The Astrology of Writing Difficulties

[Arian Maverick]

Although my writing style may appear to suggest a certain ease with words and a confident grasp of the English language, I often exert an extraordinary amount of effort to cultivate each sentence, analyzing individual segments until I arrive at a semi-cohesive whole. However, fear often paralyzes my mind and creative abilities to such a degree that I cannot even complete one paragraph, no less an essay consisting of several pages. I have been attempting to overcome this insurmountable roadblock for years with little success.

Are than any aspects of my natal chart that may suggest such a difficulty? I am incredibly frustrated with myself and my inability to complete writing assignments...

Arian Maverick

[wilsontc]

Maverick,

As I have mentioned, since you have 10th house (duty, also structure) energies square (energy needs to be combined with) 1rst house (being, also action) energies, you feel a STRONG need to structure your actions. This can result in a need to have everything perfect (think Bree Vandercamp of the Desperate Housewives TV show! ;) ). This urge for perfecting is also seen with your South node (the past) focused in the 6th house (daily work, also analysis). As you (and Bree! ;) ) are learning, it is impossible to so perfectly structure the world so that the outcome is always "perfect".

The solution to your challenges lies in your North node (future goals) focused in the 12th house (spirituality). The challenge is to have "faith" (spirituality) that it will all be okay EVEN IF a few things go wrong. You have already had this experience once, when a few of your "structured actions" had results you didn't intend...and couldn't control! The lesson was that, even if everything isn't "perfect", we learn through our mistakes...if we have the faith that there IS a lesson to be learned in our mistakes. This requires less "daily work" of analyzing everything and more faith and trust that things will be OK! :)

Spiritually faithful,

Tim

[Arian Maverick]

Thanks for the response, Tim...I should have known that massive square had something to do with the situation! :lol:

The process of writing terrifies me, especially when I know others will be judging my ideas and how I present them. I'm never satisfied with what I write, especially now as I stumble with words in a sleep-deprived stupor. I somehow believe that my writing is a reflection of my own intelligence, which I hold in very low esteem whenever I am unable to express myself in a clear and precise manner.

Arian Maverick

[Three-leg-cat]

Are than any aspects of my natal chart that may suggest such a difficulty? I am incredibly frustrated with myself and my inability to complete writing assignments...
Maverick,

I was looking for Mercury squares Saturn, and there is one in the chart. I'm not good at writing structual things, but I've a square aspect between Mercury and Neptune. My past Chinese language teacher commented my writing as somewhat "stream of consciousness". Too many imaginations added in my writings thus I can never write concrete things well.

Short comments, but I guess I need feedbacks from anyone.

three-leg-cat

[Frisiangal]

Agreed Three-leg-cat; Mercury-Saturn, together with Mercury's other aspects. Plus Mercury rules 3rd house of thought/communicative processes and is ruler intercepted Virgo in its own natural habitat of strived perfection :!:

F.

[Light]

I can get on here again!!! Cartwheeeeels......ouch :oops:


Ari Mav

If I could be a quarter a good a writer as you I would be very very happy. :D


What I want to say is always perfect in my head - it just goes a bit haywire on the way down to my fingertips/pen! Lost in translation somehow!! :oops:

Mercury/Saturn conjunction in the 3rd !!! And.... A lot of Virgo (if you add the asteroids there's even more Virgo in the 10th! (plus the S Node in the 3rd conj Merc - I should be good at this - what went wrong!!!)

So Merc/Sat/Virgo definately :oops:

take care

hel

[wilsontc]

Maverick,

You said:
The process of writing terrifies me, especially when I know others will be judging my ideas and how I present them. I'm never satisfied with what I write, especially now as I stumble with words in a sleep-deprived stupor. I somehow believe that my writing is a reflection of my own intelligence...

We can't control other people's reactions to what we write. We can only write our best, explain ourselves as well as we can, and take the result. If you are interested in Buddhism, this is called in the Buddhist tradition "making effort"...we TRY to do something...we may succeed, we may fail, but we make the EFFORT to do it as well as we can. And that's all we can do. So make the effort, put the words down as well as you can, get the feedback, and learn from the process.

In my opinion, it seems you have learned a LOT from your writing...and I certainly appreciate your effort! :)

Learning all the time,

Tim

[Arian Maverick]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the overwhelming number of replies this thread has received! :mrgreen:

I was looking for Mercury squares Saturn, and there is one in the chart. I'm not good at writing structual things, but I've a square aspect between Mercury and Neptune. My past Chinese language teacher commented my writing as somewhat "stream of consciousness". Too many imaginations added in my writings thus I can never write concrete things well.

Three-leg-cat,

Due to my Saturn-Neptune conjunction, I too share this astrological aspect and understand your difficulty writing structural things. I have a tendency to view writing as an art form rather than a practical means of communication, so I often embellish the most objective reports with descriptive phrases that contrast greatly with the subject matter! :lol:

Agreed Three-leg-cat; Mercury-Saturn, together with Mercury's other aspects. Plus Mercury rules 3rd house of thought/communicative processes and is ruler intercepted Virgo in its own natural habitat of strived perfection

Frisiangal,

My first house Mercury in Aries forms the following aspects:

A conjunction with my first house Sun in Aries (one degree orb)
A conjunction with my first house Venus in Aries (one degree orb)
A sextile with my third house Mars in Gemini (one degree orb)
A square with my tenth house Saturn in Capricorn (three degree orb)
A square with my tenth house Neptune in Capricorn (four degree orb)
A quincunx with my eighth house Pluto in Scorpio (two degree orb)

What might these combinations of energies suggest? Also, what is the significance of having Mercury as the ruler of "intercepted Virgo in its own natural habitat of strived perfection"?

What I want to say is always perfect in my head - it just goes a bit haywire on the way down to my fingertips/pen! Lost in translation somehow!!

hel141,

I believe that this is the struggle of all writers, everywhere! :roll:

We can't control other people's reactions to what we write. We can only write our best, explain ourselves as well as we can, and take the result. If you are interested in Buddhism, this is called in the Buddhist tradition "making effort"...we TRY to do something...we may succeed, we may fail, but we make the EFFORT to do it as well as we can. And that's all we can do. So make the effort, put the words down as well as you can, get the feedback, and learn from the process.

wilsontc,

Great advice! You may be interested to learn that after reading your first response somewhere around twelve or one o'clock in the morning, I decided to give my assignment a rest. As I lay there in bed, staring up at the ceiling and thinking about nothing in particular, inspiration seized me and I scurried downstairs to write down my thoughts:

"Each prospective candidate seeking a leadership position in the High School Marching Band received a packet bearing these instructions, as well as several informative articles stressing such idyllic virtues as honesty, integrity, and hard work. The advice contained within its pages, or rather, the image of some of my peers frantically attempting to rectify years of inattentiveness with a few chosen words about themselves, perhaps amidst the chaos of the cafeteria the day their assignment is due, is at once familiar yet painfully ironic. I have devoted much of my young life aspiring to reflect the standard..."

I am immensely pleased with these introductory sentences, which I have saved in a document labeled the honest truth. More importantly, I believe that the idea contained within them accurately reflects the individual I am today--one immersed in a superficial culture of politics yet unwilling to lose her identity through conformity.

Arian Maverick

[benyaw]

Good writing. No such animal exists!

I have been published a minimum of 1,000 times (exclusively newspapers and newsletters, and, yes, that is a correct number). I have worked for umpteen editors. I have possibly typed 350,000 words. My conclusion of writing? As long as your thoughts, and your heart, is pure somebody will read you.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have Mercury as your chart ruler and Jupiter in the 3rd house, which I do. But does every writer? Of course not! So the twins aren't a requisite for publication. What I do THINK most writers need is a planetary set up that impels one toward circumspection, sensitivity, and internal honesty.

Tips for writing that will touch people:

Write to one person as if they're reading you at the morning coffee table. This means write as you SPEAK. The majority of people READ sounding the words out, anyway. So, read your copy aloud after you finish. If it "sounds" weird, junk it.

Studies claim most people read to the 8th grade. Don't use flowerly language. (I break this one all the time, but I'm a contrarian.)

Know, or think you know your audience. That is write as you would be reading it if you were somebody else.

Now you see why I think certain planetary locations and aspects will help you. The planets have been kind to me, up to a point: Cancer sun; Gemini moon; Scorpio ascendant. Emotional analysis. I've gotten to the place where I just "feel" what is proper form, substance, rhythm, and meter. (Though slothfulness - editing my copy - hounds me.)

But don't worry about it. Practice does beget perfect. Your time will come.

benyaw

[23]

This is an interesting topic. My only "real life" advice that I can give you is practice, practice, practice and read heaps of books too. Practice to gain structure and books to develop a good knowledge of words.

I find writing very easy to do and I think I am a pretty good writer because I have developed it and have had to do a lot of writing in my life. I have Merc in house 10 (aqu) conj sun but opposed saturn (can, 4th) and square uranus (7th, sco) and mars in 3rd. I have written a few things have caused controversy, that explains that :wink:

But seriously, what is everyone's analysis of mercury square uranus and mercury conjunct with sun? Surely the sun would detract a bit from mercury in that case?

[Arian Maverick]

I was so pleased with what I had written in my personal statement last night, yet now I despise every word. I cannot seem to read through the first paragraph without experiencing an intense wave of self-loathing, and I wish to start anew. However, I have been staring at a blank virtual canvas for hours and cannot think of anything else to say, except various challenges to my own intelligence and abilities.

I have not procrastinated with this project, yet if I continue at my current rate, I will never complete it on time. It is nearly two o'clock in the morning in my time zone, but I refuse to sleep until my sleep-deprived brain can come up with something better. I loathe myself for my weakness...

Arian Maverick

[Light]

AriMav

I loathe myself for my weakness...

That's not allowed! We're giving self-loathing up for Chrismas! :D

There is no weakness, only a temporary mental block due to trying too hard. Relax, be yourself. Of course, that's easy for me to say as I'm not the one having to do the assignment. But, I see sometimes we are a lot alike, in some of the things you say/write, so I imagine that if this wasn't a personal statement you would have no problem with it at all! I have immense problems with personal. (Which is one of the reasons I elected to do an astrology course dealing with the personal - ouch). However, I am finding that the less hard I try - that's not not trying as in doing it, but not trying as in trying to get it 'right' - the more natural and easier it becomes. In my case, it still leaves a lot to be desired by normal people's standards, but I feel better about it and can see an imporovement. The reading scores on the spell checker tell me it reads better, too! Relax and be yourself.

Why is it always the openeing paragraph which gets us stumped?? :D
Just get the words down, you may be pleasantly surprised!

No more self-loathing, OK!!


3 leg

my writing as somewhat "stream of consciousness".

I've had this comment, too. :? I can never work out what they actually mean! What's written in the gaps?


Take care, everyone

hel

[Arian Maverick]

Thanks, hel. I definately needed some encouragement! :D

I still haven't gotten passed the first paragraph, though...

Arian Maverick

[wilsontc]

Maverick,

benyaw gave you some of the best advice for writing out there:
Tips for writing that will touch people:

Write to one person as if they're reading you at the morning coffee table. This means write as you SPEAK. The majority of people READ sounding the words out, anyway. So, read your copy aloud after you finish. If it "sounds" weird, junk it.

Studies claim most people read to the 8th grade. Don't use flowerly language. (I break this one all the time, but I'm a contrarian.)

Know, or think you know your audience. That is write as you would be reading it if you were somebody else.

How would you tell the story of your paper to your friends or to your family? Most likely you would use plain, simple words, with a minimum amount of fancy words. For example, if you wanted to say in your paper you didn't like someone's ideas, instead of saying, "I eschew their thoughts and conceptions to the maximum degree of my abilities", you would say "I don't like their ideas"! ;) In general, in writing it is always best to SIMPLIFY your thoughts so others can understand. Think about how you would tell your story to another person who knows NOTHING about what you are saying. What would you say to them? What words would you use?

Writing is rewriting...it is that simple. The writer writes something and then, later, looks at it, changes it, revises it, throws it away, writes something else, etc. But the writer always writes with a goal in mind...of communicating to their audience. And you WILL get better at your writing, as you learn the art of communicating to others. Perhaps it will help to take a look over all the posts you have put onto Astrology Weekly. Not a fancy word out there...yet your ideas are communicated clearly and concisely! :)

Non-astrologically,

Tim

[Arian Maverick]

Perhaps it will help to take a look over all the posts you have put onto Astrology Weekly. Not a fancy word out there...yet your ideas are communicated clearly and concisely!

It's funny that you should mention this, as I was seriously considering attempting to write my essay as if I was submitting it to the forums. It's so much easier to write in an informal setting with a pack of emoticons winking and smiling at you! :mrgreen:

So, go on...someone ask me to describe my experience in band over the past three years! :lol:

Arian Maverick

[wilsontc]

Maverick,

So how's the three year band thing going for you? ;)

Trying to help,

Tim

[Frisiangal]

Frisiangal,

My first house Mercury in Aries forms the following aspects:

A conjunction with my first house Sun in Aries (one degree orb)
A conjunction with my first house Venus in Aries (one degree orb)
A sextile with my third house Mars in Gemini (one degree orb)
A square with my tenth house Saturn in Capricorn (three degree orb)
A square with my tenth house Neptune in Capricorn (four degree orb)
A quincunx with my eighth house Pluto in Scorpio (two degree orb)

What might these combinations of energies suggest? Also, what is the significance of having Mercury as the ruler of "intercepted Virgo in its own natural habitat of strived perfection"?



Hi again AM,

My brand of learning was that planets behind the planet in question referred to energies within one's self, whilst planets in front of planet in question referred to outside energies through which/whom they were influlenced.
Simply said, I would translate this as meaning that your feelings (Moon), your creative will (Sun), your pleasure in life (Venus) allow Mercury to be their spokesman for them. Mercury in Aries plans. Thought takes place before any action and in Aries AND in the first house it is spontaneous, quick, alert, self-moduled, and sometimes naieve ( Aries, as 1st sign, has no experience that there are others on the planet, let alone that they could possibly think differently).

Tim has already mentioned the influence of the square from Capricorn. You are also of the Uranus-Neptune generation running up against Saturn. This could best be described metaphorically by The Berlin Wall that, during the same period, was finally knocked down and disintegrated to allow an oppressed people freedom of expression. Similarly, Saturn holds the rein upon Mercury in Aries spontaneous thought patterns with rigid strength, whilst Uranus has very little to say in matters concerning alternatives (no aspect with Mercury) and Neptune's sensitivity is not strong enough to envelop Saturn's structured inflexibility (which would be otherwise if Neptune was in front of Saturn).

Pluto inconjunct Mercury is also in its own sign and house (as per modern astrology). It therefore intensifies and controls the way Mercury's thought and communicative process works. What's in Mercury in Aries mind can be quite superficial; of personal interest and enjoyed to-day, totally unimportant to-morrow, e.g., "I'll plan a party for the weekend," and then does something else. But Pluto makes of that spontaneous, enjoyable plan a compulsive issue to be delved into for its value and worth. At its worst it can kill a spontaeous plan or odea to death !

Luckily, Mars is in Gemini in the 3rd house sextile to Mercury. They are not only in mutual reception by sign but also by house, thus complimenting each other, PLUS Mars is chart ruler. Its influence is therefore VERY strong. I was taught that sextiles can only function productively once the challenge within the squares have been dealt with. Mars in Gemini may have a reputation for being argumentaive but it is simply expressing its personal ideas with more than gentle force. When Mercury in Aries is influenced by such ideas, at first by those outside of itself, possibly via 3rd house school affairs/(boy)friends/siblings/relatives, this can aid towards moving an inflexibility of thought (Mercury-Saturn) into a more flexibile (Gemini) attitude, even though Mercury-Mars will always work to express its own ideas, not those of another.

Mercury is ruler of intercepted Virgo in the 6th house, but the house is ruled by Leo/Sun. Leo as a firey, FIXED sign is RESOLUTE in what it wants and it takes this resolve into the 1st house of personality under influence of another fire sign. It WANTS 6th house perfection in itself ( maybe sees itself as perfect?), whilst Virgo is a mutable and changeable sign that, by seeing faults and 'correcting' them, strives towards reaching the perfect state. Yet, as Tim also mentioned, this may not be the reason for one's existence !

A bit long, but hopefully it may dot some 'i's '.

F.

[Arian Maverick]

Frisiangal,

Although I may be a true Aries in both thought and action, you will rarely (if ever) hear me complain about length in writing, especially when the ideas contained within are expressed in such a clear and concise--yet illuminating--matter.

I have never heard of this theory before, yet it makes perfect sense when I apply its underlying principles to myself and my situation; indeed, as you have mentioned, my feelings (Moon), my creative will (Sun), and my pleasure in life (Venus) allow Mercury to be their spokesman. I have made enormous personal sacrifices striving for academic perfection and began to deny myself such frivolous pleasures as going outside to play at the ripe and venerable age of ten. From fourth grade onwards I approached my schoolwork with a fervor that bordered on desperation, allowing my inner Plutonian nature to manifest in this area and spread like an infectious virus upon a healthy young plant, contaminating and nearly destroying my Arian spirit.

There is still a part of me in serious denial of my pronounced Arian characteristics--perhaps that which is represented by my eighth house Pluto in Scorpio and my tenth house Saturn in Capricorn conjunct Neptune. My natal chart is composed primarily of square aspects, and to borrow a biblical reference, my Grand Cardinal Cross has sometimes resembled the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. However, my natal chart is indeed my cross to bear, and bear it I will.

EDIT: While I was typing my reply to your post, I received inspiration for my essay and believe I am finally making progress! I suppose transiting Mercury conjunct my natal Jupiter doesn't hurt, either ;)

Arian Maverick

[Frisiangal]

Tips for writing that will touch people:

Write to one person as if they're reading you at the morning coffee table. This means write as you SPEAK. The majority of people READ sounding the words out, anyway. So, read your copy aloud after you finish. If it "sounds" weird, junk it.

Studies claim most people read to the 8th grade. Don't use flowerly language. (I break this one all the time, but I'm a contrarian.)

Know, or think you know your audience. That is write as you would be reading it if you were somebody else.

benyaw


It was a relief to read this point of view; that there are others who also think in this way and it isn't wrong to do so.
As a 9th house Mercury in Taurus (retrograde) and Uranus in Gemini conjunct M.C., I have always tried to bring astrology to the public in a simple, everyday language understood by all. This is fine with clients, and several published articles were written in this fashion, but I still suffer from that inferiority complex ( 12th house Jupiter square Sun plus Virgo Asc.?) when trying to express thoughts and ideas with my peers...such as on this forum. Every sentance and paragraph is read several times for its nuance, especially towards unmeant offence, is rephrased, or deleted more as the rule than the exception. It's even more difficult with those who, I can only say, 'have a more intellectual approach' when discussing the subject. I cringe at my own inability to understand them. I would never dare to express any opinion for fear of appearing foolish.
With Saturn also in Gemini I can, albeit for different reasons, empathise with, and understand the difficulties in writing that AM undergoes.

F.

[Arian Maverick]

It was a relief to read this point of view; that there are others who also think in this way and it isn't wrong to do so.

As a 9th house Mercury in Taurus (retrograde) and Uranus in Gemini conjunct M.C., I have always tried to bring astrology to the public in a simple, everyday language understood by all. This is fine with clients, and several published articles were written in this fashion, but I still suffer from that inferiority complex ( 12th house Jupiter square Sun plus Virgo Asc.?) when trying to express thoughts and ideas with my peers...such as on this forum. Every sentance and paragraph is read several times for its nuance, especially towards unmeant offence, is rephrased, or deleted more as the rule than the exception. It's even more difficult with those who, I can only say, 'have a more intellectual approach' when discussing the subject. I cringe at my own inability to understand them. I would never dare to express any opinion for fear of appearing foolish.

With Saturn also in Gemini I can, albeit for different reasons, empathise with, and understand the difficulties in writing that AM undergoes.

Goodness, I hope I'm not one of those individuals you are referring to! Although my knowledge of astrology is limited at best, I admit that I have an infuriating tendency to overcomplicate the simplest matters, forgetting my original intentions with a preoccupation towards flowery language...there I go again! :o

I suffer from a similar inferiority complex despite my writing style, as you may have deduced from previous posts. Sometimes I seem to relate better with my sixth house Virgo South Node than with my first house Aries stellium, especially when I find myself revising a paragraph for the umpteenth time for both grammatical errors and sentence quality. Indeed, the writing assignment which inspired the creation of this thread has been incredibly difficult as I cannot seem to silence my inner critic. I have yet to complete either essay although the first is nearly finished; both are due Wednesday!

Wish me luck...I certainly need it!

Arian Maverick

[Three-leg-cat]

three leg cat,
neptune raise and refines every thing it touches,so much that it looses touch with reality.their is no limits or boundries for anything influenced by neptune.mercury stands for intellect,mind,thoughts.neptune frees them of all limits and resrictions and they just FLOW.
Neptune squares Mercury is one of the most trouble aspects I needs to manage. In daily life I just notice that I'd easily forget some scheduled appointments, even it's made one day before. Although usually it's not very serious (as I usually don't do important things -- with a freelancer like lifestyle), it's unlikely that I can cope with. Sometimes other people can remember my own schedules better than myself.

So what's in my mind? Probably some words and ideas without an ending, songs and lyrics......

[laliqueviolin]

I never thought you had such a writing problem, in fact I thought the very opposite-- quite eloquent and full of substance. :(

[Arian Maverick]

I never thought you had such a writing problem, in fact I thought the very opposite-- quite eloquent and full of substance.

Although I have been told by many individuals that I am quite capable in this craft, and have even banished some the distorted images of myself that once convinced me otherwise, extracting a written assignment from me is often an excruciating task. I am able to stare at the blank canvas of my word processor for hours without constructing a suitable sentence; hundreds of ideas are considered and immediately discarded. Inevitably I become frustrated with myself and my perceived lack of abilities, employing such useless tactics as procrastination when I feel emotionally unable to complete the assignment.

Writing forces me to confront something within myself that I would rather deny, although I am keenly aware of its existence; it is a blatant reminder of all I have despised of the educational system, particularly the ritualistic sacrifice of one's individuality to conform to certain standards, to meet meet certain rules and regulations. I believe that writing is chiefly a means of expression and cannot--nor should not--be taught like any other skill, with emphasis upon structure and form. Such things are important indeed, yet they are often presented in such a way that squanders all budding creativity within a child, and writing becomes just another task to complete in an endless sea of meaningless work.

I appologize for this rant... :o

Arian Maverick

[laliqueviolin]

Haha, how true! You remind me of my good old favorite beat generation writer, Jack Kerouac.

Also, you have a PM. ;)

I forgot to mention that you should appreciate your writing, and your capabilities even coming forth with material despite what you feel like a blank canvas in front of you. It is a cliche statement, but I know many people who would give an arm and a leg if they can just write. (Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I've known many poets who try too hard to articulate and then end up with frippery that isn't poetry-- they could really give an arm and a leg and just tried better).

Why must everything be such a confrontation? Surely, Arians needs some peace of mind?

[Arian Maverick]

I forgot to mention that you should appreciate your writing, and your capabilities even coming forth with material despite what you feel like a blank canvas in front of you.

Although I am often reluctant to express outward appreciation of my own writing abilities for fear of such actions being perceived as blatant self-aggrandizement, I am incredibly thankful of my ability to express myself. Perhaps this should be my new bedtime matra...;)

(Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I've known many poets who try too hard to articulate and then end up with frippery that isn't poetry-- they could really give an arm and a leg and just tried better).

Yes, I know exactly what you mean! I have struggled with this in the past as well, and there have been many occasions in which I have fallen prey to my own vocabulary, burrying my thoughts and ideas in tangle of words. How easily words get in the way of writing! :p

Why must everything be such a confrontation? Surely, Arians needs some peace of mind?

What an insightful and provocative question! Indeed, whether we choose to admit this are not, every Arian needs an inner sanctuary to retreat from themselves and their own restlessness :D

Arian Maverick