Now I'm not one to rely on star positions to plan my day and don't read my horoscope. I don't believe in finding my way through life using someone else's predictions and assumptions. I have many friends and family that do not or can not start their day without reading theirs. Whatever works for each of us, right? So why, when I heard that the Zodiac dates have changed, did I feel like someone had taken my internal ID and crossed out a big part? I'm no longer a Gemini? I'm a Taurus??? What? No, this can't be right.
Why was so shocked? So bothered by something I've never fully believe in? I really had to think about this. Why did it matter? What did being a Gemini mean to me? Why was it such a shock to loose something I didn't think I truly owned. Then it hit me. The first thing I associate being a Gemini with is my grandmother (RIP). She was a proud Gemini, among other awesome attributes.
On her wall, right beside the refrigerator, above the occasional chair that her blind chihuahua repeatedly walked into, were these wooden plaques. I'll never forget them. One was dark brown with the symbol of the Gemini, which was basically the Roman numeral 2 (II). Under that was all of the personality traits believed to be embedded into every Gemini in the free world. I always had a hard time believing that. The second plaque was lighter wood and simply said...
Gemini: Jack of All Trades. Master of None.
Under this was the picture of a man juggling many things with his face all twisted in concentration or constipation. I was never quite sure. I remember asking my grandmother what that meant. I could not understand why she would want this hanging in her kitchen, or anywhere. It seemed so negative to me. I saw a man who couldn't do anything right. Not a Jack of all trades, just a Jack Ass who couldn't juggle. But still, my grandmother loved everything about being a Gemini; the good, the bad, and even the Jacks. She would read "our" horoscope every morning and even got me interested in how our signs were depicted in the constellations. That part of it still amazes me, although the way our ancestors connected the star dots was quite imaginative.
I guess it shouldn't surprise me that the idea of not being a Gemini anymore bothered me. It's not that I feel I'm going to be changed today by it. But it will change a part of my past. It takes away, or changes something that I shared with a very special person, something that meant a lot to her. She unconsciously made it important to me. I've caught myself asking strangers if they were a Gemini because of something they said or did. I would immediately shake my head at myself and then think of Gram (and how much closer I'm getting to morphing into her). This morning, the thought of losing my standing as a Gemini felt like I was losing a connection to her.
A small consolation to this constellation chaos is my grandmother's sign would also change. Her birthday is May 31st and mine is June 15th. We would both be Tauruses. I wonder what she would think of this. Would she have been more like a bull in her life? As if she could have been stronger. Would she have taken life by the horns and have taken no BS from anyone? She already did that.
I guess this Zodiac change doesn't change anything at all. My grandmother, whether a Gemini or a Taurus, was the person who taught me what is important in life: family, friends, full belly laughter, dancing without music, singing off tune, helping others, and doing the best you can for the people you love. No sign in the stars or hung on a wall changes that.
I can't help but wonder what kind of plaque Gram would have hung if she had known she was a Taurus. Probably something along the lines of a bull saying, "If you can't pick up your own BS stay out of my pasture." I may have to make this sign for my kitchen!
Thanks for letting me blog this through. I'd love to know what you think of the Zodiac signs changing and the added 13th sign, Ophiuchus. I can't even pronounce it. No wonder it was booted from the pack eons ago ;)
If you want to read more about the new Zodiac signs here are a few links.
Happy 2011! May the new year bring all your heart desires :)
Kristin :)
I know how you feel. I was shocked to learn I am apparently a Capricorn instead of the Aquarian I've always thought I was. Not that I've ever given any credence to astrology, but still. I guess any change in how we view ourselves can be a little unsettling.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's an odd mix of things that we use to identify ourselves, isn't it? Thanks for dropping by Linda and for your comment :)
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