Libra, Aquarius, Gemini: the Air cycle of the celestial energy

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology in the 19th Century. He postulated four types of psychological types, named Thinking, Feeling, Sensation and Intuition. This type of categorisation was in fact a rediscovery of typology. Back in the ancient times, Greek Philosopher Plato already defined the four facilities of the soul as intelligence(=thinking), demonstration(=sensation), opinion(=feeling) and imagination(=intuition); Alchemy described the four stages in the alchemical process while Tarot also has fire, water, air and earth the four important suits. 

 In the previous blogs, we talked about triplicity and the basic function of the water cycle. Libra, Aquarius and Gemini form the air cycle of the celestial realm. In contrast, they are the signs of intellectual thinking and logic. They are the higher functions (some people call it the SUPERIOR function compared to the water cycle) in human psychology. This is by no means saying air signs are better signs, but since superior functions are the ones most identified with consciousness, it is much more reflective and less reactive. Air energy shares far less understanding and commonality with water signs, since they tend to enter a situation through logical thinking instead of emotion and feeling.

If we think about the quality of air, it flows, it moves and it is essential for our breathing. Deep down, air signs are energies bringing in ideas and mental energy, so that we could later manifest them into reality. Air signs are known for being more detached and cerebral compared to water signs. They are excellent at thinking logically and so to achieve a broad overview of their idea. Since water energy is more emotional and attached, people with a lot of water signs on their birth chart prefer to connect with people more personally and through feelings, whereas air energy are more detached and they have a more humanitarian or less personal view in life. Air signs also require extensive freedom of movement in order to express their ideas and individuality, thus they cannot be contained, controlled, just like air cannot be in a stuffy room too long to be fresh.

Because of this detached quality of air sign, while it gives them a very objective view about life, it could also make them emotionally unavailable or “living in their own head”. If air overvalues intellect it can be difficult to live in our physical world.

Libra is the cardinal air sign in the air cycle. The key word for Libra is relationship, social ability and diplomacy. It is the energy to relate to others on a mental level. Like its own symbol being the forever balancing scale, Libra brings justice and fairness as well. In psychological terms, the relationship quality of Libra is outer-directed. It is focusing on melding and combining with other people, thus Libra energy understands situations from all different viewpoints and it tries its best to avoid confrontation and aggressiveness. It is graceful, diplomatic and fair. Some people might think, if Libra cares so much about building relationships, everyone should love Libra then. Well,  achievable or not, that is actually always the goal of Libra energy. The problem is that at Libra’s centre is someone who does not feel complete ultimately in themselves. Beneath their brilliance and charm, they could feel a psychic lack, it might be a perfect lover, or a missing best team mate. People who have a lot of planets in Libra tend to be constantly looking for relationships to fill a "hole" in their psychology. I remember I had an old colleague who has ascendant, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter all in Libra. From the first day I knew her, she was all about finding the right person to form romantic relationships with. Some people might ask, if Libra is so relationship and romance prone, why is it not a water sign, since water cycle seems more about feelings and emotion?

 The answer is that they have very different approach towards relationships. Water signs are more instinctual and they see relationships more often from emotional and personal connection compared to Libra. Libra focuses on the mental stimulation and it observes. Air energy, the verbal directness, doesn’t understand the cloudy underworld of less-articulate water very well. Water's raw, instinctual feelings, in turn, don't want to be met with logical air's accustomed intellectual detachment, since this unsympathetically smacks of indifference. For example, Venus, the love planet in Cancer is saying “I don’t have to verbalise it, if you love me you should be able to feel how I want to be cared for, and that makes me feel loved”, but Venus in an air sign believes that “I love you, but you have to communicate clearly with me about what you want, and I will do it for you.”

Element: Air	Polarity: Masculine	Quality: Cardinal
Planetary ruler: Venus	Stone: Opal; Lapis Lazuli	Metal: Copper
Color: Sea-green	Phrase: I balance	Symbol: Scale

Libra gives us the ability to enter into relationships with others, to compromise and balance our needs with those of another. 

In my opinion, Gemini is the most “airy” sign in the air cycle. As the symbol shows two twins interacting with each other, this is the sign of communication, responsiveness and curiosity. Gemini energy does not like to take things for granted and sit still, they are endlessly curious and they have an insatiable appetite for information. They talk, ask, respond, ask again, and talk again. This gives Gemini the sense of excitement and growth.

Because Gemini ’s symbol is two twins, there is a natural sense of duality in it. As we know, communication always involves two parties. This in a great way encourages Gemini to go outward to connect through information exchang. You will never get bored with the Gemini archytype: The best restaurants in town, the latest entertainment information, whatever you ask, Gemini has it under its belt.Because Gemini is the mutable air sign, this also makes Gemini very versatile, persuasive and adaptable. Seeking information and adapt itself in the relentless change of the world is one of the strength it holds. However, the enormous volumn of information could also confuse Gemini because it absorbs things too quickly and too much. Gemini could be restless, jumping from one idea to another and so it portraits instability. Another tendency Gemini tends to have is its indecisiveness. Too much information sometimes makes it more difficult to be focused and decisive. 

On the astrological wheel, Gemini is opposite Sagittarius. What is the reason? As we mentioned in the previous blog, Gemini and Sagittarius is a pair of polarity. They conflict each other but also they compliment each other. Sagittarius is the sign of higher knowledge and profound theory. Since Gemini is so quick to grasp an idea and size up a situation, they tend to skim the surface without exploring in depth. Sagittarius also gets inspiration from Gemini because of the curiosity Gemini brings and its thirsts for information, since Sagittarius sometimes could to be a bit “know-it-all”.

Element: Air	Polarity: Masculine	Quality: Mutable
Planetary ruler: Mercury	Stone: Beryl/Aquamarine	Metal: Quicksilver
Color: Yellow	Phrase: I think	Symbol: twins

 Gemini gives us the ablity to use words, ideas, concepts and thoughts to communicate with others and make sense of out reality. 

As the 11th sign on the Astrology wheel, Aquarius is the sign of future, vision and the world in a large scale. Aquarius loves intellectual independance, unique thinking and objectivity. Even though the image of Aquarius is a little boy carrying a water jar, Aquarius is actually an air sign. Aquarius loves friendships and community, but in a more detached manner. They observe what is going around and contribute their groups with progressive ideas. They dispense wisdom, they are a seeker of knowledge and rational thoughts and this keeps pushing them exploring the world on a large scale. 

Since Aquarius is a fixed air sign, they could be very stubborn in their progressive ideas and thoughts. Aquarius is open minded, but once they are fixed on an idea, it is also difficult to change. Because Aquarius loves to observe and seek new information, it also made them more detached compared to water signs. They don't like to pick their favourite, since everything is unique and different in their own way. The best way to attract an Aquarius energy person is to stimlate their mind and appreciate their individuality and eccentricness. 

Another beautiful trait of Aquarius is that it cares about humanity a lot. They want to fight for human rights, environmental protection and poverty. Their love is in the wellfare of the group and society as a whole, instead of at a personal level. This doesn't mean they cannot love someone deeply. For example, I had a male client in his late 50s. After his retirement he travelled to Cambodia and saw how people suffer from poverty and landmines problem. He even saw a child die right in front of him due to the landmine explosion. Two years later he made the decision to dedicate his retirement life to helping people in Cambodia to fight the landmines problem. This is a very typical type of Aquarius love. They are the futuristic humanitarians. 

Element: Air	Polarity: Masculine	Quality: Fixed
Planetary ruler: Saturn and Uranus	Stone: Sapphire/Garnet	Metal: Platinum; Uranium
Color: Turquoise	Phrase: I know	Symbol: the water bearer

Aquarius give us the ability to question and go beyond the limits of outer authority; the need to know ourselves and establish our individuality and independence. 

 Air signs are just like their element,  it flows freely. It is the essential substance in the world bringing things to life. Without air energy, our world would be a place without logic, without objectivity and without the thirst for information. We breath in the air of knowldge and information to learn our immediate environment(Gemini), we learn to relate and establish relationships(Libra), and finally we pour ourselves into the vast universe with our progressive ideas and humanitaria approach to invent a better future(Aquairus). 

Letao~the Kingdom Healer

www.thehealingkingdom.com