In this eleventh episode of Parts & Charts: The IFS and Astrology Podcast, Chelsea and KP get curious about thinking and speaking parts, and how Mercury in the birth chart might be a key to understanding them.
This episode explores how parts that think and speak show up in Internal Family Systems (IFS) work, and how astrology, specifically Mercury’s placement, can offer language for how we intellectualize, communicate, and perform.
Chelsea unpacks the “speaker part” with IFS clarity, helping us see how thinking parts often dominate therapy sessions with good intentions—but sometimes prevent other, quieter parts from surfacing. KP brings in the role of Mercury in astrology, sharing how a tight Sun-Mercury conjunction in her own chart makes language and identity nearly inseparable.
Together, they discuss clients with chatty Gemini or Virgo Mercuries, Mercury retrograde placements, and what it means to be “dazzling” in thought. KP also undergoes a live IFS demo, meeting a snake/dragon part of her system that performs, delights, and reminds us that intelligence doesn’t always come from the head.
This one’s for the part of you that over-explains, intellectualizes to survive, or has ever been told you “talk funny.” It’s also for the dazzling part that wants a little more room to play.
Key Quotes:
* “Language determines as well as describes.” — KP, on Mercury and how words shape reality
* “They want to help the client feel better. That’s why they come to therapy.” — Chelsea, on the positive intent of thinking parts
* “The snake said: I’m dazzling. I might be a little scary, but I’m magnificent.” — KP, channeling a speaking part through IFS
* “There's nothing wrong with intellectualizers. We need them. But sometimes they take up all the space.” — Chelsea
* “What if the burrito is a thinking part?” — KP, mid-demo
Timestamps & Key Topics:
00:00 – Welcome back & intro to speaking/thinking parts in IFS03:00 – What’s a speaker part? Asking dominant parts to step aside06:00 – Mercury’s role in how we speak, learn, and language the world10:00 – Is language ever separate from identity? Astrology’s view14:00 – Nonverbal parts: how we sense young or preverbal energies20:00 – Managing language dominance: "patching" strong Mercuries24:00 – When thinking parts carry burdens & how to relieve them29:00 – Relational care, listening, and being with parts gently33:00 – Mercury retrograde & what “strange” speech might reveal36:00 – IFS Live Demo: KP meets a dazzling snake/dragon part43:00 – Speaking parts, childhood noise, and self-protection50:00 – What does a performing part want? Friendship & lightness58:00 – Recap, Mercury as identity, and imagining other Mercury parts
Resources mentioned:
* No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz
* The Internal Family Systems Institute: ifs-institute.com
* Mercury in astrology (learn your Mercury sign at astro.com)
* IFS demo frameworks
* Asteroid astrology: explore minor bodies like Sappho
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🎧 Share this episode with someone who intellectualizes their emotions—or who’s ever felt like their Mercury was dazzling and misunderstood.
Credits:
Music “Vape Juice Dave’s Bistro” composed by Scott Cary (Wild Western Avenue) for the feature film RINGOLEVIO (2020) directed by KP Kaszubowski - performed by Scott Cary, Max Wikoff, Else Albeck Gasparka, and Sarah Luther
The cover image is a collage by Chelsea Owens.
