Calling The Quarters

Quarter calls are part of the magic circle, a ritual used by witches and other mystics the world over. In this ceremony, the practitioner is creating a boundary for protection and to raise energy. Through intention, this energy is infused with the goal of any spells done in the circle. The four quarters are called to balance the circle and manifest the results of a spell. Each quarter draws upon the four element, the primal powers of creation. Everything is made from the four elements. Everything has an Earth or physical aspect and a Fire, or energy component. Less obvious is the Water aspect. Water is expressed through the emotional and astral forms. The Air aspect is expressed through the mental realm. Everything is created by thought. Even if something has no consciousness and emotions, it has an astral form and a structural geometry. By calling upon the four elements, you manifest your desire more quickly. Guardian entities are often called upon and visualized with each quarter, to aid in protection and manifestation.

The primary difference between quarter calls is the correspondence between the direction and element, and what form of guardian you are calling upon for aid. Some traditions claim they perform the one true way, and all others are wrong, but I've found as long as you call upon all four, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and do so with love and respect, it works. Some combinations may resonate better with you than others, but it never hurts to try something different. Traditionally quarter calls start in the north or east and move clockwise. They are released and wished well at the end of the ritual in the opposite direction, usually starting where the quarter calls began. All beings who help in your magic should be honored and thanked.

The angelic circle is a very traditional quarter call. The four archangels, or watchtowers, are asked to protect the participants in the magic circle. Start in the north, call upon the element of Earth and the archangel Auriel. In the east call upon the element of Air and the archangel Raphael. Then to the south, call upon the element of Fire and the archangel Michael. His flaming sword protects Eden. Lastly move to the west, calling upon the element of Water and the archangel Gabriel.

Some choose to work strictly with elemental energy, and not call upon angels. The elements are called upon and visualized through their elemental form, often from mythological references. The directions and elements stay the same, but for the Earth, you could call upon and visualize Gnomes or Dwarves. For Air, call on Sylphs, which are small winged fairy like beings. For Fire, call upon the Salamanders, red lizard like beings living inside the flame. For Water, the elemental is Undines, looking much like mermaids. The elemental may appear in a humanoid form, but made entirely of the element. Fire elementals usually appear to me as men made of fire.

Others go direct to the source, calling upon the chief elemental, or elemental king, named after the four winds of Greek mythology. The king of Earth is Boreas, often depicted as an old man with black or gray clothing and hair. The king of Air is Eurius, a fair haired youth dressed in blue. Notus is the young warrior king of Fire, in red armor. In the realm of Water is King Zephyrus, a middle aged man with rusty hair and sea green robes. They often carry their elemental "weapons" from the Tarot suits, a shield, sword, spear and cup respectively. You may even try calling upon elemental queens.

When I first learned to cast a circle, my teacher had some different correspondences. We worked with Totem animals. I was told this is a more Celtic tradition. I'm not sure if that's true, but I really like combining the elemental world with the animal kingdom. In the north we called upon the element of Earth and the Stag. But you could also use the Bear totem. In the east we called upon Fire, for the Sun rose in the east. We called on the Red Fox as our totem. In the south was the element of Air and the Raven or Crow. Water was in the west, with the Salmon of Wisdom.

My own tradition incorporates different gods who I feel are guardians and guides to me. I call upon these gods and totem animals. For the Earth I call upon Cernunnos, the horned lord of the forest. For Fire I call upon Lugh, the bright and shining one. Macha is my patron from the Air realm. And I call upon the waters of transformation from Cerridwen's cauldron.

In ancient Egypt, the Shemsu-Heru, the sons of the avenging god Horus were associated with the directions. Each has a different animal head, much like the traditional four mummification jars holding internal organs of the deceased. Other Egyptian deities are associated with the directions. To the east is Tuamutef with a jackal head. He represents the element of Air. Ra, Osiris and Bast are patrons of the east. Akeset is the only human, associated with fire and the south. The fiery lion goddess Sekhmet is from the south. Qebhsennuf wears the hawk head, like his father and works with water and the west. Other gods of the west include Hathor, Anubis and Nephthys. For the north and Earth comes the ape headed Hapi. This Hapi is most likely not the Nile River god of the same name. North is also the direction of the great goddess Isis. Personally many of these animal and deity association do not resonate with me, but they worked well for the Egyptians.

For those into astrology, you can use it as a model for your magic circle. An astrological chart is a picture of the sky, having all four directions. In a natural chart, each sign, planet and house lines up with their natural rulers, the ones sharing common traits. In this chart, the four directions match the four cardinal signs. North has the sign of Cancer, the crab, a water sign. Its planet is the Moon. East is Aries the Ram, a fire sign. Mars is the ruler. South is Capricorn, the goat, an Earth sign. In the west is Libra, the scales, an Air sign. Venus is the planet of Libra. In this ritual, while calling on the elements, you can invite the energy of the signs, or gods and goddesses corresponding with their ruling planets.

The Native American traditions also honor the four elements and directions. Though not witchcraft, their spiritual practices are strongly comparable to the natural religions from Europe. The Medicine Wheel ceremony places the element of Earth in the south, Water in the west, Air in the North and Fire in the east. The Central and South American natives may have similar correspondences in their world tree. The Aztecs associated Omeciuatl with the Earth, Tezcatlipoca with the Air, Ometecutli with Fire and Tlaloc with Water.

I have a student who has placement of the elements similar to the Medicine Wheel. She may have a past life in those traditions. She starts with Air in the north, because she faces north and sees the sky above her. We are on the east coast of North America, and she feels water is obviously to the east. Earth is below her, or behind her, putting it in the south and the Sun sets in the west, so that is the direction of Fire. It makes sense to me, even though I don't use it. Do what makes sense to you. These ideas are to get you started. And always go into a circle with a light heart of love and trust for the Goddess and God.

The Quartered Circle: a Wiccan Mandala

by Judy Harrow and Mevlannen Beshderen

Nearly all neo-Pagan rituals begin with casting a Circle and calling the Quarters, although different Traditions do this in different ways, and even the attributions of elements to quarters may vary. Similar symbols, such as mandalas and Medicine Wheels, show up around the Earth. The two very basic ideas that are represented by the quartered Circle are so nearly ubiquitous that they might be trans-cultural, intrinsic to the way humans make sense of our world.

Orientation in space: the traditional Navajo home is built so the first rays of the rising sun enter the door. Muslims face Mecca to pray. We call the Quarters. All of these are variations on a theme. There are some very different cultural explanations given for some remarkably similar behaviors. The actual source of this behavior seems to be more natural than cultural. It may come from observation of the way the sun travels across the sky, the way the sun's path changes as the seasons change. Or it may actually be more basic than our humanity, a subtle "wired in" sensitivity to polar magnetism that we share with other animals.

The model of wholeness: Whatever the qualities or energies attributed to the quarter points, you can bet they are those that are considered most important by that particular group. The quartered Circle is a way of making sure everything really important is honored for itself and brought into a balanced relationship with everything else that is really important. Its meta-message is the fundamental polarity between unity and diversity.

Drawing correspondences is the Wiccan national sport. As you go along, you will find more and more things mapped onto the basic glyph of the quartered Circle: seasons, colors, altar tools, Tarot suits.... Some of them will make more sense than others. Some are highly debatable. Some vary from Tradition to Tradition, even from coven to coven at times. In the fact that these attributions are not immediately obvious and are not universally held lies a very important lesson:

Our symbol systems are human-created vocabularies, models, not facts

It will work best for both your training and our group bonding if we use the same attributions within the coven, even for our own private workings at home. Even though those attributions may be our way, they are not the Only Right Way. Throughout history, people have caused each other unspeakable suffering by confusing those two things. By holding our metaphors lightly, we can avoid repeating that stupid and tragic error. So remember that none of our models and metaphors are anything but our own human and imperfect attempts to make sense of an infinitely large and complex Reality that will always be greater than our capacity to take it in.

That being said, Proteus Coven uses the most widespread generic Wiccan Quarter attributions. These are the ones that allow us to work most comfortably with other groups when we visit or gather:

East is the place of beginnings, associated with the element Air. This is the Quarter of intellect: of research, logic, critical thinking. Contrary to popular notion, we neither reject nor disrespect science - we only seem to do so because we hold it in balance while the culture around us grants it supremacy. You will also find the East associated with spring, dawn, childhood, and the color yellow.

South is the place of peaking, associated with the element Fire. This is the Quarter of passion: of courage, will, lust, drive, desire, action. In older texts, the word "emotion" is associated with South, but in reality only some emotions are fiery, while others are watery. So we substitute the word "passion," to avoid confusion. Energy, in the physical sense, is a function of the South, and other associations include summer, high noon, adolescence, and the color red.

West is the place of deepening, associated with the element Water. This is the Quarter of wisdom: of compassion, intuition and insight. Dreamwork is here, and divination, and all other spiritual practices and their fruit, balancing the intellect of the East, each essential to inform and correct the other. West is associated with autumn, dusk, maturity and the color blue.

North is the place of transformation, of death and birth and the nothingness in between, associated with the element Earth. This is the Quarter of the body: of doing, skill, stability and the pleasures of the senses. The form of the North balances the force of the South. North is also traditionally the Quarter of silence, balancing with its stillness the South's high energy. North is associated with winter, midnight, both elderhood and infancy, and the color green.

More recently, some groups, including our own, have been calling a fifth Quarter:

Center is the place of magic: of balance and integration, of choice and responsibility, of consummation and change, the place where we stand and to which we draw the powers and qualities of the four quarters in accord with our needs and desires of that moment. Center is also the Witch him- or herself. All things come together at Center and from Center the Mystery emanates outward to fill all the worlds. For Judy, the color of Center is iridescence, the shimmering rainbow. Mevlannen sees Center as silver.

The spatial metaphor for wholeness is incomplete without mentioning the two remaining directions. Although we do not usually formally invoke them as Quarters, it's important to at least be aware of Up and Down. Many indigenous and shamanic peoples envision some sort of vertical world axis - our Maypole is likely an echo of these - and a three-level universe.

This is not a description of Heaven and Hell. Those are later accretions. We do not conflate higher with better or lower with worse. Instead, in a Pagan world view, down and up are both good and both necessary, although different enough to look like opposites: nature and culture. Life-giving power flows in both directions, spiraling like the Maypole's ribbons, which wind in both directions, forming the double helix of life.

What lies below us are sheer natural forces and capacities, which may be conceptualized as power animals. This includes internal qualities like speed, cunning, strength, and also such external natural forces as mountain, ocean, hurricane, sun, moon. Some cultures represent these as a separate family of Gods, such as the Formorians, that are more alien than the others. These powers are the foundation of our lives and of all life. The color of Below is black.

What lies above us are the great ideals, which may differ from culture to culture. This is why the Gods of one culture never correspond completely to those of another -- different cultures, and subcultures, uphold different core values. Also, there are a lot more than one way of categorizing Reality. Cultural ideals may include love, courage, wisdom, generosity, firmness. Cultural groups create stories and symbols to transmit these values and to inspire people to live by them. The color of Above is gold.

Polarity is a word you'll hear a lot around the Craft. Our working definition is "two things, both good, both necessary, but which are perceived to be opposites." Sometimes the perception that they are opposite is just plain wrong, and the way to resolve a polarity is to insist on "both, and." Sometimes the two things really are reciprocal, and the goal is to be unfrozen along the spectrum, free to choose from minute to minute what balance point will best serve your purpose. You will run into quite a few classic Wiccan polarities as you pursue your training. The three that are represented by the spatial metaphor's three axes are not the only ones, but they are quite important, and well worthy of your attention. They are:

The Receptive Axis: knowledge (East) and wisdom (West) / The Active Axis: force (South) and form (North)

The Axis of Power: nature (Below) and culture (Above) / Poised between these is a place of great wonder.

written by: Judy Harrow and Mevlannen Beshderen, December 29, 1996
updated: March 14, 2000; © 1998, 2000 Judy Harrow -- www.draknet.com/proteus/quarters.htm

Once the circle is cast, you are ready to call the quarters if you wish.
There are many different energies and beings that can be called, summoned or stirred to protect the circle or witness your ritual - from watchtowers to angels to faeries to elementals to element energies.
No matter which type of quarter call you use, when working with quarters, envision a door or opening of some kind and visualize the energy or being that will be coming through that door to guard the circle.
All quarter energies should be thanked and released in the same manner they were called.
I'll give you an example of the type of quarter call I use during New Moon rituals. As I call each quarter, I face that direction and hold out my athame with both hands, feeling the energy from that element flowing into me:

To the East, I invite the powers of Air
To blow out the old and bring in the new
on your winds of change

To the South, I invite the powers of Fire
To burn away regrets
And shine your gentle rays upon me for growth

To the West, I invite the powers of Water
To cleanse me of negativity
And purify my thoughts

To the North, I invite the powers of Earth
Let your renewing strength bury all ills
And open new paths before me

I like to use elemental energies during quarter calls, although I sometimes use angelic energies. Because the New Moon is a time for new beginnings, you'll notice that my quarter calls reflect the type of magick that will be worked inside the circle

Do some research and get to know the energy you will be using. If you use elemental energies, take some time to meditate on each element and figure out its properties and correspondences.

When you are finished with your spell or ritual, release the circle exactly opposite of the way you cast it. Pull the circle back into your athame or whatever tool you used in your casting, and release and thank any spirits or elementals you called. T

here are literally thousands of ways to call quarters and cast circles. I've just given you an overview, because it's always best to figure out what works for you. I work very well with element energies, but you might have an affinity for something else. A good book to read on casting circles is Silver Ravenwolf's "To Stir a Magick Cauldron".

Calling the Four Quarters

What are the Quarters?

The 'Quarters' often refer to the elements of nature that are forces honored by Pagans and Witches. They are named many things, but you will often hear them referred to as corners, quarters, Watchtowers, elements, Elementals, etc. All of these related titles have different meanings and represent different forms of energy. As with nearly everything in the Craft or in Paganism, these forces are seen differently by each individual. This is a general explanation of what they are and how they are 'called'.

The elements are associated with the cardinal points of the magic circle and with a hierarchy of spirits- lower-level beings called elementals, who in turn are governed by higher beings, devas, also called the Lords of the Watchtowers, the Mighty Ones and the Guardians.

So from that we see that the elements are Earth, Air, Fire and Water Elementals are said to be 'lower-level' beings, meaning very generally that they are not God/desses. Elementals are ruled over by higher beings, devas called by names such as the Lords of the Watchtowers, the Mighty Ones, and the Guardians.

The Cardinal Points

The four corners refer to the four cardinal points of the compass, North, South, East & West.

The occultist, or sometimes ceremonial magician, uses different techniques than a Witch might use. This of course is not an absolute for all Witches. Being very practical people, Witches will often utilize whatever techniques appear to work, so long as they are in line with the beliefs of the Old Religion. The occultist or ceremonial magician will generally evoke a spirit, often using the names of gods, angels and demons from the Judeo-Christian and Mohammedanism tradtion. The magickal traditions of these paths are based in the Zohar (Quabalah), Hebrew based numerology, Notarikon, Gemetria, and are influenced by Egyptian, Chaldean and Babylonian magick. These sources have little to do with Witchcraft except that the techniques have been adopted by some Witches as being useful and that they may have been adapted by these sources from originally Pagan folklore. A Witch generally invokes an energy, using techniques gained through experience and learned from nature and intuition.

If techniques derived from other traditions prove effective and do not run counter to Wiccan (used in the sense that Witch=Wiccan) belief, it is proper to use them......the Witch uses the techniques in the service of the Old Religion, just as, let us say, a Christian doctor might utilize drugs which were discovered first by Indian shamans and used by them in the service of their religion" (from The Practice of Witchcraft, Robin Skelton) Some Witches utilize the elements, seeing them as general energies that are inter-connected, that make up all of life. Often you will encounter an author or practitioner who feels the hierarchical division and labeling of particular energies of the elements are not Witchcraft, but rather are more ceremonial in nature. Others utilize the 'Guardians' or 'Guardians of the Watchtowers' or some similar title. These energies are called to the circle for many reasons, often to 'keep the element energies in line with the working'. Again, we can only speak in generalities because each practitioner has a different view of these things. Because many of the rituals in the Craft have been lost through time and persecution, they are merely echoes of what the Old Ways may have been. In an attempt to reconstruct some of the old techniques which were probably more shamanic in nature, modern practitioners will 'borrow' from other magickal traditions. These more modern traditions of magick often consist of grand hierarchies of energies (angels, demons, etc.). Many Witches however, feel that these hierarchies are an over intellectualization of the energies of the universe and are too limiting.

The elements correspond to the cardinal points. These again are up for interpretation. Generally:

North is Earth / East is commonly attributed to either Air or Fire / South is commonly attributed to either Fire or Air / West is Water

Even these correspondences are often altered according to a particular tradition or according to the area in which the practitioner lives. For example; if you lived on Long Island, you might consider East to be Water (Atlantic ocean) and West to be Earth (N. America continent). Others use different magickal references (grimoires and other books) to determine which is proper for them, or they follow what they were taught by their mentors. This is a difficult area in which to find a consensus and can cause tension in covens of Witches with varied or eclectic backgrounds. Each of the elements is also associated with a magickal tool, or tools. These too vary according to tradition, training, or intuition. You may have noticed that these are the symbols represented on many tarot cards. Here are some general correspondences:

Earth is the pentacle, and often considered a female principle

Air is the wand, staff ( or sword or athame for some) considered a male principle

Fire is the sword or athame (or wand or staff for some) considered to be a male principle

Water is the cup, challice or cauldron, considered a female principle

The combination of the 4 elements is also sometimes represented by the cauldron.

How are the Quarters Called?

There is rarely a consensus on this topic in magickal circles. Generally, the circle is cast and invocations, evocations or convocations are utilized for the elements, Elementals, or Guardians. Usually the practitioner faces the corresponding direction (cardinal point) while invoking. These are some of the more popular invocations and convocations used. Please refer to the quoted source for more information about particular ones that interest you. Only one invocation or convocation is listed here from each source, for the remaining invocations, often the only variance is the element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) and the direction. (North, South, East, West) Remember, research and study all the resources you can, but above all, use your intuition. Never use an invocation or convocation that contains words you do not fully understand. Try to develop your own style and make your practice your own. Blessed Be!

"Black spirits and white, Red spirits and grey, Come ye, come ye, come ye that may. throughout and about, around and around, The circle be drawn, the circle be bound. "

(from The Rebirth of Witchcraft, adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", probably originally from Middleton's play, "The Witch" old Celtic. The 'Airts' of the directions of the compass in this example are represented as red=east, white=south, black=north, brown-grey=west. This is only one of many color correspondences for the Airts.)

Herbs of the Quarters

North: corn, cypress, fern, honeysuckle, wheat, vervain

East: acacia, bergamot, clover, dandelion, lavender, lemon, grass, mint, mistletoe, parsley, pine

South: basil, carnation, cedar, chrysanthemum, dill, ginger, heliotrope, holly, marigold, juniper, peppermint

West: apple blossoms, lemon balm, camellia, catnip, daffodil, elder, gardenia, grape, heather, hibiscus, jasmine, orchid

Yule 2004 (with MoonFire)

Calling the Quarters:

East:

Spirits of the Icy Winds
the fire's sun burns the morning's dew,
igniting the icy resin
and bleaching the sky blue,
so the wind now knows not where to go,
as it twists and it turns
back into the snow,
only to die an unconscious death
asleep and forgotten
with no dying breath,
a memory of memories
lost in the path,
this road of destruction,
a road of forgotten's past
Spirits of East
Hail and Welcome

South:

Spirits of the Fiery Hearth
Swirling streams of red and gold
Blending days of new and old
Ever turning circles burning
Years begin and ending
Earth and air ever sending
Streams of love and friends unending
Gather dreams to magick sending
Fire always tending
Desires both clear and blazing
Warm hearth and heart
Gentle strong and neverending
By dawning light
Spirits of South
Hail and Welcome

West:

Spirits of the Blowing Blizzard
Sparkling swirling snow,
Falling softly
Coming gently
Beautiful snow
Melting swirling snow
Blowing lightly
Piling softly
Cold snow
Bright Snow
Glimmering piling snow,
Lightly softly
Stacking dropping
Soft snow.
Cool Snow
Falling sparkling snow,
Swirlng lightly
Coming quietly
Beautiful snow.
Spirits of West
Hail and Welcome

North:

Spirits of the Sleeping Earth
Today and tonight, only peace.
The stars wheel about their constellations
the sea recounts a hushed lullaby
the moon winks at the resting world
and a herd of silvered clouds pass by
the hoar frost whitens the pleasant fields
laid bare of their garnered grain,
And the gaunt, gray winds cry,
thundering in from over the stark, brown plain
Over the life in the sleeping earth,
till the spring comes smiling down.
Spirits of North
Hail and Welcome

Dismissing the Quarters

North:

Spirits of the North
As the wheel is just beginning to turn
On its axis for the new year
We remember what we learned from the old
And strive for in the new
Spirits of the Sleeping Earth
Go if you must, stay if you will
Hail and Farewell

West:

Spirits of the West
Throughout the land,
The mounds of snow continue to pile
And continue to grow
A lot of nature continues
To hibernate under your white covering
We shall remember the fun experiences
Of the Winter Season
Spirits of the Blowing Blizzard
Go if you must, stay if you will
Hail and Farewell.

South:

Spirit of the South
As the sunset comes
Your fire cools
Your embers become ashes
We shall remember our passions
For the coming year
Spirits of the Fiery Hearth
Go if you must, stay if you will
Hail and Farewell

East:

Spirits of the East
As the day dies down
We shall remember the icy chills
That you brought us on this Yule Day
Become a gentle breeze
And prepare for the rest of the Winter Season.
Spirits of the Icy Winds
Go if you must, stay if you will
Hail and Farewell.

EAST (air): Greetings, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the east. As the gales of winter subside, breathe gently on us with your warm spring breezes. Let your breath carry upon it the smell of newly turned dirt and flower’s perfumes as the earth awakens again. Hail and welcome, Spirits of the East!

SOUTH (fire): Greetings, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South. As the hearth fires dim and are no longer needed, warm us with the light of the sun. Shower us in the golden rays of the strengthening Sun that helps all living things to grow. Hail and welcome, Spirits of the South!

WEST (water): Greetings, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West. As the ice and snow begin to melt, let your soft spring rain fall upon us to nourish our new growth. Wash us clean of winter’s dust; make us shiny as the dewdrop on a tender green leaf. Hail and welcome, Spirits of the West!

NORTH (earth): Greetings, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North. As the Earth awakens from Her winter’s nap, imbue us with the flow of energy that now stirs from Her body. Make us aware of all the new life; let us listen to the music of spring in the songbird’s melody. Hail and welcome, Spirits of the North!

NORTH: We thank thee, O Spirits of the North for your protection. Help us prepare for change. Hail and Farewell!

WEST: We thank thee, O Spirits of the West for your cleansing. Help us encourage new growth. Hail and farewell!

SOUTH: We thank thee, O Spirits of the South for your purification. Help us destroy the weeds and plant new seeds. Hail and farewell!

EAST: We thank thee, O Spirits of the East for your consecration. Help us see the sacred in all. Hail and farewell!

We greet Thee, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East which represents the elemental power of air. We call upon the Sylphs, creatures of the air, masters of flight. Cover us with your wings and protect us, O majestic flyers! We ask that you witness this rite and guard this circle. Bless us with your presence, steadfast Sylphs!

SOUTH (fire):
We greet Thee, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South which represents the elemental power of fire. We call upon the Salamanders, creatures of fire, magickal beings. Cover us with your flame and protect us, O mighty lizards! We ask that you witness this rite and guard this circle. Bless us with your presence, enduring Salamanders!

WEST (water):
We greet Thee, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West which represents the elemental power of water. We call upon the Undines, creatures of water, fluid swimmers. Cover us with your oceans and protect us, O generous beings! We ask that you witness this rite and guard this circle. Bless us with your presence, eternal Undines!

NORTH (earth):
We greet Thee, O Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North which represents the elemental power of earth. We call upon the Gnomes, creatures of earth, friends of nature. Cover us with your leafy branches and protect us, O compassionate pranksters! We ask that you witness this rite and guard this circle. Bless us with your presence, faithful Gnomes!

NORTH (earth):
We thank Thee, O Gnomes, for your presence tonight. We have felt your protection and power like the depths of the forest. Stay if you will, leave if you must. Hail, and Farewell!

We thank Thee, O Undines, for your presence tonight. We have felt your protection and power like the gentle waves of the sea. Stay if you will, leave if you must. Hail, and Farewell!

SOUTH (fire):
We thank Thee, O Salamanders, for your presence tonight. We have felt your protection and power like the warmth of home fires. Stay if you will, leave if you must. Hail, and Farewell!

We thank Thee, O Sylphs, for your presence tonight. We have felt your protection and power like the wind on our face. Stay if you will, leave if you must. Hail, and Farewell!