© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

      FIGURE 4-4: The symbol of Gemini.

      The sunny side

      Forever young, they say. You’re intelligent, quick, inquisitive, gregarious, and cheerful — and it shows in your face. In your never-ending quest for stimulation, you habitually veer off in unexpected directions. Your mind is always working. Effervescent and up-to-date, you’re invigorated by the newest friend, the latest fad, the most incredible news story, and the juiciest gossip. Excited by everything life has to offer, you are thrilled to explore new interests and meet new people. When you step into a new world, you feel renewed.

      To fend off the ever-present threat of ennui, it reassures you to have two (or more) novels on your bedside table, two jobs (preferably part-time), two love affairs (or a main one and a backup), and at least two email addresses and social media accounts. You maintain an ever-expanding legion of friends. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and nothing pleases you more than forging connections between unexpected people or unrelated ideas. You’re in constant motion, and you make a point of cultivating spontaneity, at least in theory. In reality, you sometimes load yourself down with so many activities that spontaneity becomes essentially impossible. Inevitably, you end up doing a lot of juggling. Yet the truth is this: When you’re overcommitted and slightly frazzled, much as you might complain, you feel at home in the world.

      The sorry side

      A hostage to hyperactivity, you squander your resources because you can’t resist the immediate gratification of conversing, cavorting with the cat, or feeding your addiction to your phone. If you could, you’d be in two places at once. Impatient, inconstant, and easily distracted, you have a short span of attention and too often drop the ball. You often find it difficult to concentrate — or even to sit still. When you find something that excites you, you accelerate into overdrive. But you can kill your enthusiasm by talking it into the ground. You don’t hesitate to sing your own praises. And although you may not notice, your intense focus on whatever you’re interested in can be draining.

      At your worst, you can be deceptive, superficial, and fickle — the living, breathing incarnation of hot air. Astrologers (and jilted lovers) often accuse you of being emotionally shallow. Actually, you experience real emotions — just not for long. When troubles come, you see no point in dwelling on them. Instead, you push your feelings aside and adapt to the changed circumstances — and you do it with stunning ease. A lover breaks up with you? Your supervisor locks your computer and escorts you to the Exit sign? No worries. You rewrite history, and pretty soon you’re the one who walked. You’ll deal with the repercussions down the road (if at all). Meanwhile, you may be a bundle of nerves, but you’re busy writing a new chapter. Like Gemini Bob Dylan, you don’t look back.

      Relationships

      Those who have been burnt in a relationship with a Gemini often accuse members of your sign of being unfeeling and fickle. This is unfair. I know Geminis who have enjoyed monogamous relationships for decades. There are many factors in a horoscope, and the Sun is only one of them.

      But I’ve also known Geminis who fit the stereotype to a T. Playful and engaging, you love the excitement of making conquests. The banter of courtship amuses you but you’re restless and may soon grow disenchanted. The ideal partner for you is multifaceted enough to provide the stimulation you seek, confident enough to let you have the freedom you enjoy, and witty enough to make you laugh. You can’t help responding to someone who presents a challenge. An on-again, off-again relationship, I’m sorry to say, arouses your curiosity. The reality is, you don’t need a profound emotional connection. You also don’t need off-the-charts sex (which is not to say that you don’t appreciate it). What you need is a lively connection that generates sparks and engages your mind.

      For details about your relationships with other signs, turn to Chapter 15.

      Work

      Versatile and cerebral, you have fine motor skills and are often a wizard with words. You’re stimulated by everything, and ideas readily come to you. Smart and buoyant, you pick things up so fast that you practically don’t have a learning curve. But in work (as in love), you grow quickly bored and are easily distracted. Jobs that require a lot of repetition, no matter how outwardly rewarding, are a mistake for you. You require mental stimulation, plenty of opportunities to socialize, and a mixture of responsibilities. The best professions for you offer variety rather than routine and take advantage of your ability to communicate. Classic Gemini careers include education, travel, writing, and anything connected with newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, or social media. Twitter was made for you. Inventive and entrepreneurial, you’re skilled at creating original business ventures. Even though the freelancer’s life isn’t for everyone, you bask in its variety and manage the challenges (no security, no predictability) with confidence. Just make sure you hire a sensible Taurus or a Capricorn to look after your finances. Handling money is not your strength.

      Health and wellness

Who invented multi-tasking anyway? It must have been a Gemini. You are active, engaged, quick on the uptake, and full of enthusiasm for anything that piques your interest — and what could be more intriguing than something new? You don’t need a lot of sleep, which is fortunate, since it pleases you to have a host of friends and to juggle multiple projects. But insomnia can stalk you nevertheless. You are high-strung and easily distracted, and