Ruled by Mercury, Gemini is a mutable Air sign, and the 3rd astrological house of the zodiac. Gemini season runs roughly May 20th through June 21th depending on when the Sun is traveling through the sign of Gemini.

Gemini’s dual nature means it is difficult to fully understand them and nearly impossible to pin them down. Symbolized by greek mythical twins, the Dioskouroi, Castor is the mortal son of Tyndareus, the king of Sparta. His brother Pollux is the divine son of Zeus. Their sisters, also twins and both mortal and divine, are Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Pollux asks his father to allow Castor to share his immortality and so they are placed in the heavens and become the constellation Gemini.

Those born under the sign of Gemini, in my opinion, are the smartest of all the zodiac signs. Many are savants, nearly all are drawn to intellectual pursuits, and the attainment of knowledge just for the sake of knowing is a common characteristic. Many become inventors. They are voracious readers, many of whom are speed readers, devouring books at an astonishing rate. Always hungry for intellectual engagement, Geminis are fascinating conversationalists, love word play, and are frequently good creative writers. They are lightening fast learners and can pick up most skills with ease. They are adept musicians, mechanically inclined, and seem to be very good at anything they try their hands at. Geminis tend to like people and exude charm. And finally, Gemini is charmingly persuasive in a way that no other sign can be, convincing others of anything they desire with their silver tongues and their mischievous grins. I’m convinced Gemini invented flirting and you’re helpless if they turn their wiles your way.

But lest I get carried away singing the praises of Gemini, they do have their faults, and because they are so easily bored with mundane pursuits, they tend to hop around a lot. Frequent job and/or career changes are likely. Relationships with a Gemini mean that the moment they are bored or feel confined, they’re out the door. Gemini may also feel the need to be always right, and there’s no such thing as ‘friendly’ competition for our twins. They are in it to win it. Their quick wit can quickly become biting sarcasm and more than a few Geminis have been smooth talkers and brilliant con artists. Restless Gemini needs to be stimulated and they’ll pursue ideas, people, places, hobbies and work that exhilarate them and if you can’t keep up, adios pal. Gemini may fail at big goals because they sometimes lack drive and they can be irresponsible, falling prey to Peter Pan syndrome.

Because Gemini is ruled by the element of Air, magic involving intuition, inspiration, freedom, new beginnings, psychic work and anything that relates to the higher mind fall under its purview. Divination, visualization, and manifesting intentions are also guided by Gemini.

Falling under the rule of Mercury, Gemini is concerned with communication; often talking fast, moving fast, and thinking fast in tandem. Call on Gemini when you need to persuade others. Mercury also helps Gemini move quickly in a crisis, often solving problems before anyone else realizes there was a problem at all.

For these Gemini candles, I chose several plants from the mint family; peppermint, skullcap, lavender, and oregano. Mints are calming, easing anxiety and stress, something Gemini is prone to. But mints also have an invigorating effect, an ability to clear our thoughts, and I like that duality for Gemini. Coriander is here because Gemini has an inclination towards lust and sexual passion. Bergamot citrus oil can bring balance, something our twins benefit from, and it’s also used to clear the mind.

This purchase is for one pair of Gemini hand dipped beeswax tapers.

Candle care: Herb dressed candles burn more like a torch than undressed candles. It is normal for the herbs to burn as your candles burn so you’ll need to take a few precautions to ensure candle safety. Before burning, trim the wicks to 1/4 inch. If wicks get longer as your candle burns, you’ll need to re-trim to 1/4 inch. This will help the candle burn efficiently and prevent higher flames. You’ll also want to burn in a saucer style burner to catch any burning herbs or dripping wax from falling on unsafe surfaces. Do not leave burning candles unattended and keep away from flammable materials, loose clothing, animals, and children.