AIR: The Light of the East:

SThe first of the great elemental building blocks of magick is Air. It, like its kin, has a unique value in the terms of the physical, mental/psychic and spiritual aspects of our being. Firstly, let us examine the physical aspect of Air. .

The first of the great elements is Air. It, like its kin, has a unique value in the senses of physical, mental/psychic and spiritual fields. Firstly, let us examine the physical aspect of Air.

Physical air is made up of a multitude of elements (in the chemical sense) including but not limited to oxygen, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen. Blanketing and shielding the planet, its value is immeasurable. Without its blanketing effect, most of the heat warming the planet's surface would be lost into space, leaving a frigid ball of ice rather than a vibrant and living planet.

As a shield, physical air reflects much of the harmful radiation that otherwise would bombard the earth and destroy not only the living creatures of this world but also the very capacity of the Earth to support life. A well-known example of this shield is the ozone layer, made up of a stratospheric layer of ozone (O3), a form of molecular oxygen. This shield operates by absorbing ultraviolet radiation, which separates the ozone (O3 + UV light=O2 + O) into molecular oxygen and a free atom. This free atom then bonds, through the addition of more radiation, with an oxygen molecule to reform ozone. As long as the layer is undamaged by outside influences, it will constantly reform and strengthen itself (this is a characteristic of all the elements, by the way, in all their aspects)..

Air is also a fundamental requirement for the continued survival of terrestrial life. Without it, the cells that make up our bodies would be unable to store and utilize the energy they require (in the form of adenosine triphosphate). Yet, just as the air high above the earth reproduces itself and is constantly destroyed almost simultaneously (solve et coagula), so too does air on the surface cycle itself. Rather than delve into all the various cycles of the gases ( methane, ammonia, etc) that exist, here I shall limit my comments to the O-CO2 cycle. .

Just as animals comsume oxygen and lock it into CO2 molocules and subsequently exhale it, so to do plants absorb CO2 and produce oxygen, through respiration and photosynthesis. (Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2=6CO2 + 6H2O + energy; Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy= C6H12O6 + 6O2).

So physical air, in partnership with physical water, ensures continued respiration for living creatures. This partnership between air and water also continues with the water cycle, but this is better left to another essay. Physical air also enables the life-forms of the planet to travel, spread seeds or spores; it cools hot areas of the planet and aids in the movement of ocean currents. Without physical air, maintained in delicate balance, terrestrial life could not exist..

Beyond the physical aspect of air lies its mental/psychic aspect. Magically, air is the mind of a human. It represents intelligence and reason; the first of the things that separates man from the lower forms of animal. The intellect, or ability to understand, is the beginning of all things, the beginning of the walk on the Path. For this reason, dawn and spring are the times associated with it. The sense of smell is that of Air, for the obvious reason that fragrance is borne upon the breast of the wind. Air also includes such similar things as communication, inspiration and creativity. An imbalance involving Air in the witch can produce differing effects. Too much air can produce a Spock-like stoicism, a concern with book-knowledge to the exclusion of experience. Too little however can produce such problems as an inability to communicate or a lack of creativity.

The Magic Circle is cast beginning in the east, the direction of air, where the sun rises and all things are born. Through study and the accumulation of knowledge one learns exactly how to proceed, and from where to begin, and this is the first step in all things. Elemental imbalances cause problems in Circles too. Not enough Air in your Circle and you’ll find that things lack purpose, aren’t thought out and don’t have a good basis from which to grow. Too much however, and you’ll find the Circle is stuck on forms and formalities, without the joy and happiness that should be found in all Circles..

By briefly touching upon the three astrological signs of the Zodiac associated with Air, we may peer a little deeper into its symbolism. Firstly, the sign Gemini is often summed up in the phrase 'I think'. As we have already seen, Air is the mind, or knowledge. Air, however holds two other signs. The next of these is Libra, whose function is 'to balance'. More upon this in a moment however. The third air sign is Aquarius, whose phrase 'I know' is as obviously airy as we may get.

Now, to return to that aspect of air embodied in the Libran ideal of balance, we find the words of that master magician Aleister Crowley enlightening: ' ...the original duality of Fire and Water was overcome by the introduction of a third element, partaking equally of both natures; Air...' (from 'The Book of Thoth'). Crowley here demonstrated a fundamental of magick. He observed the physical world and drew conclusions about the psycho-spiritual one from what he learned. Just as physical Air mediates between physical water and fire by being less tangible than the first and more than the second, so does the magicakal element of Air mediate in a similar way among its siblings. Think of the elements as a chalice. The sides of the cup are made of Fire and Water, the lower part of the cup is Air, uniting the two. The stem and base are Earth, providing a means and method of manifestation for the other three.)

In our faith, and indeed many other forms of occultism, the element of air is symbolized by the wand. Magicians went to great lengths to create proper wands, cutting the wood from a particular kind of tree on a certain day in a certain hour. The renowned nineteenth century French theoretical magician Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Louis Constant) gave ridiculously complex instructions along these lines in his 'Dogme et Rituel de L'Haute Magie', involving gold, zinc and magnetized steel. The celebrated ‘Key of Solomon the King’ is no less complex on the subject.

In ceremonial magic, and indeed many other forms of occultism, the element of air is symbolized by the wand. Magicians went to great lengths to create proper wands, cutting the wood from a particular kind of tree on a certain day in a certain hour. The re nowned theoretical magician Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Louis Constant) gave ridiculously complex instructions along these lines in his 'Dogme et Rituel de L'Haute Magie', involving gold, zinc and magnetized steel.

Now, actually constructing a wand does not require all the complicated steps that Levi suggested, although following his advice will lend a power to the wand if the tradition followed is his own. Many books exist today with instructions on creating a wand ; both high magick and earth magick sources exist and neither is as complicated for neither partakes of medieval superstition and Judeo-Christian theology to the extent that Levi did.The wand's history of representing air and therefore the intellect is a long and venerable one. Hermes of the Olympian Gods bore the most renowned of all wands, the Caduceus, still used today as a symbol of the medical profession. Odin of the Aesir bore a magical spear, as did Lugh, the Celtic Hermes. Even in popular folklore and legends rods or wands have been born by prophets and heroes; Moses, Aaron, the Pharaohs, Merlin, Faust, Gandalf the Grey, the Christian Popes and an entire host of others have been counted among wand-bearers. As the Athame and Sword represent authority (“With this (the sword) thou art Master of the Circle”) the Wand and/or Staff represent understanding. We summon spirits and elementals with the Athame, for we command them, but we use the Wand for the Gods, for we invite them..

I will not, however, use up more space describing the wand, since that is not the focus of this page. Intead I shall now describe some of the mystical symbols that represent air.

1) An upward pointing equilateral triangle with a horizontal bar passing through the middle represents air in the G.' .D.'. system. Since the triangle points upward, it represents the masculine/positive polatity of air.

2) Vayu, a blue circle, is the Tattwa (hindu mystical glyph) representing air. it is useful for mediatations upon the element and represents the vast blue circle of the sky.

3) the Tau, or equilateral cross, is sometimes used as a symbol of air to symbolize equal movement in all directions.

4) The astrological symbol of Aquarius lends itself to air as its Kerubic emblem, especially in the Greater Hexagram and Pentagram rituals of the Golden Dawn system.

5) Raphael, the Qabalistic archangel of Air embodies the qualities of the element. and he stands amidst the winds. The same force is visualized as an eagle in the Craft.

Like each of the other elements, air may be subdivided into four sub-elements, partaking of the nature of each of its elemental siblings. Crowley\rquote s explanations of these subelements are:

Fire of Air: Wind, swift onset

Water of Air: Vibrations; bulk unmoved

Air of Air: Clouds, steady conveyors of water

There is a value in knowing and understanding the sub-elements that make up the element proper. This is summed up in the following quote from 'Techniques of High Magic' by King and Skinner: " ...the magician who experiences all of the sub-elements has a much deeper understanding of and familiarity with the elements than the elemental magician who attempts to work elemental magic with the all embracing, undifferentiated five. It gives him a greater choice of working medium--he can be very much more precise about his attention and the direction of his ritual. His ritual in consequence has a far greater chance of success."

Various methods may each be employed to explore each sub-element. One of these is a specialized form of scrying. the details of which can be found in the book quoted above, as well as in 'The Golden Dawn' by the late Dr. Israel Regardie. As far as things go in the Craft however, this is a little more ceremonial than we need be concerned with.

The element of air may also be studied in the Tarot deck itself. An interesting dilemma presents itself here however, for in the Tarot the suit of swords is ascribed to air and the wand to fire, although, qabalistically the sword is attributed to the sephira Gevurah, and is therefore not an airy weapon. This confusion began with the writing of ‘The Pictoral Key to the Tarot’ by Golden Dawn alumnus A.E. Waite. In order not to reveal ‘too much’ and violate his oath, Waite reversed Air and Fire in his writing. In my opinion, its ridiculous to assign the Wand to Fire. How can an element be represented by a tool it can destroy? Also, the Athame, being of metal, has already passed through Fire! One may proceed in a few directions. The first is to accept the symbolism of the swords as Fiery and proceed from there, the second is to seek a different interpretation. This must naturally be decided by the indiviual Seeker, with or without a teacher on the Path.

Spiritually, the core meaning of Air must be sought through a Mystery. According, once again, to Crowley, an element' s cardinal sign is its birth, its Kerubic (fixed) sign it's life, and its mutable sign is it's its spirit, or 'ideal form proper to it.' . In the case of the Airy element this would lead us to the signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Placed in the proper order of Balance, Thinking, Knowing, we find a progression of great importance. The Path of Air is achieved firstly through attaining a harmony and balance within first, that is, a mental / psychic one, as Air represents the mind. Next, thought arises. This is thoughts of the 'visionary' sort, the flashes of enlightenment that may occasionally sear the lower self. At the end, if all is properly prepared, and diligence and sincerity are your hallmarks, you achieve Knowing; that is, knowing the highest of planes. On the Tree of Life of the Qabala the great Abyss between the microcosm and macrocosm (crossing which is the ultimate goal of all mystics) is bridged by the Seeker only through Da'ath, the pseudo-sephira that lore says sits 'above' the Tree...in another dimension. And, of course, Da'ath is Hebrew for Knowledge.

Through knowledge, the gift of Air, we may soar on wings of thought upwards to enlightenment, an analytical path followed by many historical persons, among them Pythagorous and DaVinci.. This ultimate gift leaves behind thought, for when Knowledge is attained, what more need do we have of the lessons the physical world and its thoughts have to teach?

This, finally is the goal of the mantra yogi who intones 'Aum mani padme hum' which means 'Hail, the Jewel in the Lotus!' . This jewel and lotus correspond to Kether in the qabalistic system. In the Craft, we say the same thing in the Charge—“I am that which is attained at the end of all Desire.”

But never must we also shun the Paths of the other elements, for each is but a part of a greater whole. Through balance the Seeker slowly becomes spiritually hermaphroditic, then may he begin the process of reconcilling his thoughts and memories, and retrieving the Divine spark within. Air, the light shed by the golden dawn, and a proper understanding of its significance, are the first steps on the Path; the grandest adventure of all.