A Couple Of Questions

[ForgottenDreamsMyLove]

Okay... im so gona sound weird here (in my oppion) but what are the four elements? Are they the commonly use water fire wind and earth or are they metal wood water and fire? Im sorry im a little lost here and I have a lot of questions... so here goes nothing

1) What are the four elements?
2) Is there anythign specail you need while meditating (inscents, candles, stuff like that)
3) What do gems do? And where do you get them?
4) Is there any books you can read online or sites about this stuff cause I can't afford books?
5) I also want to know (if any) what Gods and Goddesses are there?  

[TeaDidikai]

ForgottenDreamsMyLove

1) What are the four elements?

That depends on the tradition.
Taoism is the source of the bulk of the Chinese Elemental systems you'll see.

These elements are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. They exist in constructive, destructive and reductive cycles.
These elements then give birth to all the things in the world (oversimplified theology, I know)

The Classical Elements- Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Aether- come from Greek culture and they maintained popularity well into the Middle Ages.

Japanese and Thai systems have a concept of Space, Void or Heaven that replaces the "Aether" of the Hellenic culture.

Popular Paganism uses the Classical Elements. Many such traditions draw correspondences between these elements based on seasons, time day, Tarot and other such things.

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2) Is there anythign specail you need while meditating (inscents, candles, stuff like that)

The only thing one must have for effective meditation is whatever you need to meditate effectively.

Myself- the only thing I need for mediation is movement. Though a good cup of tea will rarely go amiss- that said, everyone is different. You can find what will work for you through trial and error.

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3) What do gems do? And where do you get them?

Look pretty- for the most part. Many stones can be found online, as well as local shops. The properties of stones vary from tradition to tradition as well- to say nothing of the differences from person to person.

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4) Is there any books you can read online or sites about this stuff cause I can't afford books?

Sacred Texts is a good place to start.  

[patch99329]

ForgottenDreamsMyLove

5) I also want to know (if any) what Gods and Goddesses are there?

Hundreds and hundreds, some are popular and well known, others are not.
Some belong to pantheons that don't allow outsiders to worship (i.e the celts) but others do (i.e the greeks, norse etc).

Get your hands on good information, mythology etc and start from there with the gods. Pick a few pantheons you are interested in and research them.

Don't worry about asking questions, it's good to do that!  

[Tyrannical Princess]

TeaDidikai

Myself- the only thing I need for mediation is movement. Though a good cup of tea will rarely go amiss- that said, everyone is different. You can find what will work for you through trial and error.

Ha, where as I need silence, dark, and stillness. I've found that if I try the moving stuff, I end up breaking things by accident.

I also use alot of personal imagery in my meditation.  

[TeaDidikai]

Bacodus

TeaDidikai

Myself- the only thing I need for mediation is movement. Though a good cup of tea will rarely go amiss- that said, everyone is different. You can find what will work for you through trial and error.

Ha, where as I need silence, dark, and stillness. I've found that if I try the moving stuff, I end up breaking things by accident.

I also use alot of personal imagery in my meditation.

I'm more of an ecstatic myself. If I sit in the dark silence, I start to chitter at myself in a counterproductive way unless there is an overpowering situation that overrides it.  

[CuAnnan]

1) Elements are the fundamental chemical building blocks.
They are used, in composite form, to build compounds which, in turn, make matter.
There are far more than four of them, though some of them only exist in certain energetic situations.

2) I like candles. I like incense. I like my bits of rock. But I don't see that I should need anything for meditating.

3) What do you mean "what do gems do"? And I get them mostly as gifts.

4) About what 'stuff'?

5) Why should we tell you what Gods there are and aren't?  

[TeaDidikai]

CuAnnan

5) Why should we tell you what Gods there are and aren't?

I personally viewed it as an open invitation to discussion.  

[CuAnnan]

TeaDidikai

CuAnnan

5) Why should we tell you what Gods there are and aren't?

I personally viewed it as an open invitation to discussion.

So did I.
I'm just confused as to how we can be expected to answer.
If we take a mathematical analogy.
It is perfectly understandable that a four dimensional frame of reference can describe five dimensional systems. But only in a limited manner.
We as human beings can not describe the Gods in any more than a limited manner.
As such, I am attempting to determine the motivation behind the question in an attempt to better understand how to answer.  

[ForgottenDreamsMyLove]

CuAnnan

TeaDidikai

CuAnnan

5) Why should we tell you what Gods there are and aren't?

I personally viewed it as an open invitation to discussion.

So did I.
I'm just confused as to how we can be expected to answer.
If we take a mathematical analogy.
It is perfectly understandable that a four dimensional frame of reference can describe five dimensional systems. But only in a limited manner.
We as human beings can not describe the Gods in any more than a limited manner.
As such, I am attempting to determine the motivation behind the question in an attempt to better understand how to answer.

i am basically asking what Gods and Goddesses people believe in. You don't have to tell me im just asking what ones you may believe in. Im sorry is that a bad question to ask?  

[TeaDidikai]

Myself, I'm a hard polytheist. I believe in the existence and divinity of YHVH as much as I believe in my own gods or Cu's.  

[CuAnnan]

ForgottenDreamsMyLove

i am basically asking what Gods and Goddesses people believe in. You don't have to tell me im just asking what ones you may believe in. Im sorry is that a bad question to ask?

I believe in the Gods of the Gael.
I believe there are other Gods.  

[patch99329]

I believe in the majority of the worlds gods in some shape or form.
I choose to honour the greek pantheon. smile  

[Ethermus Prime]

patch99329

I believe in the majority of the worlds gods in some shape or form.
I choose to honour the greek pantheon. smile

I'm with Patch on the first part. Henotheism FTW. Though I haven't found a "pantheon" to work with...as I haven't quite found my path yet.

Still working on step one...balance is tricky, and fickle  

[maenad nuri]

patch99329

I believe in the majority of the worlds gods in some shape or form.
I choose to honour the greek pantheon. smile

Yes. This.  

[TeaDidikai]

Ethermus Prime

patch99329

I believe in the majority of the worlds gods in some shape or form.
I choose to honour the greek pantheon. smile

I'm with Patch on the first part. Henotheism FTW. Though I haven't found a "pantheon" to work with...as I haven't quite found my path yet.

Still working on step one...balance is tricky, and fickle

This isn't really Henotheism.

Max Müller coined the term- defining it as "monotheism in principle and polytheism in fact". I'm not even sure that Kathenotheism works well for what Patch believes, and by proxy by what you have penned, you either.