Welcome back to the Witching Half Hour or so… This is the last episode of our series on the elements. Our first series together!
It has been fun for me to put these episodes together for you, I revisit my relationship to the elements every few years. Because as I walk this spiritual path and grow my understanding of the elements evolves. I’ve enjoyed sharing that process with you, dear coven member.
In this last episode of the series, we are talking about fire:
- Goddesses relating to Fire
- The idea of transformation
- Burning ceremonies
- Phoenix fire
So pop in your earbuds and join me.
Goddesses
Brigid
Celtic Goddess of fire
Kali
Hindu Goddess of Death
Pele
Hawaiian Volcano Goddess
Aries and Mars
Grecko-roman
gods
Associated with spring and celebrated at Imbolc (aka Candlemas)
Her energy is bright and fresh and full of inspiration
Evidence that she was a triple goddess, so some of her associations seem to contradict each other, this is thought to be why she is worshiped at wells and is also known as a fire goddess.
Is a goddess of inspiration for poets, musicians, artists; and even smiths who forge tools in fire.
There is a Celtic knot associated with her, It is made up of three knots, that come together in a triangle shape.
Yes she is a Goddess of death, I feel that she fits in with the fire goddesses as well.
She is all about transformation, and when I have worked with her and called her in I can always see fire with her.
I feel she is misunderstood, with all her anger death destruction, some find her scary. It is the fierce warrior energy that is needed to tear down systems of corruption, to free us from unhealthy situations and beliefs.
When working with her she has a deep well of compassion for those who have suffered. Because she is a Goddess of Transformation, the hand that cuts down and destroys, she had seen pain and grief and does not fear those emotions or turn away from them.
Both a creator and a destroyer, Pele is beloved as a mother Goddess and respected as a powerful force. She embodies the lava.
Both a creator and a destroyer, Pele is beloved as a mother Goddess and respected as a powerful force. She embodies the lava.
“She who shapes the sacred land”
The idea of transformation can be seen in the way that lava rolls over the land, destroying and creating new landscapes all the time.
I feel we should mention these 2 gods associated with fire. Not only because of their relationship to our fire zodiac signs but because of how differently the fire gods express their energy.
They seem to assist us by hardening us, strengthening us, powering us up. (usually for a battle) like tempering steel.
Where the Goddesses transform us, like changing paper to ash
The Fire Signs of the Zodiac
- Aries
- Loe
- Sagitarius
- Loe
The chakra that is most associated with fire is the root chakra.
It is our sense of safety and connects us to our life force. There is a fire creature we can talk about that lives in the root chakra area The Kundalini snake.
My knowledge here is very limited as I haven’t studied yoga too deeply, I didn’t want to ignore this aspect of the fire elements. The Kundalini snake is a vibrant energy source that resides at the base of our spine in our root charka. It can be “awakened” through meditation and breath techniques.
We can’t really talk about the transformations of fire
without mentioning the Phoenix
I do have a little bit of a rant here, but it’s my podcast so I can say what I want.
I am so tired of seeing the idea of the phoenix romanticized in memes and on our social feeds. The idea that it’s a fresh start, a majestic transformation or a process anyone would welcome is just naive.
The transformation that a Phoenix fire brings into your life is all-consuming and difficult. I have been through one, and I am not going to get into all the details of it today…. but of those of you who know my story you know.
What I learned in my personal Phoenix fire is that everything burns.
Even the things you like… even the things you did not want to let go of…
Everything
A year after the energy of the phoenix enters your life everything will have changed, shifted and looks different than it did before.
It’s an all-consuming flame that leaves nothing but ashes in its wake.
Yes, those ashes are fertile and the growth that comes once all that holds you back has been burned away, and your tears have quenched the flames.
You rebuild and what you create is spectacular.
What it is not is easy, beautiful or romantic.
Working Magic with Fire
Fire by its very mature transforms things, the wood turns to charcoal, paper to ashes, and clay to stoneware.
These changes are at a molecular level….
That is why burning ceremonies can be a powerful tool for us witches.
In our dive into each element, we talked about how they can each be used to heal and the work we can do with them. When we use fire we are not only healing (water), or opening up to new possibilities (air) we are transforming.
One of the simplest ways to evoke the transformative power of fire is a burning ceremony.
like all ceremonies these can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. I recommend casting a circle and inviting a fire Goddess or your favourite Goddess in. Then do some writing on what it is you are wanting to release. When you are ready safely burn the paper.
Releasing what is no longer serving you, the part of your life you want to change; watching it transform into nothingness and change into ashes solidifies our spiritual work.
I’ll be including a nice written burning ceremony for you in our July Love Letter
If you have not yet signed up you can do that here.
Jodi Anne 