Exaltation of Mercury

[mikestar13]

Mercury both ruling and exalted in Virgo is a bit of an interpretive puzzle to me. Other exaltation are easy to understand: for example, Capricorn is similar to Mars as well as Saturn, Cancer is anti-Mars as well as well as anti-Saturn. Hypothetically, Virgo should be more (twice?) as Mercury as Gemini, and Pisces more anti-Mercury than Sagittarius. I have not observed this to be true. But if it's not true, Mercury exalted in Virgo is equivalent to Mercury not being exalted at all. Do some more experienced astrologians than I have some insight?

[Jim Eshelman]

As a Virgo (and you know how attentive to details we can be), I've never worried much about it. Gemini is like Mercury. Virgo is like Mercury and, oh, also like Mercury <vbg>. In other words, it's like Mercury. From a dignity perspective, I see the attributes of Gemini and Virgo as the same in this way (though, of course, everyone knows Virgo is better <vbg>).

The real distinction comes in the debilities. Virgo is pointedly non-Neptunian, non-Venereal. (Gemini could never be taken for either of those, being rather a social creature and having no problem with being irrational.) Gemini is pointedly non-Jovian. (Virgo couldn't easily be taken for that, having no real problem with being stodgy and formal.)

My view is that you're over-thinking this. (And remember, I'm a Virgo saying that!)