For My Father And Other Geminis

Born on June 10th in the mountains of a Kashmiri village, some sixty years ago, my father, a medical man, did not know how much of his life and character would be affected by the stars.

The sun, the outward representation of his life, was in Gemini – a sign known for its vivacity, charm and intelligence. No one is bored around a Gemini. Whether he was scootering his friends around the streets of Karachi at just before dawn to catch the best view of the sunrise, or juggling home responsibilities with university, he was chatty, and proved his competence in multiple fields and endeavours, becoming a doctor, a realtor, and once even a politician – at one point, meeting the demands of all three tasks simultaneously.

Whatever occupied his attention, he always shared his vast knowledge. He would be the one to correct friends’ follies with facts, and the one still speaking thirty minutes later once everone else’s brains had fried up with the information overload.

There was nothing he could not do, no conflict he could not solve, and no information he couldn’t store away to bring up again another day when it was needed. I call them “rainy day facts” and now that I am older, it’s a source of playful wonderment how much he still remembers from the past when we both discuss the news, or the politics of the day. We each try to out-smart each other, and I, in my thirties now, still rarely win. He’s an intellectual magpie, but one that brings the toughest sticks, the broadest understandings, back to the nest.

The planet Mercury, that rules communication, and the way we think about the world around us, was in the sign of Cancer for my father. This sign, of mothers and hearths and blissful domesticity, made him soft-spoken. Even now, we have to tell him to speak up. He is warm with his praise for others. He is the trusted referee when things go bad, or relationships risk turning sour.

However, the moon, Mars and Jupiter were all additionally in the sign of Gemini for him. That means that, respectively, his emotional side, his aggressive and energetic side, and his great fortune, all fall in Gemini. I think this makes him able to see things from multiple sides, just as the two-faces of the Gemini twins stare out in two different directions.

So, all that translated means that his Moon keeps him from getting bogged down in the emotional stuff, the kind that clouds the vision. He keeps an emotional distance, preferring to think in logical and rational terms about his relationships. With his Mars in Gemin, he gets his energy from things that involve learning, and he shines in positions of responsibility. And, thanks to Jupiter in Gemini, he is most fortunate in life when he does these things – expanding not only his own horizons, but cheerleading others to do the same for themselves also.

My father, I believe, is the core of what a Gemini is, and can be. I am confident that other Geminis will see themselves in this description.

That is what a Gemini is.

But what about lies in store for these fun-loving, smart people?

Well, there are 5 main things to know.

1. Jupiter transits the solar 9th house from February until mid-May

This means that during these months, the planet of good fortune and karma is concerned with self-improvement, in the philosophical and the literal sense. You will benefit from travels, studies, and achieve previously unknown wisdom.

To get technical for a second, Jupiter also trines your Sun in this position – which is always a very good thing. So what energy you put into your studies, your life philosophies and your attempts to understand other people, will be amply rewarded. Generally, your relationships and co-operation with others will stand out during this period.

2. Saturn transits the solar 8th house from January until March

Saturn. Saturn. Saturn. Saturn is my least favourite planet. It’s the “harsh teacher” of the zodiac. It’s the planet that seeks to improve your discipline, and it does so by introducing some hefty obstacles into your path.

For these three months, Saturn is in the solar 8th house – the place that is associated with mergers, building intimate relationships and setting good boundaries. Saturn being here will cause you to reflect on these things. You may already have started that process as Saturn’s cycles generally last just over two years, and this is the final year of the process. So, given the strengths of Gemini at understanding and overcoming, you will most likely have gained a lot of insight into yoru responsibilities when it comes to building relationships, and learned to rely on yourself a lot more. Congratulations! That’s no easy task. It may have brought great feelings of loneliness or alienation at times, but I bet by March, you’ll be feeling much healthier in your own skin.

And as Saturn passes out of this house in March, the pressure is off! Enjoy yourself and your partner relationships again (responsibly of course).

3. Here comes Saturn again – Saturn transits your solar 9th house from March onwards

Now, here’s the bad part. Saturn moves from your relationship and intimacy sector into your philosophy and wisom sector from March. This is the start of a new two year cycle, and Saturn’s affects are felt much more acutely at the start of the cycle.

You may be faced with a sudden and obvious need to re-examine your worldview and philsophical views. You may be being over-optimistic, and if you have blind faith in someone or something, you better believe it will be tested.

I’m sorry not to have better news – but remember, Saturn is there to teach us; and this is a sector of learning. So the two together will lead to good places. There will just be some pruning to do first, and that will take some willpower and effort on your part.

4. Uranus continues its transit of your solar 11th house

Uranus, the only planet that spins sideways, is considered the planet of revolution. Add to this its placement in the 11th house of quirky, interesting social connections and you’ve got the recipe for a fun time in your social life. You may find yourself reconsidering more traditional social views, and becoming drawn to free-spirited people.

Overall, you will be learning how to appreciate the unique in each and every person you know or meet. And with your particular charm and wit, I’m sure you’ll be blowing each others’ socks off!

5. Neptune transits your solar 10th house

Neptune is the planet of mysteries and dreaming. It represents our fantasies, and our highest ideals for what we want the world to look like. For you, dear Gemini, Neptune is in the solar 10th house, and has influence over your career and reputation, as well as your worldly goals.

This could be a time for a high minded idealism to form when it comes to your work, and for you to stick to it, with a consequent feeling of being able to live out your dreams.

On the other hand, there may be some mystery spilling over into your work life – perhaps things are unclear, like your responsbilities or your professional future.

Don’t worry too much about this – Neptune is not an antagonistic planet, it is simply there to give you new possibilities with which to make new dreams – and it seems like your career is an area ripe for new explorations.

Overall Gemini, the outlook is good, and I wish you much fortune in your coming endeavours.

Signing off,

A Gemini fan.