Aquarius Papers - Global Astrology: Gemini - Adaptable Exploring Air Spirits

by Robert Wilkinson

June marks the end of Spring and the beginning of Summer, a time when the creative pulse of Spring expands in forms of ideas and new discoveries leading to fundamental reorientations. This month is usually dominated by the Air energies of Gemini. The beginning of June features the Sun and Mercury in Gemini, with Venus following later in the month. Fire is also prominent this month thanks to Mars, Saturn, and Pluto in Leo and Sagittarius. Gemini is the phase in the twelve-step evolutionary process where that which was stabilized in Taurus goes through a period of adaptation, expanding into many possibilities and new understandings, preparing for the decisions that will be made when the Sun enters Cancer at the Summer Solstice June 21, 5:26 am PDT.

Gemini is symbolically associated with the Twins, a human sign representing the infinite curiosity and dualisms of the rational mind seeking to discover everything all the time, without thought to order or necessity. In the year cycle we can now express our new discoveries and exteriorize the revolutionary developments of the larger collective "atmosphere" we're a part of.

We now have a new social effectiveness, and established the basis of our excellence. In our Gemini experience each year we find new ideas around our widened vision of ambition or worldly service that we found in Aquarius that was deepened in Pisces, glimpsed and communicated in Aries, and concretized and anchored in Taurus.

Lest you think that Gemini is just a waystation on our way between the stability of Taurus and the security of Cancer, it is important to remember that Gemini is one of the faces of Mercury, a force misunderstood and ignored by many astrologers as simply being the mind in its infinite variety and inconsistency, undervalued especially in the Eastern traditions as "the slayer of the real." However, Mercury has perhaps the most important function in our human personalities.

In my book, "A New Look At Mercury Retrograde," (soon to be republished on this site as an ebook) I elaborate on the idea of Mercury, or Hermes, as that which guides our personality to our Soul. So actually Gemini is one of the year periods dedicated to that which can guide us to our Soul.

Gemini is a lifelong learner, and wants to discover everything it can, without feeling much need to categorize any of it. All 3 decans, or 10 degree spans within Gemini, have a built-in duality. The first decan of Gemini has to deal with Mercury-Jupiter dilemmas. The second decan of Gemini has to deal with Venus-Mars dualities, and the third decan of Gemini has to resolve Sun-Saturn oppositional tendencies.

Mythologically, Gemini is the sign of the freedom loving, questing, wandering Magician-Engineer, who shows that all of life is an unending grand series of experiments in truth. The lessons of the Magician require that one learn how to regard all of life experiences as so much grist for the mill of Soul, and all things seen as opportunities to break free of obsolete limitations. We can see how all "failures" have been a result of an incorrect approach to our "experiment," and observe our lack of skill, or bad timing, from a detached point of view. By the same token, we can see past "successes" as merely our using the right tools in the right way at the right time, without taking any of it too personally.

Gemini wants knowledge about the energies of self (Aries) and nature (Taurus) that it follows. This sign, along with its opposite, Sagittarius, opens these Lover and Warrior energies preceding it to a more impersonal view, less attached to making love or war. Geminis have the power to open their world to many different perspectives and points of view. They are always good raconteurs, clever and “in the know.“ And they always have multiple sides to their personalities.

They are the antithesis of the Taurus stubbornness that precedes them, unless their ruler, Mercury, is in Taurus. Usually very conversational and interesting, they’ll come up with the most diverse and even obscure information on the spur of the moment. Solitude really bugs them, because they are naturally outgoing and like to have others around to bounce ideas off of.

Gemini is driven by the urge to be different, whether from friends, family, or culture. That’s what keeps them on the go and nonconformists their entire life. Once they learn to value stability, concentration and a steady learning discipline, there is no end to what they could accomplish. They stick to the truth as they know it, and are pretty unfazed by differences of opinion.

Gemini must learn to step back from what they think is truth from time to time, so they may glimpse other truths and come to a more well-rounded view of the larger context of what they perceive. Gemini energies in our charts show us and others how to find truth through the process of constantly learning a wider variety of information. Gemini is able to communicate great truths to others, once they get over the tendency to relate all truth to pre-set belief systems.

Gemini, when freed of the traps of restlessness, indecision, superficiality, changeability, confusion, obfuscation, distractibility, lack of focus, nervous worry, and talking too much, demonstrate a creative versatility that opens new perspectives and provides a positive outlet for their active, resourceful open-mindedness.

They have a flexibility and cleverness of understanding that assists others to open to different points of view, different interpretations, and different perceptions to round out any field of knowledge. They can usually talk others (and themselves!) into almost anything. This is where they should remember that the ends usually do not justify the means, and should not resort to foul means if fair ones don't yield results. Even though it’s all an experiment, often the results are determined by the means and expectations.

They are a humane sign, good mediators, studious and fluent, able to consider and adapt to many things other signs cannot. Naturally alert, sociable, and expressive, people of this tribe will have many varied experiences and attitudes throughout their life. They are the master communicators of the zodiac, here to spread the news far and wide, opening minds to others points of view.

Think Bob Dylan, America's 20th century bard who gave us "Blowing in the Wind," "With God on our side," "The Times They Are A-Changin'," and "Like A Rolling Stone," powerful messages that have echoed around the world for over 40 years. Or Walt Whitman, America's 19th century poet lauriat who sang the "song of the open road" while celebrating "the body electric."

Gemini is featured heavily among authors, many of whom were famous metaphysicians: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and world-renowned metaphysical investigator, Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Sage and originator of the Transcendentalist movement, Abdul Baha, pioneering Baha'i, Bulwer-Lytton (Zanoni), Sir Edwin Arnold (The Light of Asia), W.B. Yeats, Alan Ginsberg, Jean-Paul Satre, and the scribe of the Tibetan Master known as "D.K.," the venerable Alice A. Bailey.

Other notable authors are Ian Fleming (James Bond), Alexander Puskin, Dashiell Hammett, William Styron, Maurice Sendak, Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin), Athol Fugard, Runemaster Ralph Blum, Saul Bellow, and the famous Russian scientist Immanuel Velikovsky, author of "Worlds in Collision," "Ages in Chaos," and "Earth in Upheaval," all of which opened global history to new perspectives.

In the political world Gemini has given us England's Queen Victoria, Jan Smuts (who also wrote the pioneering work "Holism and Evolution," the foundation for holistic philosophy), Che Guevara, Nathan Hale, Jefferson Davis, Henry Kissinger, Robert McNamara, Hubert Humphrey, Mario Cuomo, and Presidents John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush.

Famous Gemini musical legends include Richard Wagner, Miles Davis, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Richard Strauss, Robert Schumann, Cole Porter, Fred Waring, Howlin' Wolf, Igor Stravinski, Les Paul, Josephine Baker, Judy Garland, Jim Nabors, Bobby Darin, Nelson Riddle, Peter Nero, Dean Martin, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, Tom T. Hall, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Artie Shaw, Sammy Cahn, Hal David, and Louis Jordan (considered one of the founders of rock and roll).

Modern Gemini musical luminaries feature musical innovator and genius Brian Wilson, as well as the composer of some of history's most beautiful and enduring music, Beatle Paul McCartney. We'll complete the trio of geniuses spotlighting Danny Elfman, Mr. Oingo Boingo and composer of themes we'll remember forever.

Along with these contemporary legends, Gemini also includes some of music's greatest talents: Lenny Kravitz, Boz Scaggs, Peter Yarrow, John Fogerty, Gladys Knight, Stevie Nicks, Marvin Hamlisch, Wynona Judd, Jewel, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Jones, Gary U.S. Bonds, Gary Brooker (Procol Harem), John Bonham, Rod Argent (Zombies), Harry Nilsson, Chick Corea, Curtis Mayfield, Lionel Ritchie, Paula Abdul, Alanis Morisette, Kanye West, Tupac Shakur, and Rolling Stones Ron Wood and jazz drummer extraordinare Charlie Watts

Timeless Gemini legends from the big screen include pioneers Al Jolson, Stan Laurel, Moe Howard, Keye Luke, Hattie McDaniel, Doug Fairbanks, Lawrence Olivier, Bob Hope, Johnny Weismuller, Jay Silverheels, William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Basil Rathbone, Vincent Price, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Uta Hagen, and Marilyn Monroe.

More recent film and television legends include amazing and versatile talents Clint Eastwood, Raymond Burr, Jessica Tandy, Tony Curtis, James Arness, Sal Mineo, Robert Preston, Maureen Stapleton, Martin Landau, Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Edwards, Andy Griffith, Carroll Baker, Christopher Lee, Denholm Elliott, Michael J Pollard, E. G. Marshall, Claude Akins, Gena Rowlands, Richard Boone, Scatman Crothers, Gene Wilder, Dennis Weaver, Chuck Barris, Paul Lynde, and film director Howard Hawks.

Contemporary movie and television stars include Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, John Goodman, Ian McKellen, Angelina Jolie, Helen Hunt, Lou Gossett Jr., Liam Neeson, Sally Kellerman, Joan Collins, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tim Allen, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Yasmine Bleeth, Kathleen Turner, Bruce Dern, Colleen Dewhurst, Susan Strasberg, Timothy Busfield, Mark Wahlberg, Michael J. Fox, Richard Thomas, Brooke Shields, Gary Burghoff, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Courteney Cox, Jim Belushi, Adrienne Barbeau, Jerry Mathers, Stacy Keach, Tommy Chong, Anne Heche, Drew Carey, Isabella Rossellini, Colin Farrell, Ally Sheedy, and the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Other notable Geminis who made it to the top of their field(s) include Frank Lloyd Wright, M.C. Escher, Paul Gaugin, Albrecht Durer, Christo, Wild Bill Hickok, Vince Lombardi, Brigham Young, "Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig, Jim Thorpe, Art Bell, Anna Kournikova, Mel Blanc, Joe Namath, Jacques Cousteau, Supreme Byron White, Katherine Graham, Bill Moyers, Alan Mesher, Donald Trump, Isabet Tranchin, and Blaise Pascal.

Famous Gemini astrologers include Cyril Fagan, Vivian Robson, and one of the greatest astrologers of all time, the venerable and legendary Grant Lewi, one of my three "mentors" when I started my craft a looooong time ago. His pioneering works "Heaven Knows What" and "Astrology For The Millions" are two of the most remarkable astrological books ever written, and are still among those I recommend to those who wish to take up the craft. You can read more about this amazing Dartmouth professor turned astrologer at this link.

One interesting thing to note is that many of these luminaries are known in more than one field, as befits the Gemini dual nature which would be bored doing only one thing. For example, Danny Elfman, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Jim Nabors, Marilyn Monroe, Chuck Barris, and Paul McCartney all are or were known both in the worlds of film or tv as well as music. Velikovsky was author and multi-disciplinary scientist, as was Conan Doyle. Weismuller was a world-class Olympic athlete as well as the actor who defined the role of Tarzan. Geminis are often know for more than one thing.

Finally, a big happy birthday to the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the nations of Armenia, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Sardinia, Venezuela, Wales, and the West Indies, and the cities of Bruges, London, Melbourne, Metz, New York, Nuremburg, Plymouth, Rio, Tripoli, Versailles, Flagstaff, Hot Springs, Hartford, Bridgeport, Dover, Des Moines, Springfield, KC (Mo), Las Vegas, Scranton, Newport, Houston, Burlington (Vt), and Tacoma.

To top it off, a very happy birthday to the Lincoln Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, the first night baseball game and the baseball Hall of Fame, Alcoholics Anonymous, the outlawing of slavery in the U.S., the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Miranda ruling, Ford and Chrysler, the Indy 500, YMCA, telegraph, vacuum cleaner, Dionne quintuplets, and the Continental Army, founded June 14, 1775.

Comments

thank you, as multiple gem, sun, mars, mercury, jupiter, in the 2nd and 3rd, whose solar return was yesterday, today, i thank you for listing our collective accomplishments.......

Posted by: victoria | June 02, 2006 at 12:30 PM