Classical Philosophy

Plato associated the element of Earth with darkness, thickness and quietness.

In Magic(k)

The element of Earth is one of the four (or five) elements of modern Western magical systems, the others being air, fire, water and sometimes spirit or aether.

The elements are usually invoked during ritual in order to balance the energy in the sacred space or the practitioner herself, but air may also be invoked independently to lend their energy to spellwork within its sphere of influence or to help the practitioner balance out an excess of earth energy.

The element of Earth relates to stable foundations and rules health, wealth, prosperity, employment and fertility. It is often evoked for stone, crystal and knot magic and spells related to the hearth and home, to gaining material things including money and employment and to general security and family matters.

Earth is often evoked from the North in the form of spirit creatures associated with Earth, including Gnomes, Fauns, Goblins, Satyrs, Dryads or Sylvestres or by calling upon divinities or other spirits associated with Earth and Gods and Goddesses of Earth such as Demeter, Ceres, the Horae, Persephone, Proserpina, Hades, and Pluto.

When creating sacred space or purifying areas, objects or individuals for ritual, Earth may be employed in the form of [[salt]]] or ocre sprinkled around the area or used to make a mark.

Earth may be represented on an altar by stones or crystals, a bowl of salt or soil. Colors used to represent air include dark earthy colors, such and brown and black and green. The element may also be represented by statues of animals associated with the element of Earth, such as the bull, the stag, the dragon, the wolf, the owl, the cat and the sphinx.

Healing Magic

In ancient Greek medicine, the element of Earth is associated with the humor black bile. Earth and black bile are cold and dry. An excess of black bile causes meloncholy.

In Alchemy

The alchemical symbol for Earth is a downward pointing triangle bisected by a line. Earth is cold and dry and represented by salt.

Correspondences

Earth Plants

All grains, ivy, red poppy, thrift plant.

Air Stones

Onyx, jade, amethyst and flourite are all associated with the element of Earth.

Metals

lead and mercury.

Planetary Correspondences

The element of Earth is associated with the planet Venus, the planet Saturn, Vulcan and of course the planet Earth

In Astrology

The element of Earth is associated with the zodiacal signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Tarot

Earth is associated with the suit of pentacles and the Universe card.

Other Associations

The element of Earth is associated with old age and the season of autumn or winter.