MERCURY rules your intellect, your mind, logic and reasoning power, perception, speaking & writing. It shows the capacity to rationalize, express abstracts, imagine, and mentally identify with the world. It is connected to the nervous system and physical co-ordination. This planet represents the urge to use verbal, mental and negotiating skills to express ourselves imaginatively and factually. It governs all forms of communication.
Mercury rules the nervous system, solar plexus, bowels, arms, mouth, tongue, eyesight, ears, nervousness, sciatica, mental disorders, diarrhoea, ulcers, warts, moles.
The mind (Mercury) is the link between the soul and the personality; it is the link between heaven and earth, both of which are within us.
Mercury takes about 1 year to transit the chart. (up to 2°30’ / day).
From the operations of Mercury, they made an Image at the hour of Mercury, Mercury ascending in Gemini, the form of which was an handsome young man, bearded, having in his left hand a rod in which a serpent is twyned about, in his right carrying a dart, having his feet winged; They report that this Image conferreth knowledge, eloquence, diligence in merchandizing and gain; moreover to beget peace and concord, and to cure feavers; They made another Image of Mercury, Mercury ascending in Virgo, for good will, wit and memory; The form of which was a man sitting upon a chaire, or riding on a Peacock, having Eagles feet, and on his head a crest, and in his left hand holding a cock or fire.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Of Occult Philosophy, Book II (circa 1510)
| Mercury Rules : | Gemini by Day Virgo at Night Air signs at Night |
| Angel : | Raphael |
| Exalted Degree : | 15 Virgo |
| Detriment : | Sagittarius & Pisces |
| Fall : | Pisces |
| Houses ruled : | 3rd and 6th houses |
| Day Ruled : | Wednesday |
| Persons Represented : | young people, or people who deal with information or stationery |
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The symbol, resembles that of Venus, with the addition of a semi-circle (hat) at the top. Spirit (circle) over matter (cross), resulting in receptivity (crescent). |
| Classical Astrology Data at bottom | |
IN THE CHART
The Sign Mercury is in shows the way we communicate and the psychological areas in which our mental talents lie. Mercury is the fastest of all planets and cleaves to the Sun, either being in the same Sign as the Sun or one of the Signs on either side of the Sun. The House Mercury is in shows the particular area in which our mental talents are put to practical use. This is the area in which we realize our need to make contact and increase our learning. Aspects to Mercury show mental talents and communication styles in a very specific way. They indicate our individual interests and abilities.
The planet influences duality, the ability to communicate, through mental and nervous co-ordination and transmission. Intellectual faculties, curiosity, gossip, study, knowledge, observation, perception, facts, understanding, interpretation and expression. Mercury retrogrades 3 times a year and takes approximately one year to cycle the 12 signs of the zodiac.
MEDICAL MERCURY
Physically, it is connected to the nervous system and physical co-ordination; it rules the arms, hands, lungs, and shoulders. Mercury, when well placed in the nativity chart, indicates a good and balanced mind. It rules the cerebral hemispheres. Ill-aspected and afflicted, it shows a tendency to various disorders of mental reasoning, bad judgment, nervous disease, and tendency to gamble, swindle, insomnia, and a lack of spiritual calm. The location in the chart shows what body parts may be prone to neuralgia.
Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, therefore it manifests in diseases related to respiratory and digestive disorders, particularly of nervous origin. Physiologically, Mercury rules the respiration and breath. Mercury afflicted at birth indicates a tendency to shallow breathing. The Hindus believe rhythmic breathing is necessary for direct link between the soul and mind. Unrhythmic breathing severs this connection leading to nervous conditions, those easily influenced by others, proneness to depression, and even insanity. Proper and unregulated breathing beginning in early life leads to a cascade of pathological actions including lack of intellectual development, oxygen deficient blood, tendency to overeat since the diaphragm does not "massage" the stomach due to stifled breathing, lymphatic stasis since breathing opens the lymph channels, and lethargy due to lack of vital force and sluggish pranic currents.
Mercury is considered a neutral planet, in that its transmissions are governed by the aspects to other planets in the chart. When Mercury conjuncts the Sun, the ego is involved; aspected to the Moon, the subconscious and habits; to Jupiter, exaggeration, etc. When Mercury’s nervous messages are distorted by the rays of another planet, inaccurate reception of information and inappropriate neural commands are likely. Simply, response does not match stimulus resulting in unbalanced behavior. If the large planets are involved, this can translate into important health consequences.
PATHOLOGICAL TENDENCIES: Mercury’s chief influence is on the nerves. In regards to aches and pains, the placement of Mercury in the sign of body rulership shows tendency to affliction when ill-aspected. Thus, Mercury in Aries shows the tendency to headaches, in Taurus a tendency to laryngitis and sore throats, in Gemini chest pains, etc. To offset Mercury afflictions and thus reduce tendency to aches and pains, the native must learn proper and rhythmic breathing. Taking up study of yoga or Chinese Ch’i Kung would be of great benefit.
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: Nervous system, nervous faculties; breathing, the hands, the touch; organs of speech and hearing.
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATIONS
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Physical descriptions: Commonly depicts a high stature and straight thin spare body, a high forehead and somewhat narrow long face, long nose; fair eyes, neither perfectly black or grey, thin lips and nose, little hair on the chin, but much on his head, and it a sad brown inclining to blackness; long arms, fingers and hands; his complexion like an olive or chestnut colour. Mercury, more than all the planets will usually partake of the influence of that planet: if with Saturn then heavy, with Jupiter more temperate, with Mars more rash, with the Sun more gentle, with Venus more jesting, with the Moon more shifty. When Mercury is oriental, the complexion is honey colour, or tanned; the stature of the body not very high, but well jointed, small eyes, not much hair; in very truth, according to the height of body, very well composed, but still a defect in the complexion, viz. swarty brown, and in the tongue, viz. all for his own ends. When Mercury is occidental, a tawny visage, lank body, small slender limbs, hollow eyes, and sparkling and red or fiery; the whole frame of body inclining to dryness. |
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Associated Terms :
Minerals & Stones: Quicksilver. The milestone, marcasite or fire-stone, the achates, topaz, vitriol, all stones of diverse colors.
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Rulership by face (or decanate) :
Nature: Masculine or feminine, depending upon its placement; if in conjunction with a masculine planet, Mercury becomes masculine; if with a feminine, then feminine. By its own nature Mercury is cold and dry, and therefore melancholic. Mercury is adaptable; its influence is beneficial when associated with good planets, malefic when associated with bad planets. Mercury rules the animal spirit and is the author of subtlety, tricks, devices, and perjury. |
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Colors and odors: Mixed and new colors, grey mixed with sky-color, such as is on the neck of the stock-dove, linsie-woolsie colors, or consisting of many colors mixed in one. Of odors, a hodge-podge of all things together, so that no one can give it any true name; yet usually such as quicken the spirits, are subtle and penetrate, and in a manner insensible. |
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| People Signified:
Literary men, philosophers, mathematicians, astrologers, merchants, secretaries, scriveners, diviners, sculpturers, poets, orators, advocates, schoolmasters, stationers, printers, exchangers of money, attorneys, embassadors to emporers, commissioners, clerks, artificers, generally accomptants, solicitors, sometimes thieves, prattling muddy ministers, busy sectaries, and they unlearned; grammarians, tailors, carriers, messengers, footmen, usurers. Places Signified: Tradesmen’s shops, markets, fairs, schools, common halls, bowling-alleys, ordinaries. |
Anatomy and Illnesses:
All vertigos, lethargies or giddiness in the head, madness, either lightness, or any disease of the brain; phthisis, all stammering and imperfection in the tongue, vain and fond imaginations, all defects in the memory, hoarseness, dry coughs, too much abundance of spittle, all sniffling and snuffling in the head or nose; the hand and feet gout, dumbness, tongue-evil, all evils in the fancy and intellectual parts. |
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Herbs, Plants and Trees: Herbs attributed to Mercury are known by the mixed colour of the flower; they love sandy barren places; they bear their seed in husks or cobs, they smell rarely or subtlety, and have principle relation to the tongue, brain, lungs or memory; they dispel wind and comfort the animal spirits and open obstructions. Beans, three leaved-grass, the walnut and walnut-tree; the filbert-tree and nut; the eldertree, adderstongue, dragonwort, twopennygrass, lungwort, aniseed, cubebs, marjoram. Herbs that are used for the muses and divination, such as vervain, the reed. Of drugs, treacle, hiera, diambra. |
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Manners when well dignified: When well dignified, Mercury represents a man of a subtle and political brain, intellect, and cogitation; an excellent disputant or logician, arguing with learning and discretion, and using much eloquence in his speech, a searcher into all kinds of mysteries and learning, sharp and witty, learning almost anything without a teacher; ambitious of being exquisite in every science, desirous naturally of travel and seeing foreign parts: a man of an unwearied fancy, curious in the search of any occult knowledge; able by his own genius to produce wonders; given to divination and the more secret knowledge; if he turn merchant, no man exceeds him in a way of trade or invention of new ways whereby to obtain wealth. |
Manners when badly placed: A troublesome wit, a kind of phrenetick man, his tongue and pen against every man, wholly bent to spoil his estate and time in prating and trying nice conclusions to no purpose; a great liar, boaster, prattler, busybody, false, a tale-carrier, given to wicked arts, as necromancy and such like ungodly knowledges; easy of belief, an ass or very idiot, constant in no place or opinion, cheating and thieving everywhere; a news-monger, pretending all manner of knowledge, but guilty of no true or solid learning; a trifler; a mere frantic fellow; if he prove a divine, then a mere verbal fellow, frothy of no judgement, easily perverted, constant in nothing but idle words and bragging. |
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“It is affirmed by Magicians, that there are certain tables of numbers distributed to the seven planets, which they call the sacred tables of the planets, …
The sixth table is of Mercury resulting from the square of eight drawn into it self, containing sixty four numbers, whereof eight on every side and by both Diameters make 260. and the sum of all 2080. and over it are set divine names with an Intelligency to what is good, with a spirit to what is evil, and from it is drawn a Character of Mercury, and the spirits thereof; and if it be with Mercury being fortunate engraven upon Silver, or Tin, or yellow Brass, or be writ upon Virgin Parchment, it renders the bearer thereof gratefull, and fortunate to do what he pleaseth: it bringeth gain, and prevents poverty, conduceth to memory, understanding, and divination, and to the understanding of occult things by dreams: and if it be an unfortunate Mercury, doth all things contrary to these. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Of Occult Philosophy, Book II (circa 1510) |
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