byjove
Account Closed
"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..."
http://www.mindfire.ca/The Planets Through the Signs/Mercury Though the Signs/Mercury in Pisces.htm
Why is a Refresh Needed?
I've decided to open this thread, despite the information out there on this combination because as a native of this I'm disappointed at the widespread and near-blanket negativity (and at times righteousness) that I find generally accompanies interpretations of this feature of the nativity.
I think this is dangerous becuase it can train people new to astrology that either they or natives of this placement are automatically doomed or crazy. Natives with the Sun in Libra (detriment) are not trained to believe themselves incapable, nor should these natives!
If you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will spend it's whole life believing it is stupid.
(Some people say Albert Einstein said this, though it is hard to qualify this. The idea is right though.)
What really troubles me when I read about this placement, is a derisive tone about it. Laughing and ridiculing is not understanding.This comes from prejudice and a lack of understanding - not from knowledge. A true understanding of the Zodiac knows there is good and bad potential in every placement and every sign.
When this far is accepted, I'm the very first person ready to sit down and discuss the difficult parts of this placement in the nativity and it's origins. I didn't intend for this to be a scientific or thoroughly academic view of the matter, though any such ideas are always welcome.
Common Attacks on Mercury in Pisces
Delusion and Impracticality
This stems from the imagination. Mutuable water is a rich, fertile ground for dreams. A stern lawyer could of course find a painter as a deluded crazy person that will amount to nothing in life. But that just shows that the lawyer doesn't understand the painter.
Any planet in Pisces runs the risk of building or harbouring beliefs which bring more disappointment than happiness. We must remember that Venus exalts in this sign. Venus is more responsible for social relationships than any other planet (though some may argue the Moon) and so a Venus in Pisces would have some beliefs and behaviour in common with Mercury in Pisces natives. With this in mind, how could M in P natives be so doomed? I think the clues are in the primary functions of Mercury; communication, thought processes - Mercury is the agent of communication to the Sun.
I note that traditional users would refer to Jupiter being the ruler of Pisces and that these assumptions of peril don't appear - they appear with the modern ruler of Neptune. Hopefully, some discussion on this may be possible.
Intelligence
There is a rampant perception that this position creates an 'unintelligent' native. I have never found such prejudice with natives with the Sun in Libra for instance, I don't imagine how they could be 'less able' to achieve their day to day aims or identify in life but I do notice the contrary tendencies and needed adjustments. That is all - no more. So I think this perception with M in P is totally unwarranted, and astrologers who have done their research already know this perception comes from a lack of understanding.
Addictions
I have not known these natives to suffer from addictions any more than the next person. To be honest, living through an economic depression in the West, if I labelled every alcholic/drug user as Mercury in Pisces, one would imagine that everyone tries to have Mercury in Pisces children. The numbers just don't stack up.
Natural Difficulties
A discussion of this placement would benefit perhaps from an honest recognision of natual difficulties. Rejecting prejudices with this placement isn't about denial.
1. Academic study. This is of course altered by other features in the chart, but this placement still has an overriding effect on formal education particularly. Perhaps home education could be different - more personalised and environmental.
2. The Disney Effect. There is a recognisable desire in natives to get along with people. The attitude (and expectation) is honest, open and cooperative. Of course, the rest of the chart alters this but many of these traits still come through. This can prove difficult when accepting that not everyone has one's best interests at heart, is honest and not everyone that smiles at you is a friend. Some natives I've found unable to accept this. Perhaps the good intention is what makes natives vulnerable to unscrupulous types - easy to deceive.
3. Absorbing other's emotions, difficulties etc. In many ways, it's just like taking on the whole world's problems. The thing is that one person cannot fix them. Sympathy to the point of self-destruction is good for no one. Pisces (Neptune or otherwise) is often associated with dissolvement. Natives could perhaps benefit from developing techniques to build walls emotionally to protect themselves.
Mercury in Pisces in Education
I would be very interested in perspectives on this. I can't comment yet on a wide sample of Mercury in Pisces natives in an educational context, though I an at least comment on my own. I always found math and accounting difficult. What became clear was that I understood what needed to be done, but I forgot figures or placements, my mind or concentration wandered. I have studied a number of foreign languages. This is one of the arenas in which I noticed that Mercury in Pisces 'learns as if by osmosis' and definitely not in the traditional, academic, follow-the-rules fashion. Interestingly though, as the well-respected linguistic software Rosetta Stone teaches, the best environment to learn a new language is in a natural, enviornmental one, e.g. surrounded by natives and being a part of day to day life. This is why college courses in languages aim to get students to live abroad (which I did). This aspect of learning I expect Mercury in Pisces would excel in. I suspect Mercury in Pisces played a significant part in my approach in business education - aiming to cooperate, strike alliances and win-win situations.
Natural Talents
I intend to do as deep research on this as I can and heartily welcome contributions. I notice that a powerful imagination is frequent and this could be harnessed. I wonder how many natives are in art, architecture, story-telling, design, writing? If I mention imagination, which Albert Einstein described more important than knowledge, of of course communication ought to be mentioned. Also, any planet in Pisces seems to highlight music in the native's life and Mercury in Pisces along with Venus must be top of the list. With Mercury, we talk of the voice but also of motion - a physical reaction to the sound of music - dancing.
Health conditions related to this position discussed in the medical astrology section: http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/showthread.php?p=450319#post450319
http://www.mindfire.ca/The Planets Through the Signs/Mercury Though the Signs/Mercury in Pisces.htm
Why is a Refresh Needed?
I've decided to open this thread, despite the information out there on this combination because as a native of this I'm disappointed at the widespread and near-blanket negativity (and at times righteousness) that I find generally accompanies interpretations of this feature of the nativity.
I think this is dangerous becuase it can train people new to astrology that either they or natives of this placement are automatically doomed or crazy. Natives with the Sun in Libra (detriment) are not trained to believe themselves incapable, nor should these natives!
If you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will spend it's whole life believing it is stupid.
(Some people say Albert Einstein said this, though it is hard to qualify this. The idea is right though.)
What really troubles me when I read about this placement, is a derisive tone about it. Laughing and ridiculing is not understanding.This comes from prejudice and a lack of understanding - not from knowledge. A true understanding of the Zodiac knows there is good and bad potential in every placement and every sign.
When this far is accepted, I'm the very first person ready to sit down and discuss the difficult parts of this placement in the nativity and it's origins. I didn't intend for this to be a scientific or thoroughly academic view of the matter, though any such ideas are always welcome.
Common Attacks on Mercury in Pisces
Delusion and Impracticality
This stems from the imagination. Mutuable water is a rich, fertile ground for dreams. A stern lawyer could of course find a painter as a deluded crazy person that will amount to nothing in life. But that just shows that the lawyer doesn't understand the painter.
Any planet in Pisces runs the risk of building or harbouring beliefs which bring more disappointment than happiness. We must remember that Venus exalts in this sign. Venus is more responsible for social relationships than any other planet (though some may argue the Moon) and so a Venus in Pisces would have some beliefs and behaviour in common with Mercury in Pisces natives. With this in mind, how could M in P natives be so doomed? I think the clues are in the primary functions of Mercury; communication, thought processes - Mercury is the agent of communication to the Sun.
I note that traditional users would refer to Jupiter being the ruler of Pisces and that these assumptions of peril don't appear - they appear with the modern ruler of Neptune. Hopefully, some discussion on this may be possible.
Intelligence
There is a rampant perception that this position creates an 'unintelligent' native. I have never found such prejudice with natives with the Sun in Libra for instance, I don't imagine how they could be 'less able' to achieve their day to day aims or identify in life but I do notice the contrary tendencies and needed adjustments. That is all - no more. So I think this perception with M in P is totally unwarranted, and astrologers who have done their research already know this perception comes from a lack of understanding.
Addictions
I have not known these natives to suffer from addictions any more than the next person. To be honest, living through an economic depression in the West, if I labelled every alcholic/drug user as Mercury in Pisces, one would imagine that everyone tries to have Mercury in Pisces children. The numbers just don't stack up.
Natural Difficulties
A discussion of this placement would benefit perhaps from an honest recognision of natual difficulties. Rejecting prejudices with this placement isn't about denial.
1. Academic study. This is of course altered by other features in the chart, but this placement still has an overriding effect on formal education particularly. Perhaps home education could be different - more personalised and environmental.
2. The Disney Effect. There is a recognisable desire in natives to get along with people. The attitude (and expectation) is honest, open and cooperative. Of course, the rest of the chart alters this but many of these traits still come through. This can prove difficult when accepting that not everyone has one's best interests at heart, is honest and not everyone that smiles at you is a friend. Some natives I've found unable to accept this. Perhaps the good intention is what makes natives vulnerable to unscrupulous types - easy to deceive.
3. Absorbing other's emotions, difficulties etc. In many ways, it's just like taking on the whole world's problems. The thing is that one person cannot fix them. Sympathy to the point of self-destruction is good for no one. Pisces (Neptune or otherwise) is often associated with dissolvement. Natives could perhaps benefit from developing techniques to build walls emotionally to protect themselves.
Mercury in Pisces in Education
I would be very interested in perspectives on this. I can't comment yet on a wide sample of Mercury in Pisces natives in an educational context, though I an at least comment on my own. I always found math and accounting difficult. What became clear was that I understood what needed to be done, but I forgot figures or placements, my mind or concentration wandered. I have studied a number of foreign languages. This is one of the arenas in which I noticed that Mercury in Pisces 'learns as if by osmosis' and definitely not in the traditional, academic, follow-the-rules fashion. Interestingly though, as the well-respected linguistic software Rosetta Stone teaches, the best environment to learn a new language is in a natural, enviornmental one, e.g. surrounded by natives and being a part of day to day life. This is why college courses in languages aim to get students to live abroad (which I did). This aspect of learning I expect Mercury in Pisces would excel in. I suspect Mercury in Pisces played a significant part in my approach in business education - aiming to cooperate, strike alliances and win-win situations.
Natural Talents
I intend to do as deep research on this as I can and heartily welcome contributions. I notice that a powerful imagination is frequent and this could be harnessed. I wonder how many natives are in art, architecture, story-telling, design, writing? If I mention imagination, which Albert Einstein described more important than knowledge, of of course communication ought to be mentioned. Also, any planet in Pisces seems to highlight music in the native's life and Mercury in Pisces along with Venus must be top of the list. With Mercury, we talk of the voice but also of motion - a physical reaction to the sound of music - dancing.
Health conditions related to this position discussed in the medical astrology section: http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/showthread.php?p=450319#post450319
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