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| The Twins Castor and Pollux Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain |
Preface: As I do every month for each of the signs, I want to emphasize that if your birthday does not fall during the Gemini timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Gemini, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present. All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others.
The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image. Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy. You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.
The Sun transits the sign of Gemini beginning May 21, 2011 through June 20, 2011. Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac and it rules the third house, which represents the rational mind, communication, your local environment and siblings. Gemini is an air sign and a mutable sign.
In the Company of Gemini
By Chris Gonzalez
These pros of networking know how to make the rounds
They talk up a storm, in what seems like surround sound
Winged Mercury has incarnated in the fair sign of Gemini,
Linking unknown parties, who then forge ongoing ties.
Geminis roam their world to see what they can learn
Curiosity is what drives their vast search at every turn
They collect all sorts of information to contrast and compare,
Facts used in debates where they challenge willing peers.
Geminis are not meant to spend a lot of time alone,
Preferring company, like a sibling or a beau
Together they share lots of jokes, not to mention all those puns
The Twins love to play with words, because that’s their idea of fun.
Gemini is a sign that one might erroneously trivialize with descriptors such as quick, scattered, social and superficial. If one contemplates the motivations of a Gemini and its reason for existence, one can understand that Gemini is far more complex than meets the eye. Astrology often delves into mythology to more deeply understand human behavior. Western astrology of course draws upon the mythos originating from Egypt, Babylonia, Greece, and Rome, but similar themes can be found in the mythology of other cultures. Even within Western mythologies various versions of the same story abound. Stories relevant to Gemini center on the story of Castor and Pollux, who in some versions, were the sons of Zeus, and in other accounts were descended from the Queen and King of Sparta. Their origin is complex. One twin, Castor, is born as a mortal and has the gifts of ingenuity and logic. The other twin, Pollux, is immortal and has the gift of great physical strength. They progress through life facing choices in pairs, such as marrying twin sisters. Castor and Pollux became so intertwined that their lives are symbiotic and separation becomes difficult. Their lives reflect themes of entanglements, dependence and rivalry. Eventually the two engage in battle, and the mortal Castor is killed by Pollux’s spear. The immortal Pollux is left to grieve, feeling that something is missing without his brother. The feelings of emptiness are so great that Pollux implores Zeus to make him mortal so that he can join his brother in death. In another version of this story, the twins make a pact to share immortality by living alternating lives in Heaven and on Earth.
Did you have a strong sibling relationship growing up? Or was your sibling-like relationship with a friend? Do you remember the stages in your life where you had a “best buddy,” and the two of you were almost inseparable? These friendships may have occurred during your school age years, or perhaps college, or maybe later in adulthood. I was an only child for over six years, and while I played with neighborhood kids and classmates at school, I did not experience these “tight” sibling-like relationships at a young age. My two sisters are only sixteen months apart, and as a much older sister I observed them at play (or at war). They had their own gestures, unique terminologies, and similar interests. They were true siblings. In fact, one of my sisters is a Gemini Sun! My own experience with sibling like relationships came much later, in college and even into my thirties. These were the friends I spoke to every day, either on the phone or in person. I knew their families and participated in their family celebrations. My friends and I shopped together, ate together, and gossiped together. I lost these sibling-like relationships when my friends began to marry, and especially after they began to have children, but not without some pouting on my part. It was time for everyone to proceed into a new stage of maturation.
Astrologer Brian Clark says that the Gemini myth reveals themes of duality, sacrifice, separateness, loss and searching for the other. Clark says that in Gemini, separation awakens consciousness, and the consciousness of being separate is painful. Clark posits that this sense of a loss of connection becomes embodied in the nervous system as anxiety or the lack of concentration, hence the fidgety quality we often associate with the sign of Gemini. Clark states that dodging commitment is one way that a fear of loss is manifested.[1]
This Gemini journey brings to mind the metaphysical process of the “perennial philosophy”, where spirit manifests into the separate selves of earthly existence, and then our selves once again merge back into spirit. While on earth, humans often seek “the other” to feel a spiritual completion. This is a primary concern of Gemini energy.
The Gemini’s exploration of duality reminds me of the quote from writer F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Before I go on with this short history, let me make a general observation - the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”[2] People with an emphasis of Gemini energy seem to have this inclination, and perhaps this ability to see multiple perspectives is one reason the sign is labeled as “fickle.”
Astrologer Deborah Houlding notes that Gemini takes its name from the two bright stars that dominate the astronomical constellation. Duality is a central feature of its symbolism, and consistent with Hermetic principle, contradictory forces must be brought together and recognized as mutually dependent upon each other. Houlding explains: “The sign of Gemini can indicate acute polarization of the spiritual and material and alternation between the extremes of rational logic and instinctive belief, although its symbolic theme is development of the ability to reconcile all contradictions in a central threshold where reason and belief, intellect and emotion, masculinity and femininity merge into one.” She observes that contrary to the typical image of Gemini as “light and flighty,” Geminis have their brooding moods. Houlding continues: “This integration of opposites never allows one half of the dualistic experience of life to be fully separated from the other.” Houlding posits that the Gemini propensity to be inconsistent and changeable can be viewed as a virtue in the sense that Gemini must remain responsive to their environment and address contradictory demands simultaneously. Therefore, the mark of this sign, Houlding says, is mental agility and bridge-building.[3]
Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, has infused this sign with its mojo, including the ability to serve as an intermediary. Astrologer Dana Gerhardt says that Aries initiates, Taurus stabilizes, and Gemini connects.[4] Mercury’s energy, as it is manifested in Gemini, has made its mark in this era of online social networking. When you are “doing” Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you are utilizing your Gemini (and Aquarius) energy.
Dana Gerhardt advises her astrology clients that where Gemini appears in their charts, they might consider doing “two.” For example, if you have Gemini on the cusp of the tenth house of career and social standing, you might do well having two careers. If you are knowledgeable about the meaning of all twelve houses, you might take some time to find where Gemini is in your chart, and think how this advice might impact your life. Gerhardt’s adage stems from the desire by Gemini to not get bored with activities in his/her life. One way of keeping life interesting is to do more than one activity. Becoming engaged in an interesting task wards off boredom, and Gerhardt presents a beautiful example in the storytelling of Scheherazade, of Arabian Nights (or One Thousand and One Nights) fame. The tale goes that King Shahryar was vengeful because of an unfaithful spouse, and he retaliated by setting out to marry a virgin each day, beheading the bride he had married the day before. The witty, wise, self-educated, and charming Scheherazade volunteered to read to the King for one night. She wove interesting stories with intricate and suspenseful plots until dawn, and stopped the storytelling, saying that she could not continue because it was a new day. The King, wanting to continue to hear the intriguing story spared her life, and asked her to read another story the following night. Because she cleverly avoided ending the story, and left each story with a cliffhanger, her storytelling continued for many nights, and during this period, Scheherazade bore the King children. Finally, there came a night when she finally ended a story, but the King by this time had fallen in love with her and asked her to be his Queen. Scheherazade incorporates many of Gemini’s qualities: the ability to understand her environment (the king), intelligence, cleverness, wit, and great storytelling (i.e. communication) skills.[5] May we all have access to Scheherazade’s skills when we need them the most.
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| Scheherazade and the King |
I wish you all a great month of Sun in Gemini energy where you utilize your logic, reconcile contradictions, and use your communication skills to build needed bridges. Enjoy your agility, flexibility and gift of gab!
The following is a list of prominent sun sign Gemini individuals:[6]
May 21, 1904 - Robert Montgomery - Actor
May 22, 1813 - Richard Wagner - Composer
May 22, 1859 - Sir Author Conan Doyle - Writer
May 22, 1907 - Sir Lawrence Oliver - Actor
May 23, 1928 - Rosemary Clooney - Singer
May 23, 1940 - Rennie Davis - 60's/70's Activist
May 24, 1819 - Queen Victoria - British Monarch
May 22, 1813 - Richard Wagner - Composer
May 22, 1859 - Sir Author Conan Doyle - Writer
May 22, 1907 - Sir Lawrence Oliver - Actor
May 23, 1928 - Rosemary Clooney - Singer
May 23, 1940 - Rennie Davis - 60's/70's Activist
May 24, 1819 - Queen Victoria - British Monarch
May 24, 1941 - Bob Dylan - Singer/Composer
May 25, 1803 - Ralph Waldo Emerson - Writer
May 27, 1878 - Isadora Duncan - Dancer
May 27, 1907 - Rachel Carson - Scientist/Activist
May 27, 1911 - Hubert Humphrey - Politician
May 27, 1911 - Vincent Price - Actor
May 27, 1923 - Henry Kissinger - Statesman
May 27, 1937 - Louis Gossett, Jr - Actor
May 28, 1908 - Ian Fleming - Writer
May 29, 1903 - Bob Hope - Comedian
May 29, 1917 - John F. Kennedy - American President
May 30, 1908 - Mel Blanc - Cartoon Voices
June 1, 1926 - Marilyn Monroe - Actress
June 3, 1926 - Allen Ginsberg - Poet
June 3, 1906 - Josephine Baker - Dancer/Entertainer
June 4, 1910 - Rosalind Russell - Actress
June 5, 1934 - Bill Moyers - Journalist/Commentator
June 7, 1848 - Paul Gauguin - Artist
June 7, 1958 - Prince - Musician
June 8, 1933 - Joan Rivers - Comedian
June 9, 1893 - Cole Porter - Song Writer
June 9, 1963 - Johnny Depp - Actor
June 10, 1922 - Judy Garland - Actress/Singer
June 11, 1934 - Gene Wilder - Actor
June 11, 1956 - Joe Montana - Famed Quarterback of San Francisco 49'ers
June 12, 1929 - Anne Frank - Writer
June 13, 1865 - William Butler Yeats - Writer
June 14, 1811 - Harriet Beecher Stowe - Writer
June 14, 1946 - Donald Trump - Entrepreneur
June 17, 1878 - M.C. Esher - Artist
June 17, 1882 - Igor Stravinsky - Composer
June 18, 1942 - Paul McCartney - Singer/Composer (of the Beatles)
June 19, 1947 - Salman Rushdie - Writer
June 20, 1972 - Nicole Kidman - Actress
May 25, 1803 - Ralph Waldo Emerson - Writer
May 27, 1878 - Isadora Duncan - Dancer
May 27, 1907 - Rachel Carson - Scientist/Activist
May 27, 1911 - Hubert Humphrey - Politician
May 27, 1911 - Vincent Price - Actor
May 27, 1923 - Henry Kissinger - Statesman
May 27, 1937 - Louis Gossett, Jr - Actor
May 28, 1908 - Ian Fleming - Writer
May 29, 1903 - Bob Hope - Comedian
May 29, 1917 - John F. Kennedy - American President
May 30, 1908 - Mel Blanc - Cartoon Voices
June 1, 1926 - Marilyn Monroe - Actress
June 3, 1926 - Allen Ginsberg - Poet
June 3, 1906 - Josephine Baker - Dancer/Entertainer
June 4, 1910 - Rosalind Russell - Actress
June 5, 1934 - Bill Moyers - Journalist/Commentator
June 7, 1848 - Paul Gauguin - Artist
June 7, 1958 - Prince - Musician
June 8, 1933 - Joan Rivers - Comedian
June 9, 1893 - Cole Porter - Song Writer
June 9, 1963 - Johnny Depp - Actor
June 10, 1922 - Judy Garland - Actress/Singer
June 11, 1934 - Gene Wilder - Actor
June 11, 1956 - Joe Montana - Famed Quarterback of San Francisco 49'ers
June 12, 1929 - Anne Frank - Writer
June 13, 1865 - William Butler Yeats - Writer
June 14, 1811 - Harriet Beecher Stowe - Writer
June 14, 1946 - Donald Trump - Entrepreneur
June 17, 1878 - M.C. Esher - Artist
June 17, 1882 - Igor Stravinsky - Composer
June 18, 1942 - Paul McCartney - Singer/Composer (of the Beatles)
June 19, 1947 - Salman Rushdie - Writer
June 20, 1972 - Nicole Kidman - Actress
ENDNOTES
[1]
Clark, Brian. (2000, June/July). Gemini: searching for the missing twin. (A longer version appeared in The Mountain Astrologer). Retrieved: http://www.astrosynthesis.com.au/includes/sitePages/articles/astrology.html
Clark, Brian. (2000, June/July). Gemini: searching for the missing twin. (A longer version appeared in The Mountain Astrologer). Retrieved: http://www.astrosynthesis.com.au/includes/sitePages/articles/astrology.html
[2] Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1936, February). The Crack Up (essay). Retrieved: http://www.quoteland.com/share/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Quotes/715/
[3] Houlding, Deborah (2008, June/July). Gemini the Twins. The Mountain Astrologer, Issue #139, pp.37-43.
[4] Gerhardt, Dana. (2010, June/July). The Hundred-Headed Dragon of Gemini. The Mountain Astrologer, Issue #151, pp. 13-17.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Retrieved: http://www.ecentral.com/astra/fgemini.html
