Earth, water, fire and air
The elements of earth, water, fire and air lie at the heart of many Aboriginal myths. Earth is the first element, from which water must be liberated, then water is the second element, from which fire must be taken, and the smoke of the fire represents air. The first two are usually female, and males enter them at their peril, or the male ancestral beings are born from them; the second two are male and are used in male rebirthing techniques in the boro circles, though in myth fire was often once owned by women from whom it was stolen. It partakes of both sexes, and thus in the male rebirthing ceremonies the male initiate must pass through fire to be then purified by smoke.
The elements of earth, water, fire and air lie at the heart of many Aboriginal myths. Earth is the first element, from which water must be liberated, then water is the second element, from which fire must be taken, and the smoke of the fire represents air. The first two are usually female, and males enter them at their peril, or the male ancestral beings are born from them; the second two are male and are used in male rebirthing techniques in the boro circles, though in myth fire was often once owned by women from whom it was stolen. It partakes of both sexes, and thus in the male rebirthing ceremonies the male initiate must pass through fire to be then purified by smoke.
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