{Elemental Spirits}[28th May 1988]

[Redbook5:127-128][19880528:1737]{Elemental Spirits}[28th May 1988]

19880528.1737

I was pleased – delighted – to read, first in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, then in Brewer* – where I must surely have read it before – that the Undine,** the spirit of the waters, (being presumably female) must bear a child to Mortal Man in order to gain a Soul. (I think I remember this from years ago, re mermaids). This symbolism exactly fits the position and role of R~ on the Tarot-Zodiac Circles: 'I am Undine....' [2]*** (– the progression from T.XIV to TXX has already been discussed in terms of Conception-to-Birth, etc.).****

I also note that Sylphs were connected with Coquettes in popular myth: this has some relevance as the most notable thing about a coquette from a man's point of view is that she is (so far as he is concerned) chaste: although she may well be affectionate and thus encourage him (obviously, much coquetry is more flirtatious and deliberately or negligently unkind). Affection (and attraction), as well as chastity, seem appropriate to S~, where Sylphs are.

For Salamanders, the lizard-like aspect is clearly appropriate to the Horned Beast/Dragon at J~.

For Gnomes, there is a curious and apparently accidental connection with the attribution “gnomic”, which I always imagined as burrowing deep into Knowledge: Knowledge being the Gift of the Spirit# at U~, where Gnomes belong.

These point simply serve to reinforce the attribution of the four Elements to the four diagonal points.

*[Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable]

**[cf. [Redbook3:28][19870326:1543i]{Recurring Image: Pre-[xS]}[26^th March 1987].]

***[‘"I am Undine, Spirit of the Water."’ (– xS in [2])]

****[[Redbook2:357][19850101:1225]{Birth and Rebirth}[1st January 1985];

[Redbook3:135-136][19870406:2300c](SEX AND GENDER [continued(3)]: {True Love and the Death of the Self})[6th April 1987]]

#See earlier Book [[Redbook4:45][19870712:1840d]{The Gifts of the Spirit (2)}[12^th July 1987],&c.]

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