Tarot and the Air Element

I often think of the elements in Tarot connected with the elements in

astrology, because it was in my investigation of astrology that I began
learning about elements.

“The four Elements and their corresponding Signs are Fire

(Aries, Leo and Sagittarius), Earth (Taurus, Virgo and
Capricorn), Air (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) and Water
(Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces).” (1)

Some of the associations for Air, from “Wicca for the Rest of Us” –
Direction: East; Time: Sunrise; Season: Spring; Moon: Waxing; Major
Aspect: Intelligence; Tools: Incense, Wand.

“Air is the element of intellect, study, and book-learning, and

therefore of the sciences. It is also the element of youth,
creativity, and spontaneity, and of communication and
travel.” (2)

The Golden Dawn is one belief system to attributed swords to the element of Air, at least for ceremonial
magic, along with the color yellow. The Greek philosopher Diogenes Appoloniates from the late 5th
century BCE, linked the element of Air with intelligence and the soul. (3)

As Air is connected with intellect, people with lots of Air signs in their astrological charts will be
analytical, and skilled with abstraction. (4) Air signs are typically good communicators. Similarly, it makes
sense to expect a tarot reading with a large number of Air-related cards to indicate a certain degree of
intellectualization, or perhaps the need for that sort of rational energy. Except there is more too it than
that.

Air is also sometimes linked to spirituality. (5) It connects the Water element (emotions and
subconscious) to the Earth Element (physical reality). (6) People who have done manifesting or prosperity
work will quickly recognize the commonly-held understanding that desires and emotions (Water-
ruled/Cups) appear in physical form (Earth/Pentacles) by means of Air (thought/Swords), which leads to
action (Fire/Wands).

Air can be linked to spring largely because of Plato’s philosophy. From Occult Advances website, emphasis
added:

“Since fire is dry and warm, it corresponds to summer, water is cold and moist, it corresponds to
winter, air is hot and moist just like the spring, whereas autumn is dry and colder than
summer...” (7)

Following that analogy, if Air is like spring, then we would expect Air energy to bring fresh growth. Air is
expansive, after all, and spring is a time when the energy and life that surrounds us expands. The waxing
moon association strengthens the connection of Air to expansiveness.

In addition to the suit of swords, major Air cards in the tarot include the Fool (Uranus), the Lovers
(Gemini), Justice (Libra), and the Star (Aquarius). (8) Looking at the properties of these cards together,
along with the other Air connections in various traditions, gives a nice overview the element of Air:

• Air is thinking, fair, able to see all sides of the issue, unconventional perhaps, but hopeful,
like the astrological signs associated with Air (and the major Arcana cards as well).
• Air carries with it the seeds, the beginning, of new growth. Moisture and warmness, abundant
in spring, produces the right conditions for new growth to appear. The conditions have to be
 right in people before new growth can appear, too. There has to be a fertile ground for new
ideas. Thinking is occurring, a weighing of options and beliefs.
• Air expands. Air brings conscious thought to an issue, and therefore brings a greater
understanding, which enhances spiritual wellbeing. Spirituality at it’s heart seems to be that
expansiveness, in many ways.
• Air changes. As an active and expansive element, Air is not full of stagnant energy. Air catches
the cycle in process of the changes, where thoughts are being weighed and reality, defined. The
swords can cut through the confusion, the mental underbrush, and free you (like Uranus energy)
from that which is not fundamentally yours, that which does not serve.
• Air is not just intellectualization. Air is not just thinking. While water is more closely associated
with feeling, you determine the direction of the feeling by the thinking, much like the wind
powers the waves. Like the Tarot’s Fol, Air energy brings with it the faith to begin a journey
without knowing the destination, along with the hope of something more, like you get from the
Star.

Considering the various associations, I would assume that a Tarot reading packed with Air elemental
symbols to indicate a time of considerable change, being driven by a weighing of the facts and/or
feelings. There may be struggle involved or not, but the querent would seem likely be in the process of
actively working through the status quo to a new place. Perhaps part of the questioner’s life is under
revision.

But regardless of how you read it, an understanding of some of the associations with the Element of Air
will enrich the ability to find the messages the cards have to share.

Courtesy Tarot Chick Dixie Vogel; see more at www.afoolsjourney.com.

1. Astrology.Com – About Astrology: The Elements

http://www.astrology.com/aboutastrology/interpreting/elements/

2. Wicca for the Rest of Us – The Elements

http://wicca.timerift.net/elements.shtml

3. Wikipedia – The Element of Air

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(classical_element)

4. The Starkeepers – Elements and Astrology

http://www.thestarkeepers.com/poems/AirElement.html

5. About.com Holistic Healing – 4 Basic Elements: Air

http://healing.about.com/od/air/Four_Basic_Elements_Air.htm

6. Astroddessy.com – The Art of the 4 Elements

http://www.astrodyssee.com/gb/element.htm

7. Occult Advances - Elemental Magic: Fire - Water - Earth - Air/Wind: Correspondences Chart
http://occult-advances.org/elements.shtml

8. Super Tarot – How to master the Tarot Cards

http://www.supertarot.co.uk/lessons/01basic.htm