muddied hands
Gemini II
Gemini II
Gemini II • The Hermaphrodite • Lord of Cruelty
In the first decan of Gemini there are endless threads to follow. In Gemini II, we find the exploration of duality within: the division of one into two and the reconciliation of two opposing parts. Gemini II has the capacity to hold contradiction and embrace both ends of a spectrum. With a desire to be more than one thing, this face defies boundaries and fuses binaries together. Kira Ryberg calls this face the Art of Contradiction - there is no boxing in Gemini II.
The co-rulers of Gemini II, Venus and Mars, in Mercury’s domain speak to the duality found here: creation and dissolution, love and war, harmony and confrontation, connection and separation. Placements found here have the ability to be both/and, the embodiment of contradiction.
The tarot card associated with Gemini II is the nine of swords. Depicted is a person sitting awake in bed with their head in their hands, swords hung behind the bed. This is the image of late night despair, when the mind seeks clarity that cannot be found. Holding the irreconcilable parts of the self does not come without challenges, but the Gemini II figure will suffer more for denying the underlying duality of the self.
In the myth of soulmates in Plato’s Symposium and the various tellings of Cybele (the presiding deity over Gemini II) and Attis, we find recurring narratives of erotic union, dissolution and finally, reunion. Both are myths of jealousy, intense love, hate, and queerness.
An othering occurs when we don’t fit neatly into a box. Contradiction is neither neat nor tidy, and Gemini II is familiar with the internal and often external othering because of it.
May Gemini II embolden us to embrace the other within and without.
_____
Gemini II talisman inspired by Filius philosophorum, the philosophers’ child in alchemy, where the reconciliation of opposites symbolises alchemical perfection.
Alongside the sun moon child, Hermes - Mercury- is often depicted as the philosophers’ child.
Jeweller's brass with sterling silver moon detail, strung on sterling silver 18in. chain.
Couldn't load pickup availability
muddied hands jewellery
Handcrafted, Always
Each piece is designed and lovingly crafted by myself, Daisy, in the Blue Mountains, NSW. With each purchase you are supporting my ability to continue making art in this way.
Conciously Sourced, Traceable Stones
Conciously sourced, traceable stones means ethical mining and living-wage paid workers. Unfortunately, there are no current international standards for mining rocks and gemstones and greenwashing has become increasingly popular in the industry. I moved away from the phrasing
"ethically sourced" for this reason.
I primarily source my stones from small lapidary artists who have mined the rock themselves or can trace who did.
Recycled Silver and Gold
My metal suppliers provide recycled silver and gold
I take part in the cycle by recycling all my scrap metal
Solid Metals
I explicitly work with solid metals, making each piece an heirloom to last a lifetime - and beyond.
The price of my art is reflective of the quality of materials I use.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
All of my packaging is eco-friendly with the majority of it being recyclable
Handcrafters Manufacturing Warranty
I take care to test all pieces for quality assurance. It's important to me that I create jewellery that can live many lifetimes.
In the event that there are structural issues within 6 months of your order and it is clearly a quality fault, I will happily repair the piece or exchange where possible.