The partition of the four elements
Terry Baker
printed on Giclée Epson Semi-Gloss
'There are four common elements. They were in the beginning evolved and moulded out of chaos by the hand of the creator, and it is their contrary action which keeps the harmony and equilibrium of the mundane machinery of the universe.' (Michael Sendivogius. 1566-1636).
Chaos (the First Matter) thus has a fourfold structure which, when teased out, reveals the alchemical elements of earth, air, fire and water. However, these elements are not to be seen in any literal sense. They are rather symbols of a deeper reality; metaphysical archetypes which together construct our perception of the world. Earth represents metals, which are dry and cold. Air represents gases, which are hot and wet. Water represents liquids, which are cold and wet. Finally, fire represents energy (lightning) which is dry and hot. To the alchemists the four elements signified not only the qualities of physical substances but also spiritual energies. Hippocrates gave them medical values; air for blood, fire for yellow bile, earth for black bile and water for phlegm.
