The Element of Ether

'The fifth element or ether, is that which surrounds every living thing. It is that which houses the seat of the spirit, that which holds the blueprint of the physical body before birth and that which is last to dissipate after death........I believe that when the soul incarnates into the physical body, the flame of life is lit and that is what I consider to be the spirit. To me, spirit is the essence of life that sits within the etheric body. It ignites at our birth and evaporates at our death......that is unless someone meets with a violet or unhappy end.......'

From Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements by Carole Carlton