Gemini May 21 – Jume 20

Gemini

May 21 – Jume 20

 

 

“I greet you O Goddess Saraswathi,

You, who resembles the Kunda flower, the full moon,

You, who carries in your hand the Veena and the stick,

On your white lotus throne,

You are worshiped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva,

Protect me, Oh Goddess Saraswati, remove all my ignorance”.

Morning Hundu puja prayer

 June Dates:

Shavout, Jewish, Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of First fruits)

Gayatri  Jayanti, Hindu celebration of the Gayatri

Kuan-Yin Day, Buddhist, day she/he became a Bodhisattva.

Litha, Wiccan celebration of Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year. Angelic beings, fairies, and devas can be contacted more easily and intimately at this time. Summer Solstice marks the time when their great work of mixing and manipulating color, light, and sound is complete.

Templar Holy Day. The Christian Church renamed this pagan holiday to St. John the Baptist, Templar's revered it highly.

Native American: The Full Strawberry Moon as known to the Algonquin tribes, this is a time ripe with potential. Europeans called it the Rose Moon.

Wiccan Moon: Sun Moon, or Festival of Humanity. It is also called the Christ Full Moon, the Festival of Goodwill, or World Invocation Day. It's a time for bonding with friends and family, and forging what connections we can. Nurture your relationships, your garden, your career, and your soul this month.

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 Attributes:

Duality:            Masculine

Element:          Air

Position:         Mutable

Symbol:          The Twins

Planet:             Mercury

Flower:            Rose

Gemstone:      Tiger’s eye, labradorite, alexandrite

Anatomy:         lungs

Best Foods:     Potassium chloride, asparagus, green beans,

                       tomatoes, celery, carrots, spinach, oranges, peaches,

                       plums, apricots, wild rice.

Avoid:               Being superficial, sometimes dishonest and cold.

Colors:              Yellow

Action needed: Leave book knowledge and learn service to others through

                        life experience.

Motto:             “I Think”

Bottom of Form

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Vedic:

The ancient scriptures mentioned that this creation was possible because of the dual origin or the male and female, the two offspring of the Divine, from which future creations became possible too. Gemini represents these two differentiated Creative Energies which produce the world. The duality or the polarization between the positive and negative forms of energies is known as Purush, consciousness and Prakriti, Energy.

This month dedicated to: Sarasvati, Saraswati (Sanskrit) The ethereal, the elegant one; the divine consort or wife of Brahma, his feminine alter ego, a later form or aspect of Vach (voice or the Word), a title of the Third Logos in Greece as well as in India.

 

Character:

In Gemini, you learn communication and the development of all types of relationships.

It is a sign where you learn to think and to develop your mind so that you gradually learn wisdom. By cultivating your natural versatility, you learn to look at all the different aspects of life, and consequently relate them to one another, thus coming to a deeper understanding of the unity behind all things.

The spirit of discovery and curiosity are the motivating forces that lead a Gemini to devote her time to communication and thought. A Gemini is often motivated to investigate the world by her insatiable curiosity. She is interested in practically everything that comes her way. This promotes the development of versatility and the ability to quickly grasp new ideas. There is a desire to try out many different projects, but for those who have Gemini prominently should remember to finish off what they started. It is all too common that an immature Gemini starts many new projects but finishes none. 

 

Gemini can be intelligent and social, but also superficial, sometimes dishonest and cold. As she develops to more maturity she becomes increasingly interested in the inner world, the world of the soul. A mature Gemini will therefore communicate in two ways – outwards and inwards. She will understand the inner world of the soul and the world of causes, and be able to communicate this to other people, she will become a teacher of mankind.

In Gemini, you also learn to develop your mind and to think. The basic thinking is by analyzing everything with your intellect. This is the first step, to learn by discrimination. However, you will not find what you are searching for until you learn wisdom. Wisdom will come to you when your knowledge is based on your own life experience, and not book-knowledge.

By understanding other people and purifying yourself from emotions such as fear and greed, you will gradually become wiser. The final step is – paradoxically – when you give up your search for knowledge and serve other people by meeting their needs. Wisdom will then descend upon you from heaven. This is the outcome of the law of karma, as you give you will receive.

Myths and Legends:

   

 

Symbol of Twins

Two small children, twins, who, according to myth, were born out of eggs, represent the constellation of Gemini. They are not of earthly origin but celestial, from the gods, heavenly energies. This is the sign of the double origin.

In the Egyptian zodiac, the Gemini figures were not male twins, but male and female lovers. They represented the marriage of opposites, the balance of: light/dark, objectivity/subjectivity, action/thought, yin/yang, and aggression/pacifism. The secret of the double origin is not in the definition of the twins, but in the movement of the energy and actions created by the energies flowing between them.

Note the Sun card of the tarot has this same image. Castor and Pollux are the names of the star brothers from the Roman era. When Castor was slain in battle, Pollux begged Jupiter to restore him to life; Jupiter agreed to permit one brother to be alive at a time while the other was held in Hades. Thus they both lived and died each day and balance was maintained between the human and divine.

Sacred Columns

The symbol of Gemini, II, can also be seen as two columns, containing in it the remnants of the ancient tree or single column worship. This double symbol is itself an image or hieroglyph of two obelisks, "The pillars of Hermes”, or, the columns called Jachin and Boaz. These are an ancient symbol coming to us from the earliest origin stories.

When God (or the Gods) created the world, when the earth and sky touched, man could not breathe in so small a space and so, something had to be created to hold the earth and sky apart. In many cultures this was a god, a mountain, a tree, sacred building or a column. The space where the separation happened was considered a sacred point on the earth, an Axis Mundi, or center of the world. It was considered the meeting place of the cardinal points and often it held secret or very hard to locate as in Shamballa for example.

The one pillar or obelisk evolved into two pillars. These symbolized, just like the Gemini twins, the duality of nature, for example: life and death, positive and negative, light and dark, knowledge of good and evil. In Solomon’s Temple these two columns were at the very entrance. The initiate had to walk between them to approach the altar, the sacred center. The meaning here is that he/she had to acquire the discernment of good and evil and live a life of balance necessary to approach the divine, walking on the razor edge between light and dark. In short this Gemini energy is the vibration between these two poles (columns) of creation.

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Shavuot 

Shavuot: (meaning "weeks" in Hebrew) is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot is the celebration of the day God gave the Torah to the Hebrews assembled at Mount Sinai. Shavout is also the festival of first fruits, which are harvested and brought to the Temple; it is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of First Fruits).

Ceremony of Bikkurim

The Bikkurim, or first fruits, are brought from the Seven Species for which Israel is known: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Jewish farmers tie a reed around the first ripening fruits from each of these species in their fields. At the time of harvest, the fruits identified by the reed would be cut and placed in baskets woven of gold and silver. The baskets would then be loaded on oxen whose horns were gilded and laced with garlands of flowers, and who were led in a grand procession to Jerusalem. As the farmer and his entourage pass through cities and towns, they would be accompanied by music and parades.

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Gayatri

This day celebrates the manifestation of Goddess Gayatri, who is worshipped as Veda Mata (The Mother of Vedas).  It is a Sanskrit word, “Ga” means to sing, “Yatri” means Protection. This is a feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. This powerful mantram is also looked upon as a goddess. She is seen as the personification of the all-pervading Parabrahman, the ultimate unchanging reality that lies behind all phenomena.

The Gayatri is a prayer or chant considered deeply sacred and healing. It has three phases and so is called tripada.  It is used under the supervision of a guru who can teach the proper intonation.

Gayatri

OM Bhuh                                                   

Om Bhuvah                                              

Om Suvah                                             

Om Mahah                                               

Om Janah                                                 

Om Tapah                                               

Om Satyam                                              

Om Tat Savitur Varenyam                     

                                                                 

Bargo Devasa Dimayi                          

Dhiyoyona Prachodayat                       

Om,                                             

Apo,    

Jyoti,            

Rasom,

Mrita,   

Brahma

Bho Buva Suvar Om                                

Gayatri Veda Mata is thought by many Hindus to be a portrayal of Brahman himself, in the feminine form. It is also worshipped as the Hindu Trimurti combined as one. In essence this is the Lord’s Prayer of India. Some also consider her to be the mother of all Gods and the culmination of Lakshmi, Parvati and Sarasvati.

She also represents the goddess of learning. Scholars think that Sage Vishwamitra first uttered the Gayatri Mantra on the Jyeshta Shukla Ekadasi day. Goddess Gayatri is also called Adi Shakti.

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 Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin was originally born a man. The myths say that when he died, having lived a life of piety, he was offered nirvana but he refused to enter it until all the suffering in the world has ceased. He is called “the one who cares too much”. Buddha in his wisdom allowed this being to come back to this earth as a woman, to comfort the all souls, in the form of the goddess of compassion.

In Sanskrit, her name is Padma-pâni, or "Born of the Lotus." In Chinese she is the Bodhisattva of Compassion; her name means “listening to the cries of the world”.

Karuna is the origin of Kuan Yin; meaning: our ability to relate to another so intensely that a measure of the plight of the other affects us as much as if it had been our own, a fundamental Buddhist philosophy.

Kuan Yin has many traits in common with the Christian Virgin Mary, and the Tibetan goddess Tara. Her symbols are a crown with the image of Buddha on it; he was her spiritual teacher before she became a Bodhisattva. She is often carrying or wearing the pearls of illumination and pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. With this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She sometimes holds a willow branch, symbol of flexibility and inspiration or a sheaf of rice as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is a common motif found at her feet.

In the years to come, more and more great souls will be incarnating in our midst and many are said to be choosing a female form. This is bringing about a shift in the  consciousness of humanity as well as in the consciousness of the planet as a whole.

 

This Water and Moon Kuan-Yin Bodhisattva statue is 95 inches high was created in the 11th or 12th century, during the Liao Dynasty, in the Shanxi Province of China, and carved from a single piece of wood.  At The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
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Litha

See wiccan wheel of the Year chapter

Litha is the Wiccan celebration of summer Solstice. This is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The Sun God is at his peak of power, as is all of nature's bounty. The Earth is awash in the light and growing strength of the Lord Sun. It is marked with festivals of fire. Litha is a classic time for magick of all kinds.

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Summer Solstice

There are two annual events called a solstice, one at the height of summer: June 21^st, the longest day of the year, and one in the depths of winter on the 21^st day of December, the shortest day of the year. The summer solstice is associated with the sign of Cancer as it is right on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer.

 

In the Hindu tradition, the two solstices were considered gates to our world and beyond and were called in Sanskrit, PITRI-YANA and DEVA-YANA, The gate of Men and the Gate of the gods . The first, PITRI-YANA corresponds to the summer solstice, or to the sign of Cancer and the second, DEVA-YANA to the winter solstice, or the sign of Capricorn.

In order to understand the reason for this, it is necessary to refer to the division of the annual cycle into two halves, one of ascending energies and the other descending. The first is the period of the movement of the sun towards to the north, going from winter to summer solstice. This is the babe growing to adulthood. The second is that of the movement of the sun towards the south, going from the summer to the winter solstice. This is the harvest of hard work and the final end to a life well lived In the Hindu

tradition, the ascendant phase relates to the deva-yana.

The Seasons

The seasons of the year are caused by the tilt of the earth’s axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top, the North Pole points in a fixed direction continuously - towards a point in space near the North Star.

 The Autumn Equinox - Daily sunlight is waning, day and night are equal.

The Winter Solstice - Shortest day of the year.

The Spring Equinox - Daily sunlight is waxing, day and night are equal.

The Summer Solstice - Longest day of the year

Each of these four points are related to the unfolding of the soul and certain profound initiations. The ancients celebrated them in four great Festivals. Adopted into Christianity they became the chief religious festivals of the Church.

The Autumn Equinox with Michaelmas, the Mass or Feast of St. Michael.
The Winter Solstice with its Christ Mass or Christmas.
The Spring Equinox with Easter.
The Summer Solstice with Feast of St. John and Pentecost (Whitsuntide or the Ascension).

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Fires of St. John

At the end of the month of June, we celebrate the summer solstice with the fires of St. John. This Sun festival brings us closer to the tremendous powers of external spiritual fire from the soul of the Sun. Many fires are fanned around the world to remind us of the sacred fire of creation. This is the turning point of the year, when the days become shorter and we head for winter. Bonfires are lit and effigies burned on the evening of June 23. People still jump over the bonfires to prove their courage, encourage fertility, be purified, to enhance health, and love. Traditionally, three jumps cleanses one from spells and disease.

Christians made this day into the Day of John the Baptist  because John the Baptist was said to have been born six months before Jesus, so this day is exactly six months from Christmas, or winter solstice. His birthday is celebrated on June 24: one of the oldest feasts in the liturgy. Note that John represents the god of the waning year just as Jesus represents the god of the waxing year. It is interesting to discover that 12 days later on July 5 is Old Midsummer's Day, which may have once been the summer equivalent to the Christian Twelfth Night on January 6. It is still celebrated in Sweden.

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JANUS Gatekeeper for the Sun

The two faced god, Janus, also called the “janitor”, is thought to be the gatekeeper for the sun. Janus is the god who opens each of the doors (januae), his symbols are two keys. The doors are the same as the solstitial gates and the two keys open the thresholds leading from the manifested spiritual work to interiorized spiritual study. Both doors are on opposite sides of the zodiac. Note that the two keys have been preserved in the Masonic apron. Janus gave his name to the month of January

In Christianity, the symbols of the solstitial feasts of Janus became assimilated into the two feasts of the two St. Johns. These feasts are always held at the same time, at or near the winter and summer solstices. In the traditional Roman calendar, these feast dates of December 27 and June 24. In actual fact, the solstices occur a few days earlier, which respects the astronomical facts that the sun’s ascent and descent have actually begun by the feast days. Thus, it is said of St. John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease”, since he was 6 months older in the womb than the infant Christ.

In the Native American tradition, during a fire cleansing or smudge – the front of the person is wafted with smoke from a sage stick lit in the holy fire, and then back of the person. The Native Americans call this the shadow self. If you have grave concerns, it is always good to sit and meditate on the shadow self and ask it what it is trying to teach you. Again the two sides to our being.

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The Full moon in Gemini:

The full moon in Gemini is dedicated to the Christ, or better the Christ energy in its double expression as the Son and the Daughter. Their powers govern and inspire the human priesthood and preistesshood in all religions, be it Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Hebrew, Christian or any other form of religion from past, present or future.

June, the sign of Gemini shows us the double origin and also the growth towards the hermaphrodite when both parts of the Gemini unite and become ONE. It is only when this balance, this unity is perfected, that new forms are be able to arise and a new earth will emerge out of all the destructed forms of the past.

“When the Sun Moves Northwards”. The second half of the year brings manifestation and realization of the principles that were seeded and opened up in the first half of the year. There is so much work to do, and in the three months of May, June, and July, we are given an opportunity to invoke, digest, and dispense the energies so abundantly sent to us. This full moon is a festival of deep invocation and appeal, towards the marriage of human and spiritual energies; it represents the coming together of love and compassion in the human consciousness, the marriage of the work of the Buddha and of the Christ.

The month of April gave us the Easter full moon of Chaitra, and the month of July will bring the full moon of Asala the crowning of these ever returning new gifts of energy from the Great Beings. The energies so far have been: Restoration (Aries), Enlightenment (Taurus) and  Reconstruction (Gemini) – We are so fortunate to be able to tune-in to those great days and receive and broadcast the new impetus that is given.

We have the great privilege to live and work in these most crucial times and be part of the great Epoch. Let us rejoice in the Powers of the Mother and manifest her Forms more and more every day, in order for the great work to be accomplished. 

 

Conclusion:

Now that the doors are open to higher worlds, it is even more important to pay attention to the signs around us. Yes, it will happen that during our “work,” our meditations, and even during our normal daily lives, we may receive messages through signs. Be attentive to these.

This Gemini sign of seeming contradictions also holds for us the growing blending of heaven and earth: “On earth as in Heaven”. It is also the blending of the four elements, water and fire, earth and air gives us the building blocks for our new temple becoming the house of Ether, that fifth element that pervades and unites them all, bringing them to life. This temple, or new body, is built with the energy of the heart, compassion and understanding.

Let us go further in our imagination and see the flame in the Mother’s Temple being lit on a column of white marble incrusted with precious jewels, representing the seven incarnating forces of the Mother. The Fire is lit in the Cup throning in the middle of the temple: it is the fire of Heaven descending unto Earth and uniting with the fire of the center of the earth. Thus, the solar fire of Savitri and the fire of Terra unite and become one to bring again sacredness to the Earth so she can take her rightful place in the whole of the solar system.

Gemini provides the momentum which produces the changes needed for the evolution of the Christ consciousness at any particular point in time and space.

Gemini is the major symbol of duality in the zodiac. It is a third point with each of the pairs of opposites in the Zodiac. It preserves the magnetic interplay between them. Gemini can be called the constellation of the resolution of duality into a fluid synthesis. Gemini's influence lies behind every one of the 12 constellations. Because the 2nd ray of Love - Wisdom pours through Gemini, it becomes apparent how true the occult teaching is that love underlies the entire universe. Thus the esoteric truth: God is Love.

Gemini, via Venus, awakens in humanity the sense of duality which is the basic factor in the conflict between desire and spiritual will. Gemini, the Great Bear and the Pleiades, form the triangle of the cosmic Christ.
Gemini forms a point of entrance for cosmic energy from Sirius, which is the prototype for the Great White Lodge on earth, of which Masonry is the distorted reflection, just as the personality is the distorted reflection of the soul. Gemini controls esoterically the heart of our solar system.
 

Mercury symbolizes the dual aspect of the mind as it mediates on the higher and the lower aspects of creation. First, as the concrete mind, as the mediator within the personality, and secondly, as the illumined mind, relating soul and personality. Mercury reveals the Spiritual Triad (atma, buddhi, manas) to the soul.

 

  

the Festival of Goodwill also known as the Festival of the Christ and the Festival of Unification is the last of the three festivals of the higher interlude of the year. We began with the Festival of Easter in the sign of Aries; in May we celebrated the Wesak Festival in the sign of Taurus; and tonight we culminate the experience with the Festival of Goodwill in the sign of Gemini.