New Worlds Isse: NW065
By: Tammy Sullivan

As Witches, one of our primary goals is to know ourselves. As Elemental Witches, we strive to know both ourselves and our element. Understanding that the element is within, as well as without, is the first step to developing a deeper relationship with your personal element. Over the course of writing Elemental Witch, I had the opportunity and pleasure to bond with my sister elements, as well as to deepen the bond with my own. I immersed myself into each element individually. Moreover, I watched every Witch I know very closely for their predominant personality traits and compared them to the gods and goddesses I had chosen. Amazingly, each element took on a distinct personality!

The process of revealing the personality of each element was an absolute joy. I worked closely with two different elemental covens to ensure accuracy. Over time, the little nuances of earth, air, fire and water began to peek through in their personalities. Also over time I was able to note many of the ways the elements connect with each other, and how we respond in kind. For instance, as an Air Witch, I communicate differently with a Fire Witch than I do with an Earth Witch. Time and time again, people seemed to take their cues from the elements in their response patterns. By this I mean that people tend to relate to each other in a similar manner as the elements do with each other in nature. To carry the example a bit further, as an Air Witch, when speaking with an Earth Witch I may come across as “superior” or condescending in my attitude, even though I am expressing frivolity (which is my nature). This is partly due to the placement of my element, and partly due to the fact that it is embedded so deeply in my persona.

Researching and reporting the lore included held me intrigued for weeks. While the book as a whole includes all of my favorite categories (lore, magic and deities), I must admit that the lore was the most fun to work with.

Nothing else seems to touch people in quite the same way as the elements. When my first article about the elements hit the stands in CIRCLE Magazine, I was surprised to find my mailbox jammed with letters from people requesting more information about bonding with the elements and how to discover which one they should be working with. It is my sincere hope that Elemental Witch serves to help all those that seek their personal element. To get you started, I’ll give you a guide.

The Down & Dirty Guide To Discovering Your Element

Discovering your element is not as difficult as you might imagine. Of course, the results of this quizlet will not be as accurate as the full version, but it can offer valuable insight nonetheless. Ready? Here we go!

1 You are contemplating a new tattoo. You want something that “feels” right. You choose:
a. A butterfly or bird
b. A flower or totem animal
c. A flame or a tribal pattern
d. A symbol

2 Suppose you had a report due; which of the following would be true?
a. I pay attention in school and take notes avidly. I want to be sure to have all of the details right.
b. I research the topic on my own, draw my own conclusions and report my findings.
c. I pay attention in class but back it up with research.
d. I goof off in class and do the report my way.

3 Primarily, I dress:
a. Comfortably
b. Razor sharp
c. I try to be both comfortable and edgy
d. I follow my own instincts

4 Magically, I prefer to work with:
a. Candles
b. Herbs
c. Potions
d. Words

5 If given a choice of views I prefer:
a. A waterfall or river
b. Flower filled fields or a forest
c. A roaring fire or volcano
d. A cliff top showing miles of blue sky

Scoring:
1. a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4
2. a=2, b=1, c=4, d=3
3. a=4, b=3, c=2, d=1
4. a=3, b=2, c=4, d=1
5. a=4, b=2, c=3, d=1

If you scored:
1-5 You are an Air Witch. Wild, wicked, flirty and free-spirited.
6-10 You are an Earth Witch. Warm, welcoming and nurturing.
11-15 You are a Fire Witch. Bold, exciting and individual.
16-20 You are a Water Witch. Sassy, intuitive and loving.