Advice for Teens, Part 1: Your Mercury PlacementReturn to article
By Natori MooreOkay, so you’re curious about astrology. You’ve looked up the sun sign of your boy- or girl-friend to see how well you match. You’ve learned that your Aunt Edna is an eccentric Aquarius, and – by gosh – her opinions (not to mention her wardrobe) are a little bit Out There.
But did you know that astrology can help YOU succeed in life? That’s right. Taking the time to learn more about your astrological chart can help you make smart decisions as you move through your teen years. If you want answers for day-to-day matters – such as whether one of your friends would make a good lab partner, or what types of classes you’ll like best – you’ll want to look at the placement of the planet Mercury in your chart. In astrology, Mercury represents the way you think and absorb information. It symbolizes your unique type of intelligence, and your best approach to learning. Knowing which sign contains Mercury in your chart can help you understand what makes your mind grow weary in class or become hungry to learn more. So in between episodes of Dawson’s Creek or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, curl up with a cappuccino and read on!
First, let’s consider the word “intelligence.” Despite what at least one of your teachers may have told you, intelligence is not just people in pointy hats rattling off dates of famous battles. Intelligence is also not limited to doing well on tests, though that’s part of it. Intelligence can include performing a stunning violin solo, making clever physical moves in sports, keeping a well-organized locker, choosing to handle your anger in an effective way, or bringing up a difficult subject for discussion with a friend (more on these last two items in Part 2 on Venus).
The ancient poet Rumi (you Pisces people are allowed to swoon at the mention of poetry!) believed that there are two basic types of intelligence. The first type is knowledge about the outer world – subjects such as astronomy, art, mathematics, literature, history, and technology. From the day our parents stuck a book in our hands as toddlers, we’ve been quite familiar with this type of intelligence. It involves words, numbers, notebooks, SAT tests and the other measurements of our outer world learning. The second and less common kind of intelligence is what we might call wisdom. It includes information from our inner world that can help us make good emotional decisions. This type of intelligence is less common, and badly needed in our world today. We will focus on this second type of intelligence next month. For now, let’s look at Mercury, symbol of our approach to outer world learning and intelligence.
See Table 1 to find the possible signs of your Mercury based on your birthdate and Sun sign. Mercury is always in one of three signs: the same sign as your Sun sign, the sign before it, or the sign after it in the zodiac. Look up your Sun sign in the first column of Table 1 (based on your date of birth). Read to the right to find the three possible signs that may contain your Mercury. You’ll need to read the descriptions for all three signs, and consider which one is most likely to fit you. If you want to know EXACTLY which sign contains your Mercury (you didn’t think we were going to do ALL the work for you, did you?), you will need to get a copy of your astrological chart, look at an ephemeris (book that lists where the planets were on certain dates), or consult with an astrologer to find out for sure.
Table 1 If your Sun Sign at birth is: Your possible Mercury signs are: Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) Pisces, Aries or Taurus Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) Aries, Taurus or Gemini Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20) Taurus, Gemini or Cancer Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 21) Gemini, Cancer or Leo Leo (Jul 22 – Aug 22) Cancer, Leo or Virgo Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22) Leo, Virgo or Libra Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) Virgo, Libra or Scorpio Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Libra, Scorpio or Sagittarius Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 20) Scorpio, Sagittarius or Capricorn Capricorn (Dec 21 – Jan 19) Sagittarius, Capricorn or Aquarius Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Aquarius, Pisces or Aries If you have:
Mercury in Aries (Group A)
That’s you with your hand in the air ready to answer any question in class. You speak and learn quickly, and grow weary listening to instructors whose speech is turtle-slow. You’re not afraid to stand up and be first, and you need to contribute your original ideas. Take classes that require creative term papers and projects, not just memorization of facts. You can be quite independent and tend to find group projects (where you have to cooperate – gasp!) annoying. Your words can sometimes sound sharp to other people. Classes that interest you include business, engineering, medical careers (especially surgery, dental or psychiatry), publishing, police or military studies, anything “cutting edge,” pioneering or new. You need to learn to: Listen to others, Think before you speak, Finish what you start. Famous Person with Mercury in Aries: Jennie Garth.
Mercury in Taurus (Group B)
Steady Eddie is the name of your game. You may not be the fastest or flashiest Mercury in the pack, but you are usually left standing (and holding the money bag!) after others have gotten distracted or given up. You like to take your time and understand things before moving forward. You want evidence you can see, taste, smell, or touch to come to your decisions. You do well in practical classes such as finance, real estate, woodworking, landscaping, outdoor recreation, or the business end of the arts. You are money-minded and likely to save what you earn more easily than your friends. You need to learn to: Be flexible, Share your possessions, Develop imagination. Famous Person with Mercury in Taurus: Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Mercury in Gemini (Group A)
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it keeps you alive. You always want to know what’s around the next corner. You are often a class clown or comedian, and you enjoy games and puzzles. People would be amazed if they knew the flip-flops going on in that head of yours! You enjoy speaking your thoughts out loud and you LOVE the Internet. Since you are clever and playful, it was probably only a few short years ago that you pulled pigtails and slipped notes to classmates. In fact, you may have no intention of quitting now! Classes you enjoy include speech, communications, school newspaper or yearbook, computer programming, auto mechanics. You need to learn to: Hold still, Narrow your focus, Keep quiet when necessary! Famous Person with Mercury in Gemini: Courtney Cox.
Mercury in Cancer (Group B)
Whether it’s love, hate or something in between, you have strong feelings about your home and family life. Whether you are male or female, you may like children and have a talent for cooking and gardening. You have a good memory and strong emotions. Swimming, surfing, and water-related activities are among your favorites. Classes you can excel in include history, anthropology, genealogy (the study of family histories), nursing, psychology, and home arts. You are good at caring for pets and plants. You do best in small classes with teachers who encourage you and give you one-to-one attention. You need to learn to: Not take things personally, Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Find the value in people outside your own family or social group. Famous Person with Mercury in Cancer: Natalie Portman.
Mercury in Leo (Group A)
You are outgoing, dramatic, and like to be noticed. You make a good sports team captain or school leader who inspires others with your warmth and creativity. You are willing to take charge where others hide or retreat. You speak grandly, with a desire to appear larger than life. You may have heard the expression, “She’s a legend in her own mind.” No doubt this was said about a person with Mercury in Leo. If you make your ideas known, you could become a legend in other people’s minds too. Classes you enjoy including acting, business, political science, arts and crafts, architecture. You need to learn to: Realize that Other People Do Exist, and Yes, They Would Like Some Credit. Famous Person with Mercury in Leo: Cameron Diaz.
Mercury in Virgo (Group B)
You probably watch a lot of Adam Sandler movies. Many comedians have Mercury in Virgo, because they see funny things every day that others of us tend to miss. You are great at seeing the smaller details in life. You can be shy, but you are very smart. You dress well and take pride in your appearance, or sometimes go to the opposite extreme and give little care to how you look. Then there is your critical side. How do I put this delicately….you must stop picking on people! Yes, I know you’re just trying to help…but could you do it a little more sweetly please? Classes you like include math and sciences, classical music, statistics. You need to learn to: Relax, Find the flaws in things rather than people. Famous Person with Mercury in Virgo: Adam Sandler, of course.
Mercury in Libra (Group A)
You’re fair-minded and may be found settling arguments among your friends. You can see at least two sides to any issue. You tend to like music, art and politics, and are the most romantic Mercury in the bunch. You like beauty, balance and calm in everything. Dirty, ugly or noisy places really bother you. Consider volunteering to make the environments of your life more beautiful -- your classroom, neighborhood, bedroom, or teen center. You like doing things with a partner, and relationships are important to you. You might marry early depending on the other placements in your chart. Classes you like include history, legal studies, art, music, debate, tennis. You need to learn to: Take time to discover what YOU like, Not always wait for others to give you their opinion before you decide. Famous Person with Mercury in Libra: Will Smith.
Mercury in Scorpio (Group B)
As the most intense and private Mercury in the zodiac, people may often wonder what you’re thinking (hint, it usually has to do with sex). You can keep a secret, and you like getting to the bottom of things. You also like mystery stories, investigations, and knowing things other people don’t. You don’t like small talk, because it doesn’t seem meaningful. But you’ll come home with LOTS of information from the library or the Internet – doing research is one of your talents. You can be very persuasive and may enjoy classes where you can promote your ideas. You need to learn to: Share what you know with others who are trustworthy, Avoid manipulating others to get your way, Realize not everything is a life or death matter. Famous Person with Mercury in Scorpio: Brendan Fraser.
Mercury in Sagittarius (Group A)
You are an adventurer and likely to be a big fan of Indiana Jones! You are also a natural philosopher and like to think about the meaning behind things. WHY? is your favorite question. You may enjoy subjects like history, religion, anthropology, and social studies. You love to travel and learn about far away places, and you enjoy the outdoors. Chances are you like Star Trek, Star Wars, and science fiction stories about heroic quests into the future. You may learn foreign languages easily. You see the big picture and like classes that use film and visuals to help you learn. You may be athletic, and especially like running. It’s probably important for you to go to college, so you can satisfy your thirst for knowledge. You need to learn to: Pay attention to details, Watch what you say – sometimes it hurts people!, Avoid being a know-it-all. Famous Person with Mercury in Sagittarius: Katie Holmes.
Mercury in Capricorn (Group B)
You are a hard worker who wants something to show for your efforts. You like having something to strive for, so take classes that offer many small tests, quizzes and prizes, or set rewards for yourself if your teachers don’t offer them. Having a goal gives you energy. You will want to consider summer internship programs and part-time jobs. You can at times suffer from depression or the blues. It might be because so many people can count on you! Don’t be afraid to get a check up from your school clinic or doctor if you’re having troubles. Singer Janet Jackson and politician George Stephanopolous overcame their depression, got treatment and were able to feel better and move on. You will always be a realistic type of person with your feet on the ground. If you keep your spirits up you can celebrate your successes, and know that the climb is worth it. You need to learn to: Share your feelings, Have some fun, Don’t scowl so much at the class goof-offs. Famous Person with Mercury in Capricorn: Heather Graham.
Mercury in Aquarius (Group A)
Don’t expect to sit in the library or behind a desk for hours and get much done. You have freeform study habits. You might like your legs tucked up underneath you on a pillow, outdoors on the grass, listening to the latest CD on your Walkman while you study. You’re also good with computers. You like to come and go as you please and should keep your time scheduling as flexible as possible. You will shine as a member of a humanitarian group or organization working for the betterment of the world. You know the kind of group – Young Libertarians, Save the Albino Tiger, Friends of Leo DiCaprio. A CAUSE gives you a reason to live. You like group projects, and instructors who will let you get away with the unique and even shocking. Classes you like include television and radio, sciences, and social studies. You need to learn to: Turn your rebellion into unique expression, Stay until the end of class, Be close to people. Famous Person with Mercury in Aquarius: Drew Barrymore.
Mercury in Pisces (Group B)
The original right brain kid. That means you usually prefer music, art, movies, and literature to technical stuff. Unless you’re a scientific genius like Einstein, which you very well could be. Choose classes where you can use your imagination and create something new. Otherwise a nap on the bench outside starts to look very inviting. Speaking of sleep, you have amazing dreams that would put George Lucas to shame. Put some of that imagination into your career and you could become wealthy. You usually DO know where things are in your messy bedroom even if it doesn’t look that way to others. Classes you like include film, graphics, photography, poetry, and web site design. You’re a good listener, and you would make a good peer counselor. You need to learn to: Be on time, Take out the trash, Tolerate algebra. Famous Person with Mercury in Pisces: Reese Witherspoon.
You’ve probably figured out by now that signs in Group A get along best with other signs in Group A, and the signs labeled Group B get along best with others in Group B. If you have one sign from Group A and one from Group B, they will have to work harder to understand each other. Now for the fun part. Once you learn the Mercury sign of a teacher, friend, or potential boy- or girl-friend, you have a key to how to approach them when you talk. A Mercury in Gemini person likes a light, sociable, even flirtatious approach. Mercury in Scorpio or Capricorn wants someone to take them seriously. Mercury in Aries wants you to speak quickly and get to the point. Mercury in Leo wants you to admire them. You can also try to figure out a person’s Mercury sign based on how they speak or act. Are your friends stubborn? Perhaps they have Mercury in Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius (the Fixed signs). Can they be mean? Maybe Capricorn is their Mercury placement. Do they have trouble paying attention? Maybe Gemini or Aquarius is prominent. Are they sweet, sensitive or artistic? Perhaps Libra or Pisces is their Mercury sign.
Let’s say you’re not getting along very well with someone you see every day. Maybe she has Mercury in Sagittarius (Group A) and you have Mercury in the sign of Virgo (Group B). You may wonder why she acts like she knows everything, overlooks obvious details and can’t keep her locker neat. You are much more humble, pay great attention to details and like things neat and organized! Once you know her Mercury sign, you can try to understand her different way of looking at things. Maybe you can even learn from each other.
Have you ever gone up high on a hill or mountain near where you live to look at your city from up above? Chances are you could see all the streets and buildings better, rather than just a few of them in your own neighborhood. The understanding you can gain from astrology is like that – it’s a way to see people from up above -- to see that even if someone your know lives in a different kind of house in a different part of town, you both live in the same city. You do have something in common after all.
Knowing your Mercury sign can also help you to discover what YOU like and want to learn more about, not what movies, TV, music, your friends or parents think you should. So take some time to learn your Mercury sign -- it can help you understand why you do what you do, and accept yourself and others better. I’ll let you go now – I can see you’ve got a lot of reading about your Mercury sign to do! In Part 2 we’ll look at Venus – key to successful emotions, love and friendship in your chart.
©2000 by Natori Moore
All rights reserved
Originally appeared in Dell Horoscope, February 2000