In astrology, every planet contains a certain ‘energy’ in the psyche and represents a different part of ourselves and our personalities. This often explains the answer to the question, “Why don’t I feel like my Zodiac (Sun) sign?”.
This post will help to give brief explanations on what each planet symbolizes. This is in no way designed to be an all-encompassing discussion on the planets and their symbolism, but a brief example of what the planets represent in the natal (birth) chart. There are many phenomenal books on this subject. This is designed to be a beginning tool to start your astrological knowledge.
☉ – Sun
The Sun sign is what people often say when someone asks, “What is your Zodiac Sign?” what they mean is, what is your Sun Sign?The Sun in astrology symbolizes your personality. Who you are. What you express outwardly and a large part of your personality. Where you want to shine, and what you want to be acknowledged for. This can often show values you have and where you strive to be yourself. The Sun is the largest body in our solar system and provides the heat and light necessary for life, in the astrological chart it represents just that, life, individuality, and how we strive to make our mark. Aspects to the Sun indicate how much ease or difficulty we can have in expressing ourselves and greatly impact our personality.
☽ – Moon
The Moon in the astrological chart is the counterpart to the Sun. The Moon is the other luminary for Earth. It reflects the light of the Sun, and when we experience the Sun’s absence, the Moon’s presence comforts us and provides us light. The Moon, as it is physically as well, is a container for the Sun’s light and energy. In astrology it shows our inner personality, our subconscious, the more hidden and sensitive parts of our identity. Your emotions and feelings and how you express them is shown by your moon sign, as well as your nurturing and caring side. The Moon represents the mother as well and can show how you perceive your own mother. Aspects to the Moon can indicate expression of emotion and how you experience emotion and process emotions.
ASC – Ascendant (Rising Sign)
The Ascendant is one of the most important parts of the natal chart with the Sun & Moon placements. This is the point that represents the horizon when you were born. The sign on the horizon at the time of your birth, or the sign that was rising, shows how you appear to others, how you present yourself, and the first impression you give off. The Sign rising at the time of your birth is also important because it defines where the first house is. In astrology the houses show where certain events in life occur, and if the time of birth is even a few moments off, this can change the rising sign. For instance if one of the members in my family would have been born three minutes sooner, her entire chart would be completely different. Have you ever heard the phrase, “When I first met you, I thought you were completely different than the person you are!”. In my case the answer is no, My Sun and my rising sign are aligned within less than a degree. I always come across very loud and sometimes with too much personality!
You should also pay extra special attention to any planets in your first house, they will also strongly color the personality.
☿ – Mercury
Mercury in astrology is representative of the way we communicate, how we think, and how we mentally process things. Mercury shows how we express ourselves and how we communicate our needs to others. Aspects to Mercury can either aid in communication or disrupt communication. When Mercury is at odds with other planets it can explain why certain things are difficult for us to communicate such as our emotions, or our anger.
♀︎ – Venus
Venus in the birth chart shows how we express and display affection toward others. It shows what we need from others in a romantic relationship and what we find to be beautiful. How we express ourselves creatively and what we find joy in. What we are attracted toward and can show (in combination with Mars) what you desire in a partner. Venus shows how we express ourselves socially and what we appreciate in social situations. Aspects to Venus show our ease or difficulty in expressing affection, expressing creativity productively, and even finding joy. Venus is known as the ‘lesser benefic’ and in traditional astrology represents fortune and brings fortune to other planets. A positive aspect from Venus can aid a planet in expression and lend that planet toward a more positive ease of expression.
♂︎ – Mars
Mars in the natal chart shows how we fight for our innate instincts and desires. Mars is our animal instinct – including the survival and reproductive instincts. Mars represents our aggression and anger, our sexual desire and urge, and our ambition and drive to succeed. Mars is the way we satisfy our desires and aspects to Mars show our ease or difficulty in controlling our animal instincts and desires and their ease of expression as well as how constructively they are expressed. Mars in traditional astrology is known as the ‘lesser malefic’ which represents misfortune and can indicate hardship of expression when other planets are badly aspected by Mars.
♃ – Jupiter
Jupiter in astrology is representative of expansion and growth as well as faith, philosophy, wisdom, and generosity. Jupiter expands anything it is near or aspecting in the natal chart. Jupiter shows how we show our faith, what types of values we have, and usually we tend to show the more positive traits of the placements of Jupiter. Aspects to Jupiter can. either aid or disrupt our ease in expression of our faith and philosophy, but can also make you over-indulgent and lax, or the reverse, dogmatic and zealous. Jupiter is known as the ‘greater benefic’ in traditional astrology and a positive aspect from Jupiter can greatly assist another planet. However a harsh aspect from Jupiter can sometimes indicate that planet will be lazy and over-indulgent or an extremist.
♄ – Saturn
Saturn is known in traditional astrology as the ‘greater malefic’ and typically gets a bad rap in astrology. Saturn is not a bad planet, he represents things that we sometimes associate with uncomfortable and annoying, but they are things that are necessary. Saturn in the natal chart represents discipline, consequences, frustrations, lessons, fear, where and how we’ve experienced pain or have to learn lessons, or have felt shorted or handicapped in life. Saturn is something to overcome, and we do with time. It takes time to adapt to Saturn and learn from Saturn. Harsh aspects from Saturn can injure a planet and disrupt functioning; slow it down and vastly upset it’s expression.
The Outer Planets: The outer planets that are not visible to the naked eye are much more subconscious in their expression in astrology and it can definitely take some studying and practice to see how they work in charts and in predictions first-hand. They can be difficult to grasp at first.
♅ – Uranus
Uranus is the first of the three ‘outer planets’ that are not visible by the naked eye. Uranus is associated with the unexpected. Rebellious, independent, and forceful action that is always a surprise. With Uranus, always expect the unexpected. Uranus requires freedom and necessity. Whichever planets Uranus aspect in the chart shows how we need to express individuality and where we need freedom.
♆ – Neptune
Neptune is a very confusing planet – no that’s the nature of the planet, I don’t mean I’m confused by Neptune. Neptune is very vague and it’s action is always disrupting. Neptune can put us in dreamland and put rose colored glasses on us, so we have a hard time seeing the truth, or accepting what’s real. Neptune can be self-sacrificing and empathetic, but it can also go too far and be a martyr. Neptune can also be deceiving. The con man can be very neptunian. Whichever planets in the chart Neptune contacts can have a difficulty in expression and may have a hard time staying grounded or reacting realistically.
♇ – Pluto
Pluto represents what’s hidden and what’s volatile. Pluto can be suspicious and can represent the more unaccepted traits in human nature. Our secrets, our dark desires, and our need for control. Pluto can be very extreme and can represent drastic transformation. Death & rebirth. Pluto can be very extreme and whoever it contacts in the chart may be noticeably affected with a more volatile nature or a more private or powerful nature.
The planets in astrology can take some time to understand and remember. Every chart has every planet and each planet is in a different sign and location. This is what makes each chart unique – and of course each individual. If this interests you I highly suggest picking up an introduction to Astrology book and exploring further!
Astrology Exalted 