Origins of Elemental Symbols
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Hi all - first post on the forums!
Curious about the origins of the four elemental symbols. I have a vague sense that the direction of each triangle alludes to its nature, i.e. hot/male elements point up.
**Where do the symbols themselves originate from? Astrology? Alchemy? And when did they first come into usage?
Also, what do the lines through Earth and Air represent? And is it proper to extend Air's line beyond the edges of its triangle?**
I hope to start contributing to the forum, not just playing 20 Questions. Thanks!
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@wandered said
"Curious about the origins of the four elemental symbols. I have a vague sense that the direction of each triangle alludes to its nature, i.e. hot/male elements point up.
Where do the symbols themselves originate from? Astrology? Alchemy? And when did they first come into usage?"
AFAIK the origin is in alchemy. I can't find an earlier usage. (For example, they aren't part of the astrological heritage prior to their being well established in alchemy.)
"Also, what do the lines through Earth and Air represent? And is it proper to extend Air's line beyond the edges of its triangle?**
The latter is just a stylistic thing, nothing wrong with it at all. Here's the derivation: Start with a classic hexagram (what ceremonial magicians call the Earth Hexagram, or Star of David). This is formed by the two triangles of Fire and Water coming together. Once they come together, the Air and Earth triangles are evident in the way the horizontal linke crosses the original triangle.So, Air (the Son) most resembles the Father, but takes a bit of the Mother with him. Earth (the Daughter) most resembles the Mother, but takes a bit of the Father with her.
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Citation?
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Thank you
@Dar es Allrah said
"Fire and Air rise, Water and Earth descend, which is why the triangles either point up or down depending upon the element. In Aristotle's schema, Air and Earth are mixed elements. Aristotle attributed Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry to the elements, to show how the elements mix and cause generation, or do not."
Yes, even down to the Golden Dawn (and beyond), Fire is described as hot & dry, Water as cold & wet, Air as hot & wet, and Earth as cold & dry.
I remain uncomfortable with the sociological implications of "male" being linked to "hot" and "female" to "cold" - difficult for me to hear that as other than the bullshit that "guys want it, gals don't." But perhaps the Aristotelian original implications were different.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"I remain uncomfortable with the sociological implications of "male" being linked to "hot" and "female" to "cold" - difficult for me to hear that as other than the bullshit that "guys want it, gals don't." But perhaps the Aristotelian original implications were different."
Unfortunately, my recollection of Aristotle is that he is the font of much misogyny in Western thought. Wikipedia, if you'll accept it as a source, confirms it.
I don't want to be a part of studying/using any system that carries latent thoughts forward, but the male/female duality seems to permeate so much of the teachings I've encounter so far. It's too bad we can't rename them at this point! Of course, from the little I understand about alchemy, we see all of the elemental forces present in all materia, just in different proportions - that includes individuals. So to describe all women as "cold" in equal amounts would be a gross error.