Mercury
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Astronomy
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Its orbit, like that of Venus, is inside the Earth's own orbit, and it is for this reason that it is never further than 28 degrees away from the Sun as viewed from Earth (elongation). It has an equatorial diameter of 4876 km which means that is not even half the Earth's size. Its average distance from the Sun is 57.91 million km. It takes 88 days (sidereal) to orbit the Sun and between 12 and 14 months to travel through the whole zodiac. Its maximum diurnal movement is 2 degrees and 12 minutes.
Like Venus, Mercury can be both an evening star or a morning one: It is an evening star and located before the Sun in the zodiac when it descends after the Sun on the Western horizon and a morning star when it rises before the Sun on the Eastern horizon.
Mythology
Hermes (Greek for Mercury) was the son of Zeus (Jupiter) and the titan Maia who was the daughter of Atlas, the bearer of the heavens. His father chose him early on to be his messenger because he was swift, cunning, eloquent and diplomatic. No one could really get angry with him. His most important characteristics were his winged sandals and caduceus engarlanded with two snakes. His main admirers were travellers, traders, craftsmen, players and thieves.
He displayed his exceptional talents almost immediately after his birth. He made his first lyre from a turtle's shell and soon after stole fifty cattle from Apollo's herd. He wrapped the cattle's hooves in foliage, led them away backwards by their tails and, after he had hidden them, lay back down in his cradle. He feigned innocence in front of his half-brother but was nevertheless betrayed and was forced to appear before Zeus, whereupon he also stole Apollo's bow. Zeus ordered him to return the animals but Hermes managed to avoid this. He played on his lyre for Apollo and offered it to him in exchange. Apollo was so taken with the instrument that he immediately agreed and the two became inseparable friends after Hermes also returned his bow.
Hermes sent people dreams and accompanied the dead on their journey to the underworld. He was the only figure allowed to leave the kingdom of Hades after entering it.
Physical Body
The spinal cord, which carries information in two directions, is associated with Mercury: The brain sends movement impulses to the muscles and receives sensory perceptions in return. It is also linked to the nervous system, the body's "news system", and finally to the respiratory organs which "transport" air. The body absorbs oxygen with each intake of breath and gets rid of superfluous gases when exhaling.
Interpretation
Mercury embodies the principles of perception and orientation in the world. Its domain includes the assimilation, digestion and application of information. Mercury is therefore the symbol of thought processes, discriminative faculties and the intellect. Its house and sign position in the horoscope indicate how and what an individual learns. Thought, speech, reading and writing also fall under Mercury's rulership. It also shows the way an individual makes contact and communicates with others.
When Mercury aspects another planet or axis the characteristics of the horoscope factor in question are present in an individual's thought process and communication.
Transiting Mercury heightens perception in the area affected, although this influence usually only lasts for a few days.
There is a close relationship between Mercury and the Sun. It is always either in the same sign as the Sun or in one of the signs immediately preceding of following the Sun sign. In the past, a close conjunction of Mercury and the Sun was considered to be negative.
Mercury is the ruler of two signs: Gemini and Virgo. As the evening star it is thought to embody the qualities of Virgo and as the morning star those of Gemini. Mercury is also in detriment in two signs - Sagittarius and Pisces.
