THE LOCATIONS OF THE SPECIAL KINGDOMS:
the special kingdom of the Gnomes is at the North;
the special kingdom of the of the Salamanders at the South;
the special kingdom of the of the of the Sylphs at the East;
and the special kingdom of the of the of the Undines at the West.
Their signs are as follows:
the hieroglyphs of the bull for the Gnomes, and we command them with the sword;
of the lion for the Salamanders, and we command them with the
forked wand, or the magic trident;
of the eagle for the Sylphs, and we command them with the holy pentacles;
finally with Aquarius for the Undines, and we evoke them with the cup of libations.
Their respective sovereigns are, Gob for the Gnomes, Djiu for the Salamanders, Paralda for the Sylphs, and Nicksa for the Undines.
The metals that correspond to the four elementary forms are:
gold and silver for air;
mercury for water;
iron and copper for fire;
and lead for earth.
Talismans are prepared from these metals, having relation to the forces which they represent, and to the effects proposed to be obtained.
EXORCISM OF THE AIR
English:
The Spirit of God brooded upon the waters, and breathed into the face of man the breath of life. Let Michael be my chief and Saltabiel my servant in the light and by the Light. Be my breath by the word; and I will command the spirits of this atmosphere, and will bridle the horses of the sun by the will of my heart, the thought of my mind, and the winking of my eye. I exercise thee, creature of air by the Pentagram, and in the name of the Tetragram, in which are firm will and true faith. Amen, Selah; so be it. So mote it be.
Latin:
Spiritus Dei ferebatur super aquas, et inspiravit in facian hominis spiraculum vitae. Sit Michael dux meus, et Sabtabiel servus meus, in luce etper lucem. Fiat verbum halitus meus; et imperabo spiritibus aeris hujus, et refraenabo equos solis voluntate cordis nei, et cogitatione mentis meae et nu tu oculi dextri. Erorciso igitur te, creatura aeris, per Pentagrammaton et in nomine Tetragrammaton, in qui bus sunt voluntas firma et fides recta. Amen. Sela, fiat. Qu'il en soit ainsi.
Recite the prayer of the Sylphs, after having traced in air their sign with the plume.
PRAYER OF THE SYLPHS
Spirit of light! Spirit of wisdom! whose breath gives and takes away again the forms of all things! Thou, in whose presence the life of being is a shadow which changes, and a vapor which passes away. Thou who ascendest the clouds and movest on the wing of the winds. When thou breathes! forth, infinite spaces are peopled! When thou inhalest, all that comes from thee returns to thee! Endless movement in eternal stability, be thou eternally blest! We praise thee and bless thee in the changing empire of created light, of shadows, of reflections and of images; and we long unceasingly for thine immutable and imperishable light. Let the ray of thy intelligence and the heat of thy love penetrate even to us; then what is movable will become fixed; the shadow will become a body; the spirit of the air will become a soul; the dream will become a thought, and we shall no longer be borne away by the tempest, but shall hold the bridle of the winged steeds of the morning, and shall direct the course of the evening winds that we may fly into thy presence. O spirit of spirits! O eternal soul of souls! O imperishable breath of life! O creative inspiration. O mouth which inspires and respires the existence of all beings in the flux and reflux of thy eternal Word, which is the divine ocean of movement and of truth. Amen!
BLESSING AND CONSECRATION UPON THE SALT
English:
In this salt be wisdom, and may it preserve our minds and bodies from
every corruption, through Hochmaiel (the Wisdom of God) and in
virtue of Rauch-Hochmael (the Spirit of the Wisdom of God),
withdrawing from it the phantasms of matter that it may be the
celestial salt, the salt of the earth, and the earth of salt, that the ox may
be nourished that treadeth out corn, and give to our hope the strength
of the flying cherub. Amen.
Latin:
In isto sale sit sapientia, et ab omni corruptione servet
mentes nostras et corpora nostra, per Hochmael et in virfute Rauch-Hochmael, recedant ab isto fantasmata
hylae ut sit sal coelestis, sal terrae et terra salis, ut nutrietur bos trituraus et addat vpei nostrae cornua tauri
volantis. Amen.
BLESSING AND CONSECRATION UPON THE ASHES OF THE PERFUME (INCENSE)
English:
Let the ashes return to the fountain of living waters, let the earth
become fruitful and sprout forth the Tree of Life by the three names,
which are Netsa (victory), Hod (eternity), and Isiod (fountain), in the
beginning and the end, by the Alpha and Omega, which are in spirit
Azoth. Amen.
Latin:
Revertatur cinis adfontem aquarum viventium, etfiat terra fructificans, etgermin et arborem vitaeper tria nomina, quae sunt Netsah, Hod et Jesod, in principle et in fine, per Alpha et Omega qui sunt in spiritu Azoth.
Amen.
IN MINGLING THE WATER, THE SALT, AND THE ASHES
English:
In the salt of eternal Wisdom in the water of regeneration, and in the ashes which generate the new earth, let all things be established by the Eloim (gods or angels), Gabriel (Power of God), Raphael (Wisdom of God), and Uriel (Light of God), for ages and ages. Amen.
Latin:
In sale sapientiae aeternae, et in aqua regenerationis, et in cinere germinante terram novam, omnia fiant per
Eloim, Gabriel, Raphael et Uriel, in saecula et aeonas. Amen.
EXORCISM OF THE WATER
English:
Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate
the waters from the waters that which is above as that which is
below, and that which is below as that which is above, to the
accomplishing of the wonders of the One Thing. The sun is its father;
the moon its mother, and the Wind carried it in its womb; it ascendeth
from earth to the sky, and returneth again from the sky to the earth. I
exorcise thee, creature of water, that thou mayest be to me the mirror
of the living God in his works, the fountain of life, and the cleansing
of sinners. Amen.
Latin:
Fiat firmamentum im medio aquarum et separet aquas ab aquis, quae superius sitcut quaee superius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius. Sol ejus pater est, luna mater et ventus hanc gestav it in utero suo, ascendit a terra ad coelum et rursus a coelo in terram descendit. Exorciso te, creatura aquae, ut sis mihi speculum Dei vivi in operibus ejus, et fons vitae, et ablutio pecatorum. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE UNDINES
Terrible king of the sea! Thou who boldest the keys of the cataracts of heaven, and who enclosest the subterranean waters in the hollow places of the earth! King of the deluge and of rains, of springtime! Thou who openest the sources of streams and fountains! Thou who commandest the moisture (which is like the blood of the earth) to become the sap of plants! We adore and invoke thee! Speak to us, ye moving and changeable creatures! Speak to us in the great commotions of the sea, and we will tremble before thee. Speak to us also in the murmur of the limpid waters, and we will desire thy love. O immensity in which all the rivers of being lose themselves, which ever spring up anew in us! O ocean ofinfinite perfections! Height which beholdeth thee in the depth! Depth which breathes thee forth in the height! Bring us to the true life through intelligence and love! Lead us to immortality through sacrifice, in order that one day we may be found worthy to offer thee water, blood, and tears, for the remission of sins. Amen.
EXORCISM OF THE THE FIRE
We exorcise fire by casting in it salt, incense, white resin, camphor, and sulphur, and by pronouncing
three times the three names of the genii of fire:
Michael, king of the sun and of lightning;
Samael, king of volcanoes;
and Anael, prince of the astral light.
Recite the prayer of the Salamanders.
PRAYER OF THE SALAMANDERS
Immortal, eternal, ineffable and uncreated Father of all things I who are borne upon the incessantly rolling chariot of Worlds which are always turning; Ruler of the ethereal immensity where the throne of thy power is elevated; from whose height thy dread-inspiring eyes discover all things, and thy exquisite and sacred ears hear all; Listen to thy children whom thou hast loved from the beginning of the ages; for thy golden, great, and eternal majesty is resplendent above the world and the starry heavens. Thou art raised above them O sparkling fire! There thou dost illumine and support thyself by thine own splendor; and there comes forth from thine essence overflowing streams of light which nourish thine infinite spirit. That infinite spirit nourishes all things, and renders this inexhaustible treasure of substance always ready for the generation which fashions it and which receives in itself the forms with which thou hast impregnated it from the beginning. From this spirit those most holy kings who surround thy throne, and who compose thy court, derive their origin. O Father Universal! Only One! O Father of blessed mortals and immortals! Thou hast specially created powers who are marvelously like thine eternal thought and adorable essence. Thou hast established them superior to the angels who announce to the world thy wishes. Finally thou hast created us in the third rank in our elementary empire. There our continual employment is to praise thee and adore thy wishes. There we incessantlyburn with the desire of possessing thee, O Father! O Mother! the most tender of all mothers! O admirable archetype of maternity and pure love! O Son, the flower of sons! O Form of all forms; soul, spirit, harmony and number of all things. Amen.
EXORCISM OF THE EARTH
Exorcise the earth by the sprinkling of water, by the breath and by fire, with the perfumes proper for each day. Recite the prayer of the gnomes.
PRAYER OF THE GNOMES
Invisible King who has taken the earth as a support, and who has dug abysses in order to fill them with the omnipotence! Thou whose name makest the arches of the world tremble! Thou who makest the seven metals circulate in the veins of stone; Monarch of seven luminaries! Rewarder of subterranean workmen! Bring us to the desirable air and to the kingdom of light. We watch and work without respite. We seek and hope by the twelve stones of the Holy City, for the talismans which are buried by the magnetic nail which passes through the center of the earth. Lord! Lord! Lord! Have pity upon those who suffer! Enlarge our hearts! Let us be free and raise up our heads! Exalt us! O stability and movement! O Day invested by night! O Darkness veiled in light! O Master who never retainest the wages of thy workmen! O silvery whiteness! O Golden Splendor! O Crown of Diamonds, living and melodious! Thou who bearest the sky upon thy finger, like a ring of sapphire! Thou who hidest under the earth, in the kingdom of gems, the wonderful seed of stars! All hail! Reign; and be the Eternal Dispenser of riches, of which thou hast made us the guardians. Amen.
When an elementary spirit (spirit of the elements) comes to annoy or torment the inhabitants of this world, we must conquer it by means of air, water, fire and earth, blowing, sprinkling, burning perfumes, and tracing on the earth the star of Solomon (six point star of Solomon) and the sacred pentagram. These figures should be perfectly regular, and made either with coals from the consecrated fire, or with a reed dipped in diverse colors which we mix of pulverized magnet. Then, while holding in the hand the pentacle of Solomon, and taking by turns the sword, the wand, and the cup, we pronounce in these terms and in a loud voice the conjuration of the four.
CONJURATION
English:
Dregs of matter, the lord commandeth thee by the living and devoted serpent. Cherub, the Lord command thee by Adam Jol-Havah!
Wandering Eagle, the Lord command thee by the wings of the Bull. Serpent, the Lord commands thee by the Tetragram, the Angel and Lion! Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Anael. The water floweth by the spirit of Eloim. The Earth remaineth by Adam Jot-Havah. The Firmament was made by Iahuvehu-Zebaoth. Judgment is made by fire in the strength of Michael.
Latin:
Caput mortuum, impeert tibi Dominus per vivum et devotum serpentem. Cherub, imperet tibi Dominusper Adam Jotchavah! Aquila errans, imperet tibi Dominus per alas Tauri. Serpens, imperet tibi Dominus tetragrammaton per angelum et leonem! Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Anael! Fluat U dor per spiritum Eloim. Maneat Terra per Adam lot-Chavah. Fiat Firmamentum per lahuvehu-Zebaoth. Fiat Judicium per ignen in virtute Michaels.
Angel with the dead eyes, obey or flow away with this holy water.
Winged bull labor or return to earth; if thou art not willing that I prick thee with this sword. Chained eagle, obey this sign, or withdraw before this breath. Moving serpent, crawl at my feet, or be tormented by this sacred fire and be dissipated with the perfumes I burn therein. Let the water return to water! Let a fire burn! Let air circulate! Let earth fall upon the earth, by virtue of the pentagram which is the morning star, and in the name of the Tetragram, which is written in the center of the cross of
light. Amen.
In order to control and subject elementary spirits, we must never yield to the defects which characterize them.
Thus, a light and capricious mind can never govern the sylphs;
An effeminate, cold, and changeable nature will never control the undines;
Anger irritates the salamanders;
and covetous rudeness renders those whom it enslaves the sport of the gnomes.
Yet, it is necessary to be as prompt and active as the sylphs;
as flexible and attentive to images as the undines;
as energetic and strong as the salamanders;
as laborious and patient as the gnomes.
Myth’s notes:
I urge you to follow the link and read all of Eliphas Levi’s (February 8, 1810 – May 31, 1875) article—especially if you, dear reader, ever wish to become involved in practicing some form of ceremonial magic.
I have included it because it illustrates another form of working with “Elementary Spirits” that is different than how Wiccans do so.
Most any Wiccan will know that Paralda is the Elemental ruler of the East, Djinn is the Elemental ruler of the South, Niksa is the Elemental ruler of the West, and Ghob is the Elemental ruler of the North. Most any Wiccan will also know that the Spirits of the four elements are Sylphs (Air), Salamanders (Fire), Undines (Water) and Gnomes (Earth). Likewise, Paralda (east), Djinn/Jinn (south) Ghob (north) are rulers over Sylphs (Air), Salamanders (Fire), Undines (Water) and Gnomes (Earth).
Thus, many Wiccans will agree that these Four Elemental ruler are the Lords/Guardians/Powers/ Sovereigns of the Spirits of the Elements. Paralda rules over Sylphs and the element of air, Djinn/Jinn rules over Salamanders and the element of fire, Niksa rules over Undines and the element of water, and Ghob/Hob rules over Gnomes and the element of earth.
Therefore many Wiccans would agree with Eliphas Levi about the locations of the special kingdoms, adding that these traditional direction associations with specific elements that explain aspects of the structure of the Wiccan circle and rituals. Many would assume that the names used by Levi are either exactly the same or only slight variation of the spellings: Paralda (East), Djinn/Jinn /Djiu (south), Niksa/Nicksa (west), Ghob/Hob (north) Salamanders (Fire), Undines (Water) and Gnomes (Earth).
THE LOCATIONS OF THE SPECIAL KINGDOMS:
the special kingdom of the Gnomes is at the North;
the special kingdom of the of the Salamanders at the South;
the special kingdom of the of the of the Sylphs at the East;
and the special kingdom of the of the of the Undines at the West.
However some Wiccans—probably several--will disagree with some of Levi’s opinions on the subject.
Below is an invocation which I wrote way back in the late 1980’s or 90’s. This Wiccan-syle invocation of the Elements--and the Spirits associated with the Elements—is based on invocations the high priestess of Tapestry in Maryland often used.
After a circle has been drawn, a person walks to each direction in deosil/sunwise/clockwise order. S/he raises an athame, wand, or finger and draws the invoking pentagram while calling the Element of that direction. S/he lights a candle which is the Quarter candle of that direction.
East: Hail, Sylphs of the East, creatures of air, I call you to send forth your gentle breezes and join in these revels. Hail and welcome!
South: Hail Salamanders of the South, creatures of fire, I call you to illuminate this circle with your candle flames and join in these revels. Hail and welcome!
West: Hail Undines of the West, creatures of water, I call you to cleanse us with you flow and join in these revels. Hail and welcome!
North: Hail Gnomes of the North, creatures of earth, I call you to fortify us with your strength and join in these revels. Hail and welcome!
Below is the farewell to the Elements. Just before the circle is erased, the person who performed that invocation in the beginning will walk to each direction in deosil/sunwise/clockwise order. S/he raises an athame, wand, or finger and bids farewell to the Element of that direction, while tracing a pentagram. S/he then snuffs the candle which is the Quarter candle of that direction.
East: Sylphs of the East, creatures of air, we thank you for bringing your gentle breezes. We ask for your blessing ere you depart for your lovely realms. Hail and farewell!
South: Salamanders of the South, creatures of fire, we thank you for bringing your blight and illuminating flame. We ask for your blessing ere your depart for your lovely realms. Hail and farewell!
West: Undines of the West, creatures of water, we thank you for your flow and ebb. We ask for your blessing ere your depart for your lovely realms. Hail and farewell!
North: Gnomes of the North, creatures of earth, we thank you for bringing your strength. We ask for your blessing ere your depart for your lovely realms. Hail and farewell!
The structure of Levi’s invocations/dismissals are very different than the Wiccan-style invocations/dismissals above. If you are interested in reading other Wiccan-style invocations, here are links to five examples. The ritual gestures are the same as described above for the invocations and dismissals .
Invocations and dismissals of the Lords of the Watchtowers
Invocations and dismissals of the Guardians of the Watchtowers
Invocations and dismissals of the Guardians of the Watchtowers by the Power of the Great Goddess
Invocations and dismissals of the Guardians of the Watchtowers and Spirits of the Elements in the names of Aradia and Cernunnos
Invocations and dismissals of the Elements
Levi claimed that elementary spirits are responsible for “disquieting of fantastic dreams,” adding that, “Elementary spirits are like young children.” My personal experience has not indicated that this is true. Of course, even though modern Wiccans do not treat the spirits of the four elements as we would deities, we DO treat these spirits with respect.
Wiccans view the spirits of the four elements as non-human spirits. They are different than deities, souls of the dead, various other spirits, etc. Their being nature is tied into the nature of their domain. Their attitudes and concepts involving morality can be quite different than those of a late 20th century or early 21st century human being. Yet, Wiccans have reverence for the physical manifested universe. The spirits of the elements tend to the forces of nature in which they exist. Therefore, we treat them with respect that they ought to be due.
Levi—on the other hand--flat out stated, “We can employ or abuse them [Elementary spirits] like animals or children.” According to Levi, a magus must control the elementary spirits “by means of superior rationality and great severity.”
Levi also explained: “They reproduce good and evil indifferently, because they are without free will and consequently have no responsibility….Therefore the magus who employs their help assumes a terrible responsibility, for he will have to expiate all the evil which he makes them do, and the greatness of his torments will be proportionate to the extent of the power which he will have exercised through their agency.”
He did assure his readers—however--that these spirits are non-human, therefore, “They are neither [human] souls in hell nor [condemned] spirits guilty of mortal sin; they are simply inquisitive and inoffensive.”
It must be added that Eliphas Levi drew on the writings of Paracelsus (1493 – September 24, 1541. Paracelsus, a Renaissance alchemist/chemist, mystic, and physician, was largely responsible for the 16th century terms now widely applied to the Four Elementals.
Paracelsus wrote that each of the four classical elements –air, fire, water, and earth – was inhabited by different categories of elemental spirits, the sylphs, salamanders, undines, and gnomes which were the "invisible, spiritual counterparts of visible Nature.”
Copyright 2016, Myth’s Notes