When Mercury in Fire and Mercury in Earth people interact: there is often a conflict between the need for intellectual stimulation and creativity (Fire) and the desire to stay rooted in the physical (Earth). The Fire personality is less concerned about the physical, material world; whereas the Earth personality is consumed with it. The Earth Mercury person will try to bring the Fire person back to reality; while Fire Mercury does not feel comfortable thinking without passion and intuition in the mix. Fire Mercury is concerned with personal growth and expansion. Fire Mercury can resent Mercury in Earth, finding him/her too critical and, perhaps, "square". Earth Mercury's biggest complaint about Fire Mercury is that he/she is too impractical and lacking in common sense; and Fire Mercury complains that Earth Mercury is too practical and narrow--even boring. Fire Mercury feels that Earth Mercury's plans lack vision and optimism.

How they can benefit each other: Earth Mercury can help Fire Mercury handle the details of everyday life; Fire Mercury can help stimulate Earth Mercury to be more creative, offering an enthusiastic perspective to Earth's sometimes dry thinking.

Common Ground: Both Fire and Earth Mercuries are rather self-centered in their concerns, and both want to put their plans into action.

When Mercury in Fire and Mercury in Air people interact: they will often find some common ground--both have restless minds that want to grow and expand. However, Mercury in Air can be baffled by the way Mercury in Fire takes things quite personally, and seems overly concerned with themselves, often ignoring other people's perspectives. Fire Mercury tires of Air Mercury's desire to talk about everyone else's points of view. Air Mercury's theories and plans can be too detached, lighthearted, and lacking in passion for Fire Mercury. Most frustrating is Air Mercury's concentration on theory, simply because Fire Mercury wants action.

How they can benefit each other: When they consciously try to learn from each other, Fire can help Air infuse some passion and zeal into their thoughts and plans, and help put some of Air's ideas into action. Air can help Fire by offering more detached, impersonal points of view.

Common Ground: Both Fire and Air Mercury people are positive, outgoing communicators. They both have a strong desire to learn and grow through their minds.

When Mercury in Fire and Mercury in Water people interact: both individuals are intuitive and sometimes impractical thinkers, but Water Mercury may find Fire Mercury too self-righteous and egoistic. Debates are fun for Fire Mercury, while Water Mercury prefers not to argue. Water Mercury enjoys communication in which they connect with their partner, while Fire Mercury is far more excitable and self-centered in their expression. Fire Mercury can be too direct and brash for the more sensitive Water Mercury; while Water Mercury can dampen the enthusiasm of Fire Mercury, too often becoming the proverbial "wet blanket". Fire can quickly become impatient with Water's silences.

How they can benefit each other: When they consciously try to learn from each other, Fire can help Water by infusing Water's plans with optimism and enthusiastic vision of the future. Water reminds Fire to be sensitive to others in communications.

Common Ground: Both Water and Fire Mercury people intuit things rather than analyze them. They are both warm thinkers and communicators.

When Mercury in Earth and Mercury in Air people interact: there can be a conflict between the Earth Mercury's desire for results and Air Mercury's curious, theoretical nature. Earth becomes impatient with Air's many theories, which often seem impractical to Earth. Air's biggest complaint is that Earth is stuck in the material world, and Earth's focus is far too narrow. What good is theory without practical application in the real world? Why waste so much time thinking?, asks Earth. Similarly, Air can quickly become frustrated with the subjective and overly practical Earth person. Life is not just about what can be done--what is life without higher thought?, asks Air.

How they can benefit each other: Earth Mercury can help Air Mercury handle the details of everyday life, bringing some practical value to Air's many theories; Air can stimulate Earth to think in objective terms.

Common Ground: Both Earth and Air are dry thinkers who easily separate thought and communication from emotion and passion.

When Mercury in Earth and Mercury in Water people interact: there can be a conflict between realistic plans and dreaminess. Water Mercury prefers to intuit their way through problems, while Earth attempts always to find practical solutions. Water is focused on the intangibles of life, and his/her thinking and communication is infused with emotion. Thus, Water can find Earth too hard-nosed and selfish, while Earth can easily get frustrated with Water's plans that seem too impractical and dreamy.

How they can benefit each other: Earth Mercury can give Water Mercury some practical and useful tips on solving problems, while Water can teach Earth to consider the feelings of others when formulating plans.

Common Ground: Both Earth and Water communicate in quiet ways, and are not given to as much analysis as the other elements.

When Mercury in Air and Mercury in Water people interact: there can be a conflict between Air's need to be detached in thoughts and communication and Water's desire to keep things personal. Water Mercury intuits his/her way through problems, while Air is endlessly analyzing and considering all sides of a situation. Water can become quite impatient with Air's need to analyze situations excessively. Water just "knows" things instinctively, while Air looks to the world around them for answers. Air seems to detach him/herself from emotions during a discussion, and this detachment can be frustrating to Water, whose approach is warmer and more subjective.

How they can benefit each other: Water Mercury can help Air Mercury focus on a problem rather than scatter his/her intellectual energies. Water can help Air learn about what he/she really feels, rather than thinks. Air may help Water think more objectively, and communicate with more refinement.

Common Ground: Both Water and Air are concerned with their partner's perspective, and care about what others think. Their plans and ideas are less self-centered than those of Fire and Earth.