DID YOU KNOW: THE TWO-FACED ONE
Image generated by : Gencraft
I was born on the 20 th of June, and to my wishes, my son was born on the 10 th of the same month, which makes us two Geminis or as called by many: two-faced ones, such a terrible and hideous qualification, that I personally just … adore.
Mercury is my planet, air is my element, and freedom is my creed. I -the two in one- am generally pointed out to be just a little extreme and too much to handle, hated by some but loved by many. My versatile nature and fearless mind are my main allies while my temper and doubled personality may “sometimes” be my most loathed traits since not all souls can negotiate with a devilish mind.
But despite all the allegations made in my honor, I must confess to you, my dear friends, that I would rather be a crazy Gemini than a sweet lamb, since this dear life of ours may summon its worst ghosts to hunt your existence, and what is better than a pinch of craziness to face them?
Yet, despite this untamed attitude and unstable way of behaving, don’t we usually acknowledge that “there's a method to a man’s madness”, and that our genetics hold the key to a great story. And to that, trust me, the Greek tale speaks volumes.
In Greek mythology, the air sign and constellation of Gemini are intimately linked to the story of Castor and Pollux, the two half-brothers and sons of Leda the queen of Sparta and the wife of King Tyndareus. It is said that Leda was once seduced by the cautious Zeus, who disguised himself in the form of a swan, the same night she lay with her husband. From the two unions, Leda got pregnant and laid two eggs. From these eggs, four children were born, every two from a different father.
Castor and Clytemnestra emerged from one egg, children of the king Tyndareus they were both mortal, while Pollux and Helen later to be known as the beautiful Helen of Troy emerged from the second egg, both divine for inheriting Zeus’s blood.
The twin brothers Castor and Pollux, or so-called “the Dioscuri”, were known for their loyalty to each other despite their different lineage and nature. The first was famous for his horse-riding skills and combat whereas the second was renowned for his physical strength and bravery. Both strong and skilled, they were revered as protectors of sailors and travelers.
The inseparable brothers held a unique bond, until the fall of Castor in the “battle of the Dioscuri”, a feud where Castor was mortally wounded. Hearthbroken and devastated at the loss of his other half, Pollux pleaded with Zeus to keep them together.
Moved by Pollux's unconditional love for Castor, Zeus granted him his wish to reunite with his brother. Some stories state that Zeus transformed the two brothers into the Gemini constellation allowing them to live forever in the skies. But according to other versions of the story, in order to balance the Cosmos Zeus allowed the twins to alternate spending time together in the heavens as "the Gemini constellation" (others say on Mount Olympus,) and in the underworld in the Elysium fields.
This life duality that the twins shared constitutes the bonding link between the myth and the Gemini sign, as people born under this star are believed to exhibit certain personality traits intimately associated with the brothers Castor and Pollux.
Therefore, Geminis are better known for their adaptability to different environments as different as heaven and hell, their curiosity and interest to learn about diverse subjects and master new skills, and their high communication skills that allow them to even convince the god of gods into accepting their plea, but most importantly their double-faced persona, shredded between Castor and Pollux, the mortal and the demi-god so distinct yet intimately connected.
Physically similar but emotionally and psychologically drifted apart. Gemini is a complex being, multifaceted and alienized by those who find him hard to read but easy to judge.
A joker whose talent is usually confused with a feral madness.
Meryem !