The History of Astrology
Little did I know 30 years ago when I mistakenly purchased an Astrology book, believing it to be a novel, I had just opened the door to an ancient system of insight and divination. A system as it turns out that would profoundly change my life. Like Alice through the Looking Glass, I fell into a world of signs and symbols representing some of humankind’s earliest observations and collective wisdom dating back almost 5,000 years.
In the Beginning
Today astrology and astronomy are distinct and separate disciplines. This wasn’t always so. Approximately 2000 B. C. our ancestors watched, studied, and mapped the movement of constellations of stars and planets as these celestial bodies appeared to rise over the Eastern horizon, and move on their appointed course across the sky. What at first must have seemed like random occurrences or chaos began to appear as purposeful patterns.
Based on years of watching this cosmic dance, observers created theories. Knowledge of repeating patterns became useful tools to predict seasons and weather conditions. These in turn guided the planting and harvesting of crops, migrations from one geographical area to another, and similar behaviors. In no small way, I am indebted to these early astrologers for painstakingly crafting observations into recommendations. Otherwise, I might be planting my vegetable garden in February instead of May! Hopefully it comes as no surprise that we are the fortunate recipients of our ancestors due diligence in connecting the celestial dots.
From the Egyptians to the Babylonians, to the Greeks, and Romans, the growing body of knowledge known as Astrology spread across the world. Why? Because it works. Success with predicting weather and natural disasters evolved into more sophisticated and complex theories and beliefs. These allowed devotees to take another leap and use the mapping of the celestial bodies to understand and predict events in the lives of human beings.
Soon it was not just farmers who relied on Astrology, but also kings and rulers kept cosmic savvy advisors by their sides. Great philosophers and mathematicians including Ptolemy, Plato, Aristotle, Copernicus and Sir Isaac Newton were among those scientists who experimented with the application of theories of astronomy and astrology. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician is quoted as saying “A physician without a knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician.” Historically Astrology has been used to plan important actions ranging from declaring war to celebrating a wedding.
Throughout the history of Astrology, various cultures adopted these principles in one form or another. Systems were revised and adapted. In some cases, cultures developed their own fairly unique versions and interpretations. For example, there are 5 chinese zodiac elements (fire, wood, earth, metal, and water) and 12 animals. Today, Vedic and Western Astrology are probably the most popular and prevalent systems, with Western Astrology also known as Tropical, being the most familiar. (As a Western Astrologer, this article reflects my understanding and experience with this version.)
We Are More Than Our Sun Signs
What first grabbed my attention and made me give Astrology a second look, was realizing the history of astrology provides a rich, complex, but cohesive picture that involves not only the Sun, but all the known planets in our solar system. “What’s your Sun Sign?” is not only an antiquated pick-up line; it’s only the tip of the cosmic iceberg.
Throughout time, astrologers have developed simple yet sophisticated meanings for each of the planets. For example, the Sun represents personal ego and how we think of ourselves. The Moon describes emotional expression and may also be a key to understanding the relationship with our mothers. Mars represents motivation; Saturn is the planet of discipline; and so on. The real practice of astrology is far more complex and interesting than the familiar paragraph predictions based on Sun Sign Astrology. However, these pithy daily, weekly, or monthly horoscopes can be amazingly accurate and helpful!
Comparing Sun Sign Astrology to the usual more comprehensive practice of Astrology feels something like this. It’s the difference between telling you I am a woman; or telling you I am a woman raised by Catholic parents with nine siblings, with a master’s degree in business, a practicing animal communicator, convinced chocolate is one of the major food groups, and has a thing for James Bond movie music. Can you appreciate the richness and depth in the second approach?
Astrology Charts
Getting useful information using Astrology usually begins with the calculation of a chart. Simply, it is a picture of the earth and the surrounding constellations and planets at a specified time. Historically astrologers have recognized 12 star constellations which in turn are associated with the 12 Astrological Signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer and so on. Most often, Astrology charts are drawn as circles and divided into 12 sections that look like pie wedges. Each of the 12 constellations or signs has its place around the perimeter of the circle of the chart. Each of the pie wedges are referred to as Houses each representing an area of life. For example partnerships, home, parents, siblings, work, career, money, friendships, and health as well as other important components are represented.
Charts are drawn according to mathematical calculations factoring in time, and location. Using the calculations along with ancient charts and graphs, an astrology chart for a specific individual birth or event can be drawn. Thank God for computers and modern astrological software. They make it possible for modern day astrologers to cast charts simply and with great precision. Having started out manually casting charts with blank paper, pencil, calculator and reference books, I have great appreciation for those who preceded me and for those software innovators!
Why Astrology?
The History of Astrology can be fascinating. But let’s face it. What interests me more is what can I do with it now? Why should I bother?
Astrology is used very effectively in the hands of competent practitioners as a tool for choosing the perfect date for a wedding, a root canal, or launching a successful business. However, one of its greatest contributions is in demystifying the human psyche. Astrological interpretation provides the basis for building a psychological profile of an individual or event based on the placement of the planets in Astrological signs and in the 12 chart houses at the time of birth. Along with planets, signs, and houses, astrologers carefully consider the interaction and relationship of each planet to the others. Collectively, we can build an insightful picture.
Astrology charts hold the keys to understanding many of life’s conundrums. They can describe how a person is likely to express their feelings. Do they take their cue from the air element and think them over or talk them out? Maybe they get physical like doing housework, mowing the lawn or chopping wood to work out frustration or anger. We can look at Mercury for clues to how a person thinks, learns or shares information. An Astrology chart also holds information about where we feel wounded, alone, alienated or ineffective. Fortunately they also can tell us about our strengths and greatest personal assets.
Parting Thoughts
Like all tools, Astrology is best left in the hands of experienced and trustworthy practitioners. The good news is there are plenty available. More good news: astrology may seem complicated and you’ll get no argument from me. However, learning this ancient tool can be easy especially when approached like peeling an onion – one layer at a time. Every layer can be rewarding and can enrich our lives many times over.
Astrology remains a controversial science, praised and touted by some, debunked by others. However, history demonstrates its universal appeal.
It’s not just you and I who may keep an astrologer on our speed dial. We are in the company of kings, emperors, philosophers, physicians, notable scientists, rock stars, world leaders, entrepreneurs and many others who are open to using the art of Astrology to inform our choices. The key word in that sentence is “inform”. Astrology like many other disciplines and sciences should never become our only point of reference or source of information and guidance.
How to Get a Great Astrological Reading
- Start by finding a great astrologer
- Ask friends, family, or co-workers for referrals
- Often metaphysical and spiritually-oriented websites, stores, and businesses can provide names
- Don’t be afraid to ask for references or ask the potential Astrologer for information about their background and their style of reading
- Be clear about the purpose or intention for the reading. Are you looking for general information? Are you trying to schedule an important event like a wedding? Are you looking for clarity about your love life or maybe you want direction about changing careers or starting your own business
- Most people remember only a small fraction of what they hear. If you are interested in getting a recording of your session, make this arrangement before your appointment
- Assume the posture of a student or “beginner’s mind”. If you have a genuine intention of hearing valuable information or gaining insight, chances are you will
- Don’t leave your rational mind, intuition or common sense at home. Although you are relying on an expert, no one’s opinion should be more important than your own. As many have stated or paraphrased before, “Don’t be so open minded your brain falls out”
- Expect that much of what you hear will confirm what you already know or suspect about yourself, your emotions, your attitudes, beliefs, motivations and personality. That being said, it’s lovely to get confirmation
- Resist the temptation to dismiss information without at least considering it. It’s very typical that clients tell me something they initially did not understand or found difficult to accept, later was proven accurate and true. This includes very positive qualities. It is sometimes hard to hear and accept reflections that are positive about ourselves
- Run away as fast as you can, if a reading even hints at manipulation or a reader attempts to coerce you into a behavior that is uncomfortable. This includes suggestions that you are under a spell, possessed, or in some way under a black cloud or karmic obligation the Astrologer can release in exchange for something – usually money! I’m embarrassed that I even have to mention this one; but unfortunately, in every profession there are those whose integrity or ethics are suspect
Unless your situation or question is very serious, have fun. And even if your situation is serious, try to enjoy yourself when you explore astrology.
About the Author
Planets in Astrology: What They Are and What Each One Represents
When you say you are a Leo or a Taurus, you are talking about the position of a single celestial body: the Sun. But your birth chart has many more protagonists: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and each one is connected to a different part of who you are.
Some speak of how you feel, others of how you think, love, desire, act, or face life’s changes. That is why, when you look at them together, you begin to understand that your personality does not respond to a single energy, but to many forces in dialogue with one another.
In this article, we explore what planets are in astrology, what each one represents, and why the same planet can express itself very differently from one person to another.
Table of Contents
- What Are Planets in Astrology
- Personal Planets: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars
- Social Planets: Jupiter and Saturn
- Transpersonal Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
- What Planet Rules Each Sign
- How a Planet Changes According to the Sign and House
What Are Planets in Astrology
Your Sun sign is only the doorway into astrology. It speaks of where the Sun was when you were born, and that is why it defines the sign you usually say you are. But, at that same moment, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and other planets were also there, each occupying a different position in the sky.
For astrology, those planets represent different parts of you. The Moon speaks of your emotions; Mercury, of your way of thinking; Venus, of how you love; and Mars, of how you go after what you want.
When you were born, each planet was located at a specific point in the sky and, more precisely, in a zodiac sign. That combination is key: the planet shows what energy is being expressed, while the sign shows the tone, rhythm, or way in which that energy manifests. Venus in Taurus, which usually seeks stability and pleasure, is not the same as Venus in Gemini, which is more curious, mental, and changeable.
The planet indicates what part of you is at play; the sign shows how it is expressed. And when all those elements combine within the birth chart, a much more complete reading than the one offered by your Sun sign alone appears. That is why two people of the same sign can be very different: even if both have the Sun in Leo, they may have the Moon, Venus, or Mars in completely different signs.
In the episode Fundamentals of Astrology, from the series Beyond Belief, available on Gaia, Heather Arielle explains the basics of astrology and how a birth chart is read. Through its main elements, she shows the role of the planets and how they can help you better understand the way you feel, think, and act.
Personal Planets: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars
Among all the planets in the birth chart, there are five that feel especially close: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. They are called personal planets because they describe aspects you recognize in your daily life: how you are, how you feel, how you think, what attracts you, and how you act. They are also the ones that move fastest through the sky: the Moon, the fastest of all, changes signs every two or three days; the others, in a matter of weeks.
That speed is exactly what makes them so personal. Because they change signs so often, their position depends almost on the exact moment you were born: two people born just a few days apart may already have them in different signs. That is why they are called personal: they describe what is most intimate and unique to you.
Before continuing, a clarification: the Sun and the Moon are not planets in astronomy, but astrology includes them in this group and treats them the same way. It is worth keeping this in mind, because they are the two most important pieces of your entire chart.
- The Sun is the heart of your chart and the piece you already know without realizing it: when you say “I’m a Gemini” or “I’m a Leo,” you are talking about it. It marks the sign where the Sun was on the day of your birth and represents the core of who you are: your identity, your way of expressing yourself, and what makes you feel most authentic.
- The Moon is its most intimate counterpart: if the Sun is who you are, it is how you feel. It governs your emotional world: how you react inside, what comforts you, and what you need in order to feel calm. It is your most private part —the one that appears when you are in a place of trust and lower your guard— and that is why it is usually noticed only by the people who know you closely.
- Mercury deals with how you think and how you communicate: whether you get straight to the point or take detours, whether you decide quickly or need to think things over many times before speaking. It is the planet that appears every time you reason, write a message, or explain an idea.
- Venus speaks of what you enjoy and what attracts you: your sense of beauty and the tastes you have almost without thinking about them. But it has a second side that is just as important: the way you love and show affection. Looking at your Venus helps you understand why you like what you like and why you fall in love the way you do.
- Mars is your engine: the energy with which you pursue what you want, the way you get angry, and the drive you put into making things happen. If Venus is what attracts you, Mars is what you do to go after it.
Social Planets: Jupiter and Saturn
After Mars, the rhythm becomes slower. Jupiter spends about a year in each sign, and Saturn about two and a half years. Because they move so slowly, they no longer describe your everyday gestures, but longer processes: in which areas of your life you expand, and in which ones you need to create order, take responsibility, and mature.
They are known as social planets because they speak of your relationship with the world around you: the place you occupy in it and the way you respond to its rules and opportunities. If the personal planets look inward, these look outward.
- Jupiter is the planet of growth and confidence. It points to the areas where things usually come easily to you, where you feel secure and dare to take risks without so much fear. It is that part of your life where you feel you have plenty of room to grow.
- Saturn is exactly the opposite: the planet of limits, responsibility, and sustained effort. It marks where life demands more from you, where you need to mature, have patience, and move forward step by step. Although it may seem severe, it is the one that pushes you to truly grow and build things that last.
Between the two, they balance each other: Jupiter invites you to open up and take risks; Saturn, to bring order and consistency.
Transpersonal Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
We now reach the three farthest planets, which are also the slowest. They move so calmly that they can spend many years in the same sign: Uranus, about seven; Neptune, close to fourteen; and Pluto, depending on the stretch of its orbit, even more than twenty. That means that all people born in the same era have them in the same sign. That is why they are called transpersonal: they go beyond the personal and portray an entire generation, not an individual.
Even so, the exact point where each one falls in your chart says something about you. They do not mark your everyday traits, but deep forces that act underneath, almost without you noticing, and that become visible especially in the moments that truly transform you.
- Uranus is the spark that breaks with what has been established: the impulse to step outside the mold and do things your own way, even if it makes others uncomfortable. It points to the part of you that cannot stand routine and that, every so often, needs to change everything.
- Neptune dissolves the boundaries between the real and the imaginary. It rules dreams, sensitivity, and spiritual life, but also the tendency to idealize and see things as more beautiful than they are. It is your most dreamy side, for better and for worse.
- Pluto is the most intense of the three. It speaks of what transforms from the root: what dies within you and is born again after a crisis or a hard blow. It points to where you experience the deepest changes, the kind you come out of as a different person.
What Planet Rules Each Sign
So far, you have seen the planets moving through the signs: each one fell in a different sign depending on the day you were born. But between planets and signs, there is another kind of bond, much more fixed, that does not depend on any particular chart. Each sign has a leading planet, its ruler: the one it most resembles and from which it inherits a good part of its way of being.
That bond never changes. No matter where the planets are today or where they were when you were born: each sign keeps the same ruler forever.
That explains why so many signs sound so similar to “their” planet. Aries is direct and combative, just like Mars, the planet of drive; Taurus is calm and a lover of pleasures, just like Venus. Knowing the ruler of a sign is, in the end, another way of understanding what it is like.
This is the correspondence between each sign and its planet:
- Aries: Mars
- Taurus: Venus
- Gemini: Mercury
- Cancer: the Moon
- Leo: the Sun
- Virgo: Mercury
- Libra: Venus
- Scorpio: Pluto
- Sagittarius: Jupiter
- Capricorn: Saturn
- Aquarius: Uranus
- Pisces: Neptune
Notice that some planets rule two signs: Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, and Venus rules Taurus and Libra. The Sun and the Moon, on the other hand, rule only one each.
There is also a curious detail. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered relatively recently; before that, their signs —Aquarius, Pisces, and Scorpio— were ruled by other planets: Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. That is why, in more traditional astrology, you will still see those older pairings.
How a Planet Changes According to the Sign and House
The same planet is not experienced in the same way by everyone. You have already seen part of that difference: it depends on the sign it fell in, what astrology names when it says “Venus in Taurus” or “Mars in Leo.” But the sign does not act alone. Alongside it, a second factor comes into play: the astrological house, and together they explain why the same planet ends up expressing itself in a unique way in each chart.
Imagine it as a play.
- The planet is the actor: the part of you that comes into action. Mars, for example, is your drive, that energy with which you go after what you want.
- The sign is the character of that actor, the style with which it moves: calmly, intensely, or cautiously. A Mars in Aries acts quickly and without thinking too much; that same drive, in a more cautious sign, would take its time.
- And the house is the stage: the area of your life where that actor comes out to perform. The houses are the twelve sections into which astrology divides your chart, and each one represents a specific field: work, love, money, family, health. Each planet is located in one of them, and that indicates where in your life it is felt most strongly.
Let’s look at it with an example. Imagine Mars —your drive— in the sign of Aries, which makes it impulsive and direct, located in the house of work. The reading would be more or less like this: you put almost all your energy into work, and you do it quickly and decisively, without overthinking it.
That same Mars in Aries, but located in the house of partnership, would bring all that drive into your relationships. The actor and its character are the same; the only thing that changes is the stage, the area of your life where all of that is noticed.
That is why two people can have the same planet in the same sign and experience it in very different ways: each one carries it in a different house, in a different part of their life. And from that unique mix —planet, sign, and house, repeated with each one throughout the entire chart— someone is born who does not completely resemble anyone else.
