Planets in our solar system and in astrology. Why do we care? Who are they? What do they do?
If the houses are the stage within things happen, the set design if you will, the planets are the people, the actors. The signs are the style in which the actors act.
The planets and why do we care
Planets are named after archetypal deities from hellenistic and roman mythology / history. In traditional astrology, we work with the planets that were discovered before the invention of the telescope, the ones that were seen with the naked eye. We cannot, however, completely ignore the modern ones, so we do work with those as well. Even though astrolgoy is an ancient system of meaning, it is evolutionary in nature. As we collectively evolve, so does our consciousness, so does the zeitgeist, so does our proof and knowledge of certain things.
If the houses are the stage within things happen, the set design if you will, the planets are the people, the actors. The signs are the style in which the actors act. Venus in Sagittarius has a very different idea of fun than Venus in Virgo. Both care about fun, pleasure, beauty but the vibes are ver very different.
Meet the Cast - Traditional Planets
Sun - Center of the solar system, the main luminary, the one who offers life and light. Ruler of Leo, the height of summer heat, the full expression of one’s soul’s purpose. Fear inducing when eclipsed. One year orbit through the zodiac.
Moon - The second luminary, reflects the light of the sun, the closest planetary body to Terra, our home. Ruler of Cancer, the second sign in high summer, ruler of the tides - the seas, the emotions. Our physical body, our birth story, the mother. Fear inducing when eclipsed. 28 days orbit through the zodiac.
Mercury - The messenger, fastest moving planet, closest to Terra. Gender-fluid and ambiguous, the epitome of “I’m just the messenger”. Amplifier, adds a megaphone to anything it touches, wordsmith, charismatic, cheeky, psychopomp. The only deity who could access both Hades and Olympus. Retrograde 3 times a year. Ideally it would take <90 days to get through the zodiac but, retrogrades.
Venus - The only femme in the main planets, goddess of beauty, art, honey, sweetness, romance, playfulness, joie de vivre. Mermaidcore, nymphcore, natural textures, frolicking in nature and comfort, a general fuck around and find out. Keeps things cute. Ruler of Taurus and Libra (differently expressed yet quintessentially Venusian). Roughly 18 months to make the rounds.
Mars - Aggro, impatient, head-first, hot tamale, spicy peppers, cattitude. Ruler of Aries and Scorpio. God of war, action, severing, remover of obstacles (but very not in a Ganesha way). All kinds of heat, sex, and violence. Can utilize strategy and manipulation tactics. Nearly 2 years to get through the whole zodiac.
Jupiter - Ruler of the gods, the great benefic, expands upon anything he deems worthy - even if just by proxy. The largest planet in our system, the gentle giant. Mostly causes good, brings blessings and boons, affluence, abundance, prosperity, success. Roughly 13 years, 1 year per sign.
Saturn - Old ruler of the titans, defeated by Jupiter. Big Daddy Saturn. Seriousness, restriction, boundaries, limits, structures, systems. Wet blanket vibes. Ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius. Stubborn, immovable, Sisyphean, hard-working, committed. Takes 27-30 years to make the rounds. Stays in one sign for 2.5 years. Tough cookie. Better off after a transit.
The Modern Planets
Neptune - The ruler of oceans, the king of the deep realms, subconscious, illusionary, dreamy abyss. The subconscious, the collective, the drop and the ocean, the individual forms that water takes and the collection of it, the source, the deep blue dark. Spends a good 12-13 years in each sign. Marks generations. Modern ruler of Pisces.
Uranus - Not quite a planet, more like a gas mass laying on its side. The original sky Titan who gave birth to the rest, along with Terra / Gaia / Earth. Blue giant, innovation, electricity, non-Neutonian liquids, sudden insight, neuro-spicy, tuned in to the future, getting signals to the past. 84 years to get around the zodiac. 7-8 years in each sign. Intense change and individuality and freedom are its gifts. Modern ruler of Aquarius.
Pluto - The farthest planet. The coldest. The underworld. Transformation, loss of power, harm, reclamation, shadow work, fears, dark nights of the soul. Toxicity and the intensity that banishes death. Things that go bump in the night. Courage. 248 years to get around. Best our human lives will give us is an opposition. 12-20 years in each sign. Never again the same. Modern ruler of Scorpio.
Browse
The Shelves
Delve deeper & re-connect —