The Sun enters Gemini II on 31 May 2025 at 12:42 am EDT, and travels through it over the course of ten days, ten hours and 41 minutes. Austin Coppock named this decan The Hermaphrodite, while T. Susan Chang (noting its associations with the 9 of Swords in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, named it Angels and Demons. The card show a person waking up from a nightmare in a bed with a quilted coverlet depicting the zodiac signs, and a bed frame carved with scenes of a fatal duel; nine swords hang on the walls over the awakened sleeper’s head. The ancient Greeks, at least in the Hellenistic era’s calendar, considered this the season of Cybele — the Phrygian mother-goddess imported to Republican Rome during a time of great political torment during the Second Punic War.
The Romans called her Magna Mater, the Great Mother, and had a rather love-hate relationship with her, much like the way that modern Evangelical Christians in America relate to the idea of women leadership in church, or Protestants in general regard Mary the Mother of God: she might be needed, or a necessary part of the story, but there’s something a little icky and weird about her inclusion. The Romans prohibited male citizens from joining her priesthood (especially since it involved castration), and strictly limited the ability of the wives and daughters of Roman citizens from joining her worship. All the same, they couldn’t do without her. The Galli, or eunuch priests, became as essential to the function of popular Roman religion as Mary statues in the gardens of suburban Catholics today. We believe, from archaeological and historical records, that the Galli weren’t all eunuchs, either — at least some were ‘intact’ men who chose to dress and live as women.
Which is to say that the current debate about trans identity and gender fluidity isn’t really new. Republics often encounter the problem that the cultural norms that allowed them to rise politically, economically militarily and diplomatically to a (relative) place of liberty and civil/legal equality, and (relative) place of wealth and power for its citizenry — do not have the ‘correct’ civic order to contain all of the possibilities for self-actualization that now exist for its citizens. The Romans imported Magna Mater in order to improve domestic tranquility and give space to the religious and spiritual aspirations of at least some of its populace. The Roman Senate wasn’t entirely happy about adding a goddess or a new priesthood to their social norms, or making allowances for men to dress like women or allowing women to have a man’s power — but they were also losing a war. Something had to be done… but why this??
Similarly, John Adams, the second American president, wrote:
The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.”
But he and his wife Abigail were horrified to discover that one of their sons, Charles, was much more interested in studying same-sex relationships in the context of boozy underwear parties thrown by Major General Frederich Von Steuben, the Inspector-General of the US Continental Army and a personal confidant of George Washington, and forty years older than Charles. Mathematics and philosophy wasn’t really on the agenda. Adams and his wife separated Charles from Frederick, and set him up as a miller in New York City — a business then rather like running a casino today, where it was nearly impossible not to make money. Charles drank himself into an early grave by age 30. Von Steuben had died six years earlier at age 64, leaving his property to his two military aides-de-camp, men with whom he had a “longstanding, intensely emotional relationship.” John and Abigail, in forcing a “better life” on Charles than the one he chose, wound up condemning him to a short and unhappy one.
The inclusion of Cybele, Magna Mater, into the Roman world’s divine pantheon was clearly part of an ongoing political endeavor to bring contentment and peace to domestic affairs in the middle of an ongoing military stalemate. The Adams’ intervention in the life of their son was an attempt to prevent American liberty from turning its children into libertines. But the reality is that liberty and freedom includes the freedom to choose to live outside of rigid social norms and hierarchies — and Gemini II in part addresses the reality that civil freedom must also come with civil tolerance of diversity.
The dodeks or twelfth-parts of Gemini II are Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn — representing four new possibilities for the citizenry of a republic. Libra represents the commercial drive to be a shopkeeper or business owner, willing to make money through marketplace endeavors and the buying and selling of luxury goods; as well as the expansion of material prosperity to a wider class of citizens. Scorpio represents the discovery of new sexual possibilities, as Charles and Frederich may have discovered, as the aristocratic norms dissolve. Sagittarius represents the scholars who have the chance to study mathematics and philosophy, geography and natural history — subjects that may not have immediate commercial or military applications, but nonetheless enrich the community. Finally, Capricorn represents the collector of books, porcelain and paintings, statuary and textiles, who then make their collection available to fellow citizenries through the creation of colleges, libraries, museums and lyceums.
Dates to Watch
On 6 June 2025 at 12:42 am EDT, Venus shifts from Aries to Taurus, moving from a place of detriment to rulership. For US east coast people, the change is a shift from the third house to the fourth — suggesting a reprioritization of household and family over neighbors and close friends.
On 8 June 2025 at 4:04 pm EDT, Mercury conjuncts Jupiter in Gemini in the ninth house. Both are within the Sun’s orb and described as under the beams, so the issues of the conjunction will make the Sun’s significations larger and more essential. Be alert to shifts in travel plans and expectations around college admissions processes. At 6:58 pm EDT Mercury moves from Gemini where they rule to Cancer where they’re peregrine —relationship matters shift from a state of easiness to responsibility as communication highlights a need for greater personal involvement.
on 9 June 2025 at 5:02 pm EDT, Jupiter shifts from Gemini to Cancer, moving from detriment to exaltation and from the eighth house of obligations to the ninth of travel and education — expect to make big plans to make journeys, or to start an important research process with high-level or big-picture framing. As he does so, the Jupiter-Saturn square begins, which will last for most of the middle two weeks of June, revealing the first major conflict of the cycle that began in December 2020. Some level of new hardship on a daily basis starts to eat time, as you find you must divide and prioritize work into smaller elements.
House Delineations
The First House of self and self-presentation is Aquarius, ruled by sextile Saturn in detriment in Aries conjunct(-ish) Neptune, and hosting Pluto retrograde. Recall Dolly Parton’s Law: it’s really expensive to look this cheap. Beware of false economies, and take notice of local artisans, handymen, and tradespeople who overcharge you for poor service. You may have to become more knowledgeable to negotiate better results for yourself.
The Second House of money and possessions is Pisces, hosting the North Node and ruled by squaring and detrimented Jupiter in Gemini in the fifth house. The zealousness with which you try to find new sources of revenue is counterbalanced by the intellectual and emotional connections you have to all your hobbies — or to the ways that you can and must support the intellectual growth of your children. Hands-on activities are an essential part of anyone’s personal development, but be sure to let the child lead (whether the child you were, is still in your soul; or the child you are bringing up is in need of new stimulations).
The Third House of neighbors and neighborhood is Aries, ruled by trining Mars in Leo and hosting Saturn, Neptune, and Venus. Hard restrictions and new visions are imposed by untested leadership through a mix of misdirection and budget cuts, but creative vision and aesthetic values can still hold the day.
The Fourth House of household and family is Taurus, ruled by inconjunct Venus and hosting Uranus. Triplicity rulers Moon and Mars are both square; the Lunar Perigee is also present. There’s a desire to uphold the traditional norms of family and household, but the regularities of your annual calendar may be upended by matters that require both patience and time to resolve; in the context of the household, difficulties in the primary relationship may be highlighted — focus attention on the philosophical or political values you hold together, to hold together.
The Fifth House of children and pastimes is Gemini, ruled by present Mercury under the beams as the Sun and Jupiter are also present, along with the Imum Coeli. It is good to focus on the hybrid nature of both crafts and children. Teenagers, for example, are half-adults, half-child; half-precocious, half-slow; half-wise, half-dumb. Similarly, your pastimes and hobbies are half-feminine, half-masculine; half intellectual and half silly; half playful and half serious. Think about how the halves resolved into a genuine whole — and how you can lead your hobbies or children in some directions, and be led by them in other directions.
The Sixth House of daily life, pets, and employees is Cancer, ruled by the inconjunct Moon. Triplicity ruler Venus is square. Daily routines wax and wane, and the management of your services and underlings is subject to sudden reversals, as matters involving your extended family and wider neighborhood vie for your attention.
The Seventh House of spouse, significant partners, and enemies is Leo, ruled by the sextile but peregrine Sun and hosting Mars and the Moon. One triplicity ruler Jupiter is sextile, while another, Saturn trines. Numerous activities of a fun-loving nature have a tendency to go wrong for your spouse or significant other, which is bad; your foes and rivals are thwarted in a number of different ways, which is good. It’s a reminder that both you and your spouse are somebody’s rivals (or at least ill-thought of) — and you might want to keep your own troubles off social media, even as you cheerfully scroll through the schadenfreude of others.
The Eighth House of debts and responsibilities is Virgo, ruled by squaring Mercury and hosting the South Node. All three triplicity rulers are inconjunct. This normally troublesome house is further complicated by the need to do everything for yourself, and having everything go wrong on a regular basis, especially when it comes to managing and setting up entertainments and enjoying experiences. Learning to enjoy the moment, whatever comes, rather than trying to force things to turn out a particular way, will be good practice for the next fourteen months of the South Node’s presence in Virgo.
The Ninth House of travel, religion, and higher learning is Libra, ruled by opposing and detrimented Venus in Aries in the third house. Travel carries a cost and a difficulty which may be hard to bear — what you want, and how you want to spend time while traveling or studying, are both disjointed and often out of alignment; the needs of home and local affairs may keep calling you back to the old neighborhood.
the Tenth House of profession, career and reputation is Scorpio, ruled by squaring Mars and hosting the Lunar Apogee. There are strong temptations, and good reasons, to speak up at work in ways that break the corporate culture or the unspoken rules of the workplace. However, it’s worth remembering that some rule-breaking is more likely to create trouble for your spouse or significant other, or empower your rivals, than you might like. Remember that speaking up against injustice by revealing secret information is probably right and good — but that inviting a co-worker to secret sex in the supply room is still frowned upon by most workplaces for good reason. Don’t be that guy (even if you are of a different gender).
The Eleventh House of colleagues, allies and associations is Sagittarius ruled by opposing and detrimented Jupiter in Gemini in the fifth house; One triplicity ruler, the Sun, is also opposing, while the other, Saturn, is trining from the third house.
The Twelfth House of obstacles, limitations and difficulties is Capricorn, ruled by squaring Saturn in fall/exile in Aries in the third house. It’s a struggle to get some tasks in your life completed, either due to challenging circumstances in your neighborhood or in your family. There may be a lack of suitable parts or materials; you may be busy dealing with managing eldercare; prep or travel times may be longer than usual even for short trips. Mend, make do, do without — solve problems from where you are.
Horoscopes by Rising Sign
Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.
I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.
Aquarius: Be more business minded, and critical of those who would use your talents for free. It is easy to load someone down with obligations without committing to compensation, and you are an easy mark if you’re not careful. Yet recognize that even simple tasks for others have costs, in materials, in thoughtfulness, and in lost time on your own projects or with your loved ones. Be generous to yourself, and somewhat stingy to others. Learn about “work to rule” in union shops, and consider ways in which your keen willingness to help disadvantages your colleagues. It may be time to pull back for your own sake.
Pisces: Take a keen interest in putting your financial house in order this week, even if it’s not in any particular state of disorder. A little deliberate stinginess or austerity wouldn’t be out of place in your life right now, although you may see limits as more of an obstacle to be overcome than a spur to your creativity. You want what you want, right?? On the other hand, local upheavals may not be solved immediately, and your own household or family expects abundance rather than limits. More in this case actually means “more” rather than less. How can you provide more without delivering more? Maybe in this case, “more” means “more cheaply.” This will allow you to reserve more for yourself: and you need to do that.
Aries: Have you got a vision of your community or extended family that you’re willing to fight for? OK, great. What are you willing to create for that community? Because it’s rarely the fighting that makes a community gel — it’s also the culture of happiness that it creates, the banner of its own identity that it advances. You have a chance this coming week to perform that community’s values, and not simply to argue for them. This may cause some difficulties in your financial picture for your household, but it also puts your generosity, your communication skills, your creativity, and your deep contentment to work on problems you care about. It’s not just about fighting for your point of view this week — it’s about creating a compelling vision of how it’s lived in practice.
Taurus: What’s that Rudyard Kipling bit about “holding your head when all around you are losing theirs?” There’s big shifts afoot in your world, and they’re creating significant challenges for your household. Some of them are about making stuff happen for your kids, or empowering your hobbies or pastimes; but some of them are about limiting the ways that professional obstacles or the needs of your circle of friends intrude onto your own life. You have big visions for what you want, right now, but creating opportunities for yourself is not enough; you also have to act on these options and bring them into being. Some of that will cost you — it’s likely to create difficulties in your primary peer-relations, and also to bring some strife to your household. Don’t expect your plans for fun and games to be all fun and games, either. Sometimes, planning to have fun costs much more than the fun you actually have.
Gemini: Deep contentment and ease this week is found in your hobbies, but it may be that your children occupy your attention first of all. Conduct an inventory of your resources; build out a plan of your projects; write up your punch-list of possible endeavors, and then do it. My mom had a sign on her studio door for years that said art before laundry, and there’s something of that commandment in this week’s chart There will be plenty of household upheaval, and you can expect that more than one friend will drop in unexpectedly with a hardship story or a new vision of how they want you to help out; a family member may be caught up in some harsh emotional difficulties. But put your back into the things that feed your soul, and accept that you can’t solve anyone’s problems if you haven’t got your heart whole (enough).
Cancer: The next ten days may find you working on a day to day basis on your own, without much clarity about where you’re headed or what comes next. You’ll know you’re spending money and facing hardships or painful economic constraints later on, but you won’t know how to stop. Sometimes it’s necessary to break rules in order to have fun; and sometimes you have to have fun even if you know you’re avoiding responsibility. All the same it’s worth remembering that some folks in your orbit are having material changes to their life circumstances that you can’t help them solve right now; and that your professional life is on something of a creative hold right now as you complete important journeys through both interior and exterior landscapes.
Leo: Partnership, and its limitations, may be much on your mind in the next few days. Separations can lead to anxieties; if you’re used to someone else providing stability and they’re not around (or you’re arguing), then it can feel like heartache. But don’t mistake temporary heart-hurt for permanent troubles. Check in with friends during moments of enjoyable entertainments; be generous with your time with others; understand where your financial picture would be without assistance; balance your own checkbook; check your travel plans out carefully. Know to whom and where you want to go home, and you’ll find that you know how to make the week’s plan’s go.
Virgo: It’s likely to be tiring to dig up your past mistakes and put them to rest, but that’s what you may find you need to do this coming week. Some of it is resolving big-picture problems, while others may involve mixing in important details more clearly with that larger vision. Disruptions to this learning process, and a-ha moments of unusual clarity are possible… along with the attendant upset that comes from discovery that you did things wrong the first time (you never do that!). However, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re now doing this in a new environment and with a new set of priorities, and sometimes the creative effort requires a two-step: first for yourself, and then for the eventual users or appreciators of your service or product or project. Yes, there is commercial viability here, but it’s not a simple task of writing a one-page product manual and calling it done: your future users are stupider than you are.
Libra: Travel and new journeys along the interior roads are likely, but you may find that you’re more able to light your inner fire if stay at home. There are strong desires pulling you into the orbit of your own hearth, which seems to be in need of defenses stronger than you’re currently able to muster from afar. Part of the problem is that you seem to be beset with obstacles and your usual friends and allies are caught up in their own difficulties, and emotional challenges that arise from them. The border guards usually ask “business or pleasure?” when you cross from one territory to another, and you may find it helpful to inquire of your own mind, “is this for personal or professional delight?” when you shift the topic your mind investigates, or when your hands engage in a new project.
Scorpio: There may be someone who’s caught your eye in the work place as exactly your type of adventure, and there’s going to be a temptation to say some rather forward and even licentious dialogue. It may even be answered with some returning flirtation. But — it’s important to recognize that what is entertaining for you may be unsavory or unsettling to your work colleagues — and what titillates now, could do enormous damage in a few days or a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, you have expanding responsibilities, and the last thing you need right now is practice at doing damage control on your own life. Advance the cause of your career, keep a civil tongue, and remember that a job is largely a method for keeping a family or a household effective and happy — be creative in attending to that process, and don’t over-complicate the workplace.
Sagittarius: Get some time with your friends this week, or at least determine why you can’t spend that time effectively. Your social schedule may wind up interfering with your creative efforts, and you may find yourself burning through materials even as you try to address the difficulties and criticisms you face in your local relationships. Untangling old problems that have gone unaddressed becomes an important labor, but sometimes the best way to solve these issues is with patience and prayer. Be more cautious than usual when on the highways and byways of your life; you’ll find that it’s not so good to be distracted while driving, and the emotional tenor of your life requires that you keep your wits about you. Focus attention on where you live and who is in your immediate life. There’s little good to be gained from career matters at the moment… you’ll have to keep plugging way at that part of your life, but immediate rewards will be few.
Capricorn: There will be lots of ways to put your family to work this week, but it may be a bit more like holding certain chess pieces in reserve in the middle-left or -right of the board; you’re setting up for future attacks, but you aren’t yet ready to make a commitment. Part of the problem is that the resources that you had been trying hold in reserve in bank accounts, may suddenly be committed to other projects. But unless you’re a bank, it’s difficult to spend the same dollar twice, and now some bills are coming due that you hadn’t expected would all pile up together. Sometimes you need a new vision of how to proceed, and the first thought is that you may have to cut the lines sending water out, in favor of making sure that new resources flow in. That means reducing one’s expenses. It may also mean seeking out new responsibilities that are accompanied by new flows of resources into your pocket. the best way to do that is to demonstrate the ways in which you are a passionate expert, who can also carry forward the mission statement of your employer like a banner.
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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.
I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.
I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.
