Zelda_of_Arel asked this question on 5/4/2000:

Merry Meet!

I'd like to ask 3 things.

1.) I've been going through a lot or Wicca sites and I noticed something. The Elements attributed to South and West are sometimes mixed up. South - Fire West - Water or South - Water West - Fire Are these different ways? Then why? Or maybe they're just mistakes?

2.) What's purification and how's it done?

3.) What do the degrees mean?

Thanks, I'll rate all answers.

Merry Part! Zelda

luise gave this response on 5/9/2000:

Greetings,

I had forgotten I wanted to answer this question.

Directions - The traditional correspondences for the directions are N=Earth, E=Air, S=Fire, W=Water. However, as a few others have said, geographical locations factor heavily. It completely depends on where the elements reside in your part of the world.

Purification - It is basically another word for cleansing, whether it be your space, body, or magickal items. Cleansing incenses are usually used with salt water to cleanse and charge sacred space, and tools. Salt water and purifying herbs are usually used to cleanse our bodies.

Degrees - These are used in many covens and traditions as a denotation of how much you have learned in your path. These should never be given out willy nilly. Now, different traditions decipher what each level means to them. Gardnerarians and Alexandrian are very huge into degrees. But from what I have read of their practices, some of the procedures were for show and kinkiness.

The main purpose for degrees is to commemorate what you have learned, and to present the person to the Divine for recognition.

I hope my words help in some way, shape, or form.

Blessings, Luise

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