Greetings and salutations!
After a timely detour to matters more personal for my last update, now I return - as promised - to The Elemental Pentology.
Of course, all writing is personal and influenced by experience - either imagined or lived. And while The Menagerie was a very personal collection, The Elemental Pentology also had small glimpses of me within it; albeit the whole series was a very passionate advocate for my own pagan ideals.
Part of this was the use of the elements to drive the story. And, by introducing one element in each book, I was able to cascade how the elements work together - like a Russian Doll - as the story continued. For those who are attuned to the natural world, we know that elements make up everything! So, I was able to use the elements to both highlight the arcane strength within them, while also demonstrating how their removal has hindered humanity's survival.
I selected to start with Spirit, as I view it as the foundation element - it is the element which joins all others. It is also the element which appears at the top point of the upright pentagram. From Spirit, I have moved around the pentagram - moving down to Water, then Fire, across to Earth, then up to Air. Each book has the previous element(s) and the new one, until - by the final book - all five elements are together. At this point, we see the strength which is found in unity. The strength which comes from the five elements working together on a singular purpose.
The notion of five elements isn't anything new - they've been understood for centuries, and worshipped for longer. However, most people tend to think of four - water, fire, earth, and air. Spirit is usually omitted, despite it being the one which holds everything together. This is, also, one of the reasons why I opted to start with Spirit, and why Katya hid so much initially; it took the other elements and the story's reveals to really understand exactly who she was.
Spirit / Alabaster: Katya Iskralin is the embodiment of the element of Spirit. She is the oldest, and first, of the quintet and - spoiler alert - so much more!
The element of Spirit is multidimensional, an essence which transcends the others, yet remains singular. Spirit is usually represented by a circle, an ouroboros, an equal-armed cross, or an infinity sign - it is a symbol of life's continuation from birth, to death, to rebirth. It is an element of enlightenment, of eternity, and connectivity. And while Spirit is beyond virture and vice, Katya definitely is not.
Though, which one she is remains open to debate - I intended her to be morally grey! But, her behaviour aside, Katya does embody the quiet intelligence and unassuming power with a grace and power which indicate her connection to the element, and the world. She's just not always very good at sharing her knowledge with the people who need it!
Water / Lacrymosa: The second sister is Talya, the element of Water. Not only is the element seen in the character, but is a character in itself with the weather taking centre-stage.
Water is a feminine element, and one seen as a mediator, a compassionate and purifying force. It is quite an emotive element and one rooted in wisdom and reflection. There is forgiveness and receptivity, but also the possibility of indifference and depression; traits which became incredibly useful to drive the story - especially where Talya could remove empathy from the situation and take actions some would deem cruel.
Talya, who is working as a therapist, is able to use her element to support and guide her clients, even as she struggles to handle her own revelations. Her character arc - from a woman who ends a relationship in a misguided act of sacrifice, to a woman who finds true acceptance and love - was one of my favourites to write.
Fire / Torrefy: The element of Fire is found in Levka. She was a delight to write, because her character is so playful and passionate.
As a masculine element, there is a forcefulness which runs through it. There is power, strength, and control - all traits which were vital to convey within the story, as everyone has both masculine and feminine within them. Fire is imbued with energy, with the breaking of barriers, and the asserting of one's will. There is a real sense of confident warmth and enthusiasm.
The lust for life, and flamboyant desire to act on impulse, certainly made Levka a character who takes risks and enjoys her time; this also means her reactive nature can lead to entertaining diversions and possible errors of judgement. Despite this, though, Levka has a fierce loyalty which is unmatched. Her dedication and embracing of pleasure makes her a strong woman.
Earth / Sempiternal: Calina Iskralin is the element of Earth, which settled the series back down following the more reckless exploits in Torrefy.
Another feminine element, Earth is an enduring and stable influence. There is serenity and a sense of grounding, which is definitely needed as the events continue to unfold. Memory and rest are also key aspects of this element, which add to the sense of calm Earth exudes. Patience, dependability, and contentedness mix with possible rigidity and day-dreaming.
Calina, as a scientist, has a wealth of knowledge she is aware she can't share, not without revealing the truth of who she is. She has patience and she acts in ways which demonstrate her understanding of those in her team, and takes actions which show how dependable and thoughtful she is. Her calm nature really demonstrates Earth as an element.
Air / And Let Time Stand, Still: Finally, Zoya is the embodiment of the element of Air. The youngest of the sisters, yet a powerful element which adds to the dramatic conclusion.
Air is another masculine element and is associated with enlightenment. While it is also related to the childhood years and spring, Air has a practical side which comes from intelligence. There is joy in this element, but also vices of frivolity and impulsivity. Air has a vitality to it linked to day-dreaming and communicating, but an imbalance can lead to stagnation.
Another reason why I chose to place Air last is due to the youthful nature of the element which suited the youngest member of the sisters. Zoya also has a unique combination of qualities - working in law enforcement while also acting on instinct to take lives. She has an exuberance in her approach to life which has found means to co-exist alongside practicalities.
But why use the elements? Why put those traits into a character and manipulate the expected strengths and weaknesses of each element? Why narrow the scope into the five common elements, and ignore elements seen in other cultures (e.g.: wood or metal, etc.)? All are good questions and... I can only return to my first point. This series is mine, therefore I come at it from a place of bias. This is my understanding, my faith, my lore. So, for me, the elements as goddesses who are attempting to correct the patriarchal damage done to their nature-based matriarchal society seemed a logical approach.
Using the elements meant I had clear definition between each book and between each of the five goddesses. There was a risk, especially with such a large cast of characters across the series (and, believe me, the cast is large and complex to keep track of!), that the definition would be lost when the main character in each book was a 'strong female lead'. I didn't want to write a cliché, I didn't want to create a tokenistic gesture of a character - I wanted my characters to be themselves. To be a recognisable and defined person.
So, having a structure to fit my characters to - that helped. I didn't stick to it too rigidly, there's still scope for misdirects and flaws. But knowing I had five elements to work with meant my main five goddesses already had a point of connection for readers. It also gave me something to play with and circumvent because... well, spoilers.
Next time...
I plan to continue my updates about this series - I've much more to reveal! My focus for the next blog will be around the use of the pentagram as a key symbol.
Thank you for reading.
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