On the Elements
“We believe that the universe and its four basic elements (Water, Fire, Earth, Air) are eternal in that they have always been and always will be, they simply transform or appear to transform through a constant cycle of convergence and entropy, which some call the cycle of life-death-rebirth." The Odisbook, Mark Puryear
This cycle is reflected within every aspect of our cosmos and represents the very struggle between Order and Chaos.
In the blessed age of primal innocence and creativity the elements came together violently, clashing with one another to bring forth an ordered existence, which gradually becomes more and more complex as life evolves. This culminates in the development of sentience, and with sentience comes innovation and prosperity, what we call ‘The Golden Age.’
After the Golden Age comes the time of seduction, when chaotic elements are reintroduced and begin to play a more prominent role in the creation, which is ‘The Silver Age.’
Then comes the age of corruption, or ‘The Copper Age,’ followed by the age of strife, called ‘The Iron Age,’ and finally comes the downfall of the World Order, ‘The Wolf Age,’ the age of Ragnarok ‘The Twilight of the Gods.’
Each age represents a point on a six- spoked wheel that forever turns throughout time. It must now be understood that every element, down to the molecular level, is subject to this cycle of Fate.
Therefore, when the new order of our present universe began with a violent clash of Fire and Ice, driven by the airy Spirit in Ginnungagap, this was a display of their most savage nature within the Primal Age.
After this, each element was brought to order, as the Ice became the Hvergelmir Fountain, the Fire Urdarbrunn, and Ginnungagap: representing the Spirit in its chaotic aspect, became Mimisbrunn: representing the Spirit in its creative aspect.
Every element thus has this dual nature, mainly because all are driven by the Spirit, which is then subject to the power of Fate.
