HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEMINI!
Gemini by B. A. Vierling
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Gemini is a good place to start. This mercurial sign is depicted in all its glory and complexity right here without words.
Do you Gemini readers see yourself in any of the symbolism shown here? Study it carefully, and if you do see something you can relate to, share your comments.
With planet Jupiter about to move into Leo by mid-July, opportunities will abound for all of you with Gemini strongly configured in your natal maps to expand and grow in creative and versatile ways. Share with the other readership where you’d like to soar!
Now I’m actually going to quote B.A. Vierling regarding the ‘psychopomp’ aspect of this illustration:
“The Psychopomp is an integral facet of Gemini, and the theme manifests in numerous ways throughout the illustration. Hermes is largely regarded as the embodiment of the psychopomp archetype par excellence, and we find his staff, the caduceus, within the ornate framework on the left, coiled about by the two warring serpents, whose conflict has here been mitigated. To add further complexity to this symbol, the top of the staff features a chalice, evoking the vessel that captures the venom of gnosis, a theme found in such diverse sources as the gospel of St John, and the prose Edda.
At the top of the illustration, within the scene dominated by Romulus, Remus, and the She-wolf, we see a miniature scene in which a small boat navigates the aquatic channel in the distance. The ship evokes Charon’s otherworldy crossing, delivering the souls from one world to the next; the psychopomp again in reference, traversing the void in his mercurial craft.
Perhaps the most telling embodiment of the Psychopomp within this composition, is in fact the central subject of the image, the enigmatic Buffoon. Through parody and other absurd antics, the court Fol is historically responsible for mirroring uncomfortable truths that cannot otherwise be breached through direct address. Intellectually incompatible realms are effortlessly navigated as the Fool shuffles from back squares to white, from the fantastic to the mundane. The impossible becomes commonplace with gods and fools changing places on the throne. The Jester’s ever changing faces invert the dogmatic position taken by Sagittarius, the shuffle multiple truths, multiple perspectives, like so many technicolored playing cards.
The Buffoon, Gemini’s mascot and beloved of Hermes, is our guide through the multifold paradigms which we inhabit. Behind the masks is nothing less than the glittering comic face of the infinite.”
Perhaps, dear reader, you now ‘see’ anew what Mr. Vierling’s words have fleshed out for you.
May 22, 2014 7 Comments
Categories: Astrology, Gemini |
Tags: Gemini, Jupiter in Leo for Gemini
7 comments
This is a very powerful image. It also reveals more of the dark side of Gemini, as it plays with the ever changing interplay of the evil-good twin.
I liked all the symbolism around the main image, especially Romulo and Remus, and the wolf. But I think I would have liked to see a little bit of the psychopomp aspect of the sign, as I feel this isn’t a facet of Gemini that is explored enough.
Nevertheless, a strong depiction of my sun sign.
Vanessa—-Thank you for your wonderful and insightful (as always) comment. Yes, the Hermes theme is important. This artist does have an amazing painting of a Valkyrie that is actually on the wall of my office. 🙂 I’m actually going to check his web page where he describes some of the imagery to see if he did, in fact, imbed the psychopomp aspect. If he did, I’ll send another response. A lot of details in this illustration!
Vanessa–
I did look at his write-up and don’t see much on the psychopomp aspect. Have you written anything about this yourself? With Mercury getting ready to go retrograde, it would seem to be a worthwhile topic to explore. I see it will reverse in Cancer and move back into the latter degrees of Gemini. Time! Never enough time for me to write about all the aspects that are intriguing!
Hi Vanessa,
In response to your great comments I’m actually going to quote him on the article itself now. You are the only one who has made comments it seems, so he has written a good explanation of the psychopomp aspect in his illustration. Please take a look, again, at the article. 🙂
Hi Genevieve, I checked out his website (very impressive work), but I didn’t find the image that you posted.
I definitely should write something about Gemini – to honor all my Gemini planets, but I feel amazingly uninspired to write lately. Words feel still in my mind and only images seem to play peek-a-boo with me. My creative season is having a slow start.
But the psychopomp aspect to me has to do with the other side of Hermes, more than Mercury. Where Hermes is the only god who can go to the underworld and back. I think this fluidity of Gemini is both amazing and scary, even to a seasoned Gemini. I generally feel tired of most descriptions of Gemini talking about how it’s two-faced, fickle, likes to gossip and communicate. I think it makes Gemini seems just to flighty, while other signs hold more substantial roles. Of course I’m talking about the generalizations that abound in some books/websites. This image is powerful because it showcases others aspects of Gemini, that go beyond the superficial.
Thanks for sharing it!
Here’s to Gemini – the sign that can serve as a guide to all us, showing us the way to our deeper selves, through its inquisitive and perceptive nature.
Thanks for posting his comments! Now I see!!! 🙂 I really liked how he honored the trickster/wise fool aspect of Gemini. Great work.
Vanessa—
That goes for me as well. He often puts so much into one of his paintings or illustrations that you really have to study carefully all the nuances and subtleties.
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