Mercury

The Messenger of the Gods-rules Gemini and Virgo

Little Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Just 3000 miles in diameter, it is less than half the size of Earth. Mercury cannot be more than one sign away from your natal Sun. Named for Mercury-Hermes, the quick-silver messenger with wings on his feet and on his cap, this planet symbolizes the mind and the way it processes and communicates data. The mind can be friend or foe, depending on how well it serves us, insightful or jumping like a monkey. Mercury can be a trickster, especially when it is retrograde. From our point of view, Mercury loops back and forth like a labyrinth in its 88-day orbit, connecting inner and outer realms of consciousness. Though its orbit is quick and short, a day on Mercury is relatively long--58.6 Earth days. So on Mercury, there are about one and a half days a year! That makes for very hot days and very cold nights, as the temperature on Mercury varies to extremes, polarized like the dark twin and the light twin of its mythology. Whereas the Earth tilts on its axis about 23 degrees, creating a wobble, Mercury rotates precisely straight.

Back to "Meet the Planets" Mainpage