AIR HARMONY

"We live that we may learn to love, We love that we may learn to live.
There is no other lesson required of man." - Mirdad

Air is contained in the space around us and within us, as we breathe it into our bodies and transport it through the blood to provide oxygen to all the tissues, systems and organs of our bodies. The air element is associated with compassion, unconditional love and nurturing on the positive side and with the mental and emotional conditions of speed and greed on the negative side. Just as we can live only a few moments without air, our life becomes less than ashes and dust when the heart is closed and love and generosity can not flow inwards to the self or outwards towards the world around us.

This element that is so important to our well being can not be seen yet we can see and experience its effects. A gentle breeze on a hot day cools our skin, dances the leaves on the trees and refreshes our mind and soul. Air energy can be harnessed to sail a boat across the ocean or to turn a wind mill or generator. It can also blow out of control, lifting sand or dust or rain to create wild storms and in its extreme form manifests as hurricanes that flatten everything in its path.

Creating balance in the air element is a subtle process. On the one hand an imbalance can create intense greed, fueled by a feeling of inner starvation. There is never enough time, money, success, belongings, power or love and one moves faster and faster, falling over oneself, in an attempt to attain what one believes will satisfy this hunger. Always feeling a sense of lack one can justify selfishness and abuse of others to achieve one's ends. Physical symptoms of this imbalance are gas in the digestive tract and in the muscles, breathing disorders and shoulder, arm and hand problems.

It is also an imbalance when a person experiences sensitivity and compassion for others suffering and, rather than rising to these feelings with unconditional love, falls into rage, impotence, futility and a broken heart so that they feel that they must cut off their connection to others for safety and protection. By blocking the flow of energy the heart becomes stagnant and cold, breathing becomes restricted and the ultimate result is numbness to one's self and others, lack of energy, and lack of oxygen in the body.

The air element must flow in and out with the ease and abundance of breathing for balance to be found. The gift of the air element is a connectedness to all life through respect, compassion, awareness, understanding, acceptance, sensitivity, caring, unselfishness and an openness to loving relationships.

We trust that we will always have enough; that giving is a cycle that flows back and always leaves us fuller and more complete than before. We realize that we are most deeply protected by the love we give and receive rather than what we take from the world. Like the air that we breathe it is always there. Whether rich or poor, whether alone or surrounded by loved ones, the sun and the moon bathe us with their love, the flowers laugh with joy as they offer their love, every step we take the earth says "I love you". It is always there for us to receive.

The challenge of the air element is to let go of wounds, slow down and stay in the present. By being in the moment one can rejoice in what is being given and enjoy being rather than doing. The insecure, needy, wounded and helpless child can become a joyful, playful child of the universe. When the air element is positive we realize that there is enough of everything, an abundance that must be shared and enjoyed by all. The heart opens and giving and receiving freely becomes a way of life.

Air healing is received through breathing exercises, yoga pranayam, fresh air, ocean air, mountain air, heart-opening counseling, therapy and body work. Elemental Energetics is an ideal approach for healing the elements as it moves your awareness through each element, opening the way for healing with movement and inner attention.