The Third Zodiac Sign: Gemini

I can feel the restless spirit of Gemini wanting to express itself through me (it is the "talker" of the zodiac), even though Gemini season doesn't officially begin until next week. This energy is very characteristic of the Gemini archetype: restless, anxious, mobile, changeable; detests being restricted and cooped up; desires to explore life and soak up all forms of raw experience; ready to engage with the outside world through all media of communication and self-expression. After the slower energy and self-containment associated with the preceding Taurus archetype, Gemini is ready to burst out on the scene of life! And the Twins, when it comes to satisfying their curiosity and hunger for experience, will leave no stone unturned! (Gemini was originally associated with the Greco-Roman twins Castor and Pollux, for whom constellation is named in the heavens.)

The story of the Cosmic Self commences in the sign or archetype Pisces, where we are cosmically submerged in the universal ocean of All That Is. In Aries, a creative, Divine spark of individuality desires to break free (or is sometimes kicked out of the cosmic nest), and the quest for self-discovery begins. In Taurus, that spark of Divine individuality must inhabit a body, perceive through five physical senses, cultivate a sense of security/safety/substance, and enjoy the sensory fruits of the physical plane. In Gemini, we begin perceiving that there is a world out there, and we desire to experience and understand it, make mental maps linking and connecting our observations, as well as communicate our experiences and mental maps with others. If we don't cultivate and utilize language and rational thought, we will remain isolated and cut-off and ignorant; worse yet, we will die. The Gemini archetype further lays the groundwork for the Soul within a human to become aware of itself, and to express itself internally and externally out in the world.

The archetypal Gemini story is as multifaceted and versatile as Gemini is itself. We discover the realm (and the power) of the conscious, linguistic, rational mind. The Gemini part of the mind gets bored and restless easily -- it moves fast! -- and seeks out new and novel experiences. Gemini needs a steady flow of dopamine-producing activity (whether internal or external) in order to feel satisfied and full; otherwise, it struggles just sitting still and being. Without the Gemini facet of the human mind, we would not be as motivated to venture out and explore the world! We would stay in our bunkers of security associated with Taurus; this might even include the safety of our belief-systems. For those strong in Gemini (or Mercury, its ruler), the ability to consume massive amounts of information and raw data is truly astounding! Gemini is more about breadth of data processing, not depth (for depth, we look to other signs or planets). As the stereotypical trivia whiz, it may know a little about a lot!

Because Gemini life lessons often focus on the recognition and POWER of perception, thought, and speech, many Geminis (wherever Gemini/Mercury is placed in the natal chart) experience an archetypal dance between truth and untruth, as well as the proper vs improper use of the mind. (Donald Trump would be a classic example of a "Dark Gemini.") Gemini doesn't always feel comfortable in the realm of emotion, since its consciousness is focused primarily in the mind ... So it's essential that they learn to bridge the intelligence of the mind with the intelligence of the heart. This makes them more likely to experience and express truth in an wholistic, integrated manner, rather than as a defensive rationalization existing only in the mind. Gemini also learns about discernment in knowledge (i.e., wisdom), because not all forms of knowledge, including the methods of apprehending it, are equal and valid.