Will Patton

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 Will Patton.

Mercury in Cancer

EMOTIONAL CONCEPTS

In your mind, thinking is colored by emotions. You're psychic, sensitive to other people's thoughts, and you've got a powerful imagination. You're impressionable and changeable and yet prone to stubbornness once you've reached your position. Paradoxically, you may be practical in day to day affairs and yet somewhat irrational on your approach to life.

Your mind is retentive and your memory is very good in some but not all functions. You can prosper through buying and selling real estate, collections and collectibles.

Mercury Tri-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 Conjunct Uranus

CONCEPTS UNITE WITH LIBERATION

Small and effective action is better than talk. Learn to speak with quick deeds. To make more money, learn to assimilate more information. Read more technical writing. When you feel that your job can be done by a robot or a computer, it is time for you to think about other jobs. You can make more money by becoming more independent in your thinking and progressive in your actions.

TIP: Go for high band width communication.

You've an intuitive, astute, independent and original mind. For an unusually exciting date, go hear a jazz vocalist. You can become very skilled at public communications, software development, chess, design and engineering.

Mercury Decile Pluto

CONCEPTS MODIFY 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. Then you can find an appropriate outlet for sharing your deepest, most penetrating thoughts and ideas.

There is no doubt that you can ferret out the truth. The question is can you learn to express the truth without being unduly harsh or blunt. Since most battles are not worth fighting, you are advised to learn to sidestep, intercept and redirect controversy. Replace cunning schemes to control others with plans for self control. Instead of wasting energy arguing what's right and what's wrong, why not pursue what feels right for you? Allow yourself to recognize and release any fascist and tyrannical tendencies.

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.