we are made from the dust of the ground, are given fire in our blood; we laugh fresh air and cry the sea
All traditions vary in their arrangements of the elements, how they are performed and in what order. This is my own understanding and how I call the directions personally.
EARTH - AIR - FIRE - WATER
In the traditions I have witnessed, we generally move sun-wise or clock-wise, beginning with the East (Air) and move 90 degrees clock-wise to the South (Fire), 90 degrees clock-wise to the West (Water) and 90 degrees clock-wise to the North (Earth). Although, the Medicine Wheel approach has a slightly different variation.
AIR
Direction: East
Color: Red
Animals Associated: Eagle, Condor, Winged Ones
Celestial Position: Spring, the Rising Sun, Waxing Moon
Brings: Clarity, High Perspective, Visions, Ideas
Symbols: Clouds, Wind, Mountains, Daybreak
Altar Expression: Feathers, Incense, Tobacco
invocation
Great Spirit of the East, ____ (seat, place, throne) of Air. We thank you for being with us, we humbly welcome you into our consciousness, into this space for your gifts of perspective, of vision and clarity. We look to the winged ones, eagles, condors for guidance, for teaching us to fly wing tip to wing tip with the Great Spirit. We acknowledge your presence always and honor you as you are always within and without us. ____ (closing affirmation: ashe, aho, amen, so it is) (You may leave your offering to the direction at this time or make noise to affirm)
FIRE
Direction: South
Color: Yellow
Animals Associated: Coyote, Wolf, Serpent
Celestial Position: Summer, the Noon Day Sun, Full Moon
Brings: Energy, Heat, Playfulness, Sexuality, Creativity
Symbols: Fire Pit, Drums, Dancing, Laughter
Altar Expression: Flame, Instruments such as Rattle and Drum
invocation
Great Spirit of the South, ____ (seat, place, throne) of Fire. We thank you for being with us, we humbly welcome you into our consciousness, into this space for your gifts of playfulness, innocence and creativity. We look to the coyote, the trickster energy for humor and youthfulness. Thank you for sending us the serpent who teaches us to shed our old self as easily as it sheds its skin. We acknowledge your presence always and honor you as you are always within and without us. ____ (closing affirmation: ashe, aho, amen, so it is) (You may leave your offering to the direction at this time or make noise to affirm)
WATER
Direction: West
Color: Black (sometimes blue)
Animals Associated: Aquatic Animals, Bear
Celestial Position: Autumn, Sun Set, Waning Moon
Brings: Intuition, Emotion, Dreaming, Endings, Introspection
Symbols: Ocean Waves, Salty Tears, Womb Place, Abyss
Altar Expression: Chalice, Water, Blue Silk, Stars
invocation
Great Spirit of the West, ____ (seat, place, throne) of Water. We thank you for being with us, we humbly welcome you into our consciousness, into this space for your gifts of intuition, emotion and dream time. We look to the aquatic beings, our ocean kin the dolphins, whales and turtles. We look to the horizon to know the medicine of endings. Thank you for sending us the abundance of the ocean who nourish the planet. We acknowledge your presence always and honor you as you are always within and without us. ____ (closing affirmation: ashe, aho, amen, so it is) (You may leave your offering to the direction at this time or make noise to affirm)
EARTH
Direction: North
Color: White
Animals Associated: Hummingbird, Buffalo
Celestial Position: Winter, Night, New Moon
Brings: Wisdom, Ancestors, Stability, Knowledge
Symbols: The Frigid North, Snow, Northern Lights
Altar Expression: Stones, Ancestral Items, Coins
invocation
Great Spirit of the North, ____ (seat, place, throne) of Earth. We thank you for being with us, we humbly welcome you into our consciousness, into this space for your gifts of wisdom, stability and our passed loved ones. We honor to the buffalo, hummingbird and owl. We look to the frozen tundra to understand the challenge of our ancestors and the medicine of the eternal night. We acknowledge your presence always and honor you as you are always within and without us. ____ (closing affirmation: ashe, aho, amen, so it is) (You may leave your offering to the direction at this time or make noise to affirm)
SPIRIT There is an expansion beyond the four directions. For some traditions, this expansion is called the Seven Directions. Seven is a potent and sacred number and is held to hold significance spiritually.
The additional directions as we move through calling in directions are:
Above - The Great Spirit, Sky Father, Obatala (Yoruba), Ma’at (Khemetic). The Nameless One, Celestial Beings, Angels, Benevolent Extra Terrestrials, etc.
We thank them for their participation in our ascension, we ask that they watch over us as we walk upon the Earth.
Below - Pachamama, Mother Earth, Gaia (Greek), Ta Urt (Khemetic). The First Mother, Animals who Burrow, Slither, Crawl, Plant Spirits, Terrestrial Hosts, Fairies, Stone People, etc.
We thank the Earth for her presence and life giving ways in our lives, for always providing for us, we ask her to receive our stewardship and commitment to honor her.
Within - The Heart Portal, Vortex Place, Singularity. The Meeting Point of All Directions, The Heart Beat, All Moments Leading to Now, Higher Self, Inner Child, etc.
We acknowledge our willingness to show up in this place, to step forward for ourself and community so we may heal our lives.