The third of the three major spiritual festivals for 2005 is imminent, disseminating that which was freshly impulsed in Aries and consolidated upon in Taurus.

Gemini is all about the assimilation and dissemination of knowledge and wisdom; it is the only zodiac sign which has solely the second ray of Love-Wisdom directed through it; hence Gemini’s appellation as the constellation of the Cosmic Christ, the embodiment of the Love-Wisdom principle - as translated in this solar system. This love-wisdom principle demonstrates primarily (and appropriately) through maintaining a loving dialogue in relationships, Gemini’s great gift.

Gemini’s eclectic, bee-like knowledge gathering skills are well known, reflecting the expression of its personality ruler, Mercury the Winged Messenger. Garnered knowledge is transformed into wisdom through its application in everyday interactions with others - this is Gemini’s unique combination of its Love-Wisdom ray and Mercury.

Gemini the third sign has similarities with the third ray of Active-Intelligence: knowledge. The hierarchical ruler of Gemini is the Earth, co-ruler of the third ray of Active-Intelligence. Venus, soul ruler of Gemini, is the ruler of the fifth ray of Concrete Knowledge.

Yet the one of the hallmarks of an individual on the second Love-Wisdom ray is scholasticism with its major glamours of ‘too much study’ and ‘contempt for the mental limitations of others’.

The distribution of the ‘even’ Love-Wisdom ray entering Gemini is mainly bought about through two ‘odd’ ray rulers, Venus and the Earth. This also hints at the profound relationship between the orange fifth and the indigo second ray, two opposites on the seven-fold colour wheel.

Hence one quality lies in the camp of another; this is not unlike the (first aspect) life thread that is anchored in second ray heart centre territory, whilst the (second aspect) consciousness thread is anchored in the first ray crown chakra area: Evolution is ensured by a blending of the inextricably entwined paths of manas (mind) and love – the ‘eye doctrine’ and the ‘way of the heart’.

Gemini is one of the most intuitive and impressionable signs of the zodiac and it is these qualities that anyone can tap into during this solar period. Some commentators have mentioned that the Taurus festival just passed was one of the most important in terms of the nine-year cycle of meetings of the Masters. It was certainly a time of deep import regarding many world aspirants and disciples and directions in their future service work.

For those who did not ‘get it’ then, there is still plenty of opportunity to do so at this Gemini period – particularly as this sign is about disseminating the sattvas (essences) harvested during the Taurean period; so be intuitively open to impression (ask) and ye may receive!

Gemini and Meditation.

The restlessness of hyper-Gemini causes much wandering in search of experience and the elusive soul that carries the secret of the purpose for an individual’s incarnation. Hence Gemini is known a sign wherein the antahkarana (bridge) is built between the ‘brother whose light is fading’ (the personality) and the ‘brother whose light is waxing’ (the soul). This bridge building is effected by Mercury the messenger, keeping the two brothers in dialogue!

Meditation is one of the main means whereby the ‘brothers’ come into alignment and maintain their ‘conversation’; it is a dual process of an active visualisation process and a passive receptivity; the ‘younger brother’ can choose to consciously invoke the ‘elder brother’ who can in turn evoke a directing response; the positive soul impacts upon the negative personality and the electrical circuit is established and maintained. ‘Electrical’ really means ‘etheric’ here:

“Gemini … is related to the etheric body; it is the custodian of conditioning energy and the intermediary, as far as basic essentials are concerned, between soul and body ... In the average person, the etheric vehicle is the transmitter of psychic energy, galvanising and coordinating the dense physical body and permitting, therefore, astral and mental control of the personality. When the man is upon the Path of Discipleship and, therefore, upon the reversed wheel, leading to initiation, the etheric body becomes the transmitter of soul energy and not of personality force; the powerful effect of the second Ray of Love-Wisdom—working through the subjective six rays, according to ray type—begins steadily to dominate the vital body, producing consequently the shift of force and of intensity to the centres above the diaphragm. The power of the personality lessens and wanes whilst that of the soul waxes and grows. There is much to be learned from the study of the dual activity—higher and lower—of the etheric body and its relation to and responsiveness to the constellation, Gemini, but it is too abstruse for the ordinary student.” [1]

Gemini and Speech. The Pentecost.

It is interesting that the previous sign of Taurus rules the organs of speech, yet Gemini is more commonly related to this mode of communication. The whole area of ‘right speech’ (one of the precepts of the Buddha), has been discussed in Gemini newsletters for other years. [2]

Gemini is known for its verbosity yet it is really about speaking our truth – saying what you mean and meaning what you say; ultimately, sacred language that clothes pure thought – we can but aspire to such.

Herein lies the pairs of opposites denoted by Sagittarius (pure thought) and Gemini (speech). The Moon is of course in Sagittarius at this full moon period of Gemini, instructing us to maintain our archer’s aim and one-pointedness - as counter-balance to the oft busy, distracted and scattered Gemini. Above all Gemini needs to learn utter stillness, silencing of the ‘monkey-mind’ so as to maintain its impressionability to the higher self.

Whilst on the subject of sacred language, let us consider the Pentecost and its relation to Gemini. Also called Whitsunday, it is the 50th day after Easter (Aries), which is close to two full moon cycles hence, falling in Gemini. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples after the death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ. This Holy Spirit was known to manifest in the phenomena of ‘speaking in tongues’ and was associated with healing, prophecy and the expelling of demons (exorcism). So it is today in Pentecostal groups who tend to hysteria and seem to be obsessed by spirits rather than exorcising them. (“Worship has ever been known to produce a group stimulation when successfully oriented and focussed even to the point of ecstasy or hysteria, Pentecost or revelation. [3] ) One account in the bible says:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” [4]

DK’s interpretation gives a clearer context to the Pentecost. Note how he puts the emphasis on ‘right human relations’, the theme of Gemini:

“The Festival of Easter and the Feast of Pentecost will be the two outstanding days of the religious year. Pentecost is, as you must well know, the symbol of right human relations in which all men and nations will understand each other and — though speaking in many and diverse languages — will know only one spiritual speech.” [5]

Two further passages are worthy of our consideration:

“The fact of the resurrection will be demonstrated during the next few centuries, and the Living Christ will walk among men and lead them onward towards the Mount of Ascension. The Pentecost will become truth. All men will come under the tide of inspiration from on high, and though they may speak with many tongues, they will all understand each other.” [6]

“Pentecost. This event does not portray the triumph of orthodox Christianity (as the theologians believe and teach), but signifies the universal dissemination of the Christ consciousness throughout all time in the heart of every human being; to this the words and promise, "Lo, I am with you all the days, even until the end of the world," bear witness.” [7]

Gemini in Famous Horoscopes.

Astrologically, part of the ‘simplicity’ in Krishnamurti’s personality was the position of Venus in Gemini, ruler of his Taurus Sun. Gemini is a sign of naivety and a child-like impressionability, hence Venus’ position here gives an unique ‘sub-influence’ to his Taurean personality expression.

Venus, the Goddess of Love is about relationships and Gemini is esoterically a sign of relationships, hence Krishnamurti was able to connect with people from all walks of life, having the ‘common touch’.

Venus is also the ‘soul ruler’ of Gemini, bringing together (through love and wisdom) and uniting the pairs of opposites upon the mental plane. The Goddess of Marriage’s jurisdiction extends from worldly pairings and inner unions to the so-called ‘mystic marriage’ of the soul.

Gemini’s communication skills can be seen in composer Richard Wagner’s birth chart – a Gemini Sun with Taurus rising; his sublime symphonies are testimony to Taurean ‘beautification’ and the disseminating qualities of Gemini - communication to many through the universal language of music. Pope John Paul’s Moon was in Gemini at the same degree as Wagner’s and like Krishnamurti, was able to connect to the many.

Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue is a multiple Gemini (5 planets), much loved in her home country and with enormous universal appeal. Her recent diagnosis with breast cancer is reflected by transiting Saturn going over her progressed Sun in Cancer (ruling the breasts) in the past year and now conjoining her ascendant in Cancer. She has always been a good communicator, offstage and onstage, possessing that scintillating Gemini intelligence. Through her high profile Kylie has succeeded in raising the awareness of breast cancer enormously.

United Nations. Israel.

Likewise, the United Nations has most appropriately the Moon in Gemini. Transiting Pluto has been bringing about vast changes since early 2004 through its opposition to the UN Moon. Although the Moon placed here can relate to a natural ability for communication and dialogue, it can amount to a lot of talk and no action, something for which the UN has been consistently accused.

The Moon in any chart represents the shadow, so the Pluto opposition has been teasing out this part of the UN’s unconscious; this includes cunning and deceitful behaviour, not unlike the ‘double-speak’ character of Sir Humphrey Appleby in the hit British TV show, “Yes Minister”. (The British are ruled at the soul level by Gemini)

Yet Pluto’s opposition to the Moon can also be very potent in terms of the UN taking a powerful stand through persuasive communication. As the Moon rules the UN’s fourth house, a successful outcome of this transit will be the UN firmly establishing its ‘home’, i.e. a psychologically sound foundation from which to operate with a more developed integrity; this is all part of the maturation process for this entity as it completes its second Saturn return.

Israel has Mercury in Gemini in the fourth house, a legacy of the nomadic ‘wandering Jew’ and not the most stable of energies for rooting oneself in the homeland. Transiting Uranus will be squaring natal Mercury until the end of 2006, creating much nervous tension, challenging Israel to examine her old ideas and opinions in favour of new ones. This will probably express itself in the issues of illegal settlements and the controversial dividing wall being built - creating as many internal conflicts as external.

Gemini is also rising in Israel’s second Saturn return chart, indicating the importance of developing dialogue and communication. Yet Gemini ruler Mercury is placed in Leo square to Jupiter and may give the tendency for communication to be overbearing and bombastic; also, ideas may be too grandiose for practical manifestation.

In Gemini and for the ordinary person, the Word goes forth "Let instability do its work", but for those who consciously tread the Path, the Word is uttered by the soul itself: "I recognise my other self and in the waning of that self, I grow and glow."

[1] Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p. 352-3.