natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. Nature is generally distinguished from the supernatural. It ranges in scale from the subatomic to the galactic.
Nature may refer to the general realm of various types of living plants and animals, and in some cases to the processes associated with inanimate objects – the way that particular types of things exist and change of their own accord, such as the weather and geology of the Earth, and the matter and energy of which all these things are composed. It is often taken to mean the "natural environment" or wilderness – wild animals, rocks, forest, beaches, and in general those things that have not been substantially altered by human intervention, or which persist despite human intervention.
Nature is generally distinguished from the supernatural. It ranges in scale from the subatomic to the galactic.
What are the ancient "elements of nature" ?
Earth, Water, Air and Fire are the generally known and often quoted ancient elements of nature,
within which, and through which, life (including humanity) has prevailed and evolved.
Element Earth - The element earth is the name given to all material living and non-living substance on the planet, with the exception of air and water. The diversity of the ancient element earth is thus of extremely high order. Earth is the generic metaphysical name applied to all substances within the terrestrial environment. Whereas by chemical and atomic analysis, the hundred plus different atomic elements are uniquely specified as the atomic elements, the ancient element earth encompasses them all. In the form of food, to be ingested into the metabolic matrix of living systems, it shares, along with its fellow ancient elements of nature, its status an element of life, an element of survival.
Element Water - Water is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. It was commonly associated with the qualities of emotion and intuition. In astrology, those with planets in Water signs are often assessing a situation by its undercurrents. It can give them an air of being aloof or even shy at first, but they're the warmest of souls when you've won their trust. Going forward in a relationship or situation often means being sure of their emotional ground, a kind of decision-making process that is baffling to others. Their perceptions border on psychic, but these insights get clouded by the intensity of feelings, or are altered by the vivid imagination.
Element Fire - The element fire is the ancient name given that which is known by the contemporary scientific program as electromagnetic energy. Terrestrial fire, as in a struck match or a camp-fire or forest fire, requires the presence of something to burn and air, and has two aspects - heat and light. The cosmic fire is the electromagnetic energy manifest as the sunshine, which stands at the center of all terrestrial ecosystems, and permeates the terrestrial realms as the predominant source both heat and light, the energy which moves the global atmosphere (air) and thus the pump which stands as the prime-mover of the life sustaining water-cycle.
Element Air - In traditional cultures, air is often seen as a universal power or pure substance. Its fundamental importance to life can be seen in words such as spirit, inspire, expire, and aspire, all derived from the Latin spirare ("to breathe"). The three air signs have in common the desire for freedom. Whereas the fire signs desire freedom of action, the air signs go more for freedom of expression, thought and movement.
