Benjamin Bratt

Chapter 4. Mercury in Your Chart

Astrologically speaking, the planet Mercury is the conceptual force. It is a symbol of your mental life and such things as your mind, ideas, analytical abilities, as well as your sense and style of communication. Mercury describes patterns of thought, of learning and of assessing reality. Consequently it affects your self image and the force of your thought. It's what Dr. Timothy Leary calls "laryngeal manual dexterity" - which is the ability to manipulate symbols and artifacts. Mercury also represents the respiratory system. Mercury is youthful and it is the symbol of wit and levity.

Mercury is the symbol of titles and it's appropriate that Mercury is known as: winged messenger, herald, arbiter, scribe of the gods and inventor of writing. He also has many names including Loki, Nebu, Trickster, Piltzintecuhtli and Hermes.

More than ever in this age of multimedia information and disinformation, understanding the limitations and advantages of Mercury's placement in your chart heralds both survival and success. In the next paragraph is a description of just what kind of "mercurial" character you are and can become Benjamin Bratt.

Mercury in Capricorn

DETERMINED CONCEPTS

A conservative tone colors your communication. You speak with the air of authority. You like to be methodical, logical, calculating and organized. You follow procedures. Traditional ideas appeal to you. Read the classics.

You're guarded with your own thoughts, words and ideas. You tend to be suspicious, pragmatic, level headed, dictatorial and ambitious.

Mercury Conjunct Mars

CONCEPTS UNITE WITH MOTIVATIONS

DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE

Your powerful mind and enterprising spirit will help you to realize your plans. You're restless, curious, impatient and need to slow down from time to time to improve the quality of your communication. Fast talking may or may not be appropriate, depending upon circumstances.

Mercury Square Jupiter

CONCEPTS CHALLENGE ENCOURAGEMENT

LOTS OF CURIOSITY

Both common sense and business sense are yours. You can be constructive and can develop literary skills. You've a mind for politics and for propaganda. You might want to start your own Zine. A Zine is a sort of magazine that came about as a result of desk top publishing and the photocopy and offset printing processes. One way or another, you can make money from your ideas.

You can become a very persuasive communicator. You can learn to see both sides of a dispute. You would be very good at law, negotiation and arbitration. You can develop a gift for prophecy.

TIP: Allow yourself the luxury of brainstorming sessions; on regular occasion, think about "possibilities" without being critical or doubting.

You're prone to exaggeration and could use this tendency to create humor. You might try joking about people who sermonize. In other words, make some fun at the expense of preachy fundamentalists. Pick, polish and perfect your best idea. Figure out how to effectively put it into practice. Find a way to make your efforts rewarding, then work hard to achieve your goals. Some additional education will prove to be helpful.

Mercury Decile Saturn

CONCEPTS MODIFY DECISIONS

Your infancy and childhood might have been tough. You can overcome it by working to develop your reasoning powers. With effort, in time, you can have deep thoughts and do excellent mental work.

TIP: Read Boost Your Brain Power. It's a total program to sharpen your thinking and age-proof your mind. It's written by Ellen Michaud, Russell Wild and the editors of Prevention Magazine. ISBN 0-87857-975-3.

Learn to say what you mean in spite of your doubts. Make plans to see that your ideas are acted upon. Work your ideas. Develop them toward implementation. Think things through and make sure a response is warranted before you issue a criticism. "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking." Voltaire.

Mercury Trine Pluto

CONCEPTS COOPERATE WITH CLEANSING

Your mind is resourceful, probing and persistent. You are fascinated and at times even obsessed with the mysterious and the unknown. You can become persuasive, cunning and sly. You can become very good at surgery, research, analysis, propaganda, politics and exploration. Be relentless in your mental routines and in time you will gain insight. This will help you find an appropriate outlet for sharing your deepest, most penetrating thoughts and ideas. You have great appeal for the masses.

You hold your own in a debate. When necessary, you are a forceful speaker. You command and demand attention. You can rouse an audience.

To be an individual, express your uniqueness. Be witty and analytical, sometimes simultaneously. You can exert influence over others and change their belief systems. It's fairly easy for you to learning and teach something new.

In affairs of the heart, you need to probe your lover's mind for their ideas before you probe their body with your kisses.

Mercury Opposite Node

CONCEPTS CHALLENGE INTERCHANGING

Part of the mission that you have incarnated for is to communicate. Expose your mind to stimulating ideas. Cultivate your intellectual interests. Study the past. Talk about the future. Make more social and business contacts. Get involved with public and social planning projects. Gossiping only interferes with your destiny.

Mercury Sextile Ascendant

CONCEPTS COOPERATE WITH YOUR REALITY

You're good at talking and thinking. You've a talent for exchanging thoughts and ideas. There is something of a pixie about you and your appearance. When your mind and your hands are not occupied, you are bored.