posted August 16, 2016 01:21 PM            

I gave my opinion on another thread that I think it's exalted (translated: it's just my subjective favorite, sometimes) in Pisces.

But Electro is really smart!!!

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Originally posted by Gemini Blues:
In the broader view, humanity needs both kinds of people.

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posted August 16, 2016 04:47 PM            

I guess, my note to my aqua mercury is to list things down first before getting on my phone and type in whatever comes to mind

My personal viewpoint is that exaltation means a planet functions very well in a sign that it does not rule. This means to me that such planet's energy is not natural in this sign (since it does not rule it) but the sign's energy forces it to work well or have the potential to work well. And potentiality is all astrology is - or is how we see the "lower octave" and "higher octave" of certain behaviorial tendencies.

Exalted planets and astrology in my views do not have straightforward rules as in if a happens then b must follow.

So analysis on modality and element is going to be more intuitive than linear. Hence venus rules cardinal air (Libra) and fixed earth (Taurus) but is exalted in mutable water (pisces). Saturn rules fixed air (aqua) and cardinal earth (capricorn) but is exalted in cardinal air (Libra). There's almost no rule here.

My point here is that if exaltation usually implies that the planet does not rule the sign.

Now, Aquarius has two rulers - saturn and uranus. So Saturn really gives aquarius mercury the ability to be very disciplined in their thoughts when they are forced to. Mercury is not at home in aquarius precisely for the reasons you listed out in your first post, Electro. However, it is exalted there because Aqua mercury can move beyond the ego and get down to the details in a scientific manner. Uranus allows this mercury to take notes of strange details and trends that nobody else notices and saturn makes it a great researcher. In fact Aqua mercury is very common among researchers and scientists.

Of course, we are never gonna settle who is "right". Every mercury has its strength and weaknesses. A mercury in virgo is at home there because similar to mercury in gemini, it sees things in facts, it adapts to facts and can take jokes very well.
These are the qualities that I believe pertain to a mercurial person.

posted August 18, 2016 07:58 AM            

My Mercury in Pisces is definitely not able to perform tasks to the same calibre. Mercury in Virgo ends up too judgmental to be at its best. Detailed analysis is one thing but Aquarius is where Mercury transcends the facts to develop genius ideas.

if Aquarius Mercury is arrogant it is usually because it is wasted on most people!

posted August 18, 2016 09:23 AM            

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Originally posted by theunknown:
However, it is exalted there because Aqua mercury can move beyond the ego and get down to the details in a scientific manner. Uranus allows this mercury to take notes of strange details and trends that nobody else notices and saturn makes it a great researcher. In fact Aqua mercury is very common among researchers and scientists.

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That makes sense, but there is a risk factor for delusion with Aquarius Mercury, where one mistakes their eccentric or cruel ideas for "genius." Like Bobby Fischer (ever listen to his rants?), Dick Cheney, Anders Breivik, Rasputin, Sarah Palin....on a lesser note, Justin Bieber.

Interestingly if you look at celebrities with Mercury in Virgo, you find outspoken, controversial people there, too. But there is more of a humanitarian trend.

Some Mercury in Virgo standouts:
Mother Teresa, Abbé Pierre, Alicia Silverstone (animal rights), Prince Harry, Sting, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Matthew Perry....these last five are heavily involved in charity work, I know.

Mercury in Aquarius is better at groundbreaking, revolutionizing, taking a stand. Prominent Aqua Mercury celebrities:
George Washington, Bejamin Franklin, FDR, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Frederick the Great, Mikhail Gorbachev, Thomas Edison,
Mozart, Schubert, Handel, Chopin, Michael Jordon, Stephen Curry, Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Mikhail Baryshnikov, John McEnroe, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Enzo Ferrari

Lots of other musicians and authors I'm too lazy to name right now.

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Back to the main point, in the first few pages of this Virgo Mercury celebrities list... http://www.astrotheme.com/celebrities/mercury/virgo/1.htm

...I'm not finding any intellectuals besides Tolstoy (and, arguably, Madame Blavatsky). Whereas, on the Mercury in Aquarius list, famous thinkers come up early and often: http://www.astrotheme.com/celebrities/mercury/aquarius/1.htm

posted August 18, 2016 12:02 PM            

Thanks for the compliments Faith!! It makes me happy that you think that. Often I don't feel as smart as others give me credit for thanks to Mercury-Saturn square (I hate this aspect so much). I do put a lot of time into astrology as it is though.

I can understand why many people would say that Mercury is exalted in Aquarius. The question I have now is why it would be considered in its fall in Leo? That is what I want to know.

I could list out many possibilities as to why, but I'm at school typing this out on my phone. Trying to not get arthritis here lol.

posted August 18, 2016 11:56 PM            

You always bring up great points. I don't have a counter-argument here. I guess where you differ from me is that you believe Exaltation means the best potentiality for a planet?

The celebrity list is interesting. I often find that planets in its home do not always yield the best (as in most powerful) list. It has something to do with the fact that the most talented among us tend to be the ones who do not fit in the normal molds of things.

posted August 19, 2016 12:50 AM              

What I mean is, though you may/may not find revolutionaries or radical thinkers with this mercury - you will find a lot of naturally smart people.

Aqua mercury can lend itself to eccentricity no doubt - but it's largely in the hands of the native whether it's way off base, thus eccentric for its own sake - or, that eccentricity combines with a genuinely great idea and produces gold. This, makes the people with high IQs bestowed with Aqua mercury - destined to stand out w.r.to their way of thinking, the very brilliance of it. But, (no offense), if it falls in to the wrong hands, so to speak - such as a not-so-smart person with an Aqua merc. It can be all zing and not much substance. This can actually happen to any other mercury too. Water mercuries run the risk of being too emotionally invested and biased in their perceptions, if there's no base of intellect to go on. Etc.

However, with Virgo mercury - I *think*, and this is only my opinion here, based on the people I've seen/observed - simply having a Virgo mercury gives a very natural mental clarity and intelligence. Almost like Virgo mercury itself comes equipped with default IQ points. So, even if you start at zero - but God gave you a Virgo mercury - congratulations! You won't fumble and struggle your way through most mental processes, unlike other people.

Also - they have a wicked sense of humour. (Matthew Perry, Blake Lively).

So, yeah..a highly intelligent person with Aqua mercury, can spin it into something far more sparkly & spectacular than a Virgo mercury might seem. But Virgo mercury on its own is unmatched for sheer mental competence in whatever they do.

ETA: Exaltation, among other things - also means, to me (- see, so subjective, us damn water mercuries), that a planet in it's exaltation should function as the best version of that planet, wherever it's placed. i.e. You should be able to trust that that planet will do it's job, no matter who's chart you put it in. Like, I throw a Virgo mercury in an otherwise highly watery/subjective chart - it *will* still function to make their mental processes logical and alert, to some extent at least. Put a Cap mars in an otherwise lazy chart, and you'll have a native with an inner drive to accomplish something - even though it may go against the grain of the rest of his nature. (That's too simplistic, of course..just illustrating).

posted August 19, 2016 08:56 AM            

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Originally posted by Electro DGX:
Often I don't feel as smart as others give me credit for thanks to Mercury-Saturn square (I hate this aspect so much).

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Same here, well I have the opposition, but I'm my own worst critic, I think. (One never knows...there might be some really dissatisfied readers out there right now!)

VenusDeSirius, who is one of the more capable astrologers to ever grace this site, she once talked about how the smartest people she knew all had the HARD aspect between Mercury and Saturn.

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Originally posted by Electro DGX:
I can understand why many people would say that Mercury is exalted in Aquarius. The question I have now is why it would be considered in its fall in Leo? That is what I want to know.

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Depending on the confidence level of the whole individual with this placement of Mercury, a stubbornness in the face of criticism or over-sensitivity to anything less than praise is present. Whatever the reaction, Mercury in Leo natives can be mentally arrogant. Mercury, by nature, is detached and reasonable. In Leo, however, the ego comes into play very strongly when it comes to intellectual analysis. With intellect and ego so closely tied, the ability to separate fact from fiction can be impaired. In some, boasting may be a problem. Probably the best way to handle this position is to find self-expression in some creative field. Mercury in Leo natives can be magnificent story-tellers, for example, mainly because they have such a wonderful sense of drama. They speak and write with heart.

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posted August 19, 2016 09:11 AM            

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Originally posted by theunknown:
I guess where you differ from me is that you believe Exaltation means the best potentiality for a planet?

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Yeah I guess so. The word "exalted" seems to connote that. What is your belief, exactly?

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Originally posted by theunknown:
The celebrity list is interesting. I often find that planets in its home do not always yield the best (as in most powerful) list. It has something to do with the fact that the most talented among us tend to be the ones who do not fit in the normal molds of things.

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Exactly right. It's easier to integrate into a system successfully when you are not internally bombarded with ideas about how to revolutionize or destroy and rebuild the system for progress' sake.

You know MENSA as a group has an exceptionally high unemployment rate?

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Originally posted by theunknown:
But I need more time to think about everything that you've written here and do some research on my own first and maybe come back here in a month

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LOL, did I write THAT much?

My question is, in what way does Virgo Mercury demonstrate its exaltation?

What does Mercury exaltation consist of, in other words?

I wrote a long list of my Virgo Mercury husband's mental capabilities and talents, but I erased it, as I felt it was too revealing.

If I'm going to use him as an example (to make this easy for you...I can just do your work ):

- Has a great deal of procedural intelligence. He writes up a step-by-step directions list for every major task and then consults the list as he accomplishes everything in its proper order.

- Has a great inner warehouse of information at his disposal about a great many topics.

- Understands his own limitations and does not attempt things outside of his current state of preparedness. If anything, he will over-educate himself and over-train before attempting something new. These habits have enabled him to be a "master of all trades" type of person.

posted August 19, 2016 09:35 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Elysia:
So, yeah..a highly intelligent person with Aqua mercury, can spin it into something far more sparkly & spectacular than a Virgo mercury might seem. But Virgo mercury on its own is unmatched for sheer mental competence in whatever they do.

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I like this.

Though Virgo Mercury probably has just as many flunkies as Aqua Mercury? Virgo Mercury can go in a downward spiral of focusing too much on all those little details, while the grand scheme of things eludes them.

Not talking about YOU, dear.

But my husband, for all his genius, does that sometimes. Nitpicks a minor issue to death as life passes by, escaping his notice.

quote:

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Originally posted by Elysia:
ETA: Exaltation, among other things - also means, to me (- see, so subjective, us damn water mercuries), that a planet in it's exaltation should function as the best version of that planet, wherever it's placed. i.e. You should be able to trust that that planet will do it's job, no matter who's chart you put it in. Like, I throw a Virgo mercury in an otherwise highly watery/subjective chart - it *will* still function to make their mental processes logical and alert, to some extent at least. Put a Cap mars in an otherwise lazy chart, and you'll have a native with an inner drive to accomplish something - even though it may go against the grain of the rest of his nature. (That's too simplistic, of course..just illustrating).

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Great points. The Virgo Mercury people are cheering in the bleachers. Oh wait, Virgo doesn't cheer. It waves a little white flag and smiles demurely.

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Originally posted by Elysia:
Also, if the exalted planet is sorely afflicted in the chart, it may take some work before tapping into the full potential of it. Continuous work over a lifetime for its upkeep too, perhaps. But the gift is there, and it will triumph. Your exalted planet is your superpower - yours to use (or misuse) as you like. Or like a vitamin tablet. Vitamin E (efficiency) - double dose of Cap mars after dinner everyday. Should work.

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This is such an elegant theory, but because people do tend to fall so much over the course of a lifetime, it's hard to focus on any prevailing strength and then pinpoint its source.

I know some Jupiter in Cancer people whose sensitivity is their strength. For others it appears to be their downfall.

My mother's Capricorn Mars was a strength, but a downfall when she was overkill-aggressive. She said and did things that set her up for future problems. Yes, she could handle the future problems. But it sapped her strength to be constantly engaged on a Cap Mars battlefield of her own creation, especially since her Mars was trine Neptune, and she could easily convince herself it was the other person's fault.

Anyway...

posted August 19, 2016 09:47 AM            

24 Virgo Mercury
24 Aries Uranus

Best of both worlds.

posted August 19, 2016 09:50 AM            

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Originally posted by waxlobster:
And sorry Saturn has nothing to do with Aquarius, the ancients only had what they had to work with.....and they also thought the earth was flat ;-)

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posted August 19, 2016 09:56 AM              

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Originally posted by Faith:
At the moment:

24 Virgo Mercury
24 Aries Uranus

Best of both worlds.

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posted August 19, 2016 09:57 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by AscTaurus:
This was scrumptious to read from all angles. Really . And as a Libra Mars, i will sit on this pretty little fence and not budge in any conclusive direction.

Now on that note, how about we all go out for some beer or wine.. No sweat, i will put it on my tab

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Thank you

I'm thinking of the bar scenes in Star Wars where the humans mingle with aliens. Virgo Mercuries are humans.

posted August 19, 2016 09:58 AM            

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Originally posted by Elysia:
I thought you knew my Mercury.

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I did!!! I forgot!!!!

Sorry

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Originally posted by Elysia:
Haha, though if I was one and writing all that - gosh, too much self-promotion.

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posted August 19, 2016 09:59 AM              

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Originally posted by Faith:
Thank you

I'm thinking of the bar scenes in Star Wars where the humans mingle with aliens. Virgo Mercuries are humans.

Aqua Mercury --->

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posted August 19, 2016 10:04 AM            

edit

I was thinking of this other Virgo versus Aqua thread where Virgo "won" again:

http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/Forum24/HTML/224991-3.html

posted August 19, 2016 07:14 PM              

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Originally posted by Faith:
I did!!! I forgot!!!!

Sorry

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It's okay!
What all did you edit out, huh?
My mercury wants to know.

Anyway, I might just love Virgo mercuries çoz my Venus is in Virgo (?)

Why does mercury's exaltation have to be "genius"? Can geniuses be labelled as easy to communicate with? Or necessarily even well functional in day-to-day life? It's a great talent to have, sure. But is that the be-all and end-all of Mercury's purpose? The humbler duties of mercury go much neglected, I believe. Why can't perfection in non-glamorous talents earn the title of "exaltation"?

What you say is right, they do over-prepare and are almost never willing to "wing it". And cautious about stepping outside their comfort zone (that goes for Virgo anything). But that is what makes them so near-fool-proof. They do their homework. And they're alert. Mercuries like mine can develop tunnel vision when obsessed with that one problem that won't go away, or that one mystery that eludes us. Virgo & Gem mercuries are both alert that way. Virgo can get bogged down in the details, but they'll never let you be blindsided (if they're guiding you about something). They'll also not slack off in communication and let ego and other problems get in the way. Which other mercuries are apt to do.

It's their great in-built communication etiquette that really gets me, I guess. Other mercuries can forget or refuse or not care enough to respond, or even keep up a dialogue - let alone initiate. Virgo mercuries never leave me hanging and are always reliable. They won't leave something important out. They truly listen, don't space out when someone talks. They know how to break the ice.

Basically, I respect both their intellect and intentions. So what if they seem to not be as intuitive as water ones, or have strokes of genius like air mercuries? Those are just fancy add-ons to the real deal. And if their friends (us other mercuries), introduce these things to them, they adapt and expand their view pretty quickly (mutable).

posted August 20, 2016 06:35 PM            

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Originally posted by Elysia:
Why does mercury's exaltation have to be "genius"?

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Oh I didn't mean to imply that. My husband is a genius in my opinion...

*edit: maybe not a literal genius but pretty incredible

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Originally posted by Elysia:
Can geniuses be labelled as easy to communicate with? Or necessarily even well functional in day-to-day life? It's a great talent to have, sure. But is that the be-all and end-all of Mercury's purpose? The humbler duties of mercury go much neglected, I believe. Why can't perfection in non-glamorous talents earn the title of "exaltation"?

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I like how you think.

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Originally posted by Elysia:
What you say is right, they do over-prepare and are almost never willing to "wing it". And cautious about stepping outside their comfort zone (that goes for Virgo anything). But that is what makes them so near-fool-proof. They do their homework. And they're alert.

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Yup

It helps if Virgo Mercury is in the 12H or aspecting Neptune or Pisces planets though. Otherwise there may be a tendency towards narrow-mindedness, ie, "I can only believe in what is tangible, conventional, and what I am capable of managing." The blinders are not becoming on a planet such as Mercury. The point is not to be a big fish in a little pond, you know?

quote:

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Originally posted by Elysia:
Virgo can get bogged down in the details, but they'll never let you be blindsided (if they're guiding you about something). They'll also not slack off in communication and let ego and other problems get in the way. Which other mercuries are apt to do.

It's their great in-built communication etiquette that really gets me, I guess. Other mercuries can forget or refuse or not care enough to respond, or even keep up a dialogue - let alone initiate. Virgo mercuries never leave me hanging and are always reliable. They won't leave something important out. They truly listen, don't space out when someone talks. They know how to break the ice.

Basically, I respect both their intellect and intentions. So what if they seem to not be as intuitive as water ones, or have strokes of genius like air mercuries? Those are just fancy add-ons to the real deal. And if their friends (us other mercuries), introduce these things to them, they adapt and expand their view pretty quickly (mutable).

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