Well, I am new to the site, but not so new to the practice. I have spent a while browsing the forums and every now and then i would see this topic come up in passing. Here is my firm belief. There is in fact a fifth element. This is mostly a theological view as it can be argued viciously in the world of science. The fifth element in my opinion is blood. So in total we have Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Blood. Why blood, some would ask. Maybe to add to the drama of the ritual? Not at all. Also, my opinion was not infuenced at all by the media and after hearing my explanation that should be perfectly clear. So where to start? Earth, Water, Fire, Air. The four most widely accpted elements, and an essential part in most, if not all rituals, correct? Well we have esstablished the fact that nature plays a part, correct? Well what else is needed for a ritual to work? Ah yes, a person. And the driving force in that person? Blood. Yes i understand where this logic takes us. The same could be said about a heart, or a liver, and so forth. But something strikes you when the word blood is said, does it not? And no one here can argue that adding even a small amount of your own blood to a ritual working adds power. The way i see it Earth does not mean the globe in general, it does not mean the name of the planet, it means the dirt, the grass, the trees. As for the others, their name is what they are. Put them together and they are the driving force in what makes this planet continue, therefore they hold great power. Well, Blood is what flows through our veins just as water flows through the earth. Blood burns in our veins just as fire burns at the center of this planet. Blood is one of our biggest needs to survive just as the planet needs what is earth (trees, dirt, grass.) Finally, Blood is invisible to us unless we make it show, as is the same with Air or Wind, both areinvisible, but we know boh to exist and play a huge part in our lives. In addition to all this. Think about ever ritual you ever worked was blood present? Yes it was,maybe it was not used as part of the ritual like the other elements, but it was there, it was your driving force that enabled you to work the ritual. For this and other reasons i will not jump into it is my firm and undying belief that Blood is the fifth element.
P.S. I apologize for any spelling mistakes, my grammer is not usually this bad but i felt the need to get everything out while it was fresh in my mind.