The Planets in Astrology
Each planet in astrology represents a distinct principle, energy, or function in the human psyche and in life.
The Sun
Rules: Leo
The Sun is the centre of the Solar system. All the planets as discovered by Copernicus rotate around the Sun. This replaced the earlier ideas of Ptolemy of the Earth being at the centre of the Solar system. The Sun is the giver of light to all the planets, the heart of the Solar system. Indeed when we talk about conventional astrology and say she is this or that sign we are talking about Sun sign astrology. She is a Virgo would mean the Sun at her time of birth lay in front of the constellation of Virgo. Purely basing Astrology on the Sun Sign tells only a small part of the story as we will see when mentioning the other planets, however that part is very significant. Without the Sun nothing else would have life. Everything relies on it's energy and power. It is an outgoing masculine yang energy, very different to the Moon as we will see later. Without it we would not have light to see things and be conscious of the different objects that make up our world. Where the Sun shines things become clear and out in the open. Where there is darkness the world is hidden and takes on a very different nature. Like a great emperor all the planets go round the Sun and pay it tribute. Indeed many cultures have worshipped the Sun as the ultimate deity. The Egyptian Pharoah Akhenaten abandoned all the other Gods in favour of the one Sun God, the Akhen. Ultimately the Sun is not the source of all things but without it's influence there would be no life in our Solar system. As the Sun is at the centre of the Solar system so it is our central creative core. It is how we radiate our life force to the world around us. As it creates life so this is how we express our creative life force. It is a journey as we strive towards expressing this energy of ourselves and it can take people a lifetime to grow into their own Sun. It is the energy of the Quest, to become who we were meant to be and who we could be. People with a very strong Sun influence are often very generous, expressive, outgoing, energetic, charismatic , confident and flamboyant individuals. They expect to be the king or queen as the Sun is the emperor of the Solar system. The shadow side of the Sun can result in excessive pride, ego , jealousy and stubborness. This is often when the Sun person is not given the recognition they desire. Both the Sun and the Moon only rule one of the signs in contrast to the other planets that each rule two signs. In this way the energy of the Luminary ruled signs are doubly powerful since they are so concentrated. The Sun rules the sign of Leo which is people born at the height of the Summer in the Western World. Leos are natural leaders of the Zodiac with all the gifts the Sun gives them. Their natural Charisma is rarely rivalled and they regularly make great influences on Society. Napoleon was a famous Leo who turned a whole army sent against him to his cause purely with his Charisma and leadership abilities.
The Moon
Rules: Cancer
The Moon is very much the opposite to the Sun. The Sun gives out light while the Moon is merely a reflector of the light. It has no light of it's own. The Moon effects a number of the daily cycles on the planet such as the ocean tides, a woman's menstrual cycle and the insects that fly by the light of the Moon. Indeed it is debatable whether life could exist on Earth without the Moon. The Moon acts as an indicator of the levels of energy being expressed by the Sun. It starts of with a new waxing moon, followed by a first quarter moon, followed by a full moon when the energy reaches it's peak, followed by the final quarter waning moon as the energy decreases. The energy shown by a full moon has been statistically observed on the planet to correspond with a higher incidence of crime, dreams, and accidents. Indeeed the word Lunatic derives from the influence of the lunar planet on human nature. Many people say only to begin projects during the waxing Moon cycle as the energy is on the increase during this period. From the point of view of the Earth the planet that moves the fastest is the Moon. It travels through all of the Zodiac signs in 28 days. Indeed it is the most personal planet to the Earth. Like a constant companion or friend it follows the Earth wherever it is. As the Sun is a Yang type outgoing energy representing the male side , the Moon is a Yin type receiving energy representing the female side. The Moon represents our need to receive the light and energy given out by the Sun. This energy can then be manifest into something tangible in our lives. The Moon is the archetypal mother energy. When we are a child we feel the energy of the Moon very strongly as it quickly moves through each of the Astrological Signs. It's changing influence is reflected in our changing daily emotions as we feel sad or happy depending on whether we get what we need. Are we hungry or satisfied, warm or cold, tired or rested. As such the Moon in a persons chart represents their daily changing emotional nature and needs. It is a persons desire to be nurtured and have their requirements met , to be loved and emotionally cared for. As we grow up this moon energy often gets buried as we move more to expressing ourselves and the Sun energy we contain, to be less reactive. However even as we grow up this inner child still remains the central part of ourselves even as we deal with the day to day realities of the world. Indeed looking after this core part of ourselves is fundamental to our happiness. As with the Sun the Moon only rules one astrological sign and as such it is doubly powerful in this sign. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer. Cancerians are noted for their emotional nature, their need for security, their love of the home, and their nostalgia for the past. Under the influence of the Moon, much like a child, Cancerians need to feel safe and loved and secure before they can express the many talents they have. Cancerians are directly effected by the energy of the moon and their energy levels move with the waxing and waning moons. Just watch a Cancerian on a full Moon. Cancerians are noted for their care of other people and their abilities around the home. They make some of the best cooks.
Mercury
Rules: Gemini, Virgo
Mercury is one of the two inner planets between the Sun and the Earth. It is therefore considered as a very personal planet. It never strays very far from the Sun and indeed is not so easy to see because of it's proximity to the Sun. Mercury appears to dart across the sky at great speed for a planet. It orbits the Sun in just 88 days. In Greek mythology Mercury was known as Hermes the winged messenger. It's speed would allow it to communicate between the other Gods. In human terms it allows a person to make connections between different facts and events instantaneously. Mercury is also known as quicksilver and is the metal used in a thermometer because of it's highly responsive nature to changes in temperature. As such Mercury represents a principle of carrying information from one place to another or highlighting information where it is placed in a birthchart. Indeed where Mercury lies in the chart explains how a person expresses their communication and intellectual abilities. It shows how a person internally does their thinking. Mercury rules or is at home in two astrological signs , Gemini and Virgo. The sign of Gemini is known for it's ability to connect ideas together. It is also known for it's love of information of all kinds. The sign of Virgo makes use of intellectual ideas but as it's an earth sign, they are used in a more materialistic or practical task orientated way. This may well be with the healing arts. If Mercury is found in such signs as Taurus it's speed is slowed and the the taking up of ideas takes longer but once adopted they will have a solid and enduring quality.
Venus
Rules: Taurus, Libra
Venus is the second inner planet between the Sun and the Earth. Like Mercury it is therefore considered a very personal planet. Venus is considered the most beautiful object in the sky. It is bright but with an undeniable hypnotic charm. In mythology Venus is Aphrodite. She was the goddess of love. She was known for her legendary beauty. She took great care of her own body and adorned herself with beautiful objects. She liked the good things in life. Venus is connected with the arts and fashion. There is also a hint of vanity around where the planet Venus lies. Venus is where we have a beauty and a talent. It shows us what gives us joy in life. What we appreciate in life. Specifically for a man it shows us the anima figure we are looking to complete us. Venus rules two signs Libra and Taurus. Both are known for their style and love of beauty. With Librans they often posses a social charm, diplomacy and an appreciation of the arts. Libra is an air sign and as such is concerned with ideas of beauty, such as social justice. With Taurus, which is an earth sign, the beauty of Venus often translates into a love and attachment to beautiful objects and possesions. Taureans are often singers and artists as they bring the beauty of Venus into Music and physical charm.
Mars
Rules: Aries
Mars is the first superior planet, it orbits at a greater distance than the earth from the Sun. For this reason it is considered as representing the urge to separate from home. Much like that of an adolescent, Mars represents our personal journey into the outer world to achieve our goals. In mythology Mars was the God of war to whom Roman Soldiers paid tribute before battle. Indeed the orbit of Mars has been likened to that of a soldier as it advances rapidly, quickly stops and then retreats rapidly. It's known for it's deep red colour and red is associated with passion , danger , war and energy. It is a very stimulating and energising colour, unlike blue which is far more calming. Red is often used to give warmth and energy to a dull environment. It is a highly sexual colour. People can often dress in red when they want to attract someone. The martial quality of energy is precisely what each of us needs to use to achieve our goals in the world. Sometimes we have to fight for what we want and not be easily deterred, to have courage in following our dreams. We need this energy to persist and assert ourselves against the difficulties we will inevitably encounter. However as with all principles the Martial force can be negative or positive. Is the energy being used for a useful purpose and in a disciplined way or is it used merely for aggression and oppression. The shadow side of mars is the aggressive drunk you see on the street or the football hooligan. The positive side is the person who uses the energy to further their dreams, overcome their fears and defend the weak. Mars rules the sign of Aries and is co ruler of Scorpio. With Aries the energy of mars is fully expressed and channeled with the signs youthfull enthusiasm, with Scorpio the energy is used in a more sexual, controlled and disciplined manner.
Jupiter
Rules: Sagittarius
Jupiter is an enormous gas giant in the middle of our Solar system. It dwarfs the size of the the other planets, with the exception of the next outer planet Saturn . Jupiter is far further out from the Sun than the inner planets and lies on the other side of a major asteroid belt. It is of a different magnitude to the inner planets and represents a different principle. Once the inner planets have been understood and personalised the individual can now deal with collective issues and not lose themselves in the process. For this reason Jupiter is considered less of a personal planet than a planet to do with how we relate to the society we find ourselves in. It is however far closer than the three outer planets which are known as transpersonal planets and have an influence over whole generations. Jupiter is an enormous , beautiful and bright planet. Full of colour and light some say it rivals Venus for beauty. Like an emperor it has a large number of subject moons that orbit around it. Sixteen in all including Callisto, Ganymede, Io and Europa. The latter the size of our moon. In mythology Jupiter was Zeus the king of the Gods. Brought up in the illysian fields he was fed on Ambrosia and had the horn of plenty, the Cornocupia, that would never run dry. In Roman mythology Jupiter was the God Jove which gives us words like Jovial or Joyous. Unrivalled in power and strength. Jupiter represents everything to do with expansion, optimism and benevolence. Like a king he dispenses his power and favours to those around him. Everything about Jupiter is larger than life. Jupiter is about faith and where we believe things will turn out ok and quite often for this reason they indeed do. There is a hint of luck about this planet. Jupiter expands the mind in all ways, be it for a love of seeking the truth or a love of adventure and challenge or of seeing other cultures and their ways of doing things. As such Jupiter represents our belief system in the world, everything positive that we strive for and believe as our personal view of Truth and Justice. As with all principles there is a shadow side to the energy of Jupiter. Look at the businessman who has too much good wine and fine food and who becomes bloated, or the spoilt child who has never worked for anything who becomes bitter and resentfull. For this reason there is another planet, Saturn, that epitomises the opposite principle to Jupiter. Where Jupiter is all about expansion, Saturn is all about restriction. Jupiter rules over Sagittarius and is co ruler of Pisces. With Sagittarius the optimism of Jupiter is translated often into a positive personality always searching over the horizon for an expansion in faith and knowledge and challenge. With Pisces the spirituality of Jupiter leads to an understanding and sympathy for the different races and faiths on the planet.
Saturn
Rules: Capricorn
Saturn like Jupiter lies in between the inner and outer planets. Like Jupiter it is also an enormous planet with many moons and is of a different magnitude to both the inner planets before it and the outer ones after it. Because of it's position it has a similar meaning to Jupiter in that it is less a personal planet but more a social planet, to do with the individual relating to the society around them. It is known by everyone for it's characteristic rings made of ice and rock. It moves slowly around the Sun and takes 29.5 years to make one complete orbit. Saturn was always considered the furthest planet in our solar system until the totally unexpected discovery of Uranus. As such it is still considered the last planet by traditional astrologers. Saturn was known as the 'Guardian of the Threshold'. It was considered a gatekeeper to what lay beyond. This is emphasised by the rings that represent a barrier to passing by. In Greek mythology Saturn was Cronos or Old Father Time. Cronos was forced to grow up at an early age as he battled his father Uranus. Saturn infact is all about proving your abilities and being forced to succeed through your own effort. The guardian will not let a person succeed in life unless they have merited it with hard work and perfecting their skills. Like a difficult schoolmaster he may well be the person you thank when you finally come to needing all you have been taught. There is no sympathy with Saturn only a fair and just return for the effort you have put into a task. Being the Guardian he is a tester and will send you back to redo your tasks until you have perfected them. Saturn is very much related to the physical world. Unlike as we will see Uranus, the next outer Planet, Saturn forces us to be real, to deal with the day to day reality around us. Saturn certainly is true in that it gives us measure for measure. We are rewarded truly for our effort. Saturn is very much the opposite side of Jupiter. Where Jupiter was benevolent and forgiving, Saturn is not. Who is to say which of these principles are better. It is the two parties we often have in politics, one wishes to expand spending and taxes, the other wishes to contract. Infact both are necessary for a balanced outlook. Too much Saturn and we have a dour unforgiving, mean personality much like Ebeneezer Scrooge in a Christmas Carol. Too little influence of Saturn and we have unrestrained and impractical dreams and spending which will never achieve anything. Saturn rules over Capricorn and is the co ruler of Aquarius. With Capricorn it endows the personality with a practical , worldly and traditional nature. Capricornians are great respecters of established heirachies and are often ambitious in their attempts to rise to the top. They are known for their hard work and reliability. Saturn though has another side and that is the face that doesn't face inwards to the inner planets but the face that looks outwards to the transpersonal. This is where it, as co ruler of Aquarius, is a sign that seeks to use the discipline of Saturn to look to the future to add pioneering and innovative ideas for an improved society.
Uranus
Rules: Aquarius
Uranus is the first of the three transpersonal outer planets. Unlike all the planets before it, this is the first planet that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Infact astrologers were convinced no other planet would be found in the Solar System beyond Saturn. It therefore came as a great suprise when in 1781 William Herschel an amateur astronomer who had worked on improving the telescopes of the day discovered Uranus. In a stroke he doubled the size of the Solar System and destroyed the established order of the planets that had reigned since man had first looked at the stars. Uranus also has a very odd rotation in that it spins on it's side much like a barrel. It's equator is vertical. The period Uranus was discovered was in between two major revolutions, the American Revolution of 1776 and the French Revolution of 1789 whose seed had already been planted. Astrologers very much attribute the characteristics of a planet to what was going on when it was sighted as there was no coincidence it was discovered at that time. As a people we were only ready to consciously discover it's influence then. Everything about Uranus, as you can see, is about being revolutionary, being different. It was never expected to be found, it has odd characteristics and it's discovery broke the bounds of all that had been known up to this point. In a person it represents their revolutionary or innovative capacity. Unlike Saturn it is a transpersonal planet. It's inspiration comes from another realm entirely, where Saturn was all about hard work, Uranus is about dynamic shattering ideas that will change the status quo. It is that 'aha' moment when a new idea enters a person from where we know not. In mythology Uranus is associated with the principle of Prometheus who stole fire from the Heavens for the benefit of enlightening mankind. This fire could give man great new inventions such as were seen soon after the planets discovery during the Industrial Revolution. Indeed the gifts of the outer planets are not intended for solely personal use but for the benefit of the whole of society, to take it to a new level. Just as Uranus was found around the time of revolutions it is very much associated with the priciples of these revolutions. ie. Freedom, Justice and Liberty, The Brotherhood of man. A person with Uranus very dominant in their chart will espouse and champion these characteristics. A Uranian person cannot be put in a box or be forced to follow a strict routine, they will be unhappy as they very much need their freedom to follow their own ideals. One could see someone such as Albert Einstein as a Uranian figure, stuck working in his patent office his mind escaped and soared to undreamt levels and he quite literally changed society and the way we would in the future perceive reality. Uranus is the co ruler of the sign of Aquarius. Aquarians are generally revolutionary in their outlook. They are unique in that they follow their own path and are fiercely independent. They have ideas and dreams to improve society. Their Uranian influence gives them an ability with ground breaking technologies and they are often found at the forefront of the computer revolution.
Neptune
Rules: Pisces
Neptune is the second of the three transpersonal outer planets. The slightly odd orbit of the previously discovered Uranus led John Adams a Cambridge Mathematician to predict the existence and position of another planet. However little was done to find the planet and it was discovered in 1846 by the Berlin Observatory on the advice of French mathematician Urbain Leverrier. Infact arguments still remain between the two camps as to who was responsible for the discovery of this most confusing of planets. As we mentioned with Uranus, the time of discovery of a planet is deemed very significant to Astrology. What the planet represented could be seen by what was being experienced by people at the same time. This was the time of a humanitarian movement, the poor laws were introduced and homes and hospitals were made available for those who couldn't afford them. Anasthetics were introduced to remove pain. Acts of concern for the individual and his ideals were made part of the institution of the state. This was further emphasised when soon after it's discovery a whole Civil War was fought in the United States on the principle of a persons right to freedom. At the the same time there was a great flowering of the Romantic movement in Art. Painters like Turner and Constable flourished in England along with poets such as Wordsworth and musicians such as Chopin. There was also a great rise in interest in Spiritualism and the Occult at this time. Neptune represents the ideal, the perfect world. What we long for. That place of perfection we imagine existed before we were born or after we die. The Garden of Eden. A place without pain and challenge, an ideal state of bliss. This is hinted at by the Romantics of the period. In Greek Mythology there is the idea of the waters of forgetfulness. Before we come into this world we enter the waters to forget the world we came from. Even so there is still a dim memory left of that state of bliss as we enter this world of effort and challenge. Indeed Neptune is Poseidon The God of the sea and is itself a deep blue planet. Water is the embrionic state we lived surrounded in the womb where there was no struggle or effort. Water sustains us and purifies us. We feel renewed and refreshed with water. In Kabbalah it says an angel touches us on the lips before we enter the world and we forget all that we once knew but that we have the truth inside us so when we hear it again we remember it. Whatever path we take in this world somewhere we all long for harmony and bliss and peace and wish to avoid chaos and pain. We want to return to this Neptunian state. Neptunian people may do it by dreaming of a better society, remembering childhood , losing themselves in an idealised relationship or going to the movies. As with all the planets there is a shadow side. With Neptune this search for the ideal may result in deceiving ourselves, not facing up to the world we live in, ignoring our responsibilities, dreaming the day away, losing ourselves in drugs and drink. Is this search for a better place about escaping from this world or better infusing spirtuality into the world we find ourselves in. Neptune is co ruler of the sign of Pisces. Pisceans have a strong memory and desire for the Neptunian ideal state. Pisces is the last of the signs of the Zodiac and we named our web site after it ! Being the last sign, the Piscean contains a part of all the previous signs. With this and the waters of Neptune they feel connected to the people of the world and can feel the emotions others are feeling. In this way they are highly sensitive. As with all the signs it's what they do with their gifts that matters. With Pisces do they escape in to their own fantasy world or do they use their sensitivity to improve the conditions of the others they can feel so strongly.
Pluto
Rules: Scorpio
The last known planet of the solar system is Pluto. Infact some astronomers even debate is it a planet at all. It is very small, infact much smaller than many of the moons in the solar system. It also has an odd eliptical orbit that sometimes takes it inside the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. The time of it's discovery in the early 1930's saw the emergence of a number of powerful leaders that were ultimately involved in the Second World War. Hitler was writing Mein Kampf at this time , Stalin conducting purges, and Mussolini rising to be a dictator. The leaders of the time epitomised power and the dangers of abusing it. The actual atomic element of Plutonium was ultimately used in the bomb 'fat boy' dropped at the ending of this second world war in the bombing of Nagasaki. In physics the splitting of smaller and smaller particles involves releasing larger and larger amounts of energy. Pluto is a very small planet but represents the ultimate concentrated energy. Indeed when we nowadays talk of a powerful computer it is one that involves large computing power in a very small physical space. In the old days a whole room would be needed for something that can now fit in to a tiny sized chip. This is the concept of Pluto - concentrated and potentially dangerous power In Greek Mythology Pluto was Hades God of the underworld. In myth Pluto took the innocent Persephone who had plucked a Pomegranate into the Underworld. She was eventually only allowed to return every Spring to herald new growth and life, only to return every Autumn to the underworld. Pluto however forever changed Persephone in that she became a guide for the souls in the underworld and reached a different depth as a person. This is the gift of Pluto in that it adds a depth to a person often through pain and suffering in removing that which is no longer useful. It is a planet of transformation and as each of the other planets epitomise attributes fundamental to the character of a person so Pluto does also with the depth it gives. Plutonium people as you can imagine are very intense , powerful, magnetic figures. They often rise to the top and make great impressions on the people around them. Ultimately whether they use this power for the good or not is up to them. Plutonium people also have a depth about them. There is no idle chatter for them as they wish to penetrate to the core of an issue. They also experiences many changes in their lives as the energy of Pluto is ultimately about transformation of the character. Pluto is the co ruler of the sign of Scorpio. If you meet Scorpio people you will notice an intensity about them and a depth of feeling. Nothing is just surface deep as everything is felt to the core of the person. This is the influence of Pluto. Scorpios often make powerful leaders and you cannot fail to notice their magnetic energy when they are around.
Chiron
Rules: Virgo/Sagittarius
Chiron is known as the Wounded Healer. Its position in the birth chart shows where we carry a deep wound — and where, through that wound, we develop our greatest gift for healing others. Chiron's cycle takes approximately 50 years.
North Node
Rules: —
The North Node (or True Node) represents the direction of growth and evolution in this lifetime. Where your North Node is placed shows the qualities you are developing and the experiences that will feel most fulfilling, even if they require stretching beyond your comfort zone.