* Tetrahedron / Fire
* Octahedron / Air
* Cube / Earth
* Icosahedron / Water
* Dodecahedron / Celestial Realm
* Octahedron / Air
* Cube / Earth
* Icosahedron / Water
* Dodecahedron / Celestial Realm
“Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.” Isaac Newton. Artwork by Becker-Hagens. The Cube (Earth) is the element Carbon; Icosahedron (Water which mass is 88% Oxygen) is Oxygen; the Tetrahedron (Fire) is Hydrogen; the Octahedron (Air is 78% Nitrogen) is Nitrogen, and the Dodecahedron (listed as Gaia or sometimes referred to as Spirit) is the Aether.
The alchemical process of an element always goes from earth to water (with digestion), from water to air (with distillation), and from air to fire (with calcinations ).
Water is our blood which contains 85% of the salt in the human body. In a way, our blood has similarities to ocean water. Fire manifests as the body heat that arises from glucose produced by the liver. Earth is the solid body—the bones and flesh. Air fills our lungs. Spirit animates all of the elements into the living being you are.
You need the Elements of earth, air, water and fire to create a vessel for the spirit to reside.
The pentagram is the representative blueprint for life, and the pentagram represents the Goddess.
You will notice that the pentagram is in the shape of a human—and more than that, it represents the Sacred Feminine. Our ancestors understood that life came from the Sacred Feminine. We are all born from mothers. Woman is the place where life is created. So if you’re a woman be proud of the fact that you are a representative of the Goddess.
You need the Elements of earth, air, water and fire to create a vessel for the spirit to reside.
The pentagram is the representative blueprint for life, and the pentagram represents the Goddess.
You will notice that the pentagram is in the shape of a human—and more than that, it represents the Sacred Feminine. Our ancestors understood that life came from the Sacred Feminine. We are all born from mothers. Woman is the place where life is created. So if you’re a woman be proud of the fact that you are a representative of the Goddess.
EAST SIDE
JUDAH-Lion
WEST SIDE
EPHRAIM-Bull
NORTH SIDE
DAN-Eagle
SOUTH SIDE
RUEBEN-Man
JUDAH-Lion
WEST SIDE
EPHRAIM-Bull
NORTH SIDE
DAN-Eagle
SOUTH SIDE
RUEBEN-Man
Let's see a summary of its operation. Starting on the left side of the South point (for the Southern Hemisphere) counterclockwise:
We start with the Winter Moon from 21/06 to 21/7. Its animal is the Polar Goose. It teaches you to be clear, adaptable, fluent, prudent, and wise.
The Germination Moon, from 22/7 to 22/08, has the Otter as its animal. It helps develop physical skills, discover talents, have courage, be humanitarian, and cultivate your soft and gentle side.
The Moon of the Great Winds, from 23/08 to 22/9, has the Puma as its animal. It teaches about your sensitivity, your longing for spirituality, your hesitation in expressing feelings, and your need to connect with the Earth.
The Spring Moon from 23/9 to 22/10, has the Red Hawk as its animal. It teaches about energy, intensity, catalyzing change, audacity, and optimism.
The Fertilization Moon, from 23/10 to 21/11, has the Beaver as its animal. It teaches about perseverance, patience, and practicality.
The Flowering Moon, from 22/11 to 21/12, has the Deer as its animal. It teaches about your beauty, the beauty of others and the environment, and your own healing abilities.
The Summer Moon from 22/12 to 19/01. Its animal is the Woodpecker. It teaches about the law of relationships, maternal family, nurturing, and the importance of emotions.
The First Harvest Moon from 20/01 to 18/02. Its animal is the Sturgeon. It teaches to work with the heart center, show affection, face fears, and develop leadership skills.
The Bright Moon from 19/02 to 20/03. Its animal is the Brown Bear. It teaches impartiality, fair decisions, common sense, perseverance, confidence, and analytical skills.
The Autumn Moon from 21/03 to 19/04. Its animal is the Crow. It teaches how to show physical affection and be comfortable on Earth and in the Sky. It provides understanding of your relationships with groups.
The Last Harvest Moon from 20/04 to 20/05. Its animal is the Snake. It teaches about extending your own energy, ability to create change, curiosity, and desire for truth.
The Long Nights Moon from 21/05 to 20/06. Its animal is the Elk. It teaches mental strength, relationships, teachings, and communication.
Now only the four spiritual paths of each quadrant remain to complete the entire Medicine Wheel. These paths are formed by each row of three stones that depart from the four cardinal points, the guardian spirits, towards the center of the circle. They are the qualities/virtues that we must develop to return to the Center of Life, to the Creator. They are:
Southern Spiritual Path: Cleansing, Renewal, and Purity.
Eastern Spiritual Path: Clarity, Wisdom, and Enlightenment.
Northern Spiritual Path: Growth, Trust/Faith, and Love.
Western Spiritual Path: Experience, Introspection, and Strength.
We start with the Winter Moon from 21/06 to 21/7. Its animal is the Polar Goose. It teaches you to be clear, adaptable, fluent, prudent, and wise.
The Germination Moon, from 22/7 to 22/08, has the Otter as its animal. It helps develop physical skills, discover talents, have courage, be humanitarian, and cultivate your soft and gentle side.
The Moon of the Great Winds, from 23/08 to 22/9, has the Puma as its animal. It teaches about your sensitivity, your longing for spirituality, your hesitation in expressing feelings, and your need to connect with the Earth.
The Spring Moon from 23/9 to 22/10, has the Red Hawk as its animal. It teaches about energy, intensity, catalyzing change, audacity, and optimism.
The Fertilization Moon, from 23/10 to 21/11, has the Beaver as its animal. It teaches about perseverance, patience, and practicality.
The Flowering Moon, from 22/11 to 21/12, has the Deer as its animal. It teaches about your beauty, the beauty of others and the environment, and your own healing abilities.
The Summer Moon from 22/12 to 19/01. Its animal is the Woodpecker. It teaches about the law of relationships, maternal family, nurturing, and the importance of emotions.
The First Harvest Moon from 20/01 to 18/02. Its animal is the Sturgeon. It teaches to work with the heart center, show affection, face fears, and develop leadership skills.
The Bright Moon from 19/02 to 20/03. Its animal is the Brown Bear. It teaches impartiality, fair decisions, common sense, perseverance, confidence, and analytical skills.
The Autumn Moon from 21/03 to 19/04. Its animal is the Crow. It teaches how to show physical affection and be comfortable on Earth and in the Sky. It provides understanding of your relationships with groups.
The Last Harvest Moon from 20/04 to 20/05. Its animal is the Snake. It teaches about extending your own energy, ability to create change, curiosity, and desire for truth.
The Long Nights Moon from 21/05 to 20/06. Its animal is the Elk. It teaches mental strength, relationships, teachings, and communication.
Now only the four spiritual paths of each quadrant remain to complete the entire Medicine Wheel. These paths are formed by each row of three stones that depart from the four cardinal points, the guardian spirits, towards the center of the circle. They are the qualities/virtues that we must develop to return to the Center of Life, to the Creator. They are:
Southern Spiritual Path: Cleansing, Renewal, and Purity.
Eastern Spiritual Path: Clarity, Wisdom, and Enlightenment.
Northern Spiritual Path: Growth, Trust/Faith, and Love.
Western Spiritual Path: Experience, Introspection, and Strength.
EAST (Leste)
• Element: Fire
• Color: Yellow
• Body Aspect: Spiritual
• Celestial Body: Sun
• Energy: Masculine, Daytime
• Key Concepts: Vision, Observation from a distance, Observe before investing energy
• Animals: Eagle, Condor, Serpent, Hawk, Falcon, White Owl
The first direction is the East, associated with the Sun, daytime energy, and masculine energy. Its element is fire, which empowers the spirit.
The animals here include the eagle, condor, hawk, falcon, and the white owl. The eagle represents clarity, vision, purpose, and focus. It flies high, and before engaging in any situation, we must observe closely and be absolutely sure that’s what we want. Like the eagle, which chooses its prey and dives decisively, we learn the lesson of distancing ourselves first to visualize the whole scenario clearly.
WEST (Oeste)
• Element: Air
• Color: Black
• Body Aspect: Mental
• Celestial Body: Moon
• Energy: Feminine, Nighttime
• Key Concepts: Introspection, Analysis, Evaluation, Inner preparation, Confronting limits, Recognizing mental barriers and self-sabotage
• Animals: Black Bear, Owl, Lizard, Armadillo, Bat, Panther
The second direction is the West, where the Moon is found—nighttime energy, feminine energy. The element here is air, which strengthens the mind. Air resides in the chest area, where the heart center is.
The animals include the black bear, owl, bat, armadillo, and panther. Introspection—symbolized by the black bear—is the teacher of this direction. Bears, when they enter hibernation, consume enough to create fat reserves so that upon awakening, they still have the nutrients needed to find food again.
The lesson here is the necessity of preparation to face your path, confront fears, traumas, and limitations—everything standing in your way. We confront our inner demons, shadows, and patterns, learning to see them clearly. Some animals, like the lizard, can travel from East to West, bridging these two directions.
SOUTH (Sul)
• Element: Water
• Color: Red
• Body Aspect: Emotional
• Symbolic Role: The Child
• Key Concepts: Playfulness, Authenticity, Purity, Dropping masks and labels, Connecting with true essence, Free will, Recognizing the divine within
• Animals: Coyote, Wolf, Otter, Dolphin, Jaguar, Squirrel
The third direction is the South, linked to childlike energy. Its element is water, which empowers the heart and the emotional plane.
The animals here include the wolf, coyote, otter, dolphin—creatures known for their playfulness. In this space, we discover our potential and what we need to do to embrace it without fear. It’s about breaking labels, challenging paradigms, and asking: Who do I truly want to be? Are we shaped by others (friends, parents, society), or by our own internal truth?
The South is like throwing a stone into a mirror and seeing all the various phases of ourselves. Among them, we seek our essential face: the “I AM.” In the South, we access authenticity and our true potential. We decide what we like, what we want for ourselves—our real talents.
NORTH (Norte)
• Element: Earth
• Color: White
• Body Aspect: Physical
• Key Concepts: Security, Determination, Firmness, Breath, Concretization, Believing in potential, Establishing the right to be happy
• Animals: White Buffalo, Elk, Bull, Horse
The fourth direction is the North, symbolizing the energy of the wise elder. The element is earth, which strengthens the physical body.
Animals here include the elk, buffalo, horse, and stag—“animals firmly walking on four legs.” This direction teaches us how to be secure, to stand steady. By this point, we know who we are and what we want, so we’re ready to take the eagle’s dive (from the East) and aim for our goals.
We move in a circle, learning from all teachers—through subtle signs: a gesture, a friend, a mistake, a success, a plant, a bird, a master. We learn to prepare ourselves for the eagle’s dive—returning to the East and continuing to circulate, always learning from these four directions.
Summary
In this teaching, each of the four cardinal directions (East, West, South, and North) is associated with a particular element (Fire, Air, Water, Earth) and certain energies or themes:
1. East (Fire/Spirit) – Symbolizes daytime, masculine energy, clarity of vision, and careful observation before action. The eagle represents focus and the importance of stepping back to view a situation fully.
2. West (Air/Mind) – Symbolizes nighttime, feminine energy, introspection, and facing inner barriers and fears. The black bear illustrates the need for inward preparation and self-reflection.
3. South (Water/Emotion) – Symbolizes the inner child, authenticity, playfulness, and emotional openness. Animals like the wolf and dolphin represent the joy of exploring one’s true nature and breaking free from limiting labels.
4. North (Earth/Body) – Symbolizes wisdom, security, and determination. Animals such as the buffalo and elk teach groundedness and the readiness to manifest goals confidently.
By moving through these directions, one continually learns and grows—developing a holistic balance of spiritual (East), mental (West), emotional (South), and physical (North) aspects.
• Element: Fire
• Color: Yellow
• Body Aspect: Spiritual
• Celestial Body: Sun
• Energy: Masculine, Daytime
• Key Concepts: Vision, Observation from a distance, Observe before investing energy
• Animals: Eagle, Condor, Serpent, Hawk, Falcon, White Owl
The first direction is the East, associated with the Sun, daytime energy, and masculine energy. Its element is fire, which empowers the spirit.
The animals here include the eagle, condor, hawk, falcon, and the white owl. The eagle represents clarity, vision, purpose, and focus. It flies high, and before engaging in any situation, we must observe closely and be absolutely sure that’s what we want. Like the eagle, which chooses its prey and dives decisively, we learn the lesson of distancing ourselves first to visualize the whole scenario clearly.
WEST (Oeste)
• Element: Air
• Color: Black
• Body Aspect: Mental
• Celestial Body: Moon
• Energy: Feminine, Nighttime
• Key Concepts: Introspection, Analysis, Evaluation, Inner preparation, Confronting limits, Recognizing mental barriers and self-sabotage
• Animals: Black Bear, Owl, Lizard, Armadillo, Bat, Panther
The second direction is the West, where the Moon is found—nighttime energy, feminine energy. The element here is air, which strengthens the mind. Air resides in the chest area, where the heart center is.
The animals include the black bear, owl, bat, armadillo, and panther. Introspection—symbolized by the black bear—is the teacher of this direction. Bears, when they enter hibernation, consume enough to create fat reserves so that upon awakening, they still have the nutrients needed to find food again.
The lesson here is the necessity of preparation to face your path, confront fears, traumas, and limitations—everything standing in your way. We confront our inner demons, shadows, and patterns, learning to see them clearly. Some animals, like the lizard, can travel from East to West, bridging these two directions.
SOUTH (Sul)
• Element: Water
• Color: Red
• Body Aspect: Emotional
• Symbolic Role: The Child
• Key Concepts: Playfulness, Authenticity, Purity, Dropping masks and labels, Connecting with true essence, Free will, Recognizing the divine within
• Animals: Coyote, Wolf, Otter, Dolphin, Jaguar, Squirrel
The third direction is the South, linked to childlike energy. Its element is water, which empowers the heart and the emotional plane.
The animals here include the wolf, coyote, otter, dolphin—creatures known for their playfulness. In this space, we discover our potential and what we need to do to embrace it without fear. It’s about breaking labels, challenging paradigms, and asking: Who do I truly want to be? Are we shaped by others (friends, parents, society), or by our own internal truth?
The South is like throwing a stone into a mirror and seeing all the various phases of ourselves. Among them, we seek our essential face: the “I AM.” In the South, we access authenticity and our true potential. We decide what we like, what we want for ourselves—our real talents.
NORTH (Norte)
• Element: Earth
• Color: White
• Body Aspect: Physical
• Key Concepts: Security, Determination, Firmness, Breath, Concretization, Believing in potential, Establishing the right to be happy
• Animals: White Buffalo, Elk, Bull, Horse
The fourth direction is the North, symbolizing the energy of the wise elder. The element is earth, which strengthens the physical body.
Animals here include the elk, buffalo, horse, and stag—“animals firmly walking on four legs.” This direction teaches us how to be secure, to stand steady. By this point, we know who we are and what we want, so we’re ready to take the eagle’s dive (from the East) and aim for our goals.
We move in a circle, learning from all teachers—through subtle signs: a gesture, a friend, a mistake, a success, a plant, a bird, a master. We learn to prepare ourselves for the eagle’s dive—returning to the East and continuing to circulate, always learning from these four directions.
Summary
In this teaching, each of the four cardinal directions (East, West, South, and North) is associated with a particular element (Fire, Air, Water, Earth) and certain energies or themes:
1. East (Fire/Spirit) – Symbolizes daytime, masculine energy, clarity of vision, and careful observation before action. The eagle represents focus and the importance of stepping back to view a situation fully.
2. West (Air/Mind) – Symbolizes nighttime, feminine energy, introspection, and facing inner barriers and fears. The black bear illustrates the need for inward preparation and self-reflection.
3. South (Water/Emotion) – Symbolizes the inner child, authenticity, playfulness, and emotional openness. Animals like the wolf and dolphin represent the joy of exploring one’s true nature and breaking free from limiting labels.
4. North (Earth/Body) – Symbolizes wisdom, security, and determination. Animals such as the buffalo and elk teach groundedness and the readiness to manifest goals confidently.
By moving through these directions, one continually learns and grows—developing a holistic balance of spiritual (East), mental (West), emotional (South), and physical (North) aspects.
Earth symbolizes the realm of the physical body and sensory experience.
Water corresponds to the soul, encompassing emotions and feelings.
Air represents the mind, including thoughts and ideas.
Fire stands for the spirit, associated with clarity, insight, and inspiration.
Water corresponds to the soul, encompassing emotions and feelings.
Air represents the mind, including thoughts and ideas.
Fire stands for the spirit, associated with clarity, insight, and inspiration.
Western Fourfold Correspondences
| Direction | Element | Archangel | Color | Season | Time of Day | Moon Phase | Basic Quality | Physical Orientation | Symbolic Focus |
| North | Earth | Uriel | Green | Winter | Night | New Moon | Cold & Dry (Earth) | Left | Body: |
| West | Water | Gabriel | Blue | Autumn | Dusk | Waning Moon | Cold & Wet (Water) | Behind | Soul: |
| East | Air | Raphael | Yellow | Spring | Dawn | Waxing Moon | Hot & Wet (Air) | Front | Mind: |
| South | Fire | Michael | Red | Summer | Noon | Full Moon | Hot & Dry (Fire) | Right | Spirit: |
Key Notes (Western System)
1. Archangels & Elements
• North/Earth/Uriel – Often linked to wisdom, stability, and grounding.
• West/Water/Gabriel – Associated with intuition, dream states, and emotional depth.
• East/Air/Raphael – Associated with healing, intellect, and fresh insight.
• South/Fire/Michael – Associated with courage, passion, and spiritual strength.
2. Seasons & Times of Day
• North/Winter/Night – Represents the dormant, resting phase, inner reflection.
• West/Autumn/Dusk – A time of letting go, transformation, and introspection.
• East/Spring/Dawn – New beginnings, optimism, and mental clarity.
• South/Summer/Noon – Peak energy, warmth, outward expression, creativity.
3. Four Basic Qualities
• Earth = Cold & Dry
• Water = Cold & Wet
• Air = Hot & Wet
• Fire = Hot & Dry
4. Physical Orientation (symbolic)
• Often, people face East (front) for sunrise or new beginnings. Then:
• North is on the left,
• South is on the right,
• West is behind.
1. Archangels & Elements
• North/Earth/Uriel – Often linked to wisdom, stability, and grounding.
• West/Water/Gabriel – Associated with intuition, dream states, and emotional depth.
• East/Air/Raphael – Associated with healing, intellect, and fresh insight.
• South/Fire/Michael – Associated with courage, passion, and spiritual strength.
2. Seasons & Times of Day
• North/Winter/Night – Represents the dormant, resting phase, inner reflection.
• West/Autumn/Dusk – A time of letting go, transformation, and introspection.
• East/Spring/Dawn – New beginnings, optimism, and mental clarity.
• South/Summer/Noon – Peak energy, warmth, outward expression, creativity.
3. Four Basic Qualities
• Earth = Cold & Dry
• Water = Cold & Wet
• Air = Hot & Wet
• Fire = Hot & Dry
4. Physical Orientation (symbolic)
• Often, people face East (front) for sunrise or new beginnings. Then:
• North is on the left,
• South is on the right,
• West is behind.
Core Symbolic Meanings of the Four Western Elements
1. Earth
• Realm: Physical body, senses, material world
• Focus: Grounding, stability, embodiment
2. Water
• Realm: Soul, emotions, deep feeling
• Focus: Intuition, subconscious, flow
3. Air
• Realm: Mind, intellect, ideas
• Focus: Clarity, communication, logic
4. Fire
• Realm: Spirit, inspiration, transformation
• Focus: Willpower, passion, creativity
1. Earth
• Realm: Physical body, senses, material world
• Focus: Grounding, stability, embodiment
2. Water
• Realm: Soul, emotions, deep feeling
• Focus: Intuition, subconscious, flow
3. Air
• Realm: Mind, intellect, ideas
• Focus: Clarity, communication, logic
4. Fire
• Realm: Spirit, inspiration, transformation
• Focus: Willpower, passion, creativity
Chinese Five Elements (Wu Xing)
Unlike the Western fourfold system, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Daoist cosmology use five elements, each associated with one direction plus center. The chart below shows how each element correlates with an organ, a musical note, and a cardinal point (with Earth in the Center):
Unlike the Western fourfold system, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Daoist cosmology use five elements, each associated with one direction plus center. The chart below shows how each element correlates with an organ, a musical note, and a cardinal point (with Earth in the Center):
| Direction | TCM Element | Organ | Chinese Note | Season (in TCM) |
| Center | Earth ( | 土)Spleen ( | 脾)宮 | (Do)Transition/Late Summer |
| North | Water ( | 水)Kidney ( | 肾)角 | (Mi)Winter |
| East | Wood ( | 木)Liver ( | 肝)徵 | (Sol)Spring |
| South | Fire ( | 火)Heart ( | 心)羽 | (La)Summer |
| West | Metal ( | 金)Lung ( | 肺)商 | (Re)Autumn |
Key Notes (Chinese Five Elements)
• Earth/Center:
• Spleen governs digestion and “transformation/transportation” of food and fluids.
• Symbolizes support, nourishment, balance, and the “pivot” around which other energies move.
• Water/North:
• Kidney essence, willpower, deep reserves of energy.
• Associated with winter, stillness, storage, and renewal.
• Wood/East:
• Liver function, growth, planning, vision.
• Associated with spring, new life, and upward/expansive energy.
• Fire/South:
• Heart, spirit (神 shén), joy, and warmth.
• Associated with summer, peak activity, enthusiasm.
• Metal/West:
• Lung, boundaries, letting go, purity.
• Associated with autumn, reflection, and contraction.
• Earth/Center:
• Spleen governs digestion and “transformation/transportation” of food and fluids.
• Symbolizes support, nourishment, balance, and the “pivot” around which other energies move.
• Water/North:
• Kidney essence, willpower, deep reserves of energy.
• Associated with winter, stillness, storage, and renewal.
• Wood/East:
• Liver function, growth, planning, vision.
• Associated with spring, new life, and upward/expansive energy.
• Fire/South:
• Heart, spirit (神 shén), joy, and warmth.
• Associated with summer, peak activity, enthusiasm.
• Metal/West:
• Lung, boundaries, letting go, purity.
• Associated with autumn, reflection, and contraction.
