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On the human body, Cancer has long been associated with the stomach, chest and breasts. While each correspondence is worthy of deep exploration, we’ll focus our attention on the symbolism of the chest.

This is a natural association for a sign rooted in protection and guarding what’s held within. Like the shell of the crab, the ribs surround and protect some of our most vital organs, including the lungs and heart.

Yet the chest is not a rigid enclosure. With each breath, the lungs expand and recoil, echoing Cancer’s rhythm of opening to receive and closing to protect. This movement from openness to withdrawal finds a natural parallel in the moon’s waxing and waning.

Symbolically, the chest becomes a living fortress surrounding an inner sanctum, not unlike the walls or boundaries of a temple. Cancer reflects this same pattern in a number of ways: a guarded exterior protecting a sacred center.

The word “chest” itself preserves this symbolism, also referring to a protective container for treasure or something precious.

What do you make of this correspondence? I’d love to know.

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Gemini season reminds me of the various “hero twin” stories found throughout world mythology. Typically, one twin is associated with light and the other with darkness. In several instances, one sibling kills the other. This is the case with Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. In their most famous depiction, a she-wolf nurses the abandoned twins after they were left to die in the wilderness.

Rome takes its name from Romulus, its first king. Along with his brother, they built Rome’s first wall. At this wall, Romulus would kill his brother Remus over a dispute. Mockingly, Remus jumped over the wall which disrespected his brother’s authority.

Over the years, I’ve learned that several classic twin myths encode the tension between nomadic peoples and farming societies. The construction of villages, cities and walls restricts the movement of nomadic groups across lands they once traveled through. In this context, the murder can symbolize the triumph of settled society over the nomadic way of life. Romulus represents the agricultural settler, while Remus embodies the nomad who jumped over a border.

A similar pattern appears in the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Cain is a farmer and Abel is a nomadic shepherd. After killing Abel, Cain goes on to found the first city, much like Romulus establishing Rome after slaying his brother.

In both stories, the founding of a city follows the death of a brother. Rene Guénon suggested that myths like these preserve an ancient conflict between nomadic and settled ways of life. What do you make of this pattern?

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Gemini season always brings to mind the alchemical concept known as the Divine Androgyne. My favorite depiction is the two-headed REBIS figure who’s enclosed within an egg and represents the reconciliation of opposites. This reminds me of many Gemini and “hero twin” myths in which the pair are said to emerge from an egg. While sometimes understood literally, the egg is often interpreted as the cosmic or primordial egg found throughout numerous traditions. As a symbol of undivided unity, the primordial egg represents the state from which polarity and multiplicity emerge.

To me, the image alludes to the fact that unity itself contains polarity. Every pole possesses two ends, positive and negative, reflecting the same forces at work in electricity and magnetism. The symbolism is echoed in the number one itself, which is often represented as a simple vertical line or pole. Symbolically, polarity is latent within unity. The emergence, separation and reunion of opposites is a recurring theme found throughout many traditions, including the tarot. This symbolism is reflected in the Magician, who famously points one hand upward and the other downward, acting as an axis between above and below, or “positive” and “negative.”

When studying these images, one can emphasize their oppositional nature: a divided essence, seemingly at odds with itself. In another context, one can emphasize harmony: two united within one, in blissful union. In either case, this imagery invites us to contemplate how unity gives rise to duality and duality seeks reunion.

According to J.C. Cooper, “The androgyne is the united male and female principles whose reunion is considered the purpose and end of alchemy and, indeed, of human endeavor.” Polarity and its two poles form the foundation of duality. Yet the tension exists not between two separate things, but within a singular whole. In other words, the mystery of the Divine Androgyne is not that two become one, but that the two halves were never truly separate to begin with.

On the human body, Gemini has long been associated with both the lungs and the arms. While both correspondences are worthy of exploration, we’ll focus our attention on the symbolism of the arms.

This is a natural association for a sign rooted in duality, polarity and opposites. This relationship evokes the contrast between the “left hand” and “right hand” path, a theme central to a number of twin myths. Symbolically, the number two is linked to division and strife, whereas the number one relates to unity. Some writers have suggested that the Age of Gemini marked a growing awareness of duality and separation, conditions from which conflict naturally emerges.

In Babylon, the Gemini constellation was depicted as giant twins who carried weapons and guarded the entrance to the underworld. Interestingly, to carry a weapon is to bear “arms”. This relates to other words like “army” or the “armed” forces. I find all of this fitting given Gemini’s divided nature, where polarity gives rise to opposition, conflict and the bearing of “arms”.

What do you make of this correspondence? Share your insights below.

In this members-exclusive companion episode, Michelle and I sit down for a more intimate conversation exploring additional symbolism, insights and loose ends that didn’t make it into the main Gemini episode (SS Ep. 17). Topics include twin mythology, trafficking symbolism, deeper la…

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The symbolic associations between Gemini and Freemasonry run surprisingly deep. Look no further than the twin pillar symbol for Gemini (♊️) to start seeing connections.

Freemasonry is well known for using twin pillars within its artwork, lodges and regalia. These pillars, as seen in front of Solomon’s Temple and at many synagogues, are an integral part of the Freemasonic system reflecting the dualistic symbolism associated with Gemini and its ruling planet Mercury.

In ancient Babylon, Gemini season was referred to as “The Brick Mould” and was symbolically linked to construction projects and brick making. Several ancient cultures even referred to Gemini as “A Pile of Bricks”. Stones and bricks are a fundamental building material in masonry and carry symbolic weight in the craft.

Freemasons also refer to each other as “brothers”, which is reminiscent of The Twins or Cain and Abel, who also correspond with Gemini. The Gemini constellation and its associated tarot card, The Lovers, have both been referred to appropriately as “The Brothers”. The contrasting nature of twin symbolism also reminds me of the well known black and white checkerboard floor in Freemasonry.

Lastly, I also think it’s interesting that the Freemasons have a reverence for the letter G which happens to be the first letter of Gemini.

This only scratches the surface of the symbolic connections surrounding Gemini and twin pillar symbolism. Continue the research by becoming a member, the members-only presentation on The Lovers card makes a fitting companion to this discussion.

If you’ve never seen my Taurus print, here is it. This piece measures 13 x 20” and was silk screened by hand. We produced 100 prints, but this version here is one-of-a-kind. With charcoal, I’ve added details and shadows by hand that enhances the artwork and gives it more depth. I’m auctioning off this unique, signed piece by silent auction through my website with bidding now open.

The auction also comes with an early rough draft which is marked with a Symbolic Studies “draft” stamp and is signed. The winning bid also receives a Taurus symbolic breakdown sheet, an elemental study packet, a bookmark, stickers and a one-on-one private lesson (or tarot reading) on the topic of your choice.

To recap, the winning bid will receive:

• Custom Taurus Print (Signed)
• Taurus Rough Draft (Stamped & Signed)
• Private Lesson (via Video Chat)
• Stickers
• Bookmark
• Taurus Symbolic Breakdown Sheet
• Elemental Study Packet

Bidding closes Tuesday, May 19th 2026 at 11:59pm PST (the last day of Taurus season). Here’s the link, once again. Good luck!

Have you noticed some depictions of Moloch show them with seven chambers? The lore associated with these chambers is that the seventh and innermost chamber receives the “greatest sacrifice”: children.

According to later Jewish texts about Moloch the first chamber is for birds, the second for goats, the third for sheep, the fourth for calves, the fifth for cows, the sixth for oxen and the seventh for children. These chambers appear to be a later addition to Moloch imagery and aren’t described anywhere in the Bible. In fact, Moloch being described as a bull-headed god isn’t mentioned until much later as well. What you’ll find is that the line between what’s fact and folklore with Moloch can be incredibly blurry. Child sacrifice related to this deity, however, is mentioned Biblically on a few occasions and is directed at the Israelites:

“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.” - Leviticus 18:21

What I find interesting with the later addition of these chambers are the ways in which the number seven esoterically relates to bull symbolism. As an example, Taurus contains the Pleiades cluster which is well known for its seven stars and is often referred to as the Seven Sisters. The Big Dipper was referred to as the Thigh of the Bull in ancient Egypt and famously contains seven stars as well. Related to this, we more than likely get the actual symbol for the number seven (7) from the shape of the Big Dipper which has several other bull associations.

Many classic labyrinths associated with the Minotaur, infamous for devouring youths, are structured around seven concentric layers leading toward the center. Moloch is commonly associated with Saturn, who’s lore is linked to the eating of children. Traditionally, Saturn was considered the seventh planet, not unlike Saturday (the day of Saturn) being the seventh and final day of the week. Interestingly, Saturday also serves as the Jewish Sabbath, the holiest day of the week in Judaism.

Johfra Bosschart’s depiction of Taurus emphasizes the sign’s fertile and feminine qualities. A goddess sits on a large white bull who appears to be an expression of Venus, the planetary ruler of Taurus. The star above her head appears to be Venus as well, which is also known as the Morning and Evening Star. Interestingly, several ancient myths involving a white bull or buffalo also feature a prominent goddess figure.

In the sky you’ll see Cupid, whose mother is Venus. He flies with doves which are appropriately feminine. Interestingly, the seven stars of the Pleiades (which exist within Taurus) have lore associating them with doves. If you squint and look closely, you’ll notice a familiar figure to the left of the goddess: The High Priestess. Her essence is lunar which relates strongly to cow symbolism in a number of ways.

Lastly, the warrior that appears in Bosschart’s Aries painting can be seen enjoying the company of two children. In this context, it’s likely the boys are depictions of Romulus and Remus (the Roman hero twins) whose father is Mars himself. With Mars being the consort of Venus it makes sense to see him thriving within the domain of Taurus.

What do you see? I’d love to know.

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On the human body, Taurus corresponds with the neck and shoulders. Serving as a pillar for the head, the neck supports and stabilizes our most vital appendage. As the fixed sign of earth, Taurus is known for its stability.

With a yoke around its powerful neck and shoulders oxen can pull heavy loads or a plough. As humans, we carry weight, both literal and symbolic, on our shoulders. In Greek mythology, Atlas was said to carry the weight of the heavens, acting as a living pillar for the sky. Fittingly, his seven daughters became the seven stars of the Pleiades, an asterism located within the constellation Taurus.

Taurus aligns with The Hierophant card, often described as a “bridge builder” between heaven and earth. I find this interesting given that the neck also functions as a “bridge”, connecting the head to its body. You’ll also notice that many classic Hierophant cards subtly emphasize or obscure the neck. As the “Keeper of Secrets”, this is fitting given the throat’s connection to speech, silence and sacred knowledge.

What do you think about this correspondence? I’d love to know.