5 Rituals to Help You Navigate Gemini Season

This article originally appeared on Yoga Journal

As the wheel of the zodiac turns, we find ourselves entering the dynamic and enigmatic realm of Gemini season. Symbolized by the twins, this astrological period brings with it a whirlwind of energies and opportunities for self-exploration.

Within the rich tapestry of astrology, each zodiac season carries its own unique essence, offering us a chance to delve deeper into the mysteries of our existence. Taking place from May 21 to June 20, the time when we are under the influence of Gemini is dedicated to connecting with all facets of your mental capabilities, communication, and creativity.

All About Gemini Energy

As summer approaches and the spring chill fades into balmy nights and sweltering days, we make our way into this mutable air season. As the third sign of the zodiac, Gemini is the first to shift away from a strictly “I, me, mine” approach and into “we and ours” energy. Like the celestial twins who iconize this intelligent air sign, Gemini is about duality. Its energy pertains to accessing your most aligned imagination and delivering messages that inspire others as well as yourself.

As our first air sign in the zodiac (the sign of intelligence and communication) Gemini is the first sign to see the potential unity of Self and other. Gemini serves others through communication. It creates and connects communities through ideas. With a dexterous mind and charming communication skills, Gemini wants you to hone strengths and deliver them through intentional service to the world.

Gemini energy is most simply described as the energy of creation. As an air sign, Gemini connects you to your ability to think, dream, and manifest. As the ruler of your hands and arms, Gemini also allows you to take your grand ideas and move them into the outside world through creation. What is your message, and how are you delivering it? How do you access both your mental and physical nature so that you may benefit from both of them? These are the questions Gemini poses for us.

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Ruled by the planet Mercury, Gemini is also associated with the Roman god of communication. Gemini sees, synthesizes, and speaks. He has what they call “the gift of gab,” the ability to communicate his perspective charmingly and compellingly. This can sometimes translate into fickleness, as Gemini may say one thing one day and change the next. But only because they see both sides of the situation and not a paradox. Gemini nature is naturally adaptable and allows us to flit from different scenarios while gathering and giving information.

Lessons from Gemini

Gemini unites our inner heaven and our inner Earth; our desire for individuality and our nature to provide for others. “Such is the lesson we learn from our Gemini: to recognize our dual nature and bring all aspects into balance.” More often than not, the areas we need to cultivate are our connections to our higher mind and our connections to others.

The highest manifestation of Gemini energy is using your talents for collective service. Service is an action that extends from one self to another. It exceeds personal utility. This could be as grand as forming your own nonprofit or as simple as being a good listener. Often, it gets your point across much better if you communicate in a way that acknowledges and honors those around you, not just yourself. Service exceeds personal utility and extends action from one self to another. Honoring duality means that you don’t have to choose between benefiting self and others. You can embrace both.

In manifestation and daily creation, the Gemini practice comes when you receive a flash of inspiration and learn to trust it. Or when you have a bright, bold idea and share it even if it’s outside the norm. A strong Gemini will know that his ideas and passions have a purpose to serve, and he doesn’t let himself stand in the way of sharing them with others.

Overall, Gemini energy reminds us to harness our creative potential and share it with others. By accessing our higher self and strengthening our connection with others, we can find greater peace, balance, and fulfillment.

5 Rituals to Help You Navigate Gemini Season

Looking for practical applications and celebrations of Gemini-related strengths? Try one of these practices.

1. Practice Yoga

Gemini is associated not only with your mind but with your hands, wrists, and forearms. Practicing stretches and yoga poses that powerfully release tension and build strength in these areas can be especially beneficial during Gemini season.

Wrist RollsCome to a comfortable seated position. Begin with your hands in your lap and take several deep breaths. When you’re ready to begin, bring the backs of your hands and wrists to touch so your fingertips are pointing toward the floor. Lift your elbows so your forearms are parallel to the floor. Keeping the connection between the backs of your hands, slowly turn your fingertips to point first toward your body and then toward the ceiling. When you reach the end of your mobility, move your palms toward one another and bring the base of your palms to touch before rolling over your hands so the backs of your hands are touching once again and your fingertips are facing downward. Take a few more slow, intentional circles in the same direction before reversing the direction and repeating.

ChaturangaBegin in Child’s Pose. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself. When you’re ready, shift yourself to hands and knees and enter Plank Pose. Depending on your desired intensity, you can keep your knees lifted or lower them to the floor. On an exhalation, bend your elbows and lower yourself slowly toward the floor in Chaturanga, keeping your elbows tucked along your sides and making sure your hips don’t collapse toward the ground. From here, inhale as you find your backbend. You have two options:

1. You can lower your body to the ground and take Cobra Pose by pressing your palms into the mat and lifting your chin and chest off the ground; or

2. You can pause a few inches above the ground and move into Upward-Facing Dog by coming onto the tops of your feet as you slide your chest forward and straightening your arms, keeping your lower body lifted off the ground.

From either position, exhale and bring your hips up and back into Downward-Facing Dog, pressing your feet and hands firmly into the mat. Take 5 slow breaths here. Repeat as many times as you like.

Eagle PoseBegin standing at the top of your mat. Shift your weight into your right leg and lift your left heel off the ground. Cross your left thigh over your right, placing the toes of your left foot on the ground alongside your right foot or wrapping your foot around your right calf. Sit low in your hips and engage your core. Then, stretch your arms out wide into the shape of a “T.” Bring both arms in front of you and place your right elbow above your left elbow. Bend both elbows and reach your fingertips toward the sky. You can press the backs of your palms together or try to touch your right palm with your left fingertips. Lift your elbows away from the floor and take 5 slow breaths in Eagle Pose. When you’re ready, unwind and come back to standing at the top of your mat. To repeat on the other side, bring your right thigh on top of your left thigh and place your left elbow on top of your right elbow.

2. Practice Mudra

To honor and invoke your mind’s true potential, try the uttarabodhi mudra, the mudra of highest enlightenment. You might find that, apart from expanding your consciousness, performing this mudra increases the mobility of your fingers and hands.

Begin in a comfortable seated position and bring your hands to your navel. Interlace your fingers with strength and intention, but don’t make them too tight. Release your two index fingers and bring them to touch. Release your two thumbs and bring them to touch. Your index fingers should be pointing up, and your thumbs should be pointing down. While holding the uttarabodhi mudra, focus on your breath or observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Allow your breath to be slow and your mind to be quiet.

3. Journaling Prompts

Take in the lessons of Gemini by allowing yourself to explore journal prompts related to your thoughts and purpose:

* What messages do you believe you’re here to share with others?

* How would you like to share these messages?

* What was your most recent inspiration or idea?

* How frequently do you share or act upon your inspirations? If not, what do you think is holding you back?

4. Freestyle Writing

Freestyle writing is a powerful outlet for your ideas, allowing them to escape the confines of your mind, which promotes a sense of release, creative exploration, and self-reflection. By giving your thoughts a voice and acknowledging them through writing, you can gain clarity, generate insights and discover connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.

Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus without distraction. Set a timer for five minutes or longer, depending on your preference and availability. Grab a pen and paper or open a blank document on your computer. Start the timer and write continuously without pausing or worrying about style, grammar, or punctuation. Let your stream of consciousness flow freely onto the page or screen. Write whatever thoughts, ideas, or feelings come to mind without judgment or censorship. Don’t worry about coherence or grammar or organization. The aim is to let your thoughts flow naturally and uncensored. Keep writing until the timer goes off, even if you think you have nothing to say. Embrace any moments of uncertainty or writer’s block and keep your pen moving or your fingers typing.

5. Use Baoding Balls

Baoding balls are believed to have originated in Baoding, China, during the Ming dynasty. Practicing exercises with them can enhance finger and forearm strength and improve agility. Moreover, it is believed that these exercises help integrate upper and lower faculties and can access what Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to as energetic meridians, which connect to organ systems throughout the body. By using Baoding balls, you can harmonize your body, mind, and spirit.

One beginner exercise involves rotating the balls clockwise in the palm of your hand for a few rotations and then counterclockwise for as many sets as you comfortably can. It’s important to also practice with your non-dominant hand and pay attention to the posture of your shoulders and elbows as you manipulate the balls. Try to let your shoulders relax down your back and keep your elbows loose. It can be easy to let tension creep in here; remember to relax and have fun.

About Our Contributor

Sierra is a writer, yogi, and music lover living in the Pacific Northwest. She’s been practicing yoga for nearly a decade & got certified to teach in 2018. She writes and teaches all about connection: connection to the body, to nature, and to the universal love that holds us together. She’s also the author of Your Year of Magic, a moon magic journal and witchy workbook.

For free yoga and witchy wisdom, find Sierra at thelocalmystic.com, on Instagram @thelocalmystic, and on YouTube.

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