Your Mercury Sign – What Does It Mean?
If you have an interest in astrology you likely already know what your Sun sign is as well as a bit about what your Sun sign tells you about yourself. Your Sun sign, however, is only the beginning of the astrological puzzle that is you. To better understand yourself, or anyone else, you need all the pieces of the puzzle. Knowing where the planet Mercury was at the time of your birth, for example, will provide you with the puzzle piece that provides insight into how you think and process information as well as how you communicate.
Why Does Your Mercury Sign Matter?
Until relatively recently, astrology was considered a science, right along with biology, chemistry and physics. Although mainstream science now shuns astrology, the principals upon which astrology is based are rooted in science. Your birth chart, for example, is a “snapshot” of precisely where all the heavenly bodies were at the time of your birth. Interpreting that chart requires a detailed analysis of the placement of each of those bodies and how the placements interact with each other. Knowing where the Sun was at the time of your birth, therefore, is just the beginning.
How Important Is Your Mercury Sign?
Mercury is one of the three “inner” planets, making Mercury’s influence more personal. The “inner” planets include Mercury, Venus, and Mars. Collectively, along with your Sun and Moon signs, they provide the foundation for your ego, or for who you are. The “inner” planets are also referred to as the “personal” planets because they each change signs frequently enough to make their influence felt on an individual, instead of a generational, level. Mercury likes to tag along with the Sun, never straying more than one sign to either side of your Sun sign. Therefore, Mercury will either be in the same sign as your Sun or will be in the sign to either side of your Sun sign. When Mercury is not in the same sign as your Sun it can create a bit of a disconnect because Mercury governs the way in which you process information and the method you use to communicate.
Communication and Information Processing
Mercury tells us how we think, process information, and communicate. Mercury does not dictate what we think about a subject but rather how we arrive at our opinion on the subject. Have you ever noticed how you can have a conversation with someone about a subject and the person’s thought process makes no sense to you, even if he or she ultimately agrees with you? Chances are the individual has Mercury in a sign that is not compatible with your Mercury sign. For example, if you have Mercury in Pisces you will be a deep thinker who always looks at every side of an issue. You can easily see someone else’s point of view and are rarely compelled to try and sway someone from their point of view. If, on the other hand, you have Mercury in Aries you make quick decisions and are not interested in the deeper aspects of an issue. Moreover, you have a hard time seeing, much less accepting, a point of view that is different from your own.
Mercury also governs communication. Are you an extrovert who thrives on verbal expression or an introvert who prefers to communicate through poetry? Do you find is easy to express your feelings and emotions or do you keep them bottled up inside? Are you known for being loud and bossy or quiet and submissive? Your Mercury sign can answer all these questions.
The Relationship between Mercury and Your Sun Sign
At any given time Mercury is never more than one sign away from the Sun. If your Sun sign is Taurus, for instance, Mercury will be in Taurus, Aries, or Gemini. When they share the same sign, the Sun and Mercury feed off each other, with Mercury providing the method of communicating your Sun sign beliefs and ideas. When Mercury is found in a different sign, however, it can be challenging at times as your Sun sign characteristics and beliefs clash with those attributed to your Mercury sign. Sun sign Taurus, for example, will not be comfortable with the Mercury in Aries tendency to speak without thinking first. Likewise, the Mercury in Gemini need to engage in small talk with everyone from the cashier at the grocery store to the guy taking tickets at the movie theater will wear thin on Sun sign Taurus who prefers to remain somewhat aloof and feels no need to make casual acquaintances.
Look to Your Mercury Sign for…
When putting together your own personal astrological puzzle, or that of a friend, family member, or co-worker, look to Mercury’s placement in the chart to help you understand:
- How you process information
- How you think
- How you learn
- How you prefer to communicate
- Whether you prefer large groups or small gatherings
Mercury in Retrograde
Mercury goes into “retrograde” several times each year and remains in retrograde for approximately three weeks each time. If Mercury was in retrograde at the time of your birth you may feel as though you have a difficult time expressing yourself. Your mind is more acute that your peers and you tend to think longer and harder about just about everything. Before you attempt to communicate a thought or idea you will double check, re-evaluate, and critically analyze what you want to say before speaking, writing, or otherwise attempting to communicate. Your own high standards often cause you frustration when communicating with others. You may also appear to struggle when learning new material. This has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with your need to truly understand what you are learning.
Now that you know what role Mercury plays in a birth chart you can utilize that knowledge to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you.