Sometimes, the twelfth house feels like one of the more troublesome houses because it shines a light on internal suffering and as a result, external consequences for suppressing it. Oftentimes, most of us are unaware that there are parts of us that exist, which are hidden. We may prefer to keep them in the dark where we think that they belong.
This house heavily focuses on the faculties of the unconscious mind and the things we don’t want to admit, perhaps, to even ourselves. Although we prefer to keep our secrets a secret, sometimes the links we go to cover up our shadow can put us in a position that often ends in hospitalizations, jails, prisons, rehab centers for drug treatment, mental institutions or asylums, or down a spiraling abyss of our own unfortunate, paranoid self-undoing.
Also known as the house of institutions, we may find other centers for healing as well. One could simply visit a yoga and meditation retreat. Likewise, they could find their struggles solved on a church pew rather than through self-destructive behaviors. Conversely, the twelfth house may show one who works at an institution of some kind and battles the demons of others.
In order to discover your highest potential, you should first acknowledge your own darkest shadows. You must be willing to greet your ugliest demons-nose to nose. Sometimes, you must hit even the rockiest bottom and break into millions of tiny pieces before you rise up again as a fiery, bright phoenix. You may recognize that you exist both high and low, dark and light. Once they’re given the same amount of love and acceptance, you could realize that the very things that haunted you, have no power anymore.
The Pisces House
Naturally, this house is ruled by the sign of Pisces. Pisces is known for being ultra-sensitive to their own feelings and other’s emotions. They have a powerful ability to understand true depth and penetrate right through other’s psyches to see what’s hidden below the surface.
Pisces is ruled by Neptune. Neptune makes them quite whimsical and highly imaginative creatures of habit. Oftentimes, they prefer loneliness to those who aren’t as sensitive to them as they are to the world, but this common refuge can turn into escapism, where they potentially self-destruct.
These qualities aren’t only the qualities of someone with their sun sign in Pisces, however. As we know, the 12th house is ruled by Pisces and everyone has a 12th house. The key here is understanding what makes us want to escape, what unravels us from the inside out. This house begs us to ask the question of which parts of ourselves are we trying to run from.
Multiple Planets and No Planets
Having multiple planets in the twelfth house generally means that one will have several institutional visits and perhaps a variety of types, like jails, hospitals, and rehabs, for example. With Malefic planets, such as Saturn and Pluto, in this house, it is highly likely that a lengthy prison sentence could be experienced. On the other hand, if the planets are benefic, like Venus and the Sun, it could point to a person who assists in healing centers and helps others through treatment programs.
What an empty 12th house may refer to is one who will most likely not have to deal with their internal struggles through institutions or that the stay will be a very short-lived experience. If one deals with such things, they’re unlikely to be life-altering events. It is also, however, worth looking at any aspects to this house the ruling sign so that more insight is gained as to things that are deeply within the subconscious.
Multiple Planets and No Planets
–Sun: Confidence easily gained by winning over a crowd or impressing a group with skills you enjoy performing, but feels small and defeated when overlooked; diminishes light quickly, feeling embarrassment after possible rejection; easily retreats and dims personality for the sake of how you feel you must appear; chameleon personality; fear of rejection means putting creative efforts on back burner with justifications; needs structure to maintain talents put out into the world; should understand you don’t need anyone’s validation except your very own.
–Moon: Can oftentimes come off as insensitive or rude, but is afraid to fully express the depth of your feelings; fear or abandonment; fear of rejection; fear of mockery; fear of seeming or feeling clingy or needy; will hurt another before another hurts you and sabotages relationship; giving into love can mean becoming a martyr; feels like the black-sheep or the family’s disappointment; could become estranged to family- by choice; heavy regret after pushing others away; should see that not everyone wants to hurt you and some even want to hold you.
–Mercury: Expresses full dialogue between self and imagined other self; actually believes they are crazy and will admit it to anyone with humor; secret arrangements that could end badly; is the greatest story-teller around, but also greatly exaggerates or omits the truth and often disguises lies; dangerously curious about all complexities; somehow creates something tangible that is usually intangible to gift others what’s been understood through hidden struggles and dimensional travel; is a bridge between this world and all others and such madness should be embraced!
–Venus: Gives such extreme amounts of oneself and offers great love, but if your heart is broken and that love is lost, you also feel that you lose yourself and your purpose; may follow bad/toxic love to the ends of the earth, which is self-sabotage; total transformation through loss and betrayal, but may completely spiral before discovering new self; needs a lot of time alone to reflect on personal truths; calmness and resolution can be found in nature; eventually understands that the beauty seen in others is actually a projection of the self and how worthy you really are.
–Mars: Incredibly self-reliant, but may tend to egotistical/selfish habits before helping anyone else; may “lose it” and realize how much anger they possess in front of others; projections of frustrations; stays busy to deny negative feelings; feels slighted that personal efforts have not resulted in desired result; likes to be left alone when upset; feels sadness is weakness and prefers anger; will impulsively fight if someone plays on your insecurities; may benefit from focusing high energy and courage toward charitable causes that could use such a fighting spirit.
–Jupiter: Idealism has made you trust too easily and has quite often left you feeling alone and foolish; optimistic toward others to never give up wandering and hope in life, love, and within the world, but sometimes feels secretly bitter and resentful at life for past disappointments and failed expectations; is chasing something that feels like it has no end; runs away at signs of trouble; escapes before shit hits the fan; it’s hard to be yourself when it seems like no one likes philosophy and exploring the unknown; must have faith in self and your unique, personal journey.
–Saturn: Tendency to micro-manage everything from fear of lacking control; naturally distrusting without a clear reason; needs tangible proof to believe in things; narrow-minded outlook on what can’t be proven physically or scientifically; stressed from inability to fix the world’s problems; considers self a realist and not a pessimist; refuses to air out dirty laundry or discuss personal problems with anyone; extreme difficulty opening up; keeps it together better than most until it becomes too much, resulting in major breakdown; needs to have more fun and flexibility in life to feel a sense of being free.
–Uranus: Literally can’t be told what to do by anyone; always looking for the exit; either saddened by inability to fit in or tries too hard to blend, feeling disingenuous; trendsetter, for good and evil (choose wisely); has been known as an extremist, a rebel, or at least rather eclectic; frequent, major life changes; never feeling stable or consistent; an officer, nurse, or fireman probably know your name; doesn’t understand own motives; has dark demons, but is brilliant; can actually grasp the unseen so well that you can find it within science and mesh it into an understanding for others to behold.
–Neptune: Seems consistently moody, but can actually pick up on sadness or anger within other’s deep subconscious; highly sensitive to environmental vibes; seemingly easily overwhelmed by responsibility; has been told to stop being a baby; had imaginary friends as a kid; gives too much of self to others and then watched others leave with a piece of you; always seeks to show compassion, comfort, and consideration to all, but not for yourself; must understand how valuable you are and without you, the world would lose its lighthouse home.
–Pluto: Comes dangerously close to reading other’s minds; borderline telepathic; highly observant of tiny social cues that tell a truth one may not want to be known; afraid to accept power you innately possess, which leaves you feeling powerless; suspicion and paranoia trouble you frequently; often correct in intuitive feelings; hard to tell if you’re overly confident and wrong, which is rare, or not confident enough and correct, as usual; fascinated by timeless mysteries; cosmic research can help to fill your hunger to know hidden truths; you’ll reach insanity or become a master–it’s all up to you.
From Within the Labyrinth,
-Lakin