The 6th House of Your Natal Chart

The 6th House of your natal chart rules a couple areas within your life. The sixth house is referred to as the house of "work and service". Any planet in this house, or sign on the cusp here, is going to affect your daily habits, work (not necessarily career) and service. Also health, animals, and relationships with your employer and/or coworkers.

Virgo naturally rules this house, however, the odds are that yours is not, unless you are an Aries rising. The different signs on this cusp might affect how you approach your daily habits, daily work, your health and relationships with those in the workplace. Here's a brief synopsis:

Aries/Mars- They take the initiative in the workplace, and are ambitious, however, relationships with their coworkers might be affected by the desire to be in charge, and you prefer a fast paced work environment. Work accidents are likely, due to Aries being a rush-in type of person. Make sure you follow safety protocol. Aries rules the head, so any malady here, such as headaches, may be common.

Taurus/Venus- These people are hard workers, and are reliable, although might be a little slow, and do things on their own time. They need a workplace that is comfortable, and prefer a slower one. They are likely to do things the same way every time, and hate changes to the procedures. Taurus rules the throat, so they might be susceptible to throat issues health wise.

Gemini/Mercury- These people need to multi-task to accomplish projects, and to not get bored. They prefer to work with their hands. Their short attention span might make it hard for them to keep a job. They need an active and fast paced job, with many different tasks they must accomplish. They are susceptible to nervous tension, so it is important to do things daily which help to alleviate this.

Cancer/Moon- These people are those co-workers which are the mom in the workplace. They always try to feed those around them, and make sure they are taken care of. They need a workplace that is calm, and one with a family undertone. They can get emotionally tied to their jobs, making it hard to leave. When nervous tension strikes, it may manifest in stomach issues, with Cancer ruling the stomach.

Leo/Sun- They take pride in their work, and always try to do their job the best that they can, although any sort of criticism (sontructive or not) can be detrimental. They like to be in charge, and hate being under someones elses "reign". Leo rules the heart, so there might be some ailments here.

Virgo/Mercury- Analytical and methodical, they pay attention to the details (so much so that they may get lost in them). These are the "ultimate workers", always doing far more than often required. They do expect to get reimbursed for all that they do, and have an environment that is clean. Nervous tension and intestinal ailments are common.

Libra/Venus- Focusing on relationships, they need a workplace that is drama-free. They need a job which often works with others and they make great managers. Libra rules the kidney, lower back and appendix, so you might keep an eye on health issues in those areas.

Scorpio/Pluto- These people are extremely hard workers, that can push themselves to the extreme when trying to accomplish a goal- no matter who gets trampled underneath them. Overexertion is an issue here to be mindful of, often resulting in injury and illness. They often take charge in the work setting, and prefer to not work with others, to maintain complete control.

Sagittarius/Jupiter- Optimistic and enthusiastic attitudes are what they offer to those working around them. They prefer autonomy over strict ruling of their work and they prefer a work environment where they don't feel trapped, and one that allows them many opportunities to interact with those they work with. Sagittarius rules the hips, thighs and sciatic region, so watch for ailments here.

Capricorn/Saturn- Organized and ambitious, they expect those also in the workplace to do the same. Always doing more than their responsibilities, they can turn in to workaholics. They often keep their work life and personal life separate. Capricorn rules the skeletal system, knees, teeth and skin, so there might be health issues here with this placement.

Aquarius/Uranus- These people need high autonomy in their work field, and often they might find themselves making up their own rules, if those currently instated do not meet their needs. Aquarius rules the circulatory system, calves and ankles, so there might be a weakness here.

Pisces/Neptune- Pisces needs a calm and drama-free workplace. They are generally compassionate and helpful to those they work with on a good day. They also do well in work where they can access their creative side, as routine work are not for them. Pisces rules feet, so be aware here.

Earth Mercury

Natural Sign Rulers: Gemini and Virgo

Natural Houses: 3rd and 6th

Orbit Cycle: 88 Days

Mercury in our charts can explain how we think, how we communicate, how we deal with short distance travel, our ease with writing, and how we learn and process information. Mercury naturally rules two signs, Gemini and Virgo. Mercury is never more than 28 degrees away from your Sun sign, so it is either in the same sign, or the one before or after. Given that we are currently Sun in Virgo, I am going to talk a little bit about the earth aspect of Mercury, versus the air element of Gemini. 

I already made a post a little bit about what Virgo entails. Having Mercury in an earth sign will bring a much more grounded and sure thinking and communication method. People who have Mercury in Virgo are the people that you want to go to for planning and organizing. Think travel planners. Analysis is of major import to the Mercury in Virgo native, and are always attempting to achieve perfection. This need for perfection can lead to anxiety and worry. This is very different from the scattered energy of Mercury in Gemini. 

People who have Mercury in the natural house of Virgo (6th House), will also have a Virgo flavor, along with the sign that their Mercury is in naturally. This brings out the organized efficiency (Virgo) within their daily work (6th House). You might be easily bored within your workplace, so it is important to have a job which is mentally stimulating, and constantly challenging, or allowing you to learn. 

Now, chances are that your Mercury does not appear this exact placement, so I would like to briefly go over some things that might help you look in to your own chart, and to learn about yourself. Mercury in each of the different elements, then further divided by the individual sign, are all going to process and communicate differently. Then add in the different houses and those which are connected by rulers can affect what you mostly talk about. This is no means all encompassing, but is a place for you to start and journey down the rabbit hole. I like to look in to astrology as more of a self-help and meditative tool, instead of a predictive one, and I feel like you will never completely understand your natal chart in the lifelong study of it. 

So, lets look at the different elements of Mercury. In a natal chart, you have 4 different elements- Fire, Earth, Air and Water:

• Fire- typically associated with drive, ambition, leadership, passion and aggression. 
• Earth- steady, slow, strength, foundation, physical matters
• Air- Thinking, communication, scattered energy, logical
• Water- Emotions, intuitive/psychic, moody, constantly changing energy

So this elemental flavor alone can affect how you communicate with others (and yourself).

Then, we get in to the individual signs:

• Fire- Aries, Leo, Sagittarius: Aries- Quick decisions and responses. Not always thinking actions through. Impulsive, competitive and argumentative. Prone to accidents due to not thinking things through.  Leo- Flair for the dramatic, natural leader and great for motivating others. Opinionated, and believe you have all the answers. Creative. Sagittarius- Pursuit of knowledge is guiding force. Highly principled, thinks in black and white. Optimists.
• Earth- Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn: Taurus- Thoroughly thinks things through. Stubborn in decision making. Often thinks about material security. Virgo- see above. Capricorn- Realistic. Problem solvers which work through everything. Mostly thinks about status and career. 
• Air- Gemini, Libra, Aquarius: Gemini- Scattered energy. Constantly learning and researching. Versatile and quick thinking. Libra- Avoids controversy. Persuasive and diplomatic. Difficulty making decisions. Aquarius- Innovative and creative. Emotions rarely influence decisions. Comfortable with expressing thoughts instead of feelings. 
• Water- Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces: Cancer- Emotions guide thinking. Thoughts are related to home and family. Often in touch with friends and family. Scorpio- Excellent researcher and communication is geared for amassing information. Secretive, stubborn. Some are jealous and vengeful. Pisces- Creative. Prone to wishful thinking and are compassionate. Highly intuitive. Empathic.

Hopefully this allows for a start for you to look in to your own thinking and communication processes. 

Sun in Virgo

The Sun left creative Leo on August 22 at 10:46 pm CST, and entered analytical Virgo. The Sun will be in Virgo until it moves to Libra on September 22 at 8:29 pm CST. So lets talk a little bit at what Virgo means:

Dates: August 22 - September 22

Element: Earth

Quality: Mutable

Natural House: Sixth

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Symbol: The Virgin

Key Phrase: I analyze

Sun in Virgo people are efficient, practical and organized. They are very detail-oriented people, and are natural planners. Being very analytical, they love to make pro and con lists, although sometimes that back fire in to being unable to make any decision, getting caught up in the details, losing sight of the big picture. Getting so focused in the details, sometimes Virgo people can go overboard, desiring perfectionism. This can lead to a martyrdom attitude, that they have to sacrifice their perfectionism for others, however, they need to avoid the tendency to get caught up in every piece being perfectly in place. Being ruled by Mercury, they have some traits which are also similar to Gemini (for they share the same planetary ruler). Mercury brings in a focus on communication, also bringing in obsessive worry and anxiety. The mutable energy allows the native to be adaptable and versatile, but sometimes this can allow them to go with the flow when taking a stand would be better. Virgo being naturally associated with the 6th House, also may cause a workaholic tendency, the 6th House ruling daily routines and service. It is important that Virgo natives be in a job at which they feel they are performing a real service, to better those around them. They have a strong work ethic, and are incredibly meticulous. They never do anything half-assed, and always finish what they start. They tend to appear very conservative, and proper, but that is only at face value. Around unfamiliar situations, they are ever cautious, shy, and lacking self-confidence in their abilities. 

Even if you are not a Virgo sun sign within your own natal chart, you are still being affected somewhere within your chart. For example, I have Virgo on my Midheaven, or 10th House cusp. I have no planets here, but the aspects of the 10th House (Career and most public self) are being pulled in to play here, and really emphasized within my own life. For those that know me, they know that I am now offering astrology readings at my local metaphysical shoppe. While my boss had mentioned weeks ago that I was to start doing readings, I didn't actually start doing them, until August 22. You will see above that this is when the Sun went in to Virgo. This energy finally manifested within my life, allowing me to get moving and get started. Being naturally a Fixed Earth (Taurus), it can be hard at times for me to start projects, but get me one that is already started, and I will finish it. So, taking a look at your chart, check where Virgo is. It is now being activated by the Sun. Any planets in Virgo will eventually throughout the month become activated, being conjunct with the Sun. 

Through my Living Temple of Witchcraft Volume 2 book by Christopher Penczak, I am looking forward to the exercises this month. In figuring out how I serve others, meditating and journeying to the Underworld, and also looking at my own personal habits of over-criticism, and personal standards of impossible perfectionism, I think this is the perfect sign for delving in to the Shadow, especially as the Wheel of the Year is entering the darker part of the year.

Where is Virgo in your chart (Need your chart? Go HERE)? Do you have any planets that are being positively or negatively aspected by the Sun in Virgo? Are you feeling the tendencies of Virgo to analyze, organize and perfect? How are you dealing with these energies in your life?