Pagan Blog Project: F is for Fire

Fire is one of the 4 elements that make up all of creation, the others being Earth, Air and Water. Fire is a profound tool, used, among other things, in candle magic, for offerings, and of course for the more mundane (though no less important) purposes of cooking and warmth.  Fire is truly one of the most important tools that early man learned to use.  

As I stated previously, in my practice, Fire corresponds to the South, Noon, the Summer, Adulthood, the Mother, the Sun King, Manifestation and Action.

Fire is a masculine element which has both creative and destructive qualities. Fire can be used to burn a paper on which we have written a magical purpose, intent or thing we wish to release, thus destroying the paper and sending the magic imbued on it to the universe for action, fire can be a tool to creativity, as an artist, I use heat to cure my sculpture, flame to sear edges and add details - thus Fire aids in my creative endeavors.

Even when fire is viewed as destructive, as when it ravages a forest, it serves a purpose. Fire cleans away the old and makes way for new growth. Some seeds, such as those from the Lodgepole Pine, require fire in order for them to germinate.

Some additional correspondences for Fire:

Color: Red

Stones: Jasper, Quartz Crystal

Tool: Athame

Goddesses: Brigit, Vesta

Gods: Horus, Vulcan

Rituals: healing, purification, sex, banishing, courage, strength and also for Candle Magic

Creatures: Snake, Dragon, Phoenix

Elemental: Salamander

Fire is featured in many a fairy or folk tale. My favorite is the Russian Folk Tale of Baba-Yagaand Vasilisa the Fair. In this story, young Vasilisa is sent into the forest by her evil step-mother to get fire from the Baba-Yaga, which after completing many difficult tasks Vasilisa obtains and brings home the fire. Unfortunately for the step-mother and her daughters, the fire that Vasilisa brings home purifies the home, killing the step mother and her two evil daughters quickly.

In this tale, the Fire was both destructive and purifying, releasing Vasilisa from the influence of her step-mother and ultimately leading her to a much more pleasant life.

I will leave you with Wendy Rule’s song about Vasilias (yes, I am totally on a Wendy Rule Kick right now)!

Some sites I visited during my research:

http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_elements/fire.asp

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/bookofshadows/a/Fire-Folklore-And-Legends.htm

http://www.wicca.in/the-wiccan-elements/

http://paganroots.com/information/elements/fire-element/

http://www.angelfire.com/la/redwitch1/elements.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ecology