Introduction

The purpose of these lessons is to explore the concept of the airts or quarters and to
learn how to use them in ritual.

We will study one quarter each lesson beginning with east.

Your teacher for this course is Rev. Mehitabel

What are the airts and what do we do when we call the quarters?

There are many views and opinions on this subject. The airts represent the totality of
existence and the four elements of air, fire, water and earth which are the building
blocks of creation. These elements are not the type of element we learn about in
chemistry lessons, they are an alchemical concept, a form of matter that is inherent to
our world and which has inherent properties. In summoning the airts we are inviting in
the power and properties of the four elements to augment that of our circle. In the
Correllian Tradition we view the airts as columns of energy rising up at each directional
quarter of the circle. Others view the energy in the form of a being such as an angel or
an elemental, or in the guise of a guardian of the element. This latter approach is used
by Farrar and Bone where the Guardian serves to control the power of the raw element
affording protection to the ritual work. Still other groups such as the Church of
Universal Wicca (CUEW) choose not to call the airts at all and simply light quarter
candles. All approaches are perfectly valid and the best advice is to use the one that
resonates with you. It is however important to fully understand what you are doing and
why.

The airts are generally called in a deosil (clockwise) order round the circle beginning at
the east, and are dismissed in reverse working tuathil (anti-clockwise) from north to
east.

There are generally 5 points that should be included when writing a quarter call. These
are:

1. Addressing the spirit being invoked by its name (Guardian of the element of
Air)

2. Praising the spirit (spirit of the early dawn and springtime)

3. Mentioning its qualities (source of inspiration)

4. Requesting its presence it is important to be polite (I ask you to join in this

ritual and share your powers)

5. Welcoming (Hail and welcome)

This is the basis of any quarter call and it may be expanded with more vivid
descriptions or correspondences (e.g. great eagle of the skies; light breeze through the
spring grasses) or may be turned into verse.

As you speak, visualise the power of element coming into your circle either as a column
of pure elemental energy, or represented by a figure.

It is very true that what you put into your quarter calls, your investment of energy and
purity of intent, will influence the effects created. We use correspondences items or
concepts associated with the Airt, to intensify the energy and to increase the connection
with that element. Understanding and developing personal lists of correspondences is an
important aspect of spiritual and magickal work. Correspondences do not end with
season, time, colour, quality and ritual tool. Especially in private ritual where you are
working specifically with the energy of, for example, air (such as a rite to bring
inspiration maybe in divination) it can help to find other correspondences to bring
power to your work. These may include scents as essential oils or incense; crystals;
artefacts such as feathers or wind borne seeds; and other unusual correspondences that
are meaningful to you. For example, perhaps you were wearing a particular piece of
jewellery when you climbed to the top of a church tower on a sightseeing tour and felt
the full power of air. As you gain experience it is likely that you will vary the
correspondences according to the purpose of your work.

When choosing which spirits to invite, be very careful to research and understand them.
This enables you to form a good and strong relationship with the spirit that will add
power to your working. Research is particularly important when working with the fae
for they are easily offended and the consequences of doing so can be great. Remember
to always be polite and never order a spirit to attend.

Closing the quarters at the end of ritual is a very important process that must not be
forgotten as it begins the process of grounding the excess energy raised and is a sign of
respect to the invoked spirits. Here again, there are several stages:

1. Addressing the spirit (Guardian of Air)

2. Thanking (we thank you for joining our ritual and sharing your powers)

3. A statement reflecting the qualities of the element (as the winds of change bring
healing)

4. Giving the option to stay or leave it is rude to tell them to simply go (go if you
wish, harm none*, but know you are welcome to stay)

5. The final farewell (we bid you hail and farewell!)

The harm none comment reflects the ethos of the wiccan rede and is a sensible
addition especially in rituals involving spells.

As we discussed above, we use correspondences to increase our connection with the

Airt and the element, and these correspondences extend far beyond the more traditional
ones of direction, season, time and quality. Forming a personal connection with each
element is of enormous benefit and a method for doing so is given here. We will begin
with the element of air.

A good technique which aids understanding of the elements is to meet them in a guided
meditation. This is an approach used by Farrar and Bone among others. Here, I will
suggest a method that draws upon shamanic journeying. Read the meditation through
several times before starting. You may wish to record it first onto a cassette.

Choose a time when you will not be disturbed. Disconnect the phone and ban the family
from your chosen room. Prepare the room with candles, incense and appropriate
lighting to suit your tastes. Having a drumming tape or soft music is often helpful. The
former has a call back that will remind you that it is time to end your journey and this
can be very useful. Alternatives are meditation timers that sound a soft chime. An alarm
clock is too raucous and can leave you ungrounded and light-headed. Make yourself
comfortable and practice some controlled breathing. Inhale for a count of 5, hold for a
count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5. Repeat this 3 times and then focus on your
breath, following it in and out. If any thoughts drift into your mind gently push them
away. When you are relaxed and ready, visualise yourself standing in front of a large,
mature oak tree. In the trunk of the tree is a door that leads to the other worlds. Open the
door and step inside. Before you are three paths that lead to the three worlds but only
the middle one is lit. State your intent that you wish to visit the Guardian of Air.
Begin to walk along the path concentrating on your steps until you come to a gate that
blocks your way. You are approaching the domain of Air. A figure materialises out of
the darkness. His form is hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is a
young man. This is the Guardian of Air. Introduce yourself and ask the Guardian to
show you his realm. Allow him to lead you through the gate and to take you with him.
As your call-back sounds, thank the guardian and bid him farewell. Take time to return
to yourself and end the meditation. Remember what he shows you and teaches you and
write this in your journal. Afterwards go outside and make a small offering to air. Here
you could tie some feathers to a stick and place this in the ground; or use a bunch of
grass seed-heads; or even use a childs windmill. It is your intent in making the offering
that is important.

In the next lesson we will consider some of the more traditional correspondences and
how to use these in writing the quarter calls.

Lesson 2

East the element of Air

In the Correllian Tradition the correspondences of air are:

Spring

Dawn

Maiden Goddess
Young God

Yellow (often a yellow candle)

Inspiration

Beginnings

Athame *

(Some traditions associate the wand with air and the athame with fire since a wand may
be consumed by fire but a blade is tempered by it. Which you follow is a matter of
personal choice but if you are leading a ritual as a Correllian Priest or Priestess then you
must follow the customs and correspondences of the Tradition.)

Spirits associated with the east include Aldebaran, one of the four Mesopotamian stars,
Eurus the east wind from Greek mythology, the archangel Raphael, the spirit of the
element the sylphs of air and the indigo shadow. Different pantheons will assign
different deities to the airts. For example, when working with the Egyptian pantheon,
the east is guarded by the Goddess Bast.

In your guided meditation from the last lesson you will have discovered many other
correspondences. These may be ones used generally or may be ones specific to you. If
you know intuitively that you should use something seemingly out of place such as a
blue stone for air, then you should do so. Personalising your private magickal and ritual
work will greatly increase the power.

More usual correspondences that you may have discovered for air may include:

Yellow flowers or spring such as daffodils; blossom, crocuses

Wind pollinated trees such as willow

Yellow stones and crystals such as citrine, yellow amber, yellow jade

Scents and oils such as orange blossom or light incenses

Creatures of the air such as birds especially those that fly the air currents such as
condors or powerful birds such as the eagle.

Butterflies and Dragonflies

Be inventive and allow intuition to guide you.

A typical basic invocation for the east quarter is:

Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the East and the Element of Air

Great eagle of the air riding the winds of inspiration

We call to you and invite you to our rite

In love and trust we bid you hail and welcome!

Note that we have addressed the Guardian formally; have praised the Guardian and
stated his* qualities, have issued an invitation and have welcomed them into the circle.

As you speak visualise either a column of pure air energy arising at the Eastern quarter,
or visualise the Guardian entering the circle and taking up position in the east, facing
outwards.

* the air Guardian is usually seen as a young male; the fire guardian as an elderly male;
the water guardian as a young female and the earth guardian as an elderly female.

Dismissing the quarter is the same process in reverse.

Guardian of the East and the element of air

We thank you for your presence and aid this night

As the winds of change blow within so shall they blow without

Go if you must, harm none, but know you are welcome to stay

We bid you hail and farewell!

(i.e. Addressing, thanking, qualities, option to stay or go, farewell)

Be inventive with your quarter calls. Make them meaningful to you and make them
enhance the ritual. Maybe try writing them in verse.

The exercise for this lesson is to meet the Guardian of Fire through Guided Meditation

Choose a time when you will not be disturbed. Disconnect the phone and ban the family
from your chosen room. Prepare the room with candles, incense and appropriate
lighting to suit your tastes. Having a drumming tape or soft music is often helpful. The
former has a call-back that will remind you that it is time to end your journey and this
can be very useful. Alternatives are meditation timers that sound a soft chime. An alarm
clock is too raucous and can leave you ungrounded and light-headed. Make yourself
comfortable and practice some controlled breathing. Inhale for a count of 5, hold for a
count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5. Repeat this 3 times and then focus on your
breath, following it in and out. If any thoughts drift into your mind gently push them
away. When you are relaxed and ready, visualise yourself standing in front of a large,
mature oak tree. In the trunk of the tree is a door that leads to the other worlds. Open the
door and step inside. Before you are three paths that lead to the three worlds but only
the middle one is lit. State your intent that you wish to visit the Guardian of Fire.
Begin to walk along the path concentrating on your steps until you come to a gate that
blocks your way. You are approaching the domain of Air. A figure materialises out of
the darkness. His form is hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is a
young man. This is the Guardian of Air. Greet him and ask him to let you through. He
asks you a question and you answer. He opens the gate and you continue along the path,
concentrating on your steps until another gate appears before you. You are approaching
the domain of Fire. A figure materialises out of the darkness. His form is hidden within
a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is an elderly man. This is the Guardian of
Fire. Introduce yourself and ask the Guardian to show you his realm. Allow him to lead
you through the gate and to take you with him. As your call-back sounds, thank the
guardian and bid him farewell. Take time to return to yourself and end the meditation.

Remember what he shows you and teaches you so that you can write this in your
journal. Also record the question that the Guardian of Air asked and your answer.
Afterwards go outside and make a small offering to Fire. Here you could light candles
or incense. It is your intent in making the offering that is important.

Lesson 3

South the element of Fire

In the Correllian Tradition the correspondences of Fire are:

Summer

Midday

Mother Goddess

Sun King

Red (often a red candle)

Transformation
Change

Wand *

(Some traditions associate the wand with air and the athame with fire since a wand may be
consumed by fire but a blade is tempered by it. Which you follow is a matter of personal
choice but if you are leading a ritual as a Correllian Priest or Priestess then you must follow the
correspondences of the Tradition.)

Spirits associated with the south include Regulus, one of the four Mesopotamian stars, Notus
the south wind from Greek mythology, the archangel Michael, the spirit of the element the
salamanders of fire and the magenta shadow. When working with the Egyptian pantheon, the
south is guarded by the Goddess Nekhbet.

In your guided meditation from the last lesson you will have discovered many other
correspondences. Remember to be guided by intuition even if it leads you to a correspondence
that varies from the traditional. The latter might include:

Red or orange flowers or summer flowers such as gazania; helenia; sunflowers; crocosmia;
gladioli and many others

Trees showing the fruits of the Mother such as apple

Red/orange stones and crystals such as red jasper; fire opal; ruby; garnet

Scents and oils such as jasmine; rose and robust incenses such as sandlewood and rose

Creatures of the fire such as the mythical phoenix, dragon and salamander, and creatures
showing the strength of fire such as cougar, and lion
Insects of the heat such as ants

Again, be inventive and allow intuition to guide you.

A typical basic invocation for the south quarter is:

Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the South and the Element of Fire

Great phoenix rising through the flames of transformation

We call to you and invite you to our rite

In love and trust we bid you hail and welcome!

Note that we have addressed the Guardian formally; have praised the Guardian and stated his
qualities, have issued an invitation and have welcome them into the circle.

As you speak visualise either a column of pure fire energy arising at the Southern quarter, or
visualise the Guardian entering the circle and taking up position in the south, facing outwards.

Dismissing the quarter is the same process in reverse.

Guardian of the South and the element of fire

We thank you for your presence and aid this night

As the fires of transformation rise within, so shall they rise without

Go if you must, harm none, but know you are welcome to stay
We bid you hail and farewell!

(i.e. Addressing, thanking, qualities, option to stay or go, farewell)

Remember to enhance the quarter call by being inventive, using verse and making them
personally meaningful.

The exercise for this lesson is to meet the Guardian of Water through Guided Meditation

Choose a time when you will not be disturbed. Disconnect the phone and ban the family from
your chosen room. Prepare the room with candles, incense and appropriate lighting to suit
your tastes. Having a drumming tape or soft music is often helpful. The former has a call-
back that will remind you that it is time to end your journey and this can be very useful.
Alternatives are meditation timers that sound a soft chime. An alarm clock is too raucous and
can leave you ungrounded and light-headed. Make yourself comfortable and practice some
controlled breathing. Inhale for a count of 5, hold for a count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5.
Repeat this 3 times and then focus on your breath, following it in and out. If any thoughts drift
into your mind gently push them away. When you are relaxed and ready, visualise yourself
standing in front of a large, mature oak tree. In the trunk of the tree is a door that leads to the
other worlds. Open the door and step inside. Before you are three paths that lead to the three
worlds but only the middle one is lit. State your intent that you wish to visit the Guardian of
Water.

Begin to walk along the path concentrating on your steps until you come to a gate that blocks
your way. You are approaching the domain of Air.

A figure materialises out of the darkness. His form is hidden within a large, hooded robe but
you realise that he is a young man. This is the Guardian of Air. Greet him and ask him to let you
through. He asks you a question and you answer.

He opens the gate and you continue along the path, concentrating on your steps until another
gate appears before you. Continue to walk along the path concentrating on your steps until
you come to a gate that blocks your way.
You are approaching the domain of Fire. A figure materialises out of the darkness. His form is
hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is an old man. This is the Guardian
of Fire.

Greet him and ask him to let you through. He asks you a question and you answer. He opens
the gate and you continue along the path, concentrating on your steps until another gate
appears before you.

You are approaching the domain of Water. A figure materialises out of the darkness. Her form
is hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that she is a young woman. This is the
Guardian of Water.

Introduce yourself and ask the Guardian to show you her realm. Allow her to lead you through
the gate and to take you with her. As your call-back sounds, thank the guardian and bid him
farewell. Take time to return to yourself and end the meditation.

Remember what she shows you and teaches you so that you can write this in your journal. Also
record the questions that the Guardians of Air and Fire asked and your answers. Afterwards go
outside and make a small offering to water.

Here you could place some seashells on your altar or light a blue candle or lavender incense. It
is your intent in making the offering that is important.

Lesson 4

West the element of Water

In the Correllian Tradition the correspondences of water are:

Autumn

Dusk

Queen

Judge

Blue (often a blue candle) or seashells

Emotions

Healing

Chalice

As always remember to follow the customs and correspondences of the Tradition when
conducting its rituals

Spirits associated with the west include Notares, one of the four Mesopotamian stars,
Zephyrus the west wind from Greek mythology, the archangel Gabriel, the spirit of the
element the undines of water and the navy shadow. When working with the Egyptian
pantheon, the west is guarded by the Goddess Neith.

In your guided meditation from the last lesson you will have discovered many other
correspondences. These might be:

Blue or mauve flowers or autumn flowers such as lavender, delphiniums, Michaelmas daisies
or water flowers like lotus and water lily.

Trees showing the fruits of autumn such as oak and beech

Blue/violet stones and crystals such as amethyst, normal opal, lapis lazuli, turquoise; sapphire

Scents and oils such as lavender; incenses such as myrrh

Creatures of the water such as the whale, dolphin, otter, seal and water birds such as
cormorant

Insects of the water such as waterboatmen

Again, be inventive and allow intuition to guide you even if the correspondences vary from the
usual.

A typical basic invocation for the west quarter is:

Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the west and the Element of water

Great whale riding the waves of the mighty oceans, the gentle patter of the autumn rains, the
love in our hearts

We call to you and invite you to our rite

In love and trust we bid you hail and welcome!

Note that we have addressed the Guardian formally; have praised the Guardian and stated her
qualities, have issued an invitation and have welcome them into the circle.

As you speak visualise either a column of pure fire energy arising at the Western quarter, or
visualise the Guardian entering the circle and taking up position in the west, facing outwards.

Dismissing the quarter is the same process in reverse.

Guardian of the west and the element of water

We thank you for your presence and aid this night

As the seed of love grows within so shall it grow without

Go if you must, harm none, but know you are welcome to stay

We bid you hail and farewell!

(i.e. Addressing, thanking, qualities, option to stay or go, farewell)

Enhance your call by being inventive, making it meaningful to you or writing it in verse.

The exercise for this lesson is to meet the Guardian of Earth through Guided Meditation

Choose a time when you will not be disturbed. Disconnect the phone and ban the family from
your chosen room.

Prepare the room with candles, incense and appropriate lighting to suit your tastes. Having a
drumming tape or soft music is often helpful. The former has a call- back which will remind
you that it is time to end your journey and this can be very useful.

Alternatives are meditation timers that sound a soft chime. An alarm clock is too raucous and
can leave you ungrounded and light-headed. Make yourself comfortable and practice some
controlled breathing. Inhale for a count of 5, hold for a count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5.
Repeat this 3 times and then focus on your breath, following it in and out. If any thoughts drift
into your mind gently push them away.

When you are relaxed and ready, visualise yourself standing in front of a large, mature oak
tree. In the trunk of the tree is a door that leads to the other worlds. Open the door and step
inside.

Before you are three paths that lead to the three worlds but only the middle one is lit. State
your intent that you wish to visit the Guardian of Earth. Begin to walk along the path
concentrating on your steps until you come to a gate that blocks your way. You are
approaching the domain of Air.

A figure materialises out of the darkness. His form is hidden within a large, hooded robe but
you realise that he is a young man. This is the Guardian of Air. Greet him and ask him to let you
through.

He asks you a question and you answer. He opens the gate and you continue along the path,
concentrating on your steps until another gate appears before you. Continue to walk along the
path concentrating on your steps until you come to a gate that blocks your way.

You are approaching the domain of Fire. A figure materialises out of the darkness. His form is
hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is an old man. This is the Guardian
of Fire. Greet him and ask him to let you through. He asks you a question and you answer. He
opens the gate and you continue along the path, concentrating on your steps until another
gate appears before you. Continue to walk along the path concentrating on your steps until
you come to a gate that blocks your way.

You are approaching the domain of Water. A figure materialises out of the darkness. Her form
is hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that he is a young woman. This is the
Guardian of Water. Greet her and ask her to let you through. She asks you a question and you
answer. She opens the gate and you continue along the path, concentrating on your steps until
another gate appears before you.

You are approaching the domain of Earth. A figure materialises out of the darkness. Her form is
hidden within a large, hooded robe but you realise that she is an elderly woman. This is the
Guardian of Earth. Introduce yourself and ask the Guardian to show you her realm. Allow her
to lead you through the gate and to take you with her.

As your call-back sounds, thank the guardian and bid him farewell. Take time to return to
yourself and end the meditation.

Remember what she shows you and teaches you so that you can write this in your journal. Also
record the questions that the other Guardians asked and your answers. Afterwards go outside
and make a small offering to earth. Traditionally this is a pinch of sage or tobacco. It is your
intent in making the offering that is important.

Lesson 5

North the element of Earth

In the Correllian Tradition the correspondences of water are:

Winter

Night

Crone

Magician

Green (often a green candle) or salt

Stability

Integration

Pentacle

When conducting a Correllian ritual within the Tradition you should follow the customs and
correspondences of the Tradition
Spirits associated with the west include Formault, one of the four Mesopotamian stars, Boreas
the north wind from Greek mythology, the archangel Auriel, the spirit of the element the
gnomes of earth and the olive shadow. When working with the Egyptian pantheon, the north
is guarded by the Goddess Wadjet.

In your guided meditation from the last lesson you will have discovered many other
correspondences. These might be:

Trees and winter flowers such as Christmas rose, pine trees, redwoods

Green stones and crystals such as emerald, chalcedony, jade, onyx

Scents and oils such as frankincense; earthy incenses such as patchouli

Creatures of the earth such as the bear, mole, badger.

Again, be inventive and allow intuition to guide you even if the correspondences are not
typical

A typical basic invocation for the north quarter is:

Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the north and the Element of earth

Great bear secure in the Earth, the body of the Mother. Grant us your powers of stability and
strength

We call to you and invite you to our rite

In love and trust we bid you hail and welcome!

Note that we have addressed the Guardian formally; have praised the Guardian and stated her
qualities, have issued an invitation and have welcomed them into the circle.

As you speak visualise either a column of pure fire energy arising at the Northern quarter, or
visualise the Guardian entering the circle and taking up position in the North, facing outwards.

Dismissing the quarter is the same process in reverse.

Guardian of the north and the element of earth

We thank you for your presence and aid this night

As the seed of healing grows within so shall it grow without

Go if you must, harm none, but know you are welcome to stay

We bid you hail and farewell!

(i.e. Addressing, thanking, qualities, option to stay or go, farewell)

Enhance your quarter call by being inventive, making it personally meaningful, or writing it in
verse.
When used for particular rituals or purposes the quarter calls may be modified accordingly.

For example, in a Yule Sabbat use correspondences or phrases that emphasise the purpose of
the ritual.

These might be:

mistletoe for air (since it grows in the branches above the ground),

yew for fire (the Yule log), ivy for water (as it grows on the tree trunks and draws
moisture from rain as well as the host tree),

oak for earth (Yule marks the return of the Oak King).

In a full moon esbat you might want to refer to the four aspects of the Goddess
maiden, mother, crone and nemesis. The latter is the very dark aspect of the Goddess
who is often omitted.

Every circle should be cast for a particular purpose whether ritual or spell work. Draw
on this purpose when composing the quarter calls.

This course has taught you the basics of composing quarter calls. The next stage is for
you to personalise what you have learnt, to form a bond with the four elements so that
you can connect with them better and more powerfully.

Most importantly, use what you have learnt. The Craft of Wicca is about doing and it
must be practised over and over again. Book work is not enough.

Blessed be!

Farrar, J. and Bone, G. Progressive witchcraft New Page books ISBN-10:

1564147193 ISBN-13: 978-1564147196