Hermes, a wise mythical sage and sacred guide
I have a great reverence for Hermes Trismegistus. His name translates to Hermes thrice great. Hermes is considered the founder of Hellenistic astrology, but in truth who he actually was is a bit of a mystery. He was known as a wise sage whom the early Hellenistic astrologers credited for the creation of their astrological system. It is thought he lived around the first century BCE and there is a large body of knowledge including astrology, alchemy, magic and philosophy attributed to him. Not only are there astrological texts, but also a series of philosophical texts called the Corpus Hermeticum which form the foundation of the philosophy we know as Hermeticism today. Hermes taught us that the cosmos was alive, and consciousness was present throughout; that there was a connection through all parts of nature and thus the celestial bodies were connected to the terrestrial bodies, “as above, so below”; and that the divine energy of the celestial realm filtered down to earth, with plants and stones carrying the magic of the stars inside of them. Medicine with herbs and talismans was carefully done with intricate knowledge of the stars to ensure the optimum power and right action. I find this fascinating, this ancient approach to medicine completely resonates with me after having practiced traditional Chinese veterinary medicine/acupuncture and shamanic medicine for many years. I have seen the power of herbs and working with ethereal concepts first hand in my healing work, and only wish more people could witness the value of these ancient practices. It has been an interesting evolution through my life, starting out specialising in modern science and then gradually seeking out more and more of the ancient practices because that is where I find truth, beauty and a real connection to nature and the cosmos.
Hermes was also a mythical figure in ancient times, a mixture of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth who were both considered important messengers of the gods and both associated with wisdom. It is not known whether the sacred ancient texts were ascribed to Hermes as he was the author, or whether they were written in his name in honour of the mythical figure. The mystery is intriguing. To me he is both. I was actually introduced to Hermetic philosophy during my training in shamanic medicine and was immediately fascinated by it. I felt an immediate connection to this ancient, mythical, sage which is actually hard to explain. I feel he has always been a sacred guide in my life and was part of what led me to study ancient astrology seriously and become a Hellenistic astrologer.
There is a hermetic influence through my practice of Hellenistic astrology. For example, I use the 36 decans (subdivisions of the zodiacal signs) as an important part of my chart interpretation. One of the sacred ancient texts by Hermes on the decans, translated by Demetra George, has influenced the use of them in my astrology practice and continues to inspire me everyday. The decans have been used as far back as 4,000 years ago in history in spiritual, astrological and magical traditions and it is a privilege to share this wisdom, which is still relevant in modern times, all these years later.
The ancient people believed that each planet represented a deity and the divine energy from that deity could then be expressed through life on earth. The planet Mercury is also associated with the Greek god Hermes (messenger of the gods) who was patron of writing and sciences, especially math and astronomy^. You may have heard of Hermes being associated with Mercury in astrology discussions. Looking at the placement of Mercury in your chart can provide information on how the symbolism of the messenger of the gods is expressed in your life. Mercury signifies things such as communication, speech, intellect etc in astrology. Your own unique chart and planet placements will determine the role that the significations and symbolism of Mercury have in your life.
*If you would like to know about the planet Mercury in your natal chart and also experience some ancient Hermetic wisdom please email hello@emmalucy.com.au and book a consultation today!
^ George D (2019) Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice. A Manual of Traditional Techniques Vol 1. Rubedo Press. Auckland. p 51
The planet Mercury