Astrology: Mercury

Mercury in Astrology is a Planet. This planet rules over the zodiac signs of Gemini and Virgo and it gender depends on what sign its located in. It rules over the Third and Sixth Houses. The third house symbolizes Communication and travel and how we use intellect and intelligence to communicate with others and the world.

While the sixth house symbolizes Health and employment how we deal with topics of interest concerning diet and fitness and how we can improve ourselves. Every one’s personal natal chart contains Mercury. Its symbol or glyph best resembles the glyph for Venus, it’s a circle with a cross under it. Unlike the Venus glyph the Mercury glyph has two devils horn looking spikes on the top and on each side of the circle.

Mercury in Roman Mythology was the messenger to the gods, (the equivalent to Mercury in Greek Mythology was Hermes). Hermes in Greek Mythology had wings and was seen as a prankster. The fact that mercury has wings and was the messenger to the gods shows that Mercury symbolizes the movement of intellect, communication and information. This can be through written, spoken and even digital information and communication.

Mercury represents how we think? How we speak? Mercury signifies our quirks and individuality in communication such as word choice, what we think about, and what appeals to our intellect. It signifies how we learn, our style of communication, how we exchange information and how we express our inner most thoughts, desires and goals. It’s a planet that governs logic, reasoning, rationalizing, learning and to certain extent travel.

Exalted in astrology means the highest and best position a sign in a planet can be in. It is exalted in Virgo because Virgo captures the true and ultimate expression of Mercury’s energies. Virgo is an Earth sign so it represents logical, practical and sensible means of communication. Its ideas are concrete, stable and critical. Virgo is careful, thought-out and thinks before it speaks. Virgo is able to get and communicate facts and arrive at conclusions with careful consideration and discrimination. It communicates without too emotion, too much eagerness or too much cold intellect and delivers ideas in a grounded earthy fashion.

Detriment represents a planet and zodiac signs most difficult and challenging position. Detriment doesn't fit the ideals of a planet that it’s supposed to represent at all. As a fire sign it can be inconsiderate and may come at conclusions and decisions in a rushed, brash and sometimes combative matter. Fire signs respond energetically and with passion, though they may get carried away and may not consider ideas and the communication of ideas more closely. Sagittarius is a very blunt and tactless sign that believes in honesty in at all costs, even if it may be offensive and impolite. Mercury is all about communication in a more non-emotional, impartial, more intellectual and realistic way. Sagittarius is capable of great intellect but in mercury, Sagittarius is neither unemotional, nor impartial and may not express itself in realistic terms at times.

Fall in astrology represents a sign in which its position in a planet is uncomfortable and weak. Though this position is not the worst position it’s difficult to express the nature of the planet. The Fall of a planet will always be in the sign in opposite of the exalted sign. Virgo is the exalted in the planet of Mercury. Since Pisces is the opposite of Virgo, Mercury in Pisces is considered in the Fall. Pisces is a water sign that thrives on emotions, feelings, receptiveness and intuition. Pisces in a sense is not a rational sign. Pisces are creative and approach communication in a nonlinear, irrational and emotional standard. These qualities do not represent the nature of the planet Mercury. Pisces are peaceful and non-discriminating and they may hold back their true feelings to avoid disputes. So if they are asked to step out of their comfort zones for a more honest and discriminating communication that Mercury represents they may avoid communicating all together. They respond more to unconscious cues, to imagination and emotion more than communication

Overall Mercury means Communication whether it be digital, written or physical/ spoken communication. Mercury is all about expressing one’s self for the world to see and experience. That includes thoughts, ideas, and desires in the form of communication meant to travel, spread out, and teach.