The last post mainly discussed transits into the 12th house, but what about the natal planets in the 12th?
We covered already that the “props” we lose in 12th house has to do with worldly ties that anchor us in life – family, friends, relationships, work, wealth, status, etc. It boils down to connection with the world.
Since 12th house often has to do with confinement, isolation, secret, and ‘behind-the-scenes’ involvement, we can see that planets in here would experience some challenges in finding a way to connect with the world directly.
Noel Tyl suggested that Pluto in the 12th house, when stressed, often carries the feeling “the world doesn’t understand me” – which is the manifestation of difficulty in connecting with others.
Venus in 12th house is also associated with challenges in relationship – “a private sense of beauty” is Noel Tyl’s wording – which suggests the existence of ideals and emotions that are not easily shared with others.
Mars in 12th house is said to suggest “hidden anger” – or anger that is not easily shared with others.
Rather than becoming fatalistic about these challenges, we could ask “why?”: Why is it so difficult to share your perspective, ideals or emotions with others? Is the aim “not to be hurt ever again?” How will that work in building a relationship?
Connecting from the 12th House
Several thoughts, with examples:
1) How could we use the energy of the 12th house to connect with others? One way may be to pursue a 12th house activity. The reason that connecting with the outer world is hard may be because there is a need to connect with the inner, or even paranormal, world.
Coleman Barks, a renowned Rumi translator who gives very cool poetry readings of the ecstatic poet, has Pluto in the 12th house.
2) Another poet Charles Bukowski, who has Moon in the 12th house, wrote poetry and writings that appealed to those that were marginalized, the poor, insane or incarcerated – his own 12th house experience has touched others that feel the same pain of not being able to connect or “fit in.”
This suggests that we could connect with others through sharing or empathizing with their pain. Work of art, literature, or screenplay often touches people when it is able to speak to the parts of us that feel the same pain that the writer (or the character) feels.
3) Other way might be to “Connect from Behind the Scenes” – It’s interesting Alexander Graham Bell has three planets in the 12th house, and he invented the telephone (talking with people without seeing them.) I checked about a dozen radio broadcaster’s charts and found similar emphasis of the 12th house.
This leads me to think about the people that like to connect via internet discussion board, Facebook etc, who have a challenging time with in-person relating…I think it’s a double edged sword – it’s a start to connect with others online, but we don’t want to stay stuck in virtual relationships.
Conclusion
My feel is that 12th house planets work best if you can somehow use its energy toward productive or meaningful activity – whether it’s writing, painting, meditating, or programming, etc. It’s not an accident that many creative horoscopes have 12th house emphasis.
By channeling the 12th house energy this way, the need for introversion or isolation may be fulfilled enough, that it doesn’t have to spill over into the relationship arena.
If you have 12th house planets and have some input in how best to handle it, please feel free to write or comment…
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About Hiroki Niizato
interesting about Bukowski’s moon thank you
Very good points, especially about the creative links to 12th-house emphasis! I also think that Rilke’s beloved solitude (which is not the same as loneliness) is part of it– 12th house people learn to appreciate, cultivate, and utilize solitude like no others. “Letters To A Young Poet” should probably be required reading for anyone with this emphasis….
Hi Hiroki, My husband is the one with Pluto 4 degree Libra in H12 squaring his Cancer Sun at 0 degrees in H9. (ASC is 12 Libra, so it’s a wide conjunction.) As you know, transiting Pluto is opposing that degree now and for the next year. So that’s a t-square from transiting Pluto to natal Sun with H12 Pluto squaring both.
He’s 34 and has psoriatic arthritis. He’s always sore, especially in the chest, with pressure and muscle pain. He injects medication once/week. He’s been frequenting the doctors lately to be sure it’s not his heart making things worse. I, of course, think it’s Pluto ;-)
With this Pluto transit things have gotten worse. Insomnia, diarrhea, morbid thoughts. He reminds me frequently where the financial papers are and what to do if he dies! He worries about mistakes he made a decade ago, as if they’ll catch up to him and destroy his life. His faith has floundered and he feels abandoned by God because he has no sense of him/her.
I think it would be better if he found a way to express his fear and anger in a creative way, but he really has none. He’s a systems analyst who’s a great manager and finds his creative outlet in fixing problems at work, but that doesn’t satisfy the way it used to. He doesn’t feel appreciated by his boss, although his subordinates adore him.
I’m at a loss. I won’t ever experience Pluto opposing my sun, and the square didn’t include my Sun. It was a tremendous evolution but not a hard one, as that’s when I met and married him :-) I know it’s a shot in the dark, but do you have any advice on how to deal with this powerful transit?
Hi Laura,
Thank you for mentioning Rilke – the “letters” are lovely to read for anyone artistic…
Much appreciated!
Hiroki
Hi Teresa,
Thank you for sharing about your husband – I’m glad he is getting his heart checked, because that would have been my first recommendation.
If he has an inkling that the physical problems are related to the emotional issues, he could also seek the help of a good alternative healer, such as a certified EFT practitioner (I have someone that I recommend to my clients that can work over the phone; if you want her phone number – let me know).
Either way, his body is urging him to start taking his well being seriously. The transit is an intense one that serves as a warning for the health of his system.
He could experience a breakthrough if he chooses to seek help and start taking better care of himself, so that would be my advice.
Sincerely,
Hiroki
Great posting! I really enjoyed your blog and look forward to your future postings.
If you ever have the time, please take a moment to look at my blog:
http://TheGreatStone.com
Perhaps we can even exchange links.
-JP
Hi Hiroki, thanks for your advice on my husband’s transits. The doctors say his heart is fine. A therapist said he has an anxiety disorder. My husband doesn’t want therapy and seems to believe he doesn’t need to change inside, but has to wait out external circumstances. What I think that means is his next few years will be a heavy-handed psychospiritual evolution courtesy of Pluto. ;-)
Teresa
Hi Hiroki,
Its very enlightening to read your thoughts on 12th house. I’ve moon and mars in 12th house and Saturn in 1st house.And I feel the same.Kindly tell me to channelize their strength in the right direction.
Extremely interesting and helpful post. Thank you! I just found your blog this morning and have steadily been reading the archives. I’m enjoying your insights greatly.
As someone with a 12H Venus square a 9HMoon and a 3H Pluto, I found this post very enlightening. Thank you!
Welcome Eme,
Thank you for your comments – glad you’re enjoying the posts! :)
I currently have Pluto transiting my 12th house, and i can barely keep grounded. Unconcious memories feel ancient, like lifetimes ago… it is scary in a way, but i also know i am clearing out lifetimes of mistaken identities based in fear. Can you say something about this house being in Capricorn?
Dhyananda:
Pluto transiting 12th house will bring out primitive fears from the unconscious – exactly as you describe.
Pluto transiting Capricorn represents a larger issue for everyone – I'll be writing a post on this soon, so please check back in a few days.
Thanks,
Hiroki