The Elemental Beings of Paracelsus

Paracelsus was a sixteenth century scientist who described four elemental beings - "Salamanders, which correspond to fire; Gnomes, corresponding to earth; Undines, corresponding to water; and Sylphs, corresponding to air."

Salamanders

Existing in the very heart of fire

Burning’s a Salamander's desire.

They eat purely to survive,

Allowing procreation, to thrive.

Born from a fusion of The Three -

Air, heat, fuel, their trinity -

That create a ravenous beast

Eager from the start to eat

Anything that will burn

Anything that fire will turn

Into food for its very heart,

To breed its mightiest part.

Existing in the very heart of fire

Burning’s a Salamander's desire -

Be careful of these read hot creatures,

(Listen closely to your teachers)

And look out for their fiery features.

Gnomes

Gnomes are gardeners,

Gnomes feed trees,

Gnomes break down and eat the leaves.

Gnomes are farmers, 

Gnomes form fields,

Gnomes build crops, increase the yield.

For gnomes are mothers,

Gnome are midwives

Gnomes warm seeds and help them thrive.

And gnomes are doctors,

Gnomes give good care,

Gnomes let you rest ‘pon their grassy hair.

But gnomes are wreckers,

Gnomes destroy,

Gnomes roll you downhill, with all things toy:

For gnomes are undertakers,

Gnomes bind us all,

From the loftiest human

To the base criminal.

Undines

Undines jump over rocks in the river,

Undines rage and rest with the sea.

Undines, cold, make my throat quiver

Undines live inside of me.

 

Undines feed plants through their roots,

Passed on by gnomic brethren,

Undines raise, bloat veg and fruit,

Undines feed us and our children.

 

Undines make up life, give life, are life,

Undines are the Earth’s majority.

Building blocks keeping us from strife

And the main part of a nice cup o’tea.

Sylphs

I feel sylphs on my face,

Hear them natter at my ear,

As they occupy every space.

Invisible to me, to my eyes

Oh lord, I do wish to gawd

To see them one day, see and spy

The sylphs’ easy, graceful flight

The air filled with faces fair:

A sight to fill me with delight.