The Air Element

Libra, Aquarius and Gemini

There are four triplicities in astrology, which is a grouping based on the elements. The other trplicities are water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) and earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo).

Those with planets in air signs use their minds to make sense of their lives. With Air, there's more space between the life lived and the observing mind. This can lead air signs to appear detached, aloof, remote, cool. Sometimes they'll try to talk their way through feelings or analyze a situation instead of encountering it's full emotional weight.

The gift of Air is flexibility, and their ability to experience life through many prisms. They're often excellent communicators, storytellers, interpreters and journalists. They link people together socially, and often have a curiousity that keeps them out and about.

The signs of the Zodiac are grouped by elements in their triplicity, but they are also grouped by something known as their quality. Each type of quality has a unique path of expression. For the Air signs, Libra is cardinal, the leader, Aquarius is fixed, able to doggedly follow one train of thought and Gemini is mutable and as mercurial as the planet that rules it.

It can be a relief for the weighted down Earth to be lifted up by Air's ideas and free-thinking. Air may offer a different spin on how to prioritize things, which can be liberating for duty-bound Earth. Earth helps the remote Air discover the mind-body connection. Earth can also advise Air so that some of their dreams can be made real.

This is a dynamic combo, with Air being able to create an outline of meaning through thought for the Fire to be inspired by. Air helps Fire take a more logical path toward success, some direction for their leaps of faith. Fire gives Air a sense of mission, purpose, and shines a light of focus through the jumble of collected data, thoughts, information.

These two benefit from each other by bringing balance to feeling and thought. Water shows Air a path to the feelings, and can help them grow toward being more nurturing, emotional expressive, etc. Water helps Air make the heart connection. Air lifts Water out of the murky swamp into the realm of thought. Like talk-therapy, Air encourages Water to find distance, to become intellectually curious about their experiences.

Here is a meeting of the minds, and when balanced by other elements, it can mean a lifetime of shared interests. The way of connecting is through the exchange of ideas. The deeper emotional truth of the situation at hand can be discussed coolly. This bond thrives when there is also emotional authenticity, action and physical touch.

analytical, curious, thinking, intellectual, social, detached

Those with planets in Air signs lead with the head, and those wheels are always turning to analyze and interpret their world. These are the "idea people," who breeze in and offer a fresh perspective on the situation at hand. As observers, they're often seeing from a loftier position, and able to offer clarity that others don't have.

The air signs are social creatures, since their currency is ideas, and they'll find more stimulation when out mingling. Some are drawn to words and become professional communicators, while others -- especially Aquarius -- have a more conceptual way of thinking. Air signs are masters at navigating through the collective waters, and therefore are astute commentators of the cultural trends, attitudes, consciousness of the times.

When Air is out of balance, you can encounter a talking head, someone cut off from his own physical self. Air signs are more vulnerable to the excesses of our mind-body split, and could benefit from yoga and other somatic practices. A meditation practice helps Air signs calm the static.

In relationships, the distance of Air to their emotions can be refreshing. They're great conversationalists because they're the keepers of so much knowledge, gossip, strange factoids, etc. Talking with an inspired Air sign can be like skipping through a kind of virtual reality full of detail, specificity and local color.