Apollo the primary lord of Gemini?

THE LEGEND OF HERMES AND APOLLO

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As the night house of Mercury, Gemini is one of the two zodiacal signs which does not have its own domicile lord. Mercury is the planet that is closest to the Sun. The old Greek legends are more suited to Gemini then to Virgo, Mercury's day sign. If we read the legends of Mercury (Hermes in ancient Greece), we are struck by his intimate association with Apollo, the Sun God. The two gods were so closely linked in mythology that their lives and activities are difficult to separate. In many ways their close association is similar to the mythology of Castor and Pollux.

The ordered domicile scheme suggests that Apollo is a natural choice for the primary lord of Gemini. Apollo was the only one of the principle gods who was himself a twin, his sister being Artemis (Diana), the goddess of the hunt. Apollo was the shepherd god, and he was already a young man when the child who was destined to become his closest friend was born. Hermes wasted no time in beginning the mischief for which he later became famous.

His first prank was to steal 50 head of cattle from Apollo. When Apollo discovered the theft, he insisted on taking Hermes to Zeus for judgement. On the way to Olympus, undeterred, Hermes stole Apollo's golden bow and arrow from beneath his eyes. Against his wishes, Apollo found himself charmed by the cleverness of the child.

Thus began an exchange of possessions and duties which reflects Gemini's association with barter, trade, commerce and business dealings. Among the exchanges were Hermes' gift of the lyre to Apollo in exchange for the cattle Apollo tended. Apollo gifted Hermes with his staff which Hermes then used to look after the herds.

Hermes' proclivity to acquire articles and possessions may be seen today in sidereal Gemini's tendency to collect numerous items of interest, often with an eye to their increasing value. Generally these items?stamps. coins, gemstones, books, keepsakes, artifacts or even valuable plants more often than not turn out to be worthwhile financial investments.

Apollo was the god of prophecy, music and healing, and as such his role was similar to Gemini's contemporary image? sensitive and intuitive. (Remember that Gemini's overlay sign is Tropical Cancer.) Apollo's companions were the muses, who inspired poetry, dance, and the arts. Sidereal Gemini often has the unique ability to convey moods and feelings?the essence of an idea or situation?through dance or other arts, even though the sign is not particularly gifted verbally.

Apollo's highest function was that of the God of Truth. As the god of prophecy, Apollo spoke from his own knowledge rather than through tricks of divination, a reference to the ability to connect spirit and matter. This prophetic function harmonizes with Gemini as the leader of the third sidereal triad?Gemini, Libra and Aquarius?the three signs that can sense psychic and emotional undercurrents.

As the Greek and Roman cultures became intertwined, Hermes' identity became absorbed into that of Mercury, the Roman god of commerce and travel. Mercury, the most fleet-footed of the gods, had winged sandals and a winged hat, indicating his rulership over movement, travel, and speed. Gemini is usually thought of as representing the more mundane methods of travel, such as automobiles, trucks, and rail lines, but the sign also represents the more exotic modes of movement such as air travel and space flight. All of the first U.S. and Russian astronauts sent into space were born with Pluto in sidereal Gemini. These courageous but disciplined men represented the new new frontiers (Pluto) of movement (Gemini).