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 Overview & Personality Traits
The sun-sign of 'the Twins' takes its name from the two bright stars that
dominate the Gemini constellation. Duality is a central feature of its
symbolism, and in ancient times the constellation Gemini was seen as a reminder
that contradictory forces must be brought together and recognized as mutually
dependent upon each other. The two pillars that represent the sign signify the
incongruous forces of left and right, black and white, ignorance and
understanding, evil and good, death and life.
The myths attached to this sign are characterized by the contradictory aspects
of the twins - in the Roman tale they are Pollux, born immortal and possessing
great strength, and Castor, born mortal but exceeding in ingenuity and logic.
Rather than be parted by death they agree to share immortality by living
alternating lives on heaven and earth. The mortal partner turns to intellect to
compensate for the immortal vibrancy he does not possess - yet the myth
demonstrates the eternal union and mutual reliance of conscious reasoning and
unconscious belief in the refusal of the twins to be separated. Thus, this sign
can indicate acute polarization of the spiritual and material, alternation
between the extremes of rational logic and instinctive belief, and the quest to
reconcile all contradictions in a central threshold where reason and belief,
intellect and emotion, masculinity and femininity, merge into one.
How does the Gemini do this? And how do the myths relate to the depiction of the
typical Gemini as an individual marked by intellectual leanings and easy
communication skills? The fact that Gemini is essentially a sign of polarity
which swings rapidly through the realms of the conscious and unconscious, and
just as rapidly swings back again, suggests that intellectual propensity is only
half of a Gemini's inner motivation. Not enough has been made of the fact that
Geminis can suffer from strange and inconsistent moods, that they will
demonstrate periods of introverted self reflection in which they need to
withdraw from superficial chatterings, just as strongly as they demonstrate the
need to engage in it when that period of self-reflection has passed. Geminis
do have a rare communicative gift, the basis of it is that their focus is not
purely in the world of logic; it also encompasses the domain of the irrational.
Geminis have the ability to see both sides of a situation and to communicate
between the sides because their dexterous disposition ensures their experience of
both extremes. It is less commonly reported that they are often subject to dark
irrational broodings, periods of isolation and alienation, materialistic
cynicism as well as idealistic inspiration. Yet the flexibility of character
that Geminis possess has often been seen as a demonstration of their ability
to be two things at once - both the victor and the victim; the healer and the
invalid; the teacher and the student; the integration of opposites that never
fully separates one partner from the other. This fusion occurs only after
independent experience of both extremes has been absorbed, which requires that
the antithesis of love, hate; confidence, insecurity; praise and insult; trust
and falseness are first encountered as singular incidents before being
recognized as two faces of the same coin.
The concept of communication is the true quest of the Geminian, and sun sign
depictions dwell on their talents as reporters, teachers, messengers, diplomats,
interpreters, linguists and writers. Just as their sun-sign symbolizes a regular
flow between the experience of extremes, their planetary ruler, Mercury,
promotes the communication of it.
In Roman mythology Mercury is the winged messenger and communicator between the
gods. The Romans focused upon the speed of the planet and emphasized the
qualities of swiftness and 'alternation' in the form of trickery, verbal
dexterity and flexibility. Hence Mercury is characterized as the god of thieves
and liars as well as being the god of commerce, roads, gymnastic exercises and
all that entails mental, verbal or physical deftness. By comparison to its Greek
counterpart, Hermes, this is a shallow, superficial aspect of the god of
learning, and demonstrates little of the profound, spiritual qualities generally
attached to the notion of 'intelligence' by the more ancient cultures.
But in the Greek equivalent Hermes, we see the amalgamation of the Egyptian God
of knowledge, Thoth, and the Mesopotamian god of wisdom, Nabu. Hermes offers a
more sacred face to the aspect of communication and in his manifestation of
'logical knowledge' Hermes acts as a holy personification of the Mind and
Intelligence of the Creator. He is the inventor of language, written words,
arithmetic and geometry, and his skill in communication is a direct
demonstration of his Divine and Sacred powers - since the ability to define
concepts in words, both visually and through sound, was considered by the
ancient cultures to be a supernatural gift. Words, and the way they were
constructed, were perceived as magical symbols, mirrors of the Divine Mind.
Spoken with proper intonation and with the correct spiritual approach, they were
the means to summon the gods, heal the sick and command obedience. Writing was a
priestly study, held in awe by the uneducated and greatly honored as a magical,
mystical art. Only in the alchemical view of Mercury, as Mercurius, symbol of
the process of transmutation, integration, synthesis and illumination, do we
come close to restoring the Roman god Mercury with the full glory of his
spiritual heritage. It is within this process that communication properly sits,
and it is the Geminis, with their ability to experience and synthesize, that
hold the keys to 'transmutation'.
Gemini is a sign of endless curiosity driven by an instinct to explore. But they
are characterized by 'breadth' not 'depth', so their explorations often lack
focus and deep penetration. They are better suited to absorbing 'just enough' of
a wide variety of topics, which adds to their reputation as fine
conversationalists. They are not usually extreme in their views and are always
willing to swap and trade their ideas with others, or change their perspective
to suit their company. But they have a strong respect for intellectual
independence and need to feel a mental rapport to be fully relaxed with others.
Their easy ability to enjoy a broad variety of friends from different interests
and inclinations has given Gemini a reputation as an easy and sociable sign,
tending towards friendliness and optimism. Geminis are more likely to draw a
wide circle of friends and associates than just a few close and intimate
contacts and for this reason they have excellent networking talents that allow
them to exceed in professional areas on the basis of who they know as much as
what they know. They are well suited to any career that requires easy
negotiation skills or the ability to express knowledge to others in flexible
language that can be easily digested - journalism and teaching being
particularly notable - or in professions that call for physical dexterity, light
movement, and quick-thinking. The 'alternating' elements of Gemini remind us
that this is the sign of trade, barter, exchange and swapping resources.
Combined with the instinct for deft actions and quick decision making, Geminis
make ideal entrepreneurs, renowned for their ability to manage several projects
simultaneously. The sign features strongly in the charts of those who are light
on their feet or slight of hand, being traditionally associated with athletes
and gymnasts, magicians, conjurers, tricksters, conmen and and pickpockets!
As lovers, Geminis are fun, lively, flirtatious and recognized by their
youthful appearance or 'spirit of youth'. But they lack emotional intensity and
are uncomfortable with deep emotional ties, particularly if they feel restricted
in their freedom to chat and flirt with others. They are often capable of
falling in love with two or more lovers simultaneously and are naturally curious
to explore the sexual sides to their relationships. Hence a Gemini lover can be
the source of endless frustration to a more committed and emotionally intense
partner.
Geminis are often accused of being trivial, superficial and fickle. Of course,
they can be all of these, but a propensity to inconsistency and changeability
also offers facets of a virtue when recognized as the ability to remain
responsive to one's surroundings and deal with contradictory demands
simultaneously. The mark of this sign is mental agility and 'bridge building'.
In order to be understanding and responsive to all, they may at times appear to
be 'two faced' or to lack in genuine sincerity. This is the price that must be
paid by a disposition that moves with its environment. More than anything else
Geminis are regarded as quick thinkers, the best of whom don't just 'act first
- think later', but have mastered the pull of the extremes of thinking and
feeling, and as a result combine their intellect and intuition with lightning
speed, allowing them to think on their feet and deliver an instant, appropriate
response.
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