This whole thing is just...shocking me. I was thinking of posting a thread about this just yesterday! I am fine with the traditional associations as dantarot posted them, except I was recently having trouble with the Fire/Summer and Water/Autumn associations, thinking they should be switched. I can see Fire and Summer, and I can see almost all of the other combinations, but for some reason I have trouble seeing Water as Autumn. When I think of Autumn I think cool and dry, not wet, and I think bright colours like red and yellow leaves, which reminds me of Fire much more than Water. When I think of Summer I think of swimming, so I think of Water.
Does anyone have anymore info on this association, as per why we associate water with Autumn? The info I've found so far does not really convince me.
Not only that, I HAVE "The Way of Four"--it is an excellent book! It is packed with info, all sorts of associations--it has really helped me understand the elements more and was a very interesting experience. It is a workbook, so there are tons of quizzes for you to take--which I find so fun
These along with the info it gives helps you understand what type of personality you are--I am a Water personality even though I am an Earth sign...helps you recognize other people's elemental personalities by the clothes they wear, the way they act, and how they decorate their homes--really interesting and really helps to understand human nature. It also shows you how to incorporate the elements into your home and work environments, and it has great nature exercises for each element, meditations, and info about using the elements in magic. Even has information on elemental beauty treatments, perfumes, foods, rituals, music, herbs & flowers, gems & stones, and a lot more....and I really enjoyed all the history about how different cultures view the elements and how they have evolved over time. Highly recommended! (Sorry for the book review!
)
I didn't even think to look in here actually; but since it's on-topic I'll post what Deborah Lipp wrote in the book about the seasons. The way she parallels them to the times of day and directions helps:
Fire: "Fire resides in the South. It is associated with noon, the hottest and brightest time of day, and with summer, the hottest and brightest time of year."
Water: "Water's direction is West. Sunset in the west is also associated with death, with the end of things, and with transformation. Twilight is an in-between and mysterious time, and so is autumn."
Earth: "Earth is located in the North and is associated with midnight, because North is opposite the noon of South and because subterranean places are dark. Winter is in the North--the coldness of midnight, the coldness of deep soil, and the stillness and silence of waiting for spring."
Air: "The direction of Air is East, and since the Sun rises in the east, Air is associated with the morning, with the spring (the beginning of the agricultural and astrological year), and with beginnings of all kinds."
Of course those are her interpretations, and I think everyone associates things differently--but it does help clear things up a little, at least for THESE associations. And it is easy to see how these correspond to tarot...
