the air element
The main qualities of air are movement, and changeability. In the body, the air element manifests most strongly in the chest as our breathing.
The chest area is of course also the location of the heart.
On an emotional level, Air energy is connected to the heart's sense of desire and longing -
'I want'.
Air is also related to the nebulous energy of the mind. To inspire means both 'to breathe' and 'to arouse the mind to creative action'. Therefore, another manifestation of Air energy is the intellect, our ability to think and acquire knowledge. The nervous system is also strongly linked with this element.
The 3 air signs are Gemini, Aquarius and Libra. As is the case with all the elements, air is present in each of us to varying degrees.
Airy Way of Being
Freedom, expansiveness, and inspiration all apply to air. Air people are hungry for ideas, newness, and innovation. They tend to be adaptable to change, and value their personal freedom highly. Air is almost always moving, and being still can be a challenge for the air type. The heart sits in the air zone of the chest and holds the sense of longing and desire. At its core, this is a profound longing for sincere, heart-centered connection and oneness, with self, and with others. We all carry this longing in our hearts, and it may be felt even more acutely by air people.
Writer John O'Donohue pointed to heart-felt longing as inspiration for creative acts when he said 'All creativity is an interruption of the heart's longing.'
Air is all-encompassing, surrounding the earth and shared by all. So too air people can be good mixers and blenders of people, active in groups or community, or have a general humanitarian bent. Their expansive mind means they can be open-minded and non-judgmental.
Air people have a generally light and gentle way of being. They can bring levity and a higher perspective to situations. If imbalanced, this can manifest as flippancy or disconnection - not taking things seriously or just not in touch with what is really going on. Negative air traits include a tendency to be evasive - avoidance of issues or people, particularly when stressed. When lost in the mind they can seem distracted, aloof, distant, cold, and disconnected from feelings (their own and others).
Excessive mental airy activity creates agitation, confusion, and can drive the fiery energy to constant doing with difficulty relaxing. This applies to a lot of us since we tend to be excessively heady in our society. In this state, disconnection from emotions can cause us to lose touch with ourselves, doubt our gut feelings, over-think and over-analyse. Balance is restored by getting still (ether), grounding (earth) with mindful physical activity, such as yoga, gardening or even talking a walk. It also helps to get into the watery emotional realm, and back in touch with body-centred feeling and wisdom.
Airy Foods
Air foods grow high up in the airy realm and include fruit, nuts and seeds. These are generally light and easy to digest, by comparison with the heavy sustaining quality of earthy root vegetables, for example. Fruit in particular prefers a clear passage through the body, so is best consumed early in the day. The airy quality of movement is important for a healthy digestive function. Air foods can also help to get a sluggish digestive system get moving.
Air and the Other Elements
Balanced Air depends upon harmony and balance with Fire, Water and Earth in the body.
- Fire feeds on Air in the combustion process. Healthy, balanced air fans the flames of fire, drawing it upwards. The nebulous airy energy of the mind literally feeds the active doing firey energy, causing inspired thinking to be translated into action and creativity. Air people can be skilled at encouraging others to get things done and express their potential. Air feels best with a little heat - think of a warm breeze versus a sharp blast of cold air. Emotionally, a sudden change in mood can be reflected in sharp airy coldness, which can really sting.
- Air recycles water, absorbing it into cloud and delivering it back to earth in the form of rain. The lungs extract oxygen from the air and heavy moisture content causes the lungs to have to work harder, giving an overall feeling of listlessness on cloudy days. Water also needs a little air to keep it fresh and avoid stagnation. Emotionally, air types do not respond well to too many emotional demands being made of them. They can feel slowed down by heavy emotional clouds. A healthy, balanced connection with watery emotions keeps the air person from being too much in their head and gives them permission to feel.
- Earth benefits from being aerated, keeping soil light and fresh for new planting. Behaviorally, the airy inspirational mind can help the earth type to stay open to newness and avoid getting stuck in rigid ways, or literally get moving. Earth grounds and stabilises air. Without the earth there would be no atmosphere and therefore no air. Earthy types offer support and completion for airy ideas. They also help to re-connect the air person to their bodies, relieving constant focus on mind-generated solutions.
