I am the first to admit that the phenomenon of Mercury retrograde (Rx) is somewhat over-done, but it is a real thing that affects every person on Earth - albeit - some more than others. Me, myself am oftentimes severely affected: electronics fritzing out, thinking muddled, communications blackout (I can’t speak and go silent). This is because in my chart I am a Virgo Sun, Gemini Moon - (both ruled by Mercury) - AND Mercury will *also* be retrograding into my rising sign. All this during the holidays.
How then does he affect everyone on Earth? This is because everyone on Earth is under the same skies and therefore under the same influences. So allow a little history lesson on Mercury.
The Mythology: Greek vs. Roman
While many of the stories are essentially the same in Greek and Roman mythologies, the names are different and the Romans also had their myths - separate from those of the Greeks.
If you did’t know - Hermes is Greek. Mercury is Roman. Yet, both performed the same “duties”, as it were. But Hermes and Mercury were different in the way they interacted with the populace; in Greek mythology he basically served the Gods. In Roman mythology, he not only served the Gods exclusively, he was able to “transform” into a living person as an archetype. This distinction is where the Greeks and Romans differ.
Early in Rome’s history, the ancient Romans had a religion completely their own and as time passed extensive changes occured within the religion. As the Romans conquered neighboring territories, they absorbed some aspects of the local religions. Although Greek litrature was known and assimilated by the Romans it was basically to fill in the gaps for their religion. Eventually Rome adopted (and adapted) Greek myths on a broad scale.
So whereas Greek gods lived on lofty Mount Olympus, rarely having anything to with mortals, the Romans made them more human thus allowing the people greater access to the Gods. This speaks to idea of why the two different gods sometimes visually appear so differently.
In ancient Greek times the god was symbolized by fixed standing stone embedded the earth - called a herm. These herms were markers for property boundaries and often stood the entrance to the doorways of individual homes. In Grecian religion the visual appearance of Hermes is that of an old man.
In Roman religion he is depicted visually as young, agile, spry. He wears a winged helmet and even has wings on is ankles - like the FTD guy. What do you say about an elderly person with a quick mind? You say his/her mind is agile, quick - and very often this ability makes them appear younger/young-ish.
What does Mercury do?
His latin name is Mercurius - related to the latin word merx - so he has to with commerce, merchandise, trade and profit. But those things require communication - spoken, written, agreed upon, contracts. It follows that trade, profit, commerce would include travel - any method or mode of getting there. He also rules your “immediate/local” surroundings and people - so your neighbors/neighborhood, if you have siblings or have to travel short distances like across town to pick up your kid(s) from school - so early childhood education.
But lets go back to the herms. What Hermes/Mercury is really doing is ruling the boundaries bewteen one state of consciousness and the other; the threshold between home and world, between the inner and outer realms. He is a god of liminal space, the space between; he is a god of crossroads and ambiguities.
How is Mercury known to us?
Mercury’s most fundamental astrological significance is as planet of the mind or intellect. He has been chosen to symbolize the functions of the mind - after all, there is no limit to how far the human mind can either soar or descend. He is precocious and a Trickster. He leads us to chance and teaches us to choose wisely with the lots of chance assembled before us. There is the myth that he chance encountered a turtle and lucked upon an endless source of wealth by turning the turtle over and slapping a few strings on it, creating the lyre. Here we see Mercurial inventiveness and entrepreneurship. Where chance meetings and circumstances are seized and recognized as golden moments or opportunities that quickly bear fruit for an individual.
But what does this have to do with the dark side of Mercury - theives have the same mentality.
He carries messages and acts like a guide between our waking selves and sleeping selves. Did you know: Mercury was the only god that could freely visit the Underworld, taking messages from the dead to the living. He is the god of magic, shamanic in his ability to be invisble at will, spryness and fleetness of foot. A shape-shifter - one who has access to all worlds simultaneously, yet he belongs to none.
The planet Mercury is the speedist of all, taking just a mere 88 days to revolve around the Sun. He goes retrograde about 3 times a year. The planet speeds by in the sky like a thief in the night, invisible to us most of the time. But when he does appear it is only just before sunrise and just after sunset - and so faint you can barely see it.
During retrograde phases, it’s like the planet is going backwards, and it is at this time The Trickster element is most alive and well. This is the time you can be assured the business deals go south, commerce slows to a trickle - oh yeah - and that thing you thought you saw or heard may not be what you saw or heard. It’s a time when many people will feel as though they are backpedaling or going back over things said and done before.
Astrology has chosen the signs Gemini and Virgo for Mercury’s rulership. Gemini is considered the “day” and Virgo the “night”. And this is why those of you who have been with these many years have often heard me say that “I get in the daytime and at night”, when referring to Mercury retrograde.
In the next article I’ll be discussing Mercury through the Elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water).