both Gemini and Virgo, this planet also rules writers, salespeople, even magicians. When it shows up in a fiery sign, even shy Sun signs speak with more passion.
Mercury in Aries. Aries is an action sign. With this placement, you can often speak before you think. You can also be more forceful when you talk, and sometimes bossy.
Mercury in Taurus. Taurus is not a chatterbox. Far from it. When Mercury is here, you may have a speaker who talks slowly and who is more deliberate with word choice.
Mercury in Gemini. Mercury rules Gemini, and Gemini is at home with words. This placement can make any sign a strong communicator, and in some cases, too much of one.
Mercury in Cancer. The Crab often works behind the scenes. When Mercury is in this sign, the speaking style is frequently soft-spoken and sometimes manipulative.
Mercury in Leo. The Lion is fond of attention. When Mercury lands there, the communication style will usually be more exuberant.
Mercury in Virgo. Mercury rules Virgo as well as Gemini. Since Virgo is all about details, a Merc-Virgo placement can create a communication style that is full of facts, figures, and sometimes, minutiae.
Mercury in Libra. These speakers are diplomatic and often good negotiators. The communication style is more balanced (some would say wishy-washy), and the speaker will consider (or appear to consider) both sides of an issue.
Mercury in Scorpio. The Scorpion is rooted in the past, and many could live with minimal conversation. Even a chatty Air sign will be more thoughtful and serious with this placement.
Mercury in Sagittarius. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion. When Mercury lands here, it may result in a speaker who is never-ending verbose and nonstop talkative.
Mercury in Capricorn. The hardworking Mountain Goat has no time to mince words. The communication style here will be more matter-of-fact, borderline rude, and could appear cold and unemotional.
Mercury in Aquarius. Aquarius thinks before speaking. And thinks and thinks. When Mercury resides there, the speaking style can be a little (and probably a lot) on the analytical side.
Mercury in Pisces. The Fish slips around instead of through obstacles. You might tend to “think” your great comebacks instead of actually speaking them. You might also talk around a subject without coming to the point.
10
HOW ASSERTIVE ARE YOU? YOU’LL FIND PART OF THE
ANSWER IN YOUR SUN SIGN. FIRE SIGNS (ARIES, LEO,
SAGITTARIUS) ARE THE MOST ASSERTIVE OF ALL. THEY
BLAZE AHEAD WITHOUT GIVING A THOUGHT AS
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO. IF YOU ARE
A FIRE SIGN, LEARN TO THINK FIRST. EARTH SIGNS
(TAURUS, VIRGO, CAPRICORN) ARE MORE DELIBERATE
THAN ASSERTIVE. IN CONFLICT, THEY PUSH AHEAD AT
THEIR OWN PACE. IF YOU ARE AN EARTH SIGN, LEARN
TO LISTEN. AIR SIGNS (GEMINI, LIBRA, AQUARIUS)
TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE AGGRESSIVE, BUT THEIR
POWER IS IN WORDS AS OFTEN AS ACTION. IF YOU ARE
AN AIR SIGN, LEARN TO NOT JUST TALK BUT ACT.
THOSE CONFLICT-AVOIDING WATER SIGNS (CANCER,
SCORPIO, PISCES) CAN BE THE MOST PASSIVE-
AGGRESSIVE OF ALL. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SIMMER
SILENTLY, THEN TAKE OUT THEIR ANGER BY PUNISH-
ING THEMSELVES. IF YOU ARE A WATER SIGN, LEARN
TO SPEAK OUT.
—Fearless Astrology
All week, my emotions twisted and turned. Jeremy might be trying to get in contact with me. Sure, my dad and I had a land line at home, but my cell was the number I gave everyone. It was the way Jeremy and I had once connected. The way we might connect again now that it was Thursday, and I had my cell back. There were no messages from him, but four from Stacy.
They were all identical. “Call me when you can.”
I tried to reach her Thursday night but got no answer. Worse, I’d be leaving too early the next day for me to return the call. I hoped it was not important.
Friday was a teacher in-service, so Chili offered to drive me to San Fran. Stella, her mom,
Maria Hudgins
Antwan Floyd Sr.
Katherine Applegate
Kathleen R. Boston
Jonathan Stroud
Alyson Santos
Jessica Coulter Smith
Claude Lalumiere
Peter James West
W.R. Kimble