Mercury

3rd and 6th Houses

Key Concepts:

Mercury’s main function is to separate humans from the animal kingdom through the use of reason. The position of Mercury in the chart indicates the intellectual and inventive abilities, as well as the power of public speaking. Mercury likes to improve things through inventions.

The power of knowledge; the messenger, orator, writer, teacher. Mercury was the only being, God or man, who could travel freely between the human realm, the underworld, and the home of the gods. This freedom of mobility symbolizes the ability of the human mind to carry the torch of consciousness into all the different levels of the psyche … particularly, the unconscious, giving us the opportunity for greater self-awareness and integration.

Mercury represents our mental patterning – how we seek knowledge of the world and organize our perceptions of reality, so that they can be interpreted and communicated. Mercury signifies our ability to make connections, to see the relationship between “things” and between ourselves and the world. In Mercury’s highest expression, he is a symbol of the Unity of Mind and Spirit that flows throughout the Universe. Mercury brings the Light of Consciousness into all levels of the psyche.

Mercury represents our rational mind and indicates a great deal about our intelligence, communication skills, and our ability to be logical and make sense out of life. In terms of people, he is often indicative of our siblings and people with whom we have strong intellectual ties. In chart comparison work (“synastry”), people who have their Mercury in good relationship with one another always have something interesting to speak about, love to go on walks together, and enjoy their mutual intellectual interests. If you are going to write a book with another person for example, your Mercury will have to be in conjunction, sextile or trine or else you will never be able to align your opinions, words, and ideas.

The position of your Mercury will tell you the kind of people you are most likely to attract as mental companions and describe the kind of mind that “turns you on.” Mercury in Aries for example will get very bored with people who cannot respond quickly to ideas and life circumstances. They will be attracted to men and women who can hold their own in any argument. Mercury in Taurus will be attracted to men and women who have a practical head on their shoulders, and who are not pushy in their demands for us to have instant answers and solutions to their questions or life situations. This is the way Mercury in Taurus people are and these are the kinds of close friends they will want to attract in their lives. If Mercury in Taurus is also trine to Jupiter in Capricorn, that individual may easily have found a mentor in the business world, a teacher who can help them achieve their practical goals.

The house position where Mercury is found in your natal chart will tell you where your relationships with such intellectual companions are most likely to take place. Mercury in the Seventh House indicates that a strong mental rapport is essential to any romantic or business partnership. If Mercury is well placed in this position, then you are most likely to find such individuals populating your life. But let us say that Mercury is in Gemini in your Seventh and is square to Jupiter in Pisces, you then might easily expect that there will be strong philosophical or religious differences between you and your partners. If in a man’s chart and Mercury is in Gemini in the Seventh trine the Moon in Libra, you are very likely to find a woman with whom you can easily communicate your feelings, find support for your opinions, and feel emotionally validated for your ideas. These are just a few of the many, many variables. The key to correct astrological delineation is to know your astrological KEYWORDS and keyword phrases.

A reminder: There are many hundreds of possible combinations of Mercury in sign, house, aspect, and in combination with other planets. In terms of our brothers and sisters, (or friends whom we think of as such), Mercury will clearly indicate our relationship with these men and women especially if he is either the ruler of the Third House (Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), in the Third House, or in major aspect to the ruler of the Third House (ex. Capricorn on the cusp of the Third and Mercury in square to Saturn). This latter example can easily indicate that we have an older sibling who is a source of trouble due to their need to dominate and control us. Libra on the Third House cusp with Mercury conjoined Venus in Taurus and in good aspect to the Moon would indicate a sibling (most likely a sister) with whom we have an excellent relationship and with whom we enjoy the pleasures of life. This combination could also indicate a sibling with whom we can share material resources (Taurus) in a harmonious way (conjunct Venus in Libra), especially if the source of such wealth came from our family, specifically our mother (good aspect to the Moon).

Mercury can never be more than 28° away from the Sun and therefore if not in the same Sign as the Sun, it will either be in the Sign preceding or following that of the Sun. The position of Mercury in the chart indicates strong intellectual and inventive abilities. While a strong Mercury may bring many gifts, those gifts need to be expressed in balanced ways. Look to a well-positioned Venus or Jupiter to provide balance and depth of experience. A weak Mercury adds many opportunities to learn and many challenges to help integrate what is learned.

How I think and communicate:

Logically and theoretically

Intuitively and imaginatively

Inspiringly and independently

Concretely and pragmatically