communication will occur or needs to be developed, while the sign position gives
insight into the nature or manner of the communication. Mercury placed in the fifth
house indicates communication that is creative, and may involve or be directed at
children or lovers. Mercury in the tenth house directs communication to achieve
career goals and ambitions, and dealings with people in authority. Mercury placed in
the sign of Taurus provides communication that is fixed, focused, and materially prac-
tical. Mercury placed in the sign of Gemini is versatile, interested in anything, quick
and abstract in communication.
The transits of Mercury are quite fast and thus are not considered very strong.
However, the houses and signs of transiting Mercury can indicate areas that are speed-
ed up and activated. These areas or topics of life may experience more communication
or thought, and in general require more attention.
There is much discussion about the effects of retrograde planets. The planet
Mercury retrogrades on average three times per year, more than any other planet. In
the natal chart a retrograde Mercury indicates an introspective mind where there can
be more interior dialog than exterior. The individual may experience very deep
thoughts, yet have difficulty communicating the depth of their conceptualizations.
According to Vedic astrology retrograde planets are considered stronger because they
are closer to the Sun.
In mundane astrology retrograde Mercury is often thought of as a negative
transit period when there is confusion in communication and decisions will be chal-
lenged or undone. Popular culture believes that when Mercury is retrograde, car keys
are mislaid, computers crash, and letters are lost. It may be more accurate to say that
during these periods people can be distracted due to mental exertion, and this can
lead to various mishaps.
Sources:
Campion, Nicholas, and Steve Eddy. The New Astrology: The Art and Science of the Stars.New
Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1999.
Hamillton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.New York: Signet Classics,
1942.
Hinnells, John R., ed. The Penguin Dictionary of Religions.London: Penguin Books, 1984.
Hornblower, Simon, and Antony Spawforth, eds. The Oxford Classical Dictionary.Oxford, Eng.:
Oxford University Press, 1996. Reprint, 1999.
Mani, Vettam. Puranic Encyclopaedia.Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1964.
Miller, Susan. Planets and Possibilities: Explore the Worlds Beyond Your Sun Sign.New York:
Warner Books, 2001.
Wolkstein, Diane, and Samuel Noah Kramer. Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth, Her Stories
and Hymns from Sumer.New York: Harper and Row, 1983.
—Maire Masco
MERIDIAN
A meridian (from the Latin word for “midday”) is formed by taking a line of longitude
and projecting it outward from Earth onto the celestial sphere. Another way of imag-
ining a meridian is to picture the circle that would be formed by drawing a line con-
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [445]
Meridian