Welcome to the Tarot Blog Hop! Our wrangler Joanne Sprott of Cosmic Whispers Tarot suggested that we share our take on the influence of the Sun and/or Mercury in the Tarot. In honor of Mercury entering Virgo yesterday afternoon, I have created the Mercury in Virgo Tarot Spread.
PREVIOUS | MASTER LIST | NEXT
Mercury in Virgo Tarot Spread
Yesterday afternoon Mercury, the planet associated with such qualities as wit, communication, and swiftness moved into the sign of Virgo, known for its perfectionism and attention to detail. Mercury is both in its domicile and exaltation in Virgo, making it very much at home there–and very productive. Any projects of a mercurial nature–writing, editing, speaking, sales, data entry, accounting–will be excellent undertakings during the next three weeks while Mercury transits this sign (it moves into the next sign, Libra, on August 28). Virgo provides the focus that Mercury needs to excel, and this transit can offer you a chance to apply these strengths to any current or upcoming projects.
In the tarot, Mercury is the Magician, and Virgo is the Hermit. The contrast between these two cards is rendered starkly in Joseph Ernest Martin’s Quest Tarot, shown here, with the bright, open, center stage Magician contrasted against the shadowy, intently focused, distant Hermit. And yet, both are engaged in a similar working of energetic magic.
The Magician, comfortable in the spotlight, uses his wand to direct the infinite energy of the universe into the particular tools of his trade, while also moving that energy from the outer to inner, bringing it from the vastness of space to the interior space of his throne room, his personal space of authority.
The Hermit on the other hand, out in the wilderness, alone except for animal companions, vulnerable in his nakedness to spiders and other threats, creates a ball of energy from his own hand, which expands until it begins to shoot off sparks in all directions. His power begins within and expands outward.
Together, Mercury in Virgo is expressed in the tarot as the Ten of Pentacles, or here in the Quest Tarot, the Ten of Stones. The exaltation of Mercury is shown by the caduceus at the height of the orbs, higher than the orb of Mercury itself, almost blinded by the rays of the successful sun. The caduceus is the wand of Mercury, symbol of the balanced working of polarities towards a higher goal; it is the symbol of the medical field. The snakes wrapped around the wand in the caduceus is also reminiscent of the biblical story of Moses, often associated with the Hermit, whose staff turned into a snake. The spires of the island castle show the height of attainment possible with the focused productivity of Mercury in Virgo. The rainbow and foregrounded irises (Iris is the goddess of the rainbow), show both the bridge that represents Mercury’s travel between the worlds as well as the static completion of the successful endeavor–not to mention the wealth that is the title of the card.
The Mercury in Virgo tarot spread has three positions, represented by our three cards: The Magician, The Hermit, and the Ten of Stones.
Prep your deck as you normally do for a reading and draw three cards randomly for these three positions. Interpret them in relationship to the cards we discussed earlier and to the positional meanings provided.
Position 1: The Magician/Mercury
The project you are engaged in. What you bring inward from the expanse of the universe.
Position 2: The Hermit/Virgo
The most important details of your project. What you project outward from your own power.
Position 3: The Ten of Stones/Mercury in Virgo
The ultimate success of your project. The highest aspirations of your project which are within reach.
Have fun and abundant success during this Mercury in Virgo transit!
PREVIOUS | MASTER LIST | NEXT
_________________________________________________
About the Author
Joy Vernon has been studying and teaching energetic and esoteric modalities for more than twenty years. She is the organizer of the Denver Tarot Geeks, Denver Tarot Meetup and Denver Traditional Reiki Meetup, and she served on the faculty of Avalon Center for Druidic Studies. She is one of the psychics at Isis Books and has been featured at SpiritWays, the Mercury Café and psychic fairs throughout the Denver Metro and Northern Colorado. She is a Certified Professional Tarot Reader and a member of the American Tarot Association and Tarosophy Tarot Association. Joy also teaches Traditional Japanese Reiki. For information on upcoming classes or to schedule an appointment, please visit JoyVernon.com.
© 2015 by Joy Vernon. All rights reserved.
byby
Pingback: Mid-Summer/Lammas Blog Hop Master List - Cosmic Whispers Tarot
I love this spread, Joy – thanks for sharing.
I’ll definitely try this spread. Thanks for a good idea!
This is a very nice spread. I do like ones where cards frame the questions like this.
Another great spread — thanks so much for sharing! I also love how you compared and contrasted The Magician with The Hermit. That gave me such a new perspective on those cards!
I love this spread, and I can make good use of it at the moment!
Great spread, I’ll be trying this one out 🙂
Neat spread! Thanks 🙂
Great spread! This was a great topic for getting us all thinking, and I love where it took you!
Very interesting interpretations of the Magician and the Hermit. Really like the combination of astrology and tarot, and the spread it inspired 🙂