Gemini II: Humor, Healing, and the Duality of Connection and Protection
Transcript (modified and expanded)
The next step on my journey through the 36 decans of the Zodiac is Gemini II. So from 10 to 20 degrees of Gemini is the part of the zodiac that we’re focusing on today. I’m going to explore the tarot cards, numerology, and some ancient wisdom associated with this decan. First, I’ll say a little bit about Gemini energy in general and what it involves. Then, at the end, I’ll give you a couple of examples of people who have their rising degrees in this part of the zodiac: Mindy Kaling and Drew Barrymore. So there's a lot to unpack. I hope you enjoy it. If you do like and subscribe, it helps people find the content.
We always start by getting a feel for the vibe of the sign. Gemini is the sign of the twins, and it has an inherent duality. It’s a mutable sign, meaning it contains a combination of fixed energy and cardinal energy, giving it a natural flexibility. This flexibility reinforces the duality of Gemini, which is about balancing ideas of light and darkness. We really see this duality in Gemini II because under the two decan systems of rulership (the Triplicity System and the Chaldean Order) it is ruled by Venus and Mars, two planets that have very different relationships with connection, separation, and how we relate to others—or even how we relate to information coming toward us.
Let’s talk about how Venus and Mars relate to Earth in terms of their positions in the solar system. Venus orbits the Sun closer to the Sun than Earth does, making it an inner planet. Mars, on the other hand, orbits the Sun farther away from the Sun than Earth, making it an outer planet. This difference in their orbital positions creates symbolic meanings in astrology that align with their archetypes.
Venus, as the closest planet to Earth on the inside track of the solar system, represents intimacy, connection, and closeness. Its proximity symbolizes a unifying energy—it draws things together, reflecting its role as a planet of love, beauty, balance, and harmony. Venus is often visible in the sky as the "morning star" or "evening star" during twilight hours, a celestial symbol of its radiance and closeness to Earth. Its energy is receptive and harmonizing, representing our desire to connect and unify with others.
Mars, by contrast, is the closest planet to Earth on the outside track, symbolizing separation and protection. As an outer planet, Mars is associated with action, boundaries, and defense—it’s like a guardian standing on the outer edges, ready to protect from external threats. Its reddish hue, which ancient observers linked to blood, fire, and war, reinforces its astrological meanings of conflict, assertiveness, and cutting away what no longer serves us.
In astrology, the orbital relationship of these planets mirrors their symbolic roles. Venus seeks to harmonize and unite, while Mars asserts independence and sets boundaries. Together, their energies interact with Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, to create the unique duality of Gemini II—a balance between drawing things closer (Venus) and establishing separation or cutting things away (Mars). This interplay between connection and protection lies at the heart of the dynamic energy of this decan.
Now, let’s look at the tarot card associated with this decan: the Nine of Swords. In tarot, swords correspond to air signs, and air relate to the mind and intellect. The Nine of Swords shows a woman waking up in the middle of the night, disturbed by a dark dream. Behind her is darkness, and above her are nine swords hanging overhead—but they don’t penetrate her. This represents intrusive thoughts and mental anguish. It’s the Mars energy of this decan: the pain of perseverating thoughts. Perseveration means thoughts that spin endlessly in your mind.
9 of Swords, Rider-Waite Tarot
But there’s also a Venusian quality in the card. The woman is covered by a blanket of roses, representing comfort and beauty amidst the mental distress. This duality—anguish (Mars) and comfort (Venus)—captures the complexity of Gemini II. People with energy in this decan might feel bombarded by unconscious ideas, dreams, or thoughts that want to surface, but resistance to these thoughts can create mental distress. However, they also have the potential to work through this energy by creating art or finding ways to bring comfort to themselves. They can tap into the shared reality of mental struggles and transform it into something beautiful.
This complexity often shows up in people with a sharp sense of humor or wit, thanks to Mercury, but who also experience mental anguish. For instance, in the Thoth deck, the Nine of Swords is titled “Cruelty”. Aleister Crowley, who designed the deck, focused heavily on the Mars energy of this card, showing blood dripping from the swords. He didn’t emphasize the Venusian aspects, but we see those in other ancient symbols tied to this decan. The Venusian energy brings the potential to find sustenance, connection, and beauty within mental struggles.
9 of Swords, Thoth Deck
Let’s bring in some ancient wisdom. Agrippa, the 16th-century occultist, philosopher, and astrologer, described this decan as an image of a man holding a pipe and another figure bending down, digging in the earth. He said it symbolizes infamous agility—like jesters or jugglers—and also labors and painful searchings. This imagery reflects the comedic potential of Gemini II—making light of struggles—but also the hard work of grappling with mental anguish. Comedy can be one way of dealing with the challenges of this decan.
Mindy Kaling has her Ascendant in Gemini II and provides a perfect example of this energy in action, particularly in how she navigates the challenges of mental and relational dynamics associated with the Nine of Swords. If you’ve ever watched any of her shows, such as The Sex Lives of College Girls, you’ll notice how she often grapples with the theme of using mental energy for either constructive or destructive purposes—one of the key tasks for those influenced by this card or with planets in the second decan of Gemini.
In her own life, when Kaling was at Dartmouth, she was part of the college comedic journal, where she began honing her craft as a comedian. During that period, her humor often leaned toward the sharper, more biting side—what we might associate with the Mars energy of this decan. She had to confront the reality that her comedy, at times, hurt others. This realization marked an important turning point in her journey. Over time, her comedic style matured, evolving from a place of biting comedy or relational sharpness to one of self-deprecating humor. Through this transformation, Kaling began to acknowledge her own internal struggles and bring them into her work, channeling the Nine of Swords energy in a way that fosters connection and healing.
A great example of this dynamic is evident in The Sex Lives of College Girls. Drawing from Kaling's own experiences at Dartmouth, the show depicts Bela navigating a male-dominated comedy scene. In one episode, Bela writes a piece that, while intended to be humorous, ends up deeply hurting another character. This storyline mirrors Kaling's own journey of realizing that her early comedy, crafted with a sharp, Mars-like wit, sometimes caused pain. Kaling’s ability to weave humor out of suffering reflects her own journey of growth—moving from using mental energy to attack (whether herself or others) to using it to invite others into the shared reality of suffering. This is the essence of Venus energy in Gemini II: using acknowledgment of pain as a way to connect with others, rather than isolating or harming oneself or others. Kaling also has her Venus conjunction her Ascendant in this decan which gives it extra power (also called “dignity”) to achieve its ends—giving her the unique capacity to flesh out the relational aspect of the second decan of Gemini.
The Nine of Swords presents us with a choice. When those swords hang over you, do you turn them inward and attack yourself, creating further pain and suffering? Do you turn them outward, harming others in the process? Or do you find a middle path, the Venusian path, where you contain your suffering, acknowledge it, and use it as a bridge to connect with others? Kaling’s work offers a beautiful example of this middle ground. By embracing her struggles and sharing them with her audience, she soothes both herself and others. Her comedy reminds us that we all know what it’s like to wrestle with difficult mental thoughts—and that kindness toward ourselves and others can transform that pain into something meaningful and healing.
Drew Barrymore also embodies the duality of Gemini II. Her life has been marked by struggles, including addiction, a turbulent childhood, and the pressures of being a child star. She didn’t choose the spotlight—it was thrust upon her—but she’s spent her life navigating those challenges with resilience and humor. On her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, she openly discusses her hardships, from addiction to single motherhood, in a way that’s vulnerable yet infused with warmth and humor. In her romantic comedies, like 50 First Dates, she brings a lighthearted, relatable quality that feels authentic. Barrymore’s ability to turn pain into connection, to find beauty and meaning in difficult experiences, is a testament to the Venusian side of Gemini II. She uses her platform to invite others into the shared struggles of life, creating a sense of unity and healing.
Numerology adds rich and intricate layers to the energy of Gemini II. The number nine, associated with this decan, represents cycles of repetition and transformation. Unlike the calm sense of completion found in the number three (as seen in the 3 of Swords card below), the number nine—being three times three—intensifies and magnifies the air energy, symbolizing dynamic, ongoing cycles of struggle and growth. In the context of Hermetic Kabbalah, nine is viewed as a bridge between the spiritual realm and the physical world. It connects the higher Sephiroth of the Tree of Life to Malkuth, the final Sephirah that represents the material plane.
3 of Swords, Rider-Waite Tarot
This connection suggests that the energy of nine involves a process of translating spiritual insights or unconscious thoughts into tangible, real-world expressions. In Gemini II, this manifests as the challenge of bringing intrusive or persistent thoughts from the unconscious into conscious awareness, where they can be worked with, processed, and ultimately transformed. This decan holds the potential to turn mental turbulence into something meaningful and creative, a tangible expression of the mind’s journey through both struggle and resolution.
To wrap up, the Nine of Swords encapsulates the duality of Gemini II. This card acknowledges the cruelty and challenges of the mind—those intrusive thoughts, fears, and regrets that can weigh heavily on us. Yet, it also speaks to the potential for comfort, connection, and creativity, even in the midst of mental anguish. As Rachel Pollack explains in her Tarot classic,78 Degrees of Wisdom, love is an essential feature of this card. This love is not just for others but for oneself—a tender acceptance of our struggles and vulnerabilities. Pollack highlights that through love, we can face the darkness with compassion and transform it into something meaningful. The Venusian energy of this decan invites us to reconcile the harshness of the mind (Mars) with the possibility of healing and beauty, allowing us to live with life’s absurdities and difficulties in a more integrated way. By embracing this love, we find a path toward both personal and collective healing.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration! If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe, and I’ll see you in about 10 days for Gemini III. Take care!