What has everyone got against dating Gemini men? 

The politicisation of star signs on social media has become quite a *thing* in recent years. The rise of platforms such as TikTok has propelled our interest in the occult to new levels and if we’re not busy worshipping the moon, burning sage and drinking hot chocolate, we’re usually sat in a corner trying to manifest our dream partners (no luck so far, sigh). 

Perhaps it was the onset of a global pandemic that drove us to look to the stars for inspiration – desperate times call for desperate measures and all that – but whatever the initial pull, the obsession has prevailed. Star signs are considered hot commodities once again and astrology has made a 21st century comeback… particularly as it pertains to dating. 

Growing up, we played some variation of the “love calculator” game to gauge compatibility. Now, the question, “What’s your star sign?” suffices. A potential paramour’s sun, moon and rising sign is suddenly as influential a factor as their height (“6ft, if that matters”). 

Once considered nothing more than “new agey, woo-woo nonsense” (by a certain part of the population, at least), the intersection between astrology and dating actually helps to explain quite a lot. It’s not a science but the system runs off its own sort of logic, ascribing meaning to the placement of the sun, moon and planets within 12 sections of the sky. All of this information (along with the exact time and location you were born) is used to create your birth chart, which is instrumental in helping you understand yourself. Apparently.

There’s also Mercury retrograde to contend with. 

Someone needs to make an edit of Jack Harlow saying “are you a cancer” and Justin Bieber saying “I’m a Pisces” please

— Lauren Cortez (@laurenncortez) May 6, 2022

Everyone will have a different story to tell but pay attention and certain patterns start to emerge. For example, personal experience tells me that Geminis are a no-go, Virgos are ok, but Pisceans will break your heart. Scorpions are passionate, Taureans are stubborn and Aquarians are aloof. Yes, they’re sweeping generalisations, but they’re also, generally, kind of true. 

In some ways, astrology is perfectly suited to the internet age. Social media has made it accessible to the masses and there’s an abundance of information out there for the curious to pore over without fully committing to the concept. The New York Times dubbed it “the cosmic BuzzFeed quiz” and it’s a pretty apt description, if you ask me. 

Some people have even taken it upon themselves to construct rating systems of the different zodiacs – dividing them into “top”, “bottom” and “devil” tiers. Astrology-based memes break this information down yet again into humorous, bite-sized nuggets that offer witty insights into the human psyche. We share them on social media tagging our friends (or ourselves!), and some claim it helps to explain why their ex was so terrible.

Which brings me to the original point of this article: what has everyone got against Gemini men? Regularly listed as one of the “most hated” signs of the zodiac, Geminis have a reputation… and not a good one, at that. A quick Google search will tell you they’re dirty scoundrels – two-faced liars who cheat and flake their way through life. I’m sure those attributes could be applied to anyone, but, essentially Geminis don’t rank highly on the zodiac scale. 

Our astrologer, Clarisse Monahan, explains the hate. “Gemini is a mutable air sign. Mutable signs are flexible and adaptable but can be flakey in their shadow form. Being ruled by the fastest planet we have – Mercury – Geminis can also change their minds rapidly and without much warning. This makes them pretty unpredictable to date, which can be fun but also very frustrating. Geminis tend to be ultra-charming, using words and their silver tongue to express and seduce. However, this loquaciousness and gift of the gab make them the biggest flirts of the zodiac.

“In Tarot, Gemini is associated with the Lovers’ Card. Everyone always gets really excited when this card comes up. However, most people are confused when they hear the real meaning. It tends to be one of the most misunderstood cards in the deck. Instead of representing love, this card usually represents a choice. This is a nice way to think of Gemini – always having two sides. Being a dual-bodied sign – also known as The Twins – dating a Gemini tends to be more like dating two people rather than one.”

Her advice? “Keep them interested. The Twins are known as the most curious sign we have, so if you keep them guessing and on their toes, they don’t tend to look elsewhere for excitement.”

According to Bumble, the popular women-first dating app, dating in accordance with your horoscope and the cosmos can help to increase your number of matches, with those who add their star sign to their profile getting 54% more matches than those who don’t. Their data shows that conversation is everything with a Gemini. “They love a well-placed joke, so open your chat with one that shows off your sense of humour. Geminis are hyper-connected and respond to texts at light speed, so a quick turnaround time on your part shows them that you’re truly interested,” a source told me.

1st date

Gemini 1: Blah blah blah blah blah
Gemini 2: Blah! Blah blah blah? Blah!!!

— Astro Poets (@poetastrologers) December 26, 2017

“This sign is naturally curious, so as long as you keep things going, there’s plenty of opportunity to find common ground. Ultimately, Geminis want an intellectual equal, so don’t be afraid to flex your mental muscles by giving them a great book recommendation, for example.”

Don’t get me wrong, I think star signs can help to explain a lot about a person – things that not even they necessarily understand – but it’s not the be-all and end-all, especially when it comes to dating. So, take all this with a very generous helping of salt…