Chapter 4: Mental Interests and Abilities You are more of a poet than a rational scientist, for your mind does not function in a strictly logical, linear fashion. The language of music, art, or poetry is natural to you, and you are also able to think in highly abstract and symbolic terms. Translating your thoughts and impressions into concrete, everyday language may be difficult for you at times and consequently you may appear less intelligent or at least less quick-witted and verbal than others. This was especially true of you as a child, and you probably daydreamed a good deal also. You are intuitive and are able to sense what others' thoughts and feelings are, even before they say anything to you. You often form an opinion about a person or situation without much factual knowledge of them, and your impressions are usually correct. You can be somewhat absent-minded and you become so immersed in your own thoughts that you overlook things in your immediate, tangible environment. You are extremely open-minded and believe that anything is possible. Intangible or spiritual forces seem just as real to you as anything in the concrete world. Your imagination and your sympathetic understanding of other people are two of your greatest gifts. You use your mind to organize, classify, and bring order to your environment. You are interested in the refinement of your technical skills and abilities and are a stickler for details. Organizational and secretarial skills, training others in your area of expertise, or work involving teaching and communications are highly probable for you. You have a sharp mind and a sharp tongue as well, and love a vigorous discussion or debate. You express your thoughts in a clear, decisive, convincing style. You dislike vagueness and fuzzy thinking, and are quick to point out the discrepancies in another's argument. At times you are verbally aggressive and abrasive to others, and you tend to overstate your case or offend people by your unadorned frankness. You can be an effective spokesperson, lawyer, or salesman. You have an aptitude for writing as well, particularly criticism or satire. You enjoy mental challenges and mental work. Even though you can be a decisive and convincing speaker (as indicated earlier), you also have a highly imaginative and intuitive mind. With this combination, there are a number of possibilities: you could accurately articulate the images and fantasies you have, you could forcefully convince others of your own brand of idealism (or illusion!), or perhaps you swing from being very clear and direct to being rather evasive or poetic. The following describes the more fluid, nonrational aspect of your thinking. Your mind is intuitive, imaginative, colorful, and strongly influenced by imagery or fantasy. You see the world with the eyes of an artist or a poet, and the hard sciences and fields of endeavor based on concrete facts, rules or rigorous logic are not your forte. At times you are able to perceive things that other people do not, the "aura" of a place or a person for instance, while at the same time you apparently do not see and/or overlook things that are glaringly obvious to others. One problem you are prone to is you project your fantasies, wishes, and dreams on to other people or an outside situation, and simply do not see what is actually there. Your thinking is somewhat sober and you visualize everything with complete reality. You tend to be a late bloomer and could be a bit narrow-minded or selfish in matters of love. You seem to have a certain fear of being left out in some way. You are willing to grow and gather experience through your contact with others. You give and receive good suggestions or stimulating ideas and tend to cultivate an intense exchange of thoughts. You have a need for social contact and entertainment. You have a great deal of nervous energy and are likely to feel a strong sense of uneasiness. Others can expect to be hit back hard when they provoke you. You are able to make changes if necessary, but in general are somewhat reluctant to take chances. Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 4: Mercury in Pisces Mercury in 6th house Mercury Conjunct Mars Mercury aspects Mars and Neptune Mercury Opposition Neptune Mercury Conjunct Venus/Saturn Mercury Opposition Jupiter/Asc. Mercury Conjunct Saturn/Uranus