One of the four classical elements along with water, earth and fire in ancient Greek philosophy and in Western alchemy.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, founded in 1888, incorporates air and the other Greek classical elements into its teachings.  The elemental weapon of air is the dagger which must be painted yellow with magical names and sigils written upon it in violet.  Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings.  The archangel of air is Raphael, the angel is Chassan, the ruler is Ariel, the king is Paralda, and the air elementals (following Paracelsus) are called sylphs.  Air is considerable and it is referred to the upper left point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram.  Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community.

Air is one of the five elements that appear in most Wiccan and Pagan traditions.  Wicca in particular was influenced by the Golden Dawn system of magic and Aleister Crowley’s mysticism.

(Wikipedia contributors. (2026, March 11). Air (classical element). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.)