Don't you think there's some kind of sick sense of humor in the fact that the ancient Roman god of luck was also the god of trickery and thieves? That's right. Congrats on winning the lottery! Prepare to have it all stolen. And this is exactly why Mercury is so fickle and slick. At times, we see Mercury come alive in a beautifully crafted sentence, a conflict resolved, or a trip that's successful. We also see it rear it's devious head in misunderstandings and hotels with bedbugs.
Astrology uses Roman names for planets (such as Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn), but also for some asteroids (Ceres, Juno, and Vesta come to mind). And while not all planets in astrology have their Roman god attribute (Jupiter, for example, is the planet of luck, not Mercury) they can still maintain some. Mercury is the planet of communication and messages, and retains this in myth. This is why some astrology relates to myth, and some myth relates to astrology.
So how is Mercury a trickster in modern astrology? Well, let's take a look back to the very beginning. In Hellenistic astrology, each planet has a sect that they favor. Mercury is the only one who can swing between the two. Perhaps we can better understand this switch through myth itself. Mercury is the god that can easily travel the heavens, earth, and underworld. In fact, Mercury was responsible for guiding souls to the underworld. So Mercury's ease between the two sects can be easily explained through myth.
The unpredictable nature of Mercury can also be seen in one of his myths. Shortly after he was born, he stole some cattle from another god and crafted a lyre from a tortoise shell. When the other god returned to get his cattle, he was so impressed with the lyre that he just let him keep the cattle. Mercury shows us that the pen is mightier than the sword, as he uses cunning and creativity in this story to get out of thievery.
More than that, Mercury also shows us the power of the response. How we respond to situations can tell a lot about us. Responding in the face of crisis is one of the ways we make ourselves. By showing how we handle situations (or in Mercury's case above, get out of them) can say a lot about who we are as a person.
When your words don't reflect your actions, is one example of this. Another is recognizing how Mercury's sweet words can soothe over even the harshest of hearts. In this very real sense, Mercury also shows us something else: how our words have power. It's very true that words and actions go hand in hand, but words have the ability to rile someone up or calm them down.
Let's take our responses, for example. How we respond to someone can make or break a relationship. And in this day and age, response times matter too. We no longer have to wait months for a carrier pigeon to send a letter. Now we get harped on for not responding to a text for two days. How we choose to (or choose not to) respond matters immensely. No one likes to feel ignored. But no one likes to feel bothered, either.
I think what we can learn from this is that the world would be a better place if we just offered people some grace. Mercury is the trickster, but that doesn't mean you have to let words deceive you. After all, what is the bigger cause of misunderstandings than our words? Sometimes we fail to communicate properly. But it would all be solved if we just offered people some grace and understanding in the face of the unknown.
