By Ricardo Georgini
The work of Hercules related to the sign of Gemini is the obtaining of the golden apples of the Hesperides. It is a very long work, full of rich symbolism, representing the challenge of bringing high ideas and aspirations to practical life, thus manifesting wisdom.
In the myth, the Hesperides were three nymphs that inhabited a secret garden, where a tree grew that bore fruits of gold. Hercules was given the task of obtaining such fruits, but no one knew where the garden was. The hero began his search by going to the north, seeking the help of the wise Nereo. He met Nereo many times without acknowledging him, nor did he recognize the clues that the wise man subtly provided. Then, Hercules headed south and faced the Anteo snake, invincible when he was in contact with the earth. The hero had to lift her up and strangle her high to achieve victory and be able to continue. Then he went to the west and met Busiris, who claimed to be the only bearer of the truth. Hercules believed him and became his follower, forgetting his search and wasting a lot of time. Finally he remembered and understood the words of Nereo: "the truth is within you." Thus he broke free and resumed the search for golden apples.
Next, Hercules found Prometheus chained to a rock, with vultures eating his liver. And again he forgot his search, but this time to help someone who needed help. He drove away the vultures, freed Prometheus and took care of his wounds. And here is that Prometheus told him the direction in which he should look for the garden. To the east, therefore, Hercules was headed, but when he finally found the tree, he saw Atlas nearby, holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. And once again, Hercules forgot his object of desire and went to help Atlas in his tremendous task. He transferred the weight of Atlas's shoulders to his. Released, Atlas and also the Hesperides brought the golden apples to Hercules, and so the work was done.
Gold represents the soul, just as silver represents personality. A silver fruit will symbolize mental knowledge; the golden apples of myth symbolize spiritual wisdom. The fruit is the last thing produced by the tree, as a result of all the previous stages of its life cycle. Wisdom, similarly, must be produced by the individual himself, learning from his experiences in life. However, the tree cannot produce the fruit for itself, but for the world. Wisdom also: it exists to be shared.
In his search for wisdom, Hercules begins in the north, a symbol of his interiority or subjectivity. The wise Nereo represents the soul of each individual, which provides him with many subtly guidelines, many times without him recognizing them as such. In the south (the external and concrete world), Hercules confronts the snake of psychic powers and spiritual gifts of all kinds, which they catch when emphasizing appearance (earth or soil), instead of the meaning. In the west (contact with others), Hercules allowed himself to believe that only by being part of a certain group and following a certain authority (Busiris) will he be closer to the wisdom.
But the only true authority is the wise voice of one's conscience within each individual.
Gradually, through attempt and errors, the individual understands that no one can give him wisdom, but that it will flourish within him as he seeks to alleviate the suffering of humanity (Prometheus) and cooperate with the work of the Instructors of humanity (Atlas). When we are determined to serve, wisdom comes as a natural consequence.
Ricardo A. Georgini
