The Mercury Archetype: The Functions of its Life Cycle

The Mercury Archetype: The Functions of its Life Cycle

Note: In astrology, the combined unique functions of the seven visible planets, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, create a fourfold life cycle. This cycle is comprised of nourishment, production, distribution, and rest. Each of these planets expresses each of these four stages in its respective cycle, setting up a fractal-like pattern reflected in the whole (nature's life cycle) and each part (the life cycle of each planet).

There are three pairs of visible planets that have antithetical functions to one another; Venus and Mercury are one. Mercury's functions include discrimination, wisdom and legacy. Although not apparent on the surface, its functions are antithetical to Venus'. Carnality, passion, and materialism are more of the domain of Venus; whereas, Mercury deals with cerebral, levelheaded, and non-materialist matters. Venus is the passionate hero; Mercury is the wise sage. Both antithetical qualities are needed in nature, for their differences keep nature in harmony. 

Mercury’s exaltation degree (the point at which it becomes manifest) is at 15 degrees of Virgo. Summer is cooling down and fall is a mere two weeks away. Planets get their characteristics from the seasonal environments in which they are born. Late summer, a time of reaping, commerce, reflection, and relaxation, nurtures Mercury at its birth. This season, where we begin to see the results of our actions and reap what we have sown, imbibes Mercury with mercantile savvy (at a time of selling crops), discrimination (and choosing the best of them), understanding, and legacy. It provides Mercury with the qualities we use to transfer resources, power, and legacy to another day, season, and generation. Mercury rises in Virgo, which is the opposite of Venus’ rise in Pisces (the opposite of Virgo). Virgo is also the opposing sign of Venus' manifestation and the reason why these planets are antithetical to one another.

As Mercury nears winter, it comes of age in this range from 15 degrees of Sagittarius to 15 degrees of Pisces. Here, it allows the day, year, and human life to retain what was achieved in order to sustain itself through the coming night, winter and death. Because of Mercury, the next day, year and life can draw from and build on what came before. Mercury thrives most during this quarter of non-productivity with its job of keeping an intact legacy from one productive period to another. At this time, it passes on knowledge and wisdom to future days, years, and generations. Here, we move into the peak period of rest and rejuvenation; the annual harvest is vigorously being distributed; and an elder is about to close out her life while her children start to retire, and her grandchildren begin the peak of their lives, employing her legacy. Mercury sustains nature while Venus sleeps. Without Mercury, we would always be reinventing the wheel and starting from square one. We would never be able to build on past achievements in order to makes larger achievements. There would always be a repeating of mistakes.  Mercury is essential for building on past achievements in order to reach higher achievements. Where Venus ends, Mercury begins. Where Venus creates, Mercury refines. Venus is the carnal and material, where Mercury takes us to the subtle and sublime. 

About two weeks before spring begins, Mercury has completed its production. It is ready to bestow and distribute its harvest, or results, of its productive season through its functions of discrimination, wisdom, and legacy throughout nature. At this time, Venus begins to wake up, and the dawning period of a day, year and life will begin again. This quarter for which Mercury gives its results runs from 15 degrees of Pisces to 15 degrees of Gemini. A huge chunk of this quarter is the beginning of the productive life cycle for a workday, annual growing season, and birth and childhood period of a human. This is when humans wake up with new inspiration based on what came before; start to sow the seeds of last season for a new productive season; and are conceived, born, and nurtured with Mercury’s wisdom of old. 

In the late spring, when Mercury reaches its anti-climax point of death at 15 degrees of Gemini, it has completed its life cycle and is ready to sleep until it will rise again. This quarter spans from 15 degrees of Gemini to 15 degrees of Virgo. Venus, the vessel, has matured to adulthood; it holds the full capacity of consciousness, allowing nature to complete the tasks of the soul's urges. People are ready to realize gains and independence. This is the time of year when a growing season is at its peak and ready to show promise.  In the human lifetime, we are most capable and experiencing the prime of life and all the things the world has to offer while creating and procreating. Mercury rests with its indifference, etherealness, prudence and wisdom while Venus reestablishes desire, carnality, abundance, and foolishness. 

Where Venus’ efforts create nature’s wild passion and vitality, Mercury carries the worthy legacy of Venus' efforts for another productive period. Venus is foolhardy; Mercury is discriminating. Venus is vigorous; Mercury is frail. After Mercury is nourished in the late summer and fall, and productive in the late fall and winter, it distributes its results of discrimination, wisdom, and legacy through the late winter and spring season, so nature can learn from its mistakes and builds on its past achievements for a more intelligent, wise, and refined world. When Mercury rests in the late spring and summer, life is productive, abundant, and free, creating a new world of ideas and products. Late summer then has Mercury rising to be nourished during the collection of life's gains and wisdom to be distributed throughout nature at the beginning of life’s non-productive period in the fall. 

Image source: By user:Tomisti ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons