White used the elements of his astrological sign Sagittarius to name the group. Sagittarius has a primary elemental quality of Fire and seasonal qualities of Earth and Air (no water). He also drew from a wide variety of religious, spiritual and Afrikan Kemitic symbols to form the group’s imagery.
Album – Faces (1980)
The album cover art for Faces and Raise! continue with Afrikan Kemitic motifs (pyramids and stone structures). Raise! has futuristic imagery blended with the female stone structure. We are looking at the past and future at the same time.
Album – Powerlight (1983) Album – Electric Universe (1983)
The albums Powerlight and Electric Universe can see the use of ancient Chakra imagery and colours.
Single – Fantasy (1978)
There are some Christian Evangelical groups that believe that EWF promoted the occult and even satanism! This is due to their aversion, fear ignorance and hatred toward Afrikan or Eastern teachings. The cover art for the Fantasy single has several symbols that are rich in esoteric meaning, Asian and Afrikan symbolism.
From left to right: 1) Sign of the planet Jupiter 2) Symbol of Paracelsus, which was derived from ancient Kemit 3) Buddha 4) The Phoenix – symbol of immortality, rebirth and hope 5) the Afrikan Kemitic Ankh. The full spread with more spiritual, religious symbols is below.
Single Sunday Morning (1993) Album – Millennium (1993)
Many of the EWF album covers since the album All N All in 1977 were executed by Japanese artist Shusei Nagaoka.
Compilation album -The Eternal Dance (1992)
The Eternal Dance and the album In the Name of Love see a return to ancient/futuristic Afrikan Kemitic imagery. The beautifully illustrated The Eternal Dance art strongly alludes to the divine nature and qualities of the Black man and woman.
Greatest Hits album (1998) Album – The Promise (2003)
Album – Illumination (2005) Album – Now, Then & Forever (2013)
EWF continues to record and, as can be seen in their latest release Now, Then & Forever, continue to imbue their album covers with the rich visual symbolism and spirituality that has become synonymous with their legacy.
Sources:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/earth-wind-fire-mn0000135273
http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/earthwindandfirex21x09x05
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/earth-wind-fire-mn0000135273/discography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth,_Wind_%26_Fire
http://www.homdrum.net/ewf/symbols.html
5 comments
Really enjoyed this article. Thank you
Great article. Thank you.
A great read…a read that reinforces that EWF is not of Yahweh but adherents to the Kemetic Mystery System! And that’s ok. It is what it is.
Great article. However, I can see there is a strong tendency for mystical symbols especially the pyramids. There can be something behind such strange covers, beautiful music, strange quite scary covers. I would like to talk to the people behind those covers to really know their objective.
After learning how Washington DC was pattered after Egypt with its symbols and representations of Asar and others hiding in plain site, I am now wondering what EWF was trying to tell us. Thanks for this article.