Wiccan Info: The Fifth Element, Akasha
75The Fifth Element of Spirit
What is Akasha to Wiccans?
The fifth element. And no, I'm not talking about Mila Jovovich in the smash-hit, future sci-fi flick with Bruce Willis. Akasha...and not Aaliyah's beautiful, dangerous character from Queen of the Damned.
To Wiccans, the fifth element is known as the "spirit". Another common Wiccan name for the fifth element of spirit is Akasha . This name given to one of Anne Rice's characters in the Vampire Chronicles was most likely pulled from a religious Hindu or Wiccan book.
Akasha can ultimately be defined as "the immutable, changeless source of all energy." Because it is the source of all energy, the type can be considered both receptive and projective. The colors most associated with Akasha (the Wiccan fifth element) are purple and black. Purple being the color to represent psychic abilities and black being the combination of all colors.
What point in life correlates directly with the Wiccan fifth element? Preconception and soulness, before birth and after life, the entire life, death, and rebirth cycle.
Are there any herbs, stones, or other ritual tools or Wiccan supplies that correspond with Akasha (the Wiccan fifth element)? No herbs and yet all herbs, no stones and yet all stones, as far as metals, meteoritic metals are the closest association. It is hard to associate particular Wiccan tools or items with Akasha, as all things are associated with it and through it.
Akasha is rooted in Hindu beliefs and is actually considered the first element by the Hindu religion. The word Akasha is actually a Sanskit word "meaning aether in both its elemental and metaphysical senses" (according to Wikipedia). Akasha is also taken to mean sky, by way of Hindu and Gujarati Indian languages. This is why Wiccans also associate Akasha with outer space or "the void".
How is the pentacle or pentagram associated with Akasha the fifth element? The top point is associated with the Wiccan fifth element, or spirit. The other four points are associated with the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water. What does the circle around the five pointed star? It is the circle of life, death, and rebirth and the energy that draws us all together as one. The circle that pulls together all elements, as well as humans and things derived from the elements. In essence, I assume that the circle is also representative of Akasha, as Akasha is the root of all energy.
Akasha, the fifth element, is something that we all seek our entire lives, in one way or another. Even if you don't realize it, you are a part of Akasha and Akasha is a part of you, infinitely.
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David - Actually I believe it was the Wiccans that took the name of "Akasha" from the Hindus. Though the idea of an immutable energy that is in everything and yet in nothing was a concept that dates back thousands of years, for many different cultures and belief systems. Thanks!
Hi Kitty,
Fabulous and informative hub about a very misunderstood concept within Wicca and other belief systems. Akasha is never easy to explain, but I think you have done a great job of doing just that. Voted up + awesome!!
Seeker7 - Awww, I'm glad you found it to be somewhat clarifying. Thanks for your support and kind words, as always!
I found this hub very interesting in a sense that concept of universal elements in Wiccan and Hindu religion is very similar. Earth, air, fire, water, and sky (also called ether) are five elements according to Hindu philosophy, they are uniformly called pancha tattva (Sanskrit, five elements). Akasha or Sky is the fifth element. Hindu scriptures say that the world and the living things, including human beings are made from these five elements. Earth is our flesh, air is breath, fire is our body heat, water is blood, and mind is the sky. The Upanishads have elaborated individually and uniformly about these elements.
Vinaya - How cool! So glad I had someone with the Hindu knowledge comment on this hub. It is very interesting to see how close these two beliefs are. Wicca pulls beliefs from many different religions, and yet is one of its own. Thanks so much for sharing. You added some insightful info. to this hub on the Hindu five element belief.
Very interesting indeed and I vote up plus look forward to reading mny more by you.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Eiddwen - Thanks! I'm happy you found it interesting.
Very good explanation Kitty, that is not an easy concept to
to break down like you did so that anyone can understand! Good Job! To go back and learn about different cultures and belief systems and how they have evolved is amazing and sometimes controversial, but always interesting!
Up and useful and interesting!
Chatkath - Thanks so much. I try to explain things so that people who don't know the concept can understand fully. Akasha the fifth element is sort of hard to explain, but I just tried to explain it the way I understand it.
davidkaluge Level 2 Commenter 8 months ago
From your hub it seem Hindu got some concepts from wicca as the both employ similar term in their believe though it may have different meanings. I know that Hindu has a mystical aspect so I wonder if its connected to wiccans concepts they may employ or its just theirs. However, I think mystical paths can be reached via various means/methods.