Mercury in the 12th house
The results given by Mercury in the twelfth house of the horoscope
Mercury in the twelfth house: This is a bad placement for Mercury. Mercury here gives cruelty, expenditures, poverty, disgrace, extramarital liaisons, court cases and false accusations. A bad placement for education. These are withdrawn, shy, unsociable people. They may possess an ability to communicate with otherworldly forces. Mercury gives a kind, religious mother and success for younger brothers and sisters. A favourably placed Mercury may direct the person towards charity and towards caring for the weak.
Retrograde Mercury in the 12th house: This is a person who has not worked off his previous karma in a past life. They have nervous, impulsive speech. Their own wrong decisions bring disappointment, failures and secret enemies. They need to watch their conversations and decisions. The person makes quick decisions, conclusions and assessments under the influence of Retro Mercury. They need to understand what their karmic lesson consists of and to work it off. (Mahesh Dharmadasa)
Mercury (Buddha) in the 12th house
Mercury in the 12th house. Magnanimity, an inclination towards charity and spiritual knowledge, an unstable mind, debts, an unfinished education, an absence of favourable professional opportunities, an inclination towards breaking marital fidelity and a small number of children. Nevertheless, this person performs many good deeds, and his future life is happier than the present one. (Indubala)
Mercury in the 12th house: clairvoyant, a poet, magnanimous, always glad to help others, passive. An excellent placement for research and behind-the-scenes work. With a conjunction of Mercury with one of the lunar nodes in the 6th, 8th or 12th house nervous illnesses arise. (Shri Govind Swarup Agarwal)
“Bhrigu Sutra” 4.76-81
The owner of such a position of Mercury in the horoscope will become learned. He will give away his things to those in need. If Mercury is conjunct with ruinous planets, the person will have an unstable mind and will set himself against the king or the government. In the case of a conjunction with a favourable planet the owner of the horoscope will spend money on religious aims or on charity. He will have an insufficient or incomplete education.
Comments:
The 12th house is the house of expenditures, losses and outlays — the vyaya bhava. The favourable character of Mercury manifests in that it prompts the owner of the horoscope to engage in charity and to give away objects of prime necessity to those in need.
The 12th house is the house of occult knowledge and of future births. Being in it, Mercury speaks of a striving for transcendental knowledge and indicates that in this life the owner of the horoscope, by means of his good deeds, accumulates favourable karma, the results of which he will obtain only in his next birth.
The word “Jnanavan” [gyanavan] in sutra 76 should be translated as “learned”, and not “educated”. And indeed, as our practical experience shows, the vidya karaka Mercury, being in the 12th house, speaks of an unfinished academic education. Being the second house from the 11th, the 12th house indicates betrayals and deceptions on the part of friends. But the favourable character of Mercury softens these indications (if Mercury is not afflicted) and gives the owner of the horoscope a small number of close friends.
To the characteristics of Mercury in the 12th house one may add an inclination towards breaking marital fidelity and a small number of children, since the 12th house is the sixth from the 7th and the eighth from the 5th house.
Other opinions concerning Mercury in the 12th house:
“Brihat Jataka” — the owner of the horoscope will be demoted or humiliated.
“Phaladipika” — poverty, laziness, cruelty, lack of education and humiliation.
“Saravali” — a person with such a position of Mercury in the horoscope will be lazy, poor, cruel and humiliated, but truthful and possessing a good oratorical gift.
“Chamatkar Chintamani” — the owner of the horoscope will strike fear into his enemies and will be gracious to the brahmins.
Note: Along with the “Bhrigu Sutra”, all the sources mention mixed results of the presence of Mercury in the 12th house.
“Bhrigu Sutra” with commentaries by Indubala
«Jataka Bharanam» 17.48
The results of the placement of Mercury (Buddha) in the 12th house
In the case of the placement of Buddha in the 12th Bhava the person is devoid of mercy, abandoned by those close to him, adroit, skilful in achieving his aims, wins others over to his side, cunning and crafty, and possesses an impure heart.
Comments: With Buddha [Mercury] in the 12th Bhava [house] the person wastes his mental powers and time. He will show an inclination to go to the limit in everything. Thanks to Mercury in the 12th house the person is educated, but cannot use this properly because of his inability to achieve his aims.