The Astrology Blog 18 May 2020
All times in BST
“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
― Malcolm X, b 19 May 1925
https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Malcolm_X
Gemini activity and themes dominate the astrological news this week. Mercury entered this sign, which he also rules, last Monday, the Sun will arrive here on Wednesday for a month and Venus has just started her 6 week retrograde journey through this sign that will last until 25 June. So let’s start with a flavor of this sign, from Be Your Own Astrologer –
Gemini rules the lungs, nervous system, shoulders, arms and hands. You can often spot this excitable sign by the way they gesticulate in order to express themselves. As the communicators of the zodiac talking is as natural as breathing but if you asked them to sit on their hands most Geminis would be rendered mute. They find it hard to be still but this chirpy sign in full flow is your original breath of fresh air, cracking jokes, laughing easily and chattering away to anyone about anything. There’s something birdlike in their quick, restless movements and bright, inquisitive eyes that reflect a busy brain, ceaselessly computing information.
The Gemini Nature
Gemini’s archetype is the “puer eternus”, the eternal youth. In physical terms they tend to look younger than their years, naturally or through artifice but very often it’s the former. Their approach is light and playful, sometimes irreverent as they refuse to take life or authority too seriously. Their sense of fun shows in a quick wit, a slapstick sense of humour and a childlike enthusiasm for games, ideas and suggestions. A typical Gemini is up for anything if it promises to be a laugh. They thrive on company and conversation and, with their butterfly minds, they can flit from subject to subject, rarely lost for words.
The sign of the Twins has a Jekyll and Hyde reputation that is unjustified and misleading. Just because they can be changeable doesn’t mean that they have a split personality. Think multifaceted rather than two faced, and look for the “doubling up” twin symbolism, such as two jobs, two cars, two dogs, two marriages, and an inability to buy or own just one of anything.
Love & Relationships
Geminis may at first be attracted to the person who listens to them but having someone hang on their every word is not their idea of a relationship. Love talk, or any kind of talk, for a Gemini is most definitely a dialogue not a monologue. This sign needs a meeting of minds, someone to play verbal volleyball with, someone who challenges them, makes them think and laugh, someone who will work and play with them but who always hold their attention and who understands their complexities.
It’s not great news about this sign ruling the lungs as we all know that this is the vulnerable part of the body for the virus. And as I’ve said before the sign of the Twins inevitably flags up the possibility of “second” waves and some of the lockdown relaxation in the world will almost certainly turn out to be premature. Having said that, the sign of Gemini is also linked to mental health and illustrates the need to circulate, so for countless thousands of people the risk of being out and about is one that will be worth taking. And with Gemini ruling youth and early learning this applies especially to children as we see primary schools starting to reopen.
Mercury – Venus Conjunction
Towards the end of this week Mercury and Venus will meet up, and in the process they both square up to Neptune –
Thursday 21 May
- Venus 20 Gemini square Neptune 20 Pisces 00.02
Friday 22 May
- Mercury conjunct Venus 20 Gemini 09.42
- Mercury 20 Gemini square Neptune 20 Pisces
The Mercury – Venus union is not as common as you might think. These two fast moving personal planets never stray very far from each other but the next exact conjunction won’t be until February of next year. As with any conjunction it’s helpful to look at which planet is playing the stronger role, and on this occasion it’s Mercury as he’s in his sign of dignity. Venus isn’t recognized as being in any kind of official trouble in Gemini but, as I was saying last week, the love planet in the sign of the mind isn’t especially easy. When it comes to love or strong feelings (water) of any kind we tend not to resort to reason or rationale (air). Water and Air are two totally different habitats. And of course Venus is newly retrograde which basically litters our emotional, personal and financial concerns with question marks and uncertainty. At a universal level Japan has now followed Germany into recession, China and the US are expected to follow before long.
Such themes are underlined by the squares (conflict) to Neptune, a combination that is textbook for lack of clarity at best, deception at worst. Matters are not helped by the fact that Neptune is super slow at the moment and is basically treading water at 20/21 degrees Pisces for the next three months, so the other planets will be swimming around him. Venus has already squared up to Neptune once on 4 May but because she’s now retrograde she’s swimming back again, so this is the second contact. The third and final square will be 27 July, after Venus has turned direct again (25 June) and back to full speed.
So pay special attention to the events unfolding in your life now or information coming your way, especially if you get the feeling that two and two are not adding up to make four. Listen to your instincts. If something is not making sense, or if you feel that you’re missing the point, or if you have longings and yearnings that are making you sad then keep an open mind and guard against rushing into kind of hasty or final decisions. Venus has a long way to go on this journey, the picture may change again or you could still be looking at a long waiting game because of the logistics involved.
Venus at odds with Neptune is emotional, nostalgic, touchy or just tired and can also reflect how or where we are most likely to tip into self pity or victim role. Don’t be surprised if you feel misunderstood or if your words or actions somehow get misinterpreted. Check your own understanding in return.
Wherever feelings are running high the best policy is to take a big step back as this combination is classic for things escalating. Be tolerant and remember that Gemini always symbolizes that there are two ways of looking at everything. Agreeing to disagree is a lot more important than usual at the moment. Be extra realistic around money matters too. Whatever goes adrift financially this week could catch up with you at the end of next month.
Having said all of that the Mercury – Venus get together is in itself a positive event – lively, interesting, stimulating, sociable and textbook for love talk, learning and creative thinking of all kinds. It’s an aspect commonly found in the natal horoscopes of those who come to fame through their distinctive talking or singing voice, or poetic/linguistic skills – including Joan Rivers, David Essex, Celine Dion, Johnny Depp , Meghan Trainor, Paul Newman, Ricki Lake, George Michael, T. S. Eliot, Gene Wilder and Robert De Niro.
Love Stuff & Choices
Primarily Venus is Aphrodite, goddess of love. While Venus retrogrades through Gemini romance and relationship concerns of all kinds will remain high on the sensitivity list, but they become even more important when Venus is involved in exact aspects to the other planets. This week then is a milestone for many as Venus makes that second square to Neptune and also meets up with Mercury.
Venus’ next major aspects will be in two weeks time (3 June) so between now and then is ideal for making your relationship or romantic needs a top priority. Second chances, revitalizing your sex life, meeting someone new or an ex, meeting up with someone you’ve only known so far online, looking seriously at who and what you want if you’re in any kind of love triangle – these are all the kind of themes we can expect to come to the surface this week. For many there will an experimental quality but be patient. Real answers are more likely to take shape in two weeks time and again when Venus starts stationing to turn direct, ie from mid June.
The sign of Gemini is brilliant for options and, as I’ve said just recently, perception of choice can be a real life jacket. When we feel powerless and trapped it requires a superhuman effort to stay positive, and it’s worth bearing in mind that depression is often linked to “oppression”, any regime that removes freedom. As well as sorting out your love life Gemini is a natural multi-tasker too, so being busy in that list ticking way is also a fast track to activity, achievement and the things that make us feel good about ourselves.
As an example of awareness of choice, the day I brought home Lola my new rescue dog, you may remember the intro to my other dog didn’t go well. For the first 24 hours I was seriously upset and anxious, but I then started to look at options. I told myself ok, the main thing is I’ve rescued her, if it doesn’t work out then she can be re-homed, it will be a real shame but it will still be a thousand times better than the place she came from. As soon as I had this in my mind I felt better, back in control, and then of course the dogs immediately calmed down too. And btw they’re now the best of friends, Lola is thriving and a real poppet!
The Sun and Saturn
So we have the Sun at the end of Taurus for the first couple of days of this week and then moving into Gemini, with first aspect being to Saturn at the end of the week –
Wednesday 20 May
- Sun ingress Gemini 14.50
Friday 22 May
- Sun 2 Gemini trine Saturn 2 Aquarius 13.03
- New Moon 9 Virgo 18.40
So the main astrological activity all comes in the second half of the week as the Sun’s first aspect on this new journey coincides with the Mercury activity and also with the New Moon in Virgo, Mercury’s other sign. Saturn is very slow at the moment as he has only just turned retrograde (last Monday) but this is an obvious symbol for the mood of cautious socializing, getting back to work/school/friends but under the guidelines of social distancing, Saturn ruling boundaries and Aquarius being the sign of groups. Reconnecting with others is also reflected in Mars aligning with Uranus, planet of the collective and co-ruler of Aquarius, exact early next Monday morning and therefore applicable to this coming weekend –
Monday 25 May
- Mars 8 Pisces sextile Uranus 8 Taurus 07.49
The other theme that so often shows with Uranus is the surprise or shock factor. In terms of the unexpected this is in many ways no bad thing as, even when coping well with lockdown stuff, boredom and Groundhog Day syndrome is undeniably tedious! Next Monday is actually the date that bars here will be allowed to open their outdoor areas and the buzz of excitement is already palpable. Even though we have no tourists yet the chance for the community to mix again is the tonic that we all need.
Wishing you an upbeat week,
With love from Greece
Joanna