Masculinity/ Femininity and Mercury

[The_Sundance_Kid]

In this very informative thread:

http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum...ead.php?t=8463

I found this:

One other planet has had a hand in shading the meaning of the First house. Traditionally, Mercury is said to joy in this house. Manilius specifically refers to this house as the “Temple of Mercury”. In the modern era, we have switched around the house meanings to inadvertently relieve the First house of all of its Mercurial significations. However, in the traditional scheme, the First house was also said to hold sway not only of the condition and appearance of our body, but also the condition of our mind, intellect, and reasoning abilities.

Just why does Mercury joy in the First house? Mercury is an asexual planet, being neither masculine nor feminine and thus can enjoy the station of both depending on his aspectual relationship to other planets and thus mimicking the gender of the planet he’s of the closest relation to. Due to this, Mercury is very well situated in the First house, the house were light (masculinity) and dark (femininity) are balanced within morning twilight.

Then I thought of this:

http://www.healthandage.com/public/h...ale-Brain.html

Which describes the extreme differences between the 'male' and the 'female' brain. When they use the terms male and female they refer to types of thought. So it is possible for a man to have a female brain, and vice versa. The two extremes also work on a continuum.

Most masculine:

To think about the very masculinized brain system, think of action heroes in movies. These men are singularly task focused. There isn't much cross talk between hemispheres. They like things that are loud and that blow up - they possess less aural neurons, so loud noises don't bother them. These men do not rely much on word production.

In The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character speaks perhaps thirty words in all. These men emphasize aggression rather than direct empathy, possessing an enlarged amygdala with less neural signals to the frontal lobes; and they have high testosterone. Schwarzenegger's typical male character is relatively emotionless, though he is certainly compassionate with those to whom he has bonded. Possessing a smaller hippocampus, with low-range neural pathways to emotive centers, he does not rely heavily on personal memories or sensory detail.

He is very spatial and mechanical - he relies on objects moving in space with mechanical design - cars, trucks, guns, bullets, his own fists - enjoying more right-hemisphere cortical use, less left.

Action heroes give us an illustration of the very polar end of masculinization on the brain spectrum. Schwarzenegger is playing a stereotype, of course. Stereotypes generally tend to be the polar ends of spectrums because they are simplistic, and simplistic characters tend to be good ones on which to hinge simple, entertaining tales. Yet even as stereotypes, they are recognizable as the most "masculine" end of the brain spectrum.

Most feminine:

On the other end of the spectrum - the most neurally female end - we can picture the most talk-oriented, nonspatial woman. She would love soft things. She would have a hard time getting a basketball into a basket or trying to hit a softball with a bat. As a little child, she'll want to hold and care for dolls as much as possible, cooing to them and talking to them. She won't like loud noises, since she hears very well. She'll have a better-than-average sense of smell and taste. She'll probably love to read. Even as an adult, she won't be able to tell us how tall a building is by looking at it, but she'll have an acute color sense.

Their spatial and mechanical design functions in the right hemisphere tend to be underdeveloped, so they don't rely on these as much as other women might. Many of these women even find driving a car more difficult. Their brains generally have more highly developed cortical areas for verbal, sensual, and tactile experience. With little testosterone, they have better than average hearing, making loud noises painful. They see a broader spectrum of color than even the average girl or woman. Galvanic skin-response tests show their under-the-skin nerves to be immensely sensitive. They have low pain tolerance.

Question

Now most people are somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. My question is how accurate is your natal Mercury in describing what kind of brain you have? And do other planets come into play here, such as Sun, Moon, Venus or Mars?

Is the planet in a masculine or feminine sign or house? Does it aspect a stronger masculine or feminine planet?

I think there are various tests on the internet that can be used to see how 'male' or 'female' your brain is, so if anyone could post their favourite ones that would be helpful

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Applying this to my chart, (with improvised numbers in brackets featuring the weight I think they have):

House rulerships:

Gemini rules a feminine house,(-1)
Virgo rules a masculine house, (the MC) (+1)
3rd house is ruled by a feminine house (-1)
6th house is ruled by a masculine house (+1) (Using regiomontanus, which is my current fad)

Planets in Gemini or Virgo:

Moon in Gemini (I think that when this happens it is the planet which is neutered. As moon is naturally a -2, here we will say +2, although in essence this means +-, that is the individual can vary.)

Mercury itself

Mercury is in a feminine sign, (-2)

Mercury is on the Asc but is 2 degrees above in the 12th house. This seems very balanced as the 1st house seems blank as to gender if the house post is anything to go by. (Once again this will give a +- of 2, giving flexibility.)

Asc (the 'Temple of Mercury')

The Asc is on a feminine sign. (-2)

Mercury aspects (weighted on importance of planet involved, orb, and applying or separating.)

Mercury makes a close applying trine to Jupiter: Jupiter is a stronger planet here. Jupiter seems both hot and wet, so I'm not sure about the gender, I'll say it is a minor masculine planet for now. (+0.75) This number is only low because of my uncertainty as to Jupiter's gender. Otherwise it is a powerful, and possibly a definitive aspect.

Mercury makes a wider applying conjunction to Pluto, which I think is a masculine planet, and is the planet which directly rules it, as Mercury is in Scorpio. (+1) (Powerful by rulership, but orb is 8 degrees which is quite wide. Besides, Pluto rules a feminine sign!)

Mercury makes a very wide conjunction to the sun (+0.5) (hyper masculine planet, but orb of 9 degrees.)

Mercury makes a weak square to Mars, of about 8 or 9 degrees, but I barely consider it as my orbs for squares are not so large. I tolerate the sun and pluto aspects because they are part and parcel of a Scorpio stellium. Similarly I have a Mercury Venus conjunction but by an orb of 9.99 degrees I think. I think these balance out.

Mercury is retrograde ("£$£%&&$@) (Maybe this adds to the flexibility rating.)

Conclusion on Mercury alone:

-1.75, and would have been -2.75 if I had used placidus.
With a flexibility rating of +-4 because I have a Gemini moon and Mercury on the Asc. This means I can change to anything from -5.75 to 1.75.

This fits me incredibly well. On most internet tests I have done I have an overall slightly feminine brain, but I can be incredibly flexible in my thinking patterns so I can break through both barriers.

PS Sorry about the math

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Hi Charm Virgo,

That was an interesting mix of characteristics... I guess the main flaw of any interpretion is that we change as we age. So maybe progressions should be taken into account. For instance, as I have grown older I have had my Scorpio stellium progress into Sagittarius, with Mercury changing signs this year. I have become much more confident and I know my brain is more male now than it used to- I am alot more tactless for one!

If you like, I would try and interpret your chart with regard to this issue if you posted it. It would help me alot to see if Mercury really can tell us these things

[Kaiousei no Senshi]

I enjoy the method you're taking with this and attempting to discover the hemisphere of the brain or whatnot that people are more prone to using, but I think this may be a much more complicated matter than just ascertaining whether Mercury is masculine or feminine. Mostly because the criteria for doing so is rather...simple. Mercury copies the gender of the planet it has the closest relationship to. There is a bit of a hierarchy, though, conjunction, opposition, trine, square sextile.

So, in other words, were your Jupiter, Sundance Kid, trine to Mercury and your Moon in conjunction with Mercury, then your Mercury would be feminine because the conjunction is considered to have more weight than the trine. However, if the trine is the closest aspect your Mercury has with any planet, than it is masculine.

You're thinking, though, I like that.

[Claire19]

My Mercury conjunct Saturn and Pluto. I prefer the deeper more profound subjects and dislike petty detail and small talk. I tend to pessimistic thinking and thoughts of death when very stressed, which I overcome by tapping into my other more positive placements. I am perhaps a slow learner in some respects but retain the information always. Mercury is sextile Mars and Venus and I am a quick thinker and articulate, especially in writing.
I love debate and quizzes, board games etc. Mercury is in Leo so I can be opinionated and loathe to change my mind, once made up. I can be dramatic in speech and love to dance especially with the Mars in Libra conjunct Venus. Learning to attend to detail in the workplace 6th and in government occupations of secrecy and criminal activity, Saturn Pluto conjunct. Privy to confidential matters.

[icestar]

I have Mercury in a stellium with Sun and Pluto in 8th and Scorpio. Both feminine house and signs, but Sun and Pluto (mas or fem?) probably balances them out. I am female but I aint that soft. Though, i obsess a little more on cuddly toys and am terrible at ball sports. I seldom dress femininely and no high heels for me, but i'm terrified of lizards. I wont scream when i see one, but i admit I'm really courage-less :P I'm also quite picky at food, but behavourial wise, i like to be kinda cool (not arrogant and ignoring people that kind) so perhaps that's not too feminine. I'm also highly dependent on others (something i have to improve this life with NN in 1st) if you would consider that feminine.
Overall i guess.. well i'm quite feminine after all! Also, Pisces rising.

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Hi Claire and Icestar,

I was hoping you could go the whole hog and do the math, or if you did not if you would post the chart I would do it. Icestar that sounds like a feminine brain- the co-ordination and the less narrow focus.

Claire- I liked your description, I'm more interested in how you think, rather than the what or the speed. I think aspects such as the sextiles would speed up thought as you said, and I even found this:

http://www.cafeastrology.com/article...chemistry.html

But this relates more to the speed and ability of perception and processing, and not to how we do it.

When regarding how we do it, I've only encountered the masculine/ feminine divide.

I guess having a masculine or feminine brain is not the same as a masculine or feminine persona. The brain only really relates to co-ordination, reading maps, spatial awareness, ability to focus. The masculine brain tends to be better at all these things as they require concentration. The feminine brain is better able to process alot of things, picks up on impressions better than facts, multi-tasks, creates better linkages across facts, is more conversational, and is less likely to ignore something (masculine brains are more likely to ignore things they think are irrelevant to whatever they are concentrating on.)

I still can't find a good online test, ones I've found tend to require registration...

Charm Virgo: I think you did post the chart and I'm sorry I did not actually look at it, I am rather erratic. If you would like you could send it to me in private if confidentiality is an issue and I will simply look at it only for this issue.

[Astrologer4U]

My Mercury is 22'59 Capricorn in the 8th house. If there is more math to consider, I can send you my chart.

I feel like I have more of a masculine brain. I like my freedom very much to the point that responsibilty makes me a bit depressed. Never the less, My Sun is also 21'21 Cap so I do what I need to do without question. I don't like it when women are all prissy, I just can't understand the need for fake nails, false hair and fancy name brand clothes. All of that stuff is frivolous to me. I am simple, I like to look neat and clean for the most part and I get a lot of compliments on how nice I look, even though I am not all fancy and frilly. When a problem occurs, I don't get upset, I just take action to try and solve the problem and if the problem is not solved, I just conclude that things must be the way that they are supposed to be, but I don't cry. However, when I am having one of my deep and serious moments, I will shed a tear or two but I quit the crying soon after and get back to work because I don't like to dwell for long periods of time. I love people, plants and animals, I think those things are interesting to observe, people plants and animals that is. Some of the things I described can be seen as feminine but for the most part, I don't take kindly to people trying to take my freedom away. I have one child and I don't want anymore because I value my freedom so much, and don't kids to hamper me down when I feel like traveling or just getting up and leaving to go and do something spontaneous. Funny thing is, I have a family daycare but at least I know that those kids will be going home.

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Hey your description sounds like quite a masculine brain to me, but I will clarify how according to the criteria I've set, to avoid any confusion:

The freedom point does not point towards anything I feel- both brain types may have this inclination.

The masculine brain may have it more, as it may find it easier to separate things out, while a feminine brain will perceive complexities to a greater degree. These brains then have a lesser sense of freedom as they understand consequences better than masculine ones. In that sense it is masculine, and I think this applies to you because you said you don't like it when women are all prissy!

Now prissiness and fashion sense is no indication of brain type. But, in as far as the description you give of "feminine styles" is one which perceives them to be pointlessly complex and needless, I would take that as a sign of straightmindedness which is evidence of the above paragraph.

Crying less by itself is no indication of brain type. But the solution orientated mind is a masculine trait- jumping in with a solution rather than pondering the complexities of the problem, which is what a feminine brain might do.

Loving people, plants and animals... is quite neutral, but the reason you love them is interesting... to observe them. Once again this seems a rather masculine brain trait, to be detached and fond of things when they do not communicate!

Sponteneity I think is very neutral and might show a Uranian influence.

So on the whole there seems to be alot of masculinity, I would be very happy to see your chart. I have underlined the bits I have to show the difference between masculinity and femininity as regards to gender, and as regards to brain type. I'm only concerned with brain type here. I hope that's not patronising, but clarifying

And masculine braintypes may feel more easily understood. This is because they are less able to understand the effects of their words- their minds are too focused and do not see the intricacies and subtleties of language. I think you are often misunderstood but hey its Mercury retrograd...

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Hey I just realised that my above posts makes masculine brain types out to look stupid. This is not true. There are definite pluses and minuses to both types and most people have a mix. Its just a question of making your life fit your brain type so you can get the best usage.

[Astrologer4U]

@Sundance_Kid



Post 10


Forgive me, I don't get my email notifications and I contribute to so many threads that I don't know how to go and dig them up if they don't recirculate. Any way, this one recirculated. In response to what you said, it all makes perfect sense to me. If you want, I can send you my chart.

[The_Sundance_Kid]

I would love as many charts as I can handle!

Charm Virgo- I looked on your profile and couldn't find a chart. You also said you thought Gemini was near your 6th house so what is your guess of a birth time? I plugged in the date on my astro.com charts, and I presume place is London?

[estrella]

Sundance-feel free to look at my chart. It is visible in my public profile if you scroll down. I have mercury conjunct mars in aquarius in my 4th. I tend to think I have an even balance of masculine and feminine in my chart.

[Leon]

I did a test before. My brain came out as "male dominated".

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Charm Virgo: Using Equal house as you prefer

House rulerships:

Gemini rules a masculine house,(+1)
Virgo rules a masculine house, (+1)
3rd house is ruled by a masculine sign (+1)
6th house is ruled by a feminine sign (-1)

Planets in Gemini or Virgo:

Sun, Pluto, Moon, Mars. This is significant as it increases the changeability rating. You can swing from masculine to feminine and vice versa. But on the whole these are slightly more masculine planets. So I'll say changeability of 5.5 (sun and moon 2 each, Mars 1, Pluto .5)

Planets in 3rd or 6th house

None, I think moon/ Mars are on your DC cusp,

Mercury itself

Mercury is in a masculine sign, (+2)
...but Libra! What am I supposed to do? Maybe knock off a 0.5 or 1 as Venus is one of the most powerful planets here (Mercury is too but is disposited by Venus who is in her own sign) So (+1) afterall.

Asc (the 'Temple of Mercury')

The Asc is on a masculine sign. (+1)
Jupiter is there, but in own sign, so nothing new and accounted for in aspects.

Mercury aspects (weighted on importance of planet involved, orb, and applying or separating.)

There is a square with the moon, and wider squares to Jupiter and Mars. Moon is closer by orb, but Mars and Jupiter form parts of aspect configurations because of conjunctions to Asc and moon, which are in turn also in closer aspect to Mercury. All applying, all on angles, moon and Mars are ruled by Mercury, while Jupiter is on Asc and in its own sign. So it all looks pretty equal to me, especially given that Jupiter might be considered hot and humid, whilse Mars is hot and moon is humid. So all in all this balances out I think.

So that gives:

Masculine: +5
Feminine: -1
Total +4
Changeability: 5.5

Overall that swings to a pretty masculine brain, but with alot of changeability. Now if you feel pretty balanced, then I think this means you're Gemini and Virgo planets are pretty strong. And given both luminaries are there that might help in understanding. Maybe I should have given more weight to the moon being in closest aspect to Mercury... what do you think?

Either way the original principles would say masculine but changeable enough to be reduced. Your feedback might change the original principles though

And if the birth time is unsure, maybe a change of houses- say to a Virgo Asc, might yield a more feminine result as the house rulerships would also change. Look at me making excuses...

[The_Sundance_Kid]

Estrella

House rulerships:

Gemini rules a feminine house,(-1)
Virgo rules a masculine house, (+1)
3rd house is ruled by a masculine sign (+1)
6th house is ruled by a masculine sign (+1)

Planets in Gemini or Virgo:

None

Planets in 3rd or 6th house

Venus, Moon. On the whole I'd say this neutralises/ makes them more flexible as far as Mercury is concerned. So I'd say changeability of 2 or 3, but maybe the fact that these are the two feminine planets might have greater significance?

Mercury itself

Mercury is in a masculine sign, (+2)
Feminine house (-1)

Asc (the 'Temple of Mercury')

The Asc is on a masculine sign. (+1)

Mercury aspects (weighted on importance of planet involved, orb, and applying or separating.)

Sextile to Venus- good orbs, Venus in 6th and in Aries though, but conjunct Moon. Separating, but should check planet speeds. Wider sextile to moon. I'd say (-2.5)

Then sextile to Neptune, (-1) Thus far all involving feminine houses

Then trine to Pluto, in 12th house, (+.5)

T-Square with highly dynamic Uranus, in a quasi-mutual recognition with Mars, and Saturn. Now Scorpio and Leo involved, so tougher call, and wider orbs. So maybe (+2), including Jupiter.

So that gives:

Masculine: +8.5
Feminine: -5.5
Total +3

Changeability: 2-3

So this is quite balanced on the whole, as the changeability rating means it hangs around zero, but generally on the slightly masculine side of zero. I'm starting to think that sex might play a part as well. For instance as a woman you might be naturally more minus so the overall chart plus rating makes you rather balanced. The same goes for Charm Virgo. I'm a man with a slightly minus rating, but my natural plus-ness might make this result more significant as it shows more neutrality. The lower changeability rating might suggest your mind is rather steady with regard to these characteristics and does not swing much.

Anyway, overall weakly masculine!

Also recommend http://www.cafeastrology.com/article...chemistry.html but would take me too much effort to do these calculations for your chart :P