THE FOUR AIRTS To Those who are interested in the Wiccan Arts: The Four Airts is a Gaelic term for the four points ofthe compass, north, south, east and west. The magick circle usually has a candle or lamp at each of the four quarters (N,S,E and W) and the Four Airts are connected to the Four Elements. The _true_ relationship of the Elements to the four Airts is dependant on the prevailing winds where the circle is cast. In example, my circle is cast in Portland, Oregon. The West wind comes right off the Pacific and is the source of water. Very much like the Britain or Western magickal tradition the Northern wind comes down from the Arctic cold front and is easily associated with the cold dark Element of Earth. Unlike Western magickal tradition, for my local, the warm and hot winds come down the Columbia Gorge from the aired high plain deserts further east--the Airts of fire. The South wind is cool and dry thus the nature of the Element of air. In other localities this may be quite different; so the truly talented magician, unlike one who simply has read up on the subject, will note the nature of the prevailing winds and invoke the Elements accordingly. The Gaelic Airts had a traditional association with colors attributed to them. The east took the crimson of dawn; the south the white light of high noon; west the brownish-grey of twilight; and the north the black of midnight. Again, it will depend on your locality and personal observance; for me crimson goes to the magnificent Pacific sunsets (especially spectacular in the fall) in the west; to the east, the land of the rising sun goes the blue-white/gray color of dawn the dawn. It is notable that the magickal ideas of dancing or circumambulating _deaseil_ or _tuathal_ are connected with the Four Airts. _Deaseil_, or sunwise (turning right-handed), is fortunate, and a movement of blessing; but _tuathal_, or widdershins (turning left-handed) is generally the movement of advirse magick and cursing. These names come from the Scot Gaelic words for the four cardinal points; _tuath_, north; _aiet_, east; _deas_, south; and _iar_, west. _Airt_ (east) is the starting point of invocations; so deas is for the good and tuath is for the sinister side of magick. Zuriel.