The theory that all things are made up of the four elements (earth, water, fire, and air) seems true enough. The ancient Greeks organized their thinking this way even while some proposed an atomic theory. The circle (water), crescent (air), triangle (fire), and square (earth) are borrowed from the Buddhist tradition, which adds a fifth element - ether. Fire may be taken as energy, ether as space. Earth, water, and air may be taken as solid, liquid and gaseous phases of matter. Add time and there you have it - a recipe for reality. Note in this Codex that life evolves from fire (the Sun) on the earth (the shore) interacting with air (the Moon*) on the water (the tide). The colors and shapes of the elements are used throughout the Puzzle to indicate elemental relationships or associations. The elemental shapes have an inherent order. They are constructed of 1,2,3, or 4 curved or straight lines. This characteristic is used to correlate the elements to the 4 generations, the 4 seasons, and the 4 suits in a standard deck of playing cards. * This is an arbitrary or assigned association arising from the use of a single graphic element with two different names and meanings. The crescent shape is used as a symbol for air and as a sign for the Moon.                                                                                                                            Back to Codex