The Elements
The four elements fire, water, air, and earth are deeply ingrained in the symbolism of the Tarot. In this context they are not defined literally, but as philosophical ideas based around the properties of each one.
Each suit relates to an element, and each element has a specific card, a segment of the court cards, 3 zodiac signs, and a planet which represents it. If you look at the astral calendar I created you can see how this all lays out and connects.
Fire
Sudden, uncontrollable change
Wands: power, passion, expansion
Planet: Uranus
Zodiac: Aries, Sagittarius, Leo
Court assignment: Knights
Card: Judgement or The Spirit of Primal Fire
World: Creation
Water
Sacrifice
Cups: emotions, spirit, intuition
Planet: Neptune
Zodiac: Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces
Court assignment: Queens
Card: The Hanged Man or The Spirit of the Mighty Waters
World: Formation
Air
Regeneration, survival of the sublime
Swords: intellect, psyche, survival
Planet: Pluto
Zodiac: Aquarius, Libra, Gemini
Court assignment: Kings
Card: The Fool or The Spirit of Ether
World: Emanation
Earth
Ourselves
Pentacles: material, sensual, practical
Planet: None
Zodiac: Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo
Court assignment: Princesses
Card: None
World: Action
Earth is not associated with a specific card or planet because it represents ourselves, or whoever is involved in a reading.
There is also an ancient fifth element know as Aether.
Aether
Aether is the foundation as well as the binding force of all the other elements. It represents the cosmos, all matter that may exist above the terrestrial sphere, and the collective human experience. Simply put, Aether is the elemental form of the spirit.
While studying the symbols and how the elements connect I was inspired once again to create some pieces of jewelry. I believe that everyone carries the spirit of their specified element with them (as designated by their sign) and to know it and embrace it helps one better understand their circumstances and cope with every day life.
The charms I created correspond to each of the alchemical symbols of the elements.
When a heavy element (water/earth) is layered with a light element (air/fire) they create the fifth element, Aether.