Mercury in Cancer in the Twelfth House
The placement of Mercury in Cancer indicates you have a need for those functions symbolized by Mercury to operate on the emotional level. Much of the behavior and many of the personality characteristics associated with Mercury in Cancer are a result of the basic emotionality of the mental functions. Mercury is generally challenged somewhat by its placement in Cancer. However, as symbolized by the natural sextile between Cancer and Mercury-ruled Virgo, there are very positive aspects of this placement that can be realized.
Cancer is the Cardinal Water sign. Most of the time, the active watery nature of Cancer symbolically drowns and dampens the changeable airy nature of Mercury, forcing the Mercury-associated functions to act through an unaccustomed element. This can produce a major amount of stress if the mental functions do not adapt to the emotional energy field represented by Cancer. However, if there is attunement, then the combination can become very powerful and positive, as you now have become “bi-lingual” as it were, able to unite and balance the Yin of the mental with the Yang of the emotional.
Insecurities
Having Mercury in Cancer, if you are insecure as a person, you are likely to feel unsure of your mental nature and, because of this, you reject the emotional attunement toward which your mental state leans. Your intellect feels overwhelmed with irrationality and you cannot deal with this. The ego subconsciously perceives its vulnerability in allowing the mind to function in a state in which the “irrational” (i.e., the ego’s perception of the unconscious Reality) may break through and threaten the integrity of the ego. Your response to this mental confusion is to withdraw mentally from active engagement. However, because you cannot escape the nature of your mental functions, you tend to communicate in an emotionally reactive manner whenever you are mentally confronted with “the irrational.”
Mercury in the 12th House:
Mercury in the 12th House is a difficult placement for Mercury, given Mercury’s association with mental forms that are specific, concrete in nature and able to be categorized and known. The 12th House symbolizes those things that are hidden, that are ambiguous, universal and transcendent and for your mind to be focused on this level of existence may be difficult. With Mercury in the 12th House, you may find it difficult to find anything that you can mentally latch on to. You may become confused about what it is you are supposed to learn or know and may question whether there is anything that can be definitely known. This confusion and frustration may cause you to devalue your mental capabilities or to want to avoid mental activity.
Having Mercury in the 12th House, your mental and communicating faculties may appear weak or you may be unaware of the mental side of your personality and psyche. It may seem as if your mental capabilities evaporate or disintegrate. It is only when you consciously face the ambiguities and unknowns of life that you are likely to find your mental strength and be able to develop your mental faculties.
As an individual with Mercury in the 12th House, you may employ your mental and communicative energy to help others once you face the existence of pain and suffering in the world. Grasping the intuitive component of the mind, you may tackle difficult and subtle mental problems once you accept that there are no clear-cut and simple answers. Realizing that there is much in life that is unknown, with Mercury in the 12th House, you may turn your mental energy to uncovering what lies hidden and bringing the undiscovered to the light of knowledge. Coming to grips with the confusion and disorganization that besets you, you may use your mental faculties to gain more organization in your life.
Insecurities
Having Mercury in the 12th House, faced with confusion and doubt and an inability to mentally form a stable world in which your ego can safely reign, if you are inwardly insecure, you will adopt a subconscious defense mechanism to preserve your ego-consciousness from disintegration and collapse. This generally involves the creation of a fantasy world, a mental construct in which your ego can safely operate and within which it is king or queen. With Mercury in the 12th House, you may engage in various subterfuges, directed both at yourself or others, in order to preserve this fantasy. You become an expert at hiding facts and realities. Although your mental world may appear to be falling apart to others, from your own point of view it is something you can grasp onto. One danger with Mercury in the 12th House is that you may grasp onto a fantasy that involves masochism, substance abuse or self-dissipation.
Intellect’s Focus
With Mercury in the 12th House, you are likely to be intellectually interested in exploring the unknown and the mysterious. This may include the mysteries of life and death, the subconscious, the self, religion and mysticism, the problem of good and evil and the reality of phenomena. You may be particularly comfortable, mentally, with problems that are ambiguous and with solutions that are unclear. You may not be willing to be specific and absolute in your ideas and intellectual beliefs and you are more likely to be inclined toward a relativist intellectual perspective. You are less likely to commit to the idea that something is “this way” and more likely to state “these are the possibilities.”
Uncover deeper insights into your personality, motivations, & desires with an In-Depth Astrology & Numerology Natal Chart Analysis.
Article referenced from:
Gargatholil, Depth Astrology: An Astrological Handbook – Volume 2: Planets in Signs
Gargatholil, Depth Astrology: An Astrological Handbook – Volume 3: Planets in Houses
Click Here to Access the Complete Depth Astrology Collection with full excerpts.
Recommended:
Discover the life-changing impact of self-awareness through an In-Depth Natal Chart Analysis. Gain a deeper understanding of your true nature, and learn how to navigate life with clarity, purpose, and confidence.