Of course, it is perfectly possible that the ancient predictions will not take place and the number of planets in our solar system will remain exactly the same as today. Only time will tell.
MERCURY
IT HAS BEEN SAID that Mercury makes life understandable, for it is the planet of intelligence.
How does the power of Mercury express itself in your personality?
Do you easily strike up conversations with strangers or do you only open up with friends? Are you the kind who on a moment’s notice will have a bag packed and rush off on a trip, or do you prefer quiet evenings at home listening to music, delving among your favorite books? Do you enjoy speaking in front of a group, or would you rather tell stories in your own living room? Do you take hold of one idea and see it through to fruition, or do you prefer working on many projects at once?
You can start to answer these questions by looking at your horoscope to find the position of Mercury, planet of the mind.
From the very beginning of man’s observation of this elusive planet, Mercury has been associated with speed and agility. In ancient mythology, Mercury was the messenger of the gods. He was young, beautiful, and swift as the wind, for his feet had wings. His province was communication, commerce, everything requiring skill and dexterity. Not only was he clever in speech, he also invented music, mathematics, and astronomy. In Roman times, Mercury also became the god of thieves, for he was a cunning trickster, full of guile.
In astrology, Mercury is the planet of mental activities, communication, and intellectual energy. It rules over your intelligence, perception and reason, memory, speaking and writing. It reflects the way you see, hear, understand, and assimilate information. Day-to-day travel, short trips, and the various means of transportation are under its dominion. It also controls the functions of the nerves, arms, hands, and fingers.
When Mercury is prominent in a person’s horoscope, that person is likely to be facile in speech; a lively and amusing storyteller; a clever, shrewd bargainer. He or she will probably have a good memory, a talent for debate, and quick, highstrung movements.
Mercury also rules the voice, and people with strong Mercury influences are successful at public speaking, singing, and acting. Mercury protects travelers and benefits education and research. Its rulership ranges from such major areas as the nervous system and the ability to communicate to such minor things as handwriting, pens and pencils, communication via the computer, and deliveries.
The negative side of Mercury’s influence produces a tendency to be critical, sarcastic, argumentative, and sly. Lies, deceit, and certain types of crime, such as fraud, swindling, and forgery, are examples of Mercury’s negative power.
Because Mercury travels so close to the Sun, it is never very far from the Sun in your birth chart. It is always either in your Sun sign or in the sign immediately preceding or following your Sun sign.
Where Is Your Mercury?
To find out what sign Mercury was in on the day of your birth, consult the Mercury Tables on page 485.
MERCURY IN ARIES This is a strong position for Mercury because Aries imparts aggressiveness and brilliance to the intelligence. If you have Mercury in Aries, you tend to be witty, outspoken, and original. There is a sharp edge to your conversation, an ironic or sarcastic tone that can sometimes be biting and sometimes very funny. You use highly expressive language and throw a lot of slang into your speech. You exaggerate. An Aries-Mercury makes you impatient, eager to get things done and wanting your way in the proceedings. You can be argumentative and tactless. Fond of both speaking and writing, you may become active in the literary world. Even if not a professional writer yourself, you like to talk to writers and attend literary cocktail parties. A problem is that you are too impulsive; not enough planning goes into your actions. However, you are blessed with luck in this respect: Your first decisions tend to be the right ones. Mercury-in-Aries people suffer from headaches, especially in a raucous and noisy atmosphere.
MERCURY IN TAURUS As a Mercury-in-Taurus person, you never embark on a project without being completely prepared. You have a practical, stable, and constructive mind. There is a rigidity to your intellect: You are quite sure your opinions are the wisest and you have little use for what others think. You have an excellent memory and are a good observer, but you are apt to listen inattentively; since you’re not about to change your mind, why listen to what someone else has to say? You also have a tendency to repeat yourself, to state what you’ve just said over again in different terms, usually to make sure everyone has gotten the point. Although you are sociable and attractive, and have a certain refinement about your manners, you’re a bit shy with strangers. You’re more at ease reading a book while lounging in a comfortable overstuffed chair than holding court in the middle of a crowded gathering. You read a great deal, but it is experience that teaches you the lessons you value in life. A Mercury in Taurus promotes a knack for handling money. Possessing an eye for both beauty and value, Mercury-Taureans are often successful art and antique dealers.
MERCURY IN GEMINI If you have Mercury in Gemini, it’s hard to pin you down. You have a quicksilver duality to your mind. You tend to change opinions quickly based on the latest news you’re listening to. You often hold down more than one job or work on a number of projects at once. Extremely quick, versatile, interested in the world at large, you live mostly on a mental plane. You must have facts and information; what you want is to know. You are good at languages and math and love to read, study, travel, and talk to new people about what you think. However, because you have such a variety of interests, your grasp of knowledge tends to be superficial. You always know a bit about everything, but sometimes not a lot about anything. You are clever enough to conceal this and to give a marvelous impression of being well informed. Another problem is your lack of stick-to-itiveness. At times there is a distinct lack of order in your life. You would make a wonderful debater, public speaker, or actor, and you have lots of friends because of your infectious good humor. Many popular TV interviewers and talk-show hosts have their Mercury in Gemini.
MERCURY IN CANCER As a native of this Mercury position, you are sensitive to what others think about you. You have an almost sixth-sense intuition and pick up signals from all around you. You believe that if we had to depend only on our eyes we would see very little. You are chameleonlike in the way you are able to adapt yourself to different kinds of people. This does not mean you don’t cling possessively to your own ideas. Indeed, you are a bit narrow-minded, but others would need to be as psychic as you are to discern this. On the surface it is not evident; you maintain a charming social face. Your outlook is always intensely personal—you’re fond of discussing large events in terms of your own feelings. Gifted with powerful imagination, a sense of poetry, and a fine memory, Mercury-in-Cancer people are successful as scholars, historians, teachers, and writers. You are likely to make a profit in real estate and may inherit money from the maternal side of your family. Sometimes you are plagued with irrational phobias, such as a fear of flying.
MERCURY IN LEO Mercury in Leo bestows a gift for eloquence and a skill for leading others. If you are a native of this position, you have a magnetic flair for dealing with people. You are a superb organizer who knows how to direct, manage, and control. It’s true that you can be boastful, arrogant, and bombastic; and if things don’t go your way your fiery temper may ignite. But basically you have such a kind heart and sunny disposition that people usually forgive you. There is a showy expansiveness to your outlook. Though you would rather play than work, you are determined to be successful. You have great enthusiasm and sometimes get so caught up in a project you ignore everything else. People with Mercury in Leo are in love with the theater and the performing arts, and are happiest when they are on display. Creative fields attract you; you resent tedious work.
MERCURY IN VIRGO This position of Mercury gives a fine analytical quality to the mind. You like to deal in facts; before you make up your mind you must know all
sides to the question and get all the information available in order to analyze it. Once you form a theory, you’re quite convinced it is the truth. Thenceforward, you expect reality to conform to your ideas, rather than vice versa. You have an intellectual intolerance for people who are sloppy in their thinking; you don’t really understand human failings. Your emotional detachment makes you an excellent scientist, researcher, teacher, or reporter. You are very quick to learn and can usually memorize long pages of material. A fault is your eagerness to take on too much work or too many projects. You wear yourself down, and at times become nervous and hypercritical. As a Mercury-Virgo you have a superb talent for creative crafts.
MERCURY IN LIBRA Mercury is the planet of rationality and Libra the sign of balance. If you have this Mercury position, you love to make comparisons by listing all the pros and cons, looking at both sides, weighing all the factors. What you want is to make the perfect choice. Even after you’ve made up your mind, however, it isn’t definite. A favorite ploy is to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. In truth, you have fine intuitions and often know things in a flash. But then you tend to intellectualize and go off in the wrong direction. Toward other people, your attitude is gentle, sympathetic, friendly. You are fond of socializing. Not wishing to stir up controversy (oh, never!) in company, you will go along with someone else’s opinion even if you privately disagree. Mercury-in-Libra people do their best creative and intellectual work within a partnership. You are especially successful if you team up with a strong person who can direct you. Left alone, you may become lazy and not apply yourself with diligence.
MERCURY IN SCORPIO As a Mercury-in-Scorpio person, you are questioning and probing. You must dig beneath the surface to discover the real facts. You are especially drawn to things hidden: many of you go into the fields of medicine, science, religion, and the occult. Mercury-Scorpios are particularly suited for investigative work because you are unflagging in your pursuit and nothing eludes your keen observation. You take great pride in your ability not to be fooled. You also have a stubborn, obstinate mind and are enamored of your own ideas. One cannot budge you from a point of view unless you want to be budged. You consider other people’s “proofs” to be variations of their opinions, and listen to neither one nor the other. Solitary work and research are better suited to your temperament than cooperative ventures. You probably have a volatile temper, and Mercury-Scorpios are known for their biting sarcasm when crossed or upset. You have an emotional intelligence. You will fight for a cause even if it is hopeless, or sacrifice your time and energies for someone you love.
MERCURY IN SAGITTARIUS If you have this position of Mercury you are quick and bright, breezy, to the point. You prize freedom of expression and cannot bear the thought of any power of censorship over what you have to say. Your mind is restless, inquiring, always looking for stimulation. You may jump from project to project or change jobs frequently. Travel is often involved in your work. Mercury-Sagittarians never stop learning; yours is an ongoing, lifetime education. You love to read, explore new ideas, learn about other people. You are fast on your feet and can grasp ideas instantly, but a frequent failing is your lack of concentration. Some people find you too blunt and outspoken, but that quality springs from Sagittarius’s basic honesty. You never deliberately set out to deceive or dissemble; if you are tactless it’s because you don’t think before you speak. Sometimes you find it difficult to complete a long, sustained piece of work.
MERCURY IN CAPRICORN If you have Mercury in Capricorn you tend to be ambitious and methodical, careful, calculating, and patient. You are not only superb at handling detail, but you also never lose sight of the whole picture. When it comes to making decisions you are extremely rational. Logic, the steady progression from point to point, is what you put your faith in. You always have an objective; you always have a secret goal you are pursuing. Mercury-Capricorns often attain positions of leadership because they are so dependable and have an air of authority. (This is evident even in very small children who have Mercury in this position.) A problem you have in relating to people can be your dictatorial manner. You also tend to have a disapproving air about the foibles and frivolities of others. Life is serious to Mercury-Capricorns and you see its dark side—though a redeeming trait is your dry sense of humor.
MERCURY IN AQUARIUS Mercury in Aquarius indicates a fine and clever mind, inquisitive, accurate, and inventive. As a native of this position you take a great interest in other people and have excellent judgment of human nature. You love to analyze character and motivation, and with your finely tuned powers of observation are able to predict accurately how someone will react in a certain situation. You are a notorious people-watcher—in trains, buses, airports, and restaurants. Yours is a broad and emotionally detached outlook. Aquarius is the sign of the truth-seeker, which characterizes the way your mind works. You enjoy intellectual discussions about philosophy, metaphysics, and the future of mankind. Chances are you have read the classic writings of our great thinkers. You are especially suited for work in progressive professions—science, inventions, the world of television and electronics. Sometimes you may seem eccentric, for your ideas are advanced and you also enjoy saying things that shock other people.
MERCURY IN PISCES Pisces is the sign of psychic revelation, and Mercury in this sign gives you a subtle and intuitive mind. There is an intriguing air of mystery about the way you think. You don’t logically arrive at conclusions; you seem to get flashes of knowledge or sudden feelings that are not based on previous facts or circumstances. Sometimes you will make a pronouncement, and afterward what you say will turn out to be true. You have accurate intuition. As a Mercury-Piscean you are imaginative and creative, but you tend to lack self-confidence. At times you appear timid or confused. You have deep sympathy and understanding for the foibles, failings, and follies of other people. In your opinion everyone, including a liar, has his own truth. You have such sensitivity to your environment that you cannot work or think straight when there is anything or anyone upsetting or jarring around you. An apt image for Mercury-in-Pisces is the absentminded professor.
VENUS
VENUS IS THE PLANET of love and pleasure. It rules over your capacity to express affection and to enjoy beauty. In addition, Venus lends your personality allure and desirability, and tells what kind of sex appeal you possess.
By looking at the position of Venus in your birth chart, you can answer such questions as: What kind of lovers do you attract? Are you flirtatious? Do you find happiness in your love affairs, or are you often disappointed? Where do your creative talents lie?
From early times, Venus in mythology has been a goddess whose dominion is love and the emotions. It was Venus who taught the arts of seduction to mortal men and women. Her power over the heart is legend; she “stole the wits even of the wise.” She was extremely beautiful, and flowers grew wherever she walked. The goddess was also temperamental and self-indulgent, and at times could be treacherous and spiteful.
In astrology Venus rules over love affairs, art and beauty, adornment and decoration, the social graces, affection, harmony and friendship. The planet governs the higher emotions; its greatest gift is the gift of happiness. It can be said that Venus makes life beautiful.
The influence of Venus in your chart indicates how you relate to the opposite sex, whether you are popular and make friends easily, and also what artistic leanings you have. It rules your ability to love and to share with another person, and also governs your choice of gifts, cosmetics, flowers, and art objects. Being the planet of pleasure, it points to the kinds of amusements you are drawn to and in what ways you spend your money.
When Venus is prominent in your horoscope you are usually a delightful companion, very easy to get along with. Venus also endows its natives with an unerring eye for design and beauty, and knowledge of how to dress and present themselves appealingly.
The other side of Venus’s influence is that it can encourage a person to put more importance on pleasure, ease, and
luxury than on self-discipline. A strong streak of narcissism and a lack of willpower indicate an afflicted* Venus in a chart.
The planet Venus never travels far from the Sun. In your horoscope, it is always either in your Sun sign or in one of the two signs immediately preceding or following your Sun sign.
Where Is Your Venus?
To find out what sign Venus was in on the day of your birth, consult the Venus Tables on page 491.
VENUS IN ARIES This position of Venus gives a responsive and impulsive love nature. You are the kind of person who falls in love at first sight and never thinks once before following the dictates of your heart. You are strongly sensual and feel at your most complete when you are emotionally involved with someone. Physical appearance is what first attracts you, but to sustain a love affair you must also find mental compatibility. You are turned off by a sloppy appearance or loud, vulgar behavior. As a Venus-Arien you attract friends because of your demonstrative and enthusiastic attitude. You like to bring unexpected gifts to those you love. People with Venus in Aries are a curious mixture of sentimentality and aggressiveness. Your emotions are easily touched but you are also demanding and somewhat selfish. Others should not expect you to settle down into calm domestic peace; you are too restless and flirtatious, too enamored of amour.
VENUS IN TAURUS As a Venus-in-Taurus person you are affectionate and romantic, but you don’t give your love away too quickly. A bad love affair is hard on you emotionally, so you take your time deciding on the right person to love. This process, however, is done by feeling rather than thinking logically. Yours is a very physical and earthy love nature. To you, love does not exist without sex. You are very demonstrative and generous toward a lover, sometimes too much so. Your passion can be smothering; you have an all-consuming need to make a lover belong to you. With friends, you are willing and ready to help, but you are as cautious about forming instant friendships as about love. This position of Venus brings money luck, sometimes through inheritance or marriage. Venus-in-Taurus people have a keen artistic eye and are interested in music. You also love to eat and have to fight overweight.
The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need Page 29