Mercury
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
~ Marcus Aurelius ~
Mind and ego. Friend or foe?
Mercury rules our mind and its function is to transmit information. It is the planet that orbits closest to the Sun and can never be separated by more than 28 degrees. Communication, listening, reading, studying, logic, perceptions are all forms of Mercury.
As Steven Forrest explained in his book ‘The Inner Sky’, “Without care and humility we may see only what we want to see. We may gather our perceptions selectively, always in an effort to support the model of reality with which our ego is most comfortable.” Here, perception is Mercury and ego is the Sun. If used wisely, Mercury (the mind) is able to influence us to take the right action or make the right decision that enhance our Sun (ego/identity). Ego, in this case, is in a good way. It is our pride and the way we shine in our own way. We are who we think.
Mercury, together with Venus and Mars are called Personal Planets. Each has its own function to give us our inner voice. Mercury takes about 12 months to go round the whole zodiac cycle, of which it takes 3-8 weeks in each sign. It is also the most common and frequent planet to go retrograde. Mercury goes retrograde for 19-25 days, 3 times every 12 months.
Mercury Retrograde
During this retrograde period, our thoughts turn inwards. This is the time for us to track back situations, our own action, use more of our perceptions and intuition rather than plain logic. In other words, slow down. Personally, I’m quite a rebel, with an Aquarius Sun who is not a strong believer of taking advices like avoid signing important contracts, make big decisions during Mercury Retrograde period. But of course, I would still be more careful as long as I feel its the right time to do so.
Mercury in each sign
People with Virgo and Gemini Ascendant/Rising will have Mercury as their chart ruler. This means Mercury plays a significant role in your chart and you are more cerebral. You use your mind a lot more than others.
Now, let’s take a look at how Mercury functions in each sign:
Mercury in Aries: Original ideas, bold communicator, loud speaker, loves a good argument, lively, energetic
Famous people: Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Vincent VanGogh, Hans Christian Andersen
Mercury in Taurus: Calm but slow decision-maker, money conscious, loves beautiful things, stubborn
Famous people: Cher, Miles Davis, Uma Thurman, Kristen Stewart, David Beckham
Mercury in Gemini: Fast speaker, having many thoughts at one time, cannot concentrate or focus, good communicator, social butterfly.
Famous people: George Michael, Prince, Prince William, Pauline Hanson, Meryl Streep
Mercury in Cancer: Ponder before speaking, enjoys conversation about family, speak with kind words, sensitive and withdrawn
Famous people: Jessica Simpson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Princess Diana, Tom Hanks
Mercury in Leo: Big, grand ideas, boastful, good public speaker, expressive, showy, likes attention
Famous people: Frida Kahlo, Richard Branson, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton
Mercury in Virgo: Meticulous in thinking, reliable, overly critical, perfectionist, analytical
Famous people: Claudia Schiffer, Coco Chanel, Freddie Mercury, Madonna, Prince Harry
Mercury in Libra: Peacemaker, polite, diplomatic, quick-witted, sweet, light-hearted
Famous people: Bill Gates, Stephen King, Margaret Thatcher, Ian Thorpe, Olivia Newton J
Mercury in Scorpio: Deep thinker, probing, provocative ideas, magnetic, secretive
Famous people: Picasso, Walt Disney, John Lennon, Katy Perry, Usher, Winston Churchill
Mercury in Sagittarius: Optimistic, big picture, adventurous, freedom thinker, philosophical
Famous people: Gandhi, Isaac Newton, Steven Spielberg
Mercury in Capricorn: Logical, ambitious, systematic, disciplined, realistic, efficient
Famous people: Alan Watts, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, Pope Francis, Christian Dior
Mercury in Aquarius: Radical, rebellious, quirky, humanitarian, interested in social issues
Famous people: Michelangelo, Oprah Winfrey, Marilyn Manson, Thomas Edison, Martin L. King
Mercury in Pisces: Intuitive, spiritual, dreamy, artistic, imaginative, lost in thoughts, story teller
Famous people: Maya Angelou, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Abraham Lincoln
