Elements

Most mythologies order the structure of the world according to a set of elements. While the number of elements varies, most mythologies identify four or five of them.

Element Sets

• Babylonian mythology
  • Earth, Sea, Sky, Wind
• Buddhist mythology: Catudhatu, "four elements"
  • Air, Earth, Fire, Water
• Greek mythology
  • Aether, Air, Earth, Fire, Water
• Hindu mythology: Pancha Mahabhuta, “five great elements”
  • Aether/Void, Air/Wind, Earth, Fire, Water
• Japanese mythology: 五大 (go dai, "five great")
  • Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Atmos
• Tibetan mythology
  • Air, Earth, Fire, Space, Water

the Elements

In the West, sometimes perceived as the mysterious "fifth element" that relates to the soul.

• the substance that fills the heavens (Greek).
• the source of everything in the universe, including the other elements; related to sound (Hindu).

Air/Sky

• Associated with spring and the northern compass direction (Greek) or the northwestern compass direction (Hindu).
• Representative of things that move.
• According to Aristotle, primarily hot and secondarily wet.

Earth

• Associated with communication, business, practical matters, fall, and the southern compass direction (Greek) or the southwestern compass direction (Hindu).
• Representative of things that are solid or things that grow.
• According to Aristotle, primarily dry and secondarily cold.

Fire

• Associated with energy, passion, summer, the eastern compass point (Greek), or the southeastern compass direction (Hindu).
• Representative of things that are hot or things that destroy.
• According to Aristotle, primarily hot and secondarily dry.

Metal

• Associated with inward motion, persistence, determination, ambition, the west, autumn, and Venus.

Void

• Representative of things that are not normally encountered in everyday life.

Water/Sea

• Associated with emotion, intuition, imagination, wisdom, winter, the planet Mercury, the western compass direction (Greek) or the northeastern compass direction (Hindu).
• Representative of liquid things or cold things.
• According to Aristotle, primarily cold and secondarily wet.

Wood

• Associated with anger, patience, spring, the east, Jupiter, green, and wind.

Other "Elements"

the Four Humours

• Four "elements" of the body; excess or absence of a humour was considered the cause of disease.
• Yellow bile (fire)

• Black bile (earth)

• Blood (air)

• Phlegm (water)

the Seven Chakras

• Seven "energy centers" or "wheels" located on the spiritual body.
• Sahasrara (Crown): Thought/Space
• Ajña (Third Eye): Light/Dark
• Vishuddhi (Throat): Ether/Sound
• Anahata (Heart): Air
• Manipura (Navel): Fire
• Svadhisthana (Sacral): Water
• Muladhara (Root): Earth