"People and other animals live by breathing air, and this is for them both soul and intelligence."
- Diogenes of Apollonia, C5th BCE.
Axiom: To Know Colour (Modern): Yellow, Sky Blue Astrological Signs: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra Planets: Jupiter\*, Mercury (Uranus) Direction: East or South Time of Day: Dawn Season: Spring Sense: Smell Gender: Masculine Tools: Sword or Wand Deities: Zeus Tetragrammaton: Vav Archangel: Raphael Demon King: Oriens Enochian King: Bataivah Enochian Divine Name: Oro Ibah Aozpi Elemental Governor: Cherub Elemental King: Paralda Elemental: Slyphs Kerub: Eagle Gem: Topaz Metal: Silver Tarot: Swords Platonic Solid: Octahedron
Some philosophers, such as the sixth century BCE Greek philosopher Anaximenes, believed that everything came from Air. He wrote of Air that: “Air differs in essence in accordance with its rarity or density. When it is thinned it becomes fire, while when it is condensed it becomes wind, then cloud, when still more condensed it becomes water, then earth, then stones. Everything else comes from these.”[ix]
Air is an analytical masculine element, associated with the word (logos). From this it is easy to see why it should be connected with logic and the intellect, the power of thought and the gathering of knowledge. This is why the axiom of Air is To Know, and of course with that knowledge comes the need to communicate, and so language and sound, which travel through the Air, are also implied. With knowledge comes the ability to learn and improve skills, and these qualities are also airy. Another quality of Air is clarity, the ability to perceive clearly, analyse the facts and then exercise discernment, i.e. informed choice based on knowledge. It is associated with the quality of discrimination, and the ability to analyse, to see the whole picture with a ‘birds-eye view’, and the wisdom of experience. Memory is another airy quality, and it is no coincidence that the sense of smell, recognizing scents carried on the Air, should be known as the ‘evoker of memory’ due to its ability to prompt memories more than any other sense. Air has been connected with the soul in many cultures, and this is seen particularly in the Western magickal languages, with examples such as Ruach (Hebrew) meaning ‘spirit’, ‘breath’ or ‘wind’; Psyche (Latin) is derived from psukhê (Greek) meaning ‘breath’, ‘life’ or ‘soul’; and Pneuma (Greek) meaning ‘breath’, ‘soul’ or ‘vital spirit’. The breath of life is a universal concept and as such it is no surprise that it should be accorded such significance. The creative logos is implicit in the breath of life – in principio erat verbum. [x] The idea of the word or breath creating the universe is seen in various pantheons, such as with the Egyptian magick god Thoth speaking the word of creation. The power of words is extreme, with them you can describe something, and create an image for another person’s imagination, hence the pen truly being mightier than the sword. Likewise the power inherent in the true name being considered able to control that thing, hence the importance of not revealing the true name, and the tale of the Egyptian goddess Isis learning the creator sun god Re’s true name through subterfuge to make herself the mistress of magick. In the macrocosm Air is most obvious as the sky, and felt in the winds that blow around us. As the most intangible of the four elements, Air connects us to the stars, filling the gap between the Earth and the heavens. Air surrounds us at all times, the omnipresent breath of life, continually energizing us as we draw oxygen from it to keep our bodies working and vitalize ourselves. Air is associated with inspiration, a term which can literally mean to breathe in. When we are inspired ideas move in our minds, and movement is a quality of Air, as seen in nature by the power of the wind, which can vary from a gentle breeze to a raging tornado, demonstrating its changeability. Air also embodies joy and happiness, the lightness of spirit you feel when you are in a good mood. Feeling happy is often described as ‘floating on air’. Air brings beginnings, like the tide of air which starts the year in spring. Air embodies the hope of a spring day, the clarity of a sharp intake of breath, the joy of a cooling breeze, the freedom of a bird gliding on the winds. The alchemical acronym for air, using the Greek word aer, is Aurifica Ego Regina, meaning “I, the Gold-making Queen.” This refers to the seduction of Danaë by Zeus (the air god) as a golden shower in Greek myth. Working with the element of Air enables you to concentrate on your mental being, enhancing your mind and its capabilities from the intellect, clarity and memory to inspiration, knowledge and its analysis. This enhancement may also be applied to the learning process, be it to learn new languages, skills or crafts, or pass exams. As the spoken word it also enables development of the social being, both through improving communication and also by transforming the negative mental states which can inhibit effective socialisation, such as anxiety, indecision, insecurity, nervousness and paranoia.
Positive Qualities Analysis, Clarity, Communication. Decisiveness, Discrimination, Élan, Grace, Happiness, Heaven, Hope, Intellect, Inspiration, Joy, Justice, Knowledge, Logic, Logos, Memory, Mind, Sky, Speed, Wisdom
Negative Qualities Anxiety, Dispersion, Impulsiveness, Indecision, Insecurity, Nervousness, Paranoia, Prejudice, Theft
Meditate on the symbol of the air element. Invoke the archangel Raphael – the Healer of God. Experience how the air flows through your being and cools you down, giving your thoughts a purity and clarity. Work with breathing exercises. The element of air belongs to the intellect of thought and the ability to analyse. How do your thoughts and opinions affect your perception of reality? What habit patterns do you have? What addictions do you have? Consider how you use the language in both written and spoken form. Meditate on your mind and its inner voices or thoughts. Let the thoughts flow without trying to control them until peace and tranquillity arise. Air is associated with the sanguine state because of its heat, moving moisture and levity, which can make its nature capricious and at times self-absorbed. What does your sanguine look like? Seek to understand how the sanguine condition affects your life. Strive to manifest the quality of “to know” – knowing what must be done. Be quick and active like the sylphs, but avoid superficiality and capriciousness.
Alchemy – the divine work