Astrological Tarot Lesson IV: Gemini, the Lovers and Mercury
What every good magician needs to know.
For the next month the Sun will beam through the Mutable Air sign of Gemini – the Twins. Let’s look at some expressions of this archetype of duality:
- The two Pillars of Solomon’s Temple
- The Pillar of Mercy and the Pillar of Severity on the Tree of Life
- Ida and Pingala; the left and right channels of Kundalini force in the body
- Yin and Yang of Chinese Philosophy
- The Caduceus – the twin serpents wrapped around the staff of Hermes
- The double-helix spiral of the DNA molecule
Take a moment to meditate on each of these symbols, let a vision arise in your mind’s eye, and allow one image to blend into the next. Within each vision, how are the polarized aspects opposites and not just two versions of the same thing? Where do these opposites meet? What lies between them? What causes them to be connected? What keeps them apart?
Air signs like Gemini are often the sleuthing geniuses of the zodiac; able to think abstractly, to see both sides of the coin, and are known for obtaining unexpected perspectives. They are adept at deciphering riddles and seem to know the magic words to win popular opinion. Yet, like all astrological strengths, these abilities can turn into detriments when it causes the Gemini to be indecisive or confused, or to overthink. Just a few scraps of information can start them on an endless mental hike through myriad possibilities, weighing each option and calculating every scenario.
If you are exhibiting these issues, the air element can be used to get out of your head and into action, and that can be done through music, breathwork, mantra meditation or intonation, light therapy or aromatherapy, all of which use a wave vibration passing through the air element to generate healthy movement and focus for the mental body.
Gemini corresponds to the Major Arcana card THE LOVERS (Key 6) here represented by the artists (L to R) Pamela Coleman Smith, Jack Hurley, and Jophra Bosscart. The Lovers do not stand in the earthly garden of the Empress, but in the Archetypal Garden of Eden. In the fourth image they are visited by Archangel Raphael, who counseled and warned Adam and Eve, as depicted in Gustave Dore’s illustration to Milton’s Paradise Lost.
The Key of the Lovers is the expression of CHOICE. Rather than embracing, they are apart – one looking up to Raphael, the other gazing straight ahead. A mountain stands between them. They have different points of view; one looking to the heavens, one focusing on the earthly plane. To understand this card more deeply we need to ask, what are these characters thinking? Perhaps Eve is thinking about the future, and Adam is focused on the present. One is not right and the other wrong, this is a classic Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus scenario. Even still, there is a point of agreement; neither of them are looking at the past.
The sign of Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury. Mercury is the Magician, who uses control and alignment of will with natural laws to create beneficial situations, transmute stagnant energy to positive energy, and seemingly create “something out of nothing.” We are not fooled, we know the Magician’s secret – how he harnesses the earthly elements only and draws energy down from source. Enflaming his work with the divine spirit, he performs what appear as miracles to the average man. Let’s think about this ruling on a microcosmic scale, in other words, how the Mercurial part of ourselves rules over our inner Gemini. Mercury, remember, is Hermes, Thoth, the messenger of the Gods, the creator of the Hieroglyphs, the Patron Deity of Science and Magic, in Hod – the 8th Sephira of the Tree of Life.
The Magician – Mercury – The Will, ruling over Gemini – the Lovers – Choice.
So we can see, having our will aligned with the Divine Will allows us to make good choices and assume control over extremes, knowing when to act and when to be still, when to think big picture and when to focus on the moment, and when to go left or right.
Gemini associates with the arms, lungs, shoulders, hands, nervous system, and brain.
Mercury rules the brain, central nervous system, thyroid gland, five senses, and the hands. Consider paying special attention to these areas of the body for this month.
When Mercury passes through Gemini, the sign of its rulership, it’s a time to make decisions quickly and easily, and accomplish all types of communication-based tasks with ease, partly due to a sense of emotional detachment that can occur with Mercury in Gemini. In other words, you will be more able to say what needs to be said, without having to sludge through all of the feelings, pushings and pullings of lunar tides.
“Everything is dual; everything has poles;
everything has its pair of opposites.
Like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature,
but different in degree.
Extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths;
all paradoxes may be reconciled.”
— The Kybalion.