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Gemini Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse: A Gift for Fiction

By April Elliott Kent

Back in my Jurassic, pre-Internet teenage days, I answered an ad in the back of a book and sent away for a copy of my birth chart. When it arrived in the mail, scribbled in an actual astrologer’s cryptic hand, I was disappointed to find that the Moon was in Gemini at my birth. I’d never read anything good about Gemini. Any planets in Gemini, I was led to understand, doomed your character to deceit and unreliability.

I don’t remember reading anything about Gemini’s delirious love of words. If I had, I’d have recognized myself immediately and claimed my moon sign with pride. I learned to read and write before starting elementary school and became a voracious consumer of the written word. Almost simultaneously, I found that I loved to write and had what my teachers always called “a way with words.” All of this I grew to appreciate through the symbolism of the Moon at my birth, traipsing through a Mercurial sign.

But if I have to be honest (and my Sagittarius ascendant insists that, yes – yes, I do)… I’m not always honest. I’ve been known to bend the truth in the service of telling a better story, for instance – or, usually, because it makes for a better joke. As Walt Price, the slick film director character in David Mamet’s State and Main put it, “[The truth] is just so narrow.” This is the same character who, when caught in a glib prevarication, declared, “It’s not a lie – it’s a gift for fiction.”

Like all signs, Gemini is multi-faceted. One face of Gemini is the relentless reporter who pursues and reports facts, sometimes in the face of dire personal consequences. There is also the Gemini who delights in picking holes in your argument, even if he has no particular dog in the fight. He simply enjoys the intellectual exercise, and it tickles him to see you discomfited.

And there is the Walt Price facet of Gemini as well. This trickster Gemini is not necessarily a liar, but he finds the truth just a little too narrow. Let others – those allied with his opposite sign, Sagittarius, for instance – tell the unvarnished truth: this Gemini is interested in making the message itself more appealing and interesting. If given the choice between being the most virtuous person in the room or the most clever, this Gemini will cheerfully throw sincerity to the wind.

In a person – in most people – trickster Gemini/Mercury is hardly a terminal disease. They are simply in love with, and delighted by, language, as a child clapping excitedly at soap bubbles. If you understand this and accept that their words are not necessarily to be taken literally, and that you must learn to pay attention to their actions instead, I assure you that you are as likely to find human kindness and affection as in any sign.

But in a broader, societal sense, this “gift for fiction” can have dangerous consequences. Gemini is the sign of the messenger, and if the King can’t trust his messenger to give him the facts, his decision-making will suffer. If you live in a bubble where you are allowed only comforting, validating interpretations of your own truth, you are likely to be stunned when the world doesn’t behave the way you’ve been told it will.

You will believe misinformation from those in authority that leads to costly and tragic mistakes. You will assure yourself that your strategies are working and miss opportunities to correct course when it becomes obvious to everyone else that they are failing. You will assume that all decent people think like you do and be baffled and enraged when confronted at Thanksgiving dinner with irrefutable evidence to the contrary. All because the people who are supposed to tell you what’s really going on in the world have “a gift for fiction.”

For two and a half years, eclipses in Gemini have provided numerous opportunities to see what happens when we believe too many fictions, when we are fed only the juiciest and most entertaining stories and very little in the way of facts and critical analysis. When more Americans tuned in to the adventures of “Honey Boo Boo” than the televised debates between the two men who were most likely to become our next president, trickster Gemini is ruling the day.

At least we’ve seen the occasional triumph of reason and objectivity as well. When New York Times statistician Nate Silver correctly predicted President Obama’s reelection and continued Democratic control of the Senate, he was savaged by conservative media outlets and pundits. In the end, Silver’s analysis (based on the same model that correctly predicted the Republican sweep of the House of Representatives in 2010) was vindicated. Meanwhile, conservative pundit Karl Rove was left sputtering with disbelief in front of a nation of Fox News viewers, vigorously denying reality as Ohio was called for Mr. Obama.

I’m no fan of Karl Rove. But to be fair, we all have blind spots, and since late 2010 a series of eclipses in Gemini and Sagittarius have lobbed a series of truth grenades into our carefully curated, agreeable little information bubbles. If you haven’t had some of your beliefs shattered in the past few years, then you’ve built one tough bubble for yourself.

This Full Moon is our last Gemini eclipse until November 2020. Here is one last opportunity to reach for objectivity over self-serving beliefs – or to let the trickster fool you one last time, and live in happy but doomed ignorance. After all, it shows poor character to present an intentionally skewed version of reality, but an even poorer one to believe in it yourself.

© 2012 April Elliott Kent

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

Filed under: Uncategorized

About April Elliott Kent

April Elliott Kent is the author of Astrological Transits (Fair Winds Press), The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology (Alpha/Penguin), and Star Guide to Weddings (Llewellyn). She has contributed articles to The Mountain Astrologer and Dell Horoscope magazines and Llewellyn's Moon Sign, Sun Sign, and Sabbat annuals. April is member of ISAR, NCGR, and OPA and is a past President of the San Diego Astrological Society. Her weekly Big Sky Astrology Podcast can be found on iTunes and wherever you listen to podcasts. Read more of April's articles at BigSkyAstrology.com

Comments

  1. neo says

    Apr 20, 2013 at 6:22 am

    I knew about the upcoming series eclipse in my chart through 2010-2013. im shocked by the way things changed around me in my understanding of relationships communication sector. I feel like I have rebooted my self. With fresh ideas and excited to have a new beginning.

    Reply
  2. Chris says

    Nov 29, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    So sorry I forgot to tell you how much I enjoy and look forward to your articles April!!!

    Reply
  3. Chris says

    Nov 29, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    The Sun 13° and Mercury 16° are conjunct in my natal 5th house, both sextile Pluto in the 8th. Over the last couple months, a coworker has shared many comments another coworker has made about me that reveal this person is not the friend I believed them to be…shattered illusions. At least 3 years ago, it’s as if my creativity up and left…and the one trait I’ve always had in abundance has been creativity or at least the love of creative pursuits.
    Any ideas what this is this about?

    Reply
  4. Ariel says

    Nov 28, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    Hi April!

    Great article! I have a Gemini moon, natally square both Venus and Saturn.
    Here’s my question: when you’ve had SO MANY illusions shattered over the last few years that you’ve lost heart, where do you find it? What if you now know a lot of things that won’t work but it hasn’t led you to what will? How do you find a path that is realistic but still embodies your deepest values? Just wondering. Thanks!
    Ariel

    Reply
  5. Samantha says

    Nov 28, 2012 at 8:24 am

    April,
    This is perfect! I have a Gemini Moon, Sag Asc and Aries Sun. So you KNOW I have some fun stuff going around in my head. My Aries usually smacks me around a bit so I don’t get to live in fiction too much! And how I have longed to write a book. Thanks for your fun insight it was just right.
    Happy Full Moon,
    Samantha

    Reply
  6. Susan says

    Nov 27, 2012 at 4:05 am

    Thank you, April, for your insightful article. As a 7th house 1 degree Gemini sun with a Taurus stellium (moon conjunct venus, mercury and jupiter) in Ms. Virgo’s house of “service”; Scorpio asc. and mars (12th house too boot!); north node Aquarius (3rd house)““while I can spin or write a great yarn, I am extremely loyal and morally truthful, yet do tend to “see” immediately, but act not, “hoping” for nere happening “change”, those debasing, demoralizing flaws in my abusive partners (24 year marriage to everything Taurus in Scorp’s house–verbal turned physical); to current (married to not!) Leo masquerading as Cancer sun (in Leo’s 5th house) , moon, mercury, mars, uranus all Leo; Aquarius asc. reformed drug, but ever current sex addict who does nothing but charm-long-worn-thin lie and deceive everyone he can to acquire and do whatever/whomever HE wants. Has me ensnared in a joint business financial mess, the extrication of which is excruciatingly intricate and costly…on many levels. I now realize via your article, that even while embodying all that “fixidity”, I still “air” (smile) on that lost little girl “hopefulness”…..and as Anderson Cooper would opine: “Hope, is NOT a plan.” Indeed! Any advice short of “JUMP!?”, April….. :>) Thank you, Susan

    Reply
  7. Jeannine says

    Nov 26, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    With Mercury conjunct MC and Venus, Uranus, Mars and North Node in Gemini (8th-9th houses) you’d think I’d be the world’s biggest liar. Funny thing is, I took the opposite course–an obsession with truth in advertising and the news media. Your article was invaluable in helping me understand why my Gemini friends are so loosey-goosey with the truth, and how I can love them anyway without relaxing my hold on the truth banner. I call it insight bordering on the enlightened. Great work, April!

    Reply
    • April Elliott Kent says

      Nov 26, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      That means the world to me, Jeannine – thank you! (I’ve often noticed that Mercury/Gemini connected to the 8th house tends more toward research and digging ever deeper for the truth. In this case, I suspect Gemini uses the “gift for fiction” to anticipate how others may play fast and loose with the facts… good skill set for a media truth-bearer!)

      Reply
  8. Dani says

    Nov 26, 2012 at 9:19 am

    The Gemini eclipse is exactly conjunct my Venus in 9th opposing my Saturn in Sag in the 3rd house, 4 degrees from my moon’s north node in Sag and south in Gemini. Any tips about how this will evolve? I am looking for work and always ready to create a story.

    Reply
    • April Elliott Kent says

      Nov 26, 2012 at 11:48 am

      Dani, work/money/relationship/self-worth issues are the general purview of eclipses aspecting Venus/Saturn. But for a more specific picture it’s unstructive to look back at other years when eclipses fell near a conjunction, square, or opposition to the same point – in this case, most recently in August 2007, May 2002, and May 1994. Follow the thread down that line of years and I suspect you’ll get a pretty good idea of how this eclipse may play out for you.

      Reply
  9. jasta says

    Nov 26, 2012 at 12:34 am

    simply excellent !

    Reply
    • April Elliott Kent says

      Nov 26, 2012 at 11:48 am

      Warm thanks to you, Jasta.

      Reply
  10. Ralu says

    Nov 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    I’m a Gemini with Sagittarius Asc. and I’m very much concerned with getting the facts right. I don’t like to embellish or dramatize the truth which is something I find quite boring about myself but that’s who I am.

    Reply
    • April Elliott Kent says

      Nov 26, 2012 at 11:41 am

      Boring? No doubt Walt Price would think so. ;D But in real life, I’d much rather know someone like you than someone like him!

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Crescent Phase

in the
Sign of Aries


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon sextile Sun, 11:50pm  Jan 26 2023
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 3:13pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon sextile Sun, 7:17pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 9:01pm  Jan 27 2023

Venus is currently
The Evening Star

in the sign of Pisces


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.