The West British Elven System - Pennick

The West British Elven magical system

The Elven System is the underlying principle of a hereditary tradition practised in Wales and the west of England. It was revealed publicly by Dr David B. Shirt in 1988...

The Elven System is described by a diagram which depicts the seven aspects of being, each ruled by an Elven power. This power is called a 'Lord', but it has both female and male aspects. The diagram is an equilateral triangle within a square. A line cuts both square and triangle in two. The four corners of the square represent the four rulers of the elements. These elements are the Light, the Rocks, the Waters and the Airs. They are ruled by the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and the Stars respectively. Fire and Ice are not elements in the Elven System. They are considered to be the destructive aspects of Earth and Water respectively. The outer square of the elements is orientated with its corners towards the cardinal directions. Light is located in the East, the Rocks in the South, Waters in the West and Airs in the North. The triangle represents the three Lords of Life. 

At the apex, towards the North-East, is Oberon. He is the High Lord of Elves and Humans who appears in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The other two angles of the triangle are dedicated to the Lords of animals and plants, respectively, although no names are given in what remains to us of the Elven system. Unlike the female/male aspects of the other six 'Lords', Oberon is 'complete' (i.e. Androgynous). The full complement of Elven powers is thus 13.

The line which cuts both square and triangle is the 'horizon'. It runs from North-West to South-East. Above the horizon, to the North- East of the line, is the light and airy spiritual world. Below the horizon, to the South-West of the line, is the damp and earthy physical world.

From "Secret of the Runes" by Nigel Pennick