Gemini New Moon: Taking Flight

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”  Psalm 55:6.

There is a scene in the 1997 movie The Wings of the Dove in which a gentleman at a party confronts his glamorous friend Kate (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and playfully accuses her of having far too much going on behind those pretty eyes of hers. But his observation has deep ramifications, as that clever, overactive mind of Kate’s is about to set into motion a series of dramatic events.

The movie, set in glorious 1910 Venice and based on a Henry James novel, paints a portrait of what can happen when someone cleverly plots a brilliant plan but doesn’t factor in the unpredictability of the heart. Bonham Carter was convincing in the role because she has a tight Sun-Mercury conjunction in Gemini. Born under the sign of the Twins, the actor was able to masterfully illustrate how Gemini can, in some cases, be two-faced.

The Gemini New Moon (May 26, 8:02 p.m. PDT) brings a wealth of conversations, ideas and busy social connections. It also asks us to stay connected to our bodies and hearts so the mind doesn’t dominate. The Sun and Moon are conjunct Mercury in Gemini, giving this lunation extraordinary mental power. All three planets trine revolutionary Pluto in Aquarius and sextile fresh-start Saturn and Neptune in Aries. These supportive connections can bring a vibrant spark to our thinking and speaking abilities. Truthful words can fall on receptive ears, but skillfully articulated lies can also be persuasive. Saturn is pairing up with Neptune in Aries for the first time in our lives, a transit some are calling a “purification by fire.” This momentous transit is almost exact through August, after which it pulls back, then returns in February. The period between now and then calls for a vibrant new dream that can, with determination and effort, go the long haul. But we probably won’t know exactly how that will play out until next year.

There are sure to be lots of clever schemes and bright ideas arising from May 25 through June 8, as expansive Jupiter completes its year-long tour of Gemini and the Sun and Mercury jump into the fray. It’s a great time to embark on a new course of study, writing project or to join a new group. Look to the Gemini house of your chart to see where you’re apt to be busily making plans (first house: body, image, personality; second house: money, belongings, values; third house: tech stuff, communications, siblings; fourth house: home, family, roots; fifth house: children, recreation, romance; sixth house: health, work, pets; seventh house: partners, opponents, justice; eighth house: joint finances, depth psychology, death; ninth house: travel, education, higher mind; tenth house: career, standing, recognition; eleventh house: community, friends, social ideals; twelfth house: dreams, spirituality, rest.)

If you’re an air sign (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius), this is your moment! Geminis in particular will be full of ideas and feel like launching a variety of things but may also lose interest quickly and be on to the next attraction. As clever Kate in The Wings of the Dove so masterfully showed us, there’s also a danger of getting so detached from your heart and/or higher self that you’re able to lie convincingly (even to yourself) or spin elaborate fantasies which are detached from reality. I’m reminded of a certain Gemini potentate who’s planning a $45 million birthday parade while citizens are suffering under his reign.

At this New Moon, take a deep breath and make sure your mind and heart are working in tandem. Are you thinking straight? Are you getting your news from reliable sources? Do you have too much on your plate? Are you generously sharing your thoughts while coming from your heart? Have you banded with others to implement solutions? These are scary times we live in, and it’s easy to let our minds run away with us. But as the Psalmist notes, we can release mental torments and let the wings of the dove carry us to a safe, restful place of shelter. Here’s to an invigorating yet peaceful Gemini New Moon for us all!