Origins of the Zodiac: Gemini

ORIGINS OF THE ZODIAC

THE MYTHOLOGY OF GEMINI

Latin Name: Gemini meaning 'twins'
Constellation: Gemini
Archetype: The Twins
Associations: Ashvins, Lugal-irra and Meslamta-ea, Castor and Pollux.
Planetary Ruler: Mercury

Divine twins feature in mythology spanning Proto-Indo-European cultures. The Vedic Ashvins, correlated with horses and healing, are one notable example. In Mesopotamian myth, the constellation Gemini was associated with Lugal-irra and Meslamta-ea, the divine twins, or Mastabba, of northern Babylonia. These brothers were seen as the guardians of doorways, and specifically as guardians of the gates leading to the Underworld. Although they are represented as identical, each twin is depicted holding different weapons. A Sumerian hymn refers to Lugal-irra as a black raven and Meslamta-ea as a white raven. Lugal-irra is also associated with the “right” and Meslamta-ea with the “left”. These allusions reflect Gemini’s modern relationship with duality, which has survived visually in the Gemini glyph, a stylized Roman numeral two.

CONNECTION TO GEMINI

GEMINI: THE TWINS

The Greek mythology of Gemini features Castor and Pollux, half-brother twins who shared the same mother but different fathers. Zeus was the father of Pollux, and Castor’s father was Tyndareus, the king of Sparta. Therefore, Castor was mortal, and Pollux, immortal. The brothers were horsemen, boxers, and hunters who also functioned as the patrons of travelers.

When Castor was fatally wounded in a battle with the twins’ cousins, Zeus allowed Pollux to share his immortality with Castor, meaning they would spend part of the year in Olympus and part in Hades. This aspect of the myth parallels the much earlier Mesopotamian cultural memory of a link between divine twins and the underworld. In honor of their brotherly love, Castor and Pollux were memorialized as the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation (although “Castor” is actually a star cluster).

THE INTERACTION OF GEMINI

Gemini, the third sign of the zodiac, underscores interaction. It is the first of three 'air signs', orienting us to our mental and intellectual faculties. Gemini is also one of four 'mutable signs', which mark the end of the seasons, when we are required to adapt and acclimate to new conditions.

During Gemini season, we begin to define our opinions, seeking out information to sate our curiosity. Yet simply possessing the facts isn’t enough. We want to trade this knowledge and experience with others, making the sun’s transit through Gemini an especially social time of year, ideal for collaboration. Those whom we meet in the course of our inquiry might confirm our biases, or they may challenge us to do more digging. Even those whom we seemingly agree with may diverge with us on critical issues. Therefore, honest communication is a key component of this season. Through conversations and exchanges, we evolve our understanding of the world, so that we might better comprehend our place in it.

MYTHS AS MAPS

In the quiet pull of the stars, there lies a map - spiralling back to our origins where myths and mysteries once intertwined with breath and bone. Reconnecting with these ancient stories in the realm of astrology is like stepping into an old song, whose melody we somehow remember yet cannot fully place. Each constellation a whisper, each planet a pulse, guiding us through a universe that knows us deeper than we know ourselves.

Here, myths are not merely tales but ancestral truths, woven into the fabric of our being, inviting us to reclaim fragments of ourselves lost in the modern rush. In the language of the heavens, we find our names written across epochs, asking us to listen, to remember, to understand that the vastness above is mirrored within. To know the stars is, in a profound way, to know ourselves.

Working with Gemini mythology

Working with Gemini mythology opens a journey of curiosity, connection, and duality. Here are three paths to weave this dynamic wisdom into your story:

1. Dance with the Twins' duality

Gemini, symbolized by the celestial twins, embodies the interplay of opposites - light and shadow, intellect and emotion. Let this image guide you to embrace the many facets of your nature. Reflect on the conversations within yourself - are they harmonizing in balance, or calling for deeper integration?

2. Trace the path of Mercury's flight

Ruled by Mercury, Gemini carries the essence of swift communication and boundless curiosity. Look to myths of messengers and tricksters as maps to unlock your adaptability and wit. Chart where your words and ideas flow - do they build bridges of understanding, or wander into restlessness?

3. Follow the storyteller's quest

Gemini connects to myths of seekers and communicators, like Hermes or the divine scribes who bridge the realms. These tales inspire you to gather knowledge and share it with the world. Reflect on how your voice weaves meaning into the lives of others, transforming scattered pieces into a tapestry of insight and connection.

GEMINI JOURNALING PROMPTS

In your journal, let myth guide you to explore the below prompts during Gemini Season.

1. In what ways have you outgrown your self-definition?

During Gemini season, we get to play with duality. You are not static. You are more than just one thing. You can play with personality, adopt or shed interests, and respond differently in familiar situations if old methods of existing and coexisting no longer authentically align. What labels that you once wore as badges do you want to trade in or upgrade?

2. What door are you hesitant to step through? Why?

Gemini season transports us from here to there, from the comfort of the known to the unknown, where we must wrestle with inexperience. While change can feel chaotic, it’s also what keeps life interesting! This is the perfect time to be proactive and choose change instead of allowing circumstance to choose it for you. Identifying the door that gives you pause is the first step to crossing the threshold.

3. What fascination will you commit to exploring?

You know, the one you said you’d get around to “when you had more time”. Something is tugging at your attention - a longing to research period dress from the 1700’s, perhaps, or to take up birdwatching, or to learn how to make pasta (tortellini, specifically). Give in to this inquiry. Bonus points for getting a friend involved.

We all embody each of the twelve signs within us, share this with others in your life.

Written by Nyssa Grazda & Magic of I.