FROM WICCA PODSNET ECHO
Subject: Elementals
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 St> I was on the newsgroups a while ago and someone asked what people call
 St> when they call quarters...guardians of the watchtowers, elementals,
 St> etc. 
 St> The general consensus seemed to be that elementals were unpredictible,
 St> and should always be evoked, and not invoked.  This raised quite a few 
 St> questions...
 St> 1.  What is the difference between invoking and evoking?

To "evoke" (according to my dictionary" is to summon; to call forth; to bring
out; to elicit,as a response, etc.

To "invoke"is to 
        1. call on (a God, a spirit, a saint, Muses, etc.)for
blessing, help, protection, etc.  
        2. summon (spirits) by incantation; to conjure.
        3. ask solemnly for; beg for; implore, entreat.

In modern Craft usage in, for instance Drawing Down The Moon, the HP invokes 
the presence of the Goddess into the Priestess who in turn evokes this 
presence for the benefit of those present.

 St> 2.  What would the difference be between calling elementals and
 St> calling the guardians of the Watchtowers?

The "Watchtowers" are a hold-over from medieval Ceremonial Magic and 
symbolicly represntative of the "realms" of the classical four elements of
Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The "Guardians of the Watchtowers" are 
representatives (or perhaps minor "rulers") of these realms.  "elementals"
are just the "denizens" of these realms sort of repreentative "discrete 
packets" of the energy (of which ever type) found in a particular realm.

 St> 3.  What exactly are elementals?

See the above.  Earth Elementals (in my system) are called Gnomes, Air 
Elementals are Sylphs, Fire are Salamanders, and Water is represented by
Undines.  They have no "free will" and behave strictly according to their 
nature.

 St> 4.  What do people mean when they say that elementals are
 St> unpredictable? 

 I'm not sure.  I find them completely predictable, once their true 
 nature is fully understood.  Just remember that they are relatively
 mindless agents of a specific energy, and to never invoke anything 
 you can't banish!

 Please keep in mind that the above are my PERSONAL understandings, based
 upon my own experiences and learning over the past several years as "Witch 
 and Priest," and the understandings/experiences of others may differ.  All I
 know is that "it works for me!"<BWG>

        Brighid Dhuit!  -=>D<=-