Mercurial Conscious Commandment

Edmond H. Wollmann, original draft, November 20, 1995

 Short version, June 1997 issue of Horoscope Magazine. Expanded version January 15, 2000

A thorough understanding of the inherently subjective nature of knowledge -- especially psychological knowledge -- is a prerequisite and basic acknowledgment for the analytical discernment of any psyche (analytical discernment refers to the comprehension of a persona or psyche of an individual devoid of personal projection bias from subjective beliefs from the observer). Secondly, without a thorough and holistic awareness of the entire self (the observing self) we must necessarily function from a value judgment perspective, simply because we are not completely aware of the parameters of our own psyche, and the subjective value judgments the observer may have internalized through attachment or early environmental schema.

The word judgment will be defined as; the forming of an estimate, opinion, notion, or conclusion as from circumstances presented to the mind (generalized Webster dictionary definition). But there are many levels of mind; Conscious, subconscious, unconscious, preconscious, collective unconscious and finally, higher conscious mind. It is the conscious mind that is the interface in physical reality for the other "levels" of mind. The greater its awareness, acquiescence, and participation with these other levels, the greater the individual's capability for logic, critical thinking from objectivity, and analytical discernment. Analytical discernment is the ability to separate, discriminate, and discern the projection of one's own beliefs and parameters of thought, from the accurate observation of a belief system or parameter of thought of the observed psyche. This, in part, occurs from the freeing of the individual from the collective opinion that is achieved through a recognition of the identity's own individuality, independent of convention (Uranus). We come to recognitions of our definitions with the assistance of subjects such as astrology and psychological testing. But it begins with critical thinking and logic.

Mercury's sign, position, and aspects tell us much about the identity's type of interface or conscious mindset that acts as the lens through which physical reality is discerned. It is the lens through which the levels of mind outlined above are focused and refocused. The conscious approach reflected through Mercury's position and condition is the direct line to the actions of the physical self and will (Mars) and its ability for redefinition of belief parameters. Hence, it is the key to reality creation redirection through conscious commandment, meaning; I understand it, know it, I understand that I have created it on some level, and thus, and will it to be so.

First, we must clarify some of the elements of logic, critical thinking, and fallacious reasoning as there may be some untrained or unfamiliar with this organized body of knowledge derived from philosophy. Logic is the science of sound reasoning, and "logic provides a fundamental defense against the prejudiced and uncivilized attitudes that threaten the foundations of our democratic society." For our purposes, logic provides an objective approach to analyzing our belief structures that leads us to a more comprehensive understanding of our reality experience; because it is "believing is seeing", not "seeing is believing" from the self-empowered and awareness oriented approach. This perspective or approach includes the idea that we are the reality that it seems we exist within. With this premise in mind, it is logical to infer that if we create our reality by our definitions held by our psyche, that our psyche must extend outward to encompass the Universe! (the extent of our reality). Also it follows, we must logically assume, that the more we expand into the physical universe, the more we must be expanding our psychic universe. Because the constellations are just names for the area of space, extending to infinity around the Earth, that reflect the definitions held by the psyche either collectively or individually at any given moment. When planets in transit trigger astrological configurations in the horoscope, it is these definitions held (beliefs) that are being triggered. Belief being seen!

A fallacy is a defect in an argument. A false premise for an argument, is a defect. Acknowledging the logical flow above, the belief that physical reality exists outside of us is a false premise. Therefore, logically, if you argue from this world-view and belief, defective arguments must follow. If the power that affects self definition and the molding the clay of the psyche is outside of us, we cannot own it or control it. Therefore, if the constellations and planetary configurations affect us, it implies we cannot control them, therefore, we are destined or fated to some degree to be such and such. How? I ask, can we be aware of the potential to create and change our destiny, if we cannot do so? Anything we can imagine, must be real on some level of the psyche or its concievability would not exist. Many counselors of astrology say -- in their zeal to prove their craft -- "this is happening because Saturn is transiting" here or there. This removes power from the individual and places it with Saturn! This view dis-arms rather than empowers the client. To be precise, a prediction of future probabilities and their unfolding is a sensing of the momentum of the current definitions and their probable outcome should the energy not change. Regardless of the methods used by the person doing the perceiving. The horoscope provides us the ability -- through its mirror-like reflectivity -- to see those other levels of psychic momentum (that we might not be fully aware of) and their probable outcome, so that if we do not prefer those definitions we can redefine them! Therefore, to say that difficulties are arising because Saturn is in such and such a position is a fallacious and defective premise for the idea of counsel, empowerment, and service. It is the individual's definitions that are being manifested in experience and externalized reality, which is the self! Definitions cause them, redefinition changes them. Redefinition starts then, by owning reality, recognizing psychic definitions (which astrology has no equal in providing the service of), and redefining and acting on them through conscious commandment. This is what is meant by "knowledge is power but it must be used"--not information that allows us to manipulate the reality for self serving ends.

Each part of this process is either enhanced or made difficult by the position of natal Mercury, which we are born with as the effect of our belief in conscious command and discernment, that we defined in previous incarnations. Everything we have and are is the result of effort and definition. It always works this way, it never doesn't work, there are no exceptions. We always create our reality 100% even if we are using 90% to create the illusion that we have only the other 10%. The study of astrology allows us to view the psychic dynamics of how and why we are creating the reality we are experiencing. Knowing is not the same as controlling. All we can control is our own definitions and effort. We must act on that knowledge with the conviction revealed through willpower. Whatever ideas we trust, act as the catalyst of reality creation, and brings the universe into movement. We paint the picture, the universe is the infinite palette. If trust is placed in the belief that life is most likely to be full of things we don't prefer by acting on what we don't prefer because we believe we "must", the Universe will bring us a multitude of opportunities to do things we don't prefer.

Because Mercury is the lens of conscious perception, it functions best in signs that deal with specificity, duality, and focus. It does not function well in signs that deal with breadth of vision, ego focus, or emotional subjectivity. These issues detract from critical assessment and detached discernment. The clearer the lens, the less distorted the picture.

In its Dignity in the Air element Gemini, the diversity and duality of idea interaction takes on the qualities of a remote control with the ability to jump from idea to idea, subject to subject, channel to channel with no special bias to any of them, and a simple and clear perception of all of them. Perception of the duality is comfortable with little interference from belief. A good analogy is the computer chip, swift and flawless diversification of information. The use of that information is determined by the rest of the configuration (chart).

In its Dignity in the Earth element Virgo, the duality and interaction of ideas is applied to physical and pragmatic concerns. The discriminatory functions enhance frugality, efficiency, and economy. Gemini is the facile driver of the car, Virgo streamlines the assembly line that builds it, and continually refines the smooth interaction of the parts that decrease errors in functioning.

Planets in developmental tension with Mercury (square or opposition, or in a lesser way semisquares and sesquiquadrates) distort the lens with the issues and archetype of the planet involved. This condition reflects bias. A heavily negatively aspected Mercury indicates that the issues of the personality's conflicts are determining and coloring the analytical and observational process (see projection). Positive aspects (sextile and trine) indicate that the mental functions have incorporated and integrated the positive functions of the planet involved in the aspect into physical focus. That archetype is understood well. When Mercury is retrograde the communication and thought processes are in a state of reassessment because of insecurity and/or repression.

In Aspect with...

Mercury's sign and aspects in the natal chart reflects the type and quality of psychological approach to thinking and conscious commandment the individual needs. The astrologer must be at or above the vibrational level of awareness of the client in order to be of service in increasing awareness through consultation. No one can interpret or advise a life or level at which they themselves cannot, or have not, functioned. One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

The following is a brief key of the psychological needs of Mercury through the signs;

In Aries-Unless there are stabilizing configurations, the need to be ego important and first stimulates temperament, impulse and anxiousness. With stablizing connections (see Einstein) there can be brilliant exploration. Your fears about being last or ignored, accentuates impulsiveness and the quest, which may blind you to the truth, and the benefits of wisdom gained over time.

Taurus-Values and issues of self efficacy interfere with Mercurial flexibility. The individual needs to think in structured terms. If less insecurity is shown through the rest of the horoscope a remarkable value structure may be built. Your strong fear of losing functional control may actually create that scenario because a fear is a belief.

Gemini-A communication antenna. Sensitive and articulate with information. When negatively aspected. nervousness, scattered thinking, and rationalization. You fear a lack of appreciation for your intelligence, and if you're not focused and apply the self diligently-- you won't be.

Cancer-You need to think in romantic or intuitive terms. Whether this intuition is accurate or not depends on the stability of the rest of the identity. This stability would be reflected in an ability to critically assess yourself and others without a fear of ridicule. Your fear is that an advantage can be had through appeals to the emotions.

Leo-Mercury in Leo can be warm, but it can also be loud with the ego blinded to its own inaccuracies. You can see large points of view as long as they don't contain a critical assessment of yourself which you don't like. This position is not especially objective. The ego needs to be removed from logical analyses. Observation suffers. Your fear of being ignored tends to detract from humility. He who thinks he knows, doesn't, he who knows he doesn't, does.

Virgo-Your sense impressions are rarely taken at face value. You realize the possibility of inaccuracy. This aids in analytical discernment because you don't just see something, you categorize it, which allows you an efficient method of thinking. Just make sure that this is not the end of the significance, because through too much categorization you can remove the spirit of living. You fear losing control and may allow you to become judgmental and lose breadth of vision.

Libra-You need to think in pleasing or perhaps artistic terms. This is a fine reflective position that aids objectivity. If this is not taken to extremes it can be a plus in balancing alternatives and ideas. Try not to make seeing all sides an end in itself. You must then act on the information. Your fear of not being socially appreciated is the reason for your difficulty in taking a stand.

Scorpio-The need for emotional significance in your thoughts about things, may color your thinking to such a degree that objective analysis may not be possible. If you cultivate the objectivity, the depth of your thinking may allow for profundity. Secretiveness is the effect of a fear of being taken for granted emotionally. Realize that significance can be implied as well as "real."

Sagittarius-Your opinions and ideas are broad, swift, and grand. The greatest plan in the world will go nowhere without pilot programs to find functional flaws. This is why Sagittarius is a difficult placement for Mercury. Your fear is that your intellect will be ignored or minimized and you try to be all-encompassing in your presentation. If you know it is a good idea it will endure revisions and testing, it'll fly with its own wings, and you don't have to make sure by giving it some before hand.

Capricorn-You have a practical reaction to information and sense impressions. This is excellent for practical and material matters, but it may bog down philosophical or more diverse application to aesthetic subjects. This stems from the fear of losing strategic control of communication issues. If you can add imagination to your acute sense perceptions, your mind will know no limits.

Aquarius-The need to think in individualistic terms adds much to innovation and diversity, which is a necessary element of thinking of things in any reality. But when the facts present themselves you could learn from the above sign Capricorn, that your individual spin on it does not necessarily make it so. Your fear of being pigeonholed is the reason you may reject cold hard facts. On the other hand, are there really any? You may be the one to change them.

Pisces-Unless there are mitigating aspects or you train your mind in a more objective fashion (taking lessons from Mercury in Gemini or Virgo), there is a strong tendency to feel your way through thinking (allowing belief projection to dominate the lens). This doesn't mean that your always wrong, but there is nothing wrong with knowing the reasons for things. You fear that cold hard logic takes advantage of sympathetic souls and you won't be the perpetrator of that. But if someone is kept from the truth, it may be far more dangerous and cruel than momentary intellectual readjustment on your part or theirs. A word to the wise is sufficient.

In Analysis

In the horoscope of Carl Sagan we see a low count in the Air element (a low threshold of belief in idea interaction).

The reigning need of the identity is to have the ideas and intellectual opinions acknowledged with the Moon in Sagittarius. Mercury is in Scorpio. The thinking needs are for emotional impact. The retrograde state implies an insecurity with the thinking. Its conjunction to Jupiter indicates that the expansion of emotional significance is the driving force in the thought processes. Overcompensation may be overconfidence. Mercury is disposed of by Pluto in 3 (perspective alteration) which in turn is disposed of by the moon in Sagittarius in 8 (more transformation and perspective/significance acuity). There would be fixity and stubbornness (Taurus ascendant, Scorpio emphasis). It is not immediately apparent but the opposition to Uranus in twelve gives us the final clue that there is little objectivity and a lot of personal bias toward "significance" in the thought processes. Although the Scorpio planets are in 6, (the natural house of discernment) transformation of projections would may be difficult (A strong fixed sign momentum). Uranus reflects unconscious forgotten knowledge and wisdom. Its opposition to Mercury is reflective of the need to wake up this knowledge (of spontaneous self trust), and implies rigidity in perspective (sixth and twelfth houses) and is part of the reason for incarnation (twelfth). Mercury opposed Uranus reflects a "know-it-all" attitude. A need to de-structurize thinking. Mercury's dispositorship of the Neptune/Mars (twelfth ruler) conjunction reflects a self-intoxication with his own ideas, not unlike Charles Manson born 3 days later! He, of course has channeled this energy more constructively with the moon in Sagittarius, but still, the drive to alter and affect perspective (personally and collectively) is evident. The difference between them is only the application of energy (positive/negative), sense of power, and flexibility. Powerless attitudes breed a lack of integrity. It would have behooved him to study astrology to aid insight into the psyche rather than denounce it. His denunciation without investigation and study proves the subjectivity just outlined. He did know, absence of evidence, is not evidence of absence, and positively rejected the scientific denigration through bigotry of astrology by his peers:

Several years ago, at the instigation of astronomer Bart J. Bok, the HUMANIST circulated it's famous anti-astrology manifesto. This document wound up being signed by some 200 scientists and university professors, some Nobel Prize winners. The idea being to put an end, once and for all, to public interest and belief in the nebulous pseudo-science (not very objective!). After all, these are scientists; objective students of observation, right? Wrong!

The only one that made an intelligent response to the HUMANIST, was Carl Sagan. In his letter to the editor, he stated:

"I find myself unable to endorse the "Objections to Astrology" statement, not because I feel that astrology has any validity whatsoever, but because I felt and still feel that the tone of the statement is authoritarian. The fundamental point is not that the origins of astrology are shrouded in superstition. This is true as well for chemistry, medicine, and astronomy, to mention only three. To discuss the psychological motivation of those who believe in astrology seems to me quite peripheral to the issue of its validity. That we can think of no mechanism for astrology is relevant but unconvincing. No mechanism was known, for example, for continental drift when it was proposed by Wegener. Nevertheless, we see that Wegener was right, and those who objected on the grounds of unavailable mechanism were wrong. Statements...that appear to have an authoritarian tone...confirm the impression that scientists are rigid and closed-minded."

This may have been one of his yet-unrecognized, most powerful statements based on real logic and objectivity, instead of over-dramatized "billions and billions" statements designed to impact rather than inform listeners. The Sun rules four and squares Saturn to ten. There was tremendous ambition to establish (fourth) analytical (six) status (ten) with others thinking (Saturn rules nine).

In the horoscope of Steven Spielberg we also have strong needs for emotional significance (Moon, Jupiter, and Venus in Scorpio, and square Pluto).

It is directed to creative extension (5th). Mercury in Sagittarius tends to blurring, but here we have a double applying trine to Saturn in two and Saturn disposes of Mars exalted in six in Capricorn. There is comfort in execution of his work (six) to social issues (Mars rules eleven). There is a strong need to prove worth (Sun/Moon blend, Saturn/Pluto in two).

Here the Uranus opposing the Sun is meant to wake up self worth (two) and innovative mental approaches (Close Encounters, Jurassic Park etc.) and issues. This independent perspective has served him well, although even with his Mercury trine Saturn some details missing have been noted in his films. There is the need to merge the real and ideal (Saturn sextile Neptune) that supports the collective consciousness in this perspective alteration in his private search for the reassessment of values (Saturn/Pluto conjunct and retrograde in two) through drama (Leo) and film (sextile Neptune in four ruling ten). Interesting to note that he was born right after the end of World war 2 (Saving Private Ryan).