Virgo Rising & Mercury

If you are a Virgo rising, that means Mercury is in charge of your natal chart. This is the planet that rules the sign of Virgo, and therefore is thought of as “steering the ship” of your life. 

This means that each Virgo rising will relate slightly differently to their Ascendant based on where Mercury is placed in their natal chart. 

Virgo risings, in general, are like worker bees. They are curious and adaptable, but they also care quite a bit about being useful in practical ways. This often takes the form of gathering a lot of data or information about whatever is accessible or of interest to them, and then noting the patterns present amongst that data in order to make improvements. They are logical, and have the desire to create and then optimize systems. And while they’re amazing at multitasking, they may find it challenging to stick with one thing for a long period of time to see it through. 

with Mercury in Libra: This person has a strong sense of what is harmonious, symmetrical, beautiful — and how to make use of it. While Virgos are more concerned with efficiency and optimization than beauty, those whose Mercury falls in this sign will also know that sometimes to make something appealing to the senses or to mental attitudes is precisely what makes it functional. 

with Mercury in Scorpio: This person may be even more reserved than a typical Virgo rising already tends to be. They are deep thinkers and identify quite strongly with their ideas. While they are curious and receptive to their environment, they can also have tunnel vision when it comes to ideas that they feel strongly about, and you’d be hard pressed to change their mind when it comes to matters of the heart (or gut). 

with Mercury in Sagittarius: This person struggles with the tension between the forest and the trees. They want to communicate the big picture, but sometimes it’s hard to see. Their childhood and family life likely have a big impact on their identity, and they may spend a lot of time trying to make meaning out of those early experiences or the stories they’ve inherited in order to make sense of who they are. 

with Mercury in Capricorn: This person is quite creative, but will want to channel that energy into projects that serve practical use and which can be long-lasting. Their creative outlets or their relationship to children will be deeply impactful to them, and they may find themselves drawn to one or both of these topics throughout the lifetime.

with Mercury in Aquarius: This person may find that the information they so love to collect from their environment is of the social or intellectual variety, with a particular focus on their approach to routine or the workplace, or even animals. 

with Mercury in Pisces: For this person, there is a great sense of self-understanding derived from close relationships. This person is practical and detail-oriented, and seeks in their partnerships a space to explore more fluidly the emotional and creative realm. They may find it harder to express their thoughts in a linear or straightforward way as the typical logical Virgo rising, but they are deeply perceptive to the emotions of others, and are likely viewed as the “therapist friend.”

with Mercury in Aries: This person is smart and wants you to know it. They are the Virgo rising who is going to “tell it like it is,” and they are likely great at initiating projects when they see that something isn’t working efficiently. They also are sensitive to the darker side of life and can be quite perceptive of the pain of others. 

with Mercury in Taurus: This person is detail oriented and logical, but will be quite choosy about where to invest their mental energy. They are more subject to inertia than the typical Virgo rising, but they know that to develop a worldview that works for them, they must slowly tend to their intellectual pursuits over time with care. They likely have an eye for beauty and seek it in philosophy, spirituality, or in communities that differ from the ones they grew up in. 

with Mercury in Gemini: This person is slightly more comfortable in the spotlight than the typical Virgo rising. Their public roles are likely tied to communication and social connections, and their precision and wit aids them in bridging ideas and people to move projects along. 

with Mercury in Cancer: This person connects with others on an emotional level. They may come off as more nurturing or sensitive than what we normally associate with the Virgo archetype. They are at home in community or with friends, and the “antenna” of mercurial risings is set to an emotional frequency in these spaces. 

with Mercury in Leo: This person is a performer, but they may not show it. Their alertness to their surroundings allows them to quietly craft perceptive monologues, artworks, or jokes as a way to channel their creativity. If you get close to them, you’ll get a chance to see this creative side come out. 

with Mercury in Virgo: This person is humble but their wit and perceptiveness will be immediately apparent. They will identify quite strongly with their ideas and their ability to be quick on the uptake, and they are likely skilled in something practical, whether that be knitting, drawing, fixing cars, playing an instrument -- anything that puts their hands to use.