He who knows that enough is enough...

Where does the time go? Six months of the year have whooshed past us. And now we are at the final week of Uttarayana. The last week of the Sun in Gemini.

Gemini means the Twins. Google's Gemini was so named because it was the result of two of their teams 'Google Brain' and 'Deep Mind' coming together. In Tropical Astrology Gemini is depicted by the twins Castor and Pollux. It symbolizes the dual nature of the sign. An ability to see things from multiple perspectives.

In India, Gemini is Mithuna. Here it's not twins of a similar nature that represent the sign. It is rather the coming together of man and woman. It's a sign where a man and woman stand together. The man holds a 'gada'/mace or a 'danda'/staff. Symbolizing logic, force, and action. The woman holds a 'veena'/lute. Representing refinement, creativity, and emotion.

This is a mystical union, ruled by the Master Alchemist, Mercury.

The Story Of Mercury

Mercury is called Budha in India. Not to be confused by Buddha. Both names come from the root word 'Budh' which means 'to wake up', 'to perceive' or 'to know'.

The story of Budha is one born in drama and scandal. His mother Tara, the Goddess of the Stars, married Guru/Jupiter.

Jupiter is a highly righteous person. A spiritual and disciplined teacher. He likes to be involved in matters of high regard. Discussing philosophy, studying different subjects and sticking to great dharma.

And then along came Chandra/The Moon, spinning smoothly into Tara's life. The Moon, as you know, is highly irrational. The word 'lunatic' comes from the moon. Chandra is charged with emotions. A passionate, charismatic person, filled with romance.

He swept Tara off her feet, and she waltzed away , leaving her husband behind, to live with The Moon.

Tarakamya War

Guru was furious. He demanded his wife return. And Chandra refused to let her go. This domestic dispute escalated into a massive cosmic war: The Battle Over Tara/ Tarakamya War. The war raged on and threatened to destroy the universe. Which is when Brahma, The Creator stepped in as an arbitrator. He ordered Tara to return to her husband.

When Tara returned to live with Guru, it was found that she was pregnant. Guru demanded to know whose baby it was. Tara refused to tell him, and the tension between the couple grew.

Until Tara gave birth to a radiant baby boy. Looking at how beautiful he was, both Guru and Chandra immediately claimed him as their own son. This led to a battle of paternity. And all the gods got involved in trying to sort this new problem.

There were a lot of arguments and bickering, but Tara refused to resolve it.She remained silent.

Then from the cradle, the tiny baby spoke. He said "Mother, tell me the truth. Whose son am I? Stop this dilly-dallying now."

Tara was overcome. She embraced her baby, calling him 'Budha', the intelligent one. And she revealed that he was the son of Chandra, The Moon.

But she continued to live with Guru, as it was decreed by Brahma. And Guru became Mercury's step father.

The Child Is The Father Of The Man

If you look at pictures from the Dark Side of the Moon, the Moon and Mercury look remarkably similar.

And if the Moon is considered 'The Mind', his son takes it one level deeper as 'The Intellect'.

It's wonderful to see how intelligence, knowledge and perception are associated with a child.

A quick thinking, precocious, sharp wit, that likes to get to the point.

Mercury is also intelligent because of his radical positioning in society. As an illegitimate child, he has the stance of an outlier. That gives him a strategic perspective on society.

Knotty

Mercury, is Hermes of Greek Mythology. The Hermetic Principles are well worth studying, to understand the nature of things.

Hermes is referred to as Trismegistus, Thrice Born. I believe that it strongly relates to Vedic Astrology. If you've read this post on the Natal chart, you may remember the Gandantha points at the end of every fourth house. These are knots that represent a problem, a suffocation , and an ending. And surprisingly it is teeny-tiny Mercury, that rules these Gandantha points.

It's not ruled by any of the large planets. Saturn dispenses karma. Guru teaches wisdom.

But Mercury deals with practicality. The day to day life. Where problems arise. Have to be dealt with. Sorted.

Where things need change. Somethings have to be left behind.

And the cycles continue.

Three points of death. Three points of re-birth.

Alchemy is the process of turning lead to gold. It is a spiritual practice wrapped in chemical language. It is a way of distilling the soul until it is purified into its true essence.

And it comes from dealing with the day to day. From solving your problems. The small things that matter.

"Think of the small as large and the few as many.

Confront the difficult while it is still easy;

accomplish the great task by a series of small acts."

Naughty

Yet people overlook this deep aspect of Mercury.

And I think....it's because Mercury wants them to.

He is the trickster. The planet of mischief.

People even scoff at him, calling him superficial. They dismiss his intellect as simply being 'street smart'.

Mercury likes that kind of deception.

He's the class clown.

Being a swift mover he is sharp witted.

Crosses boundaries.

Being precocious, he has scant respect for authority.

He's the court jester.

The only one who can make fun of the king.

Appointed by the king. Who understands the disease of taking oneself too seriously.

Every time you leave behind the small matters, and rush into grand schemes, Mercury wants to have a good laugh at you.

Con Game

And he does that because he doesn't want you to walk into the big scams. The great con-games.

In every scam , the con-man identifies a specific target. This person is called a 'mark' or a 'bakra/billy goat'. And there are tried and tested ways that a 'mark' is identified.

Isolation. A person who doesn't speak to other people much, cannot compare notes.

Respect for Authority. A person who refuses to do their own thinking, but instead tends to believe things because they are spoken by people in authority, can be fooled. Either by using authority figures, or by pretending to be an authority figure.

Sympathy. A person whose heart strings can be pulled on easily, is vulnerable, to being exploited.

Desire. Promise people great things, and they will willingly walk into your trap.

Antidote

The antidote to being a bakra is also in the lessons of Mithuna and Mercury.

Connect to people around you.

Use your intellect. Scoff at authority.

Understand there is a duality and deception in many things in life.

Use both sides of yourself. Remain soft. While not sacrificing your logic.

And use your desire well.

Fanning Desire

We use the term 'burning with desire'. But with fire, it can only last as long as the substrate it's burning lasts.

The Kannada song "Baanigondu elle ellide.....Nin aasegelli koneyide", naila it. "What is the limit to the sky? Where is the end to your desire?"

Desire is an Air Sign. It is difficult to decide the limits.

But then it's good to understand what the desire is fanning. It is the flame of your belief.

What beliefs are we holding?

Are they leading us into a trap?

Or are they setting us free....

The Week Ahead

It's a very interesting week ahead.

The outer planets are synchronizing. I would love to hear how it is playing out in your life.

We have an exalted Moon on Saturday, 11th.

On Sunday Venus finally breaks out of the Kala Sarpa/ Snake's Belly on the 12th.

13th, a retrograde Mercury and the Sun meet, in Mithuna. It's as if Mercury is going over old ground, and getting a chance to consult with the Sun. Get some advice on things that happened in the past. And figure out a way forward.

14th, is the new moon in Punarvasu. The Sun, Moon meeting, with Mercury very close by. Punarvasu is the nakshatra of second chances. It's highly benevolent in nature. And will guide us with care.

15th, Guru and the Moon meet. In the Moon's house. Where Guru is exalted. That's wonderful isn't it? Guru finds his exalted position in the house of the planet that stole his wife from him. It's because Guru found forgiveness in his heart. And that made him stand in the highest position in the Moon's house.

The Moon and Guru coming together is called the Gajakesari yoga. Elephant/lion, a yoga that promises good times, for the transit period.

The week ends with Sankranti, with the Sun moving into Cancer. And starting the period of his southward movement- Dakshinayana.

A lovely week. One that I hope you enjoy. Take care, until we meet next week. In a whole new chapter.