A lot of people send mixed messages. I feel some of them do so deliberately.
Have you ever purposely offered someone a mixed message?
What was your motive?
Do you feel someone has used this as a method on you, to keep you off balance? What was their motive?
Is sending mixed messages ever innocent?
How does Mercury factor here?
Tell us what you know about people who send mixed messages.
29 Responses to “Deliberately Sending Mixed Messages”
Never on purpose, but it happens sometimes. Usually when my feelings on a matter aren’t clear. Mercury conjunct Moon in the 12th opposing Neptune.
I have been doing this. Partly knowing its wrong and partly correct by my free will. This is required for few people to get the rightly deserved space. They can’t go head on no matter the motive is right , I will be stopped. 
there is not even one bit of guilt since you know you are rich so goes the Nirvana song “you know you are right”
rich == right
My Mercury is retrograde in Libra, the relationship sign, AND it’s square Neptune. Maybe I am the poster child for this and do not know!!
I have been told multiple times that I give mixed messages. it is unconscious on my part. I’m innocent, I swear!
Anytime I’ve done this on purpose, it was something silly that lasted a few minutes. I do enjoy acting and role-playing, but only my closest friends know this about me. I would never embark on a mission to play a long-term headgame. What a downer! I have LEO, I just want to play and get on with things.
As for people who do this sorta thing, I don’t attract them because I have little tolerance. I don’t like having to play detective just to have a conversation! I think most people are unaware that they give mixed messages – they are ambivalent and contradictory, it’s common in human nature. But the sort of person who does this deliberately is on some other trip. I don’t relate and I don’t cater to it.
In fact, the head honcho at my job is good at using mixed messages to her advantage. She tries to be all things to all people. No one knows her true agenda and that’s how she remains in power, is that everyone second-guesses her, and so bends over backward to deliver what they think she wants.
Yes, I send mixed messages – both intentionally and unintentionally. Yes, people send me mixed messages. I read both and accept the one that speaks the loudest to me.
Air and water seem to be the most mixed-up communicators.
I’d expect mixed messages when Sun, Moon, Mercury or Mars are in:
Gemini: unintentionally – of 2 minds about a subject; rapid change in thoughts so actions haven’t caught up; intentionally – likes to play with words, the importance of meaning is a distant second; mind games; starting an argument for “fun”
Libra: unintentionally and intentionally – doesn’t want to offend; says what the other person wants to hear; doesn’t have a personal opinion; starting an argument for “balance”; strategic to keep opponent off-balance
Aquarius: unintentionally and intentionally – contradicts self and others depending on where everyone else stands on an issue or to be unpredictable
Cancer: unintentionally and intentionally – mood swings; to protect self/feelings or avoid direct confrontation/punishment
Scorpio: intentionally – power games; to hide true self/feelings/motives from “the enemy”; a test; unintentionally – doesn’t know true self/feelings/motives
Pisces: unintentionally – ephemeral thoughts, feelings and actions; intentionally – to amuse/entertain self or others; to avoid hurting feelings, direct confrontation, punishment, being the “bad guy”
The other signs are consistent but people may not want to believe what is said/shown.
Mixed messages is a Mercury/Mars-Neptune specialty. 
My ex-husband was a master of this. Another twist on this would be lying by omission.
Gemini Sun trine Mars in Libra. He also has Neptune in the first house of his Scorpio Ascendant (too wide to be conjunct, though).
I think people often experience inner conflict and ambivalence — i.e. he loves someone and wants to be in a committed relationship AND he wants his autonomy and freedom too. Both sides of himself are genuine and real and unfortunately in conflict. Hence, his communication is likely to come across as mixed messages as he expresses both parts – sometimes simultaneously! Can be very confusing…
As far as deliberately sending mixed messages…never thought much about it until I experienced a co-worker who was very clever, mischievous, and rather dark and dramatic who admittedly had the modus operandi of: “If you can’t beat’m, confuse’m” I observed her firsthand messing with people’s heads and confusing them. For the most part, she was rather entertaining to watch in action — knowing what she was doing — and her “scenes” caused little harm beyond irritation for the other person. But I definitely can see how this way of interacting can eventually be very harmful. Underneath it all, I detected her to be a very insecure person, sadly. Consequently, I think her motive for such behavior was a way to get or keep the upper hand when she felt intimidated or threatened. Or it could be even simpler: she was bored and it was entertaining! That was very possible too, given her intellectual capacity. Ya never know sometimes….
I think I’m guilty of it from time to time, but when it becomes apparent to me I rectify the miscommunication immedietely. I have been given mixed messages. It happened in a situation last year. It was confusing and painful. This person and I both have Mercury in Scorpio. Mine is conjunct my Moon. In general I’m pretty good at conveying my honest emotions.
I’m 31 and I’m just learning that not everyone is honest or forthcoming with their feelings. This is one those veils dropping on a projection that Elsa talks about a lot.
I am receiving quite a few right now. I hate it!
I think Jazz summed it up pretty well.
I do have Mars/Neptune, Cancer and Gemini, but I am generally regarded as a very straight shooter, who is direct and honest.
Could be my Taurus Capricorn and Leo. I just want to get on with it and do what I said I would do.
I am thinking about that question is it ever innocent??? I just don’t know. Are people lying to themselves do they even know what they think…
sigh..
I sent mixed messages to my husband when we were coming to the end of our marriage. The counselor called me on it and said I needed to let him know, that I was all but out the door and my actions needed to match my inner decision.
She was right, the timing was awful though, right around Christmas. Ruined the holiday for everyone, but the sin by omission would have been huge and unforgivable. And my integrity was sore…
@Jazz: Pisces: unintentionally – ephemeral thoughts, feelings and actions; intentionally – to amuse/entertain self or others; to avoid hurting feelings, direct confrontation, punishment, being the “bad guy”
My Mercury in Pisces, trine my Neptune/Moon in Scorpio resonates strongly with that!
sometimes I’m ambivalent. but I stand by whatever I have stated in words. just because I’m ambivalent does not mean I don’t mean what I actually SAY.
@Jazz that is quite the expose.Being Scorpio I relate to your thesis and have been both the recipient of mixed messages and the source of them.
Elsa, I’ve mulled this post over before and after breakfast and have cut and pasted the questions into a journal I keep as to chronicle my journey of recovery. The beauty of your post and the questions you pose lies in the way ‘sending mixed messages’ affect the sender in unconscious and habitual ways. It’s thus for me, as I recover from a physical condition that is inseparable from the neurological way in which a message is received and then interpreted. Though your post speaks about person-to-person relationships and Mercury’s factor in the diatribe, all and some of it relates to the internal mix that bears attention.
As usual, Elsa, you’re probing deep, wide and specific all at once and application is available at all or some level.
Deep sea diver, over and out:)
When I’ve sent mixed messages in the past, I had no clue I was doing it at the time. It is only in hindsight that I now realize that I was sending mixed messages.
I don’t think I was able to see my own ambivalence or internal conflict until I was in my 40′s. The 20′s and 30′s for me were too traumatic – recovering from an abusive relationship that twisted my head on wrong. The best strategy I developed was avoidance because I was just so unclear about myself.
I don’t know if Merc is involved or not. I have Sun/Merc in Sag in the 5th.
Mars Gemini/ Mercury Aries and I definitely do this! I use my air energy to avoid intimacy (although this isn’t something I became conscious of until the last year)
to answer the innocent question – I would say, it was inadvertent before, I definitely never meant to hurt anyone… if anything I was only hurting myself
Have you ever purposely offered someone a mixed message? Yes, when I wasn’t sure how I felt about them just yet, or when I liked them as a person but did not feel we would be a good couple. Or in a work situation where I cannot give a no and lose them…
What was your motive? To get my point across, but not have backlash as they could make my life hell. Or to set a line but be nice and leave friendship open.
Do you feel someone has used this as a method on you, to keep you off balance? What was their motive? Yes, sometimes for the same reasons. Other times, to control, manipulate, catch me off guard, use my compassion and play on my confusion, and wear me down so they can abuse my trust.
Is sending mixed messages ever innocent? Sometimes, when people are going through something intense so what they say and their bodies aren’t congruent. Also when they do not realize they are sending mixed messages or are unsure. Or when there are miscommunications due to habits or personality. E.g. cat thinks a wagging tail in the air is a sign of aggression, dog thinks it’s being friendly and trots over…cat freaks out!
How does Mercury factor here? I don’t know for sure as I have Mercury in Pisces either confused or can sense the lying…
I have been guilty of this I have to say, but it was more due to conflicting thoughts & emotions in me about a possible love relationship; the strong sexual attraction/giddy excitablility vs the more serious realism that this may not be real love, just infatuation.
My mercury opposition her moon & sun I’m sure created confusion for her & her reaction frustrating me in return.
I’ve done it because of confusion or conflicting desires.
I’ve also done it on purpose to make it harder for some people to read me.
Mixed messages: usually a veil or a trap
A veil to hide behind, to confuse someone as to your true motives.
A trap to set, to force someone else to choose or take action.
“Tell us what you know about people who send mixed messages.”
They waste my time.
Have you ever purposely offered someone a mixed message? What was your motive?
I may have. Often at work, but that happens when I cannot decide, so I may be wiahy washy. But that´s unintentional.
Do you feel someone has used this as a method on you, to keep you off balance? What was their motive?
Yes. Ussually take and not give.
Is sending mixed messages ever innocent?
Maybe if you are wishy washy about sth. But when you identify the issue, you either make your choicem or make the chioce for the one that keeps giving missed messages.
How does Mercury factor here?
Don´t know. But I have mercury in taurus, I take my time to make a choice. But once done, it´s done. You are done.
I think I send mixed messages unconsciously, but then when I realize I’m being unclear and give a straight answer, it’s like being hit with a ton of 10 Commandments stones.
Poor Moses.
@ unique_astrology
LMAO
I would address the confusion I’m getting from the other with them, but they would probably say I’m projecting my own confusion on them. 
People who purposely send mixed messages want to be in control, flipping you like a switch. They get their jollies off toying with other people’s feelings.
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It takes a speaker and a listener to have communication, the domain of Mercury. The sender and the receiver both have a chance to mix the message. Improper timing, word choice, intonation, and inflection can mix the sender’s message; over-sensitivity and pondering too much can mix the receipt. Social etiquette and professionalism sometimes require a mixed message…a friend of mine was so excited, because his boss told him that he had much potential…that can be interpreted as “you’re operating below expectation.” I’ve been the recipient of verbal affection from a potential partner, with absolutely no action behind it (darn). I have a Scorpio sun and too much mercury dominance in my chart…I can slice and dice without even trying…I always try to be honest, that way there isn’t an intention of a mixed message, but it can sure be received that way. I appreciate the adage that actions always speak louder (and more truthfully) than words.