Hellebore #13: The Elemental Issue

Earth, water, fire and air: in classical philosophy, the four elements were seen as the building blocks of nature, each one later associated with a kind of supernatural being. Drawing from this foundational classification, The Elemental Issue examines our connection with natural forces. At times harsh and unforgiving, inspiring fear and awe, the four elements are a source of life, creativity, power and transformation. They also speak of an invisible realm and of our own transcendence.

Through myths and rituals and the works of Algernon Blackwood, Robert Graves and Derek Jarman, through the photographs of two young girls in Cottingley and the work of environmental activists, in this issue we encounter butterfly-winged fairies with shadowy intentions, mine-dwelling gnomes embodying our yearning for magic, and serpentine water deities to address the environmental crisis. Join us as we crawl between sacred stones to harness the power of water and earth, examine the movements of the sun from within a stone circle, and summon elemental forces from the rugged coasts of Britain.

Words by Sam George, Nick Freeman, Lally MacBeth and Matthew Shaw, Francis Young, Andy Sharp, Kenneth Brophy, and Veronica Strang. Art by Lorenza Daprà and Beth Morris. Graphic design by Sam Freeman. Edited by Maria J Pérez Cuervo.