It is important to understand the concepts of the four directions and I think it's an easier method to just list them with their meanings below. Most of the rituals on this site use them and it not just for reasons of tradition. It's for clarity. As each direction has multiple reasons for being represented and you can give any ritual more clarity by highlighting them or ignoring them. It's almost like a "flavor" you add to the ritual.

If your doing a ritual think about what it is going to achieve and use these elements to accentuate that. Example: if you trying to attract someone do it from the west..If your trying to separate from someone, do it from the east. If you want a ritual to do most of the work and uncover or gain you a great deal of things for you, say a ritual to clear up confusion so it from the south. If you want to work with the ritual in a more independent manner, say your looking for a bit of a hand and not a take over, then do it from the north
I usually use all of the directions because I like the more holistic nature of doing that but that's just me. You may feel more comfortable with say one direction working and you can always repeat the ritual to bring in another direction if you need it. It's really just a personal thing

Other people may have different ideas about the directions which is OK. You can align what you think these directions mean to your own version of them. Metaphysics is a one on one experience so if you can't relate to the meaning of them below. Rework them to you own personal ones. These are what I use and what came off a board.

NORTH
Fire
Action element (independent) Area of doing, acting and change
Area of wisdom

SOUTH
Earth
Observing element (dependent)
watching, yielding and gaining more information
Area of innocence

EAST
Air
Ego element ( independent)
You ask for actions decided by your thoughts
results of rituals are decided by your own intellectual desires
Area of misfortune and the forsaken

WEST
Water
Emotional Element (dependent)
You ask for actions from your emotions
results of magic are decided by your emotional truth
Area of the Unforsaken