I have a heavily tenanted sixth house and its manifestations form a big part of my life. My work involves being good with and focused on details and I have about a dozen people reporting to me. In addition, I have one-third that number working in my home and two pets. Although it’s great to have a lot of help, things don’t happen magically just because you’ve assigned a task to someone. You have to be present to answer questions and to troubleshoot. Apart from that, like anyone else, I have my share of paperwork and daily chores that must be done. I’m finding that having a life leaves very little time for actually living.
Lately, I’ve been feeling very dissatisfied with the way I’ve been dealing with the details of my personal and domestic life. If I read a book, spend an evening out, surf as much as I want, wake up late, it is done at the cost of chores that have multiplied. I remember reading that an unfinished task, since it needs to be remembered, exerts psychological strain on us. It was in a book on efficiency (how much more sixth house can you get?). The book advised that it’s best to either do a task right away or make a written note of it so that there is no pressure to remember. I didn’t need to read that book, I’ve been making lists and schedules since I was in school. Anyone can make a to-do list, but sticking to it is hard work. Life is chaotic, amorphous and full of the unexpected. And a list of things to do needs to be perpetually updated. It can get overwhelming. There are times when you want to do absolutely nothing and just be. I felt overhwlemed a while back and soon after that I fell ill.
Looking back, I see a connection: when the world is too much with me, I get ill so that I can withdraw, be alone, do nothing, face no questions, address no demands. And it is very peaceful. Being alone restores my soul, after that I’m ready to deal with whatever the world throws at me. Till I get sick again. It’s a vicious circle and so unnecessary.
One of my T-Squares results from an opposition in the third and ninth squared by a planet in the sixth. The “empty leg” of the T-Square in the twelfth house. And it is in this house that I’ve found a solution for the ills that plague me. Although I thrive on communication (third house), there are times when my ringing phone seems like another chore to be taken care of. Even calls from family and friends seem like something to be endured rather than enjoyed. I choose to attend to these because I want my relationships to endure. But it drains me. It would help if we could hang psychic “Do not Disturb” signs on ourselves and for that period of time we could be left alone.
A week ago, I wanted to write about the sixth house because it looms so large for me. I started on it, did some research. But since last evening, I find myself thinking more about the twelfth. Because that’s what I need, to bring the twelfth alive to counteract the sixth. Incidentally, the 5-Aug lunar eclipse was conjunct my twelfth house cusp. Carol Rushman says, in The Art of Predictive Astrology, eclipses are more powerful when they touch a house cusp. It’s as I write this that I realize that the two recent eclipses have highlighted areas in my chart and life that I’d been examining at that time with dissatisfaction. And after the eclipses were past, my understanding of the issues involved crystallized, showing me effective ways to deal with things.
Now let’s move on to the twelfth, shall we? Excelsior! Onwards and upwards! Beg your pardon! My Jupiter is irrepressible! To continue: Like a good, careful, research-oriented Virgo Mercury in the sixth, I’ve made a list of key words for the twelfth house:
Unconscious*Collective Unconscious*Self-undoing*Secrets
Hospitals*Prisons* Monasteries*Ashrams*Hidden enemies*Dreams
Retreats*Withdrawal*Sorrow*The past*Blind spot*Sacrifice*Meditation
I’ve always been more of a Maslow-and-Skinner kind of gal; the Jungian Collective Unconscious and the Freudian unconscious have never interested me. I don’t really get these concepts nor have I tried to. But they fall in the domain of the twelfth, and perhaps the time has come to get to know them. But how, cry my Virgo planets. I’m afraid I don’t know how. It’s what buried deep underneath. Underneath what? And what is it? Is it thoughts? Memories? What form is it in and how does one get access to it? Why do I care? Because knowing our unconscious and its motivations is a must if we want to keep a handle on “self-undoing.” If you want a complete understanding of yourself, you need to know what drives you.
For now, I’m giving up on dredging issues from this great unknown. Surrender is also very twelfth, by the way. There are other ways to cater to the twelfth: I’ll make place for some unstructured guilt-free time for myself. And during this time, I will not multi-task. That is, take a complete break from all sixth house activities. Sort of mentally float wherever I please, with no specific purpose other than the fact that it is where my spirit wants to go. I will allow myself to be, and learn to wait and receive. And more than anything else, during this time, I will make sure I’m alone. What I want to capture for myself is beautifully expressed in William Butler Yeats’ The Lake Isle of Innisfree:
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core
I hope Yeats made it and found some peace, and I hope I’m similarly blessed. And, who knows, with Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune currently transiting my twelfth, in the alone-ness of my being, my unconscious mind might finally peep out and we might finally get to know each other.
Addendum: My friend and wise astrologer Jo Tracey’s question just made me realize that my Progressed Moon’s moved into the twelfth house of my natal chart! Thanks, Jo! That explains why an extrovert like me has been going around thinking, “I want to be alone.”
Picture from Wikimedia Commons
Wow- good post, and good advice all around, even if the eclipse wasn’t in your 12th. I don’t do it either, but it’s actually so important for your efficiency to take breaks. You apparently retain information a lot better if you’re stopping down and getting a full rest regularly instead of just going constantly. (My NN’s in the 12th, so a lot of what you wrote resonated for me too- one day, I will slow… down… I’m working on it. Working on it, geddit? *rimshot*)
Oh, and how can you not like Jung?!?!?!?! If you ask me, appreciating Jung is way far up at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 🙂
I geddit. Good one!
And guess what? We have a lot of Jung’s books in the house. Will have a crack at them.
You’ve really nailed the 12th house vibe, Neeti. I’ve got a really active Neptune there and you’ve more or less described my entire life! The telephone horrifies me, interactions with people exhaust me, I’m basically Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles: “Let’s face it, I’m tired!” But like your busy sixth house, I’ve got lots of Virgo energy in my chart cracking the whip, keeping me on task and making me feel guilty if I so much as sleep a little late.
Perhaps that’s why I’m thoroughly enjoying my Progressed Moon in Pisces. I’m indulging my 12th house/Neptunian side and taking naps, ignoring the phone, and only doing the things I want to do. It’s like taking off a tight pair of shoes after 48 years of dancing!
“…off a tight pair of shoes after 48 years of dancing!” I can feel the sigh of relief!
Jo just asked me where my Progressed Moon is: and sure enough, in my natal chart, it’s moved to the 12th!
Spot on. My north node is in the 12th, (like Lucy!) and it’s a house that stumps me in life as well. I’m one of those people that feels like I’m getting a luxurious rest if I sleep in until 6:30am… come to think of it, it’s almost 7 right now. On a Sunday. I’m going to take this to heart and go back to bed!
Great work here. I’m fascinated with other people’s t-squares so the description is helpful too.
Thank you, Shannon.
I love the nodes. I wonder, since your SN is in the 6th if that’s what make you work-work-work.
I have three T-Squares (not counting the ones made by asteroids). The one that has caused me the most heartache is Jupiter opp Uranus squared by Saturn. Wanting to fit in::being myself. This pull and push has been quite difficult. The “empty leg” is the 11th house. When I connect with like-minded people or other astrologers, my world rights itself.
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Since my sixth house is empty and I have Sun, Jupiter, Mars & Mercury in my twelfth, your description of sixth house stuff is what I have to consciously do. Staying engaged in real time has always been challenging for me. 🙂
I have a certain amount of envy of good multi-taskers too. LOL
And yet, without a meaningful 12th experience, the activities of the 6th seem so pointless. I’m hoping to find a balance with both.
Incidentally, like so many others, I am a big fan of your blog (http://realastrologers.com/index.php?paged=1).
Nice post Neeti… and love the Yeats. As an aside, where is your Progressed Moon at present?
Thanks, Jo. I’ve always loved that poem, but never felt so like that before.
And how very wise you are! My Progressed Moon is in the 12th! Will write an addendum to the post.
I have a heavy 6th house opposing Neptune in the 12th, so I totally get the draining. And yes I also understand the keeping comm lines open even though one doesn’t feel like it just to keep the relation going. But I suspect other people don’t notice it as much as we do when we drop one or two calls.
One of the things I have to do is to consciously block off time to go away, mentally if not physically, and recharge, and I’m regretting not having done that this summer. Was too busy fretting about the eclipses. 😛
Just a note. Forgive the pedant in me (6th house Saturn!). Not being facetious, but there is a difference between ‘unconscious’ and ‘unconsciousness’. Freud and Jung are big on the unconscious precisely as an antidote to unconsciousness. Though some might disagree. 😛
Have a good weekend, Neeti.
I’m trying to learn that personal calls can be returned when we’re ready. That when the phone rings, we don’t always have to jump as if at red alert.
And, yes, what a time we’ve had with the eclipses! But since we’ve all survived, isn’t it great how much we learnt? Both about our lives and astrology. I love it when that happens 🙂
I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for pedants, Hitch. My understanding of Freud and Jung is so lacking. Is there anything I need to correct in the post? If you can point it out, you’ll have a very grateful Virgo-Mercury thanking you.
Great post Neeti madam – especially since I benefitted for so long from your “tenanted” sixth!! Haha ha. The 12th is so mysterious and to have Neptune there for me always makes me feel like I ought to take care of some creative things that never get done, no? By that token, i wonder how a Mars 12th house affects a man with an angry, primal Mars like Aries?
Ah well.
Take care, my happy astro blogger.
xx Udz
Your Highness, your 12th house Neptune is quite busy creating several sqaures in your chart. It demands you do something with this energy. It does bless your Venus by trining it, though.
And about the primal Mars…I wonder if we use the equal house system, if the Mars would be in the 11th. I think that would make more sense. But what’s more relevant is the opposition it makes to Uranus. I’d watch that very carefully, I would.
I hope your 12th house transits leave you feeling more at peace. I have often found these good time to “go within” and recharge yourself spiritually.
It is the perfect time to withdraw and make some time for yourself especially with your full 6th house like you say 🙂
Having no planets in my 6th I am very disorganised (Mercury in Pisces I’m afraid) and I must say that I am quite envious of people with these 6th house planets as organisation seems to come naturally to them!
Having just had a lot of planets just transiting my 12th I can definitely relate to your post, a very interesting read, thanks.
Thanks, Bex! My 6th serves me well. It is the house of service, all right 🙂
But, yes, I will be making space for some “alone” time. I find I can’t ignore its call now.
Looking forward to reading your “In Praise of Virgo” on your blog.
My Pisces moon has me weeping over the beauty of this post. Not only couldn’t I have said it better, I couldn’t have said it at all.
With Mars in my twelfth, I’ve never had problems creating alone time. There are specific times I’m available to others and times that I’m not. (My Venus and Mercury in Capricorn is very organized.) But I so understand what it is like to be overwhelmed by our “to do’s”.
Thank you, Beth!
I shall be following in your footsteps, I hope!
Dear Neeti
I recommended this post to one of my Astrology students, because she has the Sun and other planets in her 12th House and because she has two T-squares. She found a whole lot more in the article that she needed to read!
Thanks very much
Lana
Thank you for the recommendation, Lana! I’m very happy that my post was useful.
But what makes me even happier is that astrology always shines through the lives of those who seek it and illuminates and helps!
Hi Neeti
I followed this link from my site “Writing from the Twelfth House” and found your post interesting and your readers’ comments very affirming of my own life-long struggle (not always conscious in my earlier years) to deal with the challenge of having five Leo planets in the Twelfth House. Discovering astrology in my 30s helped greatly – but it has taken a 2001-8 descent into the Underworld (assisted by a long Sixth House Neptune transit to those planets, which enabled that descent!) to arrive at last at a balance which suits me. I lead an active life with family and friends; but four afternoons a week, I retreat to my office and see no-one: just read, write, dream, and sometimes stare cross-eyed at the wall if I feel like it. This has led me at last to a sense of wholeness. We Twelfth House people need to take time alone without feeling guilt. It is essential to our physical and mental health. I hope these comments are helpful to other 12th House readers!
Anne Whitaker
Scotland
Hi Anne, thank you for your kind words and the tips. This sounds lovely, “…but four afternoons a week, I retreat to my office and see no-one: just read, write, dream, and sometimes stare cross-eyed at the wall if I feel like it. This has led me at last to a sense of wholeness.”