“Nothing happens until something moves.”
Albert Einstein
The air element is the force that is responsible for moving things around and changing nature. This force is present everywhere and is vital for the flow and evolution of life on Earth. The air element is also known as the wind element because it displaces and moves things. For instance, it moves clouds across the sky, creating ripples and waves in the ocean. The air element is responsible for the movement of gaseous substances that envelop the earth, which all animals and plants depend on to breathe. It also enables radio waves, sounds, birds, and airplanes to exist because all of these require a medium to move through. Interestingly, if you traveled into space, you wouldn’t hear any sounds because there is no medium for the sound to move through!
Air is often taken for granted as it’s invisible and less tangible than water, earth, and fire. However, we rely on having the right amount of air, or we suffer and die. Air carries essential molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, which are crucial to our survival, even if they can’t be seen. We only notice them when we inhale and exhale. Additionally, we depend on the air element to maintain our surroundings’ ideal temperature and humidity levels. The air circulates continuously, keeping the temperature just right, allowing nature to create diverse life forms. The air is heaviest at the Earth’s surface and becomes thinner and thinner as we move further up. If we move quickly from sea level to the mountains, we feel this in our lungs.
The air element is responsible for carrying various substances that make life on Earth possible. Although it is not visible to the naked eye, we can observe its effects through the movement of objects, such as leaves blowing in the wind or waves crashing on the shore. This element interacts with the other elements, such as water and earth, to keep life flowing and moving. It is the air element that creates the warm breeze on a hot summer day and the cold rain that whips our faces in winter.
THE MOVING AND CHANGING ELEMENT
The air element is like the “breath of life” in nature, constantly creating motion that propels things forward. This continuous movement drives creation and lays the foundation for all life. Nature is all about balance, and the air element enables nature to shift and change, ensuring that life does not become stagnant and dull. At times, life requires significant movement to maintain balance, while at other times, it demands complete stillness. Too much air can cause turmoil, storms, and upheaval, which are sometimes necessary, but too much change within a short period can also be intense and uncomfortable. Conversely, too little air leads to stagnation and death.
Air is an essential element that needs to constantly move in and out of your body, and you cannot store it up. While you can go without food for three weeks and water for three days, you can only survive without air for three minutes! Everything inside your body is in constant motion, with a continuous flow of information moving and interacting with other elements. Stagnation and lack of movement indicate dysfunction, disease, and even death in your body, as well as in plants and animals. Even stationary trees, plants, and flowers go through their growth and renewal processes, showing that movement is vital for all living things. When we move, we inhale life-giving oxygen that fuels every cell in our body, giving us energy and vitality.
Neuroscience research has found that our brain circuits experience a natural calming effect when we move our bodies physically through space, such as running, walking, or cycling. This phenomenon is known as “optic flow,” where the brain enters a state of relaxation as the eyes perceive movement through space. The movement that our eyes see soothes the nervous system. After experiencing a stressful event, walking and moving your body forward can be an effective way to move forward in life. We are naturally wired to move our bodies after facing difficulties.
CONNECTING TO AIR – YOUR SENSE OF TOUCH
The element of air is linked to our sense of touch. Our skin, the largest organ in the body, also acts as the largest sensing organ. Our skin contains nerve cells that detect sensations such as touch, pressure, and temperature, allowing us to feel pain and pleasure. These nerve cells are connected to the brain, which receives information about what is happening to the skin. Although there are different types of nerve cells in the skin, they all communicate through electrical signals. The brain interprets all the signals it receives and then analyzes what is happening to the body through the skin.
The air element can also be connected to through your constantly changing thoughts, beliefs, and ideas. Thinking about something creates an emotional reaction that affects your physical body by releasing various hormones and chemicals like adrenalin, cortisol, dopamine, serotonin, and others. Too much air can create too many racing thoughts, making you anxious and scattered, while too little air can leave you feeling stagnant and depressed. To maintain a healthy mental flow, it’s essential to have a natural and balanced flow of air. It’s important to remember that your thoughts are not you but merely passing through you like the wind through trees. Some thoughts may feel comfortable, while others may be terrifying. You should not identify with your thoughts but, like a tree, let them come and go naturally, allowing you to maintain a healthy airflow.
The element of air symbolizes the ever-changing circumstances in our lives, whether internal or external. Just as the wind physically moves us in different directions, our thoughts and sensations guide us toward certain things and away from others. This instinct is natural in humans, plants, and animals, helping us to survive by seeking out things that bring us pleasure and moving us away from things that cause us pain. A healthy expression of air is a balanced state of mind where life flows freely. You feel enthusiasm, vibrancy, and curiosity to explore life without feeling anxious about moving forward or embracing necessary changes.
BALANCING THE AIR ELEMENT
The air element is responsible for moving things around, displacing them, and creating change. It has been designed to bring changes when they are needed so that life can continue and evolve. When the winds of change come sweeping in, they reorganize and rearrange everything, which might feel chaotic to those caught in it. During a storm, it can feel terrifying and even traumatizing, but eventually, the winds will pass, and the calm will return. Things that were once here will be over there, and a new balance will be established. Life is then ready to begin again, this time from another perspective.
The presence of the air element is strongly felt on our planet at the moment. Mother Earth is increasing the strength of her winds, causing noticeable changes across the globe. This is evident not only in the physical world but also in our minds, where intense mental storms are creating a lot of drama and instability, fueling further chaos. These mental storms can be just as fierce as raging physical storms, spinning polarized views around and around. However, it’s important to remember that in the middle of every storm, there is a quiet center – the eye of the storm – where everything is still. It is also worth remembering that storms have a cleansing power, and once they pass, the world will be more peaceful and balanced.
The air element teaches us to move naturally with life and not hold onto unnecessary things. A balanced air element is calm when it needs to be, but it can also focus and shake things up when necessary. This involves adjusting to changing circumstances and accepting changes as they come. By mastering the air element within yourself, you will eventually see this reflected in the world around you.