the-astrology-book

Mercury
Scorpio: Generative organs; nasal bone; bladder; gall; pubic bone;
lower lumbar vertebrae; prostate gland; testicles; colon; rectum
Sagittarius: Hips; thighs; coccygeal vertebrae; sacral region; sciatic nerves
Capricorn: Knees; kneecaps; hair; outer epidermis; various joints of the
body; bones in general
Aquarius: Lower leg, including the calves and ankles; teeth; blood circulation
in general
Pisces: Feet; toes, especially their bones and muscles; matrix; generative
organs; lungs
While there is general agreement on these correspondences, minor variations
are often found from one astrologer to the next. The rectum, for example, which Hall
associates with Scorpio, is more often associated with Virgo. See also: Medical Astrology.
MERCURY
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun with an orbit of 88 days. It is a small planet
only 3,000 miles in diameter. Because of its proximity to the Sun, Mercury can never
be more than 27° away from the Sun in an astrological chart. Therefore Mercury can
only be observed shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, and even then it is difficult
to see.
The name Mercury is from the Latin term Mercurius. In the older Greek he is
known as Hermes. In Mesopotamia he is known as Nabu, the divine scribe of destiny.
In the Vedic culture he is known as “Budha,” meaning “intellect,” as opposed to Buddha,
meaning “enlightened one.” In ancient Europe Mercury is associated with Odin,
the king of the gods.
Of all the planets, Mercury has the most versatile and varied iconography.
Mercury is youthful, clever, and often represented as a trickster. He is called both the
messenger of the gods and the king of thieves. He is a scribe for the fates, the god of
communication, and the god of magic. Because he moves so quickly in the sky and
appears to jump to either side of the Sun, he is sometimes a morning star, and sometimes
an evening star. This visible trait makes Mercury a chameleon, a planet that is
easily influenced by other planets. Mercury is technically neutral in gender although
some cultures portray him as a hermaphrodite, half man and half woman.
In Greek mythology Mercury is known for the amazing feats he performed
immediately after his birth to Zeus and Maia. One version of the story describes how
the newborn discovers a tortoise. He invites the tortoise to join him for a meal followed
by music. The tortoise hesitates but soon falls for Mercury’s wiles. The child god
then kills the tortoise, invents fire to cook the meat, and creates a lyre (harp) out of
the animal’s carapace. Later the same day he steals fifty of Apollo’s cows and sacrifices
two of them. When the theft and the thief are discovered, Mercury offers the lyre to
Apollo in retribution. It is Apollo’s turn to be enchanted by the child, and he gives
him the title king of thieves.
[442] THE ASTROLOGY BOOK