Budha

Mercury is the messenger of the gods. The swift one. In Sanskrit, the name is “Budha” (pronounced “bhood”), which gives us a much better insight into what this planet represents. Budha comes from the root “Budh” and “Budhi” which is the intellect ~ the intelligence of the mind and the “meaning creator” of the mind. Buddha is the “awakened one”, but who awakens? The seer.

From the Vedic teachings we learn that consciousness has different aspects such as pragya, which is awareness, and the mind also has different aspects to it, including memory, intellect and emotion. Everything is ultimately located in consciousness, including “unconscious” only without awareness. The mind gives attention to things in awareness, which allows it to know things and the intellect gives meaning to what it observes.

Budha is our ability to know, observe, create meaning, to communicate, to absorb knowledge and our intuition. Of all the planets, Mercury is “the prince” and is the youngest. It is also one of the most sensitive, along with the Moon.

Mercury is a planet of duality. As the closest planet to the Sun, one might assume it is the hottest planet, but Venus is actually the hottest planet. Mercury has no atmosphere and so the heat does not get trapped; therefore, the side that is not facing the Sun is frozen and the half that is facing the Sun is very hot. It is the fastest moving planet around the Sun, taking only 88 days aprox to go around the Sun, but one day on Mercury is around 170 Earth days.

In Jyotish, Mercury is known as the child of the Moon, because Moon represents our psychological state, feelings and manas (what we absorb / memory) of the mind and Mercury is the intellect of the mind. Budhi is born out of manas; therefore, if we are exposed to incorrect and chaotic information, our intellect suffers. Manas informs budhi. This is one of the reasons why from the yogic perspective, healing must always be holistic in nature ~ everything is connected.

Humanity is the only species on Earth that commits the crimes of the intellect. We consistently create conflicts of ideology, belief, faith and thought. Wars are fought over a belief. People dislike each other because of different beliefs and ideas so we see how this great gift of budhi to decipher and create meaning, can also be a curse if the state of consciousness is not elevated to expand beyond narrow parameters and social conditioning.

Mercury is located at the Vishuddha chakra, which is of course the chakra of communication, the voice, our truth and expression. Vishuddha means the “purification of poison”. From the Vedic perspective, poison is ignorance and incorrect knowledge. This is why Mercury is also exalted at the throat chakra when knowledge is corrected and budhi turns to buddha. Mercury is debilitated in Pisces at the second chakra where it can become lost in emotion and desire.

The Ishta associated with Budha is Saraswati ~ the Divine Devi of wisdom and her name means “the effortless, luminous flow of Divine Intelligence”. She is the giver of Veda. Saraswati sits at the junction point between the boundless, infinite knowledge and the known. The field of the Veda is the potential of Divine knowledge, which we access initially through the highest states of intellect. Then knowledge becomes the driver of evolution in awareness and guides us into profound experiences where knowledge, that was conceptual becomes wisdom through experience.

Mercury becomes our ability to absorb, communicate and share knowledge. Budha becomes the word as a creative tool. Our stories create life as we know it. The internet is a modern example of Mercury as it is a tool of communication and a sophisticated technology. Mercury is also represented by technology and transportation. The Dwarpara Yuga (that we are currently in) is the age of information and technology and it is Mercury. How we use the intellect to manage this time in our history is of utmost importance for humanity and all life.

Whereas Divine knowledge is Mercury on a higher level, conceptual knowledge is also Mercury on a lower level. Someone who memorizes a lot of information may appear to be knowledgeable, but ultimately that information sits at a purely conceptual level. So places of academia are also places of Mercury, but from the yogic perspective do not generally represent an integrated depth to that knowledge and so it remains ignorance. In other words, no wisdom is there. This allows us to see different perspectives of Mercury and how technology is not the problem, but the consciousness at the helm of it, is crucial.

Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo in the zodiac. Just like Mercury, they are two of the most sensitive signs. On the higher level this is the ability to physically sense the subtle realms, but generally requires strengthening for they can be easily affected by energies. Physiologically, Gemini and Virgo are also more sensitive than the other signs. Vata imbalances are common.

Gemini tends to be the more quick-thinking of the signs and Virgo is the more grounded of the two, comparatively speaking. Generally Gemini and Virgo on the ascendant will be a thinner, leaner, often taller frame and very youthful in appearance throughout life. Mercury represents the nervous system and respiratory health. In the giving of upayas (remedies) during a Jyotish reading, it is very common to give tools for strengthening Mercury to support our mental health.

Mercury is a gentle planet. The triangle is a symbol for Mercury because it is vital to focus and support the intellect for correct understanding ~ awareness, attention, intellect. The triangle represents the intimate relationship of cultivating one’s attention and awareness for optimal intelligence; therefore, meditation is so important for Mercury and mental health. Especially now, in the age of information and technology where everyone is so easily distracted, it is vital that we tune in and strengthen our minds.

Chess is a perfect example of a Mercurial game, whereas boxing is more representative of a Mars game. People with a lot Mercury will tend to be intellectually focused in their endeavours, whether in commerce, technology, communication, writing, psychology or research, they will use their minds intensely. If this becomes imbalanced, with “too much thinking”, it results in too much energy moving upward in the body leading to headaches, migraines, anxiety etc.. Mercury is a gift, the intellect is Divine Grace, but as with all things, it must be kept in balance with the physical and the spiritual.

Mercury and Venus are great allies and when we find them conjunct in a chart, they strengthen each other. Mercury maha dasha is 17 years and follows Saturn dasha, which again speaks to the Divine design of the cosmos and solar system.

Mercury is connected to our adaptability, innocence, wisdom and sense of humour. The wiser you get the more innocent you are and the funnier life gets! Humour keeps our intellect alive and sharp. Mercury is youthful and in its wisdom, likes to have fun so a well-balanced Budh will present in a light-heartedness and jovial nature. Clarity of intention and lightness of being helps everyone to live life with greater freedom and joy.

Understanding the role of Mercury in one’s natal astrological chart can offer great insight into one’s mind, how one communicates and can often guide a person in finding fulfilling work. A strong Mercury gives one incredible skills of analyses but can also lead to over-thinking so having your chart read can often really help to find a clear path through the clutter of the mind, and… it’s a lot of fun!