The Earth
Earth isn’t a planet in astrology. Instead, it defines our perspective when reading a chart. That is because the Earth is at the center of every astrological chart, looking out to the planetary bodies orbiting around it. In some senses, you are the Earth in your natal chart. But we cannot assign a constellation to Earth. So we use instead the Sun, Moon, and other planets as the starting places for chart interpretation.
The Moon
The Moon may be the Earth’s only natural satellite, but it has so much impact! It is the brightest and largest feature of our night sky. It helps stabilize Earth’s rotation on its axis. It regulates the ocean tides. And it influences the rhythm for planting and harvesting food, as well as women’s menstrual cycles. Consequently, on the spiritual level the Moon is a powerful symbol of divine feminine energy, as well as a symbol of cyclic change in life.
In an astrological chart, the moon represents the emotional nature of the person, as well as their desires and shadow or hidden self. The Moon is associated with intuition, procreation, creativity, one’s home life, and one’s health status.
Mercury
Mercury Is the closest planet to the Sun and can be seen with the naked eye in the night sky. Mercury’s orbit is very short because is so close to the Sun. Whatever constellation the Sun is aligned with, Mercury will be close by. This is why the Sun and Mercury are always close to each other in a natal chart, although they might not always be in the same sign.
If you think of the orbiting planets as being on a racetrack, then Mercury retrograde is a phenomenon that occurs when fast moving Mercury looks like it is starting to lap the Earth, which moves more slowly in its sprint around the Sun. In reality, Mercury isn’t moving backwards. But it just looks that way from the Earth’s vantage point.
Mercury rules the mind, information, flexibility, adaptability, communications, telephones, business, books, journalism, writers, automobiles and other vehicles, and traffic. Now you understand why Mercury retrograde has such a big impact on these things!
Venus
Venus orbits the Sun quickly in only 224.7 days and equals Earth in size and density. It is hot and bright and is the planet orbiting closest to Earth. Consequently, it is also the brightest luminary in our night sky next to the Moon. Because Venus is so close to Earth, it is never far from the Sun in a natal chart. Usually, it is within two zodiacal signs or no more than 60 degrees from the Sun. The planet Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion of any planet. Therefore, it is unusual for someone to have a natal Venus in retrograde.
Venus is called the Evening star when it appears in the West after sunset. If Venus appears in your natal later than your Sun, you were born under the Evening Star. Venus is called the Morning Star when it when it appears in the East before sunrise. If your natal Venus is earlier than your Sun in your chart, you were born under the Morning Star.
Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love. Venus rules both Taurus and Libra and defines the female principle in our culture. Art and artistic endeavors, including design, fashion, and beauty, are all influenced by Venus.
Venus also rules our values, our relationship to money and finances, and material possessions including luxury items. The heart chakra, the diamond gemstone, and the reproductive organs are all ruled by Venus.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun orbiting between Earth and Jupiter. It is only about half the diameter of Earth and it takes 687 days, or about 2.5 years, to go around the Sun. Its red hue is caused by the iron oxide dust on its surface (the same mineral that makes Sedona’s famous mountains red!). Despite its fiery appearance, Mars has a cold thin atmosphere. Nevertheless, Mars appears to have had all the components necessary to support life in the distant past.
Mars is a bright planet easily distinguished in the night sky by its red color, which can be easily seen with the naked eye. Mars is named after the Roman god of war. Earlier, in Babylonia, the planet was named after the god, Nergal, another deity who represented war and destruction.
The mythology of space aliens merged as a strong theme in 20th century literature and science fiction. Carl Sagan wrote that the planet “Mars has become a kind of mythic arena onto which we have projected our Earthly hopes and fears.”
Astrologically, Mars rules the fire sign Aries, but also co-rules the water sign Scorpio. Mars represents action, aggression, and adrenalin. The military and patriotism are both ruled by Mars. Like Venus, it is also associated with love and passion and aspects of creativity.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, orbiting between Mars and Saturn. According to NASA, Jupiter is gaseous giant whose volume could hold 1300 planets the size of Earth. Jupiter was named for the Roman god, Jove, who was known as the King of the Sky. As the biggest planet in the solar system with rings and 79 known moons orbiting it, Jupiter is known as the King of the Planets. A bright nighttime object, it is easily visible to the naked eye.
Jupiter is considered that first of the “outer planets” because it takes so long to orbit the Sun: approximately 12 years. Jupiter’s 12-year phases correspond with important stages of human physiological and social development. For example, at age 12, many start puberty. At age 24, many graduate from university and begin their professional and married lives. At age 36, many are busy working at the business of obtaining property and assets. At age 48, many begin to experience menopause and andropause. At age 60, many are contemplating retirement. And so on. Jupiter is with us promoting growth and expansion on every stage of our lives.
Astrologically, Jupiter rules the fire sign Sagittarius, but also co-rules the water sign Pisces. Jupiter represents prosperity, speculation, royalty, sovereignty, expansion, travel and exploration, the law, institutions of higher learning, and philosophy. Jupiter has a very spiritual influence in an astrological chart, as well. We can look at Jupiter cycles in our lives as times for leveling up our consciousness, as well.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun, orbiting between Jupiter and Uranus. It is a gaseous giant planet second only in size to the Sun. Nine Earths could line up along Saturn’s equator And this width doesn’t include Saturn’s beautiful complex of 7 rings or its 82 moons.
Saturn was named for the Roman god, Saturnus, and his Greek equivalent is Cronus. Saturnus was the father of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, Juno, Ceres, and Vesta. Cronus famously ate his children rather than be overthrown from power by one of them. Consequently, Saturn is the God of Time and “Time consumes all things.” In astrology, Saturn begins its seasonal influence in late December, just as the cold weather sets in on the Northern hemisphere and the days are shortest.
It takes Saturn approximately 27 to 29 years to go around the Sun and these phases correspond with important stages of human maturation and social development. For example, at age 28 many individuals are starting to evaluate if they are where they want to be in life. Do they have their ideal job or are they becoming established in their career? Do they have a life partner or family? Are they ready to buy their first home or open their first retirement savings account? Age 28 is about evaluating where one currently is, where one wants to be or go, and laying out steps for the next 28 to 30 years as a path to success. At age 58 to 60, many are evaluating their timeline to retirement and deciding what they want the last third of their life to look like. Many people retire so they can pursue their “Bucket List” of things they want to do before they can die. Saturn is with us laying out the logical steps for an accomplished and rewarding life
Astrologically, Saturn rules the earth sign Capricorn, but also co-rules the air sign Aquarius. Saturn represents structure, including the skeletal structure, tradition, property, mountains, construction, ambition, endurance, government officials and civil service, the economy and deflation, and both permanence and mortality, as well as karma. Saturn has a very grounding and practical influence in an astrological chart. We can look at Saturn cycles in our lives as times for evaluating our material progress through life.
Chiron
Chiron is a large asteroid that orbits outside the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Instead, Chiron has an unstable, elliptical orbit that travels between Saturn and Uranus, making it invisible to the naked eye. It takes Chiron about 50.5 years to go around the Sun.
Chiron is a bridge between the structure and material focus of Saturn and the rebellious unorthodoxy of Uranus. Centaurs represent an intermediary between with the wildness of nature and the civilization represented by humanity. They are considered wise beings who merge physicality with the higher mind and spirituality. They possess two hearts to feed both parts of their natures.
In Greek mythology, the most famous centaur was Chiron, the son of Cronos (aka Saturn) and the nymph Philyra, and the half-brother of Zeus. He was raised by Apollo and became an accomplished oracle, astrologer, musician, hunter, herbalist, and healer. He mentored Asclepius, the Greek god of doctors.
Chiron was mortally wounded by an arrow treated with a poison that Chiron himself had given to his student Heracles. Heracles had not intended to shoot Chiron. And Chiron could not heal himself from the arrow’s poison. Rather than enduring prolonged suffering, Chiron exchanged his immortality for the life of Prometheus. In honor of his wisdom and sacrifice, Zeus turned Chiron’s body into the constellation Centaurus.
In astrology, Chiron is a symbol of the “wounded healer,” which is an aspect of being an evolved human. In Jungian psychology, the “wounded healer” is the embodiment of our core psychological wounds and how we overcome or heal them through the painful process of self-examination and reconciliation.
Uranus
Uranus is seventh planet from the Sun and the third largest planet in our solar system. Uranus cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, because if its impressive size, it can be seen easily with an ordinary telescope. Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1781 when he spotted the planet through his homemade telescope from his backyard in Bath, England. Initially he thought it was a comet. In 1783 it was classified as a planet. Uranus may have been spotted as early as 1690 by an English astronomer names John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, who thought he was looking at a star. However, after bringing his observations to the Royal Society and providing additional observational data, Herschel was credited with Uranus’ discovery.
Uranus is an ice giant with a cold and windy environment. The planet has a blue-green color due to the methane in its atmosphere. It is four times wider in diameter than the Earth, has 13 rings, and 27 moons orbiting it.
It takes Uranus 84 years to orbit the Sun. This 84-year cycle often correlates with the traditional stages of adult life. At 21 years we are considered full-fledged adults with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. At 42 years we experience the Uranus opposition, which is a classic signature of the so-called midlife crisis. If we get through the Uranus opposition with some grace and poise, we can enter a deeper phase of maturity and fulfillment. From 42 to 63 we are often engaged in contributing to our family’s and society’s security and success. And from 63 to 84 we are enjoying the “golden years.” Because of technology and medical science, these phases are not as well defined in modern lifestyles. Young people may take longer to step into full adulthood and older people may retire later. Nevertheless, Uranus’ cycles are quite relevant to the development of our expanding consciousness.
In Greek mythology, Uranus’ story is a story of generational strife. Uranus was the primordial Sky God. Uranus and his wife, Gaia the Earth Goddess, had twelve children called the Titans, who were the pre-Olympian gods and goddesses The Titan Cronos (known as Saturn in Roman mythology) overthrew his father, Uranus, and made himself king. Cronus then tried to kill his own offspring. But his son, Zeus (also known as Jupiter and who was Uranus’ grandson), overthrew Cronus and the other Titans and founded the Olympian era.
In astrology, Uranus represents the impulse to improve humanity’s state of being. It rules science, experiment and innovation, electricity, telephones and television, transportation, and engineering. It also represents separation, migration, non-conformity, anarchy, and revolution. Wherever Uranus is placed in a chart, it inspires the unexpected.
Neptune
Neptune is eighth planet from the Sun. It is a blue ice giant with a mass that is 17 times that of Earth, making it about the same size as Uranus. It has five unstable rings and 14 moons. While we may personally experience the full range of aspects from Uranus’ 84-year orbit around the Sun, that won’t be the case with Neptune because it takes Neptune 164 years to orbit the Sun. The opposition of transiting Neptune to our natal Neptune is likely to be the last Neptune aspect of our lifetime. This is why we need to often must look at historical trends to predict what will happen during a Neptune transit.
Neptune is invisible to the naked eye and can only be observed through a telescope. It was first observed in 1846 by a German astronomer named Johann Galle. He used the mathematical calculations of French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier to estimte Neptune’s approximate location in the sky. Le Verrier suggested the name Neptune for the blue planet. Neptune is the Roman god of the sea. Its 14 moons are also named after sea and water deities.
In Roman mythology, King Neptune (aka Poseidon) was banished to the sea by his brother Jupiter (aka Zeus). Nevertheless, he remained the second most powerful god in Roman mythology. Neptune had an unpredictable personality, and he was both the god of the waters and seas and the god of wind and storms. He was also the god of horses, horse racing, and horsemanship. Triton the sea god is Neptune’s son.
In astrology, Neptune rules the oceans and fish, water and rain, plumbing, ships and ports, oil, spirituality, metaphysics, and the occult, and artists of all kinds including dancers, painters, musicians, actors, and actresses. It also rules politicians, addictions, alcohol and bartenders, psychosomatic illness, neurosis, slavery, smuggling, and criminals.
Pluto
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh in Flagstaff, AZ while he worked at Lowell Observatory as a junior astronomer meticulously photographing the night sky. Initially Pluto was identified as the ninth planet in our solar system. However, in 2006 it was reclassified as a dwarf planet because it more closely resembled a group of objects it shares its orbit with, which were identified as the Kuiper Belt objects. However, like Chiron (which is an asteroid), it remains a larger and more significant object within our solar system.
It takes Pluto 248 years to orbit the Sun. While humans will rarely experience a Pluto opposition and never experience a Pluto return in their natal charts during their lifetime, natal charts of countries can experience these transits. To understand the impact of transits on countries, astrologers look at past historical events to make sense of what might be happening currently or to predict what may happen in the future.
In Roman mythology, Pluto was the god of the underworld, wealth, and agriculture. His Greek counterpart is Hades. He is the brother of Jupiter, ruler of the sky, and Neptune, ruler of water. His wife was Proserpina/ Persephone, the daughter of Ceres/ Demeter who was goddess of the harvest. He was surprisingly devoted to his wife, who only lives with him during the winter months.
In astrology, Pluto and Mars co-rule Scorpio. Pluto represents the subconscious mind, power, and transformation. As if taking us through an alchemical process, Pluto both destroys and regenerates whatever needs reforming both in ourselves and in our society. Used positively, Pluto can inspire truth, loyalty, courage, and strength. The placement of Pluto in your chart indicates the area of life where you will undergo the greatest transformation. It is the energy or circumstances through which you will confront your shadow nature, release legacies and patterns that no longer serve you, and strive to embody your highest personal potential.
On a more mundane level, Pluto rules enigmas, secrets and hidden forces, pilgrimages, detoxification, rejuvenation, reproduction, underground places, pyramids, demolition, bombs, physicists, and renewal. These will be significantly colored by Pluto’s sign placement in a natal chart.