This post is all about the Air Element and the Astrological signs ruled by this element: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. We are going to explore this element in depth on our Astrology and Yoga Retreat coming up soon Sat 17/10 – Sun 18/10
The air element in yoga is known as Vayu or prana. Air is responsible for all movement and it represents breath, movement, intellect, and connection in both yoga and astrology. Our breath expresses exactly who we are. By breathing we connect with everything that is. The plants, the trees and also with every other living being. Air does not have borders. Our thoughts are like air, we cannot grab them, they cannot be seen but they are present and influence through our energy wherever we direct them. We manifest what we think. In yoga we pay great attention to what kind of thoughts we are giving our energy to.
Air, of all the elements, is the most powerful to cleanse the body of toxins. It fans the fire in our bodies, it’s a pure life force and in Elemental Yoga, working with the Air element increases our lightness and power and energy. On this Retreat we will be working with the Air element using pranayama, mantra and the subtle kriyas, the inner winds, of Tantric yoga. The Air element is held in the heart chakra, Anahata, and astrologically is ruled by Venus – the planet of love, beauty, harmony and personal relationships. Anahata is the bridge between our physical existence and connection to the Divine. Anahata is considered the heart-mind, where we hold freedom, compassion and ahimsa (non-harm).
Air signs in Astrology process the world through their minds rather than their emotions. They need mental stimulation, clear communication, and social connection to live a meaningful life. The first air sign is Gemini. Curious, fast thinking and fast understanding. Gemini wants to know everything and quickly loses interest and goes on to the next source of information. The core mantra for Gemini in astrology is “I think”. Geminis can also have bad reputations for being gossips, scatterbrained and for being insincere. They find it easy to outwit the people around them using word games. Did you know that the 2 leaders who steered their countries through the Scamdemic, Trump and Boris Johnston, are both Geminis? Wow. However, an evolved Gemini, who has learned to listen deeply, is one of the wisest signs around.
The second air sign is Libra. Libra is connection and communication, and they want to be in relation with others. Mutual understanding and acceptance is important to a Libran. Natural networkers, like the wind, the core mantra for Libra in astrology is “I relate”. The unhealthy flip side of an unevolved Libran is an excessive focus on physical appearances, material luxury, and social status and constant people pleasing to be accepted. Learning to love themselves and say NO is a major life lesson.
The third air sign is Aquarius. Aquarius understands the whole. Here we go beyond space and time. We care about the society we live in, and we honour and connect to all creation. We study, accumulate knowledge and feed it back into society. We bring the future into manifestation, always having in mind that it is useful for the whole. An unevolved Aquarian can come across as detached and aloof, prioritizing ideas over people. The core mantra for Aquarius in astrology is “I know”. Learning to express their feelings and vulnerability is part of an Aquarian’s life growth.
An Air sign in crisis, will retreat into the mind and display signs of severe overthinking, worry, emotional detachment and erratic behaviour. They try to logic their way out of a feeling. This leads to exhaustion, mental anxiety and often alienates the people around them. Real crises can lead to neurological challenges, isolation and mental instability.
So why is this interesting? Well one of the greatest things you can achieve in this lifetime is to understand yourself and even better, learn to understand others. We all know someone who has zero emotional IQ and they believe the world rotates around them. It’s a hard gig because the world eventual ignores them, derides them or crushes them and they never truly find their place. A heady Air sign can find an emotional Water sign too much, and yet their biggest lesson is to learn to express and be honest with their emotions and get out of their heads. Air signs could find Earth signs too pedantic intellectually, and yet all the ideas in the world will amount to nothing if there are no practical, logical rules in place. Air signs work well with Fire signs. Both move fast intellectually and Fire adds a bit of oomph to Air’s sometimes scatterbrained ideas. Do you see how we need each other and can learn from each other and how amazing this Elemental Astrological knowledge is? Next week – Ether. Love and namaste Margot