Mercury in the Complete Horoscope

The Source to Language and Understanding in Classical Astrology

The immediate intellect and comprehension,
adapting language spoken and written,
the urge to express and to perceive.

Mercury is the fastest moving planet in the solar system, but in the geocentric perspective used in astrology it never moves farther than 28° from the sun. Therefore, it still takes about a year to travel through the whole Zodiac.

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In the horoscope, Mercury represents the everyday intellect by which we communicate, make ourselves understood and understand others. Of course, language is a great part of it, but also conscious thought in general.

There are two planets representing the mind: Mercury handles normal thought, and Uranus is involved in profound speculation. The former is what is at work in us daily, one could say superficially, and we are quite aware of it. The latter is a process that will make us mature toward insight, in due time.

Mercury in the Zodiac

Here are short descriptions of how each Zodiac sign influences Mercury, your conscious mind, when that's where it is in your natal chart.

Aries brings impulsiveness and improvisation.

Taurus brings careful thinking and reluctance to speak much.

Gemini brings a quick intellect, and eloquence in speech and writing.

Cancer brings ability to voice emotions, and a sensitivity to how words affect others.

Leo brings an ability to convince others and a mind set on personal goals.

Virgo brings a sharp mind, set on details, keen to dispute.

Libra brings precise and logical thinking, as well as a clear language.

Scorpio brings confusing thoughts and speaking between the lines.

Sagittarius brings an interest in the far-fetched and thoughts difficult for others to comprehend.

Capricorn brings a sharp mind focused on solving problems.

Aquarius brings sophisticated communicative skills and the capacity to learn a lot.

Pisces brings a curiosity difficult to satisfy, because of intellectual impatience.

Mercury and its glyph.
Mercury and its astrological glyph.

Keywords

Here are the twelve Zodiac signs, and keywords for the character they give to Mercury, i.e. your conscious mind:

Aries impatient

Taurus slow

Gemini quick

Cancer moody

Leo pompous

Virgo critical

Libra logical

Scorpio cryptic

Sagittarius distanced

Capricorn categorical

Aquarius profound

Pisces uncertain

Mercury, by Beham.
Mercury and its traits. Woodcut by Hans Sebald Beham, from the 1530s.

Ruler

Mercury rules over both Gemini and Virgo, which means that it tends to be the most obvious and enforced in those signs. It exalts in Libra and Pisces. It is a bit weakened and alienated in Taurus, and to a lesser extent in Cancer and Scorpio.

Mercury, the Roman messenger god. His Greek name was Hermes. Statue by Giovanni da Bologna, 1580.

Planet age

Each of the heavenly bodies represents a period in your life of about seven years. In the case of Mercury it is the part of childhood when you learn language in speech and writing, so that you master the primary tool of communication. That's approximately when you're 7 to 14 years old.

The position of Mercury in your horoscope reveals what that period of your life is like, generally speaking. This also means that the way you learn to communicate during those years of your childhood is pretty much how you will keep on communicating for the rest of your life.

The Planets

Here are the planets and other celestial points used in astrology, with links to the webpage of each:

Planets and Celestial Points

Sun

Mars

Neptune

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