Gemini season is here, Venus is in Cancer, Mercury is in retrograde. Hold your friends close and don’t pay your enemies any mind, because right now it is all about you. Few things get my Venus in Cancer juices flowing like thinking about The Last of Us parts I and II. It has been a year since I played it and I still think about it often, and this week I am thanking my lucky stars that Gab from The White Pube has written such a beautiful and poignant review about this game that means so much to me.
For some more insight into my soppy brain that nobody asked for, I have made a short vlog this year to celebrate Gemini Season. I love vlogging - for those of you who have stuck around with us since the heady days of Come Thru you might remember my vlogs about some of those events, and I feel so grateful to my past self for having made them. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to look back on those times and remember the feeling of the heat in the room, the laughter shared amongst friends, the music played just for us. Obviously right now there is nothing that exciting to document in my life, but it felt like a tender way to document what I am up to in a sincere way and has the added benefit of being able to look back on in 1, 5, 10, 20 years’ time and think, I am so lucky to be safe and surrounded by love. So here we are, at Gemini Season, feeling hopeful for the summer and the warm days ahead.
Gemini Season Mix: Ola Pang
For Gemini Season this year, we welcome London-born and Leeds-based producer and DJ, Ola Pang, who has been making electronic music for many years now. He has had his music described as sounding like it is from a video game, which sits snugly in my heart whilst also revitalising my spirit - perfect for Gemini Season. Just before the pandemic he put on his first of hopefully many club nights, IRL, and has been working on an album over the past few months that we can’t wait to listen to.
I asked Ola Pang I asked what it meant to him to be a Gemini, as astrology isn’t a one size fits all thing and can mean something different to everyone. He said “I’m not too heavy into astrology but from what I’ve heard Gemini’s don’t have the best reputation. A friend called them mercurial, which is a mad diplomatic thing to say, but I do identify with that to a degree. I wouldn’t say there’s a conscious influence but I do think there’s a clear split in the tunes I make between being upbeat/fun or quite sad/wistful and I like putting those moods right up against each other.” I just want to say that Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication and information, so Ola Pang’s friend calling Geminis mercurial and him identifying with that goes to show that astrology is REAL my friends.
When reflecting on the mix he has made for Gemini Season 2021, he says “I’ve missed DJ’ing a lot and I’m excited to get back to doing it regularly after everyone is vaccinated. I really enjoy playing turn up tunes at the club, but there’s a large part of me that would like to play out on Sunday afternoon/evenings, and I think this mix reflects that. So here are some tunes for for chills in the heat, cleaning, doing nothing, whatever you might do on a Sunday.”. Thank you so much for bringing this warmth and tranquillity which is an otherwise hectic season - we needed this moment of calm to propel us forward for the next few weeks.
why are all fictional geminis like *that*
Ola Pang is right - Geminis have a bad reputation. Just Google “famous geminis” and the list is full of the worst (and I think some of the best best) of the world - now THAT’S duality. We have Andre 3000, but on the flipside we also have Donald Trump - the best, and the worst. Anyways I was thinking of how I could show my sign to be the best that it can be, so I started looking into fictional Geminis and found… more toxicity than I could have anticipated. Let’s take a look.
Alison DiLaurentis, Pretty Little Liars, D.O.B. 6th June 1994 (look away now for spoilers).
This crazy lady faked her own death, had a complete personality change from season to season and literally lived as her alter ego for years… that is about as chaotic as Geminis come. Pretty Little Liars is truly the most unhinged show on television, so it makes sense that the person the entire plot revolves around is a Gemini, I guess.
Don Draper, Mad Men, D.O.B. 1st June 1926
I am here to make a shameful confession, which is that I have a crush on Don Draper. A deadbeat dad, a shitty boss and a neglectful husband… something about him makes me want to {redacted}. His totally unpredictable mood swings and need to be the centre of everyone else’s world makes him an incredibly toxic Gemini who needs therapy. Also Don Draper if you are reading this please DM me.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, D.O.B. 20th June 1901
Edward Cullen is the oldest Gemini on this list who for reasons I don’t want to get into insists upon going to high school for his entire life instead of just vibing in his home. WHAT is his problem? I think his special vampire skill to read other people’s thoughts is the kind of thing a LOT of Geminis would wish for if they were presented with a magic lamp and then INSTANTLY regret because we are nosey and impulsive and do not think things through.
Elle Woods, Legally Blonde, D.O.B. unknown
I had to end on a high because my ego had been taking a beating and I needed some wholesome content to round out this newsletter. The original #girlboss Elle Woods is a Gemini vegetarian and I love her for it. Getting into Harvard to spite your ex only to realise you are brilliant and smart and independent and becoming a qualified lawyer and laughing in his face is the most Gemini story of all time and I am so grateful for this positive representation. You can listen to me banging on about Legally Blonde and other romcoms in my excellent podcast You Only Love Once.
That brings us to the end of the newsletter, and if I leave you with one thing today it would be to recommend you firstly listen to the incredible Ola Pang mix… and secondly (I know I said one thing but I’m a Gemini who doesn’t know how to shut up) - SECONDLY I would recommend you get to know yourself a little better by reading the Alice Sparkly Kat’s article Gemini Sun, _____ Moon. They also have other articles for every sun sign - but for my Gemini babes out there I strongly recommend reading this.
Love you!
Hel X