Mercury in Cancer in the Fourth 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 4th House:

Typically, the 4th House would not be seen as a very strong placement for Mercury, as it suggests a somewhat introverted focus. With Mercury in the 4th House, the mental energy symbolized by Mercury is likely to be expressed in a somewhat limited or constrained way, chiefly focused on private concerns and not particularly engaged with the wider world. Your mental faculties tend to concentrate on things that have a high emotional content. Mercury in the 4th House also suggests a potential for conflict involving your mind acting in a sphere of life that is dominated by emotion.

With Mercury in the 4th House, the strength of this house placement is the opportunity it suggests for building a strong mental foundation. This may be because of the firm grounding that your mental processes enjoy. Your strong mental position may also be the result of your successful integration of the mental and emotional spheres of your psyche.

As an individual with Mercury in the 4th House, your mental energy tends to be basic to how your personality functions.  Those functions symbolized by Mercury tend to lie at the root of your being and your personality. You may also have a tendency to mentally get to the root of things. However, it may also be the case that your mental energy can become buried or ignored, lying underneath the surface, but largely untapped. If this is the case, your mental energies will seem weak and passive.

Insecurities

Having Mercury in the 4th House, you are intuitively aware that there is something that underlies the conscious ego that is more powerful and real than the ego. You also sense, if only subconsciously, that the mind is capable of uncovering this power. However, being insecure within yourself, you suppress and confine your own mind so that your ego-existence remains unthreatened. You, therefore, busy your mind in the everyday fabric of life with which you are familiar and over which, through force of habit, you are able to maintain control.

With Mercury in the 4th House, your mind runs in predictable, preconditioned grooves and remains confined to its own little world. You do not give your intellect too much importance, so it does not develop. You have little curiosity about what lies beyond the realm of family and routine experience. You make no attempt- in fact, you are even resistant – to learn more about the wider world beyond. If you feel threatened by disturbing ideas, your natural reaction is to retreat, ignore and become preoccupied with your own private world.

Intellect’s Focus

As an individual with Mercury in the 4th House, your intellect, if it is developed, tends to be focused on basic questions.  Why and how, what is behind this phenomenon? You are likely to have a desire to get to the root of issues or problems. You may also be interested in the past. The study of history or genealogy is natural. An interest in family dynamics may translate into an interest in sociology. If you are not so intellectual, your mind is likely to be engaged in family and domestic matters.

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.

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