Neptune's Dolphins

 

Does this make sense to me? No, it seemed way off. Therefore, I looked deeper. I found that although, I had strong Intuitive and Judging preferences, I was about even on the Extravert and Feeling preferences. As a former statistician, I realized that the sample is only as good as the questions. How the questions are phrased impacts the answer, and therefore the sample. Hence, I went to various sites that used MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) (Note 3) and took their tests. I discovered a bias of assuming Thinking (T) for males and Feeling (F) for females.

 

The first test of personality-type inventory, that I took, was the Heumanmetrics Jung-typology Test, based on the Humanmetric’s interpretation of Carl Jung’s theory of personalities. In researching Jung’s original theory, I discovered that my answers were very close in all of the four categories. Jung theorized that everyone had a dominant function of their personality and an auxiliary function to balance the dominant. Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I) represent “preferred direction of energy and attention.” With the dominant function being the core, Jung delineated eight functions (Ni, Ne, Si, Se, Ti, Te, Fi, and Fe). Added later by Myers-Briggs, Judging (J) and Perceiving (P) were originally a part of the other functions. Thinking and Feeling are Judging functions, while Sensing and Intuition are Perceiving functions.

 

My problems with the various tests determining personality inventory first laid with hereditary versus environment. I was raised in an environment where extraversion was discouraged, and the inner life focused on. Meanwhile, a person’s maturity will balance out the four categories. Over time, my teenage personality was smoothed out by my maturing. Moreover, my brain injury limited my natural proclivity to be extraverted.

 

In my research, I was directed to explore my past childhood patterns such as roaming the neighborhood talking to everyone I met. Ask perceptive family members and friends who noted my bluntness. Read the various personality types and decide which one I am the least like. Which of the Functions do I use the least. (That was Perceiving.) And finally, how does the tug-of-war between dominant and inferior functions resolve itself. (Note 4). Finally, what type aligns with who I am.

 

I finally found the category that made sense – ENTJ (the Commander), which is about two percent of people (with one percent of women). It falls in the Analyst category of Intuitive (N) and Thinking (T) personality types. The Commander is blunt, direct, and structured. The most dominant function of this type is Extraverted thinking (Te). This presents the ENTJ as strong, courageous, and abrasive. With the Introverted intuition (Ni), they can be adept visionaries. The two functions of Te and Ni balance each other out – perceiving both the big picture and specifics.

 

Those test results do match my interests of divination and lore. Divination involves leadership and vision. To divine is to tell others what their future may or not be. Lore fits with my creative self and love of writing. Even with my TBI, I write daily. Both keep my fertile mind occupied within a structure.

 

Notes:

Note 1. The pairs are Extraversion (E): Introversion (I), Sensing (S): Intuition (N), Thinking (T): Feeling (F), and Judging (J): Perceiving (P).

 

Note 2. The other groups are Analysists (Architects, Logician, Commander, and Debater), Sentinel (Logistician, Defender, Executive, Consul), and Explorer (Virtuoso, Adventurer, Entrepreneur, and Entertainer).

 

Note 3. Simply Psychology (https://www.simplypsychology.org/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator.html) states the following describing the MBTI: “MBTI, short for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is a widely used personality assessment tool based on Carl Jung’s theories. It categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types, providing insights into their preferences in four dimensions: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. According to the MBTI theory, you combine your preferences to determine your personality type. The 16 types are referred to by an abbreviation of the initial letters of each of the four type preferences of each cognitive function.”

 

Note 4. Jung defined this struggle of psychic opposites as “enantiodromia.” In my case, I wrestled with Feeling and Thinking since I am female, and therefore expected to be sensitive to people’s emotions.

 

Works Used:

Cox, Barbara, Eds, “Your Secret Self.” Gainsville (FL): Windhorse Books. 2016.

 

Dreth, A.J.,Dr, “My True Type – Clarifying Your Personality Type, Preferences and Functions.” Middleton (DE): Inquire Books. 2013.

—, “The 16 Personality Types: Profile, Theory, & Type Development.” Middleton (DE): Inquire Books. 2014.

 

Education Planner.org, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, 2011. Web. http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml.

 

Gregg, Michelle, “The Easy Myers-Brigg Personality Type Book.” Columbia (SC): Independently Published. 2023.

 

Human Metrics, Humanmetrics, Inc. 2024. Web. https://www.humanmetrics.com/.

 

Mcleod, Saul, Phd, “Carl Jung’s Theory Of Personality: Archetypes & Collective Unconscious,” Simply Psychology, 24 January 2024. Web. https://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-jung.html.

Since Virgo is my Sun Sign, my Ruling Planet is Mercury. In my Natal Chart, Mercury is in Conjunction with the Sun in Virgo. According to Classical Astrology, Mercury is not only Virgo’s Ruler, but also Exalted in that Sign. Dr. J. Lee Lehmen in “Classical Astrology for Modern Living,” writes that a Planet in Domicile (Rulership) is “the Captain of their fate.” Meanwhile, a Planet in Exaltation is an honored guest. Because Mercury is both in Virgo, that Planet has exceptional influence on my disposition and life. I feel Mercury in Retrograde quite keenly.

 

Mercury governs language and communications. People of Mercury are quick-witted and glib with flexible minds. Mercury in Virgo has given me exceptional writing power. Since childhood, I have been compelled to write daily. In fact, a month after my traumatic brain injury, I started to writing essays again for my Grey School of Wizardry courses. Moreover, I continued to write for my blog on Polytheism.

 

In “Astrological Magic: Basic Rituals and Mediation,” the authors (Benjamin Dykes and Jayne Gibson) list the squirrel as a representative animal of Mercury. Squirrels are quick and (ahem) mercurial. They move from trees to the ground with ease like Mercury moving between worlds. On the ground they gather nuts and store them like Mercury does with knowledge.

 

I was surprised by this since my family’s name for me is “Squirrel.” Instead of “Mom,” I am “Squirrelly” or “The Squirrel.” I believe that my family observed my many traits that are in common with Mercury. In my personal magic, I do move between worlds carrying messages like Ratatosk of Norse myths.

 

From all that I have read, I do meet the description of someone whose Ruling Planet is Mercury. I may have a changeable nature, but Virgo steadies that. Even with my brain injury, I am still learning and writing. Since I cannot focus only on one thing, I am a generalist who continually finds things new to delve into. For me, Virgo allows Mercury to act in my best nature.

 

Works Used:

Dykes, Benjamin and Jayne Gibson, “Astrological Magic.” Cazimi Press: Minneapolis. 2012.

Forrest, Stephen, “Planetary Exaltations; Planetary Falls – Forrest Astrology,” 31 January 2021. Web. https://www.forrestastrology.com/blogs/astrology/planetary-exaltations-planetary-falls, .

Gillett, Ray, “The Secret Language of Astrology.” Watkins Publishing: London. 2011.

Hall, Judy, “The Astrology Bible.” Sterling Publishing: NY. 2005.

Lehman, J. Lee, “Classical Astrology for Modern Living.” Whitford: Atglen (PA). 1996.

Venus Signs, “Mercury and its dignities and debilities,” 2015. Web.

https://starsandplanets.wixsite.com/planetarydignities/mercury,