Libra communicators come across as very pleasing. Diplomacy comes naturally to these natives. At the very least, they take many pains to be diplomatic. Whether they succeed or not depends on their audience—but more on that later.

Mercury in Libra people long for equality in the intellectual world. They view mental affinity as one of the most important themes in any relationship they have. If they are not getting it (and many do not), they should look within themselves for answers. Perhaps they are trying too hard to score intellectual points with their partners instead of truly listening to what they are saying. Mercury in Libra attempts always to be fair in any discussion, but to more personal communicators, Libra's constant comparisons can, in effect, seem unfair! Libra can go off on so many tangents, and offer excessive disclaimers for any opinion presented, that they end up all over the place. 

If you think Virgo is critical and a perfectionist, spend some time with a Mercury in Libra person (and many of them have Virgo Suns too). They can't quite help themselves. But because they always aim to be kind and fair, they employ tact to get their message across. Mercury in Libra comes across in an unassuming manner, and handles people with care. When they find fault with others, they express it gently, consciously tending to others' comfort levels. One accountant I know whose Mercury is in Libra feels she instinctively hones in on imbalances in her work. When her co-worker was struggling with "balancing the books", this lady immediately saw her co-worker's oversight. Instead of simply pointing it out and risking embarrassing him, she pointed to the general area of the mistake and said, "perhaps the problem is somewhere here?" This way, she stayed out of trouble, and no one had to feel uncomfortable. 

Mercury in Libra looks for compromise. Middle ground is constantly sought. In fact, they are extraordinarily uncomfortable with extremes of opinion! This makes them excellent counselors and go-betweens, but it also gives rise to plenty of indecision in their personal lives. In their desire to find the best, fairest, most just choice, they can swing from a pro to a con, and back to a pro again--but we can't forget another "con" just to balance the last "pro". It can be dizzying for others to observe! They simply can't help but see the other side. This maddening characteristic leads to a strange paradox -- they can end up seemingly incapable of giving a compliment without a "but". After all, complimenting you is essentially drawing a conclusion, or forming an opinion. This is a paradox because Libra is charming, but give them a little time with something, and they will have a hard time arriving at a totally good (or totally bad) conclusion.

Their ability to think in the abstract gives them a good measure of objectivity. These people have a subtle intelligence. Their thoughts are generally dominated by relative thinking--they simply can't seem to evaluate their environment without comparing one thing with an other. This trait contributes to refined tastes. 

Mercury in Libra is generally good at making connections with others, but remember that Libra can be a lazy sign--and for Mercury in Libra natives, this means mental laziness. This can prevent them from following up and maintaining the connections they've made. 

Mercury in Libra hates to be thought of as the bad guy (or gal), and can end up trying to make too many people happy. 

Mercury in Libra often has to turn to others for opinions when making a decision. The maddening part of it is this: Give these people an answer to their question, and they'll probably take the other side. For example, if they are deciding between two different restaurants, and you give them an answer, they are almost sure to suddenly see the other restaurant's merits. These natives play devil's advocate far too often. Many times they don't even truly believe the side they have taken--they are simply engaging in an intellectual argument. Mercury in Libra would be wise to look inside themselves to do a check on what they really feel every now and again. They can get so caught up in trying to win an argument and correcting the (perceived) biases in others' beliefs and actions that they totally lose sight of what really matters to them.

Favorite expression: "On the other hand..."; "But then again..."

These people are on an eternal quest to get to the very heart of any matter. This appears in anything that requires thought, and in almost every conversation they have. Totally fearless when it comes to delving into depths that nobody else wants, or even thinks, to explore, Mercury in Scorpio is adept at learning the source and the core of any problem or issue. They are blessed (or cursed, depending on how you want to look at it) with the observation skills of a surveillance camera, seeming to just see all and know all. Sometimes they can be quite "dark" because of their tendency to focus on the false in order to get to the truth. These people detest superficiality. They come across as suspicious and can annoy other, more optimistic people with their negative take on things.

Scorpio communicators are passionate in their speech, sometimes even given to lecturing. Remember, though, that they are just as passionate about giving you real advice and help. They are quite willing to let you in on a few of their secrets--regarding other people, that is, not themselves. The truth is, they have observed things that many have not. If their observations seem a little bit skewed toward the negative, try to overlook it. You may just discover that they've given you some of the best advice around. They are at their best when they are talking about things that they are not personally involved with. That is when their shrewd judgment shines. It is when they are personally involved that their judgment can get clouded over.

Their intelligence is absolutely instinctive. Strategies are their specialty. Their idea of constructive criticism can be interpreted as destructive criticism, depending on their audience. It can be very hard to win an argument or debate with Mercury in Scorpio. They are absolutely driven to win, not just for the sake of scoring intellectual points, but simply to come out on top in general. Besides that, it is hard to deny that their thinking is really quite lucid, at least in presentation. You may be gritting your teeth, but it will be hard not to concede.

They'll staunchly support and defend anyone they care about. And, their energy in speech (or sheer intensity) can be motivating. You may walk away from a Mercury in Scorpio native, after they've given an impassioned speech, saying "whew!" But you'll generally have received an awesome pep talk, if they like you. The pep talk may have been at someone else's expense, however (they may have torn someone else apart to boost you up, for example).

Scorpio's take on people often has to do with motivations. Often, they feel people are motivated by jealousy. They should know, if they are also Scorpio Sun and/or Venus Scorpio, because they have lived it.

They are naturally suspicious, expecting bad intentions first. Mercury in Scorpio people love intrigue, mystery, and hidden motives. If they don't channel this interest into mental pursuits, they can end up creating their own mysteries. Others might start wondering if they are paranoid. 

Mercury in Scorpio loves anything that challenges the brain and are often interested in what makes people tick.

Freedom of thought is what Mercury in Sagittarius strives for -- at least in theory. These people communicate in an optimistic, forward-looking manner. Their ideas are generally very big, but it's probably wise to use tact when you see all the little holes in their arguments. Remember, they mean well. These people have vision. 

Not always thrilled about focusing on details, Mercury in Sagittarius people prefer to expand their mental horizons through thinking and reading about larger subjects, like philosophy. Their thirst for knowledge can be insatiable, but they have little patience with dry academics or cold, hard facts. Theirs is a restless intellect. They learn best when they are given the freedom to think for themselves, when they are truly interested in the topic at hand, and when the things they're learning are fun. 

Even though their definition of justice might bewilder some, Mercury in Sagittarius defends justice and freedom religiously. They generally have a whole slew of principles they follow, or at least defend in conversation, and they'll gladly discuss them all with you.

Their optimism is both their strength and their weakness. After a conversation with these people, you'll probably feel stimulated and invigorated. They make life a little better for their positive, optimistic outlook. But sometimes that optimism can be a little blind to reality.

Organization, too, is not a forte of Mercury in Sagittarius. Who has the time for organizing anyway? When the clutter around them gets too unbearable, they're given to trashing or piling things instead of putting them in their rightful places. They do appreciate lots of room, or at least the illusion of space, when they're working, studying, or thinking. So, their office might look alright at first glance. Open up a drawer or a closet, however, and you might find it's bursting its seams.

Conversations with Mercury in Sagittarius are always interesting. You can't help but admire their enthusiasm. At their worst, they take to preaching instead of conversing. This may not be intentional, and can get Mercury in Sagittarius into all kinds of trouble nonetheless. A good debate is hard for people with this position to pass up. Mercury in Sagittarius natives think they are very open-minded--and they are in spots--but they can come across as quite moralistic at times too. They'll be the first to spot bias or prejudice in everyone else's communication, but they can be a little blind to their own. They're not always the best listeners, either, and not adept at picking up the subtleties in your conversation. 

Bluntness of speech is a trademark of Mercury in Sagittarius. These people get impatient with indirectness and beating around the bush. It baffles them. It may even piss them off for a while. A sure-fire way to get under their skin is to play mind games with them. They may not always pick up on the game-playing at first, but when they do, they won't be amused. 

When they're not fired up about some issue or another, these people are fun-loving. They love to laugh, and it's usually pretty easy to get them giggling.

With Mercury in Capricorn, natives have a strong need to compartmentalize the impressions they get from the world. These people often speak and write in a slow and methodical manner. They appreciate structure and order. Although they are resourceful people, Mercury in Capricorn natives easily get frustrated when too much information is thrown at them at once. They break down ideas into manageable parts before arriving at a decision.

Usually quite mentally active, these natives are generally productive people who prefer taking on projects that will yield tangible and practical results. 

These natives can have an authoritative air about them. They don't appreciate being taken off guard, and they quickly become impatient with people who don't honor their word. There's a bit of a law-maker in this position of Mercury. These people can seem a little strict and judgmental with others, and they are easily bothered when others don't seem to "get" things that seem extraordinarily obvious to them.

Mercury in Capricorn people can have seemingly crystal-clear judgment, although their thought processes can be skewed to the practical world. They too easily reject what they deem to be frivolous ways of thinking. Not given to much fancy, these natives' minds are oriented toward practical tasks.

There's a bit of a doubting Thomas in Mercury in Capricorn people. Many squint often--not due to poor eyesight, but because their first reaction to information is skepticism! It's more of a furrowing of the eyebrows, and it's often seen in people with a strong Saturn (Capricorn's ruling planet) in their charts as well.

With the Sun in Sagittarius or Aquarius, these people may come across as more hard-nosed, conservative, and practical than they actually are! The reason for this is that they process, and relay, information (Mercury) in a Capricorn way.  

The style of communication with this position of Mercury is generally of the no-frills variety. Capricorn is a sign that hates waste and values time. They will generally be rather concise in their presentation, although they do take their time when they make plans--they consider it an investment in the future. 

Many natives of Mercury in Capricorn choose their words carefully. They fear coming across as inept, so they may be a little stiff in presentation. Even those who seem quite smooth (and many of them do achieve this) will likely have fretted over their ability to communicate and their intellectual abilities. 

Communication difficulties are generally most obvious when Mercury in Capricorn people are relating to those with Mercury in Aries (who find them too deliberate and methodical), Mercury in Cancer (who think they're too cold and practical), and Mercury in Libra (who find them too judgmental). Mercury in Capricorn people have their gripes with them too--Aries seem too hasty, Cancer too emotional, and Libra too argumentative. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in understanding that they are the result of differences in styles of communication. 

Unconventional in self-expression, Mercury in Aquarius natives enjoy breaking the rules. They are not necessarily loud or flamboyant people, but they often have a quiet way of stirring others up. These natives delight in exposing what they deem biases in others' way of thinking.

Very quick to contradict others, and to offer a different perspective, these natives enjoy intellectual debates. They're very quick and alert, and their powers of observation are particularly strong. They usually "win" debates. In fact, they're very interested in scoring intellectual points, which can be maddening to others at times! 

Aquarius is an air sign, which is detached and intellectual by nature. It is also a fixed sign, so people born under Mercury in Aquarius often have an intellectual "agenda". They are even given to forcing their ideas on others. This apparent intellectual superiority complex can intimidate others at times. 

On the other hand, Mercury in Aquarius people can make for delightful company. They usually have something interesting to say, and their perspective on issues can be delightfully unusual, quirky, and surprisingly insightful. 

These individuals have unusual study habits. They generally are resistant to following schedules, even if they have a Capricorn Sun--and perhaps particularly so with a Pisces Sun sign. Although they are often surprisingly organized, their sense of order may not be entirely understandable to others.

These natives are often attracted to scientific and/or metaphysical pursuits. Anything that promises progress and advancement for mankind has special appeal. Their sense of humor is often well-developed and unique. Practical jokes and anything that shocks and stirs up others are especially appreciated by Mercury in Aquarius people.

Mercury in Pisces are gentle communicators with a soft touch that is pleasing and warm. Some of them come across in an almost poetic way. Not given to bother too much with details, these individuals tend to sponge up the feelings and moods of their environment. The information they extract from their surroundings can be unusual and certainly unique. For some, it is heavily skewed in the direction of emotion and feeling.

They're generally lovely listeners and, when you get them talking, warm conversationalists. When it comes to communicating, they're moody, and this extends to their letters and emails too. It's a kind of odd thing -- you never know when they'll be in a quiet mood or a yakking state. These individuals don't compete for air time, but they can talk up a storm when they're in the right frame of mind. Predicting when that will be can be difficult, though. Mercury in Pisces is tactful because they don't want to offend others in any way. They feel out their audience and sometimes search for what they think others want to hear. Yes, Mercury in Pisces can fib. It's not that they are malicious--they simply want others to be comfortable. 

These people come across as dreamy and indirect. It can be hard to pin them down to any one belief or decision. It's not that they want to drive you crazy or anything--it's just that Mercury in Pisces takes in so much information from the world and their open-mindedness prevents them from taking a stance for too long. They have an unusual aversion to cold facts and hard decisions. Driven more by intuition than facts, these people avoid list-making and the like. Others might think them disorganized but they have an uncanny knack of finding things nonetheless. There is a tendency to avoid detail work or tying up loose ends, not to mention the mind drifting off to Never-Never Land.

Mercury in Pisces is tuned in to all the nuances of subjects and environments. They pick up on subtleties of all kinds, so what they lack in organization they make up for with insight. When the Sun Sign is Aries, much of the brashness and directness of Aries is considerably toned down with Mercury in Pisces. Aquarius Sun people with this position are artistic and humane.

Mercury in Pisces people are often vague and indirect in their communications with others. If they learn to express themselves with more clarity, they'll find that a lot of the problems they can encounter with misunderstandings will lessen. Their impressionable nature can make them an easy target at times. Their plans may seem too dreamy and unrealistic to more practical sorts, lacking the details that make them seem more attainable. But Mercury in Pisces' vision is extraordinary, and their leaps of faith are admirable. 

Favorite expression: "I believe..."