A Western Perspective

Mercury – Basics

Mercury is the neutral planet. It is both masculine and feminine, but it is considered naturally benefic. It is however malleable and tends to take on characteristics of associated planets in the chart (There will be more on that in section below, Neutrality – a Unique Characteristic. ) . Mercury's Sanskrit name is Buddha, and it is the planet representing intelligence and communication. If it is supported by benefic influences or well placed in the chart, the person will be blessed with a logical mind and be able to communicate well. If Mercury is poorly placed and is afflicted by malefic aspects, then the person will likely be of lower intelligence and have issues communicating clearly with those around him/her. Its gemstone, worn to support and intensify its significations, is an emerald. Its day of the week is Wednesday. Its direction is North. Mercury is said to also represent cold, detached logic which is said to be the reason the Moon and Mercury are enemies (Emotions vs. Logic/Facts). Understandably, they do not mix well. It gains dik bala, or directional strength, in the 1st house where it gives the person great intellect, commutative skills, and a youthful appearance.

Significations of Mercury

In the section below, we are going to go over the things that Mercury represents in our lives. We will also discuss how both a well placed and a poorly placed Mercury would impact the person's life.

People

  • Writers & Publishers
  • Teachers & Professors
  • Astrologers & Astronomers
  • Mathematicians
  • Businessmen/women
  • Secretaries
  • Scholars
  • Librarians

Characteristics

  • Intelligence & Communication
  • Education
  • Learning & Teaching
  • Speech
  • Writing and Reading
  • Conscious Mind
  • Commerce & Trade
  • Humor and Wit
  • Astrology and Math

Health

  • Brain (shared with the Moon)
  • Brain Diseases
  • Nervous System
  • Lungs
  • Intestines
  • Shaking Hands
  • Nerve Disorders

Miscellaneous

  • Mildly Benefic
  • Emerald
  • North
  • Wednesday
  • Books & Papers
  • Short Journeys

Neutrality – a Unique Characteristic

In the section below, we are going to discuss what makes Mercury unique: it's neutrality as a planetary influence.

The Neutral Planet

Here, 'Neutral' is referring to Mercury's nature. While we view it as mildly benefic (It is just better to have its influence around than not.), it is viewed as neither benefic nor malefic when interpreting how its aspect influences other planets and houses. It does however tend to take on the characteristics of the planets that it associates with in the chart. For instance, if Mars aspects Mercury, Mercury will become aggressive, fiery, energetic, in a persons chart. This manifests in the person's life as a sharp intellect, an argumentative mind, a person that is liberal with the truth. With the traits described above, it might not surprise you that this placement can often indicate a lawyer.

Alternatively, let's envision that Mercury and Venus are conjunct one another. Mercury takes on the characteristics of Venus: this is a person that has a beautiful voice, can sing or has musical ability (Guitar, piano, etc.), or they are someone that communicates beautifully! It is no surprise I am sure that this often indicates musicians, poets, and dancers.

Aspects

In the section below, we will go over how Mercury aspects and interacts with other planets and houses.

1st House Aspect

Mercury aspects the house that it resides.

In the example above, Mercury aspects Venus as they both occupy the same house. This aspect is a conjunction with a wide orb of aspect. This aspect still has significance. But just like you and I tend to impact or affect one another the closer we are in proximity, the closer in proximity the planets are to each other, the greater the significance they have on each other. In the case above, Mercury and Venus are 14 degrees apart from each other. This is considered a wide range of orbit. It definitely has significance in the chart still, but it would have more if they were closer together.

7th House Aspect

Mercury aspects the house that is opposite from itself.

In the example above, we are taking the opportunity to demonstrate a close orb aspect to the ascendant. Mercury aspects across the chart, 7 houses away, just like all of the planets. In this case, it is only two degrees separated from the ascendant which raises its significance in the person's life. Venus aspects the ascendant as well. This combination would make quite a positive placement.

Rulership and Placement Disposition

In the section below, you will learn how Mercury interacts with the signs and their rulers.

Mercury's relationship to the signs.

Exalted

The sign where a planet is exalted in is the place where the planet’s energy is best expressed reaping the most beneficial results in a person’s life. Keep in mind this is only according to placement of sign and other factors such as aspect and house number can either positively or negatively impact these results, especially for Mercury! Mercury is a naturally neutral planet which takes on the characteristics of planets that are associated with it. But considering house placement alone, Mercury is most positively expressed (Exalted) in the sign of Virgo, its own sign. When interpreting charts with this placement, expect extremely positive results from Mercury if it is not aspected by malefic planets. Because the point of exaltation is 15°’s of Virgo, it functions best in the first 15°’s of this sign, benefiting the native the closer it is 15°’s. It is most beneficial at exactly 15°00’s Aries and loses this extremely positive energy as the degrees increase past this degree in Virgo. The 2nd half of the sign of Virgo is covered in the immediate section of text below titled “Moolatrikona”.

Moolatrikona

The sign where a planet is moolatrikona is the place where the planet’s energy is very positively expressed giving very beneficial results in the person’s life. While this is not as positive as the Exalted placement, it is still a great placement for a planet. Referencing the picture above, Mercury is Moolatrikona in the second half of the sign of Virgo from 15°01’s to 30°. Just like the point of exaltation, the positive energy of Mercury in this placement increases depending how close to the 30th degree it is. Before 15°’s, it is considered Exalted, an even more positive disposition.

Own Sign

All of the luminary planets rule at least one house; and like a person in their own home, Mercury feels comfortable there and expresses his energy in a positive way. Referencing the picture above, Mercury is considered Own Sign in the sign of Gemini. This placement is considered positive and reaps good results for the person with this placement.

Friend

All planets like other planets and function well in their homes (houses). Mercury is friendly with the Venus and the Sun and is comfortably placed in the signs they own: Taurus/Libra and Leo respectively. If Mercury is placed in these signs (excluding aspects and house rulerships), it is considered naturally positive for its significations.

Neutral

The signs not colored are considered neutral for Mercury, meaning they neither negatively or positively impact him by placement. In this case, Mercury is neither friend nor enemy to Mars and Saturn. Mercury functions neutrally in their signs of Aries/Scorpio and Capricorn/Aquarius respectively. Mercury is also neutral in the sign of Sagittarius, Jupiter's sign. Interestingly, Mercury is Fallen in Jupiter's other sign, Pisces. 

Enemy

Just like all planets have friends, they also have enemies or planets that don’t welcome their presence in their homes or signs. These planets are considered enemies. Mercury is enemies with the Moon. Mercury functions negatively in the Moon's sign of Cancer.

Fallen

Just as a planet can be placed extremely positively, such as the exaltation, there is an opposite placement that is extremely negative, or fallen (also called debilitated). And just as there is a point of exaltation where the planet is most benefic, there is a point of debilitation where the planet is most fallen or negatively placed. If Mercury is placed in the sign of Pisces, it is Fallen and does not manifest its energy positively in the person’s life. Naturally, excluding other factors, the significations of Mercury are on the negative side of the spectrum. While there is intelligence, logic, and communication in a positive placement, there is stupidity, poor rationing skills, and poor communication skills for those with this negative placement. It is up to the astrologer to analyze the significations and apply a negative filter to them.

What was covered…

  • We introduced Mercury as the uniquely neutral planet.
  • We described what Mercury indicates in the section titled Significations of Mercury.
  • We introduced how Mercury Aspects planets, and how Mercury is affected by aspects.
  • We described how Mercury functions throughout the zodiac and discussed Mercury in its various dispositions: e.g. Exaltation, Moolatrikona, Own Sign, Friend, Neutral, Enemy and Fallen placements in the section titled Rulership and Placement Disposition.