#elemental alchemy

The feeling was never the problem.Only the silence around it. Fire waited in the chest,not to burn, but to speak.The words gathered slowly,like rain finding its way to the river. When the truth finally moved,it did not destroy —it cleared. What remained was not loss,but space. Ice cracks in stillnessThe river remembers its nameClear water flows on

There is only one rule in dancing freedom, and it’s that you can not do it wrong. We welcome everyone to the dance floor, and the full array of expression that comes with you. We welcome you and your authentic self. And we welcome the Elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether, to help guide us along the dance journey. To bring us into our self, and to remind us that we humans are a part of nature, made up of earth, and star stuff. 

“Think of the elements as your alchemical partners on the path of embodied Oneness... Work with them in hundreds of ways: bring them physically into the space... connect their qualities directly to somatic states, textures and qualities, invoke them shamanically as allies and forces that hold space for the larger transformative process..” - Samantha Sweetwater, Dancing Freedom Facilitator Training Manual (41)

We are of the elements. Alchemists work with the elements to create solutions, magic, and precious metals. For the past week, I have been learning how to use the elements alchemically on the dance floor. Using the Dancing Freedom ceremony, practicing elemental alchemy, I will hold space for people to find solutions, step into magic, and experience precious moments. 

EARTH

Earth is home. Earth is my bones, a structural foundation, which has the power to quake, crack and rumble. Earth is rooted and heavy. We are connected to the earth by gravity, the descending aspect of love, the force that holds us between the earth and the cosmos. Earth is primal and instinctive, asking us to recognize our solid physical distinctness. We eat earth, then our bodies create more earth (when we give our poo back). The other day, when we were focusing on the world, one in the group shared that some people believe that the reason humanity's relationship with the earth and the other beings is out of whack is because we have forgotten how to give our shit back to the earth. The earth takes in waste and old debris and turns it into rich life supporting nutrients.  How one is with their body is how they are with the world. 

Action- Arrival, Beginning, Ending, Grounding, Composting, Return, Structure, Foundation

Feeling- Home, Nurture, Embrace, Support, Trust, Quiescence, Connection, Base

Affirmation- I Be, I Am Here, I Am Safe, I Am Grounded, I Am Home, I Give 

WATER

Water is life. Water is a carrier, it is able to suspend our bodies, and medicines for drinking. It takes on the shape of whatever container, thought, gesture or shape it is given (check out Dr. Emoto). It mirrors what ever it is around, seemingly taking on what ever is near, like the color of the ocean, reflecting the meeting of the green earth life and the blue sky. Water embodies the feminine aspect of connected flow. It is pulled by the moon. Water takes the path of least resistance and is constantly flowing back to the ocean. Although we are mainly land mammals, we also have water bodies. Our lives are created in the warm watery liquids of our mother’s womb. Water represents emotion, the ocean of emotion, which contains deep dark depths, uncertainty, and potential fears. Yet water has the ability to cleanse us, to wash away that with is no longer needed. Water is one’s willingness to feel, to flow with emotion whole staying connected and without remaining attached. 

Action- Flow, Lubrication, Washing, Resonance, Reflection, Transmission, Transduction, Connection, Drip, Splash, Wave

Feeling- Emotion, Compassion, Self-love, Mercy, Peace, Availability, Willingness, Gooey, Squishy, Moist, Wet, Soft

Affirmation- I Respond, I Am Connected, I Embrace, I Flow, I Release

FIRE

Fire is will. Fire warms our bodies and brings us light. It is consumption and purification. It burns away illusion and illuminates truth through clarity. Fire purifies the eyes and the inner eye, activating the power of vision. Fire is passion and power. Fire is fierce and has the ability to scorch whatever gets in its way. .Actively clearing the path and lighting the way, fire is one’s will and the source from which action toward actualization arises. With in the past few years, I have had a distant relationship to fire. I feel more connected to the other elements. Fire can inflate ego and be aggressive and excessive in its consumption. However, since the day before I left for this training, Dragon medicine has been coming through many avenues, helping me cultivate my inner fire, fierceness, power, ability to illuminate illusion and unapologetically embody my authentic creative expression. 

Action- Fuel, Consume, Purify, Revel, Vison, Transformation, Transmutation, Burn, Scorch, Wild

Feeling- Emotion, Will, Passion, Creativity, Power, Intensity, Clarity, Love

Affirmation- I Choose, I Am Light, I Am Love, I Am Energy, I am Divine Will, I Am Action, I Am Power, I Am Creative

AIR

Air is levity. Like the winds, air is constant change. Air is swift, quick, and moves with ease. Like a faery, pixie, or a trickster, air is spontaneity. Air is a messenger, carrying communication through the sky. Bringing vision, birds fly through the air, obtaining an above-view perspective. Air is both breath and mental processes. Air fills our lungs, plays with our hair, and sweeps across our skin. Air opens us to be as big as we can be, like the sky. It is also said that air connects us with the now, the N-atural O-rder of W-onder. 

Action- Change, Refining, Spontaneity, Clarity, Subtle Holding, Flight, Lifting, Breezing, Breathing, Fan, Tornado, Whip

Feeling- Innocence, Mental Clarity, Lightness, Buoyancy, Child-like, Wonder, Freedom, Joy, Bubbly (air+water), Flaky, Swept, Presence, Open

Affirmation- I Give, I Touch, I Am Lightness, I Am a Divine Child of the Light, I Am Love, I Am Effortless Change. 

Ether

Ether is all that is. Ether is spaciousness and absolute potential. It is the element that holds all things, which holds our cosmic and soul consciousness. On the physical plane, ether is the loving awareness of the complete organism; our breath, our movements, our tissues, and the space within and through all of our cells, and sensing into our DNA. Ether is the bridge to the quantum. Ether represents the atomic level of all existence, the virationsions of all particles, and frequencies of sound waves. I associate ether with magic and the underlying, energetic, fabric of reality. When I enter into ether, I enter into the void. Ether holds the space between different dimensions and astral planes. “In ether, we are welcomed back to the self that is beyond space, time, and matter”(41).

Action- Stillness, Expansion, Space, Emptiness, Fullness, Infinitude, Projection, Formlessness, Is-ness

Feeling- Bliss, Expansion, Effortlessness, Interconnectivity, Boundlessness, Home, Eternity, Transcendence, Transdimensional, Spirit, Symphony

At the most basic level, elemental alchemy symbols represent the raw self; having the capacity of being transmuted into a higher, incorruptible self.  

This page investigates alchemy element symbols and their philosophical meanings.  

The realm of alchemy is filled with hidden and double meanings.  Just as each element has a physical representation, so too does it have a philosophical meaning in the alchemical school of thought.

It should be noted that the ancient founders of alchemy were avidly loyal to their craft.  So much so, that many of the surviving reference material is quite obscure.  Alchemists shrouded much of their craft to assure the seeker is determined and devoted to learning.  This technique is effective - as once a seeker delves into the world of alchemy; many are dissuaded by the complexity and obscurity surrounding alchemical meaning.

That said, below are just a few elemental alchemy symbols with a brief summary of their philosophical (symbolic) meanings.

Common Alchemy Symbols and Their Meanings

Antimony:  A metalloid, antimony, resembles metal in its appearance and physical properties, but does not chemically react as a metal.  This elemental alchemy symbol represents animal tendencies found in humankind – a wild nature in all of us – wear this symbol when you are feeling meek – it will remind you of the animal power that dwells within you.

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Arsenic:  Arsenic is a chemical element. This is a notorious poisonous metalloid that has three allotropic forms; yellow, black and grey. Arsenic and its compounds are used as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and various alloys.  The elemental alchemy symbol arsenic was used for medicinal and magical cures.   A compound of arsenic and sulpher were said to induce trances of enlightenment and philosphical ascention and direction.

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Copper:  This is one of several alchemy symbols for copper (the other being traditional Venus symbol).  Copper is a reddish-coloured metal, with a high electrical and thermal conductivity (among pure metals at room temperature, only silver has a higher electrical conductivity). Copper may well be the oldest metal in use, as copper artifacts dating to 8700 BC have been found Copper was associated with the goddess Aphrodite/Venus in mythology and alchemy, owing to its lustrous beauty, its ancient use in producing mirrors, and its association with Cyprus, which was sacred to the goddess. The elemental alchemy symbol for copper is also the planetary symbol for Venus. As such, this symbol embodies such characteristics as love, balance, feminine beauty, and artistic creativity. Click here for more symbolic meanings of pennies and copper on my blog.

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Gold: A soft, shiny, yellow, heavy, malleable, ductile (trivalent and univalent) transition metal. One of the more valued elements, gold represents perfection in all matter, on any level. It also symbolizes humankind's goal to obtain perfection in mind and spirit. Read more about the Symbolic Meaning of Gold here (on my blog).

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Iron: Iron is a most abundant metal, and is believed to be the tenth most abundant element in the universe.  In alchemy, iron is representative of the planet mars in astrology.  As such, iron rules physical strength, and symbolizes predominantly male energy.  It is also  noteworthy that the symbol for iron is also one in the same symbol for male.  Philosophically, iron represents a need to temper primal urges while at the same to embracing the fire within.

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Lead: Lead has a bright luster and is a dense, ductile, very soft, highly malleable, bluish-white metal that has poor electrical conductivity. This true metal is highly resistant to corrosion. As an alchemy symbol, lead is the ruler of the dark, lustreless prime matter. It is Governed by saturn and combined with silerver it is said to create a purified element called the Philosophic Mercury.

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Magnesium: Magnesium is a fairly strong, silvery-white, light-weight metal (one third lighter than aluminium) that slightly tarnishes when exposed to air. It is difficult to ignite in bulk, though it is easy to light if it is shaved into thin strips. Once ignited, it is difficult to extinguish. It is the difficulty of extinguishing that makes this elemental alchemy symbol so appealing because it represents eternity, infinite flame, and ascension.

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Phosphorus: Common phosphorus forms a waxy white solid that has a characteristic disagreeable smell. Pure forms of the element are colorless and transparent. This non metal is not soluble in water, but it is soluble in carbon disulfide. Pure phosphorus ignites spontaneously in air and burns to phosphorus pentoxide. The elemental alchemy symbol phosphorus traps light, and thus it is reputed that the alchemy symbol for phosphorus represents spiritual illumination.

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Platinum: The metal is a beautiful silvery-white when pure, and malleable and ductile. The metal is corrosion-resistant. In the realm of philosphical elemental alchemy symbols, platinum was revered for its endurance. Platinum represents determination, grit, and seeing our manifistations to completion.

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Silver: Silver is a very ductile and malleable (slightly harder than gold) univalent coinage metal  with a brilliant white metallic luster that can take a high degree of polish. It has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals, even higher than copper, but its greater cost  has prevented it from being widely used in place of copper for electrical purposes. In alchemy, silver is one of the three base metals often used as prima material at the inception of a work.  Further, the alchemy symbol of silver is associated with  the moon.  As such, silver holds philosophical traits of the feminine persuasion as well as attributes of intuition, inner wisdom, and contemplation.  Furthermore, profound artistic expression can be harness by using silver.  Discover more about symbolism and silver by reading my interview with Goran Jonsson, who is an artist of sculpted jewelry made of primarily silver and slate. You can also learn more about symbolic meaning of silver on my blog post.

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Sulfur: It is an abundant, tasteless, odorless, multivalent non-metal. Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystaline solid. In nature, it can be found as the pure element or as sulfide and sulfate minerals. It is an essential element for life and is found in several amino acids. Also considered a transcendent elemental alchemy symbol – sulfer represents the multiplicity of human nature and the eternal aspiration to reach enlightenment. As indicated by the symbol, sulfur represents the triad of ascention – which can be viewed as a holy trinity. Sulfur is also one of the three heaveny substances in alchemical science (the other two being salt, and mercury.

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Tin: Tin is a malleable, ductile, highly crystalline, silvery-white metal whose crystal structure causes a "tin cry" when a bar of tin is bent (caused by crystals breaking). Tin acts as a catalyst when oxygen is in solution and helps accelerate chemical attack. Tin as an elemental alchemy symbol is representative of the planet Jupiter. Being ruled by Jupiter, puts tin in connection with breath, and can be philosphically viewed as the breath of life. Tin also adds a philophical lesson to life that standing alone it is weaker than if it is combined with another alchemy symbol element. See also Jupiter Symbolism as it is associated with tin and may offer more insight into this alchemical element.

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Zinc: Zinc is a moderately reactive metal that will combine with oxygen and other non- metals, and will react with dilute acids to release hydrogen. Alchemists prepared philosopher's wool by burning the metal zinc in air. Philosopher's wool was zinc oxide, which was also sometimes called nix alba (white snow).