The Hidden World of Elementals & Fairies
Have
you ever walked though a park or through the woods and felt a sudden
sense of peace, minimizing all your problems after a discouraging day?
You probably had contact with an "Elemental". Elementals are "Nature's
Angels" and they are referred to by various names including Fairies,
Elves, Devas, Brownies, Leprechauns, Gnomes, Sprites, Pixies as well as
many others. These nature spirits are governed by the Archangels. (For the sake of ease, we will group all nature spirits as Elementals on this page unless they are specifically being explained.)
Like Angels, Elementals do
not have a definite form or appearance. It's easy to determine if a
picture is that of an Angel or a winged elemental. The winged
Elementals have wings that look like a butterfly's and Angels have
feathered bird-like wings.
If
they choose to show themselves to you, they may choose a form that you
will recognize and be comfortable with or will associate with the
element they represent. A fire elemental may appear as a spark, a face
in a candle flame or bonfire, or simply a sudden warm spot. A water
elemental may be a cold spot. An air elemental could be a sudden breeze
or tiny whirlwind in the dust. A smell, taste, or an unexplained pebble
in your shoe could be evidence of the earth elementals at play.
The
belief in Elementals goes back to before the beginning of religion.
Long before Angels, there were Elementals who inhabited all things.
Animism which is believed to be the original religion of humankind
believed that Elementals inhabit all things.
Most
occultists and Neo-pagan witches believe these spirits possess
supernatural powers and are usually invisible to humans, living among
the trees, rivers, plants, bogs, mountains, and minerals. They attach
themselves to practically every natural thing.
Interest
in the elementals increased during the Middle Ages and Renaissance when
practitioners experimenting with alchemy and magic sought to acquire
nature's secrets so to be able to control her forces.
Elementals are very mischievous and like to play, but their play may appear to us as disasters rather than play, such as thunderstorms,
blizzards, raging seas. When Elementals decide to enjoy themselves,
it's best for us humans to take cover and hope they tire soon. Contrary
to how it seems, Elementals activities are not always destructive, even
though it may seem that way to humans at times. The elementals have
their own agenda and they have a definite purpose, which we may not
understand, but may be for the good of the planet as a whole.
Many
believe Elementals are from a different realm, coming and going between
our realm and theirs at their leisure. According to Quantum Physics,
there are parallel universes much like our own, but in some of them
animals who are extinct here, still exist there. Wars have had
different outcomes. Unicorns run and graze freely. Ideas that are
accepted there, but aren't believed here. Elementals live in the realms
where they are accepted and they can live freely and they easily travel
between the universes where there is an overlap of the two universes.
You can say, like a portal.
There
was a time when most people freely believed in Elementals, until the
church convinced them they didn't exist. Now, because people can't see
them, they don't believe they exist. Just because you can't see them
doesn't mean they aren't there. There has been so much research done on
what people see, in plain sight. One such experiment was done by
Daniel J. Simons & Christopher F. Chabris from the Department of
Psychology at Harvard University. [1] Briefly,
in this study, people were asked to watch a video of a basketball game
and to keep track of the team with the ball. The people were so intent
on the teams, half of them never noticed a woman in a gorilla suit
walking across the middle of the screen during the game. Because some
of the people didn't see the gorilla, does that mean she didn't exist?
Paracelsus
was responsible for the names of the Elementals. A physician,
alchemist mystic and medical critic, he was born 1493 in Switzerland,
the son of a doctor and chemist. Paracelsus is considered the most
original medical thinker of the 16th century, believed to be far ahead
of all other medical scientists of his time. He was very controversial
because of his arrogant and criticism of the medical practices of his
contemporary doctors, believing universities didn't teach everything
needed to become a good physician and that experience was more valuable
then the dry scholasticism of ancient tomes.
Despite
his outstanding contributions to medical science, Paracelsus was a
believer in supernatural things, intuition and the invisible causes of
illness. His major work was in reconciling the art of healing with
Christian and Pagan religion, studying the philosophy of spiritual
substance, warning his contemporaries that to divide therapy from
religion was a grave error in judgment. He believed the advancement of
practical therapy depended upon a continuous exploration of the
invisible side of nature, a search for causes and the realization that
man was not simply a physical creature, but a living soul whose internal
attitudes could profoundly affect his health. [2] Concerning Elementals, Paracelsus said:
"The
Elementals are not properly spirits, because they have flesh, blood and
bones; they live and propagate offspring; they eat and talk, act and
sleep. They are beings occupying a space between men and spirits,
resembling men and women in their organization and form and resembling
spirits in the rapidity of their locomotion." Paracelsus
There is a group of Elementals for each of the elements - Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Below is a brief description of some, but not all, creatures of the four elements.
Elements and their Creatures
"The
type of gnome most frequently seen is the brownie, or elf, a
mischievous and grotesque little creature from twelve to eighteen inches
high, usually dressed in green or russet brown. Most of them appear as
very aged, often with long white beards, and their figures are inclined
to rotundity. They can be seen scampering out of holes in the stumps
of trees and sometimes they vanish by actually dissolving into the tree
itself." Paracelsus
More
commonly known as dwarves or goblins, they are concerned with the
products and treasures of the earth. Being of the earth, Gnomes usually
live in the soil, rocks, beneath the ground, and under the tree roots.
Gnomes will only help humans if they have been considerate of nature
and treat it well. They are very helpful of those who have established a
connection with them through prior acts of kindness. When working with
humans, Gnomes are most helpful with healing the bones.
The subgroups of the Earth Gnomes consist of Brownies, Dryads, Durdalis, Earth Spirits, Elves, Hamadryads, Pans, Pygmies, Sylvestres, and Satyrs.
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The
sylphs are the air spirits. Their element has the highest vibratory
rate. They are said to live on the tops of mountains. The leader of the
sylphs is a being called Queen Paralda who is said to dwell on the
highest mountain of Earth.
They
often assume human form but only for short periods of time and they are
said to be the most beautiful of all the elementals. They are usually
seen with wings, looking like cherubs or fairies. They are said to leave
beautiful green rings in meadows and fields caused by bending the dewy
grass caused by their dancing in circles. Because of their connection
to air, which is associated with the mental aspect, one of their
functions is to help humans receive inspiration. The sylphs are drawn to those who use their minds, particularly those on creative arts.
Sylphs
are usually sympathetic of human endeavors and for the most part their
actions towards them are kindly and thoughtful. The Sylphs can have a
profound and powerful influence on the human mental body and thought,
and, they are responsible for being the primary impetus behind both
inspirational art and inventions
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The water spirits are called Undines. This name was first used by Swiss metaphysician Paracelsus in the early 16th century.[3] They closely resemble humans in appearance and size, except for those inhabiting smaller streams and ponds.
They are beautiful, emotional, and graceful Nature Spirits who dress
themselves in greenish, sea colored garb that has both a shimmering
consistency and a watery texture. Their ruler is known as Necksa who they love, serve, and honor unceasingly.
Since
their purpose is to direct the flow and course of the waters of the
planet, they live in coral caves, fountains, lakes, marshlands, rivers,
seas, waterfalls, and underneath lily pads. Besides caring for plants
both above and below the surface of the water, the Undines are concerned
with the movements of water and how they relate to human emotions and
soul responses.
The
Undines and their subgroups are friendly, approachable, and are very
willing to work with people and to help them. Etheric in nature, they
exist within the water itself and this is why they can't be seen with
the normal physical vision.
The subgroups of the Water Undines consist of Limoniades, Mermaids, Naiads, Oceanid, Oreads, Potamides, Sea Maids.
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"Salamanders have been seen in the shape of fiery balls, or tongues of fire, running over the fields, or peering in houses." Paracelsus
The
salamanders are the spirit of fire. They keep us warm and work through
the liver, bloodstream and emotions. Without these beings, fire cannot
exist. You cannot light a match without a salamander's being present.
They are considered the strongest and most powerful of all the
elementals.
Their
ruler is a magnificent flaming being called Djin. On the spiritual
level, they also help to awaken kundalini. Salamanders will always help
people who are friendly towards them and keep their heart fires
burning. They also have special influence over those with fiery
tempers.
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Want to learn more about natures spirits?
Here is a list of suggested reading about the hidden world of elementals:
- John & Caitlin Matthews
Discover
an incredible world full of every magical creature you could possibly
imagine... From unicorns, salamanders, satyrs, giants, elves and trolls,
to dragons, nymphs, mermaids, werewolves and griffins. Take an
enchanting journey through the history, folklore, and mythology of these
beasts from virtually every culture in the world. With stories and
amazing facts on even the most obscure and mythological creature, this
is a cornucopia of magic and myth.
- Cait Johnson
Johnson
probes the common roots and bonds that lie at the heart of the world's
great spiritual traditions. Combining history, opinion, and literature,
she invites readers of all stripes to inhale shared values and exhale
divisive concerns.
- Doreen Virtue
This
beautiful book gives you step-by-step instructions on how to contact
fairies; how to see and hear them, and ways to work with them personally
to heal your career, health, and love-life issues.
- Anna Franklin
Filled
with hundreds of exquisite illustrations, this comprehensive directory
provides a global, multi-ethnic, multicultural overview of fairies.
Nearly 3,000 entries, arranged alphabetically offer glimpses into other
worlds and times.
- Francis Melville
A
charming and inspirational guide to the history and folklore
surrounding faeries and an examination of the meanings that these mythic
beings have acquired in many cultures.
- Thomas Keightly
A fascinating compendium of folklore, superstitions, and mythology surrounding the 'little people'.
- Carol Rose
A
fabulously entertaining work with over 100 delightful
illustrations--Library Journal calls Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and
Goblins its "favorite work of 1996." In more than 2,000 alphabetically
arranged entries, readers will meet Angels, demons, elves, encantados,
fairies, familiars, keremets, nats, nymphs, and many other strange
beings from around the world.
- Ted Andrews
Enchantment of the Faerie Realm will help you to realize that faeries and elves dance in nature and in your heart, too.
References:
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"The Element encyclopedia of Magical Creatures", John & Caitlin Matthews, pg. 583
http://www.angelfocus.com/elementals.htm#Difference