Robert Anton Wilson

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 Robert Anton Wilson.

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 Sesqui-Quadrate 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 Trine Neptune

CONCEPTS COOPERATE WITH FANTASY

Your imagination can work overtime. You can paint pictures with words. You can think on your feet. You can become a super salesperson. Some of your most creative work is done unwittingly, as if you are attuned to a faraway source. You could be an actor, a dreamer, a mystic, a faith healer, a psychic and probably are some combination thereof.

There is something artistic about your voice. Develop your musical and dramatic talents. Learn to deliver your lines with something extra.

Instead of letting your imagination play tricks on you, work to communicate meaningful and significant information. Since you can unconsciously attune yourself to other people's thoughts and motivations, you need to stay centered, balanced and grounded. You are naturally psychic and prophetic. Organization is a key to your success.

TIP: Read Conquering the Paper Pile-up by Stephanie Culp. It will tell you how to sort, organize, file, and store every piece of paper in your home and office. ISBN 0-89879-410-2.

Learn a middle path between fantasy and reality. Be creative without being an escapist. Your imaginative powers are second to none, and you could create for a living. With an extra creative effort, you could turn your richest fantasies into reality.