: water quenches fire, fire boils water, earth contains air, air erodes earth. The concept of elementals seems to have been conceived by Paracelsus in the 16th century.[citation needed] Paracelsus' elementals were:
| Elemental | Source |
|---|---|
| Sylph | invented by Paracelsus - Air |
| Gnome | traditional creature from Germanic lore - Earth |
| Salamander | creature from medieval tradition - Fire |
| Undine | water goddesses from Homeric texts - Water |
Elementals are commonly mentioned in grimoires dealing with alchemy and sorcery and are usually "called" by summoning.
Other kinds of elemental
In modern occultism the word "elemental" can also be used to mean any simple or only partly sentient spiritual entity. These entities can be entirely natural (for instance, the spirit of a group of trees) or can be created by magicians or sorcerers to perform a task for them. The latter type are called servitors. This kind of "subservient" or "man-made" elemental can be found mentioned in the works of Austin Osman Spare or Aleister Crowley. They are a vital concept in modern Chaos Magic.
Theosophy and Anthroposophy are also known to have knowledge of elementals. In Theosophy, a "Seventh Ray" occultist works with elementals. (See Seven Rays). It is believed that elementals can be observed when the third eye (etheric sight) is activated.
John Brunner's stories about the Traveler in Black involve a number of elementals, each named, some associated with classical elements and some not.These elementals had been created during the first era (the reign of eternity and chaos). Enchanters sought to manipulate elementals, using chaos for their own ends. In the later era (the reign of time, memory, and reason), these elementals lost much of their power, much to the detriment of would-be wizards. (The decline in the power of magic is a common theme in fantasy literature. It is seen in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic, and in Jack Vance's Dying Earth novels.
List Of Elementals
Here is a list of creatures considered by some to be elementals:
References
- "undine." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125706>.