Gemini: The Twins

May 21-June 21. A full month before Midsummer graces us with its heat, the Gemini season begins. The third sign of the Zodiac belongs in the mutable cross, along with Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. In contrast to the cardinal signs who are the bringers of ideas (like Aries) and the fixed signs who are all about getting the work done (like Taurus), Gemini and the other mutable signs are ushered in after. To access the lessons learned and bring forth transformation; to prepare for a new era.

But this season is not going to be a dull debriefing of past experiences. On the contrary, the Twins are here to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. To try everything once; to be open even to silly ideas. A much needed quality, in the uncertain times we live in.

So let’s open our (energetical) doors and windows to the gust of fresh Air and celebrate Gemini season with the jolly it deserves.

There are not many astrological signs that elicit such a strong, knee-jerk reaction from people as Gemini do. For all their wit and charm, Gemini have acquired a bad reputation of being insincere, two-faced, fickle and nosy: people tend to see Gemini as the fair weather friend who is here to show you a good time but will abandon you when times get rough… But the Twins are so much more than that! If you were born under the astrological sign of Gemini or have your Ascendant/Rising sign in Gemini, then the following description will probably sound familiar.

With Air as their element and Mercury as their ruling planet, Gemini thrive in a fast-paced environment that promotes communication. They are the proverbial “early adopters”; the first to try on new technologies and trends — even if only to discard them as bad ideas soon after.

Adaptable and social, Gemini love connecting with people from different backgrounds and cultures; they can always see the commonalities first (which makes them great matchmakers).

The Twins’ inherent spontaneity makes for perfect partygoers and media personalities, always hopping off to the next thrill. But for all their bubbly personalities, they are not airheaded. Given the chance, they can thrive in academic environments, being the keen observers, fast learners and out-of-the-box thinkers that they are. They also have a knack for languages and politics.

Of course like any astrological sign, Gemini are not without their faults. Their bad reputation for being unreliable has some truth to it; but their flakiness is never ill-intended. They simply tend to spend a lot of time inside their own heads, unable to make decisions fast, which can lead them to opt out of things or obligations too early. Children at heart, the Twins will forever enjoy pulling pranks and cracking jokes — a quality that can come off as annoying to some people. But behind that Trickster personality, there is a deeper fear of confrontation and a need to be liked by everyone. To gain favor, Gemini might not hesitate to reveal things (both about themselves and about other people) that should have stayed hidden.

At the end of the day though, Gemini feel very closely connected to their family (especially their siblings) and friends. To them, they are always loyal when it counts.

The constellation of Gemini is named after two brothers in Greek mythology, Castor and Polydeuces. Although twins, Polydeuces was immortal while Castor was mortal — an irregularity attributed to the strange circumstances of their birth. According to the legend, Zeus transformed into a swan and seduced Leda, the queen of Sparta, on the same night she also had relations with her husband. When the time came to give birth, Leda gave birth to two mortal children by her husband (Castor and Clytemnestra) and an egg that contained Zeus’s children (Eleni and Polydeuces). Although both Eleni and Clytemnestra played an important part in the Trojan war, the two half-brothers, known simply as Dioskouroi (Zeus’s children), went on to have adventures of their own.

Dioskouroi were both skilled horse riders, sailors and boxers. They rode with the Argonauts and hunted mythical beasts but were always there to help when people needed them; they were regarded as patrons of athletes and sailors, thought to bring favorable winds. But after many adventures, the brothers got in a deadly feud with some relatives and Castor died trying to protect his brother. Zeus, who was watching from Olympus, sent a lightning bolt to the killers, protecting his son Polydeuces from getting hurt. But without his brother, Polydeuces was so broken he begged Zeus to allow him to die as well — so that he can be with his brother in the Underworld. Moved by his devotion, Zeus united the brothers in the heavens, turning them into the brightest stars of the Gemini constellation. After that, Castor and Polydeuces spent half their time in the Underworld and the other half in Mount Olympus among the gods. They were worshipped like deities in Greece and, surprisingly, their worship even reached the Celts.

Heavenly and human, both at the same time. It’s this duality, so inherent to the astrological sign, that has earned Gemini the name “Divine Twins”.

There are several other myths and legends around Divine Twins across ancient cultures — all of them associated with horses, the sea and the Underworld. The Babylonians called them Meshlamtaea (“the one who arises from the Underworld”) and Lugalirra (“the mighty King”), both considered to be twin sides of the same God. Vedic cultures mention the “Divó nápātā”, aka the sons of the sky-god. The Anglo-Saxons had Hengist (Stallion) and Horsa (Horse) who were thought to be descendants of Odin and would come by the sea to help those in need. No matter what they’re called, the Twins are always helpful and quick to run to the aid of humans.

At their core, the Twins are a perfect union of imperfections; a fusion of two very distinct personalities into one. As such, they represent a communion between Humans and the Divine. Not bad for an astrological sign that’s believed to be airheaded, right?

As Witches know very well, there is a time for everything. Each season, each turning of the Wheel, brings forth different energies. Some spells are stronger during the fires of Beltane; some rituals can only be performed in the darkness of Samhain. The Gemini season has its own unique characteristics. Recognizing the season’s energy and working with it (instead of against it) will greatly benefit your spells and castings.

So what types of spells and rituals should you be focusing on during this period?

Gemini being a dual entity ruled by the Messenger God (Mercury), all collaborative spells and coven work will be amplified in power during this season. The more witches the merrier!

Gemini being a dual entity ruled by the Messenger God (Mercury), all collaborative spells and coven work will be amplified in power during this season. The more witches the merrier!

Because the Twins are associated with both the Heaven and the Underworld, so gazing upon both realms at the same time, now is a very good time for you to practice divination techniques. (If you don’t know where to begin, you can consult our article on divination techniques that are safe to use during uncertain times.) Tarot cards in particular, as well as rune casting, are specifically benefiting from Gemini energy.

Although in general divination apps and online readings should be approached very critically, Gemini season is boosting any technology related witchcraft. Perhaps you can discover new tools to use, or new social media networks where you can interact with other Wiccans online.

Good fortune workings are boosted during Gemini season. Especially if your spell is geared towards bringing good luck to a loved one or your whole family, not just yourself.

Any spell or ritual that involves success in studies, university, languages or learning of any kind will be extra potent during this season.

Gemini season tools to help you in your Craft work: invoking the element of Air, white feathers (found, not plucked), the tarot suit of Swords, yellow candles.

This is perhaps the most important technique to be mastered during Gemini season. Like the Twins, you also have a dual nature: you are not just your body, but you are also bodily enough to stay anchored in this plane while your soul travels. Bear in mind though that astral projection is a complicated technique and should not be attempted without a lot of groundwork, meditation and help from herbs and crystals.