Gemini (Southern Hemisphere)
In the Southern Hemisphere, Gemini is the third month of Our Zodiacal Hellenistic Mystery Calendar. In leap years, an extra Gemini II occurs between Gemini and Cancer. In ancient Greece, this month was named according to the chart below.
| Athens | Delphi | Delos | Rhodes | Sparta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poseideon | Poitropios | Posideon | Diosthyos | Diosthyos |
The third month of the year, the first Changing month, represents the natural law of Energy, under the rule of Artemis. Born of the order placed over opposites by Ares in the Stabilizing of Scorpio, what was once Movement has become Life and is now in dependent on sustenance. Artemis, with her bow, pulls the arrow of Life back, Changing it and filling it now with the Energy required to shoot forward on its journey. This month represents the sphere of Venus, the third level of ascension.
The Third Labor of Herakles is to capture the Ceryneian Hind, Artemis' sacred golden-antlered stag, without harming it. In the myth, this task took Herakles a full year to complete. This myth, and especially the requirement to not harm the Hind, is symbolic of driving out fear, and the patience and reverent gentleness one must cultivate in order to do so. Anybody could've killed a stag, and anybody can be quick and indiscriminate. Only someone who has mastered their fear, and being patient and gentle, can complete the task: do no harm.
Festivals in Gemini
| Day | City | Name | Deities Honored | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Athens | Plerosia | Zeus | Honors "fullness", may be related to Proerosia |
Date uncertain - See Hellenion |
| 7 | Athens | Rural Dionysia | Dionysus | Celebration of Theater (Tragedy, Comedy) | Date uncertain, varied so much between cities that it was joked that one could perform a month-long procession across Greece. 7th chosen for Orphic symbolism. |
| 8 | Athens | Poseidea | Poseidon | Petitions for calm seas, quicker return to sailing/travel | Date uncertain, assumed to be the 8th |
| 9 | Delphi | Poitropia | Dionysus Liknites, Apollo Apotropaioi, Zeus Apotropaioi | Purification festival, celebrated with award ceremonies and public honors | Date uncertain - See Pytho |
| 26 | Athens | Haloa | Demeter Haloa, Dionysus | Celebrates vertility, abundance |