The Astrology of Healing
Correspondence Course, Lessons #4-7

Ingrid Naiman

 

Excerpt from Lesson #4 on the Air Element

Variations

I have found three or four distinct air types. There is the socially gracious, well dressed, pleasant, well-informed good conversationalist. This person asks appropriate questions of the other, talks modestly about himself or herself, makes a good impression but knows exactly how he or she is perceived and why he/she is directing the interaction in the way he/she is doing. This person expresses appreciation and gratitude easily, perhaps excessively, but he/she is quick to acknowledge kind gestures and deeds. Such a person is usually very skilled in relating and knows how to choose a congenial partner and how to handle situations that might be more challenging to others. We might call such a person "master of air."

Next, there is the intellectual, usually tall and lean, brilliant but sometimes impervious as to whether anyone else is even remotely interested in his/her ideas. This person often claims to prefer books to people, but he or she seldom fails to try to impose his/her latest ideas on others. This person may be the "mad professor" type, a bit disheveled and often somewhat neglectful of hygiene.

Then, there is the eccentric, someone who makes a cult out of his or her alleged uniqueness, a hippie, a homosexual, a social activist, etc. This type of individual may wear a "costume" that is a statement of affiliation. In any event, he or she tends to seek social fulfillment by identifying with a group, playing the part, openly, and finding relationship within defined contexts. Often as not, the relationships sought in this way are quite superficial and unable to withstand the growth and development of others.

Finally, there is the quite deranged air type, imbalanced in all the ways air ought to excel. This is the pseudo-sophisticated cynic or overly nervous or anxious type. Certain kinds of mental patient (neurotics, schizophrenics, or persons with a dissociative disorders) also fit this description. In contrast to the previous type, this person does not even have a borrowed identity but more of an identity crisis.

There may be other types, but these came easily to mind at this time.

Light

Of the three basic energetics associated with the air element - lightness, dryness, and coldness - lightness is perhaps the quintessential quality of air, that enjoyed by air in greater measure than any of the other elements. Fire is also light, but air is far more mobile and pervasive than fire.

Physically, lightness is experienced as the opposite of density. As mentioned, the elements are differentiated by vibratory rates, and air is the fastest vibrating of the elements. Maximum density is found is the skeletal structure and minimum density in the "empty" spaces in the body.

Because the air type is "lighter," these persons have less physical mass. One may say that they are less "substantive." Their entire structure is more refined but less heavy. Features are more delicate: lips thinner, teeth smaller, bones lighter, etc. Ayurveda, which greatly values fertility and abundance, describes the air type as ugly and lacking in sex appeal. However, modern Western culture, especially the U.S., which has an Aquarius Moon and Gemini rising, idolizes this type. The air type is the most androgynous looking of the types and when air is excessive, there may be a lack of normal sexual differentiation in the physiological development. For a man, this means that body hair will be sparse and the voice will probably not be very deep. For women, breasts and hips may be smaller than average and there will be less bodily fat to add those distinctly feminine curves that are prized in India but often intentionally worked off through exercise in the West. In severe cases of excess air, there will be a loss of libido (and vitality).

The typical air type is very small built, usually shorter than average but sometimes taller (and leaner). The explanation for this will occur when we come to the water element which is a subtle shadow of the air element. Suffice it to say that the most extreme types of lightness result in emaciation, sometimes induced by eating disorders or some other inability to be nurtured physically.

Lightness is also related to agility; quickness in movement; and, when excessive, to jitteriness, spasms, seizures, and convulsions. Probably the single most physical characteristic of lightness is nervousness which, when carried to an extreme, leads to insomnia, somnambulism, and/or talking in one's sleep. Nerve deterioration can lead to paralysis.

Psychologically, lightness is associated with openness, responsiveness, versatility, a lack of judgmental tendencies, tolerance, liberal views, and inconsistency. An air type will readily take either position just to be fair and show respect for all possibilities. In this regard air is much more concerned with relationship than ultimate truths and what is right. Because of this, Ayurveda regards the air type as lacking in moral fortitude, weak in character, and undependable. Most air types would resist these labels as judgmental and unfair-because they stand quite strongly for certain values which are important to them. In our culture today, the air type is respected for its versatility, cleverness, adaptability, and willingness to experiment with new thoughts and ideas.

One of my own observations is that if I teach a major intensive in Europe in which I impart many "useful" therapies, most students will not implement any of the suggestions until several years after graduation. However, if I mail out a 90-minute tape to a subscriber to one of the magazines for which I write, an American will listen to the tape while commuting to work, try out the ideas immediately and fax me to tell me how happy he or she is with the recommendations.

I see the European students as more thorough and more sensitive to authority whereas the American "fans" are typically American in their lack of need for details before testing something to see if it works.

I personally have no judgment of this; I am merely making an observation. I would imagine that there are many European students who are somewhat more experimental than the norm for their cultures and many Americans who are less so. However, I will wager that it is the confidence in one's ingenuity that enables someone with totally new exposure to a concept to try it out. Where the cancer salves are concerned, this dichotomy according to type is truly marked.

I am not for a moment suggesting that it is safe or wise to experiment, merely saying that, in general, air types are somewhat neglectful of safety-but they are so open to new ideas that they are likely to try them out-without blaming anyone else for the consequences of what may at times be folly.

To be fair, I might add that air types are as likely to drop one idea in favor of a yet newer one than to persevere. They often, therefore, do not fully benefit from their experiments. This has been my biggest hurdle in working with HIV infected individuals, since most of these patients are air types.

Lightness is associated with a lack of seriousness, frivolity, unstableness, and sometimes eccentricity. I feel it is important to differentiate eccentricity from originality. Eccentricity is the effort to be different and to achieve some sort of acknowledgment for being different, even if the behavior is mostly irrelevant, partially chaotic, and largely imitative. Originality requires depth and the ability to recognize something characterized by coherence and integrity. Many air types harm themselves by failing to make this distinction.

Lightness also relates to poor concentration, a short attention span, forgetfulness, as well as a tendency to fret. Air types are prone to worrying, usually over things that will never come to pass, but the anxiety level is affected regardless of the likelihood of a concern becoming a reality.

When lightness is pronounced, people may become "noisy," too talkative. In really severe cases, lightness results in allergic responses, dizziness, vertigo, disorientation, and dysfunction. We have new vocabulary that recognizes the excess of air: "light headed," "air head," "space case," or the more esoteric reference to those who are "lost in the Akash." In more long-term situations, lightness may relate to certain types of incoherence and hysteria.

Dryness

Dryness-in the air type-is characterized by brittle nails, dry and cracked skin, split ends on the hair, creaky joints (which may also be painful), and premature aging such as a wobbly gait, gray or white hair, or forgetfulness of a senile variety. This is often treated "topically" without addressing the essential inner dryness that results in tissue weakness, membrane fragility, and deficiency conditions affecting fat, bone marrow, cartilage, and bones.

Dryness is most evidenced by thirst, but it is also associated with a lack of "glue": excessive looseness of teeth and joints and a tendency towards fissures and fractures. It is also a primary cause of constipation as well as a wide variety of aches and pains.

Psychological dryness is expressed as cynicism, detachment, aloofness, and/or mental and emotional rigidity. It may also be seen in cases of frugality, anything from thriftiness to tight fistedness. In general the air type is a spend thrift, and funds are easily dissipated. However, a very dry air type may fuss over a check at a restaurant, leave a minimal if not insulting tip, and complain about how expensive everything is or how he/she did not get his/her money's worth. I see this as an inability to feel nourished so that the inner discomfort is projected out onto outer circumstances. Such a person may behave and act like Scrooge but being an air type is secretly longing for human companionship.

However, some of this "dry" behavior is an indication of the effort to become more secure by hanging onto what might confer that security: possessions, money, and maybe even people (by obliging them to function as the withered up person wants.)

Coldness

Coldness is common to all but the fire type. In the air type, coldness is felt as sensitivity to climate and rather extreme discomfort, most of all with drafts and only secondly, with cold. In other words, it is the movement of air that is more distressing than the temperature, though no air type likes cold weather.

Coldness is also felt in the extremities, cold hands and feet, but this is seldom as severe as with water types because air types have basically good circulation.

Coldness is also related to the erratic or fluctuating metabolism of air types. The air metabolism is basically fast, but it may suddenly dip in which case the individual loses his appetite and interest in food and fails to metabolize what has just been eaten. One of the most pronounced evidences of this pattern is when an air type is famished, loads up his/her plate with food, eats a few bites, and then pushes the remaining food around without actually eating much more.

Psychologically, coldness is expressed as indifference; selfishness; callousness; and, in rare instances, cruelty. It must be obvious that these, as well as some of the other derangements, are due to imbalance. What is most tragic is that the lack of balance impairs the expression of the very traits most treasured by the individuals suffering from the imbalance. Some of the imbalance can be regarded as an effort, well conceived or not, to correct for some major "threat." In the case of air, the problem is often "bombardment," more impressions and impacts than can be processed. The cure may then seem to be withdrawal or rigidity to offset the normal openness. Whether nailing everything to the floor will prevent commotion is no doubt a reasonable question, but air types are known to attempt this when pushed beyond their limits.

The Chinese have a view of yin and yang as always changing into their opposites when reaching the extreme. In a sense, this is what astrologers, psychologists, and sociologists mean by dysfunctional. The behavior that results in the extreme is often the opposite of what is "normal." Therefore, highly sociable, engaging, and appropriate air types might become misogynistic when close to the limit-or extreme.

Copyright by Ingrid Naiman 2002

To see samples of material from lessons #8-9, click here.