Planets

Planets in Astrology are the various external correlates of the god/goddess principles that exist within us. It is impossible to separate the planet with its movements and vibrations, from the myths long associated with it. Each one tells a story of its triumphs and downfalls. These paint a picture of the balance to be discovered within ourselves as we live life and evolve.

SUN (Helios, Apollo, cosmic masculine principle)

The principle of Leo, fixed fire sign. The fulfillment of the majesty and power of Spirit embodied in human form. The royal planet of peak masculine/yang energy. Ambition from inner knowing of self’s possessed talents or abilities, even if not yet trained or seen by others. The basic will to power. Imparts a strong constitution, and in females often a sunny personality. Most strongly expressed in males.

SUN acting strongly upon the Ascendant (Asc) radiates Source power and creates a body that can be larger or sturdier than normal for its sign and a personality that wants the spotlight and needs to be recognized, to be on display or perform. At its height, there can be an Apollonian beauty or stature. There is a self-importance that desires to be at the center of things. Generally, it gives physical strength, stature, even athleticism. Can be dominant, royal, authoritative, imposing.

Purpose: to bring strength and authority to the persona, emphasizing the strengths that the person has built up in past lifetimes; to center the person within to continue transmitting vitality and joy regardless of what goes on around.
Color: orange to gold range.

MOON (Phoebe “radiant”, Selene, cosmic feminine principle)

The principle of the cardinal water sign, Cancer. The fullness of the receptive principle of female/yin. Spirit held close to earth, but fluctuating from worldly practical to devoted spiritual. Herd instincts and awareness of needs, both individual and collective. Spirit speaking with emotional urges upon the body.

MOON acting strongly upon the Asc puts feeling and rhythm into the person, as well as general sensitivity. This is a personality with soul. This necessarily takes on physical expression. These people will be inclined to music, rhythmic sports (like tennis), dance. They can be particularly in tune with the public, giving them notoriety. There is an instinctive need for change, variety, ebb-and-flow. Some will feel a need for travel across the oceans, even being attracted to the travel business. The need to feel and receive is more pronounced than usual.

Purpose: to emphasize the basic feeling sense that holds both bodily emotions and spiritual feelings; to connect one to rhythm, family, and put one into a position to receive much from life.
Color: iridescent from silver to violet.

MERCURY (the messenger)

Planetary principle of signs Gemini and Virgo. Learning and the communication of it. The basic need to question and gain information about one’s environment and the particulars in it. The messenger of the gods, not one of them. Mental fluctuation, as differentiated from internal emotional fluctuation of the Lunar principle.

MERCURY is the messenger, and acting strongly upon the Asc puts thought, intellect or communicative ability into the personality. Computer programmers, radio personalities, writers, speakers, etc. Height is almost always increased over average for the sign. The nervous system may display greater activity, depending on the sign and there is an active search for knowledge and interaction, travel, etc. They are often quick-witted, talkative, funny, great conversationalist.

Purpose: to spur curiosity and learning in those needing it; to spur communication in those with knowledge; to engage the brain and sympathetic nervous system together.
Color: yellow.

VENUS (Aphrodite, goddess of love, feminine principle in action)

Planetary principle of signs Taurus and Libra. Appreciation of beauty or pleasure, in nature, self or others. Therefore vanity is often seen in Venus’ part in the horoscope, particularly when ego factors (Sun, Mars) are strong. Its symbol is the vanity mirror. The basic desire to be loved and to Love.

VENUS is the planet of love, pleasure and beauty. These natives are more attractive and appealing than usual, but sometimes with a tendency to plump up a bit or lose tone from enjoyment of life’s leisurely pursuits. Venus brings out the most handsome or beautiful qualities associated with its sign, and the most considerate or kindest according to sign. Venus smooths the lines and edges of any face. The height may decrease from average for the sign on the Ascendant. They need friendship, closeness and pleasure pursuits.

Purpose: to emphasize the pleasures of life, especially the most sensate and sensual ones; to emphasize love as affection and the play of attraction; to encourage humor and appreciation of entertainment.
Color: cyan, pastel blues.

MARS (god of war, masculine principle in action)

Planetary principle of Aries, cardinal fire sign. Decisiveness and action take priority over any type of deliberation or process. Needs factors of time and patience to balance its unbridled expression in any horoscope. The shield and spear that are its symbol are a reminder of a basic defensive posture and the readiness for a fight. Indicates immunity. The willingness to act upon whatever feelings one has, whether love or hate. Extremes most expressed in males.

MARS acting strongly upon personal points creates a commanding person full of energy, vitality and drive. Any illness need only be temporary and is often over quickly, as may be bursts of anger. There is an enjoyment of speed, athletics, competition, military, hunting, motorcycles and all things considered masculine. It nearly always brings accidents, injuries (especially to head or face), burns, puncture wounds, etc. There is a fighting spirit that can be applied gracefully or abrasively, depending on sign and aspects. They need to exercise command and may be very bossy, expecting action and a quick tempo not just from themselves, but those around. There is often a ruddy complexion and/or reddish hair in caucasian and those of mixed ancestry.

Purpose: to spur assertion, standing up for oneself and to ensure survival of the self to get through tough times and tough lifetimes; puts ‘push’ and motion into the person so that no one else need light a fire under them; to increase enthusiastic bodily activity.
Color: reds.

JUPITER (ruler of all that is bright)

Planetary principle of Sagittarius, mutable fire sign. Jupiter (Zeus) was the sky god who stood with eagles in one hand and lightning in the other. The larger forces of nature, good fortune and providence. Fierce and with a temper, but mostly considered good and generous. The most outwardly, actively indulgent of all the gods and planets with his many lovers, stirring up jealousies. “Jovial” is not just laughter, but the ability to enjoy all life to the fullest.

JUPITER acting strongly upon the Asc of one’s birth chart generally gives added height and size. It is the expansive principle, ruler of all that is bright. These people are jovial, with good humor, sociability and popularity with many pleasures and friends. There can also be a philosophical bent, giving good perspective on life to those around. Travel and variety in both people and experience is desired. Often dramatic tendencies are indicated if supported by aspects and sign. Generosity is notable, both with self and others. Circulatory and pancreatic issues can arise from overindulgence, but the health can repair easily with good measures. farsightedness or other visual problems are common.

Purpose: to draw one out, removing the bushel so that the light shines brightly not just at home for those familiar, but for the world; to encourage broadmindedness and openness and give vision of what is already good in the world to encourage growth and abundance.
Color: blue.

SATURN (Chronos, god of time)

Planetary principle of Capricorn, cardinal earth sign. It deals in time and materiality and lengthens or limits. Its symbol, the scythe, is an instrument of harvest and Saturn’s action is often one of cutting away what is actually limiting you, whether or not you are aware of it. Authoritarian, paternal factor, not particularly interested in giving up power to the next generation. Stern, often inflexible. By contrast it is the earthy factor most comparable to the god Pan and those natives who are not particularly melancholic often display wit and humor that is often mischief-making.

SATURN acting strongly upon the Asc creates restraint and may reduce the size of the body compared to parentage. It creates a sober person who deals in what is literal and defines life by substantive living and loyalty in relationships. There is a serious outlook, nearly the opposite of jovial, in which responsibility and obligation are put before pleasure. They are circumspect, cautious, conscientious, sometimes with serious health issues. In some, the personality is solidified to create a special type of leadership by example. They can mature early and feel burdened by expectations and responsibilities. This aspects slows the person’s overall tempo and development in life. They need time to consider and to make choices before taking action.

Purpose: to bring substance and strength to the self, limiting superfluous ego expression, drawing on experience or pressing one to first get it and learn by it. To restrain outward expenditures of energy, retaining vital force for priority efforts.
Color: green.

CHIRON – (Wounded healer, centaur)

The integration of the earthiness of animal drives with higher human awareness. The vulnerability and mortality of the physical mechanism of the body is informed by and brought under the parental direction of the Soul’s consciousness and desire to create wholeness in individuals. The higher human awareness discovering the divine nature in the body.

Especially influential since the self-help and natural medicine movements that sprang up since the 1970s. These are a return to nature and the innate wisdom of the body, moving away from external hierarchies of healing and medicine.

Chiron is a double-edged sword. If you have not developed internal body-friendly healing sensibilities and are still seeking it totally as a commodity that a professional medical tradesperson owes you for a fee, then Chiron will be mostly Wounder – until you get the message and develop this potential. This is true also for emotional healing.

In the natal chart very personal Chiron aspects (conj/parallel Asc, etc) act as a weakening factor in the physical constitution, making it so that the person has to seek out more holistic methods and constantly pay attention to and build health.

A ruddy, freckled, or otherwise elemental person at home in the woods, at ease with animals, and non-violent in nature. It produces a healer, herbalist, teacher, witch, astrologer, oracle, shaman, (or all these) depending on what planets and elements are emphasized.

The great lessons is the divinity and worthiness of the body and its own tremendous healing power.

Chiron’s Purpose: healing, reconnection of the animal and spiritual natures into renewed wholeness; discovery of the gifts of nature for the elevation of human consciousness.
Color: blue-range.

URANUS – (Awakener, Sky God)

Planetary principle of Aquarius (fixed air) in modern astrology. Invisible radiations, the energetic matrix connecting all life forms. Transcendent knowing. A positively charged knowing that has gone beyond the simple learning of information gathering and the limits of language to language to something more global, universal, transcendent.

Uranus often can show, especially early in life, as a tendency for rebellion, an ‘anti-’ attitude, coming from the inability to let go of the Martial impulse of individual vs larger power, which exists in ignorance of the structures and reach of real power. Its energetic impulses feed into a brain and nervous system not yet developed enough to make use of its subtlety. Technology and innovation, even creative, artistic and social innovation, depending on early life patterns and other chart factors.

Uranus’ Purpose: To connect energetically/psychically with all that is and have access to all knowledge available cosmically for liberation from transient human limits and biases contained within established orthodoxies. To expand what is accepted and embraced as part of human community. Awakening to the energy that comes freely and uninterrupted from the Whole to the individual.

Uranus acting strongly upon the Asc creates a personality that reaches far because it has collective awareness, producing a scientist, inventor, engineer, broadcaster or leader. Nerve and brain disorders resulting from liver imbalance are common to stressed, imbalanced Uranian bodies, as are peripheral circulatory problems. When poorly integrated, rebellion and aberration can result. Uranian types get a charge from group or psychic exchange, and this collective-energetic connection becomes the focus of the balanced Uranian type.
Colors are dark greens.

NEPTUNE – (God of Water and Sea)

Planetary principle of Pisces (mutable water) in modern astrology. Vision, idealism and perceptual sensitivity. Extra-sensory feeling and super-sensational sensitivity. It cerebralizes the personality, often softening the ego and can be associated with health weakness early in life until the person finds their identity and immunity. Creative imagination and inspiration. Heightened sensitivity and intelligence.

A tendency for altered states of consciousness, spirituality, ecstacies, creative genius, poetry, music, dancing, and acceptance of all things and all beings. This expanded awareness can come with the uneasiness and insecurity of loss of distinct definitions or boundaries, leaving one uncertain as to ultimate identity. It increases sensitivity, causing the person to leave behind the harsher aspects of life for the finer ones.

We all have the capacity for creating our own reality, living ‘as if’, but disillusionment occurs after we superimpose a false reality or wishful thinking upon others or the outer world. Neptune allows for a general optimistic view of others while creating our own consciousness reality. This is the spontaneous healing of belief, faith healing, even placebo effect. Very real. From human consciousness. Believing is seeing (in the mind first).

Neptune’s Purpose: to increase sensitivity and reduce ego, softening one’s edges to merge and interact more easily with surroundings and others; to stimulate creative imagination for bringing more of the brilliance of heaven into a sometimes dull world. The great lesson is the power of imagination and finely tuned sensation to discover the hidden world around us and create our own reality.

Neptune acting strongly upon the Ascendant can make for a sensitive personality with artistic or spiritual gifts. It creates a dreamer, idealist, visionary, actor, illusionist, escapist, magician, druggie or druggist, some having boundary troubles and a tendency to be victimized by others.

Those with Neptune conjunct or parallel Asc/Sun/Moon, have an extra indefinable flair or mystique. Often a loner or introvert earlier in life. Neptunian types not engaged in conscious creativity often lapse into insecurity and worry, and at worst paranoia, xenophobia, cultic beliefs, mental illness, or addiction/dependence syndromes. They often need a confidence boost and will get it once they see objectively their own strengths and talents.
Colors are dark rich blues and indigo.

PLUTO – (God of the underworld)

Planetary principle of Scorpio (fixed water) in modern astrology. Unconscious potential and power that must unfold over time, yet be unleashed fully in moments of great challenge or crisis. The Godforce deep inside which must externalize as profound creativity. Total consciousness. At its maximum it exerts great push upon a person and great pull upon those around. Extremes most expressed in males.

Tendency for isolation and deep incommunicable moods alternating with bursts of ambitious or aggressive action often aimed at some form of power or partnership. (Pluto and Persephone play.) Produces politicians, bankers, business leaders, corporations, executives, autocrats and dictators, criminals and rapists, investigators and researchers, magicians and occultists, depending on early life patterns and other chart factors.

An emphasis on the derierre is often seen, with reserves centered in the internal reproductive organs. Pluto types are more sexually oriented than average. Power and intensity of all kinds attracts them. Internal issues relating to personal creative and sexual power can be externalized as power struggles. Simultaneously visual, visceral, kinesthetic, but not as verbal.

Plutonian Fire types may show relentlessness and obsession, but great power and energy; Earth types, a tendency for melancholy, inertia and stagnation, but amazing resourcefulness; Air types, great potential as social reformers, a lone point of stability in a world of shifting tastes and shifting intentions; Water types, creativity and depth of feeling that may struggle to communicate rather than stagnate in swamps of sentiment or resentment.
The great lesson is that all power is shared.

Pluto’s Purpose: to anchor one’s sense of Self deep inside, uninfluenced by superficial trends and fads in the social world and to endure life’s challenges and compromises with personal power intact and flourishing. To feel and be guided by the Godself, and to eliminate what is not of one’s True Self.

Pluto acting strongly upon personal points like Asc makes for a stubborn, determined personality with a strong constitution and great reserves and ability to recover. These people don’t do things halfway, tending to over-do rather than fall short. Very committed when true desires have been activated.
Colors are dark, rich reds.