I am interested in learning the reasons or symbolisms behind the assignations of the Janyas and the Elements over which they rule, in accordance with the four cardinal directions. For instance, in say, Wicca along with the tarot and other western systems (I believe this originated with the Golden Dawn), Air is East/Spring, Fire is South/Summer (although not considered so in Australia), Water is West/Autumn and Earth is North/Winter. In the Deanic Faith, Water is East under the rule of Sai Sushuri, Fire remains in the South under the rule of Sai Vikhe, Earth is West under the Rule of Sai Thame and Air is North under Sai Mati. Is this a reflection of the Cardinal Directions and the corresponding Elements from an Eastern point of view in general, or the Deanic/Filianic Faith in particular? The Filianic attribution of the cardinal directions to the elements is, we think, fairly unique to the Filianic faith - though someone will probably now find other examples. Water, for example is considered the element of love, hence its attribution to Sai Sushuri. It also has lunar and sacrificial associations, and belongs to Eastre; and again is the sign of new life - both the Resurrection and the natural new life of Spring. The Janyatic attributions are not intended to be absolute. Water and Sai Sushuri are not permanently bonded - indeed, as suggested above, Sai Candre rules water in some aspects. The three/four division of the Janyati, which attributes the quaternity to the four material elements is only one (important) perspective. In the east, Janya attributes tend to be different. One of the most usual is: Water to Sai Mati
Wood to Sai Thamë
Fire to Sai Vikhë
Metal (gold) to Sai Sushuri
Earth to Sai Rhave. As in the Filianic system, the two luminaries (Sai Raya and Sai Candre) are not part of the elemental schema but earth is attributed to Sai Rhave (which is also a Filianic association from some perspectives - the schema not being exclusive) . In the Filianic schema, however, Sai Rhave forms part of the triplicity with the luminaries, and the whole triplicity rules the fifth, non-material, element of aethyr.