Air as Eastern Quarter


There is a lot of discussion and disagreement among practitioners of the Craft as to whether Air belongs in the East or in the North. Both sides have viable arguments that support their positions, and it is a tribute to our religious tolerance that we can discuss the issue in a manner of enlightened discussion, and not in heavy-handed duels of "one-way-ism."

Often, however, it is said that those of us who believe Air belongs in the Eastern Quarter do so simply because we were "taught" that way. While this may be true for some, others of us have given much thought to this alignment and feel strongly about this placement. For some of us, this placement is based on established astrological correspondences; others of us use a conception-to-manifestion-to-conception model based on both the traditionally ascribed energies of the quarters and the physically ascribed energies of the directions.

One of the reasons for the "muddying of the waters" in this issue is that the Craft is founded on the idea of circular, rather than linear, motion. A linear model gives us defined starting and stopping points. A circle, however, has no true beginning and ending, and whichever point we specify as the "end" simply flows into a new beginning. We see this belief structure echoed most strongly in our rites celebrating the "Wheel of the Year," which we view as the physical representation of our own soul's journey through existence.

Further confusing the issue is the belief of multiple "power" positions along the circle. While all Quarters are powerful in their own way, North is generally recognized as the penultimate power point, as it is the Earth's magnetic pole. However, the Eastern quarter is generally recognized as being the essence of power, since it is the direction of the rising sun, which assures life on this earth. The recognition of these two major power points on Earth yielded the tradition of entering the ritual circle through the NorthEastern Quarter, rather than through one or the other Quarters, alone.

What follows below, then, is an outline for Air-in-the-East.

Air - Eastern Quarter

  • Direction of the Rising Sun
  • Dawn is it's Time of Day
  • Represents the season of Spring
  • Direction of new Beginnings in the Mundane world
  • Represents thought, intelligence, freedom, communication, wisdom
  • These aspects are seen in the Air Triplicity of the Zodiac: Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra
  • Crystallization of an Idea from the Inner Realms to the Outer, Physical World
  • East is the point representing the first introduction of an idea into the physical world.

Fire - Southern Quarter

  • Direction of the greatest Heat
  • Time of Day is Noon
  • Represents the season of Summer
  • Direction of First Action in the Mundane world
  • Represents passion, energy, action, life, creation and destruction, change
  • These aspects are seen in the Fire Triplicity of the Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Saggitarius
  • First Aspect Towards Actual Manifestation
  • The idea started in the East is now acted upon in the South; thus, Fire changes it from the mental realm to the physical realm. Can be symbolized by the actual planting of the seed.

Water - Western Quarter

  • Direction of Germination
  • Time of Day is Twilight
  • Represents the season of Autumn
  • Perseverance of Will through Obstacles - First Hint of Manifestation
  • Represents the emotions, perseverance, intuition, the unconscious mind, the womb
  • These aspects are seen in the Water Triplicity of the Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
  • The idea, conceived in the physical by the East, planted by the South, is now germinated and nourished by the waters of the West.

Earth - Northern Quarter

  • Direction of Regeneration
  • Time of Day is Midnight
  • Represents Winter
  • Solidification of Manifestation; Start of Degradation; Rebirth on Inner Plane
  • Represents Balance, Growth, Ending of one phase and start of another
  • These aspects are seen in the Earth Triplicity of the Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn
  • The idea, conceived in the physical by the East, planted by the South, germinated and nourished by the West, now manifests itself in actuality in the North. However, with actuality also begins degradation. Death follows degradation, and rebirth in a new form follows death. Hence, in the deepest darkness of the wintry North, the seeds of the new are conceived in the depth of the unconscious, the spiritual womb.