Mercury, Quicksilver, Messenger of Deities.

About.

Mercury is a chemical element; it has symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is a silvery looking liquid metal known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum from the Greek words hydor (water) and argyros (silver). It has fast molecular motion and mobility.

In a polish language, Mercury is known as: 'Rtęć' and quicksilver is translated as: 'żywe srebro'.

Greek deity known as Hermes was known as Thoth in Egypt, and as Mercury in Rome. Deity who served as a messenger to other deities.

Mercury's name is shared with name of the nearest planet to the sun, a planet that was noted for it's speed and mobility.


Retrogrades.

Three to four times a year, the planet Mercury appears to travel backward across the sky. We refer to these periods as times when Mercury is in apparent retrograde motion or simply ”Mercury retrograde.”

In reality, the Earth briefly overtakes Mercury in its orbit.

Since Mercury rules communication, information and travel, the retrograde period is said to affect these areas.

More of communication problems, but also time to revert and correct recent mistakes.


Blog author's observation.

Hermes - as deities' messenger - has to be quick, has to quickly deliver information.

In modern days, the Internet is medium that allows to communicate quickly even at longer distances.

Is the Internet a part of Hermes' attributes, a part of 'it's portfolio'?

... personally, I think: 'Yes'.

Hermes Trismegistos.

Hermes Trismegistos means: Hermes Thrice Great.

He's considered symbol of medicine and perhaps philosophy ... but magicians consider him god of magick as well.

He was messenger of gods, had winged shoes and staff with two snakes around it. This staff has name: Caduceus.

Then he became god, known in three of world's parts:
- Hermes in Greece,
- Mercury in Rome,
- Thoth in Egypt.

He should be respected, perhaps studied as well ... or at least i advise so.

Ars Magica, Hermes & Longevity.

At youth i played Ars Magica ('Art of Magic' in Latin) roleplaying game too much.

... it's a fantasy-medieval game about Magic, with 'Order of Hermes' in it's center.

Ars Magica is referenced in many of White Wolf's Roleplaying Games, including Mage: the Ascension &
Vampire: the Masquerade - both set in Dark Version of the Modern World.

i used mostly 3rd Edition, with a little of 2nd Edition as well. Had many books, was quite an expert in this game & art style.

i think newer editions are too much of game mechanic focused, at cost of art - and are too church-influenced, too feudal, less independent & free.

While Church & Religion are important in Medieval Context, it's still too much for me & my needs.

Buddhism uses every life's experience, even childhood games & plays - as steps on the Way for Enlightenment.

So it evolved, sparked my interrest in Spirituality, Esoterics, Witchcraft & Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Now i am creating an Art Style, 'Art of Magick & Light' that uses my experiences & wisdom, spirituality, symbolism & esoterics, that is trying to have uses in Real Magick as well.

One of the Central ideas of Ars Magicka was 'Longevity Potion'.

Attentus' is my main roleplaying game character, self-awakening mage that was started with Ars Magica 3e, then was used in D&D & other.

His Longevity Potion was based on 3rd Edition Ars Magica.

'Potion' is misleading name, as it could be talisman, ritual or other tool - and it varied from person to person.

Most effective was to do for oneself, doing for others was less effective.

Magickal Arts used are Intellego (Perception, Cognition, Awareness, Discovery) & Corporem (Human & Human-like body) - depending on these arts & body awareness, longevity potion's efficiency was determined, but there was dice rolls as well (other factors).

In newer Ars Magica editions Corporem is spelled as Corpus.

Longevity potion works by containing life force from 'leaking away' from body with time, making it leave body much slower - this has significiant drawback of denying users from having kids after using this potion. But kids could have been made before performing this ritual.

With time it's increasingly harder to contain this leaking, so it's not immortality potion, at any rate.


Another of Central Ideas of Ars Magica is Responsibility, often non-action, but not to extreme.


i've linked related article as well - but it's misleading, and refers to newer editions of Ars Magica.

References to older versions simplify older lore way too much, misleading as well.

'Warping' - means side effects that magick has on mind, speech & body - not neccessarily, but perhaps as well - physical disfigurment.


See also, if You wish: the 'Attentus 2nd incarnation' project.