In all forms of magick, the universe and everything in it are said to be made up of four elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth. The element of Spirit rules the center as a balance. In dragon magick, specific dragons rule these elements and help to create through their powers.

Fire and Air are traditionally positive (male) energies; Water and Earth are traditionally negative (female) energies. Male and female dragons may appear in the elemental directions in the traditional places, or they may at times appear female in male directions and vice versa. This leads one to surmise that dragons may be androgynous creatures. These four elements correspond to the four directions, the four quarters of the universe, the four winds, and the four quarters of the magickal circle.

The element Air governs the eastern quarter of the circle. Its dragon ruler is Sairys (sair'-iss), who oversees the dragons of breezes and winds. Its color is pure yellow; it is considered warm and moist. The positive associations of Air are: sunrise, spring, incense, the wand, the gong, finger cymbal, or bell, clouds, breezes, the breath, optimism, joy, intelligence, mental quickness, renewing, any kind of helpful air. Negative associations are: frivolity, gossip, fickleness, inattention, bragging, forgetfulness, windstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, destructive air in any form.

Dragons of the element of Air belong to a family of draconic beings whose subspecies include those of wind, storm, and weather. At times they join forces with dragons of fire and volcanoes, seas and other waters, mountains and forests, and chaos. Just as no one element works totally alone, whether in magickal endeavors or physical activities, elemental dragons join their great powers to accomplish tasks. Sometimes there is a conflict of elemental powers, producing great atmospheric and environmental disturbances, but mostly the elemental dragons work in harmony.

The element of Fire governs the southern quarter of the circle. Its dragon ruler is Fafnir (faf'-near), who oversees the dragons of Fire and sunbeams. Its color is pure red; it is considered warm and dry. The positive associations of Fire are: noon, summer, the dagger and sword, candles, incense burners, any kind of helpful fire, the Sun, blood, enthusiasm, activity, change, passion, courage, daring, will power, leadership. Negative associations are: hate, jealousy, fear, war, ego, conflicts, lightning, volcanoes, harmful fire of any kind.

Subspecies of the Fire-element dragon family are those of fire and volcanoes. The subspecies of desert and arid-region dragons, and those of chaos and destruction, often work closely with draconic entities of this element.

The element of Water governs the western quarter of the circle. Its dragon ruler is Naelyan (nail'-yon), who oversees the dragons of the seas, springs, lakes, ponds, and rivers. Its color is pure blue; it is considered cold and moist. Positive associations of Water are: sunset, autumn, the water chalice, any form of helpful water, compassion, peacefulness, forgiveness, love, intuition, calmness, peace of mind. Negative associations are: floods, rainstorms, whirlpools, any kind of harmful water, laziness, indifference, instability, lack of emotional control, insecurity.

The subspecies of the element of Water are those of the seas and various waters. It is not unusual to find this element working in conjunction with dragons of wind, storm, and weather, mountains and forests, or those of destruction.

The element of Earth rules the northern quarter of the circle. Its ruler is Grael (grail), who oversees the dragons of mountains, land minerals, gems, and moonbeams. Its color is clear, dark green; it is considered cold and dry. Positive associations of Earth are: midnight, winter, the wine chalice, ritual salt, dragon bowl, gem bowl, dragon mirror, gemstones, mountains, caves, soil, respect, endurance, responsibility, stability, prosperity, thoroughness, purpose in life. Negative associations are: rigidity, unwillingness to change or see another side of a problem, stubbornness, lack of conscience, vacillation, earthquakes, slides.

Earth-element dragons are the most placid, unless they are required to stir up great disruptive energies such as earthquakes. The subspecies belonging to this element are the dragons of the mountains and forests and those of desert and arid regions. As we might be easily guessed, the element of Earth often works closely with dragons of fire and volcanoes and those of chaos and destruction.

The white (light) and black (dark) dragons rule the center of the circle and balance all the other elements. Through invocation of these dragons of light and darkness, the magician is able to mix a blend of elements that will bring forth the desired manifestation. This family of creatures works with all the other elements, but particularly with those of chaos and destruction. It may seem paradoxical for dragons of light to join forces with those of darkness and chaos, but it makes perfect sense to the knowledgeable magician. Sometimes, in order to create something better, old ideas, old forms, and old ways of living must be broken down and re-created. I dislike using the terms good and evil when discussing light and darkness, because this does not give a true picture of the actual forces. Every element, including light or dark, has a negative side.

The most effective magician is one who uses a balanced blend of light and darkness. The negative current of power is just as important to life and magick as in is light, or positive power. We are not talking about Satinism; that is a totally different type of magick, and never has anything to do with the balancing of elements.

The dragons of light, or light of the Spirit, rule positive power currents on magick. Their color is symbolized by white; a male energy, they are considered warm and dry. Positive associations of light are: all forms of day, the Sun, the pentacle disk, the dragon pentacle, the white light altar candle, the staff, the salt dish, reaching toward the spiritual, balancing karma, seeking the truth, bettering life on all levels, positive attitude toward all things, psychic guidance, helpful light magick. Negative associations are: self-righteousness, I-have-the-only-way attitude.

Dragons of light exist within a space where light is completely separate from darkness, a place where Primordial Matter is constantly being formed into physical manifestations.

The dragons of darkness, or dark of the Spirit, rule the negative power currents. Their color is sometimes black; a female energy, they are considered moist and cold. Positive associations of darkness are: all forms of night, the Moon and stars, the pentacle disk, the dragon pentacle, the black altar candle, the staff, the salt dish, rest, dreams, psychic guidance, balancing karma, seeking the truth, helpful dark magick. The negative associations are: deep anger, hate, fear, unjustified revenge, working against karmic patterns, mentally distorting psychic messages so that you hear what you want to hear, harmful dark magick.

Dragons of darkness exist in a place where time has no authority, where physical light and darkness are actually not yet separated, where Primordial Matter waits to be formed into physical manifestations.