The planets play a pivotal role in astrology and are thought to have a direct influence on life and the human experience. This science studies the interactions between planets, asteroids, and specific points to reveal important characteristics about people and events.
In the guide below, we take a brief look at each of the celestial bodies in our solar system, what they represent, and how you can apply their meaning to your own life.
The Moon, Sun & Inner Planets
These planets are closest to the Sun and have a personal and direct influence on our lives. They’re typically associated with personality, thoughts, and behavior, but may also indicate how people interact with their environment and how they approach relationships.
- The Moon. The Moon represents a maternal figure and is associated with emotions, feelings, moods, and sensitivity. When the Moon is strong in a person’s chart, they tend to be very intuitive and in touch with their feelings.
- The Sun. The Sun is said to represent a father figure and ego, identity, and self-expression. When the Sun is prominent in a chart, that person is usually confident, outgoing, and has a strong sense of who they are.
- Mercury. Mercury represents communication, learning, and mental activity, and these individuals tend to be good at multitasking, have sharp minds, and excel at communicating with others.
- Venus. Venus represents love, beauty, values, and money, and people with this sign tend to be charismatic, pleasant to be around, and have a strong sense of what they value in life.
- Mars. Mars represents aggressiveness, competition, anger, sexuality, and self-assertion, and these individuals tend to be very driven and motivated. They may also have a quick temper or be overly competitive.
Outer Planets
Outer planets orbit further away from the sun and are said to represent the subconscious and collective human experiences. These planets can impact people’s life choices and decisions on a deeper, more powerful level due to their slower movement.
- Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and represents expansion, good fortune, and optimism.
- Saturn. Saturn is the planet of structure, discipline, and responsibility and is associated with law and fairness.
- Uranus. Uranus is the planet of change, innovation, and rebellion, and is said to represent the need for progress and liberation from outdated ideas and ways of living.
- Neptune. Neptune is the planet of dreams, illusions, and spirituality, and tends to be associated with mysticism and psychic phenomena.
- Pluto. Pluto is a planet of transformation, power, and death, and is often associated with the underworld and hidden aspects of life.
Asteroids & Comets
While not as well-known as the traditional planets, asteroids, and comets can also provide valuable insights into a person’s life path and destiny.
- Ceres. Ceres is an asteroid that represents the nurturing side of a person’s nature and is associated with mothers, caretakers, and the Earth itself.
- Pallas. Pallas is another asteroid that represents creativity, artistry, and wisdom, and is considered a guardian of the arts and sciences.
- Juno. Juno is an asteroid that represents relationships, particularly marriage, and commitment, and is associated with balance, fairness, and Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage and childbirth.
- Vesta. Vesta is an asteroid that represents focus, discipline, and hard work. It’s believed that if a person meditates on this celestial body, they can manifest success and greatness in their life.
- Chiron. Chiron represents healing and spirituality and is often seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, helping humans to understand the interconnectedness of all life.
Other Notable Astrological Aspects
Beyond planets, the Sun and Moon, and asteroids, there are also several important angles, points, and apogees that are worth noting.
Angles
Angles in astrology are the four major points in a chart that form a square and can provide insight into how human energy is being expressed in the world.
- Ascendant. The Ascendant is the constellation that was rising on the eastern horizon at the time of a person’s birth and determines how a person interacts with the world and how others see them.
- Midheaven. The Midheaven is the point in the sky that is directly overhead at the time of a person’s birth and represents career, reputation, and public image.
- Nadir. The Nadir is the constellation at the lowest point in the sky at the time of someone’s birth and represents innermost feelings and deep unconscious desires.
- Descendant. The Descendant is the sign that was setting on the western horizon at the time of someone’s birth and represents relationships and how someone relates to others.
- Vertex. The Vertex is on the right side of a person’s birth chart and represents fate, destiny, growth, and pivotal, life-changing experiences.
Lunar Nodes
Lunar nodes are points determined by the intersection of the moon and the sun’s path and can help humans understand their karmic path or life purpose
- North Node. The North Node is associated with new beginnings, karma, and true destiny. Look to this node for what lies ahead in your future.
- South Node. The South Node is associated with the past and understanding how it’s shaped the present. It’s also associated with karmic debts, which may need to be repaid in this lifetime.
Lunar Apogees
Lunar apogees are specific points where the moon is closest or farthest from planet Earth. These placements in a person’s birth chart are said to provide valuable insight into a person’s emotional state and can give clues about their innermost desires and fears.
- Black Moon Lilith. Lilith is the furthest point on the Moon from the sun and represents a person’s dark side, repressed sexuality, and primal instincts. When active in a person’s chart, Lilith can lead to obsessive and destructive behaviors.
- White Moon Selene. Selene is the point on the moon which is closest to the Sun and represents the connection to divine feminine, intuition, and psychic abilities. When active in a person’s chart, Selene can help them tap into their intuition and access hidden knowledge.
Retrograde Motion
Retrograde motion is when planets appear to move backward in their orbits, an optical illusion caused by planets orbiting the sun at different speeds. Retrograde planets are said to have a powerful influence on people, and it’s said that the planet’s energy can be felt more strongly during this time.
Summary
This simple guide is just a start to the wonderful world of astrology. Dive into the details and learn even more about yourself and how you relate to people and the world around you.