Third House

Third House: Gemini and Mercury

The Third House of the Horoscope is naturally ruled by Gemini and, as such, the planet Mercury. Known as the house of communication this part of the horoscope shows how we express ourselves and with whom. As with the first two in the chart, this is a personal house, very much about one’s self-expression and the connection with those in their immediate environment. Here, intellect also comes into play since our thinking processes are reflected by our communication style. The sign on the cusp, as well as any planets that reside here, suggests one’s style and preferences for communication as well as the thinking processes that underlies our actions.

Our Early Life

ChildhoodOur immediate environment is reflected in this House, as it tends to play a particular role early in life as we learn to express ourselves with those closest to us. We begin our communication with parents and others who care for us, then siblings and neighbors, classmates and playmates, expanding our network as we learn and grow.

This area of life is about proximity and when I think about this house in relation to any individual natal chart I am always prompted to consider the individual’s ‘neighborhood’, who is part of that network, and the methods one uses to connect with those who in these groups. Phone calls, messages, visits, reading, writing, and couriers all fit into this category.

During early life, siblings and neighbors are often within earshot so a few steps or a short walk facilitates our connection. Other relationships may require a phone call or a visit which leads to short journeys, such as the grocery store, the dry cleaner or other local businesses in the neighborhood drawing in another 3rd house element, that of commerce. Still others require us to employ a method of transportation in order to connect such as car, bus, or taxi and therefore all forms of transportation factor into this house. As we take this journey from our own home, through the neighborhood, and a little further out, one can begin to see the main areas of life reflected in the 3rd House.

Short Journeys and Transportation

In addition to communication, siblings, neighbors, commerce, short journeys and transportation, the 3rd House also includes intellect, thinking patterns, and early education (before college). With this short list, the qualities of the planet Mercury are highlighted and further developed as we consider the role of intelligence.

One’s journey in life is flavored by what they learn during their early years and how they exercise their intellect. We start by building our understanding of things in a practical way, facilitating how we work within our immediate environment and the people within that circle. Early learning and primary education teach us how to think and express ourselves. Verbal and written communication as well as reading and language are all part of this education.

The Element of Air

Third HouseWe gain further insight and understanding by considering the particular qualities associated with the House. The element connected to both Gemini and Mercury is Air and the same quality is present in the 3rd House. In this case, Air suggests energy directed towards communication and connection. The signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius all bear this quality and they are considered bridge-builders in some way, manner or form. The characteristics of networking and connecting ideas and people are, in particular, indicative of the 3rd House and, therefore, this is very much an area of “activity”, not one of “things”.

Within the Horoscope, the 3rd House is considered a ‘cadent’ house, which basically means how we adapt to external forces. The Cadent houses (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th) are where we meet energies and influences that require us to consider, respond and adapt our thinking and communication relative to what was initiated and manifested in the Angular and Succeedent houses immediately before.

Energy and Adaptability

To develop the picture a little further, consider the 3rd house is “Mutable”, which links it to Gemini and Mercury. While the 2nd House is “Fixed” reflecting a strong tangible nature, the 3rd is Mutable and therefore possesses an intangible type of energy. Some key words such as adaptable, change, facilitate, flexible, and resourceful relate very much to thinking and communicating.

Not only does one think and express ideas, they also listen to, reflect upon and assimilate the communication or information they are receiving. This requires a degree of flexibility and adaptability, the specific quality of which is defined by the sign on the cusp of the house.

There is much to consider about the 3rd House but if we keep in mind the key concepts of communication, thinking, and neighborhood, and their role and influence in our journey, one can begin to understand how and why we have developed our own style of thinking and communication. What does the sign on the cusp of your 3rd House suggest about your neighborhood, or about the way you think and communicate?