Solar system in astrology

In astrology, the planets have been ascribed varying significance and influence over events and people. Listed below are the specific meanings and domains associated with many of these planetary bodies since ancient times. Note that in astrology, the sun and moon are referred to as "planets" for the sake of convenience and following pre-astronomical definition of planet. Sometimes the sun and moon are referred to as "the lights" or the "luminaries".

Planets

Sol

), or Sol, is benign and favorable, and presides over the head. It is usually thought to represent the conscious ego, the self, and the principles of creativity, spontaneity, health and vitality—the life force. The sun is the planetary ruler of Leo.

The sun is associated with Sunday. Dante Alighieri associated the Sun with the liberal art of geometry.

In Chinese astrology, the Sun represents Yang. In Indian astrology, the Sun is called Surya.

Luna

), or Luna, is melancholic and presides over the right arm. The moon is the ruling planet of Cancer. It is associated with a person's emotional make-up, unconscious habits, rhythms, memories and moods. It is also associated with the mother, maternal instincts or the urge to nurture, the home, and the past.

The moon is associated with Monday. Dante Alighieri associated Luna with the liberal art of grammar.

In Chinese astrology, the Moon represents Yin. In Indian astrology, the Moon is called Soma.

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 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 Mercury.

Mercury rules over Wednesday. Dante Alighieri associated Mercury with the liberal art of dialectic.

In Chinese astrology, Mercury is ruled by the element water. In Indian astrology, it is called Budh, a word related to Budhi ("intelligence").

Venus

), associated with the Roman goddess of love, is described as representing love. Venus is 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. It is considered the lesser benefic.

Venus is the planet of Friday. Dante Alighieri associated Venus with the liberal art of rhetoric.

In Chinese astrology, Venus is associated with the element metal. In Indian astrology, Venus is a female planet, known as Shukra.

Mars

) is ardent, and presides over the genitals. Called "The Bringer Of War" in Alan Leo's What is a Horoscope? because the planet is associated with the Roman god of war Mars. Mars is associated with confidence, aggression, energy, ambition, and impulsiveness. It is considered the lesser malefic.

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 traditional astrologers still regard Mars as the only ruler of Scorpio.

Mars is associated with Tuesday. Dante Alighieri associated Mars with the liberal art of arithmetic.

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

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 What is a Horoscope?, Jupiter is associated with the principles of growth, expansion, religion, higher education, prosperity and protecting roles. 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. It is considered the greater benefic.

Jupiter is associated with Thursday. Dante Alighieri associated Jupiter with the liberal art of geometry.

In Chinese astrology, Jupiter is ruled by the element wood. In Indian astrology, Jupiter is known as Guru or Brihaspati.

Saturn

) is the ruling planet of Capricorn and, traditionally, Aquarius. 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. It is considered the greater malefic.

Before the discovery of Uranus, Saturn was also the ruling planet of Aquarius; however, many astrologers still use Saturn as the planetary ruler of both Capricorn and Aquarius. Saturn was called "the Bringer Of Old Age" in Alan Leo's What is a Horoscope? and is considered to represent the part of a person concerned with long-term planning. The Return of Saturn (Saturn return) is said to mark significant events in each person's life.

Saturn is associated with Saturday, which was named after the deity Saturn. Dante Alighieri associated Saturn with the liberal art of astronomia (astrology and astronomy).

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

In Indian astrology, Saturn is called Shani or "Sani", and is the bringer of bad luck. Hindus believe in the existence of nine planets known as Navagraha(s). These Navagrahas were propitiated as planetary influences govern the life of individuals. Shani is identified as an inauspicious planet, and is worshipped by individuals going through a "bad" phase in their life. Sani's father is the Sun God "Surya".

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. Modern interpretation associates Uranus with the principles of genius, new and unconventional ideas, discoveries, electricity, inventions, and radical politics, among other things. Around the period of discovery in 1781, the idea of democracy and the human rights was prevalent, with the breakaway of the American colonies from England and a few years later in 1789, the French revolution.

Neptune

) 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 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 interpretation.

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 more traditional astrologers do not use Pluto as a ruling planet, but do use the planet for interpretation and predictive work.

Pluto is also associated with extreme power and corruption; the discovery of Pluto in 1930 coincided with the rise of fascism in Europe and the major proliferation of organized crime in the United States. It is also associated with nuclear armament, which had its genesis in the research of that decade.

Modern discoveries

While some astrologers trace the roots of astrology to ancient Babylonia, people from those times knew only of the five naked-eye planets, plus the Sun and Moon. Astronomers have since discovered many bodies that are included in the considerations of some astrologers, and some that are not.

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are relatively modern planets; Pluto was discovered in the twentieth century. Three new planet-sized bodies, Sedna, Quaoar, and ("Xena"), have been discovered in the 21st century but not yet incorporated into mainstream astrological predictions.

Some asteroids can be seen with the naked eye, such as Ceres and Vesta, but were not recognized as planetary, and perhaps not even noticed, until the early 1800s. They qualify as minor planets by some definitions. Although asteroids have been known to both astronomers and astrologers for more than 200 years, they are often ignored by astrologers.

Comets and Novae have been observed and discussed for several thousand years. Comets in particular were portents of great interest to ancient people and given various astrological interpretations. Comets are not planets but they are planetary bodies. Both phenomena are rarely visible to the naked-eye, and are ignored by most modern astrologers.

Ruling planets of the astrological signs

In Western astrology, the symbolism associated with the planets also relates to the signs in their various rulerships. For instance, the description of Mars is masculine, impulsive, and active. Aries is ruled by Mars and has a similar description, representing an active, masculine archetype.

Sign	Ruling planet (ancient)	Ruling planet (modern)
Aries	Mars	Pluto*
Taurus	Venus
Gemini	Mercury
Cancer	Moon
Leo	Sun
Virgo	Mercury
Libra	Venus
Scorpio	Mars	Pluto
Sagittarius	Jupiter
Capricorn	Saturn
Aquarius	Saturn	Uranus
Pisces	Jupiter	Neptune

Pluto as modern ruler or co-ruler of Aries is disputed, though the majority of modern astrologers seem to have settled on Scorpio as Pluto's rulership.

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