Solar system in astrology

In traditional Western astrology, the planets have the significances listed below. These significances have been handed down since ancient times and come from Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos. Note that in astrology, the Sun and Moon are referred to as "planets" for the sake of convenience. Sometimes the Sun and Moon are referred to as The Lights or the luminaries.

1 The Sun
2 The Moon
3 Mercury
4 Venus
5 Mars
6 Jupiter
7 Saturn
8 Uranus
9 Neptune
10 Pluto
11 See also

The Sun

According to Marcus Manilius (1st century AD) in his epic (8000 verses) poem Astronomica, the Sun is benign and favourable, and presides over the head. It is usually thought to represent the conscious ego, the self, and the principles of creativity, spontaneousness, health and vitality – the life force. The Sun is the planetary ruler of Leo. In Chinese astrology, it represents Yang.

The Moon

Main article:Moon (astrology)

According to Manilius, the Moon is melancholic, and presides over the right arm. The Moon is the ruling planet of Cancer. In astrology, the Moon is thought to be associated with a person's emotional make-up, unconscious habits, rhythms, memories, and moods. It is also associated with emotions in general, the mother, maternal instincts or the urge to nurture, the home, and the past. In Chinese astrology, it represents Yin.

Mercury

In Western astrology, Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini and Virgo. According to Manilius, it is an inconstant, vivacious, and curious planet that presides over the right leg. Called "the winged messenger" in Alan Leo's book What is a Horoscope?, Mercury represents the principles of mentality, thinking patterns, rationality, transport, reasoning, and communication. This follows from the planet being named after the Roman messenger god.

In Chinese astrology, Mercury is ruled by the element water.

Venus

Since the Roman goddess Venus is the goddess of love, in Western astrology the planet Venus is also associated with love. Venus is also associated with the principles of harmony, beauty, balance and the urge to unite. According to Marcus Manilius, Venus is generous and fecund, and presides over the left arm. In Gustav Holst's musical composition The Planets, Venus is called "The Bringer of Peace". Venus is the ruling planet of Taurus and Libra.

In Chinese astrology, Venus is associated with the element metal.

Mars

According to Manilius, the planet Mars is ardent, and presides over the genitals. Called "The Bringer Of War" in Alan Leo's What is a Horoscope?, since the planet is associated with the Roman god of war, Mars in Western astrology is associated with confident and aggressive personalities. It is also associated with the principles of energy, ambition and drive.

Mars is considered the ruling planet of Aries. Before the discovery of the planet Pluto, it was also considered the ruler of Scorpio. Most modern astrologers consider Pluto the ruler of Scorpio, but may regard Mars as a co-ruler, while some more traditional astrologers still regard Mars as the only ruler of Scorpio.

In Chinese astrology, Mars is ruled by the element fire.

Jupiter

In Western astrology, the planet Jupiter is associated with merrymaking. According to Manilius, Jupiter is temperate and benign, and presides over the stomach. Called "The Bringer Of Jollity" in Alan Leo's book What is a Horoscope?, Jupiter is the ruling planet of Sagittarius, and was also that of Pisces prior to the discovery of Neptune. Many astrologers still consider Jupiter to be the Planetary Ruler of both Sagittarius and Pisces.

In Chinese astrology, Jupiter is ruled by the element wood.

Jupiter is associated with the principles of growth, expansion, faith, prosperity and protecting roles.

Saturn

In Western astrology, Saturn is the Ruling Planet of Capricorn. According to Manilius, Saturn is sad, morose and cold, and presides over the left leg. It is associated with the principles of limitation, restrictions, boundaries, reality, crystallizing and structures. Before the discovery of Uranus, Saturn was also the ruling planet of Aquarius. Saturn is called "the Bringer Of Old Age" in Alan Leo's book What is a Horoscope?, and is considered to represent the part of a person concerned with long-term planning.

In Chinese astrology, Saturn is ruled by the element Earth.

Uranus

For some modern Western astrologers, the planet Uranus is the ruling planet of Aquarius. Manilius was unaware of the planet's existence, because it was discovered only in 1781 by Sir William Herschel. Uranus is associated with the principles of genius, new and unconventional ideas, discoveries, inventions, radical politics. Around the period of discovery in 1781, the idea of democracy and the human rights was prevalent, with the breakaway of the US from England and a few years later in 1789, the French revolution.

Neptune

The planet Neptune is associated with illusion, deception, religions, spirituality, the mass media, music, drugs, extreme sensitivity, psychic phenomena and altered mental states. The discovery of Neptune in 1846 coincided with the discovery of anesthetics and hypnotism around this period.

For some Western astrologers, Neptune is the ruling planet of Pisces. Prior to the discovery of Neptune, Jupiter was considered the ruler of Pisces, and some modern astrologers consider Jupiter a co-ruler of Pisces. Some astrologers do not believe that Neptune rules any particular sign, even though they may use the planet in chart interpretation.

Pluto

To some modern Western astrologers, Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio. Called "the great renewer", Pluto is considered to represent the part of a person that destroys in order to renew. A commonly used keyword for Pluto is "transformation." Many (traditional and modern) astrologers do not use Pluto as a ruling planet but do use the planet for chart interpretation and predictive work. Pluto is also associated with extreme power and corruption and the discovery of Pluto in 1930 coincided with the rise of Fascism in Europe and the major proliferation of organized crime in the USA. It is also associated with nuclear armament which had its genesis in the research of that decade.