Water

In this article an in-depth look is taken at the element Water. This article is part of a four part series, the other articles in the series are Earth, Air and Fire. The articles can be read in any order.

Associations

Traditionally Water is associated with the west, with the autumn equinox and with dusk. Of the four magical tools, the chalice is associated with Water and with the west. The colour most associated with Water and the west is blue. Traditionally a distinction is made between male and female elements, and between constant and inconstant elements. Water is considered female and inconstant.

Interpretations

Water stands for emotions, anything that moves us. Empathy, and the ability to relate to the suffering of others, are also connected with Water. So are friendship and companionship.

Everything that moves us, also has the potential to throw us off-balance. A lack of empathy will make us insensitive to the feelings of others, but an excess of empathy may make us lose contact with our own emotional needs.

This is one of the challenges of the element Water: to find a balance between the emotional needs of others and our own.

Experiences

Here are some practical exercises you could do to further explore the role of the element Water in your life.

• take some time every night to sit down and go through everything that happended that day. If you said or did anything you later regretted, think about what you can do to redress the situation and prevent it from happening again, but also forgive yourself and let go. Also, if people have hurt you, think about whether you can do something to heal the hurt and prevent it from happening again, but also forgive them and get on with your life
• think about things that make you cry. When did you last cry? What made you cry?
• think about the role of family and friends in your life. How is your relationship with them? Would you like to spend more time with them? Or less?
• think about your emotional vulnerability. Do things that people say often hurt you? Do you hold grudges? Is there anything about this you would like to change?
• take a walk by the seaside. Think about the life-giving qualities of water, without which we wouldn't be able to live on our planet

Further exploration

Take some time to explore water in connection with other elements:
Fire and water
Water and earth

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