consists of the major elements that comprise the environment:
to the north is fire, represented by the color red, to the east, is mineral, represented by the color white, to the west is nature, represented by the color green, to the south, is water, represented by the color blue. In the center, is the color yellow, which represents Mother Earth. Individuals have characteristics which predominately correspond to one of the particular elements. For fire, they are the people who maintain the gateway to the ancestors. They have firey personalities, and often blurt out the Truth, then let the chips fall where they may afterwards. The ancestors use them that way, to get their message through the world of the living. Earth people are those who are nuturing, and naturally tend to take care of others, and make them feel welcome. Nature people tend to have supernatural powers, once they open their hearts and minds enough to manifest them. Water people are similar to libras in the zodiac: they make peace, and keep things cool. Mineral people are the historians, who help a people remember their purpose. There are rituals representative of each element also, that address a particular situation, or state of a society. Since the west has historically been so destructive, towards others and itself, this is very indicative of a fire-driven society, run amok. Dr. Some' recommends water rituals for the west, because we are already too hot over here as it is. Unlike astrology though, one determines what category one falls into as an individual not by the month one is born, but by the last digit of one's birth year.

I'm reading Sobonfu's book on Ritual, and children now: Welcoming Spirit Home. It buttresses a lot of the points Dr. Some' makes in Healing Wisdom. It also would have been a good book to discuss during the Sistahs Conference.