The Quarters
This lesson will focus on the Quarters by discussing the elements and energies associated with them as well as calling and thanking the quarters.
About the quarters and elements
Quarters, guardians, elements, etc., offer an extra layer to your circle and spell work. Once again, this is an area of great diversity for Witches as to what you do when you call a quarter.
The four elements of nature: Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the very foundations of creation and the basis of life itself. Add these elements to Spirit and you have the five points that create the pentagram. These elements are each representational to a cardinal direction, which is referred to as a quarter: East-Air, South-Fire, West-Water, North-Earth (and self-center). They are also represented by objects and tools on our altars. (For more information, click here.)
Exercise 1
Look at the elements chart at Bewitching Ways. Take a moment and think about each direction and the element it represents. Write a paragraph on what each direction/element symbolizes to you. Let your intuition guide you on this; don't over think it. What correspondences are you drawn to? What images to the directions and elements conjure? Do you want to work with the elementals, angels or other spirits associated with them? If so which and why?
This is going to give you your base connection to each element. This will be your building block for your relationship with it. There is no right or wrong answer.
For a deeper connection to the elements, try to do a mediation for each direction/ element. Be sure to face that direction during the meditation. (This portion is not required but can be a powerful experience.)
Exercise 2
How do you (or will you) represent the quarters and elements on your altar? Write a paragraph explaining your choices.
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Calling the Quarters
The quarters correspond to the four elements and the four cardinal directions as well as the powers, spirits, energies, characteristics, elementals, totems, angels, and guardians associated with that direction.
When calling the quarters, some Witches call on the powers of the elements. Others call on elementals. Some call on angels. Some on guardians. Some have calls so long and extensive that they invite EVERYONE to the circle. That is not necessary.
When I began doing rituals, I started out with the basics: the direction and the element. As I became more involved in ritual work and I began to learn more about the quarters, I began incorporating other energies into my quarter calls. Again, do what you feel comfortable with and feel free to change it as you grow.
Before calling the quarters, you need to decide: 1 - Who are you inviting and 2- What will their job be? To protect? To guard? To join in? To aid?
Make sure your wording properly reflects what you are asking of the quarters. For example, if you are doing a Sabbat ritual, you may want to simply invite the quarters to join in celebration. However, if you were doing serious spell work during an Esbats, you might ask them to guard your sacred space or to aid you in your magickal workings.
Note: I used the word "ask" on purpose. There are a few witches who demand or summon or call forth the quarters and the Goddess and God. I much prefer to invite these spirits into my circle. Think about it; how much help would you want to offer someone who demanded your presences instead of kindly inviting you in. And after all, we are mere mortals; it probably won't be in our best interest to demand anything from the spirit realm.
Calling the quarters can be as elaborate as you want it to be. Besides deciding who you are calling upon, you can also decide whether or not you want to mark their arrival in your circle. Some people light an appropriately colored candle for each quarter as they are called. Others ring a bell three times. Some simply offer them a "hail and welcome."
Another thing to think about is how you physically call them. Do you use your athame or wand? Do you speak out loud? Do you close your eyes? Do you stand with your hands out at your side, palms up? Do you hold your hands out? Do you salute them? Again, there is no right or wrong way. Do what comes naturally. But take not of how you do it as it may give you an indication of how your direct energy.
Depending on tradition or how you feel, Quarter Calling usually begins in the East or the North and moves clockwise.
As with casting the circle, if you are unsure of where to begin, look in your books or online for some sample callings. Do you like them? How could you change them to make them your own? Here are some samples.
Exercise 3
Write two sets of quarter calls: One for a celebration ritual and one for a working ritual. Why did you choose your wording? Which energies did you call upon and why?
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Closing the Quarters
As with everything else, what you open must also be closed. Before you finish your ritual, you must thank whomever you called upon from the quarters and then close the quarters.
Note: Again, be aware of your word choice. You want to thank the energy here, not "dismiss" it. Do not presume to be mightier than the energy around you.
The most common way to close the quarters is to walk around the circle widdershins (counter clockwise) beginning with the last quarter called and thank each representative for coming and extinguish the candle representing that quarter. Like the circle casting, you want to do the opposite for thanking the quarters that you did for inviting them. If you lit a candle at each quarter, extinguish it as you thank them. If you rang the bell on their arrival, you can also ring it on their departure.
Always be sure to offer thanks to the quarters when closing them.
Sample closings.
Exercise 4
Write a closing to go with your quarter two calls
Exercise 5
Perform one of the quarter calls and closings you wrote. How did you do it? Did you use any props? How did you stand? Did you use tools? How did it feel? Were you comfortable?
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Parting notes: As with circle casting, don't get hung up with calling the quarters the same way every time. As you become more comfortable with this part of the ritual, you may find yourself making up calls off the top of your head. There is nothing wrong with speaking from your heart directly to the quarters or deities. It is just important that you have a good feel for the energy and symbolism of the quarters before doing so. Feel free to experiment. Eventually you will find yourself falling into a patter that works for you for calling the quarters.
End of Lesson Three
lesson three
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