Astrologically speaking, Mercury relates more to our internal and personal life than to life outside of us. Mercury is not only the messenger from god to man, but also our internal messenger: the link between the eternal and the mundane, between our soul and our personality. It represents sense perceptions and communication devices that our true self, the divine spark residing within us, uses to run the machinery of the body. In insanity this link is broken, but normally, through our mind and eyes, heaven bears witness to the Earth, and god may still talk to man.

Mercury rules the rational mind, the senses (but not the sense organs), memory, language and all forms of communication: speech, writing, TV, radio and letters. It symbolizes intellect and intelligence, techniques and skills, duality, brothers and sisters, powers of logic, reason, perception, short journeys, creating associations, symbolization, skills, short journeys, movement, transportation, versatility, siblings and one’s capacity to be educated. In the physical body it rules the arms, hands, nerves, lungs and the shoulders. 

All three symbols are present in Mercury’s symbol shown above: the cross representing Earth manifestation, the circle of the spirit, and the uplifted crescent of personality.

Mercury is neither masculine nor feminine but neutral: it is silver, reflecting all that it contacts. The more aspects you have to Mercury in your chart, the greater and more complex your consciousness. The reflective mind needs aspects for its expansion, and the closest aspect is the most important. In the physical body it rules the nervous system, the arms, hands and shoulders, the lungs and the respiratory tract. Its position by house in your chart is where your mind or attention is focused.

Mercury goes retrograde (see glossary) three times a year for three-week periods, occurring in 1/5 of all charts. Your Mercury is retrograde if there’s an "Ñ" just inside its degree and minutes numbers on your chart. Mercury retrograde individuals need to personalize and digest data before they can understand or recommunicate it. Unusually sensitive to what others say, they take things personally, as they must relate it to themselves to make it significant. Once something has been learned, however, it is never forgotten. This process may appear as mental slowness to others. It is important that parents listen carefully to and make sure they understand their retrograde Mercury child, as well as giving that child plenty of time to communicate what is on his or her mind.

Mercury rules two signs: Gemini as thought and communication, perceiving relationships and how things are alike; and Virgo, where it analyzes, gathers facts, digests experience, discriminates, and purifies.

Mercury in the Houses

Mercury in the signs

Mercury in Aries

Mercury in Taurus

Mercury in Gemini

Mercury in Cancer

Mercury in Leo

Mercury in Virgo

Mercury in Libra

Mercury in Scorpio

Mercury in Sagittarius

Mercury in Capricorn

Mercury in Aquarius

Mercury in Pisces

Mercury conjunct Jupiter

Mercury opposed Pluto

or go to . . .

Mercury in astronomy 

the 12 houses

the 12 signs