These mostly apply to the physical manifestation of the elements, but are also able to be understood metaphorically.
Earth |
Water |
Air |
Fire |
| Definite | Relational | Chaotic, Invisible | Supersensible |
| Shaped | No intrinsic shape (shape of container's "bottom" and "sides"), or spherical | No intrinsic shape whatsoever, fills all space of a container | Dynamic shape dependent upon the activity of its medium |
| Located | Shifts location, dependent on balance between outside and inside forces | Attempts to fill all space, actively moves to periphery, Dispersive | Constantly in motion, and constantly moving other things |
| Inertial (strongly resists change) | Constant change (inner movement), easy to move, changes transmitted via waves to whole medium | Moves expansively, quickly, constant connects/disconnects, supremely sensitive | Actively transforms other objects (warming, burning, melting, vaporizing, etc.) |
| All surface, all border, all ‘outside’ | Border operates differently than insides, inside vs. outside (surface tension) | Borderless, diffuse, all internal boundaries, pressure differentials | Activity only, no borders but with location, inside=outside, boundarylessness |
| Differences, Unconnected | Self-connecting, continuity with immediate environment | Self-disconnecting, Self-negating, self-dissociation | Integrating, Connected to self and others |
| Indifference | Mixes w/ other liquids and gases, connects to solid surfaces (capillary action) | Makes way for all other substances, tendency to interpenetrate but not truly mix | Contact necessitates change, transformative |
| Rigid | Flowing | Expansive, Clear | Illuminating |
| Structured | Dependent, flexible | Amorphous, reciprocating | Dynamic |
| Centric, Gravity | Lateral, planar, spreading | Peripheral | Levity |
| No obvious self-movement | Rhythmic forms (waves) | Vortexial forms, spirals | Dynamic forms - infinite possibilities |
| Cold | Wet | Dry | Warm |
| Formed | Unformed | Formlessness | Forming |
| Settling | Spreading, Covering | Encompassing | Pleromic |
| Existing | Dissolving | Diffusing | Metamorphosing |
| Frozen | Melted | Vaporized | Combusted |
