Mercury

The Planets: Mercury

Mercury is the closest and densest planet in the solar system to the Sun. Its interior is composed of a huge iron core. This is thought to be partially molten, and acts like a dynamo generating Mercury's weak magnetic field.

In Roman mythology Mercury was the god of trade and profit, merchants and travelers. The god Mercury with his winged feet is known as the messenger of the gods; he symbolizes contact, communication, any transportation, flow, swiftness, playfulness and flexibility.

The Planets: Mercury

Mercury, is the natural ruling planet of the astrological signs Virgo and Gemini, deals with our intellectual capabilities, how we sort, collect, classify and interpret information, it also deals with all forms of communications.

The Ancients and modern astrologers, consider Mercury to be neutral, it is neither masculine nor feminine, positive nor negative, it takes on the qualities of whatever it aspects it comes in contact with. As the ruler of Gemini and Virgo, Mercury is clever, facile, adaptable, and represents the mind, intellect, education, writing and other forms of communication, transportation, short trips, siblings, and the immediate environment.

In magickal workings and rituals, the ruling aspects of the planet Mercury are business, buying and selling, cleverness, communication, contracts, creativity, information, intellect, memory, perception, science, wisdom, writing. Mercury in its negative aspects is the root of dishonesty, deception.

Mercury is associated with the element of Air, the day Wednesday, the colour Orange, the gemstones Opal, Moss Agate, Aventurine, Sodalite, and Flourite. Of the herbs associated with Mercury, the following are most common correspondences, Almond, Anise, Clover, Dandelion, Dill, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemongrass, Lilac, Mace, Peppermint, Rosemary, Vervain.

The table of Mercury is a Eight square, containing 64 numbers each adding in any direction, to 250 with its sum being 2080.

Astronomical data:

Mean distance from Sun: 0.39 AU; 57,910,000 km
Diameter: 4,878 km
Equatorial radius 2,439.7 km
Mass: 0.0558 Earth-mass
Density: 5.4 grams per cubic centimeter
Surface temperature: 800 F to -360 F
Mean surface temperature. . . 179°C
Maximum surface temperature. . . 427°C r> Minimum surface temperature. . . -173°C Atmospheric composition: Helium 42%, Sodium 42%, Oxygen 15%, Other 1%
Orbital period: 87.969 days
Length of mercurian year: 0.2408 Earth-years (87.9 Earth-days)
Length of mercurian day: 58.6462 Earth-days
Mean orbital velocity: 47.89 km/s
Rotational period: 58.6462
Tilt of axis: 0.00°