Planetary Gemstones of Mercury

[A drop of liquid mercury on cinnabar.]

PLANETARY GEMSTONE OF MERCURY

Although mostly forgotten today, there are ancient connections between astrology and the mineral kingdom. The 20^th century lists of birthstones echo a much older belief that each planet and zodiac sign had stones associated with it, used to counter balance difficult astrological aspects or maximize beneficial ones. Confusingly these listings vary but do follow a simple rule: each material has a symbolic connection with the planet and therefore can serve as a vehicle for its energy.

THE IMMORTAL POISON

As the name suggests, the metal traditionally associated with Mercury is mercury. It is the only common metal liquid at room temperature. Also known as quicksilver, from the Latin argentum vivum (“living silver”), because it moves on its own like a living creature. It is gunmetal gray, heavy, and uniquely drawn to itself, rolling into little drops. Its chemical symbol Hg comes from its Latin name hydragyrum (“water silver”).

Mercury has a strong attraction to sulfur. The native metal is rare, since it usually combines with sulfur to form the compound cinnabar (HgS), sometimes known as “dragon's blood”.  (Also the name of a fragrant red resin, produced from several tree species.  There can be confusion in historical sources if the plant or the mineral is being referenced.)  Cinnabar is red, powdered to produce the pigment vermillion, a symbol of life giving blood. The mineral's combination of sulfur (hot, solar) and mercury (cold, lunar) represents the union of male and female energies in many spiritual traditions.

Mercury is toxic. It is included here for its symbolism, not actual use. Its dangers were known historically but the mineral's unique physical properties paradoxically associated it with transmutation, healing, and immortality. Cinnabar is generally safe, since the mercury is chemically locked up with sulfur, but can become dangerous if heated, ground, or ingested. Handle with care, washing your hands after.

The name “cinnabar” also refers to Chinese cinnabar lacquerware. Lacquer is combined with a pigment and applied layer after layer, to produce a durable and beautiful object. The red color came from cinnabar, other pigments are used today. It may also be a resin imitation instead, with no safety concerns, especially in jewelry.

Hematite is a popular energetic substitute for mercury since it resembles it when polished.

1. Mercury
2. Mercury compounds like cinnabar.

Many of the qualities associated with Uranus today, the unexpected, innovative, and esoteric, like the study of astrology, were once attributes of Mercury. Historically man made materials like glass, and blended substances, especially alloys like bronze (copper plus tin) were ruled by the planet. The metal mercury produces alloys with other metals very easily, called amalgams.

During the 18^th century, many new metals were discovered, the most familiar being platinum, aluminum, and titanium. Platinum occurs naturally, but usually alloyed with other metals. The Spanish first encountered it in the Americas and named it platina (Spanish, “little silver”), thinking it was an inferior form of silver. Scientists determined it was a new metal in the mid 1700's. Aluminum and titanium do not occur freely in nature, requiring human effort to be produced. Interestingly, liquid mercury damages aluminum, causing the normally resistant metal to corrode. In contemporary astrology, these new metals are associated with the innovative planets Mercury and Uranus.

3. Man made materials, like glass, and metal alloys: brass, bronze, etc.
4. Metals discovered after the Renaissance: platinum, aluminum, titanium, etc.

THE CHILDREN OF MERCURY

Not only do the planets correspond to certain areas of life, each is traditionally associated with specific animals, plants, and minerals. For example, the 16th century German writer Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa lists the following materials under the rulership of Mercury:

“Amongst metals, quicksilver (mercury), tin, and the silver marcasite (arsenopyrite); amongst stones, the emerald, achates (agate), red marble, topaz (may refer to any clear yellow stone but also peridot/olivine) and those which are of divers colors, and various figures naturally, and those that are artificial, as glass, and those which have a color mixed with yellow and green.”

(The notes in parentheses are mine. It can be difficult to correctly identify stones in historic texts. Names drift over time and minerals recognized today as different species were unknowingly seen as one gemstone, named by their color. For example, topaz once meant peridot and spinel was seen as a variety of ruby.)

5. Silvery gray minerals: mercury, tin, and “silver marcasite” (arsenopyrite). Although planetary metals became standard by the Middle Ages, older alternatives do exist, which list tin or iron as Mercury's metal.
6. Yellow and green gemstones: emerald and topaz. During this period, “topaz” referred to any transparent yellow stone, like yellow corundum or citrine. At one time, it meant peridot/olivine instead, especially with a yellowish tint.
7. Stones with diverse colors and various figures: agate, because of its range of colors and patterns.
8. Trade goods, since the Roman god Mercury was a patron of merchants: red marble, a luxury in antiquity. The 11^th century Persian scientist Al-Biruni includes,“all coins struck with name and number such as dinars, dirhams and coppers”.
9. Talismanic Minerals: He also lists “amber... turquoise, coral, tree-coral”. Amber, turquoise and coral are traditionally protective stones, used to dispel the “evil eye”. Another trait associated with Hermes and Mercury.

GREEN WISDOM

There is a long tradition of using gems in India to counter balance problems with both the natal chart and transiting planets. Large, flawless stones, usually set in specific metals are prescribed. Each planet has a primary gemstone, if one of sufficient size can not be found or is too expensive, then an alternative in a similar color is used. The primary stone of Budha (the planet Mercury, not the historical teacher Buddha) is emerald and its secondary substitutes are also transparent and green: verdelite (green tourmaline), tsavorite (green grossular garnet), and peridot. Some lists also include precious jade, although it is translucent, not transparent.

The legendary figure Hermes Trismegistus, who combines traits of the Greek God Mercury and the Egyptian god Thoth, is also associated with emeralds. Many spiritual texts were attributed to him in late antiquity. The rediscovery and translation of some of them during the 15^th century revolutionized Renaissance thought. At the time, he was believed to be an actual historical figure, presenting the wisdom of ancient Egypt. The most well known text is the brief Tabula Smaradina (Latin, “emerald tablet”), mythically first discovered on a tablet of green stone. (Although usually translated as emerald, the word smaragdus could refer to several precious green stones at the time.)

10. Emerald.
11. Other transparent or translucent green gemstones: verdelite (green tourmaline), tsavorite (green grossular garnet), peridot, jade.

MODERN SOURCES

Astrological texts rely mostly on gemstones known in antiquity. Many new minerals have been discovered, others have become readily available, and familiar ones have turned out to be more than one species. Many other minerals now have correspondences with Mercury:

12. Mercury is associated with the Throat Chakra today. Both the planet and chakra represent communication, thought, and personal interactions. Many contemporary sources depict it and its stones as blue or light blue: kyanite, aquamarine, chrysocolla, etc.
13. The planet also has associations with divination, dreams, and esoteric knowledge, all qualities given to the Third Eye today. Many contemporary sources depict it and its stones as blue, dark blue, or purple: lapis lazuli, sodalite, iolite, etc.
14. Minerals associated with memory, thought, and perception. Fossils like petrified wood, amber, and jet are used for memory, because they share a link to the past. Colorless minerals (like quartz, clear calcite, and topaz), those that have a metallic sheen (like hematite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite), or those yellow in color (like tiger's eye, citrine, and golden imperial topaz) are all associated with the mind in modern stone books.

For an introduction to the metaphysical properties of minerals, known historically as the "hidden virtues of gemstones”, see:

The Hidden Virtues of Gemstones

© 2012, C. L. Matthews

[Image Source: Public Domain, Wikipedia Commons]