A summary of Mercury, approaching an understanding how it works.
We have been looking at the Sun as it relates to Mercury. Mercury never leaves the Sun’s zodiac territory due to its close orbit, it also doesn’t form any classical aspects for us to use as we might for other astrological work. We have seen that Mercury can travel direct or retrograde, its apparent speed or daily motion can vary greatly in a few days time, and we have seen that this little planet has to be in one of three zodiac signs relative to the Sun – the sign behind, the sign ahead, or the sign of the Sun. Some of us have also taken up the challenge to compare our natal Mercury-Sun position and speed/motion to that of well known people in order to see what common traits we might have.
While this aspect of examining Mercury relative to the Sun has been lengthy, it should prove helpful as Mercury is hard for many astrologers to understand. For the length of this thread and its complexity, I apologize.
We have discussed the traits of Mercury: the process of communication, the structuring of thoughts, perceptions, short and long-term memory, thought associations, etc. We haven’t spent as much time on travel or mythology or actual communication modes. Mercury represents all of these as well – as outer expressions of inner workings. SO, LET ME TRY TO SUMMARIZE THINGS UP TO THIS POINT.
Remember, we are talking about the Sun and its relationship to Mercury, we are not exploring just Mercury alone – that’s another thread in the future.
POINT ONE: In my first posting I noted that Mercury typically covers about four signs of the Zodiac along with the Sun, before it (Mercury) turns RETROGRADE and re-travels part of its previous path through the signs. Signs are a measuring tool for “collective experience” – we all share the same signs. It is only where they are sequentially arranged within our chart or house system that gives them/us a particular place/attitude in the world. This back-tracking symbolizes an important Mercury function. We have a problem, we work at it, we struggle, we can’t make the progress we hope for. Then we stop thinking, relax, and bang! The solution pops up! This is how Mercury can work if given time to go within yourself and re-arrange associations and to find and bring forth what is asked for. So, this collective call to rethink, let-go, and be open to new paths can work for all of us. This works on an individual level as well. The House position for Mercury retrograde shows how we might rethink/re-solve issues in our life, the Sign position shows how we also share in the collective-everybody problems around us. This is what MERCURY RETROGRADE seems to mean.
POINT TWO: Does Mercury’s relative position to the Sun have any particular meaning? When Mercury is BEHIND (ZODIAC POSITION) the Sun, it communicates the Sun’s purpose quite clearly. What one says is what one is in terms of purpose and character. This Mercury phase collects and solidifies the experiences and purposes of the Sun. We might say that this is Mercury at its most practical and pragmatic, acting as a true messenger of the Sun.
When Mercury is AHEAD (ZODIAC POSITION) of the Sun, Mercury functions more on its own, exercising curiosity and gathering information, speaking spontaneously, imagining what “might be” rather than “what was/is.” The Sun’s purpose and direction does not influence strongly what Mercury does and the manner in which it functions. This Mercury at its most imaginative and perceptive functioning.
My personal thoughts, and these are not substantiated by research – just intuition and fragmentary experience – is that Mercury at/near the 10-to-11 degree position ahead or behind the Sun’s central position seems to suggest a life-focus on expressing the meanings of these “before” and “after” phases. Using Oprah Winfrey as an example, (she has Mercury in this 10-to-11 degrees “ahead” phase) she expresses her life as a continuous process of discovery and free-exploration, letting her work and career develop itself in innovative ways. On the other hand, people such as Katheryn Hepburn and Michael Jackson (we should also check John Wayne and Clark Gable) seem to express themselves in (being in the 10-to-11 degrees “behind” phase) in every role they are in by using their basic personal character and not a “role” character. Their character doesn’t seem to change or adapt to each situation – there is a type of rigidity there. They just “play” themselves in each role even though the movie-story requires them to be in the proper role.
POINT THREE: Personal sensitivity points where Mercury might function more visibly need to be explored individually. This is something that most astrologers and most astrology reading won’t cover due to the time involved. But we may find that pre-natal positions where Mercury changed directions or made station (turning from one direction to another) are important. Also, the distance points from the Sun (without use of the Signs) for Sun-to-Mercury separation might also prove – for some – to be sensitive points.
POINT FOUR: Outward symbols of Mercury need to be kept in mind when interpreting a chart. Each symbol operates at different levels in each chart, and symbols tend to express themselves in every way possible. Relative to the Sun, we can develop several general expressions:
** Mercury is behind the Sun in its zodiac position.
**** Speaking directly and plainly, a sense of self-honesty is heard.
**** Ability to assimilate one’s experiences and draw upon them.
**** Travels to/thru known areas and regions, follows well traveled paths.
**** Does well “representing” others as a spokesperson, writer, secondary leader.
** Mercury is ahead of the Sun in its zodiac position.
**** Asks lots of questions, speaks without thought at times. Can be sly in how one gathers information that one wants.
**** Looks for new experiences and opportunities, has great curiosity at times.
**** Explores new thing and regions on a whim.
**** Will talk for “effect” – just to see what an idea or a statement does relative to others.
** Mercury retrograde and within 10 to 11 degrees of the Sun.
**** Seeks to teach and share knowledge.
**** Helps to provide a basis of knowledge or a resource for others to use.
**** Points the way for others to explore, shows how to communicate effectively.
So, having said all of this, we each need to take this in, compare it to our own experience, and to comment on it if you wish. And, again, remember that all of this is relating to the Sun and Mercury and how Mercury helps the Sun to express itself. This is not Mercury alone that we have been talking about. Dave.
