posted June 19, 2007 05:39 PM            

Natal Mercury in Cancer (1)

(Jan Spiller and Karen McCoy)

Static

If you are afraid of losing your emotional connections with other people, your rational mind can become dominated almost entirely by Cancerian feelings and emotions. This might result in your communicating with other people in a way that inadvertently forces them to respond with either sympathetic indulgence or overt rejection. Indulging in communications that demand the sympathy of others may expose you to unnecessary rejection.

Dynamic

When your attention focuses on perceiving the sensitivities of others as well as your own, your ability to communicate goes beyond words. You are then able to reach out emotionally, sensitively, and empathetically in ways that are a true reflection of your caring for others.

(Grant Lewi)

What you hear, smell, taste, feel and see are of intimate and close concern to you. You are sensitive to every breath of air; you take it to your heart and cherish your reaction to it. The smell of the garbage truck is a personal affront to your nostrils, while the rose was created exclusively to delight the same. Loud noises persecute you, and you tend to think they were made for that purpose; while music is art's personal gift to you alone. You adopt the beauty of the landscape as if no-one ever looked on it with true worship before. This personalizing of sense impressions can make you an awful fuss-budget, and also a bore if you insist on telling everyone how much you love, or hate, everything. On the other hand, the sensitiveness of your reactions and the intimcay with which you regard them make you capable of great power, for art is only the personalized sense impressions of the artist, absorbed into the total personality and given forth in form. Add a point of view to your tendency to gush; develop a philosophy of beauty to give weight to your natural appreciation; learn to make sense impressions your own, and then releas then into a significance larger than personal; and you have all the ingredients to make you a master in one of the arts.

(Sydney Omarr)

Mercury in Cancer is described by a major keyword: adaptability. The native adapts himself to his surroundings - but he can tend to fall into a rut instead of trying to change anything. He may know what he should do, but is simply too adaptable. He is discreet and realizes that others are loyal to their beliefs, their families, their countries - without this necessarily making them right in their feelings. Mercury in Cancer shrugs off combat; his attitude is one of 'live and let live'. But when conditions demand change or action, he is perturbed, often at a loss; he begins to brood, whine and complain.

Mercury here has a tendency to personalize his surroundings; the people he meets; and the things he sees, hears, smells and tastes. The astrologer's task, obviously, is to help the native draw his mental forces together, make them work for him, and refuse to take second best merely because it is convenient. His family is important to him, and so is a feeling that his loved ones are happy, even if they are far away. His mind is retentive; he loves the old and established. He is fond of antiques and fine old classics in literature, and has what might be termed an intellectual interest in food.

(Skye Alexander)

Your mind is focused on internal or personal issues, rather than on the outer world. You are something of an introvert, whose mental stimulation comes from within, from your emotional core. Thus it is difficult, if not impossible, for you to separate your emotions from your rational thinking processes. Your heart rules your head; and your decisions, opinions and ideas are colored by your feelings and your emotional attachments. You simply cannot step outside your own needs and desires to be objective. You take most things personally and see issues within the context of how they will affect you and / or your family; and you have trouble comprehending the larger picture. Because the source of your beliefs is emotional not rational, you cannot be swayed by a logical argument, and no-one can change your mind with reason or facts.

Your thoughts are often centred around your home and family. You're the type who monopolizes the conversation with stories about your children's latest accomplishments and talks about your grandchildren to total strangers. Your interest in the home and family also could lead you to pursue a career in an area such as interior design, real estate, family counseling or pediactrics.

Though you may not be adept with language or the written word, your ability to communicate non-verbally is keen. You seem to 'know' what others are thinking and feeling; and with your loved ones and close friends you may have an unspoken rapport that makes you appear psychic. Perhaps you are able to communicate best through a non-verbal medium such as art or music. When you attempt to express yourself in words, however, you often sound confused or nonsensical. No matter how good your ideas are, you have a hard time explaining them to others in a logical, orderly way. As a result, other people sometimes think you are less intelligent than you really are, which can cause you to feel insecure about your own mental abilities.

You are inclined to think a great deal about security issues and attempt to find ways to make yourself feel secure. Sometimes this can translate into seeking wealth and financial stability. You might involve yourself in money matters professionally - as a financial consultant, stockbroker, banker or estate planner - or simply put a lot of mental energy into money issues, investments, real estate, etc.. Your concern with financial security can make you miserly and tight-fisted at times, though you are likely to be quite generous with your children and family members.

A traditionalist, you hold on tightly to conservative opinions and attitudes. The 'old ways' make you feel more secure, and any new or different ideas can seem threatening to you. You want to surround yourself with others who think the way you do, who reinforce your beliefs and give you confidence that you are right in your convictions. People whose opinions conflict with yours are often viewed as subversives or enemies; and ideas that appear to threaten your security are deemed dangerous. Because you take everything so personally, you are likely to interpret differing opinions as attacks or criticisms of you. And because your thinking tends to be insular and narrowly focused on yourself and your immediate environment, you have a great deal of trouble understanding that others simply may march to a different drummer from yours.

Uranus aspects to your Mercury will make you more intellectually progressive, unconventional and fair-minded. Jupiter aspects will increase your sociability and expand your interest in people and cultures beyond your own family / community.

(Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker)

Mercury placed in the sign Cancer indicates a mind that is influenced by deep-seated emotional patterns. Unconscious desires will cause the person to look at some facts and ignore others, the results being bias and prejudice and interference with objective thinking. At times, if Mercury is badly afflicted, the natives may be untruthful without consciously realizing it.

Mercury in this sign can indicate a good memory, because of the emotional intensity that is associateed with the thoughts. There is also a tendency to absorb much information subliminally or to learn by osmosis. In fact, much of the mental process occurs on an unconscious level, although it is manifested as conscious intent. Since people with this Mercury position are highly susceptible to the attitudes and opinions of those around them, their thinking can be influenced by emotional appeals, such as patriotism. They are very sensitive personally; they believe that whatever is done or spoken in their environment is especially directed toward them.

Much of the thinking centers around the home and family. There is considerable business ability in matters related to food, domestic and consumer products, and real estate.

(Julia and Derek Parker)

An excellent memory and imagination is likely, but there is a tendency to look to the past - sometimes too nostalgically - so that forward thinking and planning can cause apprehension and worry because of having to consider and accept the unknown. It is important that the individual realizes that his or her imagination tends to work overtime, all too often negatively, so that when things go wrong (or appear to do so) they are turned from molehills into mountains. If creativity is indicated elsewhere in the chart, the imagination can be made to work in this way, perhaps through writing or telling stories. A love of the past may be seen in a fascination with history, so long historical / romantic novels or family sagas will be enjoyed - or even written. There is usually tenacity, especially when studying, but the subject may change his mind, perhaps mostly when emotional reactions clash with logical thinking and the assessment of situations. The Sun and Moon signs often show which response will dominate.

If the Sun sign is Cancer, the Cancerian imagination is increased and must be given positive or creative expression. Undue worry is extremely likely; and if pessimism or depression are hinted at elsewhere this placing will increase such possibilities. Intuition and love of the past will be enormously enhanced, as will moodiness. The thinking provess is almost totally intuitive; and ideas, thoughts and decisions will be made quite instinctively, which is right for this combination.

Natal Mercury in Cancer (2)

(Lyn Birbeck)

You have a sympathetic, though potentially moody, mind.

You see life in terms of comfortable and uncomfortable situations and ideas; and so you discuss matters with a view to creating a feeling of safety and avoiding confrontation. Other feels reassured by this, and so consequently is receptive to your point of view. You try to be receptive to Other and thereby develop mutual understanding.

You tend not to see what you do not want to see, because certain issues remind you of feelings of insecurity that have more to do with the past (childhood) than the present. As Other tries to push his or her point home, disagreement and argument ensue, which is ironic, seeing as unpleasantness was what you were trying to avoid in the first place.

(John Townley)

Although you have a fertile imagination, you share your fantasies only with your dearest and most trusted friedns. This part of your life is very private, and those few who share it are privileged indeed.

Don't be too cautious about sharing your feelings, however, because even a casual lover should know something of what is going on inside you. Otherwise you will not reach a satisfactory level of love and communication in an affair.

Once you are truly involved with someone, however, your lover becomes everything to you. For you, the idea affair is one in which both partners are truly lost in each other, needing no outside contact or stimulation for happiness. Unlike more sociable types, you would enjoy being stranded with your love on a remote tropical isle with only each other for company and affection.

This may be the truest and most total form of devotion, but you should avoid being overprotective of your lover. That tends to have the opposite of the desired effect, making your partner feel cramped and in need of elbow room. As long as you both know that you are each other's firm refuge, that is enough for security and happiness.

(Robert Hand)

You often let your emotions tell you how to think, and you find it difficult to look at things objectively. But your mind is retentive, so that once you have learned something, you aren't likely to forget it. In fact you prefer ideas that you have known and understood a long time because they have become familiar. Certainly you can learn new things, but it isn't easy if they seem threatening or challenging.

It may be hard to drop your bad habits of thinking. Often you aren't aware of how or why you think as you do. Many of your beliefs and opinions come from your family, who are very important to you. As you get older, you may have some difficulty changing any wrong ideas that you learn now; so be sure that the beliefs you adopt really work for you and are of practical use in coping with the world.

When you are emotionally upset, your whole view of the world changes. At such times, don't take your outlook too seriously, because it will change again when you calm down.

Because you are naturally cautious in your views, you are not likely to get carried away by some new enthusiasm that later proves to have no real value. You are bored by fads and much more concerned with proven ideas.

(Freda Edis)

Much emotional intensity is given to the thoughts when Mercury is placed in Cancer. People with the placement have highly sensitive minds and are likely to be protective and defensive of the way in which they think, rarely showing how they arrive at the conclusions they reach. While they have the ability to register information at an emotional level, they can also use this characteristic to withdraw into hurt and moody silence if they have been wounded by words. This happens because their thought patterns are influenced at an unconsious level by thte impressions and people they become attached to; they can become cranky and stubborn if these are unharmonious or unsettled in any way.

Often others see them as difficult to know and hard to understand, liable to bias and prejudice if upset. Bias towards her son was evident in Maia's protection of Hermes in the face of Apollo's anger - even though she knew that her son was concealing the truth. To help themselves balance such tendencies, people with Mercury in Cancer may benefit from cultivating some objectivity and detachment concerning their deeply emotional thinking patterns. If this does not happen, then they may, at an early stage of life, develop ways of defending their real thoughts from the people closest to them, much as Hermes did when he deceived his mother by hiding under the bedclothes, pretending to be asleep, after stealing the cattle.

(Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas)

Keynote: Perceptions are communicated sensitively and imaginatively.

Symbol: A poetic recitation stirs the emotions of a crowd.

People with Mercury in Cancer can sway the public with their oratory, but they need to guard against being so eager to make an impression that they gloss over their own convictions. They may be tempted to say what they think their listeners want to hear or are willing to accept. Thus, they gain a reputation for being opportunistic when they are really only anxious to please. THey need to turn to their powers of introspection and be completely honest with themselves. Otherwise, their persuasions can too easily be altered by circumstances as they drift like rudderless asilboats blown hither and thither by every breath of opinion.

The mind is retentive, especially in matters pertaining to family history and bygone times. An instinctive feeling for hte archatc gives them an aptitude for dealing with antiquities and an interest in museums. The ability to turn back to the past makes many Mercurial Cancerians natural psychologists. The works of Carl Jung, who popularized the idea of the collective unconscious and who write extensively on the symbolism of fantasies and dreams, typify this associative mode of thought. The shadow side of Jung's over-accommodating Mercury loomed up in his early willingness to co-operate with the Nazis, even though he soom repudiated their racist philosophy.

When Mercury is in Cancer, the mind may not be especially original, but a compensating psychic permeability permits the absorption of ideas without labored explanations. If the Sun is also in Cancer, the intuitive powers are intensified, but they may be denied recognition because of the reticence of the sign. The Sun in Gemini indicates a literary bent and gives logic and precision to a style which verges toward the fanciful. The Sun in Leo imparts a cheerful, whimsical approach to life which may be reflected in a picturesque style of verbal and literary expression.

Mercury in Cancer often gives deep sympathies and a vivid imagination. If such a person hears of a flood or earthquake in some part of the world, he can visualize the havoc created by the disaster and commiserate with the unfortunate victims. In extreme cases, the tendency to dwell upon melancholy images dissipates time and energy through worry about the vicissitudes of others and fear that similar troubles might befall one's own loved ones. No matter how dauntless a Cancerian may be, he is vulnerable where his family, especially his children, are concerned. He needs to avoid brooding over calamaties, past, present, or potential, and to cultivate faith in his own reason and intelligence.

Mercury-Cancer people may not be outstandingly intellectual, but they are usually kind and well-meaning. They have a tolerance of human frailty based on an ability to sense the mental state of others and to sympathize with their problems and anxieties. They respond to feelings as much as to facts, realizing that if an individual feels something intensely, then this is a legitimate part of his world of reality.

Cancer brings out the passive side of Mercury, making the mind receptive but not always capable of discrimination. There is a liability to be swayed by appeals to the emotions, even against the dictates of common sense. If, however, mental stability and depth of purpose reinforce the innate sensitivity of the Cancerian, he may become the psychologist who studies the art of healing as well as the science of suppressing disease. This integrative kind of psychology does not require degrees or diplomas, but may be practised by anyone who genuinely wants to help others.

(Isabel Hickey)

Here is an extremely emotional and receptive mind that can be drowned in its own emotions if the person is not careful. Cancer rules the instinctual consciousness; and while there is sympathy and feeling strong, this sign is too receptive, and can be swayed by the senses too readily. Argument with this type of mind arouses stubborn resistance, but an appeal to its sympathy is the way to help it grow in understanding. Makes the mind passive, but not a stable position for the mind. They are extremely psychic people, and find it difficult to learn by study, but absorb knowledge by listening to others.

Natal Mercury in Cancer (3)

(Bernice Grebner)

If the Sun sign is Cancer:

This combination lacks the ability to communicate feelings to the extent that Sun Cancer / Mercury Gemini does. To these people, feelings are very much in the realm of their personal reality, but this influence does not give the tendency to speak out. Therefore, these people may not be given credit for a lot of things they do. They can be very psychic and very perceptive. The problem, if one exists, is that it is their nature to keep things to themselves.

This combination represents a strange paradox. They do not necessarily seem emotional on the outside to others, because it is difficult for them to release things outwardly. They also do not know how to show others that they really are fully responding with symoathy and compassion. It is more of a personal emotional lesson, learning to deal with their own emotional life and problems, so at times they seem more selfish than they really are. People with this combination do not seem to want to reveal how they feel. One of their traits is that they do not look you in the eye when they talk to you; perhaps, not wanting to indicate in any way their inner feelings that they seem to hold for themselves. Part of this is due to their lack of self-confidence.

They may even have marvelous success in the outer world of social and career activities. They can, if they choose to, be very good at picking up the mood of the public, but how they capitalize on this talent is up to them. The Mercury in Cancer cannot easily identify with expressions, and it is this Mercury influence that makes these people worry about self with the complete lack of bringing help from others on the outside.

Naturally, unless other configurations say differently, these people must force expressions, and gamble on being considered weak (as they put it) by showing emotions. They have to be made to realize that it is a strength and a healthy experience to express very intimate emotions, and not a weakness. This is why so many people with this combination have stomach problems.

On the other hand, it may be a very great lesson for these people to feel something in the extreme, becoming fully aware of an emotion and dealing with it, at first in private in an intense way before they are capable of showing emotion to others in the outer world or relationships. They need to fill the cup so full that they cannot sem to hold it. When the cup of emotions and feelings overflows, this is the time whent hey have to share hurts and slights in an obvious way instead of crawling back into their shells. This could also be the parent who takes care of a family or family member quietly going about the business of domestic affairs, perhaps secretly feeling like a martyr. This position is not what it seems.

One would think these natives would be completely satisfied with domestic conditions, especially if those conditions are peaceful, but it seems they are constantly searching for the ideal home. In another sense, this may be the natives who have never lost the growing up years when memory serves them in a pleasant way regardless of whether growing up years were negative or positive. These people also cling to a parent long after maturity. The key for these natives is to stretch.

posted June 20, 2007 07:49 AM              

Thanks,

posted June 20, 2007 11:38 PM            

Mercury In The Eighth House

Mercury positioned in the eighth house produces an association with this house of joint resources. This position identifies you as one who is a natural investigator, always trying to get to the bottom of any mystery or problem. You can get at the truth of a situation. Here, the mind is used to study and relate to the deeper issues of life. You may also be interested in finance, taxes, insurance, or other symbols of resources held by others. Your interest in human behavior may prompt study and investigation in that field.

There can be a tendency to brood over such serious issues as life after death, and you may well have psychic gifts. However, before encouraging the development of these talents, it is essential to study the influence of Neptune and the Moon in the birth chart. If they are adversely aspected to each other or to the Sun, the potential is probably best left undeveloped, since such a basically sensitive individual may easily be overwhelmed by feelings of this sort. In this case the flow of imagination and sensitivity should be developed in other ways. If there are no adverse indications, and especially if earth signs are prominent, all should be well, as long as you are given careful guidance from a thoroughly attested expert. Nevertheless, this placing must be supported by other indications of psychic ability in the chart.

A fantasy life An above-average preoccupation with sexuality is often present, and there may even be a very active and strong fantasy life. At best, this placing denotes an inquisitive, searching mind. You will probably be capable of research and the solving of mysteries, the type of which will be indicated by Mercury's sign placing.

A good ability for investment and the study of capital growth is also possible. If Mercury is in a water sign, the intuitive powers will be used to advantage; fire will add a natural enthusiasm (which could cause over-investment); air will denote a rational approach; and earth will indicate a practical one.

Mercury in 8th House
[Miscellaneous Interpretations]

Freda Edis:

Where Mercury is in the eighth house, the house of long-term relationships, there may be a tendency to collude with or submit to partners at an intellectual level. The eighth house issues of death, sex, and the inheritance of resources can cause people with this placement to be acutely aware of unconscious interchanges between people. Often they look for the moments of change and transformation in relationships which they can use to best advantage. These people may be penetratingly aware of the nature and motives behind sexuality and hidden agendas; in dealing with these issues, they may need to keep in bounds tendencies to be tricky, controlling and secretive.

Mercury's dealings in the eighth house sometimes have far-reaching consequences. No matter how tricky and controlling Pelops was in arranging Oenomaus's and Myrtilus's deaths in order to secure the throne of Pisa and a wife, he was unable to control the fates of the kin who came after him. We see something of the interrelationship of Mercury and Pluto in Pelops's tale; more so, since the eighth house is governed by Pluto in the natural zodiac and the story concerns a mortal. Exacting retribution by killing is a divine function, not a mortal one; and Pelops had usurped both Hades's and Hermes's functions by killing Myrtilus by trickery.

Canniness and an intense drive will work in tandem with the sign on the eighth house cusp when Mercury is placed here. Mercury with Sagittarius on the cusp may actively seek out lasting resources and arrangements which will give them the intellectual freedom to pursue their visions; others might regard them as self-seeking and uncaring. Mercury with Taurus could ensure that complicated legacies are dealt with practically and with great determination of mind, perhaps unaware how much other people might be upset by such a seemingly cold approach to death or periods of great transformation.

Aspects with other planets will also influence how these people deal with eighth house issues.

People with the placement might need to develop an awareness of a tendency to control others intellectually by coming to a better understanding of the nature of the darker, plutonic forces underlying their behaviour. A rational examination of destructive issues in long-standing relationships may counterbalance the tendency to lash out verbally when thwarted by partners. These people need greater consciousness of the benefits of self-mastery to release them from the stifling effects of repressed emotional energy.

Stephanie Camilleri:

This position of Mercury gives a deep, serious mentality; and although there may be the appearance of a breezy, easygoing nature, that is almost certainly a pose that has been adopted out of fear that the true nature, which is deeply serious, even solemn, will put others off.

These people may or may not be interested in money for its own sake; but they are usually very good at getting what they need when they need it. They generally know where to get the butter for their bread without necessarily working hard for it, and can't understand why others can't figure this out for themselves. This position often indicates an inheritance, although other factors will show if it is substantial and whether or not it will actually materialize.

These people may experience difficulty at some time during their lives over the question of their loyalty to some group. They may be put in a position where they will be asked to sell out, or choose one reality over another. They may or may not make the 'right' choice; but the facts will be fully known only to themselves. Courage will always be needed with this position, although they may or may not rise to the need. There may be knowledge of other spheres of life that can show forth as religious faith, spiritualism, creative writing of the imaginative or fantastic sort, or psychic activity.

There is a constant awareness of mortality, and either courage and faith in an afterlife or a terrible fear of death. They may face death every day in some way, either by their own chronic illness or by that of someone else who is close to them. They may have a job or career that involves risks, or working with other people who are at risk in some way; or death may haunt them simply because of their own paranoid fears.

If Mercury is under pressure from other planets, it can indicate a variety of mental problems, although great mental steadfastness under pressure is also possible. Once again, it is a question of rising to the occasion. There is also the possibility of the early death of a beloved younger person whose loss leaves them permanently changed somehow, either stronger and wiser or broken inside. Their own death is usually significant in some way, either by being dramatic, sudden, heroic or mysterious, or as the final act of a lifetime of courting death, or defying it.

This position of Mercury will contribute a certain charisma to the personality, making them attractive to others, although the nature of the attraction may be hard to define. It tends to give a pale or olive complexion, sometimes with many moles or freckles on the face. They are inclined to be thin, in youth at least.

They are drawn to extremes of style in speech, which can range from highly profane to affectionations of breeding, street argot, unusually low or high pitch, or the vernacular of some group other than their own. There may be a stammer, which comes from a self-consciousness over revealing themselves through their speech. Sometimes, without realizing it, they will take on the persona of someone they admire, changing thier role models and style as their interests evolve.

Bill Herbst:

Union: The more you communicate, the more you are on-track in your intimacy. Interactions need not be based on total agreement, however. While conflict in sharing is antithetical to many 8th house planets, here it promotes a sense of stimulation. As long as disagreements are purely mental, and not emotional, greater intimacy can result. But don't rely so much on ideas that you disregard the being-to-being connection. Also, be aware of your tendency to talk about closeness without ever surrendering into a truly united state. The challenge is to use the connection of your mind with another person's as a kind of 'radar fix' to show the path toward real merging of your spirits.

Transformation: Your thoughts lead you to the edge of what your personality can conceive; and though this may seem perverse - havina a mind that leads you beyond yourself - it's actually the most natural thing in the world for you. Develop a scientist's eye; investigate all the transformations going on in the world of your relatedness. Ask people about the significance of their changes; learn their languages, and consider yourself in the same terms. Keep in mind that it's not enough to simply think about transformation. You need to put what you learn back into life, to shift gears from being the scientist to become the guinea pig. After all, you are your own best experiment. The initial challenge is easy: to learn with your rational mind the syntax of transformation. The real trick lies in your mind's ability to teach your heart.

Sexual merging: Physically, your nervous system is sensitized to sexual intimacy. It intertwines with that of your loved. Stimulation truly resides in the vast network of neurological sensors that finally coalesce in the brain. Talk is often more sexual than touch, for you wish to merge with your beloved's mind. You're quite changeable in activity and response; and while this can be delightful in a lover, it can also prevent the steady build-up of intensity necessary for release. Sexual feelings may occur quite suddenly, even in inappropriate settings. Equally, you may think of a joke just after the experience of culmination, and, needless to say, this tends to disrupt the mood. Fulfill your curiosity about going over Niagara Falls in a barrel - your mind is the barrel; sexual power is the Falls.

Focused intuition: You are not so much a highly intuitive person as you are someone who is very interested in intuitive experience. Intuition is an invisible and largely indefinable process; and though you have the tools to be psychically sensitive, you don't easily relax into full trust of your powers. You stand back, wanting to check it out, to confirm it rationally and objectively. The pitfall is merely discussing the possibilities rather than using your intuition. The challenge is to tune your nervous system so you hear others thinking, or at least discern the pattern of their thoughts, if not the actual words themselves.

Shared assets: Your mind engages in perpetual bookkeeping, moving your resources around, reshuffling your worth. This can be energizing, a fully natural experience, in which case you enjoy the changes, or it can be enervating for your nervous system, in which case you gradually exhaust yourself with imaginary crises. The question here isn't how much you have, but what you do with what you have. Keep the money in motion - whether it is your own money or money you manage for others. Recognize that the significant time you spend thinking about resources is perfectly all right, for money and possessions are essentially a game to be played for your stimulation. Winning or losing is not the challenge; playing the game is.

Robert Pelletier:

Your highly developed reasoning ability probably resulted from your deep desire to know as much as possible. You constantly search for answers to all questions about life and about people's motivations. Your persistent inquiry reveals more answers than are found by most people. Your exceptional skill in investigating the unknown qualifies you for such fields as detection, research, financial counselling or psychology. Your early environment allowed you to develop your creative potentials and know that you could capitalize on them later. A higher education will enhance your abilities and give you the necessary skills to achieve your goals. It is to your advantage to continue your studies, no matter how successful you are, for it will expand your influence and increase your value to those you serve professionally.

You let people know that you understand their problems and that you have the skills to help them. You expect to be well paid for your services, because you know you are worth it. you look for opportunities to demonstrate your talents, and you are gratified when your efforts yield results. With your ability to help people with their problems, you should seek a career that uses this skill. Look for a field with growth potential, because you need freedom to expand as the demands for your skills increase. Your earnings should provide all the security you need for your later years.

Your career may be delayed because of family obligations. Your enjoyment of self-indulgent pleasures may also curtail the gains you could be making in your field, if you aren't investing the time and energy necessary to become professionally competent. You must establish some priorities in your professional and personal affairs. You feel you must prove yourself to the one you love and show that you have a firm foundation on which to build your ambitions. You may wonder if you are as competent as the next person; but don't be misled by other people's resources and skills - it's what you do with them that is important; and your ability to solve problems is a good place to start. See how your friends are achieving their objectives. Then, with good planning, you can accomplosh everything you set out to do, and more.

It will be rather difficult to find the best way to put your ideas to work. There will be no shortcuts; only by persistently developing and promoting your ideas will you get the results you want. This means that if you want people to know what you can do, you must become so proficient that everyone will beat a pather to your door for your services. Once you find answers to your own problems, you may then decide that you can help others with theirs. If you want to win patronage for your services, you must make some sacrifices, as every public servant must learn. If you are truly committed to your life's work, this won't be too difficult.

Trust your partner's suggestions concerning your career objectives. You probably recognize how valuable your mate is to you, and you want to live up to his or her expectations. Don't be afraid to change your mind when the evidence indicates that you should, for it is a sign that you are still growing. Maintain the highest ethical standards in everything you do. When you tell people only what they want to hear, you are not living up to your moral responsibility to them. You cannot afford to disappoint those who have come to rely on your expert judgement.

Howard Sasportas:

The 8th house entices curious Mercury to explore and learn from what is hidden and less obvious in life - to ferret out secrets, and probe into mysteries in search of the bottom line. This is the detective-like mind, with eyes that can see in the dark. Bordering on a voyeuristic preoccupation, Mercury in the 8th watches the kinds of exchanges that go on between people - at the bank, the stock market, in the bedroom or behind any closed door. They may penetrate the world of money and finance, or turn their attention to psychology and the occult, with a fascination for the mysteries of sex and death. Although often adept at communicating and sharing with others anything which is obscure, subtle, deep or profound, they prefer to keep their own thoughts and motivations secret. For those with Mercury in the 8th, experience is not fast-food grabbed hastily between appointments, but something to be savoured and thoroughly digested.

Many astrological texts advise those with Mercury in this house (especially if difficulty aspected to Neptune) to examine all contracts for possible misunderstandings before signing. What one person believes is being said or promised may be different from how the other person reads it. The same note of caution applies to wills and inheritances - problems with Mercury in the 8th sometimes manifest as entanglemnets with relatives over such things. Any difficulties stemming from childhood or adolescent sexual explorations with brothers, sisters or neighbours are worth considering, as well as early encounters with the death of anyone close to them. Their own death could be related to diseases of the respiratory or nervous system, so attention should be paid to these areas.

posted June 21, 2007 12:35 AM            

quote:

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If creativity is indicated elsewhere in the chart, the imagination can be made to work in this way, perhaps through writing or telling stories. A love of the past may be seen in a fascination with history, so long historical / romantic novels or family sagas will be enjoyed - or even written

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I love movies with historical settings such as the Count of Monte Cristo,Alexander,Aladdin,Pirates of the Carribean, etc. I know this might sound really ridiculous but alot of my daydreams are based on epics and other stories like those (Why am I revealing this? ). In fact, this passage just gave me the idea of going back to writing stories. I used to do that alot as a 9,10, and 11 yrs old. I don't know why I stopped at anyrate.

posted June 21, 2007 01:58 AM            

EDIT: All info now typed up. Enjoy!

Natal Mercury In Scorpio (1)

(Grant Lewi)

You see, hear and experience with the legalistic attitude of a judge. Anything that stands before the bar of your senses isn’t likely to get off easily, for you interpret critically what passes before your eyes, and not always kindly. As a result, when you give expression to your judgment, you may earn the reputation for having a sharp tongue. Your powers of observation are acute; you have the eye of an eagle, and a kind of permanent awareness of what is going on around you makes it impossible for anyone to put anything over on you. You have eyes in the back of your head; and a sixth sense tells you things that the other five misses. Criticism is part of your process of taking in the world; and you never take in much of it without passing judgment in the process. You observe accurately but not always charitable; the nerve channels through which impressions reach the brain are apparently filled with acid, which eats away the superficialities that impress others and leaves only the stark realities to be recorded on your cerebellum. You are therefore a first-class critic and debunker, seeing through phoniness, sham and pretension and, since your eyes and ears rarely deceive you, pretty generally getting to the truth of what goes on.

(Sydney Omarr)

In Scorpio, Mercury indicates one who is sensuous, able to perceive hidden meanings, shrewd and curious; he tends to be suspicious, but his suspicions usually have foundation in fact. He is capable of understanding high finance; fascinated with the stock market, he draws charts in an effort to understand various trends. This native knows how to appeal to the opposite sex – and would gain much by selling specific items such as clothing to either sex. He sees through false claims and people who make them.

The astrologer must teach the native to overcome his fear that greater security is constantly required. Often, no matter how good his financial position might be, he worries, and can make himself miserable over little things while neglecting important projects.

(Skye Alexander)

You are not satisfied with superficial understandings, and seek to know the ultimate truths of existence. What goes on behind the scenes, what makes something work, what hidden forces are responsible for exterior conditions – these are the things you want to know. You enjoy probing beneath the surface to uncover the secrets within, whether those secrets are in the human mind, the body, business, government, the Earth or the Universe. As a result, you might be interested in psychology, science, medicine, espionage, geology or the occult.

You have an insightful and penetrating mind, and are able to focus your attention deeply, for long periods of time. Infinitely curious, you leave no stone unturned and don’t give up until you’ve found the answers to your questions. You ferret out information, analyze it until you understand its essence, then use it for your purposes. Thus, you could be good at almost any type of research. Your love of intrigue may also manifest as a passion for mystery stories and detective novels.

Often your ides run counter to the conventions and beliefs of your time. This is because you refuse to accept something until you’ve proved it to yourself. And, as you examine traditional beliefs, you frequently discover flaws or shortcomings, which lead you to formulate your own theories. Such theories may be revolutionary and have a transformative effect on those they touch.

In order to stand up against strong opposition, one must be firm and determined in one’s convictions. Certainly this is true of you. Once you’ve decided upon something, nothing can make you give it up. You can be incredibly stubborn and emotionally attached to your ideas. And because you’ve come to your understandings through unique, personal and often unorthodox ways, no-one can change your mind with a logical argument. Highly intuitive, you often ‘know’ you’re right, even if you can’t back up your beliefs with facts.

You express your viewpoints vehemently and convincingly, and enjoy a good argument with a worthy opponent. There is a certain amount of charisma in your verbal delivery; and when you speak you project power, authority and intelligence. You intuitively know what others want to hear, and are clever at manipulating their emotions as well as the information, so that you can hold an audience in the palm of your hand and win them over to your way of thinking.

You also tend to be direct, blunt, and even bitingly sarcastic in your speech. You get straight to the point and don’t mince words – and if you step on some toes or offend some sensibilities in the process, so be it. But you also exhibit keen insight and knowledge, especially regarding the nature of the human condition. You truly understand the inner workings of the psyche and dark side of life, and are fascinated with it. Not only do you have unusual powers of observation, but also you are very intuitive, even psychic, and can see to the core of people and situations. Not much gets by you, and you are not easily fooled. This intimate knowledge of the hidden recesses of the human mind makes you skeptical, suspicious and pessimistic; you often expect the worst from people.

Venus and/or Jupiter aspects to your Mercury will make you more tactful, optimistic, and willing to engage in social amenities.

(Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker)

Mercury in the sign Scorpio gives an intuitive mind capable of profound insights. The natives’ perceptiveness can lead to critical examination of human motivations; they see things accurately, but not necessarily charitably. They may use sharp language, since they refuse to mince words in order to spare the feelings of others. They prefer to say exactly what they feel, or else remain silent. They carry on many plans and endeavors in secret, and communicate only where communication serves a definite purpose in terms of what they are trying to accomplish. However, since they can be swayed themselves by strong emotional factors, they are more objective when not personally involved.

These people have determined minds and great resourcefulness, which enables them to surmount obstacles that many would find impossible to deal with. If Mercury is afflicted in Scorpio, there can be scheming, plotting, and ulterior motives.

People with Mercury in this sign make good detectives, investigators, and researchers. In highly developed types, there is scientific ability arising from their curiosity about the inner workings of the energy responsible for objective manifestation. This leads to insight into the fundamental processes of change.

If Mercury is afflicted in this sign, the mind can be preoccupied with sex. There also can be a mistrust of others.

(Julia and Derek Parker)

Scorpionic intuition and intensity combine with Mercurial logic and a rational approach. Determination is a strong point, and the individual will have a sleuth-like mind, leaving no stone unturned to discover the truth of a situation and root out every aspect of it. Here is someone who perhaps could become a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or detective. While the placing usually works well, there can be obsessional tendencies, especially if Mercury makes a negative aspect to Pluto. Mercury is not very communicative in Scorpio because the necessary outgoing qualities are not sympathetic to that sign. The subject will be more inward-looking, going in for a great deal of self-analysis, perhaps tending to hug psychological problems, and finding it very hard to open up. This must be countered, especially during stressful periods. There is much intellectual and imaginative potential, and sometimes a fascination with the occult, crime and mystery.

If the Sun sign is Libra, Mercury in Scorpio adds considerable determination and purpose; Libran indecisiveness will not be such a problem. The individual may seem indecisive, but will intuitively know what line of action to take, even if he or she procrastinates over actually making a move. Natural Neptune charm will be expressed, but there can be minor or major tendency to plot and scheme. However, if determination and a sense of purpose can be directed positively towards the attainment of objectives and a more rewarding lifestyle, this is a good combination.

If the Sun sign is Scorpio, the thinking processes of Mercury will be as powerfully intense and intuitive as they can be, with formidable determination and sense of purpose. The intellectual powers are usually excellent, but the individual could become obsessive – perhaps over attaining an objective or a compelling interest. There will be a fascination with mysteries, which will be relentlessly pursued and researched. It is important for there to be a compelling objective of this kind; otherwise, these powerful qualities can go sour and turn into Scorpio jealously or resentfulness.

If the Sun sign is Sagittarius, this Mercury placement acts as a good counter to the Sagittarian dislike of detail. It reduces the hastiness of Sagittarius and endows natural enthusiasm with a little caution. Any tendency to over-optimism is also controlled, and Mercury in this position generally adds depth to someone who is basically more concerned with the overall breadth of problems and situations. Sagittarius is a fiery, emotional sign; and Mercury’s placing gives some dampening emotion to the intellect, making for an individual who is a force to be reckoned with and has a sense of humor.

(Isabel Hickey)

Quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. Intensely secretive. Hate to commit themselves to any positive statement, so don’t try to pin them down. Extremely perceptive, and know the other person’s weakness so well they know where to strike. Fierce acuteness of mind. Farsighted and clear-sighted, but are often overcritical. ‘I’ of the ego and sixth sense strongly developed. Must watch tendency to pass judgment. Can be the judge, the jury and God help you! Excellent in secret service or in police work. Have to regenerate the mind stuff where the creative functions are concerned. Too much emphasis on sex if the total chart does no show evolvement.

Natal Mercury in Scorpio (2)

(Jan Spiller and Karen McCoy)

Static

When you indulge in Scorpio fears of losing power over others by exposing your motives and desires, your communication can become defensive, secretive, and vindictive. Constant inner turmoil may result if you withhold expressing your thoughts, fearing that hidden emotions will be exposed and you might become vulnerable. As a consequence, either anger, impatience and intimidation can be brought forth, or all communication may be withheld, thus alienating other and isolating yourself.

Dynamic

When you focus on manifesting what is valuable to you, your keen perception can penetrate and reveal to others the deeper meaning of their communication. You are able to unveil those powerful secrets that can transform all concerned. By your sharing the Scorpio incisive ability to perceive the heart behind the words, hidden motivations are exposed within their communications. This awareness can make a positive contribution to others and actually increase your insight and sense of self-possession.

(Lyn Birbeck)

You have a penetrating, though potentially paranoid, mind.

You see life in terms of underlying emotional truths and realities rather than merely how things look on the surface. And so you are able to penetrate Other’s real or hidden motivations and consequently clarify them and resolve problems issuing from them. You also champion confidentiality, which inspires Other with trust and respect for your insights.

You tend not to see that Other is more straightforward and not so convoluted in his/her thinking. Consequently, you make problems with Other which only exist in your suspicious, anguished and obsessed mind. You also tend not to see that making secrets of things creates the very difficulties they were supposed to avoid.

(John Townley)

You are probably very intrigued with the physical basis of sexual expression – the relationships between the different parts of the body in lovemaking; the advantages and disadvantages of various sizes and shapes in any sexual situation. There is much artistry in this, which you should develop. This area is often ignored but it can be great help in getting the most out of sex.

The dark and powerful aspects of sexuality have great appeal for you, and you really enjoy sex most when it is rather secret and mysterious. Too much bright light on the workings of a relationship tends to take away the excitement, making it too mundane. Thus, a clandestine affair has a special appeal for you, and you may act secretive about an affair even if there is no reason to be so, except for the excitement it provides.

Don’t let dated social taboos prevent you from trying every kind of physical sexual expression that appeals to you, even if it’s labeled perverse or bizarre by the sexually fearful. Repressing such desires will only frustrate you; and expressing them with a willing partner will greatly enhance your sexual experience and understanding.

But you should avoid using sex or sexual attraction as a tool to gain power or influence over others. Sexuality can flourish only when it is free of other motivations.

(Robert Hand)

You like to get to the bottom of every problem, and are fascinated by mysteries and unanswered questions. To you, searching for answers is almost more interesting then the answers themselves. A born investigator, you may be interested in solving crimes and in detective work. Or you might want study the secrets of nature through science. You are interested in what goes on in people’s minds. You like to find out about everyone’s secrets, but you can keep a secret if you want to.

When you are emotionally upset, your thinking gets confused by your feelings, so try not to make decisions at those times. When you’re angry, you can speak very forcefully, but if you are not careful, your words may hurt someone’s feelings. At least you are forthright and say what you mean.

Your sense of humor is rather sharp. When you see someone pretending to be more than he or she is, you are likely to make sarcastic and biting remarks. You may only say them quietly, but others will know what you mean.

You must learn to be more open with people. Something about you may make others uneasy, giving them a feeling that you have some deep, dark secret, which makes them fearful. You enjoy giving this impression, but it does hurt your relations with others. To prevent this, you should try to build up a reputation for honesty with adults and friends.

(Freda Edis)

The placement of Mercury in Scorpio can give incisive thinking and a penetrating mind capable of deep insights into the motives which underlie human behavior. Often mistrustful of their own and others’ feelings, people with this combination can, if aroused or hurt, inflict severe wounds on others with their sharp and sarcastic tongues. Much of their thinking is conducted in secret, and, like Hades, they have the mental resourcefulness to lay careful plans before they act. They perhaps need to be aware of a tendency to scheme and plot destructively when their ideas and thoughts, to which they are emotionally and often subjectively attached, are challenged. Often acutely perceptively and thoughtful in a silent way of others’ unexpressed needs, these people can be profoundly charitable as long as they are not emotionally threatened themselves. Gentleness and consideration are two characteristics they may need to acquire to offset the negative inclinations of the placement.

(Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas)

Keynote: The mind penetrates to the essence of matters.
Symbol: A cryptographer endeavors to crack a code.

Mercury in Scorpio gives a talent for research and the ability to solve mysteries. This person may be shrewdly perceptive, or he may merely be critical and suspicious, but in any event it is best to deal with him straightforwardly. Like all true Scorpions, he can a spot a phony immediately and while he may not be able to give an adequate explanation for his feat of detection, he is usually right. Often all he can say is that he ‘just knows’. His reasoning mind is connected with his combative instincts in such a way that he relishes the challenge of solving puzzles discovering secrets. Frequently, the Mercury-Scorpio individual is justified in his skepticism. His X-ray intellect easily penetrates smooth surfaces of expressed or implied promises to reveal the hidden motives, personal inadequacies, and unconscious prevarications which lurk below. Anyone obliged to do business with type of person should bear in mind that flattery will be of no use whatsoever, but that simple honesty will suffice. Otherwise, they may find themselves the target of ‘the sharpest tongue in the zodiac’.

People with Mercury in Scorpio are invaluable in financial concerns where they keep an eagle eye on accounting procedures. In insurance companies, they have an uncanny faculty for unmasking false claims and fraudulent tactics. In show business, they can quickly discern genuine talent. They make dogged investigators in any field, and do not flinch from facing facts or exposing corrupt practices. They also have the manual dexterity to handle machinery and keep it running efficiently.

If the Sun is in Libra with Mercury in Scorpio, the temperament is basically moderate and conciliatory, but with a certain disputatious streak or contrariness. Individuals with this combination have been able to make diplomatic use of their gifts of satire and repartee. The Libran Sun may give so much suavity that people fail to realize how acute the intellect really is.

If the Sun and Mercury are both in Scorpio, the mind is imbued with courage and fortitude.

If the Sun is in Sagittarius and Mercury is in Scorpio, a visionary disposition may turn the mind to philosophical pursuits. Mercury then serves as a restraining influence which prunes away the excesses of the Sagittarian tendency toward verbosity.

The un-evolved Mercurial Scorpion can be the most vindictive of enemies.

Higher types of Mercurial Scorpions have a profound interest in the mysteries of life, and can express obscure ideas succinctly. They also know when to remain silent. Part of the fascination they exert is due to their taciturnity, which conveys the feeling that they know more than they care to divulge, and which makes them the epitome of the proverb ‘Still waters run deep’.

Natal Mercury in Scorpio (3)

(Bernice Grebner)

If the Sun sign is Libra:

Mercury in Scorpio gives an x-ray intellect. The Sun in Libra manner is diplomatic and has a certain amount of social charm. These people can appear to be very suave, but underneath this Libra manner is a mind that is as sharp as a razor. When all is said and done, they can’t be easily taken in. This is the type of person who should be in a business where they unmask fraud. In any given situation with others, they come on with charm and sometimes flattery (which they themselves can’t stand when others play on them), but behind their charm is an unmasking talent for sensing the truth in another’s statements.

This combination is Air and Water. This means they tune in on both the intellectual and the emotional wavelengths. With Mercury in this Water sign of Scorpio, it gives depth to the mind and the ability to understand deep feelings about things. The Scorpio mind can be fixed, determined, stubborn and very demanding. However, the Libra ego wants to harmonize wants to adjust to others, but the thinking process will not always go along with the Libra instinct to adjust to others.

They can express very controversial ideas, rebellious tendencies with tact and diplomacy, so that others will not know what hit them. Their Scorpio minds are stubborn, penetrating, and their ego instinct is harmonious. These qualities can either work against them or make them the greatest detectives, the greatest social reformers of the whole zodiac.

There is not end of belief in the persons they are in love with; but once hurt by a loved one, they can become very vindictive. It is not as outwardly vindictive as Sun Scorpio, Mercury Scorpio, but is even more destructive when they want to be because others are pulled off-guard so as to give these natives considerable headway.

When it comes to Scorpio Mercury’s thinking, nothing is impossible, and this becomes the root matter of all things in their lives. They may have exterior charm, and others may think they have convinced them or won, but do not expect them to ever forget or to ever fully give up, because they won’t. There is a constant undercurrent with this combination. Libra charm, Libra diplomacy, Libra harmony, but underneath those, their thoughts are very fixed, determined, and never accepting defeat. These natives will win in the end; watch and see. Water is sometimes hard on Air, for it makes Air heavy and immovable. However, Air in this case can cause so much commotion that it can create heavy emotional storms within their communications with others.

If the Sun sign is Scorpio:

These people are very courageous. When we speak of Scorpio, we are speaking of a force that knows no defeat, a force that does not know what the word ‘impossible’ means. These people always figure out a way to get whatever it is they want. The mind is deep and penetrating, and can always figure out a way to get out of any difficulty. With this combination, the door is wide open for the Scorpio purpose in life. This influence gives psychological talent, as a natural born psychologist. It gives an easy, natural concept with the healing arts. The other side of this picture represents a consciousness and an ego that is all or nothing, saint or devil. These people will try anything or die in the attempt. Unless other influences in the chart dilute, this gives those possessing it heroic tendencies, capable of the most unusual and out-of-the-ordinary feats.

This is double Water, but Water that has power, Water that has pressure and strength. This represents a fixed sign, so there is no giving up on anything. It causes them to take something to the limit of its potential. It forces; it sometimes pressures, and either will be so dedicated with a purpose, or an idea, that will make a big dent in their world, leading to success, or will practically destroy itself in the attempt. In many ways, this says ‘succeed or die’. You will never fool these people, for they can immediately see the very bottom of a situation or problem. They may not be very talkative, so where they are concerned you must learn to read gestures, facial expressions, and mannerisms. Theirs is a nature best suited for some type of research, whether in healing research, occult research, detective work, or any of the human mysteries of our existence.

These natives have a way of popping back to full life when you think they are the most defeated. Their minds will always find one spark that can cause them to rejuvenate their thinking and build anew, creating a continuous productive effort. It will be comparatively easy for them to get rid of anything in their lives that is not productive. However, this same talent can cause a very destructive streak, annihilating all in its path depending upon other aspects to this same Sun/Mercury in Scorpio. There can be a devious side to their natures, even with the best of them. It is just a question of degree, as to how much of a devious nature they possess. Even when it looks like they have forgotten, they have not forgotten, for at a later time the subject or project will come up again in a new form, but still the same old subject underneath. The will with this influence is to succeed above and beyond average, despite the form they have to use to succeed. They should get into some very productive field from the very beginning, and direct this great force to some special purpose for the general mass good, achieving something not only for themselves but also for humanity in general. If that is accomplished, it loses some of its selfishness.

This is POWER; direct it. This influence gives power for the unspoken art of communication. Without any communication from you, they will still know. They project an atmosphere when they enter a room, an atmosphere that is immediately felt by all in the room though no words are spoken. The silence is almost as successful as actual words. It is telepathic communication.

This combination creates an abundance of famous people. The Sun and Mercury here does not accept the word ‘impossible’. [The most difficult combination to find for famous people is when the Mercury is in the sign ahead of the Sun.]

If the Sun sign is Sagittarius:

Mercury is the open door. It guards a person’s conscious thoughts. It is our sense reactions. When the doorway is in a Water sign, the Fire ego has to come through this water sheath. If this Sagittarian Sun has enough drive, enough enthusiasm for a given ego satisfaction, it will come through this Scorpio doorway with much more depth, much more fixed determination. This combination forces the Sagittarian into a more singular determined direction. The Mercury in Scorpio mind will limit Sagittarian excesses, forcing a more stable pattern, and will give a tendency for the Sagittarius to get to the bottom of a pursuit.

The Sagittarian will still be variable, curious about all manner of things; but the Mercury in Scorpio will give it longer staying power on a given interest and be more inclined to penetrate into the full meaning of things. This is a Mercury that may not be as expressive as other Mercury positions. However, they will be very expressive when they make a full evaluation, and not until then. In other words, they eliminate all that they believe to be unnecessary in communication. They may not have as much obvious outward charm, but they have a kind of magnetism that is hard to resist. This Sagittarian shows how they feel or what they think by facial expressions, mannerisms and an enthusiastic sparkle to their eyes. The ego trend of the Sun needs the Mercury sign to express. When a Fire sign comes through a Water Mercury, not all enthusiasm and excitement will show. [When the opposite takes place, a Fire Mercury and a Water ego, much more enthusiasm than is actually the case may show.]

Mercury in Scorpio can easily recognize a phony, but the average Scorpio doesn’t always understand why he/she thinks something or someone is phony. When this Scorpio is coupled with the Sagittarian Sun, it gives easy understanding, with the ability to explain why this or that is phony. Others should be very honest with this type of Sagittarian, for honesty and the direct approach are the best. If you want someone who can easily spot phony insurance claims or any other fraudulent financial schemes, these are the people to do it. If you are dealing with these people, and you think you can get by with something or that you are more shrewd than they are, think again, for in the end these people will expose you and run rings around you.

Scorpio is known for certain secretive qualities; and Sagittarius is known for being outspoken and exceptionally honest. The coupling of these two signs indicates people who will know when to speak and when not to speak. Sagittarius all by itself does not know when and when not speak; they just blurt it out. However, with this influence to the Scorpio mind it makes all the difference. These people also have the talent of hypnotizing you into something they want you to do against your total acceptance. Those who would do this are the more un-evolved Sun Sagittarius/Mercury Scorpio.

The Sagittarian egos will have an abundance of knowledge at their disposal, but the Scorpio Mercury will not express it at all. The other person will always get the idea that these Sagittarians know more than they are saying. The secret ace in the hole for them is their sense of timing. Be patient; just wait, and in the end you will hear from these Sagittarians, perhaps not what you want to hear, but the truth. This is the arrow that goes straight to the target and right through it.

posted June 21, 2007 03:48 PM            

Mercury In The First House

Mercury in the first house suggests you have an inquiring, intellectual outlook on life, and you reflect this strongly in your personality. You're very talkative and have little problem communicating your thoughts effectively. You enjoy making connections, and trying to learn a little about many different subjects. You adapt quickly to changing situations, and the personality is very witty and quick. You are mentally restless, always seeking new and useful information. Your speech and writings are expressive of your distinctively personal opinions.

The influence of Mercury will be very powerful, adding an extra dimension to the Ascendant, and will give you a bright personality. The need to communicate will be very strong. Here is someone with a quick repartee, who is talkative and changeable. There will be a tendency to generous gesticulation, and you will have a rapid, nervous hastiness.

The aspects that Mercury receives must be considered with great care, since they will color the outlook on life, for example making you optimistic or pessimistic. Mercury's sign placing is also influential.

Versatility will be considerable, but the superficiality and restlessness of Mercury must be countered. Quickness of mind is very likely, with witty, sharp answers coming thick and fast. If there are negative aspects from the Moon, Mars or Uranus, nervous tension could cause migraines or stomach upsets. A tendency to worry unduly may lead to hypochondria. The nearer Mercury is to the Ascending degree, the more it will influence the Ascendant and the whole chart. If Mercury is within eight degrees of the Ascendant, refer to Mercury conjunct the Ascendant.

Mercury in 1st House
[Miscellaneous Interpretations]

Freda Edis:

Mercury in the first house displays a need for self-expression through a questioning and inquiring attitude to life. People with this combination gain a sense of identity by knowing how their own minds work. Sometimes they want it recognized that the intellectual way in which they perceive the world has some validity. They are curious, occasionally impulsively talkative, and can express themselves fluently using logic and reasoning to good effect. If aspects to Mercury support it, there can be an interest in languages. Thinking about the world and their part in it is of great importance to them, and they are likely to spend much of their time engaged in mind-orientated activities, needing to gather knowledge and communicate it to the world around them, particularly where Mercury conjuncts the Ascendant.

The sign on the Ascendant will colour the way the planet's functions are displayed. Mercury with Capricorn rising, for instance, may express itself through a steady, careful mind and cautious speech, while Mercury here with Sagittarius rising might mean an identity realized through impulsive thinking on a grand scale. Occasionally, tactless speech is an issue for these people. Close aspects to another planet will also influence the way a first house Mercury operates.

There is a myth concerning Hermes which has some bearing on the Mercury-in-first-house need to actualize ideas. When the rather belligerent Herakles was on a visit to Troezen, he stopped at the wayside because he was tired. As he sat to rest, he leaned his club against a statue of Hermes which had been erected by the side of a road. The club took root, put out leaves and grew into a tree. Herakles, it seems, needs to produce, rather than destroy, on this occasion. Even a weapon of war can be made productive if a Mars-inclined person stops for a while to take stock and allows a fertile flow of ideas to develop beyond the present moment - a characteristic not often associated with Herakles. The tale is an indication that the Mercury principle and the Mars principle can be combined successfully.

Alternatively, people with this placement, especially if the planet is near the Ascendant and / or in hard aspect to other planets, need to ensure against overemphasizing an intellectual approach to life. On first acquaintance, other people may see them as lacking at some deep level the qualities of warmth and intuitive empathy needed to balance the inquiring mind - nobody in his or her right mind would have called Herakles deeply empathic, usually. But, through their life experiences, Mercury-in-first-house people may come to an intelligent understanding of how to work on the impulse to act first and think later, though the energy for communication will always be high.

Stephanie Camilleri:

This location of Mercury makes a good counselor. It is an excellent position for a teacher, actor, lawyer, politician, or anyone in similar careers as it gives the power to speak well, both to groups and in conversation. If there are limiting aspects from Saturn, or if Mercury is in a Water sign, the ability to speak may be diminished, though the desire to communicate will be strong, and so may find an outlet through writing, singing, or film-making etc.. In any case, people with a first house Mercury are almost always extremely quick, apt and flexible, and retain their youthful energy and enthusiasm throughout life.

Often they feel themselves to be the spokesman for a group and will feel called upon to speak out in defense of someone or something. They are usually witty (particularly if Mercury is in Virgo, Aries or Gemini) and are able to use words to make others laugh. They are excellent teachers and, even if they don't teach as a profession, they will be useful throughout life instructing others, showing them how to do things.

They are able to put things into words much better than most people. Everything that they experience they frame in words and images, for themselves if not for others. If they can't put something into words or images it hardly exists for them. They are quick studies, able to pick up ideas rapidly from cursory reading or listening to others speak. They may become distracted by words or ideas, too caught up in them, if Mercury is in an Air or Earth sign. If it is in a Water and Fire sign, it is the thing itself they see, not the word for it, so this is a good position for an artist or poet who works more with images than with facts or concepts. Sometimes Mercury in a Water sign even causes a problem with words.

They are often athletic, or physically active, loving motion and the use of their bodies as it is the sport itself, the game and the action, that they crave, and not so much the victory as this position is not competitive of itself. They are willing to take the less glorious roles in games or other group activities if the performance of the group as a whole requires it, as being part of the group or team is what appeals to them, although if they or anyone else appears to be treted unfairly they will not hesitate to speak out.

They either love speed or are insensitive to it, and, if other factors are present, could have a car accident at some point due to their attraction to fast motion. They usually like the roller coaster and the faster, wilder rides at the amusement park. They usually love airplanes and flight, especially if Mercury is in a Fire or Air sign, and make good pilots.

If there are conjunctions or oppositions to Mercury from Saturn, Uranus or Pluto, they may stammer or have a speech impediment, or possibly even brain damage. A retrograde Mercury may turn them towards writing, photography, art, or acting - anything where images or ideas can be constructed in private, because they may feel that the words they need to express themselves don't come easily enough in the spontaneous give and take of conversation.

If other chart factors are present that indicate long life, this position of Mercury strengthens them, giving a sort of perpetual youth and a strong ability to rejuvenate. However, if sudden death factors are present, this position will intensify those as well. In high political office, it increases the potential for assassination. In some cases there is the possibility of an early death due in part to a distaste for aging.

Those with Mercury in the first house always relate well to young people, and will have young friends even when they are old.

Bill Herbst:

Self-expression: Mercury in the 1st reveals that your spontaneous personality is nervous, mental, quick to perceive, and just as quick to change direction. There is a certain 'short-term' orientation; the mental focus is immediate, but your attention span is short. you love solving riddles and are fascinated by any activity that propels your mind into immediate action. As with every Mercury interpretation, this can be altered significantly by its sign position and interplanetary aspects, and even more importantly by thte placement and condition of the Sun. It is also affected strongly by environmental factors like education, family, and sociocultural background. Those considerations aside, however, the basic indication of the house placement alone suggests that you have a loquacious, verbal type of persona, one which is quick and clever.

Natural persona: Mercury indicates a mental face, with an emphasis on rationality and cognition. How talkative you are depends on other considerations, but your persona certainly indicates an interest in communication. The mask is nervous and quick, as likely to question others as to reveal anything about the self.

Your name-tag says, 'I am curious, interested in your mind, mobile in my focus, and objective in my perceptions'.

Self-awareness: Activation of the thinking, perceiving, and communicating functions of the nervous system promotes awareness of your true inner self. The more you think, the more you awaken to yourself. It's not at all necessary that your thoughts be about yourself; in fact, the more they remain objective perceptions of the world around you, the more self-awareness results. Curiosity about the world and everything in it wakes you up.

Boundaries: The bridge between inner and outer realities is associative, rational, and nervous, with mental interplay providing the connection. Expression without thought or communication without content can send the two environments spinning around one another in a meaningless whirlwind, while too much nervous energy or strictly impersonal calculation alienates them, destroying the linkage. The challenge is to analyze and communicate with both environments without falling into cold, mechanical rationality.

Vitality: Clear perceptions and logical thinking provide support for your essential vitality, but vulnerability to nervous disorders may exist. Observe yourself; learn as much as you can about the physical and mental disciplines that keep you vital.

Robert Pelletier:

You express your opinions so precisely that no-one questions your meaning, and you eagerly accept a challenge from anyone who disagrees with you. Your respect for education and your insatiable curiosity give you an advantage over less-informed competitors. When you take time to examine all the details, you solve problems quickly and accurately. You try to understand others' motivations, and you learn a great deal from them. You learn from your experiences, and you enjoy travelling to promote your ambitions. Getting away from the daily routine renews your mental and physical energy. Your great creative potential only needs to be developed so that you can establish your credentials in your field. You know what you can and cannot do, and you strive to maintain the highest ideals. You put a lot of thought into your endeavors, and you have faith that you will succeed. You may seem lucky, but actually you are inspired and imaginative in using your creative gifts. Your partner should understand how important it is that you achieve your goals. You feel that your mutual interests will be better served if each of you compromises to some extent.

You try to live each day as fully as possible, for you know that your future security and independence depend on it. You know how to put your ideas to work for your later years, when you want to be free from obligation. You take advantage of opportunities provided by your friends, and you don't forget favors you have received in the past. You realize that your future is in your own hands, and you won't really feel fulfilled until you see tangible evidence of your success.

It is important that the public consider your ideas substantial. You depend on associates and competitors to show you where your skills need refining. Although it isn't easy for you to admit you are wrong, you concede when your career goals are at stake. You are willing to learn, which will help you grow. You show good judgement in relationships, and you don't make binding commitments lightly. You learn something from everyone you contact. Your early environment taught you the importance of establishing roots. Having to stand on your own in spite of frustrating early conflicts stimulated your creative potential. Because of this conditioning, you find it painful to be confined by a daily routine that restricts your freedom. But you are willing to work to gain the professional status that will give you that freedom.

You may not realize that your greatest liability is neglecting the people on whom you depend for success. When you understand what the public expects, you will accept the responsibility of serving them. This will be your greatest contribution to your own future. You have much insight into what's wrong with people, and they look to you for understanding. This insight is useful in your career because you understand your competitors' weaknesses.

Failing to implement your creative talent and exploit your ideas would put you at a disadvantage. You must put your faculty for communication to work if you want to benefit from it. Underestimating your worth would be a tragic waste of inspired imagination. You can accomplish much if you respond to the needs of the society and let your creative talent become its asset.

Howard Sasportas:

Those with this placement become conscious of themselves and life in general by being curious and asking questions. They are meant to be spokespeople - distributors of ideas and information or channels through which one discipline is linked to another. They are usually highly analytical, both of themselves and of others.

Mercury is a mimic and will take on the qualities of the sign it is in and any planet it closely aspects. Therefore, these need to be carefully examined. For instance, Mercury in a Fire sign or conjunct Saturn is more prone to cautious assessment prior to committing the self to activity. Things have to 'sit' right within them before they can act. Mercury in a Water sign or aspected to Neptune will evaluate the perceptions through the feelings and emotions, unlike Mercury in Air or aspected to Uranus, which will speak and act from a more purely objective stance, having (often in a flash) computed the bigger picture.

Those with Mercury in the 1st imbue the world with significance on the basis of what they think about it. If they don't like what they see, rather than blaming the world 'out there', they should try changing their own attitudes and then take another look at what they find.

posted June 21, 2007 04:42 PM            

Thats me, I have Mercury in Aqua 1st house..

I analyze too..

"Those with Mercury in the 1st often maintain a youthful appearance throughout life. Sometimes there are frequent changes of environment in the early years, as if they are forced from a young age to view life from different angles"

WOW this is so true for me...

posted June 22, 2007 02:37 AM              

I actually have my mercury conjunct my ascendant. I dont really look youthful at all, maybe because i have a mercury sextile saturn in aqua aspect adn saturn in third? But i really do hope i'll stay looking youthful though! People always thought im the oldest among my siblings..

I've been trying to learn how to benefit from this placement by understanding it more. Truly appreciate your help. =]

posted June 22, 2007 05:51 AM            

Where are you getting these interpretations?

For the record, would you mind doing Mercury in the 12th. I'm still trying to figure how I could possibly have a placement like that in my chart. I need to figure out just how it affects my life...

posted June 22, 2007 12:20 PM            

Mercury In The Twelfth House

Mercury resides in the twelfth house producing an association with the subconscious mind. This position suggests that your thinking is strongly colored by experiences and subconscious influences. Decisions are often based on feelings, rather than logic. You're secretive about your thoughts and ideas. You may often be shy and hesitate to speak your ideas, especially in a public setting. You are somewhat hampered by learning difficulties, and you may have difficulty attaining your potential because of this. You lack confidence, but hide this fact very well.

There may be conflict between the logical elements of Mercury and the intuition and emotion of the twelfth house, especially if Mercury is in a water sign. It will be excellent if you can rationalize your intuition and channel the emotions, expressing them with all the positive communicative abilities of Mercury. Another conflict can sometimes be felt when solitude is demanded yet there is at the same time a need for communication and social intercourse. Perhaps hours will be spent talking on the telephone!

A love of literature (especially poetry) can be present, plus considerable critical acumen. Sometimes people who work in the media, especially the radio, have this placing. If there is a flair for technology, the engineering side of communications can be worthwhile. In other cases your work may speak for itself - for example, that of a photographer who develops your prints alone in a darkroom. For those with religious faith there is usually a great belief in the power of prayer, and a deeply-held conviction that positive thought always has its desired effect.

Mercury in 12th House
[Miscellaneous Interpretations]

Freda Edis:

If Mercury has this placement it can lead people to some intellectual understanding of the unity of all life. Able to use their considerable mental powers to tap into the collective, these people may develop an awareness of the archetypal and mythic roots of being. Merury here can be at its most alchemical, trying to connect the worlds of the conscious and unconscious minds, both for their own and for others' understanding, successfully or not according to the aspects made by other planets. The placement can lead to introspection and, occasionally, to obsessive thoughts; and there may be an occasional need to retire from society in order to think difficulties through clearly. Often, Mercury in this position is in touch with collective forces which may not be coonsciously flet by other people, but are experienced at the feeling level. It indicates people who sometimes may not find it easy to distinguish their own thought processes from those of others; boundaries around thinking are clearly an issue here.

Part of the process of change Mercury has to submit himself to in the twelfth house is the neptunian dissolution. The black and changeable water breaks down all that has gone before, becomes formless and uncertain before it is transformed into the dark substances which eventually becomes the philosophical stone. Purification in the chaotic waters of the unconscious is a necessary and feared part of change, before the separation from unconscious identification can occur. Those who take the risk of fishing in Neptune's waters must face being swamped by what they find there, if only in imagination. If Mercury is to rise again in purified form, he must first submit to the death of old ideas and associations, allowing his old boundaries to be penetrated and to dissolve.

House cusp signs can reveal the way in which this sometimes impressionistic Mercury works. Mercury with Cancer may prevent objective thinking and encourage a clinging attitude to sometimes outworn ideas and emotions. Becoming aware of the appropriateness of a response to difficult circumstances is often a problem for these people. Mercury with Capricorn on the cusp of the twelfth house can incline people to overemphasize or repress the practicality of their thinking when they feel threatened by structures imposed on them by others; it may impede the process of necessary dissolution. But aspects from other planets to Mercury here will often indicate in more complexity just what it is that Mercury picks up from the collective at an unconscious level. Where the twelfth house is involved, dissolution mayu take place whether the person is aware of it or not.

People with Mercury placed in this house may come to develop their potential as way-guides between the everyday world and the world of a universal and archetypal imagination. Thinking and speaking in images to the colective would be of some importance to them, or they may draw on the collective for the kinds of symbolic language they need in order to communicate their knowledge of deep levels of the psyche. In any case, they may find a periodic need to be sunk in the collective, neptunian waters of the unconscious. But they may also need to guard against the effects of obsessive thinking, and to protect themselves from the invasive thoughts of others.

Stephanie Camilleri:

Individuals with Mercury in this position may have a damaged ego; if not, then their ego has suffered in childhood from pressures that have toughened it. Their sense of self is often damaged in childhood, which can make them wary of exposing themselves and their feelings. They may even hide their own feelings from themselves, trying to be a different person from who they really are.

They are usually sensitive to the pain and trouble of others, though they may react in a variety of ways, one trying to help while another turns away. Some feel that they have such a hard time solving their own problems that they have no help to spare for otehrs. If there are no other aspects of twelfth-house planets, they may try to help by preaching or lecturing, or by recounting what happened to them along the same lines, rather than by giving warmth, sympathy, or real assistance.

It is not a good position for self-acceptance. They are likely to spend a good deal of time fantasizing about themselves, refusing to face themselves squarely. It is hard for them to accept their own faults and weaknesses, and equally hard for them to believe in their own virtues and strengths. They often enjoy reading stories of other people, watching movies, plays, and so on, that give them the illusion of getting to know the truth about people. This is the soap opera position par excellence. They may even pry into the lives of others, looking for similarities to themselves, seeking justification for their own foibles (even, in extreme cases, watching people through binoculars, reading other people's mail, etc.). They are inclined to gossip about others. In most cases none of this is malicious, just the result of curiosity.

If they respond to this position at a higher level, they will want to understand themselves and will seek help from counsellors, astrologers, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychics, or the like. They may study these subjects themselve sin an effort to achieve more self-understanding, possibly even becoming practitioners.

This is a good position for a writer once the tendency to fantasize has been put into perspective. There is an instinctive quality to the mental processes. Sometimes they have trouble with straight facts, reacitng better to the vibes in the air. They learn by absorbing ideas, not by study per se.

On the lower levels of response, they are inclined to overdo on eating, drinking, or drugs. Actually, sensible fasting is probably the best way for them to deal with problems.

They are inclined to be overly susceptible to praise, because they are so hungry for self-acceptance, and for the approval of others that will allow them to approve of themselves. If they rise to positions of power, they are apt to be led astray by flattery, if they are not careful.

Bill Herbst:

Imagination: Your rational mind is an open and inspirational screen for the projection of your dreams. It extends into your own unconscious and beyond, into the collective unconscious of humankind. However, communication is often confused or misunderstood. Sometimes you don't know how to express yourself in clear language, and sometimes others aren't tuned to your imagery. More often, you misinterpret what they're saying, infusing their words with images from your own unconscious. The challenge is to communicate your thought-dreams in as clear a way as you can. Realize that your mind is sometimes not your own, and learn methods for communication other than verbal.

Unfocused intuition: Intuitions are perceived as thoughts, as if they were the conscious product of your own rational processes. But they're not; they're signals you convert into thought-patterns. Your own thinking tends to flow with the patterns moving through culture, so you are a bellweather for currents at the cutting edge of society. New cultural vocabularies are natural to you, and your thinking changes with the times. To maintain clarity and minimize the dangers of misunderstanding, you must learn to be quiet mentally. The challenge is to understand that your mind is not merely a rational machine. Listen for the signals, and locate both their orgins and their destination.

Withdrawal or isolation: You need to clear out the clutter of other people's thoughts from your mind, to take out the garbage. Too much input or exchange can fry your brain. If you don't get relief from the strain, your thoughts become garbled. It's not that you need to stop thinking. It is no more possible to stop the mind than the beating of your heart. But can can take a break from attending to your thoughts. Allow your mind to go its merry way without paying so much attention. You don't need to 'read' every thought. Direct the focus of your consciousness upward, beyond the cacophony of thinking. Leave it behind for a while; and when you return, your understanding will be clarified and refreshed.

Selfless giving: You love to figure out solutions for the psychological puzzles of people's lives. Be careful, however, that you don't rurn into an advice machine. However pure your motives may be, there is a tendency to get carried away in trying to solve other people's problems. Even when they seem to want exactly that, you're better off letting them come to their own solutions through probing conversations. Remaining neutral is an essential part of your service. Occasional periods of silence - 'speech fasting' - are very beneficial, since too much talking can overwhelm your sense of order.

'Past lives': The way you perceive, think, and communicate is linked with past life patterns. Your nervous system is already programmed to interpret life in specifc ways, ways that now must be made conscious. Misunderstanding with others are frequently a carryover from prior incarnations where the dissonance originated. Don't presume that communication is clear, especially if there is conflict or difficulty. Assume the opposite, that there is something beyond what meets the eye, and investigate the possibilities by visualizing images of yourself and the other person in past life settings. The more you distinguish then from now, the easier it is to reach the satisfaction of mutual agreement. The challenge is to work into your past lives to establish the origins of disagreement or misunderstanding, to finally reach clear awareness of the facts in any current situation.

Robert Pelletier:

Because of your early upbringing, you feel free to pursue your own life and establish a foundation that is comfortable for you. Your parents probably had more faith in you than you realized, and they undoubtedly brought you up so that you could succeed on your own terms. Although you are cordial to others, you reserve the right to make your own choices and achieve goals that you alone define. You are rich with ideas, but at first you have some difficulty finding ways to apply them. You generally try not to attract attention, especially when you are attracted to someone and don't want the relationship to gain public notice. You are clever at negotiating your financial affairs quietly until you feel confident that they are sufficiently developed to be made public.

Your interests are diversified, so you always have an alternative direction to follow if your current program fails or becomes uninteresting. Because you work quietly behind the scenes to develop your skills, your career is far more advanced than anyone can tell from appearances. You have the ability to apply your basic talents and resources to achieve your goals. The financial rewards of such a career will satisfy your need for security.

Developing your skills should have a high priority, because others may not always be available to help you. A good education will teach you how to use your poetntials to accomplish your objectives. You cannot afford to neglect the trivial details that you encounter in your career, even though they seem like a waste of time. Through dealing with these chores, you can become independent of the people you would otherwise have to rely on. This is the only way you can be in complete control of any situation that develops in your career. Your career should involve working with the public in some way, for you are qualified to solve many kinds of social problems. Social service might be an attractive field for you, and it would give you freedom to come and go as you choose in performing your duties.

You don't mind making some sacrifices for those you love, but you resent it if sacrifices is expected as a condition of the relationship. you should choose a partner who sympathizes with your goals and who will work with you to reach them. You would resent a partner who is unwilling to share your highs and lows, successes and failures, or someone who constantly asks you to indulge him or her. You will work without recognition until you feel qualified to establish yourself firmly in your career. You consider this a good investment in developing your creative talents.

Careful self-analysis may help you appreciate your creative potentials and undestand how using them positively can help you reach your goals. You tend to underestimate your abilities and credit others with more talent, even though theirs is no more significant than your own. You are sometimes more generous and thoughtful to your friends and associates than they deserve.

Howard Sasportas:

Mercury doesn't exactly wander into the 12th house - he falls into it. And, like Alice, he finds himself in a strange land, encountering things that are awesome, helpful and fascinating.

Primarily, a 12th house Mercury attempts to build a bridge between the conscious and unconscious minds - to integrate into conscious awareness what is operating in the hidden depths of the psyche. This involves a twofold process. First, those with this placement must venture into the imaginal realms of the unconscious, although if they don't choose to take that initial step, it doesn't matter - what is down there will sooner or later come up to get them. Secondly, once in that realm, they must look around, take notes and then come back up again. If they get stuck down there, forgetting to return up again or unable to do so, then someone else will have to be called in to rescue them.

What does all this mean? Those with Mercury here - through introspection, soul-searching, psychotherapy, good literature, or dreamwork - need to explore the unconscious to find out what makes them tick. Depending on the aspects to Mercury, some of what is stored there will be useful and productive and well worth bringing to the surface. However, other stuff may need to be sifted through and sorted out - especially learned impressions and memories from the past which, consciously remembered or not, distort and obscure how information received in the present is being interpreted. In order to see what is in front of them more clearly, they will have to clean up some of the early life (or previous life?) debris cluttering their immediate perception and awareness.

After a while, uncollected rubbish starts to stink. If they don't take some of that 'garbage' and convert it to compost, then the dissolving action that the 12th house has on any planet in it begins to take effect: in this case the mind (Mercury) breaks down. I mentioned that if Mercury doesn't go down there, what's down there comes up and gets them. Mercury in the 12th could suffer occasionally from intrusive thoughts of an obsessive or disturbing nature. If difficultly aspected, paranoia and the fear that others are talking or plotting against them could result. Innocent facts and people will be distorted to give support to these fantasies.

Planets in the 12th house are not sure of their boundaries. The question for Mercury there is, 'whose mind is it anyway?'. An openness to thoughts and undercurrents in the atmosphere makes it difficult to know what thoughts are their own and which belong to other people. In fact, some people with Mercury in the 12th may be so afraid of 'losing their mind' that they compensate by being super-rational, only believing in what can be statistically proven or tested. This placement also gives a secretive mind, which hides what it is thinking from others. However, if Mercury is not too badly aspected, there are psychic abilities, a vivid imagination, and access to the accumulated wisdom of the past.

I have met some people with Mercury in the 12th who are insecure about their mental abilities. It may be that they understand much more than they are able to put into words, or suffer from learning or educational difficulties. Conversely, those with Mercury here are sometimes involved in helping others who have problems with speech, reading, hearing or mobility. Whatever is in the 12th house is not just there for our own consumption - we can often use these energies to help or serve other people. There may be sacrifices that have to be made for brothers and sisters, or something unusual about the relationship with them.

posted June 22, 2007 09:33 PM            

The 12th house has been referred to as 'the house of self-sustainment or self-undoing'. With Mercury here, negative thinking could be the root of many problems, while learning to use the mind and imagination more positively may be just the needed ingredient to transform obstacles into blessings. "

I also have to isolate myself, particularly after an intense day at work, to clear all of the lingering convos with other people and this is why I value my alone time, to clear all of this out.

posted June 25, 2007 05:20 PM            

Edit: All parts posted.

Natal Mercury in Pisces (1)

(Jan Spiller and Karen McCoy)

Static

When you indulge in Pisces fears of losing a vision of how perfect the ideal could be, you may sacrifice reality for a private world of fantasy. You may withhold intuitive perceptions for fear of being invalidated by others. Then the ability to communicate clearly becomes muddled and lost in the distractions of your emotional world. When you retreat into your private reality and exclude interaction with others, you may lose those relevant perceptions that can help to make your thought manifest.

Dynamic

You can focus your attention on the reality of spiritual poverty and confusion that is seen in daily life. This vision inspires you to rise above fears and make a real contribution to others. Communicating your creative and intuitive abilities allows others to enter through into your psychic perceptions. Ideals can become a healing reality in the world when you make a tangible contribution by communicating your intuitive vision.

(Grant Lewi)

Your sensitiveness to impressions from the outer world is conditioned by the use they can be to you personally. You see, hear, feel and taste what you want to. If you want to like a pie, because someone you love made it for you, it will actually taste to you like the best pie in the world. If you want to dislike a drawing, because someone you dislike drew it, it will look hideous to you. Your approach to things is far from scientific; you have to struggle to exercise an objective judgment – to see anything for its own sake, without the intrusion of some personal irrelevancy that alters your vision and therefore your judgment. If your best friend has the voice of a screech owl, you’ll think it music; and if your worst enemy were a Caruso, you’d actually believe he was singing off-key. Depersonalization of the approach to life is what you need to study, if you are to see the world as it is and not always in it a reflection of yourself. You probably think you are the fairest-minded person in the world, and may be as far as abstract justice is concerned. But in what reaches you through your senses, beware of the intrusion of personal biases. Let a spade be a spade. Even if it is digging your own grave, you can’t make it into a screwdriver by wishing you didn’t have to die!

(Skye Alexander)

You rarely pay attention to the here-and-now or the sidewalk in front of you. A dreamer, you are more concerned with your fantasies, your creations or the spiritual world than with remembering to pay your phone bill or studying for an exam. The day-to-day functioning of the mundane world doesn’t interest you in the slightest; and sometimes it’s hard to determine if you really live here on Earth or are just visiting.

At times it can be difficult talking with you. You drift in and out of conversations; and your mind always seems to be preoccupied with something else. Your thoughts are not expressed completely or coherently; and often what you say is so highly personal, muddled or abstracted from reality that others have trouble understanding you.

You probably have a fantastic imagination and are artistically oriented. You see and hear things others don’t, and are acutely sensitive to color and sound. Communicating with images or music is easier for you than using language skill; even if you can barely write a coherent sentence, you are able to get your point across brilliantly in other ways. You need to be careful, however, not to let your imagination run away with you. In the extreme, this Mercury placement can signify someone who loses all touch with reality, communicating with spirits, seeing hallucinations or retreating into a fantasy world of his/her own making.

Your keen sensitivity might put you in touch with the unseen realms. Often you ‘know’ what others are thinking or feeling and you are quite psychic, or at least intuitive and perceptive. Because you are not so tightly bound to the physical world, it is easier for you than most people to develop higher consciousness and connection to the Source. You find solace in meditation, prayer and spiritual thought, and might be interested in religious pursuits.

Your retreat from the harsh demands of the physical world may take the form of escapism, rather than spiritual involvement – Mercury in Pisces tends to be lazy, and the spiritual life is demanding and requires much discipline. In some cases, this placement can signify a person who uses alcohol, drugs or other escapist tactics as a way of avoiding responsibilities or facing up to truths about his/her life. Or, you simply may find daily life boring and seek to heighten your experience of it with mind-altering substances instead of working to develop your talents in interesting ways.

Your lack of involvement with the ‘real world’ can cause you to be extremely idealistic and naïve; and you tend to look at life through the proverbial ‘rose-tinted glasses’. Gentle, sympathetic and trusting, you usually see the good in everyone and miss the bad. As a result, it is easy to fool you; and you can be taken in by unscrupulous people. You are especially susceptible to hard-luck stories. Impressionable and lacking in discrimination, you let others influence you too much and rarely make up your own mind. You can be swayed by any half-baked argument or idea. Often your opinions are based on hazy impressions or romantic notions, and lack substance or logic. You need to exercise special care in important business or personal decisions, signing contracts, making investments, etc..

I Saturn aspects your Mercury, you’ll be more practical, realistic and mentally disciplined. Mars aspects will make you more assertive and individualistic.

(Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker)

Mercury in the sign Pisces indicates a vivid imagination and a photographic ability to visualize thoughts and memories. People with this position are highly intuitive and telepathic on the unconscious level; they are, therefore, easily influenced in their thinking through subliminal suggestion, as they tune in unconsciously to the thoughts and moods of those around them. They arrive at conclusions not through logical thinking but rather on the basis of intuitive perceptions that float up from the unconscious mind. They learn more by osmosis than through disciplined study.

The mind can be biased by unconscious emotional patterns based on past experiences, as is Mercury in Cancer. If Mercury is afflicted in Pisces, the mind will be in danger of being trapped in memories, to the point that the perception of present reality is distorted. This can leads to neurotic conditions in extreme cases. Because of the extreme sensitivity and imagination of Mercury in Pisces, poetic and artistic abilities are often manifested. These people are sympathetic; they can imagine how it is to be in another person’s situation because they have been in similar situations themselves. At times their emotions are too easily preyed upon.

Pisces is a mutable sign, and fluctuating emotions can cause vacillation in thinking, decision-making, and communication. There can also be a tendency to daydream and woolgather. The fact that the natives like to be secretive and keep their private thoughts to themselves can result in shyness and seclusion.

Mercury afflicted in Pisces can mean a morbid imagination and a persecution complex. The individual may be oversensitive, and may sense personal criticism even when it was not intended. He needs to become more impersonal in his thinking and perception of reality; in this respect, this position is similar to Mercury in Cancer.

(Julia and Derek Parker)

The mind works in a disorganized and intuitive way; decisions and opinions will emerge rather than be consciously taken. Kindness, sympathy and empathy for others is considerable, but often there is forgetfulness and even carelessness, leading to confusing situations that the individual finds hard to resolve. It is difficult to develop constructive thinking and practicality. However, a practical approach is not entirely necessary, for the subject's strong intuitions are usually right. Much care is needed when coping with worry, for there is vivid imagination, which can make the subject fear the worst. A tendency to take the line of least resistance is sometimes combined with deceitfulness. Usually when untruths are told it is in order not to hurt others, but cunning is not altogether absent. This placing does not support self-confidence, and shyness or self-effacement is sometimes present.

If the Sun sign is Aquarius, the rather brittle Aquarian traits are softened, and the humanitarian qualities of Pisces are warmed and sympathetically expressed. The creative and very original imagination must find specific areas of expression, perhaps through some unusual, off-beat hobby or career. There is much more flexibility of mind and opinion, and usually the emotional level is greatly heightened, perhaps with less ability to be detached from the feelings. Aquarian pervesity and unpredictability are less evident, since Mercury in Pisces contributes considerable sensitivity towards other people's feelings.

If the Sun sign is Pisces, the subject often become rather scatter-brained, surrounded by confusion and muddle. However, here is also great kindness and sympathy, and a wonderful imagination, which must be channeled and constructively used. When under stress, there may be a tendency to deceive the self and others by falling back on negative escapism. Parents whose children have this placing must gently but very firmly encourage truthfulness. Any indication of creative potential should be encouraged, as self-expression though the arts (especially photography) is desirable.

If the Sun sign is Aries, Arian assertiveness is softened, and selfishness is less likely to be a problem(but consider the venus sign in this respect). Arian decisiveness will not be quite so strong; and forgetfullness, especially over small matters, can cause great annoyance to the active, energetic Arian. This is most likely when he or she is being unduly hasty. The increased intuition of the placing is a help, particularly when assesing competitors' action and reactions to situations. The emotional level of Aries is increased, but the subject is less likely to be easily roused to anger.

Naqtal Mercury in Pisces (2)

(Sydney Omarr)

In Pisces, Mercury presents the picture of a native whose fears may prove to be his greatest assets. Once the native recognizes fear as a challenge, he overcomes it and becomes a dynamic, useful member of society. Otherwise, he is obssessed by lack of security, lack of confidence, and a feeling of unworthiness.

He must face issues squarely, and be willing to admit mistakes, and to accept credit for a job well done. He should be helped to overcome false modesty. This native must learn to speak out, and to stand up for his convictions. He is able to analyze the problems of others but is shy about calling the shots on his own difficulties. He is fascinated by secrets, and would make a wonderful historian because he enjoys digging for facts. He is receptive to the needs of others, but must be helped to help himself.

(Lyn Birbeck)

You have a sensitive, though potentially deluded, mind.

You see life in terms of myriad impressions from which you are able to gain an uncannily accurate insights into Other's emotional and mental states, thereby making him/her feel that you are very much in tune with him/ her. You also see it in terms of intuitive images rather than logical interpretations, so you express yourself best visually, poetically or suggestively.

You tend not to see what the reality of a situation is when you become over-sensitized by your own desires and fears regarding Other, and so you consequently get the wrong end of the stick. You also tend not to see how you bend the truth in order to avoid confronting what Other is thinking, feeling, saying or being, because mistakenly you fear your own weaknesses being brought to light.

(John Towley)

You don't talk about sex very much, not because you are inhibited or uninterested, but because words don't seem necessary and can't really express your feelings on the subject. Your style of loving is very tender; and in expressing it you give yourself totally to your lover. All you really need for fulfillment is a quiet understanding of the love you share.

Although giving of yourself is your clearest expression of love for your partner, do not give, particularly sexually, unless you really feel like it. If you do, sex will become a task and an obligation rather than a free and open exprewssion of loving. If you want to be heavily self-sacrificing sexually, express it in bedroom games for that purpose rather than nin emotional servitude, which will only hurt your relationship.

You don't necessarily need to be in a relationship all the time, because you are able to sublimate your sexual energies through a wide variety of other channels when the right lover isn't around.

It may take time and care to find just the right person; but when you do make up your mind, it will probably happen in a flash. Ideally, in such a partnership you both will use sexuality to uplift and transcend your personalities, making your oneness greater than the sum of its parts.

(Robert Hand)

You have a very rich imagination, and you love to spend time daydreaming and making up fantasies. However, you may have to put more effort into thinking about the real world, because you can't live in dreams all the time. But you can put your imagination to good use by writing stories or poems, for you can see the world in ways that are hidden from many others. Your biggest task is to learn to communicate your ideas clearly to others. Sometimes you find it hard to speak or write clearly, for that requires you to present your ideas one at a time and in order. But your ideas don't come to you in an orderly way - you think with feelings and images.

Sometimes it is difficult for you to be objective, because your emotions influence your thinking so much. This means that makinjg decisions is difficult, but it also means that you are unusually sensitive to other people's feelings. You are able to sense their moods and emotions even before they say anything.

You are not interested in subjects like science and math, and you may find them difficult because they seem cold and unfeeling. Their careful logic is colorless and boring to you.

Sometimes this position means that you are easily influenced by other people. Certainly you pick up their ideas very quickly, even without knowing it. As you get older, you will have to be more aware of this tendecy, becasue without knowing it you may be influenced by beliefs that you do not agree with.

(Freda Edis)

Those people with Mercury in Pisces may be intuitive thinkers with impressionable imaginaitons. Highly receptive to the thoughts and feelings of others, their mental processes may reflect not logical thought of their own, but almost visual perceptions which they have unconsciously received from others. Sometimes they have difficulty recognizing quite where their knowledge comes from. Their minds operate with a sensitivity so great that they can misinterpret reality, particularly when the contents of the unconscious are stirred up by present emotional experiences. They can vacillate between two modes of thought, often expressing themselves as optimistic at one moment and pessimistic the next, communicating these states of mind in a very subjective way. Others may interpet this as wool-gathering and indecision, being unable to see the enormousempathy and compassion of which these people are capable. Recognizing the occasional need to draw boundaries between themselves and others and to trust their own mental processes would help those with Mercury in Pisces to connect with unconscious personal and collective emotional influences in a more realistic manner.

(Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas)

Keynote: The mind is imnpressionable and intuitive.
Sykmbol: A child listens to the sound of the sea in a shell.

ALthough Mercury is in detriment in Pisces, this position does not impair intelligence. It merely suggests that the mind resists the rule of pure logic and refuses to be pinned down to hard facts. There are, on the other hand, soft facts pertaining to the realms of instinct and intuition which are no less significant realities in the scheme of existence.

Mercury is also in its fall in this sign, showing that ultimately criticism and analysis must be dissolved in compassion, thereby making love rather than intellect the guiding principle of life. The attitude charteristic of this placement is expressed in the following quatrain: 'Reason has moons, but moons not hers lie mirrored on the sea, confounding her astronomers, but, oh, delighting me'.

Whimsical and poetic, Mercurial Pisceans are likely to succeed in fields which allow them to make use of their creative imagination and love of fantasy. Sometimes they are aware of circumstances and events without knowing how or why. Ideas filter through the pores of their minds, coming unhidden for obscure reasons. Pisceans may also have psychic or mediumistic talents.

Members of this sign are well suited to be writers, musicians, actors, or entertainers. Because of their mental permeability, they excel in any capacity in which the mind serves as a sounding board for the transmission of subtle impulses and impressions. Literally, their conduct depends upon the quality of the energies they conduct through their sensitive nervous systems. Often they appear to be absent-minded and indecisive simply because they are functioning as instruments for, rather than originators of, the thoughts that waft them hither and yon.

If the Sun is in Aquarius and Mercury is in Pisces, vision and imagination can be turned to widescale humanitarian enterprises. These people, although basically rational, may have unusual ideas which are in advance of conventional modes of thinking; and they are fascinated by the unsolved mysteries of science and what they may imply.

Hwen the Sun and Mercury are both in Pisces, the mind is more inspired, but it is also edged with a certain flightiness unless the ability to concentrate is shown elsewhere in the chart. These susceptible souls often suffer emotionally as a result of their thin-skinned impressionability. Frequently misunderstood, they may withdraw into themselves and become reclusive. Yet they are generally kind, helpful, and eager to be of assistance to people in trouble. They need protection because, due to their willingness to listen to any tale of woe, they are easily duped.

The Sun in Aries and Mercury in Pisces endow a person with less vulnerability to deception and a more positive disposition. He is better adapted to translate intuitive ideas into action and to give overt expression to the impulses which arise out of the unconscious.

According to tradition, Pisces is the sign of illusion and limitat5ion. These two concepts go together because most of man's limitations stem from his illusions. Reality knows no bounds; it is only the world of phenomenal appearances which is hemmed in by limitation. The only reason these illusions have so much potency is that they have some connections, however tenuous, with the reality they veil.

Metaphysically, the significance of the astrological dictum that Mercury is in its detriment and also fall in Pisces lies in the fact that the spiritually evolved person can begin to transcend the rationations of the conrete mind and start to function on the plane of pure reason and intuition. He grasps the implications of the ancient Oriental maxim, 'The mind is the slayer of the real', and its corollary, 'Slay thou the slayer'.

Throughout the zodiac, the mind has functioned as a bridge to reality. Once traversed, however, this bridge can be left behind. The Piscean appreciates the need for logic, just as a traveller is grateful for the bridge which spans a river, but he has no need to pick the bridge up and carry it along with him after it has served its purpose. He is now ready to ascend into the highlands of conscioousness from which the light of the spirit may be more directly approached. He ceases to need intermediaries because he becomes the thing he seeks. Love was the means and love the goal; and now the two are one.

Natal Mercury in Pisces (3)

(Isabel Hickey)

Poetical, psychic and visionary type of mind. Love of music strong. Have poetical ability and are extremely sensitive. Apt to follow instinct rather than reason. A very strong tendecy to react from the subconscious level rather than level of reason. Dependent on environmental conditions; and they react strongly to atmosphere. Tendecy towards moodiness and negativity that needs changing. Over-sensitive and easily hurt. Needs to guard against resentment. A gentleness and nnate refinement. Are unhappy in outer world. A strong desire to be 'out of it all' and 'on their way'.

(Bernice Grebner)

If the Sun sign is Aquarius:

This combination can indicate the compassionate humanitarian. Nothing is too much trouble for them to sacrifice for a cause or a friendship. They are very perceptive, and may not always seem rational, for their thinking is more inclined to be tuned in on the intangibles o f life. They can represent individuals who can have a conflict between the intellectual and emotional sides of their natures. At one point, their thinking may be from emotional considerations, and then at another point without warning they may face the same situations with their intellect. In the positive sense, this can indicate persons who can be very emotional about things, but at the same time look at things in a detached manner. This is a great talent if they learn how to use these two tendencies in a positive fashion instead of having them work against each other. This influence makes the people rather visionary. It is more than just creative intellect; it has to do with faith in something, a faith others do not seem to have.

This is an influence where the people truly believe reality has no bounds. They have a dream that usually is ahead of its time. These are the people who introduce a dream into practical concrete form. Others may tell them what they believe does not add up in relationship to practical reality, but the Aquarian influence sees something new, something that has not yet reached the common level of awareness; and the Pisces influence makes them dare to believe in their dreams, their visions. A certain spiritual love of all mankind exists with this placement. They put themselves in a position of sacrifice not only for what they want for themselves but also for what will eventually be good for all mankind at a future date. They introduce something that does not seem like it will work, which at first seems like an illusion to all others around them, but through the very strength of their beliefs they can turn the seeming illusion into a reality for all to understand. If at times they appear to be inconsistent, it is only that they see several ways of doing the same thing. They are drawn to those things in life that scientists have a hard time proving.

This is Water and Air. If the Mercury in Pisces gets into self-pity, then the Aquarian creativity is limited, if not altogether stifled. This gives the people great imagination, and coupled with the Aquarian Air gives the ability to communicate, thereby making excellent artists of one kind or another.

If the Sun sign is Pisces:

The big influence with this combination is that the ego and the mind do not easily respond to pure logic; nor are the words ‘practical’ and ‘realistic’ ever really accepted. To them, anything is possible, for they are dealing with the ability to tap the intangible world. Instinct, inspiration, and all the subtle nuances of life are where their reality begins and ends.

They can be poetic, idealistic, and given to experiences of compassion and love rather than development of intellect just for its own sake. These people can excel as dancers, musicians, writers, actors, entertainers, psychics or any vocation where they are dealing with creative imagination. If there is any difficulty with this combination, it is the tendency to be easily influenced by any tale of woe or distress, whereby they can be more readily imposed upon. Those people with this influence need to be made aware of the face that compassion is good up to a point, but it should not cause them to sacrifice themselves for others to the exclusion of their own goals and objectives in life. Another thing they must not do to excess is go off into seclusion. This Pisces influence gives the tendency to retreat rather than fight. Unless other aspects in the chart verify otherwise, these natives need to learn to fight for their own rights at times.

People with this combination have dreams and can inspire others. Naturally, there are so many born with this combination who are never famous and who let this combination destroy them at least in part, for they never get out of their dream world, let alone take the effort to put their dreams to practical use. At the moderate level, however, these natives are those around you, who understand, who feel for you when you are in trouble, and those who seem to really care.

Those born with this influence have a talent for bridging the gap between the intangible world and the real world if they put it to constructive use. They can be the connecting link for society, the bridge for others to cross. One thing they do have to learn, though, is to move forward, to move on and not carry with them the past or the bridge which is excess emotionalism about others and themselves.

If the Sun sign is Aries:

This is Aries that has compassion, given to inspirational ideas. There can be talent for both music and poetry that can be very original. They posses fine talents for sympathetic understanding of others, and can be leaders in the area of healing, music, poetry and psychic areas. Some of those who posses this combination may use the sensitivity of this conscious mind perception in activity to help others develop themselves in becoming more perceptive. Others with this combination may use the same sensitivity for poetic writing of musical expression and like talents.

With this combination we have Fire and Water. At times, the emotional Water element of Mercury (through thoughts and at times in self-pity) may dowse the Aries Fire and put out the initiative of leadership and drive. If this works the other way with the Aries ego stronger, it can push the Pisces Mercury to a full head of steam, accomplishing many great mental and creative feats.

Sometimes this position can result in the person feeling alone and unable to relate to others. They may not know how they are coming across to others. It can give an isolating influence, isolation from the crowd. In other words, they sit alone in their room or home, feeling very moved, but no one knows it.

These people are not as inclined to deceive or be deceived, but have a more optimistic disposition, than a double Water combination. However, Water signs have great imaginations, so that if used for poetry, music, writing or acting they can be superb. It is a question of channeling this intensity, and the ‘overflowing feeling’.

This is a combination of Fire and Water influences. Water has a slow realization of their deepest soul potential, whereas Fire can be impatient, impulsive, going 100 miles an hour. Whether it is a conscious awareness or not, Fire feels Water and it can put out their Fire, or dampen their enthusiasm.

This combination is more inclined to be full of enthusiasm and fire, and much more able to be foresighted, than Mercury in Pisces is with any other Sun combination. This Sun/Mercury connection causes the persons to have to go off by themselves to meditate and reconnect with a certain cosmic force they alone seem to understand. They are not always communicative in the common, ordinary sense, for many times they expect you to just know what they are thinking. In the ordinary, common, everyday part of their world, when they do talk they do not waste words.

Pisces Mercury gives these people a lack of discipline, but mostly it gives a conflict between holding to the emotional past or present and going forward into new future situations. However, if this combination of the Sun (Fire), Mercury (Water) can be projected and expressed toward others through teaching, entertaining or healing, they can become very successful, with a talent that is seemingly complex. When they themselves find the formula for its use, they can become extremely creative.