Les éléments universels sont appelés Feu, Air, Eau et Terre parce qu’ils sont analogues dans leurs propriétés aux éléments feu, air, eau et terre de la nature.Ils désignent les quatre principes de base qui ont servi à la création, qui la nourrissent et la gouvernent dans son évolution. Ils représentent les quatre aspects primordiaux de Dieu, connu en fon, sous le vocable Yêhwé – Y – E – W – Hé (chaque composante du nom divin correspondant au nom d’un élément).
The combination of these four basic aspects in a quadrupolar way gave birth to the 256 principles or "Dou" of grasping and interpreting the cosmos, in the system of knowledge known under the name: Fâ geomancy.
MION (Fire)
Il est représenté dans la tradition fon par l’oiseau rapace, « honsou-honsou » , une sorte de faucon. Cet animal traduit le dynamisme, l’expansion des forces d’énergie dans l’homme et dans l’univers. Il est vénéré dans le culte du Dieu Zo. Le principe du Feu exprime l’omnipotence du créateur, c’est-à-dire la manifestation de la création, symbolisée par le son « ou » que l’on retrouve dans le nom Maou qui signifie le verbe créateur.
DJO (Air)
Air mediates between Fire and Water and has cold and heat for properties in the universe and in man. It also represents joy, beauty and universal order. Its symbol is the rainbow and it is worshiped in Ayidohwêdo worship. This element is the emanation of life, of creation, resulting from the primordial abyss, from the primordial waters, which Ayidohwêdo dried up to bring out the first lands of creation, day and night, rhythm. The principle of Air is the expression of the omniscience of the creator. Its sign is the sound "a" of the name Maou.
INS (Water)
Water is the opposite of Fire and has for principle in the universe and in man, contraction, magnetism and gravitation. This element is represented by the God Hou. He is also worshiped in the cult of Soun, God Moon. Its principle consists of Love, the source of intuitive knowledge and divine inspiration. This principle expresses the resorption of creation, it closes its cyclical evolution. Its sign is Maou's “m” sound.
The tradition also names the creator Maou. This Goddess thus merges with the creative word, with the verb realizer.
AYI (Earth)
The three elements mentioned constitute the main elements. The fourth, Earth, is not generally considered to be fundamental, since it translates the reunion of the other three, it gives them a form in their interactivity, and thus ensures their cohesion. Its principle is consciousness: sum of the other three principles. It is called in fon "Ayi" from which derives the term "Ayinon" (master of the earth) carried by the kings of Abomey and Porto-Novo and is represented by Kpo, the panther. He is worshiped in the worship of the God Sakpata and Kpo.
