AIR - Element Series 3 of 4

Air - Element Series 3 of 4

YOUR STARS WITHIN - ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELING

Air (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra)

Hello and thanks for reading this element series. This article is going to explore the Air element. As you have heard me reiterate in the last two articles, this basis of understanding elements will really open the door to understanding the rest of astrology. Everything in astrology can be broken down to its more basic element. Having this fundamental understanding allows you to build upon a solid foundation. Let’s also not forget that you already understand the elements naturally, you just have to sit and think about them and their interactions more consciously. By tapping into your natural wisdom, you will begin seeing the energy of these elements all around you in your life. Each person you meet, each situation you encounter will have a certain elemental feel. As you learn to identify the how the elements show up and how you interact with them in your life, the greater you will understand astrology as a tool for wise living.

As you know, each element has 3 signs. The Air signs are Aquarius, Gemini and Libra. Aquarius is a very innovative sign, it really highlights the ingenious aspect of air, seeming to pull new ideas “out of thin air”. Like all air signs it is a peace maker and would rather ease conflict than confront. Aquarius is good at remaining non-partial, unbiased and unemotional, to a fault where they can feel cold to those more subjective folks. Gemini on the other hand is quite chatty, and is often wanting to be out and about, mixing and mingling. Gemini gets along with everyone, but it doesn’t tend to go too deep or heavy; you could be friends with a Gemini for years and they’re always there to party and play but when you’re down in the dumps you might want to look for a more watery friend for support. It’s not that Gemini doesn’t want to be there, they just really can’t handle the heaviness or seriousness in others. When we look at Libra, we see the lightness of Gemini but also the peace keeper of Aquarius. Libra tends to see all sides of a situation, often making them indecisive. They truly understand the wisdom that its better to be happy than right, but finding the balance between the “I” and “We” can be very difficult for them. Often they’ll put their head in the sand and ignore bigger issues or not speak up for their own needs, to keep everything seemingly happy and peaceful on the outside. As always, don’t worry about remembering those difference, it’s just an example of how the elements share basic qualities but break down into different expressions of those qualities in the signs.

For now, let’s focus on AIR!

Air is an innovative element that likes to have many friends and acquaintances and gets along with everyone. When you think about the element of air, it is all around and a part of everything yet you only really see it when it joins up with other elements. For example being a part of both water and fire. In this way, Air can tend to lose itself or its identity with others or with projects/roles and can sometimes have difficulty with knowing who it is. It is the great neutralizer, the facts, the science of life. No need to argue, we’ll check the facts, or maybe everyone is a little right. Seeing all sides, air tends to have moments of absolute genius. Highly objective and friendly, it stays above the surface, preferring the bird’s eye view of life to actually feeling the weight of emotions or responsibilities. It sees how people interact with one another and why a disagreement may be happening, yet they remain above the emotional distress and able to clarify for others what is happening in that dynamic. Sometimes air can feel disconnected or as though they are an observer more than a participant in life. In the negative, air can be accused of being flaky, distant or avoidant but at its best it is fair, friendly, factual and far sighted.

Elemental Interactions:

Air and Fire- Air enjoys the fast-paced dynamic energy of fire. The air fuels the fire and in turn as the fire roars, air becomes more and more excitable. This is a stimulating relationship and one that adds the spark of passion behind the innovative idea, maybe just enough to bring something truly unique to the surface.

Air and Water- Air gets along with everyone and its relationship with water in an important one. However, while it understands emotion from the logical perspective it does not feel into the emotion itself. It can find that water feels dreary or drippy, pulling it down into the heaviness of the ocean. Air adds some flow and lightness to water, giving it some ability to be compassionate without as much personal cost. Air helps water find boundaries and objectivity.

Air and Earth- Air and earth don’t really have much in common other than their objective approach to life. Both prefer the facts to feelings, but the similarity stops there. Air likes change- the nemesis of earth! Earth likes practical ideas, whereas air rarely can bring their ideas from the sky to grounded fruition on earth. Earth can help the air to manifest, create and follow through, but the balance of these energies has to be just right or they will just keep upsetting each other’s apple cart. Luckily, neither like drama and air in particular likes to make nice with everyone. The relationship between air and earth reflect real life as air simply sits a top earth with little interaction. They co-exist without complaint, they have no problem with one another, they just don’t share much or have a lot of exchange.

Planets in Air:

Now let’s think about how air influences the planets. As always, it depends on the nature of the planet itself how well it reacts to being ruled by an air quality. However, we can know that any planet in an air sign will tend to be painted with certain characteristics, such as objectivity, innovation, problem solving, aloofness, a feeling of holding itself at arm’s length from the experience of it.

If the Moon (emotions) are in an air sign, you’re going to tend to want to analyze and think about feelings rather than actually feel them, keeping it more on the surface than what is natural for the moon. You’ll tend to be emotionally perceptive, seeing how others are feeling and noting changes in behaviors yet not fully empathizing with the feeling itself. This is like discovering Pavlov’s dogs- I see that when I ring this bell I can get the dog to salivate, but I am not highly aware of, or empathetic to, the dog’s experience of hoping for the steak and salivating in anticipation.

If Mercury (thought/communication) is in air, the person will tend to be friendly, talkative, social and easily likable. They’ll be intelligent and quick in thought. They’ll be fast at picking up what people are talking about and joining in. This adds an element of wit to ones thought and communication process, making intelligent jokes and lending sarcasm to situations. You may enjoy play on words and words games.

If Venus is in an air sign it is going to tend to want to have relationships that don’t have turmoil. This person will work very hard at keeping the peace, happily analyzing and explaining emotions and intuitions away. They tend towards relationships that aren’t highly demanding and where communication is a big element, though communication may stay more at surface level. These people tend to be liked by many and have many acquaintances but really knowing them or building a meaningful friendship can be a challenge.

 So, I hope that gives you a picture of the air element.

• ·         When we look at a chart, we look at how many planets do you have in air?
• ·         How many personal planets? (Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, Mars)