a revised look at 'the elements' {via the symbol of the Pictish Z-rod}
today we think of the elements as they appear on the periodic table, we conclude perhaps erroneously that they derive from the more ancient notion of the elements i.e. earth, air, fire and water. i do not think this is correct, what the ancients meant when they considered the elements was quite different to the physical ones we perceive today. it was probably so that the physical elements were original considered in with the greater notion of what the spiritual elements were, and from that side of things we ended up with the periodic table and un-included the other side of it.
whilst watching the film ‘the last geisha’ i noticed that the japanese [as do the chinese] considered the elements in a very different way to what we do. in one line in the film the older experienced geisha said of the newcomer ‘she has too much water’, does this refer to her physical constitution, i would think not. the lady was referring to the girls spiritual natures, where we are all composed of different spiritual elements in varying degrees.
so let us look at another example ~ the symbol of the pictish Z-rod
see image below...
this shows a ‘body’ [be it worldsa chariot or whatever] being crossed by a sweeping Z. it is said that in one way this represents rebirth as entire [where life and death ~ the afterlife} exist in one place] with the top end of the Z being the other side and the bottom being the earthy form, the Z shape thence represents a circle.
in the image below we see a mathematic barrel rotation representing how elements of each are in one another and the Z cam be seen as the circle bringing it all together. i doubt if the ancients had such mathematical models as they would have worked by the flow of energies and the flow of the principles. the actual number of the compartments are irrelevant it can be 12 or whatever, the numbers are usually chosen for the way they connect to aspects and elements, or by the principle and flow of numbers as they unfold and evolve.
the elements are fundamental to the workings of this symbol, in the image below we see how there is a flow from air to earth via aether [the fifth element] and metal ~ where metal is the medium for the air element to connect to the earth. in dowsing we see metal rods being used in this way to find water, dowsing can be used in other ways but this is tricky as it requires the mind to flow by the magical Z between sky and the given object or between two objects. when water is found the parallels of the dowsing rods cross and meet due to the connection, the rods are the Z working on the horizontal plane connecting in spiritual synchronicity with the vertical plane.
the z is also seen as an arrow indicating direction, momentum, power and ‘force’,
in other images we see the Zrod as a chariot symbolising these forces or here as wheels and worlds. the symbols represent many aspects of druidic magic and british culture intertwines, some images are within christian crosses so were done much later perhaps to keep alive the more ancient magic. at this time in history it could of course have simply been written down, so we may note that the designers chose symbol of text.
the V-rod
as a similar thrust of the elements the V-rod is an apprently broken arrow, but actually represents the earth a man and the flow of ‘energies’ between sky and earth then back again.
the serpent Z-rod
here we see the ancient symbol of the snake or serpent as representative of power both within and without.
the cauldron
like an arrow a force has a destination, similarly a soul or spiritual element has a base nature to return too. this is why the cauldron represents rebirth and is fundamental to the universal cycles of things. note it is a triple disc, where the two outer discs represent the in and out door - if you will.
we see this working of planes and elements also in universal astrology where we may imagine that the primary plane is like a canvas with oil on water painted upon it. we then divide that ‘image’ up into say 12 parts, or 27 as in vedic astrology, interestingly the barrel rotation can split between different time zones i.e. you can have the 12 compartments of the canvas mirrorred in terms of months for western astrology and years in chinese astrology. it doent stop there the 12 can represent ‘decades’ [loosely speaking] of 12 year period and so on incrementally. sometimes other divisions of the canvas have been chosen in ancient calendars and this is why we ended up with 7 days of the week.
where west meets eastern astrology:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...tdataga234.jpg
so where does this fit in with the elements. in alchemy and shamanism the two have always been closely linked, this is because the elements have a canvas too! we divide it into four or five parts where the fifth in the east is metal and in the west is aether.
i just want to finish by expanding on the general theme...
the organs of the body and corresponding astrological aether connections
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...softhebody.jpg
palmistry as an extension:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../palmistry.jpg
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Originally Posted by Boeing
i know you think you are being a logical dawkins type but your attacks are irrational, at least dawkins would find out about stuff rather than trying to make out he already knew. 
