Mercury is a fascinating planet for sure! In this article we’ll analyze how Mercury expresses itself in the third house.
This placement is very special: Mercury in third house is in its own house. The third house in the chart wheel is traditionally associated with the Gemini. And Mercury is the ruling planet of the Twins, thus this position feels very familiar to it. Mercury is strengthened when it’s placed in the third house in astrology.
This house is often referred to as the house of communication and learning.
A natal Mercury in third house loves to connect, to observe, and to share their conclusions. This placement tells that you are a very intelligent person who has a sharp tongue and has a way with words.
Keep reading to learn more about what a natal Mercury in third house means in astrology!
Mercury in Astrology: the Rational Mind
Mercury is the planet of reasoning. It represents the conscious mind, your logical and analytical side and thinking processes in general. How you learn, how you gather and process information are all described by Mercury in the natal chart. It also shows your learning style and how you learn the best.
Mercury is the smallest and quickest planet in the Solar System. People who have a prominent Mercury in their charts are quick, agile and volatile. Mercury is the trickster in astrology, it represents fun and humor, but on the negative side, thieves and fraud, too.
The other role of Mercury is communication. It enables you to share what’s on your mind, both through spoken words and writing. Mercury governs all things related to communication: books, letters, telephone, reading, writing and the list goes on. When you communicate, you use your Mercury.
Mercury rules two zodiac signs. Both Gemini and Virgo are ruled by this planet. Gemini is associated with the third house, while Virgo is the natural sign of the sixth house.
If you want to understand Mercury better, we recommend that you take a look at this article about the meaning of Mercury in astrology.
The Third House in the Natal Chart
As mentioned before, the third house is traditionally connected with Gemini. They have a lot in common.
Gemini is all about gathering and sharing information. People who have it strong in their charts are versatile, smart, curious, have a way with words and their brain is running all the time. The negative expression of Gemini is being superficial and a lack of follow through. Gemini is about the concrete mind in astrology.
The third house represents similar matters. This house is associated with the following life areas:
- learning
- primary education
- communication
- transportation
- skills
- your immediate surroundings
- people who live near you: neighbors, acquaintances, peers and relatives.
This house is the most active through childhood, when you discover the world and ask questions all the time. You want to learn more about the way the world works. People with an emphasized third house never stop learning and being curious.
If there are several planets in this house (or a very important one, like the Sun), you love to share what’s on your mind. The third house is the house of communication and connecting with others. This house is often emphasized in the natal chart of writers, journalists, teachers or people of professions that require a lot of communication.
If you want to know more about this house, click here for an article that covers the third house in astrology.
Now that you know what Mercury and the third house represent, comes the fun part:
…actually interpreting Mercury in the third house!
A Quick Note About the Sign of Mercury
It’s important to note that the sign of Mercury influences how this planet will manifest to a great extent.
A Mercury in Scorpio shows strong research skills in addition to the literary talents and an investigative mind. A Taurus Mercury is more focused on the here and now, on making practical results instead of abstract theories.
You always have to take into account the sign of the planets.
The aspects Mercury receives also color how it will express itself. For example, Mercury square Saturn has a harder time expressing itself than a Mercury trine Jupiter.
A Mercury that receives a tine from Pluto shows a deep mind, while a quincunx from Uranus makes it hard to concentrate for a long time and requires adjustments. (Even though Mercury in aspect with Uranus shows an extremely intelligent person.)
Natal Mercury in Third House
Mercury in the third house is in accidental dignity. It operates well here, since this is its natural house and it’s free to use all the resources.
If you have your natal Mercury in the third house, you are a very smart person. You are highly intelligent, especially in terms of mathematical-logical intelligence. Mercury shows your analytical thinking and logical reasoning. When placed in the third house, it gifts you with an outstanding talent in mathematics, science or literature.
This placement suggests that you have a wide range of interests. You are very curious, and you are often interested in some unusual fields. A Mercury here is vivid and it’s gathering data all the time. It’s somewhat similar to a Mercury in Gemini. You notice all the little details, what makes you a very good storyteller. You know what makes a story or character realistic.
Mercury in the third house people are in love with the written word. They can be frequently seen with a book in their hands―the word bookworm describes this placement perfectly.
This placement is a strong indicator of literary talent. A person with Mercury here often taught themselves to read and write early in childhood, before even they went to school. They haven’t stopped doing these activities ever since!
Mercury in the third house is a frequent placement in the charts of people whose profession includes writing. They are not necessarily writers in the traditional sense of the word, but still, sharing what’s on their mind plays a big role in their lives.
Mercury in Third House―Superb Communication Skills
Communication is another strong point of a natal Mercury in third house. The planet of communication in the house of communication―sounds good, right?
A person with this placement loves to chat with everyone. If Mercury is not afflicted, they easily make friends. The third house is the house of acquaintances, neighbors, people who you meet on a daily basis. You always know what happened to who and all the latest news. Mercury in the third house can show someone who loves to gossip!
Mercury in third house is usually very talkative. They enjoy socializing, and they are good at networking. This placement suggests that you know a lot of people from your circles. You liked being around others through your childhood, and with Mercury here, your parents encouraged you to make friends, too.
Mercury in Third House and Gathering Information
However, Mercury in third house people are easily overwhelmed and they can be quite nervous. They tend to consume too much information, which leads to an oversaturated mind. It’s important to give your brain a break every now and then. Meditation can be very beneficial, and it also helps you concentrate better. This placement can indicate a short attention span, especially if Gemini or other air signs are involved.
Pursuing a career in a field where you have to be constantly on the go is a wise decision because of your restless mind, too. This way, you can channel your insatiable hunger for information into tangible results.
Teaching can also suit you. The third house governs elementary education, so you could do well as a teacher, especially if the fifth house is involved.
Another very good trait Mercury in third house gives you is the ability to make quick decisions (except if Libra is also part of the story).