The Planets - The Astrological Pantheon
The planets are the WHAT of the astrological language. They show the big themes and topics relevant to everyone’s life and as such are the actors that make things happen.
In a natal chart, each planet is situated within one zodiac sign and within one house. The sign shows how a planet must unfold its themes and topics, while the house shows what life area the themes and topics are connected to.
Each planet is the ruler of one or two zodiac signs. This zodiac sign is considered the home (domicile) of that planet, because there, the planet can unfold its themes and topics through qualities that are aligned with its nature.
Each planet also has a house that it likes to be in, this is called the joy of a planet. It is the life area in which the planet can best unfold its themes and topics because it matches the planet’s nature.
The Luminaries
The Sun and the Moon are called the Luminaries for their ability to emit and receive light. They are the father and mother of the natal chart and are meant to guide you through your life.
The Sun is the core of your chart and shows your identity. Like a seed holds the potential of becoming a tree or a flower, the Sun contians who you might become during your lifetime. The Sun is at home in Leo and finds its joy in the 9th House.
The Moon is your filter, it colors the way in which you perceive the outside world through your emotions and intuitions. The Moon is at home in Cancer and finds its joy in the 3rd House.
The Personal Planets
Mercury, Venus and Mars are the Personal Planets because they shape who you are through your thoughts, desires and actions.
Mercury is the mind and mouth of your chart, it shapes how you think about things as well as how you talk about them. It is at home in Gemini and Virgo and finds its joy in the 1st House.
Venus is the heart of your chart, it shapes your desires and values, so you know what to attract into your life. It is at home in Taurus and Libra and finds its joy in the 5th House.
Mars is the muscles of your chart, it shapes the way in which you take action and assert your willpower. It is at home in Aries and Scorpio and finds its joy in the 6th House.
The Social Planets
Jupiter and Saturn are the Social Planets because they influence how you interact and connect with the world around you.
Jupiter is the higher mind of your chart, it is the meaning-making faculty, that tries to make sense of the world, and houses your life philosophy. It is at home in Sagittarius and Pisces and finds its joy in the 11th House.
Saturn is the fundament of your chart, it shapes the rules and regulations of your life and contains all its limits. It is at home in Capricorn and Aquarius and finds its joy in the 12th House.
The Collective Planets
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are the Collective Planets because they oversee the development of entire generations. In the natal chart they hold personal significance via their house placement as well as their connections to the personal planets and luminaries.
Discovered relatively recently, the collective planets are not integrated into the rulership system, which shows where a planet finds its home. Neither do they have a house of joy. There is however some affintiy between a collective planet and a sign.
Uranus is the rebel of astrology. It is here to burn Saturn’s guidebook and cause a revolution, to liberate us from societal boxes through unsual ideas and a progressive spirit. It has an affinity with Aquarius.
Neptune is the mystic of astrology. It is here to dissolve the walls of reality and unite us with something bigger than mere matter. It does so through sheer endless compassion, boundless imagination and a connection with the otherworldly and spiritual. It has an affinity with Pisces.
Pluto is the alchemist of astrology. It is here to unearth the hidden, to bring the secret to light and transform the discarded into something new by delving into even the murkiest of places. It has an affinity with Scorpio.
Good vs. Bad Planets?
Traditional astrology divides the planets based on their ability to bring about positive and negative situations. Here, Mercury is seen as neutral, Venus and Jupiter as benefic, and Mars and Saturn as malefic.
There is reason to this distinction. The topics associated with Venus (pleasure and harmony) and Jupiter (abunance and wisdom) are generally positive, while the topics of Mars (conflict and strife) as well as Saturn (limitation and hardship) are generally difficult. But this works only on an archetypal level when the planets are looked at in isolation, without the context of a natal chart.
Real life is a mixture of all planets and signs and houses, it is situational, and good things may come through conflict while bad things may come from seeking too much pleasure.
A good or bad outcome can’t be guaranteed no matter what planet is involved, and fretting about Saturn delivering a deathblow when on is in great health is as useless as hoping Jupiter will offer us a lottery win when we haven’t bought a ticket. The planets are here to offer insight and while they can give voice to periods of ease and challenge, they do not guarantee them.