• Mutable Air                                                         
• Ruler:  Mercury
• Detriment:  Jupiter

Gemini is the child of the air signs, ruled by Mercury. Gemini is intelligent, curious, clever, witty and articulate, interested in everything, fascinated by information and facts and always learning. As a mutable air sign, Gemini is particularly good at multi-tasking. The theme of duality runs right through this sign, and Geminis are often at their best when they are doing at least two things at once - such as reading a book while watching television, or checking their e-mails while talking to someone on the phone. This can also extend to other areas of life, since I have noticed that Geminis often buy two of this or that, and are immensely attracted to things that come in pairs, such as earrings and shoes! 

As the butterfly of the zodiac, Gemini’s strength is cross-fertilization - making connections, putting different bits of information and different people together. Gemini rules the hands and the arms, and they tend to be dextrous and to ‘speak’ with their hands. Gemini also rules the lungs, which deal with the taking in and giving out of air, or information. Gemini is a busy, active, light, youthful sign, and its mutability makes it very adaptable, flexible and changeable, with a mind like quicksilver and a real dread of being trapped or pinned down or of situations that might become ‘heavy’. For example, if something more interesting comes along, then, regardless of previous commitments they may have made, they are perfectly capable of changing their minds and going off in a different direction. Usually very articulate, fascinated by language itself, very good with words, Gemini doesn't want to take anything too seriously. 

One of Gemini’s particular gifts is the ability to act as a go-between or intermediary, and to break the tension of a difficult situation with a well timed joke or observation. Taxi drivers, couriers, people driving delivery vans and other people constantly on the move often have a strong Gemini emphasis in their charts. 

Planets in Gemini

Audience:  I have Moon in Gemini. What does that mean?

Clare:  The Moon describes what feeds you, what makes you feel comfortable and safe, so we can suggest that it is information and communication that feeds you. You might feel very nourished, for example, by a good conversation. Meeting a friend for lunch, the exchange of information and the catching up with the gossip might feel more nourishing than the actual food you eat. On the other hand, you might even say to someone: ‘Leave me alone - I’m going to sit down and nurture myself by reading this newspaper or book,’ since the Moon is about the rituals which make us feel comfortable and about our instinctive, habitual needs. This also describes our maternal food, and perhaps a mother who was interested in teaching us or in feeding us with information. Moon in Gemini can also describe someone who has a real feel for languages. Freud is a good example of this. He was fascinated by language, the inventor of the ‘talking cure’ and the ‘Freudian slip’, the ways in which language reveals unintended messages.

Audience:  Yes, I find I would much rather read a book than eat, although I will often do both at the same time, or grab something to eat when I am driving between appointments. Basically, I don’t think I can relate to the emotions myself. I am much better at just relaying things to other people.

Audience:  I have a compulsive need to assimilate information. Sometimes I hate this part of myself - it is almost like a bulimic tendency. I just can’t stop.

Clare:  Is your Moon connected to Mercury?

Audience:  Yes, my Moon is in Virgo and makes a square to Mercury. 

Clare:  So we could say that there is a need for order and control, but Mercury’s involvement could make you feel that you never have enough information to get it absolutely right. Your need to constantly assimilate more information could be an expression of a basic anxiety which, with Moon in Virgo, you might have absorbed from your mother. 

Sally has Jupiter in Gemini.  How do you think this will express itself in her life?

Audience:  Well, if Jupiter expands what it touches, then I imagine this would be an extremely busy and active Jupiter indeed. In Gemini it could mean that Sally believes in words and in communication, and probably finds languages, and probably foreign languages too, very meaningful.

Clare:  Absolutely. She could have a real aptitude, for example, in working as a simultaneous translator at conferences. Or she could be a very inspiring language teacher. The traditional detriment of Jupiter in Gemini indicates that she will need to be careful not to take on too much or to get over-stimulated or too scattered, which could result in an element of stress and nervous tension. Functioning positively, Jupiter can bring an overview, an appreciation of the whole picture, find a larger context for all the bits and pieces, and help Gemini develop a sense of trust and confidence.