Luck is defined as that which happens to a person...an event, good or ill...which affects an individual's interests or happiness and which is deemed causal. It is a series of such events which are regarded as occurring by chance, fate or fortune...often, a person's habitual or characteristic fortune. It has been said that luck is better than skill. In Greek Mythology, the Goddess of Luck is Tyche, known to the Romans as Fortuna. She is often portrayed holding a double-sided rudder that could steer mankind to good or bad luck. She also frequently holds a cornucopia (horn of plenty) to symbolize prosperity and is sometimes blindfolded to indicate that luck is a matter of "blind chance." In addition, Tyche occasionally sports wings to symbolize how good fortune might be fleeting. A ball, representative of the manner in which luck "rolls according to chance" is often associated with this Goddess. Tyche is said to teach the paradoxical message that life is essentially a game of dice, determined by chance, and that nothing is ever set in stone. No matter how certain an individual might be that something will happen, there is always an underlying element of chance, and it would be wise to expect the unexpected. Instead of submission to Fate, Tyche provides the encouragment for individuals to take things into their own hands, thus making their own destiny. In was in Tyche's temple that the first set of dice were dedicated by Palamedes, perhaps indicating the capriciousness of life and luck...and the fickle manner in which the fortunes of mortals are often decided.
"Luck affects everything;
Let your hook always be cast;
In the stream where you least expect it,
There will be a fish."
-- Ovid --
Number
The lucky number for Gemini is five (also known as the Pentad). Natives of Gemini share this number with those governed by the Sign of Virgo. Five represents sensuality and symbolizes freedom, variety, adventure and the senses. It is the golden mean, representative of all that is part of human nature (including sex, drugs, alcohol and other forms of indulgence). In geometry, five is the magic pentagram...the universal symbol of man, representing the body with five points (head, two arms and two legs) as well as the five physical senses. Throughout history, the pentagram has been invoked as a symbol of protection, particularly in Egypt where the five-pointed star enclosed in a circle was the symbol for the Duat. Five is an important number of great significance, being in the center of the Decad. To the Ancients, it symbolized marriage because it was the sum of three (the first male or odd number) and two (the first female or even integer). Thus, it was considered sacred to the Goddess Aphrodite and also had strong associations with Eros. Five signifies the five regular geometric solids, whose faces are equilateral and equitangular: tetrahedron, cube, octahedron (eight faces), dodecahedron (twelve faces) and icosahedron (twenty faces). Five is considered to be the "just middle," since by dividing any combination of numbers which add up to ten, five is always in the middle. Known to be the number of ordered space and time, it contains a powerful invoking formula of spirituality, knowledge, wisdom, freedom and love. The Ancient Romans would incorporate this number into a talisman in order to ward off the forces of evil. Five is considered an extremely complex number, perceived as both fortunate and unfortunate, expressing an action rather than a state. This number is said to be everywhere, but elusively nowhere. The five-pointed star in a circle (correctly named a "pentacle") is representative of the species of humanity...symbolic of the head, arms and legs of an individual standing "spread-eagled," as represented by the points of a star. A "peverted pentagram," however, depicts the points of the star to represent the horns, whiskers and beard of the mythological goat's head of the Christian Satan. In Eastern traditions, making the sign of five is manifesting life. It possesses a deep connection to Eros, the God of Love. In dreams, an individual often runs into five in connection with the search for genuine involvement in life. Eros and the willingness to form a union are at the heart of this number. In biblical numerology, five is the Number of Grace and Redemption. Israel came out of Egypt five in rank, David selected five smooth stones with which to fight Goliath and the Holy Anointing Oil was pure, composed of five parts. It is also a symbol of the Universe...its two axes (vertical and horizontal) passing through the same center. It is also representative of the will of God, which can only desire order and perfection.
Five is masculine in nature and, when associated with Gemini, resides in the Third House of Communication, governing logic, memory and manual skills. Five is also known as the Quintessence...the mystic fifth element of which the heavens are composed. The Pythagorean theorum states that in a right triangle, five is the square root of the sum of the squares of the two previous numbers, three and four. It is also considered a number of importance in that humankind has five senses, five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot, as well as five wits (common sense, imagination, fantasy, estimation and memory). In biblical terms, five denotes divine grace or divine proportion, representative of God adding His gifts and blessings to the work of His hands. It is also said that Jesus suffered from five wounds. The colors associated with the number five are mixed and light in hue. Its peak is both night and day, with its natural element being air and its associated gems being diamonds and yellow sapphires.
Color
The lucky color for Gemini is yellow. Yellow is the color associated with Mercury. By tradition, it is thought to have a happy effect on its wearer, as well as stimulating the intellect and bringing vitality. It is also believed to signify the color of money rather than of love and is believed to be a favored color to wear when beginning a new job. Yellow is said to give confidence to the shy and timid, but should not be worn when anything to be undertaken requires patient attention to detail. Throughout the ages, yellow has been representative of wisdom and intellect. Indeed, Buddha always dressed his priests in robes of this color. Yellow lamps or glass windows are said to stimulate the nerves of the brain and the body. Thus, they should not be used by highly nervous subjects. Yellow predominates in all herbs which are purgatives or nerve-stimulants, such as senna , sulfur, fig juice, tartar and castor oil. In general, yellow symbolizes joy, happiness, optimism and idealism. But, on the more negative side, it is also associated with dishonesty, cowardice, deceit and illness.
The yellow wavelength is relatively long and essentially stimulating. However, in this case, the stimulus is emotional. Thus, yellow is considered to be the strongest color in a psychological sense. Indeed, it is the second strongest of all primary colors. Yellow demolishes the limitations and runs out of any form. It also approaches things and makes distances appear shorter. When painted yellow, objects reflect the light exceedingly well and attract the attention. The correct shade of yellow can lift the spirits and bolster self-esteem. It is the color of confidence and optimism. However, too much yellow...or the wrong shade of yellow in relation to the other tones of a color scheme...can cause self-esteem to plummet, giving rise to fear and anxiety. In short, the "yellow streak" present in all humans can surface under such circumstances. In Christian worship, art, architecture and design, yellow symbolizes light and purity. It denotes youth, happiness, the harvest, hospitality, love and benevolence. It is the most open and joyful color...one which is directed toward the future. It is both sociable and restless, eccentric and quick. However, since yellow is also perceived as being off-white, it can be the color of degradation or cowardice. Yellow corresponds to the form of a six-ray star, running out at the sides. In heraldry, yellow is symbolic of honor and loyalty.
Positive Qualities Of Yellow: Optimism - Confidence - Self-Esteem - Extraversion - Emotional Strength - Friendliness - Creativity
Negative Qualities Of Yellow: Irrationality - Fear - Emotional Fragility - Depression - Anxiety - Suicide
Gemini individuals tend to be drawn to bright blues, bright greens and all geometric patterns, with a distinct preference for cheerful shades. They also gravitate toward complicated designs that require thought to interpret and which may contain many different elements. The patterns of choice are usually associated with lines rather than curves, although the personal taste of individuals governed by this Sign are liable to change from day-to-day. Gemini natives often find the healing rays of orange to be most beneficial.
Other Favorable Colors: Pink - White - Red - Bright Brown - Bright Black - Variegated Colors
Unvavorable Colors: Steel Grey - Dull Brown - Faded Colors
Flower
The lucky flower for Gemini is the lily-of-the-valley, a fragrant garden flower whose blossoms resemble tiny pure-white bells. It is also known as constancy, Our Lady's Tears and Jacob's Ladder. In Germany, it is known as the mayflower. The scientific name of this flower is Majalis or Maialis, which means "that which belongs to May," and is believed to be in honor of Maia, daughter of Atlas and the mother of the God Mercury. Cherished and revered in many countries for its symbolism and folklore, lily-of-the-valley has been extensively used for medicinal purposes. It was once believed to strengthen memory, restore speech to those who could not speak and to treat gout. As a liquor smeared on the forehead and back of the neck, it was also thought to encourage an individual to have good common sense. In addition, it has been credited with the power to give manankind the ability to envision a better world. Famous for its delightful scent, a French toilet water called eau d'or is made from this plant's flowers. Nevertheless, despite its alleged beneficial traits, all parts of this plant are considered poisonous.
There are many legends surrounding this flower. Considered to be a symbol of humility in religious painting, the lily-of-the-valley is mentioned in the Bible's Song of Solomon. Some cultures deem it to be a sign of Christ's second coming. One legend holds that Mary's tears turned to lily-of-the-valley when she wept at the foot of the cross. According to Greek Mythology, Apollo gave this plant as a gift to Aesculapius, God of Healing. Believed to signify the return of happiness, folklore tells of the affection of this flower for a nightingale that did not come back to the woods until the flower bloomed in May. Thus, its fragrance is credited with the power to draw the nightingale from hedge to bush, leading him to choose his mate in the recesses of the glade. In the language of flowers, the meaning of the lily-of-the-valley is sweetness, humility and perfect purity.
A French folktale involving the origins of this plant tells of a holy man known as Saint Leonard, close friend of King Clovis, who lived in the Vienne Valley near Limoges in 559 A.D. Saint Leonard, a brave and fearless fighter, desired to spend his days among the flowers and trees communing with God. So, he asked for permission to live in the woods. There, he lived the life of a hermit, having renounced all worldly things. However, in the same woods also dwelt the dragon known as Temptation. Saint Leonard was at prayer and failed to hear the dragon when it demanded that Saint Leonard leave the woods. Its command having been presumably ignored, the dragon burned down Saint Leonard's hut with its fiery breath. Much blood was spilled as terrible battles raged between the holy man and the beast but eventually, Saint Leonard proved to be the victor and drove the evil dragon further and further into the woods until it disappeared altogether. Poisonous weeds began to sprout where the dragon had spilled its blood, but beds of lillies-of-the-valley sprang up wherever the ground had been sprinkled with the blood of Saint Leonard.
Gemstone
The lucky gemstone of an individual is truly associated with the month of birth rather than the Sign under which a person was born. The original association of a special gem with each month was recorded in the Bible (Exodus 28 and 39). An original Breastplate of Aaron, High Priest of the Hebrews, was said to be made by Moses in 1250 BC, according to instructions he received during his forty days spent in the mountains. The twelve gems in the breastplate were later linked with the Signs of the Zodiac and later still, associated with the months in the year. What follows describes the breastplate of the High Priest:
It was square -- a span [22 centimetres] long and a span wide -- and folded double. Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
(Old Testament, New International Version, Exodus, Chapter 39, vs. 9-14)
The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain. For example, in the same passage of the Revised Standard Version of Exodus, diamonds, sardius, and carbuncle (an alternative name for the garnet) are also included in the list of twelve biblically significant gemstones. It should also be kept in mind that aquamarines and emeralds are forms of beryl, while sardonyx is a form of onyx, and jacinth and chrysolite are also known respectively as zircon and peridot. Who first beholds the light of day / In Spring's sweet flowerly month of May / And wears an Emerald so they state / Shall be a loved and loving mate
The lucky gem for Gemini individuals born in May is the emerald. They share this fortunate jewel with those Taurus individuals who were also born during the same month. The emerald is a sparkling-green precious stone of the beryl group. Its color is caused by small amounts of chromium and vanadium, which are enhanced by traces of iron. The highest quality emerald is a transparent grass-green. As one of the most expensive gemstones, it is often more valuable than a diamond. The first emeralds came from the Egyptian desert near the Red Sea. The emerald is a traditional symbol of constancy and true affection. Its name is derived from the Greek smaragdos, which means "green stone" and it was highly prized by the Ancients as the gemstone of love and rebirth. It is said to give its owner the gift of eloquence. The Moguls of India, including Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, admired emeralds so much they inscribed them with sacred text and wore them as talismans.
Races as far apart as the Egyptians and the Incas of Peru considered the emerald as a stone of the Gods and it has been treasured since at least 4000 B.C., when it was traded in the gem markets of Babylon. Later, the Mohammedians also believed it to possess godly powers and a rough emerald inscribed with a verse of the Koran was a talisman of immortaility. A highly-polished emerald was once believed to have the power of restoring failing eyesight and Nero, while watching the gladiators in the arena, would use an emerald to lengthen his vision. It was formerly used in the treatment of inflamed eyes...made into a lotion by being steeped in water or sometimes crushed and powdered first. Cleopatra prized her emeralds more than any other jewels. This stone is reputed to bring security in love. It is also said to allow access to the mystery that an individual holds deepest in his or her heart, thereby healing and activating the highest heart's desire. Believed to assist in the healing of eyesight and speech impediments, the emerald is thought to have a tranquilizing effect on the heart and mind by inspiring clam and clear assurance. According to legend, this stone will strengthen the owner's memory, quicken the intelligence and assist in predicting the future.
In Greek mythology, Hermes composed a tablet carved from a giant emerald as a gift for Aphrodite. In the Book of Revelations, emerald is said to compose the throne of God and the Holy Grail is said to be carved from a huge emerald which fell from Satan's crown upon his banishment from Heaven. In Hebrew lore, emeralds were one of the four precious stones given to Solomon. Legend states that if an emerald is given by one sweetheart to another, it will pale and grow dull when the love between them fades. The emerald is the traditional gem for the 20th, 35th and 55th Wedding Anniversaries. It is also known as the Spring Gemstone.
Who comes with Summer to this Earth / And owes to June their hour of birth / With ring of Agate on their hand / Can health, wealth and long life command
The lucky gem for Gemini individuals born in June is the agate. They share this fortunate jewel with those Cancer individuals who were also born in the same month. The agate is one of the most versatile of all semi-precious stones and its mystical qualities were once thought to bring health and long life to the wearer. This gem is a form of quartz consisting of chalcedony, amethyst or jasper, and ordinary quartz in bands or lines. It forms in cavities and veins by deposition from meteoric groundwater containing gelatinous silica from the weathering of silicate minerals. One common type of agate is petrified wood, which has become fossilized by having its organic matter replaced by this stone. Agates were first found on the banks of the Achates (now known as the Drillo) in Sicily and were named for that river. Indeed, these waters remain a major source of the gemstone. Agates come is a great variety of designs and colors...some are translucent and some are opaque. Occasionally, this stone displays alternate lines of red and white, while others have ocellated markings. Moss agate has detailing which resembles trees, ferns or moss and is considered especially lucky for gardeners or people connected with the soil, and acts as an aid to get in touch with nature. Stones which bear the image of a tree are believed to help with introspection, enabling an idividual to perceive himself or herself with more clarity and see the world through a broader viewpoint. Blue lace agate is thought to wash away clutter and static from the mind and spirit by relieving stress. Agates were often affixed by the ancient farmers to the horns of their oxen in order to insure fertile crops. Usually cut as a cabochon (smooth oval) since it lends itself particularly well for carving and polishing, the agate is one of the oldest stones known to man and has always been popular, particularly in the fashioning of amulets and as talismans, which were credited with great curative powers.
In ancient times, the agate was believed to bestow the gift of eloquence and was often worn to prevent headaches, relieve tiredness of the eyes and allay skin irritations. The stone was also thought to cure insomnia and bless the owner with pleasant dreams. The agate is an ancient stone, valued since the virtual dawn of time. The Egyptians are known to have used it prior to 3,000 B.C. and it has been found among the artifacts of Stone Age man in France (20,000 B.C. to 16,000 B.C.). Some of the earliest known primitive stone tools (such as axes) were fashioned from agate by the ancestors of man in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, the stone being used because of its hardness and isotropic brittleness, which made it possible to shape such tools with relative ease. Legend states that any person who looks upon an agate will be compelled to speak the truth and unable to maintain secrecy. Agates were also once thought to promote grace, good manners, happiness, intelligence and good health, as well as bestowing the wearer with a pleasing personality which encouraged the friendship of others. In medieval times, the wearing of agate was said to bring God's favor and make one agreeable and persuasive, granting victory and strength to the wearer while affording protection from all dangers. The early Greeks made amulets of agate to protect them from the perils of the sea. Hindu mystics believe this jewel can help children overcome their fears, learn to walk earlier and maintain their balance, thereby preventing hazardous falls. In Persia, agate was once used to divert storms. Throughout history, this gem has been credited by various cultures with the ability to quench the thirst and affort protection from fevers. According to the Romany Gypsies, this jewel brings great wealth to the wearer.
A famous collection of 2,000 to 4,000 agate bowls was accumulated by Mithradates, King of Persia, which indicates the high regard once held for this jewel. Queen Elizabeth I of England was presented with an agate by Archbishop Parker. This gift was accompanied by a manuscript which described the gem's alleged miraculous powers. In the British Museum, there is displayed an Egyptian agate with a likeness of the poet Chaucer on both sides. It was once believed that the powers of the agate would be strengthened by the wearing of the chrysoprase, another lucky Gemini stone, which is a type of chalcedony and is said to symbolize cheerfulness. The agate is said to bring nothing but bad luck to natives of Virgo and Pisces, who would be well advised not to wear this stone in any form. Agate is the traditional gem for the 12th Wedding Anniversary, while moss agate is the traditional gem for the 14th Wedding Anniversary.
Day
The lucky day for those who fall under the jurisdiction of Virgo is Wednesday. The origin of this day derives from Norse Mythology and Woden or Odin, God of Widsom, Knowledge and Poetry. It was believed that Woden held power over all the other Gods and Goddesses. Thus, the Anglo-Saxons named Wednesday in honor of the Chief of all their Gods, calling it Wodnesdaeg or Woden's Tag. According to legend, Woden formed the Earth from the body of a massive giant named Ymir and fashioned humankind from oak trees and elm trees.
Folklore states that more than anything, Woden desired to be wise. In his quest for wisdom, he traveled the world and in order to gain such wisdom and knowledge, was required to sacrifice one of his eyes for a drink at Mimir's Well. After doing so, he wore a large hat with a floppy brim to cover the vacant socket. Woden's constant companions were two blackbirds which perched upon his shoulders. They acted as his spies, flying down to Earth at night in order to gather information regarding the people who dwelt below, and then reporting back to their master each morning. Therefore, Woden always knew what was transpiring on Earth and many things had to be done in secret for fear of the God's disapproval. In Asgard, the Nordic version of Olympus, Woden rode upon an eight-footed horse. He was a powerful magician, sorcerer and healer, and sailors would call on him to provide a fair wind. When early Christians began converting the Saxons to their faith, they named Woden as the Devil.
Wednesday is often referred to as "hump day" because of its position as the middle day of the work week. In other words, if the work week were a hill, then Wednesday would be the crest and it would be all downhill from there. Only one holiday typically recurs annually on a Wednesday...Ash Wednesday, which is the official begining of Lent. Ash Wednesday is so called because since the 400s, it has been the day upon which the foreheads of religious penitents are marked with ash. This custom is a reminder of the mortal condition of the flesh...that every human is dust. The actual date of Ash Wednesday is variable and dependent upon the date on which Easter falls. According to an ancient rhyme, Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Other
FLOWERS/HERBS: Parsley, Dill, Hazel, Snapdragon, Fern, Iris, Almond, Clover, Lavender, Pine,
Meadowsweet, Mosses, Tansy and Vervain
OILS: Bergamont, Peppermint, Anise, Basil and Bay
GEMSTONES: Jade, Aquamarine and Topaz
ANIMALS: Dog, Squirrel and Serpent
TREES: Elder and Filbert
BIRDS: Parrot, Linnet, Eagle and Finches
METAL: Quicksilver (also known as Mercury)
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