It is the tangible opposite to physical life. In most dreams any mention of air is in regard to flying and ones ease or effort to do so. In these dreams the air probably represents the invisible but felt social atmosphere or personal attitudes within which we unconsciously exist and strive. Therefore occasionally a dream shows the dreamer losing the air – wind out of the sails – that sustains their flight or positive ‘up’ feelings. This suggests a loss of the support usually gained from public or individual acceptance or approval, or your own confidence. When we talk about ‘clearing the atmosphere’ – or there being ‘something in the air’ this is precisely what dreams of air often refer to.
In far fewer dreams air is mentioned in connection with breathing, and depicts, in its absence, a fear of not surviving in connection with what you are facing at the time. You may be feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or some invading influence, or struggling to survive. See: breath; wind.
Idioms: Free as air; up in the air; light as air; a breathe of fresh air; in the air; a lot of hot air; the air was blue; clear the air; into thin air; put on airs; up in the air.
Useful questions:
Am I afraid of not surviving a situation, or losing support?
What is it I sense ‘in the air’ or atmosphere?
What is my relationship with the environment I am in?
Do the specific events or actions in the dream give a clue to what I am dealing with?
Am I escaping into airy feelings?
Floating on air: This relate to your mind and mental attitude, idealism or lack of it. It may show how you manage to escape from ‘reality’, or painful things such as shyness, by thinking beautiful thoughts, or creating a mental world inside yourself through such things as reading or meditation. In a positive sense it shows an ability to change your state of mind at will.
Fresh air: Fresh ideas; new approach; mental attitude in which you can feel more alive or creative; an easy ‘atmosphere’ in which to survive.
Poisonous air: Ideas or atmosphere in which you find yourself losing your own identity or motivations. It may be ideas, talk or something in a relationship that is subtle nut poisoning the way you feel. Something in this may be killing your vitality.
Something appearing out of the air: Intuitive perception, or ideas and feelings arising from your unconscious. Or it might be an event happening that you thought impossible.
Stuffy air: Mental emotional or social atmosphere in which you are not stimulated or free to think creative or individual thoughts. An atmosphere of moral rigidity in which it is difficult to ‘breathe’.
