William Petersen

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 William Petersen.

Mercury in Pisces

COMPASSIONATE CONCEPTS

It would seem that you absorb ideas and tend to learn through osmosis rather than study. You're somewhat psychic, intuitive, telepathic and receptive to the thoughts of others. This may even be unconscious. Either way, you're impressionable and need to be in a suitable environment. Your style of communication can be mysterious and other worldly. There's something of the absent minded professor about you.

You can be overly sensitive to criticism and can benefit from private coaching , mentoring and tutoring. You may be secretive and keep your own ideas to yourself. Find the right balance between privacy and being a recluse.

Your vivid imagination is an asset in the arts and creative endeavors. Put it to good use. You can communicate some utopia ideas to the world. Photography, film and cameras are a plus. Learn to get your ideas across clearly, orderly and one at a time.

Mercury Semi-Sextile Venus

CONCEPTS HELP CLARIFY AFFINITY

Charming and graceful, you have some tender, lovely thoughts and a clearly defined sense of beauty. You can do very well at creative, expressive and designing activities. You have some great female friends and a penchant for saying the right thing at the right time.

Mercury Sextile Jupiter

CONCEPTS COOPERATES WITH ENCOURAGEMENT

Both common sense and business sense are yours. You've 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 have an excellent command of language. You can find travel to be especially rewarding. You have a great mind of anything social. You easily know what works and what does not work with people.

Mercury Biquintile Neptune

CONCEPTS BRING OUT TALENT FOR 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 liar, 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.

Mercury Tri-Septile Pluto

CONCEPTS NON-CONFORM 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. 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 Decile Node

CONCEPTS MODIFY INTERCHANGING

In part, you've incarnated for a mission to communicate. Expose your mind to stimulating ideas. Make friends with smart people. 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. Form some skillful alliances. Attend some educational conferences.