In this column I have been explaining how each planet in the solar system affects an aspect of our personality (the Sun and Moon are included as planets).

So far I have covered the Sun (public self) and the Moon (private self). This week is Mercury’s turn, the planet closest to the Sun.

Mercury is the planet of communication and exchanges. This planet rules over a person’s intellectual capacity, thought process, comprehension and learning abilities. Whatever sign your Mercury resides in will indicate how you carry out intellectual activities.

My Mercury is in Capricorn, so I communicate in a deep, practical and slow moving manner as I take time to process all my options. Learn your Mercury sign on astrotheme.com by creating a birth chart. You just need to know your time, date and location of birth. Knowing this will help clarify the strengths and challenges you display when communicating, to help make it easier for you.

Something I have failed to mention in previous columns is that each planet rules over a sign in the zodiac. Your Sun sign has a strong influence over you, so the planet that rules your Sun sign is also important to know.

The Sun (central to our universe) rules Leo, the Moon (planet of emotions) rules Cancer. Mercury is a special planet as it is the ruler of two signs: Gemini and Virgo. However, Gemini represents the “masculine” aspects of communication, with a stronger intellectual focus, and Virgo the “feminine” traits, holding a stronger relational focus.

Mercury favours reasoning and logic over feelings and emotions. This planet is of a nervous nature but it is also very witty and intelligent.  It represents siblings, friendships, merchants and thieves. The importance of Mercury peaks during adolescence, a time when schooling starts and friendships are built. Adolescence is the birth of a person’s intellectual curiosity.

I encourage you to go online and research more your specific Mercury sign in more depth. We as a human species cannot progress without the effective communication of ideas. Understanding where your strengths are will give you the confidence to use those abilities more freely – while knowing your weaknesses can allow you to work harder at improving those areas.

Astrology, to me, is so interesting because it is a constant discovery of information. Each time I research astrology I gain a new understanding of myself, and the people around me. So use the intellectual skill Mercury has provided you with to analyze your Mercury sign with me!