Planets in Astrology

When you learn the spiritual meanings of the planets, you’ll understand the building blocks of the astrological chart. Some planets are critical to understanding the personality.

Other planets are more integral to understanding current transits in astrology. The planets are a key to astrological guidance and wisdom.

Early astrologers included the Sun and Moon as planets rather than luminaries. Astrologers still count Pluto as a planet for chart interpretation.

Sun

Ancient astrologers began their study of the skies by considering the Sun rather than the Earth. The Sun represents identity and ego. In the Natal Chart, the Sun describes your strengths.

The Sun represents how you shine and respond to being in the spotlight. Your personality is related to the Sun’s placement in the chart. The Sun sign describes your characteristics.

When the Sun is in aspects to other planets in the Natal Chart, it uplifts and empowers those planets’ meanings. Even challenging aspects can be softened by the Sun’s involvement.

Although the Sun is the most significant planet in the Natal Chart, it is the least meaningful in daily transits. The Sun moves too quickly compared to other planets.

When you learn the planets’ names and associations, you have the foundation for reading a chart. The Sun rules the sign of Leo and is the ruler of the fifth house in a chart. The archetypal meanings echo through this system.

Calculate your birth chart for free.

Moon

The Moon is another luminary that is considered a planet in astrology. It is the bookend to the Sun and represents your subconscious personality. The Moon can indicate intuition and moods.

The Moon represents your relationship with your mother or mother figure. Learn about your emotional nature and how you express your feelings by studying the Moon’s placement.

When the Moon is in an air sign, you may intellectualize your feelings. In a fire sign, the Moon makes you passionate and impulsive. The Moon in a water sign makes you emotionally expressive. In an earth sign, the Moon makes you stoic.

Like the Sun, the Moon is less significant in current transits. The exception is the New Moon and Full Moon. But when the Moon is in aspects to distant planets, the real-time impact is more significant.

Each of the planets in the solar system has a series of associations. Each rules a sign and a house in the astrological chart. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer and is the ruler of the fourth house.

Mercury

Mercury is named for the messenger god, and it relates to this archetype. Mercury describes how you learn and communicate. This planet also shows insight into your potential for short-distance travel.

Mercury brings attention to your intelligence, alertness, and wit. Mercury can describe how easy or challenging it is to learn new languages and share your thoughts.

Although all planets go retrograde, Mercury’s retrograde is one of the best known because of the disruption it causes. In an era when most people rely on commuting and electronics, this planet’s retrograde motion can be frustrating.

Understand the planets in order to connect the archetypal meanings in the astrological chart. Mercury rules two signs, Gemini and Virgo. This planet is also the ruler of the third and sixth houses in the astrological chart.

Start exploring your birth chart for free today.

Venus

Venus is known as the planet of love, but in astrology, it is more specifically the planet that describes what you value. This planet is associated with beauty, prosperity, and romance.

Venus can also describe your potential in romance. This planet’s placement can show how you attract and manifest wealth and love. Venus is crucial to understanding your potential in relationships and finances.

Venus is a planet known for representing what you find attractive and how you attract what you desire. Venus can also portray how you find beauty and how you bring beauty to the world.

All planets are significant in astrology, but the Sun through Mars represents the personality in the Natal Chart, whereas the distant planets represent social groups and generational experiences.

Venus rules two signs, Taurus and Libra. This planet is also the ruler of the second and seventh houses in the astrological chart. This planet’s energy is expressed in different ways in the two signs it rules.

Mars

Mars is the archetypal planet associated with action, adventure, and energy. Mars shows how you direct your energy and respond to conflict. This planet is associated with your attitude toward challenges.

Mars brings energy and motivation in real-time transits. In the Natal Chart, Mars represents what energizes you. It describes your physical activity level and potential anger issues.

Mars shows how you express passion and what makes you feel passionate. This planet relates to your identity and brings confidence and spontaneity. But this planet can also make you careless and accident-prone.

Ancient astrologers didn’t have photos of planets to base their meanings on. But they associated the planet’s meanings with what they could observe. Mars rules Aries and is the co-ruler of Scorpio. Mars rules the first and eighth houses.

Unlock the secrets of your birth chart with our free calculator.

Jupiter

Jupiter is known for being a giant planet and is associated with largesse. Jupiter is associated with grandiosity and expansion. Although Jupiter can reveal how you experience luck and prosperity based on house placement, its sign placement is less individualized.

Your Jupiter sign is shared by a cohort in your generation, meaning it describes group attitudes and not individualistic traits. But Jupiter’s house placement is a unique marker in your Natal Chart.

Jupiter’s transits in real-time can show how you will experience lucky breaks or a gamble that can pay off for you. Jupiter can be an indicator of generosity and idealism or indicate potential for long-distance travel.

The planets in order of size are not as important as proximity to the Earth. Jupiter is the ruler of the sign Sagittarius and the ruler of the ninth house. This planet is associated with philosophy and growth.

Saturn

Saturn is also among the distant planets whose meaning is more significant to generational cohorts compared to individual personality. The Saturn sign describes patterns of attitudes and experiences shared by portions of society.

Yet Saturn’s placement in the Natal Chart’s houses tells more about your individual experiences. Saturn points to how you experience Karma and restrictions.

Saturn can reveal your nature as an old soul. Saturn shows your potential for commitment and can be an indicator of your relationship with older people or ancestors.

Saturn is known as the planet with rings to laypeople. But to astrologers, this is the planetary ruler of Capricorn and is the ruler of the tenth house. Saturn is associated with tradition, order, and rules.

Unveil the mysteries of your birth chart with our free calculator.

Uranus

Uranus is known as a rebellious and disruptive planet that brings unpredictable changes. Uranus in the Natal Chart shows how you break from tradition and find new insights in unusual ways.

Your Uranus sign speaks to generational patterns of breaking from the past. But the house placement in the Natal Chart gives more specific indications of your rebellious nature as an individual.

When you study Uranus’s transits through the present day, you can anticipate disruptions and changes. This planet shows how society is changing and innovating.

Uranus can also indicate unusual events and unexpected crises or miracles. Expect dramatic changes when Uranus is involved in transit. This planet shows how you experience breakthroughs and epiphanies.

The first eight planets can be revealed when you study present transits. Uranus is the planetary ruler of the sign Aquarius and the eleventh house in the astrological chart.

Neptune

Neptune is a planet associated with depth and emotions. Neptune is known for being mystical and spiritual. This planet brings healing and compassion but can also be intoxicating.

Neptune can bring illusions and challenge you to discern truth from fantasies. Neptune is associated with imagination and psychic potential. It shows how you may fall for fantasies and wishful thinking but can also indicate creativity.

Neptune’s sign placement in the Natal Chart represents a generational trend rather than individual traits. But Neptune is a powerful indicator of healing and connection with others when it transits current signs.

Planets in order from the Sun can be less significant to current transits. Neptune is an example of a planet that has more weight when the present transits are considered compared to the birth sign.

Neptune is the ruler of Pisces and rules the twelfth house in the astrological chart. This planet can be intoxicating and overwhelming but can also show your healing potential.

Gain clarity about your cosmic identity with our free birth chart calculator.

Pluto

Pluto is also a planet that speaks to the group and social trends rather than individualistic behaviors in the Natal Chart. Pluto’s house placement speaks to how you experience power, authority, and transformation.

But Pluto’s transits in real-time can indicate intense and dramatic changes. You can experience profound loss and empowerment based on Pluto’s transits.

You can see Pluto’s impact on matters of sexuality. Pluto represents changing attitudes toward sex and intimacy. Pluto also dredges up secrets and reveals corruption and lies.

The planets and luminaries shape the astrological reading. Pluto is the co-ruler of the sign Scorpio. This planet rules the eighth house in the astrological chart.