Mercury
The planet of communication: what it stands for in astrology
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest of the eight planets. It circles the Sun in 88 Earth days, faster than any other planet, and it is named for the Roman messenger of the gods.
What it stands for
- communication
- thinking
- learning
- trade
In the birth chart
In the birth chart Mercury shows how a person communicates. Its sign is read as the style of thinking and speaking, its house as the area of life that communication is mostly about, and its aspects as how easy or hard it is to put thoughts into words.
The name and the myth
The Romans took Mercury from the Greek Hermes, the quick messenger who moved between gods and mortals and presided over travellers, traders and thieves.
How astrology reads it
Mercury seems to move backwards about three or four times a year, for about three weeks each time. This is an optical effect of Earth overtaking the planet, not a real reversal. Astrologers treat these periods as a time to slow down, check plans and revisit what has been said.
In tarot
In the Golden Dawn scheme, Mercury goes with The Magician, Eight of Wands, Three of Cups, Six of Swords, Five of Pentacles and Ten of Pentacles.
Planets other than the Sun and Moon seem to move backwards at times. How retrograde planets are read.
Tarot, astrology and numerology are traditions of symbolism. This page says what the tradition associates with its subject. It does not predict anything and it is not advice.