This short essay was written by one of the earlier Madrians, explaining the nature of the cycle of a human.
The pattern of a human life, like the pattern of the year, is a microcosm of the Cosmic Drama. The illustration shows this pattern imposed upon the Great Pentacle of the seasons, the elements and the Rosary. These notes are given to assist meditation upon it.
Childhood, the Spring of life, is governed by water, the element of emotion; and in childhood we are the playthings of our passions. Water is also pliable and soft, taking the shape of the things that surround it, yet remaining in essence itself.
Youth, the Summer of life (in matriarchal tradition, youth continues much later than in modern usage), is governed by the fire of energy. It is the time of action and achievement, of passion, not passive as in childhood, but tamed and directed.
Maturity, the fruitful autumn. A time of settling and establishment of youth's achievements, governed by the stable and solid element of earth.
Age retires from earth-concerns, and turns to those nearest spirit, governed by air; yet no stage has been beyond sight of the spirit, thus is this time well-prepared. And air strains toward the fifth element, the incorporeal aethyr. Thus it returns whence it came, and the wheel may begin again-on a higher level if all has proceeded aright.
Water is the raw materia, fluid and passive; it is disciplined and becomes fire, fluid and active; having found shape, it solidifies and is earth. Earth is transposed to a higher and more rarefied level, becoming air, which is subsumed into formless aethyr which shall pass into water again. Let the heart of contemplation understand.