The Sign of Man is the pentagram or five-pointed star. Its associations are elemental (fire, earth, wind, water) leading to the spiritual (spirit). The pentagram expresses the ideal and sought for emotional, physical, and spiritual balance of humanity:
The passion and energy of fire.
The voice, soul, and thoughts of wind.
The dynamic, deep nature of water.
The stability and life of earth, as wrought from those elements before.
The spirit in Harmony with its self and its world.
The elven star, however, the septagram, is similar yet highly different. While many of its points hold elemental symbolism, it is more complex in the relationship between the points.
Point 1: The Sun. There is apparent fire elemental symbolism here, but also a more specific symbolism relavent to the septagram. The sun is the primary force of life and creation on Earth or most any other world. Without it, elven and humanoid life as we know it would not exist. Its influence affects us in uncountable ways, ranging from climate to psychology to its interaction with other bodies in our system. At the same time, there are the magical symbols associated with the sun: life, energy, creation, fertility, power–but at the same time remember that the sun has its negative aspects as well: drought, extreme heat, radiation, cancer, and so forth.
Point 2: The Wood. Most elves feel a deep connection to forests and woods in general. Trees are considered kin, cousins and brothers. Elves can see a deep secret hidden in the branches of trees, and understand the power and nature of trees and woods. There is also earth elemental symbolism here.
Point 3: The Sea. Many elves also have a connection to the sea, and water elemental powers are very strong naturally. Some may be reluctant to know the sea or feel it, perhaps forgetting the ocean as one of the great forces of many worlds.
Point 4: The Magic. Magic is integral to the lives of all elves, whether it be the simple but profound magic of a snowflake or the more involved (for the elf perhaps) magic of rhymes, runes, visions, and such. It is not onlya matter of understanding magic, but of living magic.
Point 5: The Moon. Just as the sun is responsible for our existence, so too does the moon have almost as important a role. Consider how different Earth would be without the moon: to light the dark night skies; to affect the weather and tides with its gravity (it is in many ways a contributor to the dynanism of our weather patterns); and even the magical and physiological effects upon us and others. Without its effects, the cycles of life in our oceans might not have occurred–or at least, not have occured as we have known them to. The way life on Earth exists now is due directly to the moon.
Point 6: The Wind. Many elves also have a strong connection to the wind and air elementals in general. At the same time, the wind is responsible for helping germinate the world’s plants and forests–it is the essence of weather, and so much more.
Point 7: Connection. Ultimately, elves must remember the idea of Connection–of our connection to ourselves, others, the world, the land, reality, magic, and the universe. We are creatures of connection, and our power is tied to our connections to all things. This point is the aspiration perhaps of the other points, just as the fifth point of spirit is the aspiration of the pentagram and humanity.
Those of you familiar with Rialian’s notes on the elven star may notice this is different in many ways, as I tried to flush out and expand on the vague (and confusing as Rialian puts it) symbolism of the original I came across. However, I think it expresses the elven star rather well.
As an aside, I would be interested if those of you who know of other worlds, whether from previous lives or otherwise, could email me with names and notes on these various realms. I am hoping to compile a collection of such information for my own and others’ use. If you can, feel free to share what you feel you can or have the time for. I appreciate any assistance.
Take care, and dream well.