A Few Quick Notes on the Twelfth House

[sdi]

Populus in the XII is something like a death by a thousand cuts: lots of little problems, each unworthy of consideration on their own, but overwhelming all together.

Albus in the XII indicates that I'll gain clarity on something troubling me, or that there's going to be a big mess that I'll have to clean up. (Sometimes literally.)

Carcer in the XII suggests insomnia or imprisonment.

Laetitia in the XII is the only figure that I've seen that counteracts the negative nature of the house; it indicates no particular troubles afflicting the question [assuming that Laetitia doesn't occupy anywhere else].

Comments

[tunesmyth]

I don't currently focus on House charts, but when I was callowly doing them a lot at the beginning of my geomancy studies, I always felt like the 12th house was the one I was always at a loss as to how to read. Is it a warning, "watch out for this character in the 12th!"? That would make it a lot easier to decipher if so. In which case, even if to use your "safe" figure Laetitia in the 12th, I still might think twice if it appeared just before I was supposed to take a hot air balloon ride.

[sdi]

Yes, I read it as a warning. Always pay attention to where the figure in the XII occupies: it indicates a particular trouble. If it doesn't occupy anywhere else, then it's weak and general.

For example, if you're asking a question about, say, the IX house, and you get Fortuna Minor in the V and XII, it may indicate that you're too caught up in your own desires to make progress, and you need to "cool your jets."

As another example, if you get a chart with Fortuna Minor in the XII that doesn't occupy anywhere else, then it suggesting that you should watch out for "jumping the gun" or "burning the candle at both ends," since you'll flame out, but it doesn't indicate a risk of this on any facet of the question in particular.

[tunesmyth]

Interesting. I ran a reading just after I read your reply, which as it happens, has Laetitia in the 12th (those geomantic spirits do have a sense of humor!), and I feel it may be a legitimate warning in this case. Can I get your opinion on it?

I'm very concerned about whether I will be able to finish important work on part of a big music project this week in time for the recording session. I asked (with intent to read the answer given by court, but looking at the House chart too): "If I *don't* take any days off from work this week to work on the music, can we realistically succeed at this project's recording this weekend?" (Note: I don't want to suddenly take time off from work, as it's inconsiderate, dishonest, and would cost me money at a tight time. But I will if it's the only way I can find the time to get this music done.) I'll display it as a House Chart:



By the method of weighing the court, this is a mediocre chart without clear success and what I'd call a equal possibility of failure. I read this court as "Unmoving me, dealing with a lack of time, and finding a short lived sort of happiness". But of what sort?

I am starting to tentatively take Laetitia to sometimes mean "procrastination" or perhaps more in line with the meaning of the character, "trivial pursuits", and I'd take this court to read that in the limited time I have left, I'd be in danger of frittering my time away on the wrong things. (...Like geomancy readings?) And there she is, Laetitia there in the 12th (and also as the LW, and also as the Reconciler).

Fortuna Major is sprinkled through three times, but not in the court, and I believe-- as my question concerned the possibility of taking off from my job-- that the 10th house Fortuna Major is not to do with music work so much as my day job. Linked to the 2nd and 4th, I'd be keeping hold of my salary, and it appears it's of some importance.

Do you see anything else in there? What do you think of that Laetitia there in 12?

[sdi]

Yeah, with Laetitia touching the LW, too, that would override my meaning of "everything is fine." (I should edit my post, it only means that if it doesn't pass anywhere :P) In fact, this is saying that external factors are just fine, yet you're stuck on them (perhaps needlessly). Your question is about a created thing, so goes to the V, and there's a mode of perfection through Fortuna Major (so yeah, you don't need to take time off of work to get it done, though it may be a challenge).

Given that you're Albus (a figure of deliberation and clarity), the Judge is Amissio (which suggests dropping something you're juggling) and the perfecting link is Fortuna Major (which strongly suggests taking your time, and further that translation means that mediation by a third party is how to succeed), I might try and see if I could push back the recording to a later date? (Is that a thing? My Venus is a mess, so I don't know anything about music.) Even if not, though, Fortuna Major may simply carry you through.

As always, I'm only a couple years into this, so the usual grain-of-salt warning applies. (Also, I apologize, this analysis is a bit hasty... we're having a day over here, so I'm a little busy!)

[sdi]

You know, I've been thinking about this more. I wonder if my interpretation of Laetitia in the XII is simply because fire and joy are rare in my life, so the negative attributes of Laetitia (such as being untethered, undirected, excessively visible, "high", etc.) are simply things that are balanced (or, perhaps, drowned) by my unusually watery nature.

That is to say, having any fire is rare, so having an excess of fire is nearly unheard of.