The sixth house in astrology is focused on service and work. This is a quieter house, but can show some important aspects of your life. Sixth House Astrology & Your Natal Chart
Most astrology charts have 12 houses, and each rule different parts of life. Your natal chart is a snapshot of the locations of the planets, other bodies, and 12 houses in the Zodiac at the moment you're born and from the location you're born at. Your natal houses each rule different parts of your life and personality.
The sixth house is naturally ruled by Mercury, the planet of the mind. While the sixth house doesn't correspond to the mind (that's the third house), it is a busy house and does relate to our daily life. At-a-Glance Sixth House Keywords:
Sixth House in Astrology: Work
The sixth house is the house of work, and is one of the professional houses (along with the second house of money and tenth house of career). The sixth house shows the work environment you need, the kind of jobs you do, and how you approach work.
This house also governs the kind of work you don't get paid for, things like tasks, chores, and personal projects. Sixth House in Astrology: Health
The sixth house is also the house of health, and it can show the health ailments that plague us, as well as the approach to health we have. It can show what we need to do to be healthier, and where in our lives we can be most concerned with health and wellness.
Sixth House in Astrology: Service
The sixth house is one of the houses of service, along with the twelfth house. The twelfth house is service through sacrifice, while the sixth house is service through work. This is where we can do things that we don't necessarily get credit for.
Sixth House in Astrology: Routine and Schedule
The sixth house is a practical house, and rules routine and schedule. It shows the schedule we stick to, the regimen we adhere to, and where we need these things, how we approach these things, or if we stick to them at all.
Sixth House in Astrology: Structure and Order
The sixth house rules structure and order. This is a house that is organized and neat. That doesn't necessarily mean conventionally organized though, and sometimes this can look different on the outside but makes sense to the individual.
Sixth House in Astrology: Daily Life
The sixth house rules our daily lives, what we deal with on a day-to-day basis, and our approach to managing day-to-day affairs. It can show what we need to do daily.
Sixth House in Astrology: Maintenance
The sixth house rules maintenance, since this is something that is a part of routine and health. It's the maintenance of our bodies, as well as everything in our lives, from our cars to our computers to our houses and our general well being.
Where Your Sixth House Energy is Found
For everyone, look to the Zodiac sign your sixth house falls in. The areas of life ruled by that sign are where you work, need wellness, and crave structure. Also look to the natural planetary ruler of your sixth house (the natural planetary ruler of the Zodiac sign your sixth house falls in) as this can also connect to the 6th house energy.
If you have any natal planets in your sixth house, this can make the sixth house energy a lot stronger for you. That planet can strongly connect with your work, your health, and your daily life. Transit (moving) planets touring your sixth house can bring some temporary energy for sixth house matters. It can be especially strong when it's transit Mars (bringing lots of productive energy for work), transit Saturn (demanding a lot of work from you), transit Uranus (bringing changes to your daily life), transit Pluto (transforms your work or health), or transit Chiron (focusing on healing, health, and general wellness in daily life). Transit planets aspecting your natal 6th house ruler can stimulate sixth house energy as well, and conjunctions, square, and oppositions by transit Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, or Chiron can be especially challenging and require a lot of focus on improving your health, daily life, and connection to what you do. A Strong Sixth House in Astrology
Some may have a super strong natal sixth house. This can be the case for you if you have:
- a stellium (3+ planets) in the 6th house - your Sun, Moon, or Chiron in the 6th house - your North or South Node in your 6th house - your 1st house ruler in the 6th house - your 6th house cusp or ruler anaretic (at 29 degrees) - retrograde Mercury, Venus, or Mars in the 6th house or ruling the 6th house When you have a strong 6th house, having work that you're passionate about can be very important for you, and without that, you can feel lost. You may need to also find some balance, and make your health a top priority, and manage stress in healthy ways. Stress can be an issue for you, and you likely need to find healthy outlets and to manage frustrations better. You may put too much on yourself though, taking on too many responsibilities, and this can become overwhelming. You may be a perfectionist, but this just adds to your stress and manages your ability to be well. You likely have to learn to go easy on yourself, and be more practical with your demands. Suggested Reading: The 6th House page for general interpretations, as well as the series of articles about the 12 houses: All About the First House in Astrology All About the Second House in Astrology All About the Third House in Astrology All About the Fourth House in Astrology All About the Fifth House in Astrology All About the Sixth House in Astrology All About the Seventh House in Astrology All About the Eighth House in Astrology All About the Ninth House in Astrology All About the Tenth House in Astrology All About the Eleventh House in Astrology All About the Twelfth House in Astrology 
Ceres is a dwarf planet in astrology, and ruler of nourishment, support, and resources. The transit, or moving, planets can make aspects to your natal Ceres and impact your ability to feel nourished, get and give support, and have the resources you need and use them well. Mercury, Venus, and Mars retrograde are no exception! They can make aspects to your natal Ceres, just like to any of your other natal planets, How do they impact your natal Ceres? What is a retrograde?
A planet or body is called retrograde in astrology when it appears to be moving backward through the Zodiac. This is just our perception, and it's not actually moving backward, but looks that way.
Planets and bodies operate differently when they're retrograde compared to when they're not. Sometimes this is very subtle, but in the case of Mercury, Venus, and Mars it's not subtle at all. This is because they are the personal planets, and we feel them in a deeply personal way. Mercury rules our communications, so Mercury retrograde likes to throw that off, and we have difficulty with focus, movement, work, expression, and tech. We can be scattered and anxious. Venus rules our relationships, so Venus retrograde likes to bring out existing issues in relationships, and can put them on the edge. It can also bring back old flames, but it may not last once the retrograde is over. We can be indulgent, impatient, and stubborn. Mars rules our energy and drive, so Mars retrograde likes to make it difficult for us to take initiative, be active, and go for what we want. We can be prone to frustrations and arguments, and this can be a time when we lash out. We can be impatient, impulsive, and insecure. Mercury Retrograde to Natal Ceres:
When Mercury retrograde sextiles or trines natal Ceres, this can help you come up with new, different ideas and plans for maximizing or acquiring new resources. You can find new ways of expressing support, and can feel supported from others in new ways.
When Mercury retrograde squares or opposes natal Ceres, this can expose ways in which you've been quiet about your lack of support or lack of resources, and you can feel extra insecure about it. You may need to find different ways of getting what you need. When Mercury retrograde conjuncts natal Ceres, this can bring super focus on your needs, resources, and support. You may feel more driven to speak up and express yourself, and you may experiment with new approaches to giving and getting support. This can be a strong period for decisions regarding your resources or finances. Venus Retrograde to Natal Ceres:
When Venus retrograde sextiles or trines natal Ceres, this can bring helpful energy for your relationships and dealings with others. You can find new ways of getting and giving support, of feeling connected, and showing you care.
When Venus retrograde squares or opposes natal Ceres, others may be more frustrating to deal with, and you may find they';re extra stubborn, or you may be the stubborn one. You may not want to deal with them, but this can create bigger problems. You may feel you don't have the resources you need, which can lead to extreme frustration. When Venus retrograde conjuncts natal Ceres, this can be strong energy for focusing on your resources and finances, and you can find new ways of improving your financial situation or having new, different resources available to you. You can bring nurturing energy to your dealings with others in new ways. Mars Retrograde to Natal Ceres:
When Mars retrograde sextiles or trines natal Ceres, you can use your energy and drive in new, different ways to get and give support, be nurturing, or make use of resources. You may take the initiative in a way you haven't before.
When Mars retrograde squares or opposes natal Ceres, this can bring out frustrations with not feeling supported or not having enough, and this can make you lash out. You may feel deeply insecure and stressed out. You likely need a healthy outlet for the frustrations, and to go about things in a different way. When Mars retrograde conjuncts natal Ceres, this can bring a surge of energy for having different resources or improving your financial situation in a different way. Your gut instincts can be killer when it comes to these things, and you can be energized when you feel supported or give support in new ways. Suggested Reading: The Ceres Series Ceres in the Zodiac Signs Natal Ceres in the Houses Natal Ceres Aspects Transit Ceres in the Houses Transit Aspects to Natal Ceres Mercury, Venus, and Mars Retrograde to Natal Ceres Transit Ceres Aspects The Ceres Return in Astrology Astrology of Ceres in the Progressed Chart Ceres & Love Astrology Ceres Retrograde Aspects 
Our third Mercury retrograde in 2022 hits mid-September to early October, and travels through both Libra and Virgo. What will this do for us? The Basics - What is Mercury retrograde?
A retrograde occurs when a planet appears to be moving backwards from our vantage point here on Earth. It isn't actually moving backwards, it just appears that way. Mercury turns retrograde most often, about 3-4 times per year, and lasts for several weeks. When a planet retrogrades, what that planet rules tends to be thrown off, along with what the sign it's retrograding in rules.
With Mercury retrograde, we experience a shadow and a storm. The shadow period starts when Mercury first hits the point in the Zodiac it will turn direct at, and ends when it last hits the point in the Zodiac it will turn retrograde at. Most people don't feel the effects of Mercury retrograde until it enters the storm period though. The storm period of Mercury retrograde is when Mercury is moving at its slowest, less than 40 minutes per day. Mercury is a fast-moving planet and hates it when it's moving slowly. There's usually two storm periods, one around the time Mercury turns retrograde, and one around when it turns direct. Mercury Retrograde in Libra & Virgo 2022 Key Dates:
Mercury Retrograde Effects:
The third Mercury retrograde for 2022 begins in air sign Libra, and this is the last to impact Libra for a few years, and the last to impact an air sign for a while. Mercury retrograde in Libra can target relationships, and we can struggle to get along, to see eye-to-eye, and to come together. We may focus intensely on other people's flaws, and issues in relationships may seem so much worse because we're more aware of them. This is an opportunity to make improvements and make the relationships more solid, if we choose to. Otherwise, the relationships may become more strained, or end.
There can be difficulty with finding balance, and we may become aware of how out of balance things have been. This can be good for trying to focus on what we've been missing, and restore balance in areas that need it. If we let it fester, we can become more indecisive and out of sorts. We may also be more focused on what is just and fair, and if we feel things haven't been very just or fair, we may want to fight that. This can be good, but we need to make sure we're going about it the right way and have a plan, not flying by the seat of our pants. With this being the last Mercury retrograde in Libra for some time, we may see some of the issues that have come up in relationships and our dealings with others over the last 2-3 years reach a culmination or come to an end. Mercury goes backward into Virgo on September 23rd, and this can bring out stress to the nth degree. We can become super stressed out about the things we were already worried about, already stressing about, and already concerned about. That stress can be amplified, and we likely need to get some perspective, get away from it, distract, or just get a break. Virgo is the sign of work and productivity, so we may demand a lot from ourselves, more than is really possible. We may keep taking on projects, adding to the things that need to be done, and it can weigh us down and overwhelm us. We need to be realistic about what we can do, and not demand perfection. This can be a period of productivity, but only if we don't burn out in the process. Mercury is the natural ruler of Virgo, so the energy is amplified in this sign. We're extra anxious and at our wit's end, and we need to be gentle with ourselves and others, and have better patience. The retrograde ends opposite Neptune in Pisces, and this can greatly drain our energy and focus. It can be easy to become exhausted at the end of this retrograde, and we can break down. It's super important to take breaks to avoid that. This can also show issues with boundaries being broken, people being taken advantage of, and victims being made. There may be problems with water or toxicity coming out of the retrograde too. Mercury Retrograde in Libra & Virgo 2022 Aspects:
During the retrograde, Mercury will make 4 major aspects to the other transit (moving) planets. They are:
- Opposite Jupiter on September 18th 2022 @ 4 degree Libra/Aries: Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and oppositions are out of control, so this aspect may show that issues and problems are expanded on in an out of control way. We can be prone to major excess and have difficulty moderating. Balance and middle ground is super important. - Conjunct the Sun on September 23rd 2022 @ 0 degrees Libra: This is the Inferior Conjunction, a positive point in the retrograde for starting something that can be a focus for the next 6-8 weeks; find where it falls in your chart, and that may be where you can start something. - Conjunct Venus on September 26th @ 26 degrees Virgo: This can help bring beneficial energy, and we can focus on our connections in a more positive way. We may find new, different ways of communicating with those in our lives, and we can reconnect. - Trine Pluto on September 27th 2022 @ 26 degrees Taurus/Capricorn: This helps give us some power and control, and is in effect pretty much the whole time Mercury is in Virgo. We can find solutions, do research, and transform, and find renewed energy. The Moons of Mercury Retrograde:
The Moon travels through both signs Mercury naturally rules during this retrograde. The Moon is in Gemini (ruled by Mercury) September 15th (4:16PM ET/1:16PM PT) to 18th (4AM ET/1AM PT), which can increase scattered, unfocused energy and a need for a mental outlet.
The Moon is in Virgo (ruled by Mercury) September 23rd (3:54AM ET/12:54AM PT) to 25th (12:42PM ET/9:42AM PT), and this normally increases anxiety and stress. This is even more the case since Mercury retrogrades back to Virgo also on September 23rd (8:04AM ET/5:04AM PT), and this can bring more emotional focus to the retrograde too, especially when they conjunct on September 25th (8:49AM ET/5:49AM PT). Final Notes:
This retrograde will be at the anaretic degree when it goes back to Virgo, September 23rd to 24th. The anaretic degree is crisis energy in transit, so this may trigger some important events and developments, and energy may run high. With Virgo, we're extra overwhelmed, axious, and need to give ourselves a break. There may also be health issues.
The retrograde starts at 8 degrees Libra, so those of you Libras born September 29th to October 4th may feel the start of the retrograde most. The retrograde ends at 24 degrees Virgo, so those of you Virgos born September 14th to 19th may feel the end of the retrograde most. For the rest of you, check the house(s) Mercury will be retrograding in your own natal chart, and any aspects Mercury will make during its retrograde to your natal planets, to fully understand how it will impact you personally. If you have Mercury retrograde in your natal or progressed chart, you may not feel the worst of this. Those individuals generally don't experience the difficulties of the retrograde because it feels more natural to them. Of course, chances are everyone else around them doesn't have the same aspect, so they can still experience difficulties brought on by others. If it's in your natal chart, check out this article about Mercury retrograde in the natal chart. Suggested Reading: The Mercury, Venus, & Mars Retrogrades page for interpretations |
|
RSS Feed
