In the astrological pantheon, Mercury is often the ignored symbol. Certainly, Mercury gains attention when its apparent motion goes retrograde, however, in the analysis of birth charts, it is typically the symbol that receives the least amount of attention from an astrologer. This lack of interest and consideration may be due, in part, to the observation that Mercury is typically not the part of our psychology where we are most likely to experience hidden pathologies, blind spots, or painful growth patterns. Although Mercury may be a trickster figure in mythology, the astrological Mercury is rather straightforward; Mercury may be the symbol most often glossed over because of its clear-cut nature.

This tendency to disregard the astrological Mercury is problematic on at least two counts. As the locus of our self-expression and communication, Mercury has an uncanny ability of integrating the entire birth chart—all symbols and patterns in the birth chart are incorporated and voiced through Mercury. Although Mercury is typically not aspecting every planet in the birth chart, it is the point through which all the archetypes within the birth chart receive their clearest and most lucid expression. Even if the Sun is the center of the Solar System and the centerpiece of the chart, Mercury is the great ambassador and mouthpiece of the entire birth chart. The other difficulty stemming from Mercury’s exclusion is that, although the archetype may be straightforward and clear-cut in its initial expression, when it is inflected by zodiacal houses, signs, and planets, the basic verbal expression associated with Mercury is influenced by an amazing diversity of patterns.

This essay will focus on the amazing range that is shown by Mercury when it aspects different archetypes. Moreover, this short article will demonstrate the assertion that Mercury truly is a critical and essential component in both the personality and birth chart. The other archetypes of astrology may be readily perceived through nonverbal cues and forms an overall impression of the personality, but Mercury’s uncomplicated, analytical nature allows us to know—in a very literal way—what “makes one tick.”

Mercury in Aspect to Jupiter: Inspirers and Motivators

When Mercury forms a significant aspect to Jupiter in the birth chart, one is usually blessed with the capacity to think big, to accentuate the positive, and to inspire others through encouraging thought and speech. Although some may believe that the Jupiter-Mercury combination is the province of spin doctors and propagandists, those born with this planetary pairing usually have an uncanny ability to see the proverbial glass half full when others see it half empty. It is often typical of those born with the combination to be teachers and motivators, either explicitly through profession or through the incorporation of these capacities in their roles as mentors, parents, and as co-workers.

Example I: Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins has established his reputation as the quintessential motivation speaker of the last two decades. Born with Jupiter in square aspect to Mercury, Robins has created a legendary fan base through his pioneering use of the thirty-minute infomercial. Both the object of satire and serving as a true symbol of hope and encouragement to many, Robins represents both the superficial slick and the tenacious inspiring power found in the legion of motivational speakers.

Example II: Wayne Dyer

The very titles of Dr. Dyer’s books might be catch phrases for the Mercury-Jupiter combination: How To Be a No Limit Person, You Can Be Happy No Matter What, The Sky’s the Limit. Miraculously, Dr. Dyer has apparently mastered the art of becoming an authority on nearly every angle of self help ever imagined! Through a blend of New Age wisdom and folksy common sense, Wayne Dyer has attained near-guru level status for millions of people. Born with a Jupiter-Mercury conjunction, Dyer is undoubtedly the paradigmatic case of the power of positive thought.

Mercury in Aspect to Saturn: Authorities and Statesmen

Unlike their Jupiter-Mercury counterparts who tend to accentuate the positive and won’t accept anything but the most rosy case scenarios, the bearer of Mercury-Saturn configurations tend to be more analytical, more realistic and pragmatic (or, at least from their perspective), and the bearers of hard-line and hard-nosed truths. Although one may believe that Mercury-Saturn bearers are too stoic, dour, and pessimistic, one can never accuse them of not doing their homework—they tend to really know their subject matter extraordinarily well. Methodical and questioning almost to a fault, the Mercury-Saturn possessors typically are the tradition and establishment creators—they create the authoritative texts by which all other works are to be judged.

Example I: George F. Will

With four planets in aspect to Saturn, George F. Will carries the puritanical, dry, and acerbic energy that we’ve come to know and love from Saturn! With a Saturn-Mercury conjunction in Taurus, Will is the reserved and respected voice of the conservative old-guard in the United States. Unlike the new crop of conservative demagogues, Will represents the well-studied, cogently argued, and intelligent side of the conservative perspective. The copious amounts of Saturn in Will’s chart allows him to create a coolly objective, thoughtful, and self-reflective perspective that will appeal to those with the same level of maturity as Will.

Example II: Noam Chomsky

Although Chomsky is at the opposite end of the political spectrum relative to Will, he also demonstrates the thoughtful, rational, and highly analytical expression that comes from a Saturn-Mercury interface. Born with a Saturn, Mercury, Sun triple conjunction in philosophical Sagittarius, Chomsky has become one of the most revered and respected voices of the left. Chomsky’s unbelievable dedication to justice and political awareness demonstrates one of the most admirable qualities of Saturn—tenacity and thoroughness. Moreover, Chomsky also expresses another tendency of Mercury-Saturn combinations—to become the arch-judge or critic. Chomsky has based his entire oeuvre on critique of American foreign policy and diplomacy, putting the American agenda on endless and ruthless trial and scrutiny.

Mercury in Aspect to Uranus: Jesters and Disturbers

Although Uranus-Mercury and Saturn-Mercury combinations tend to share a commonality in that both love to critique and judge, there the commonalty ends. Whereas the Saturn-Mercury individual tends to present their case through well-developed logic and thorough homework, the Uranus-Mercury individual tends to prod and provoke their opponents through wit, sarcasm, humor, and shock tactics. The Uranus-Mercury interface is often associated with the clown or jester that mocks human hypocrisy, shortcomings, and untruths. Often brilliant and irreverent, the Mercury-Uranus individual often disturbs and shocks us into new states of awareness through radical and illuminating discourse. Whatever the case may be, the Uranus-Mercury individual is inevitably different, unique, and wonderfully bright.

Example I: George Carlin

Born with a Sun-Mercury-Uranus triple conjunction, Carlin demonstrates the “crazy wisdom” that shines from this particular archetypal combination. Blending outrageous humor with a gifted level of detached awareness, Carlin allows us to laugh at the truth of our condition and our surroundings. Carlin’s humor is patently outside-the-box, that is, much of his comedy is based on seeing everyday occurrences from a radically different perspective. This alternate perspective is the gift of Uranus, the archetype that allows us to detach from our social conditioning to gain alternate and alternative perspectives on reality and our situation.

Example II: Howard Stern

The King of All Media is indeed born with a tight Mercury-Uranus opposition. Here we see in Stern Uranus’s ability to shock and to provoke. Almost ad nauseum, Stern has based his reputation and attracted fans through crossing the edge of decorum and decency. Uranus can represent the adolescent tendency to test boundaries and limits set by the majority and establishment. If one can withstand the constant shock value and scatology, Stern often can offer highly intelligent, if not irreverent, social commentary. Uranus and Mercury often bestows the gift of giving a level of honesty and boldness that other Mercury combinations are afraid to offer.

Mercury in Aspect to Neptune: Poets and Dreamers

Although not known for their ability to hold facts and analytic information in tact, the Neptune-Mercury individual does have a wonderful ability to access possible worlds through the mind. These are the dreamers, poets, bards, and lyricists who are able to accomplish a rather difficult task: to articulate the subtle world of images and feelings through the analytical and linear logic of verbal expression. In essence, with Neptune and Mercury in aspect, the right brain of fantasy and dreams is wedded to Mercury’s dominance of the left brain, the side of the brain responsible to logic, analysis, and deduction.

Example I: C.S. Lewis

Along with his friend and counterpart, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis created one of the greatest fantasy series in the twentieth century—The Chronicles of Narnia. Through his chronicles, we exit this world and enter a new world through the “wardrobe”—a land of fantasy, fairies, and magical and mystical beings. Lewis, born with Mercury opposite Neptune, was blessed with a fertile mental imagination which allowed him to paint exquisitely beautiful and extraordinary worlds that engendered lessons and insights about our own world.

Example II: Richard Bach

Arguably the author who initiated the New Age allegorical novel, Richard Bach’s simple and timeless writing conveys spiritual lessons about life. Born with Mercury square Neptune, Bach’s fiction is infused with the intuitive wisdom and peaceful reflections on what really matters in life. With Bach, we see the spiritual, innocent, serene face of Neptune come through transparently through his writing style. Books such as Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions prefigured the avalanche of self-help and New Age books that would arrive in the market decades after Bach’s works first appeared.

Mercury in Aspect to Pluto: Detectives and Inquisitors

Arriving at Mercury in aspect to Pluto, the mind is rendered intense, obsessive, no-nonsense and even dark. The Mercury-Pluto mind strides courageously into territory where angels fear to tread. In fact, the Mercury-Pluto mind is riveted and fascinated by the taboo, mysterious, and typically extreme sides of life. Typically, the Mercury-Pluto mind delves deeply into sex, death, and the criminal—facets of life typically associated with Pluto. Moreover, the Mercury-Pluto combination often lends the native with an unusually deft ability to probe for facts, uncover difficult truths, and to be brutality confrontive when the situation demands for it.

Example I: Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Dr. Ruth became somewhat of a novelty in the 1980’s (as Pluto rode through Scorpio) as a diminutive expert on the subject of sex. The talk show circuit that made her famous may have done her a disservice, potentially trivializing the fact that she is quite a renowned expert on her favorite subject. Born with a Pluto-Mercury conjunction, Ruth has written extensively on sex, from advice columns to over twenty books. More than just an authority on a Plutonic subject—sex—her matter-of-fact style of communication is indicative of the Plutonian style of talking openly and frankly about often delicate and sensitive issues.

Example II: Barbara Walters

The former co-host of “20/20” has established her reputation as being the singular television reporter that gets celebrities to be extraordinarily candid and revealing about their personal lives. Born with a Pluto square to Mercury, Walters displays the extraordinary knack of the combination’s ability to dig and coax out information that would normally be considered off-limits or ill-mannered. Balancing tact with tenacity and confrontation, Walters is the consummate detective, using the Pluto-Mercury gifts to her advantage when sitting with superstars and celebrities.

Birth Data:

Tony Robbins: February 29th, 1960
Wayne Dyer: May 3rd, 1940
George F. Will: May 4th 1941
Noam Chomsky: Dec 7th, 1928
George Carlin: May 12th, 1937
Howard Stern: January 12th, 1954
C.S. Lewis: November 19th, 1898
Richard Bach: June 23rd, 1936
Ruth Westheimer: June 4th, 1928
Barbara Walters: September 25th, 1929