Today, we’re continuing our exploration of Gemini by bringing in its opposite on the zodiac axis—Sagittarius, the philosopher and professor—through a conversation with two of my favorite people: Professors Shaw Osha and Hugo Flores from The Evergreen State College. Both are brilliant thinkers, artists/ musicians, and bilingual speakers. Shaw teaches visual art, and Hugo teaches and leads the Spanish department.

In our conversation, we explored approaches to critical thinking that challenge our tendency toward immediate analysis, interpretation, and repetition. Shaw and Hugo both use teaching methods that encourage students to slow down and sit with what’s right in front of them—resisting the urge for quick conclusions or easy answers.

Their insights reminded me of the mythological characters we explored last week—Hermes and Narada—both known for challenging assumptions and disrupting habitual ways of thinking and noticing where our thinking has become automatic or overly simplistic. In a culture that values speed and certainty, it seems all too easy for our critical thinking muscles to weaken, but if we can allow for some discomfort the learning and growth potential is great!