Rubedo Press
Rubedo Press
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Hermetica Triptycha II: The Six Sky Phases and Mythic Faces of Mercury, by Gary P. Caton

By Gary P. Caton. The first-ever comprehensive and integral treatment of Mercury's Sky Phases, with a one hundred and twenty-five year ephemeris to track the planet Mercury through its appearances and disappearances as a visible sky phenomenon. Herein, the Solar or Synodic cycle of Mercury is divided into six discrete phases, based on the visual phenomenology, which are explored further in terms of various sky factors, including: visible/invisible, morning, evening/liminal, earth proximity, zodiacal speed, and sky phenomenal speed.

Paperback | 5.5 x 8.5 | B&W | Illustrated | 664 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-0672800-0-0
Auckland · Rubedo Press · 2026

now AVAILABLE For Pre-order

$66.00

Price listed in New Zealand Dollars.
Approximate price in other currencies:
GBP £26.00 | EU €31.00 | USD $39.00

Release Date: 2 September 2026

Hermetica Triptycha II
Hermetica Triptycha II
NZ$66.00

The first-ever comprehensive and integral treatment of Mercury's Sky Phases, with a one hundred and twenty-five year ephemeris to track the planet Mercury through its appearances and disappearances as a visible sky phenomenon.

Hermetica Triptycha

Volume Two

The six Sky Phases and Mythic Faces of Mercury

Gary P. Caton

With a Foreword by John Michael Greer

 

HERMETICA TRIPTYCHA is the second volume in a new series of astrological grimoires that explores both the deepest traditions and furthest frontiers of astrology through the lens of the planet Mercury.

“In this book Gary Caton has gone back to the roots of classical astrology to refocus attention on the observational underpinnings of the astrological art. Focusing on Mercury—the swiftest and most elusive of our solar system’s planets—he shows how the regular appearances and disappearances of the quicksilver planet as seen from Earth are just as important as bearers of astrological meaning as its zodiacal placements and aspects. He does this, what is more, using perspectives drawn from alchemy, Qabala, and the rich mythology of Hermes/Mercury to illuminate six phases in Mercury’s synodic cycle. He then shows how these can be used by the practicing astrologer in the delineation of horoscopes.

It really is a bravura performance, and makes a genuine contribution to the toolkit of astrology. Beyond this, it also serves as a powerful reminder that the often fragmentary traditions that have come down to us through the long bleak eras of persecution and neglect are launching points to further exploration, not barriers we cannot surpass. By taking the traditional lore seriously and then building on it, filling in the gaps wrenched open by a turbulent past and here and there breaking genuinely new ground, Caton has provided us all with one example of what can be done along these lines. His work, along with that of other writers, scholars, and practitioners, leads me to hope that someday in the future people will look back on our time as one of the great creative ages of Western esotericism”.

— John Michael Greer

Volume 2: The Six Sky Phases and
Mythic Faces of Mercury

The first-ever comprehensive and integral treatment of Mercury's Sky Phases, with a one hundred and twenty-five year ephemeris to track the planet Mercury through its appearances and disappearances as a visible sky phenomenon. Herein, the Solar or Synodic cycle of Mercury is divided into six discrete phases, based on the visual phenomenology, which are explored further in terms of various sky factors, including: visible/invisible, morning, evening/liminal, earth proximity, zodiacal speed, and sky phenomenal speed.

The sky process of appearing/disappearing is further explored within larger alchemical, Qabalistic, and mythic frameworks as a process of transformation. From this we develop and explore Six Mythic Faces to match the Six Sky Phases: Trickster, Messenger, Guardian, Philosopher, Sage, and Psychopomp. Finally, we explore these Mythic Sky Phases through deep research, wherein each of the 864 combinations of sign/house/phase are delineated, with additional celebrity examples from Astrodatabank, providing a new twenty-first century standard in extensively researched and delineated technique.

CONTENTS

Foreword, by John Michael Greer
Preface
Introduction

  1. Sky Factors

  2. Defining the Sky Phases of Mercury

  3. The Alchemical Journey of Transformation

  4. Hermetic Qabala

  5. Hermes the Trickster in Myth

  6. Hermes the Messenger in Myth

  7. Hermes the Guardian in Myth

  8. Hermes the Philosopher in Myth

  9. Hermes the Sage in Myth

  10. Hermes the Psychopomp in Myth

  11. Delineation: Archetypes of the Phases

  12. Delineation: Integrating Cyclics and Horoscopics

  13. Delineation: Aries

  14. Delineation: Taurus

  15. Delineation: Gemini

  16. Delineation: Cancer

  17. Delineation: Leo

  18. Delineation: Virgo

  19. Delineation: Libra

  20. Delineation: Scorpio

  21. Delineation: Sagittarius

  22. Delineation: Capricorn

  23. Delineation: Aquarius

  24. Delineation: Pisces

  25. Mercury Sky Phase Ephemeris

    Notes
    Bibliography

About the Author

Gary P. Caton is a multidisciplinary astrologer who embraces an organic, process-oriented approach to spiritual growth and transformation via engagement with the living sky. Initiated into astrology via a dream of the Sun-Venus conjunction, he has since devoted his entire life to refining his vision. An accomplished stargazer and astro-photographer, Gary possesses the unique ability to combine the experiential power and dynamic images of the living sky with classic horoscopy and metaphysics—an alchemical blend of bleeding edge modern research and pioneering technique. You can catch Gary online via the popular Hermetic Astrology Podcast, or live on one of his frequent lecture tours across the US and abroad.