Mercury Through the Signs
Jacob Schwartz Ph.D
"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, or a Hell of Heaven," said English poet John Milton. Mercury in a chart and in the heavens is more than the mythological messenger. Mercury represents your perception, and knowledge based on attitudes and experiences. Mercury describes how we think and make sense of the world. Fundamentally, Mercury is Being. Your awareness of the world and yourself is a Mercury function. If Mercury is joined with Venus in your birth horoscope, your perceptions and language tend to be poetic and mannerly; with Mars your mind is sharp, quick, clever, and you're impatient; with Jupiter you have a large telephone bill because the need to expound upon your views to others is grand; and with Saturn the language is cautious and formed in paragraphs and you are generally true to your words and verbal agreements. The natal Mercury conjunct Uranus bring an inventive, electric mind, filled with anxiety and the constant need to make life more efficient; with Neptune, the mind is rich with imagination, embellishment, and perceptions of potentials, and more sensitive to symbolic languages such as music, art, and nature; and with Pluto, the perceptive mind looks at life as process and evolution, fully aware of undercurrents complicating any activity that go by unnoticed by most others.
Mercury is the most difficult planet to see, since it is so close to the Sun. We can only see Mercury when it is farthest from the Sun, apparently making a station in its movement, about to turn retrograde or move in a direct motion. Remember that the heavens describe an outer manifestation of an inner process, so one of the benefits of a retrograde Mercury is that we can review documents or ideas that previously failed; the Mercury appearing to go backward in the sky is the signal to literally go back over a Mercury thing that didn't do what Mercury is supposed to do: communicate. The Mercury retrogrades for 1997 include one that started on the 23rd of December, 1996 and continues through January 12. Think of all those New Year's resolution that will have to be adjusted or won't be fulfilled at all; the exception will be those folks going back over previous resolutions that failed. If we go backward, so to speak, when Mercury does, we'll be in harmony with the heavens. April 15, tax day, is another Mercury retrograde starting date that finishes on May 8, so get the taxes in ahead of the due date or file an extension before the due date to keep you and the IRS happy,
ARIES -- Mark the middle of January to affirmatively, yet tactfully, let others know your attitudes and values, when a powerful stationary Mercury joins romantic Venus while passionate Mars opposes your Aries Sun. Mars only retrogrades every two years, and it's in reverse now from February 6 through April 27. Look to favorable aspects to Mercury around February 13 to help clarify the actions necessary to relieve stress. A confusing situation at mid-March makes you more aware of differences with others, and what compromises need to be made. Mercury's in your sign March 16 through February 1 signaling a return of confidence. A meditative, patient, and retrospective time is recommended for late Arians from May 5-12 when a slow, but retrograde, Mercury turns direct at the last degree of Aries; June 6th promises calm, when ruler Mars and Mercury in earth signs help you find practical solutions to nagging problems.
TAURUS -- Travel to new places, further education, and press on with activities promoting whatever you feel is morally and ethically right. That's the theme for January and February. Careers, and the income produced by success, dominate your thoughts in March, along with promoting your ideas to improve teamwork and a partner's hobbies. Improving teamwork are what Mercury's in your sign most of April and May. What witty jokes you'll pull off April Fools' Day when Mercury enters Taurus. It begins its retrograde motion on April 14th, backs into Aries May 5, returning to Taurus May 12, and then leaving June 8th. At the end of February, when Mercury gradually moves to join your ruling planet Venus, is a great time for parties, writing letters, and having friendly conversations. Be careful about misdirected messages of love around April 22nd as Venus and retrograde Mercury join in stress to impulsive Mars. However, in the last three weeks of May when both Mercury and Venus are in each other's signs again, everything is sweetness and love, sheer poetry, again. June is appreciation month, for everything of value in life.
GEMINI -- Sharing your resources with someone close to you is the focus of attention for January and February. Lots of unexpected opportunity in mid February when Mercury joins Venus, Jupiter and Uranus in your Solar house of travel, adventure, and higher learning. Wow. March is the time of introspection and reviewing what has happened in your life the past twelve months, as Mercury moves into the twelfth house of privacy. Your ruling planet Mercury does its own thing and even though its right next to a monster-sized Sun, Mercury has its own rotation and trajectory which are so bizarre that it took a genius like Einstein to construct the formula for the tiny planet's motion. Its retrograde motion from April 15-May 8 is largely in your 12th house of reflection, privacy, and service. What a great time to turn inward, meditate, repay service debts, and prepare to move forward. Mercury boosts your mental confidence when it's in Gemini briefly from June 8-23.
CANCER -- Close relationships, either personally or in business, dominant your attention from January until mid March. Both solar and lunar eclipses, near the beginning of Spring, show favorable lunar aspects to Mercury and Venus. A special mention for the March 9th solar eclipse in your ninth solar house, ushering in a month of adventure, freedom, and travel. The lunar eclipse and first full Moon of spring on March 24 have Mercury joining stable Saturn for a new career focus. Even the Mercury retrograde from April 15 through May 8 is in your friendly eleventh house of groups and creative social activities. Though money matters are hectic and delayed, finances sort themselves out by late May. The eleventh house also signifies the boss' financial situation too, so keep your cool, live in the moment. Try to see every experience as preparation for the next phase in June when Mercury in your twelfth house promotes behind the scenes actions and quietly educating those seeking your advice.
LEO -- Health and doing work you enjoy doing are the main issues in January until mid-February when you become preoccupied with relationships until mid-March. Traveling and furthering education in connection with your career is the main thrust from March through June. Whenever Mercury retrogrades, it's closest to Earth and between us and the Sun, your ruling "planet." They hang out together from April 15 until May 8, which is a good time to review documents and agreements bearing your name and reputation. Also take the opportunity to clean out closets, explain issues to clients and bosses that were previously misunderstood, and take out the clothes you were so excited about and never wore. And if you're seeking work, return to potential employers you didn't connect with. Above all, follow your bliss and do what makes your Leonine heart sing.
VIRGO -- The creative hobbies of winter find practical application in January and February as Mercury moves in your fifth and sixth houses of creativity and service. Mercury both rules and is exalted in Virgo, so the tiny planet's movements are powerful and very special. In mid-March, Mercury and Venus move together in your Solar house of partnerships, while Mars and the karmic destiny point of the lunar north node are in Virgo opposite. An exciting and passionate time in mid March when you feel a soul mate time is near blending desires with strong conversation. Mercury in retrograde motion from mid-April through May 8 in your house of adventure and higher truth, supports your taking over that exam you failed, seeking counsel on a charge previously ignored, or applying for that educational goal once beyond your reach. Scholarship anyone?
LIBRA -- Mercury blending with your ruling planet Venus always brings tactful speech, articulate phrasing, and good conversation in social events. Both planets separate in mid January and join again in early March in Pisces, where your Venus is exalted. A perfect time to focus on improving health and fitness, getting friendly with service providers, and turning a job into a hobby or vice versa. Venus joins a retrograde Mercury the second half of April for a review of money scenes with a view to bartering and exchanging services as a way to solve debts and to create new business ventures likely to last. May and June are months for sharing resources, and then having a blast, escaping local scenes for more adventurous places.
SCORPIO -- You need clear recognition for ideas and suggestions in January through mid February as Mercury moves through the third house of perception and surroundings. Both Mercury and Venus strongly aspect your ruling Pluto in early March, when mystery prevails, and a ceremony or ritual helps you place issues in perspective. Mercury passes through the creative side of your Solar chart for the entire first half of 1997. It goes retrograde in your seventh house of partnerships in April and May, when communications with partners may lack clarity, and a tendency toward misunderstanding becomes more likely. However, buried resentment or confusion can be resolved when Mercury goes into your Solar eighth house in June. In fact, business ventures and intimacies once thought impossible are reconsidered and possibly brought to a successful conclusion. Co-ruler Mars goes retrograde from February 6 to April 27 in your group cooperation house, so be cautious about impulsive team efforts then.
SAGITTARIUS -- Money-making projects that went sour last year can be revived in January and February as Mercury makes a station and then moves forward in your 2nd house of values. The fact-gathering mind and the philosophical mind complement each other as Mercury complements your ruling planet Jupiter. Publishers need articulate writers who need tasteful publishers. They join together in early February in your Solar house of language. Time to be recognized for your experience, as well as your skill in teaching others what you personally know to be true. Venus is also there at the same time to enhance ideas and judgments, adding greater value to your descriptions of truth. Retrograde Mercury from April 15 through May 8 moves through your house of work and services, so check prescriptions, bills from service providers, and the credentials of those working for you or applying for work. Projects that you've put your heart into have a better chance for completion in late May and June.
CAPRICORN -- Your concern about images and appearances may go through several rounds of reversals before deciding upon what clothes, logos, or artistic expressions best conveys the best facade, as retrograde Mercury in Capricorn opens the year then turns direct January 12 (while in stressful aspect to your ruling planet Saturn) and zips into your possessions and values sector February 9. So you might return holiday gifts because they were chosen when Mercury went retrograde before Christmas. Review the assumptions of New Year's resolutions. On the positive side, you've learned about the image you want to project. Memory is brilliantly demonstrated in the latter half of February when Mercury in your money house nicely relates to Saturn, so invest in experienced providers of goods and services. Focus attention upon children, investments and your own creative projects in April and May. The 10th of June is another winner as Mercury relates well to Saturn in your work and services house.
AQUARIUS -- Privacy is the best mental stimulation in January and until Mercury moves into your sign from February 9 to 28. Mercury travels with Venus and joins your ruling planet Uranus on the 13th. This makes it a great time for exploring technology, and creating more efficient information systems. Too much excitement then can be exhausting. Don't forget to record your brilliant ideas. Mercury joins your ruling planet Saturn in March to boost memory and your discipline to complete mental tasks. The April 15 to May 8 Mercury retrograde in your fourth house of the home urges caution in new domestic changes. In fact, carefully check electrical systems, circuit breakers, and fuses well before then. June is busting out all over with creative projects, hobbies, doing fun things with children. Mercury in your fifth house in June favors new relationships or improving existing romances with creative projects together.
PISCES -- Teamwork and joining a partner in their creative projects may have a rocky start in early January when Mercury is retrograde, but matters move along more smoothly the latter half of January and February. What an imagination you have in early February when Mercury joins idealistic and ceremonial Neptune. Mercury in Pisces from March 1 through 16th, paired with Venus through April, brings a beautiful blend of ideas and esthetics presented not logically but with music, color, body language, fragrance, dance, and even communicating with plants and animals too. Mercury then gets together again with Neptune the first half of May when descriptions of potential may exceed reality. So, if you're feeling gullible and vulnerable, beware. Mercury in your domestic fourth house in June assists in improving communications with family and making your nest more comfortable. Get rid of blockages in doorways and halls, garages and staircases.