Planets
In astrology, "planet" has a different meaning from its modern usage. Astrology utilises the ancient geocentric model of the universe in its calculations, and thus employs the term in its original geocentric sense. Before the age of telescopes, the night sky was observed to consist of two very similar components: fixed stars, which remained motionless in relation to each other, and wandering stars, (in ancient Greek: asteres planetai) which appeared to shift their positions relative to the fixed stars over the course of the year. To the Greeks and the other earliest astronomers, this group included the Sun and the Moon along with the five naked eye planets, and excluded the Earth. Astrologers retain this definition today. (see Definition of planet)
Listed below are the specific meanings and domains associated with the astrological planets since ancient times. Sometimes the sun and moon are referred to as "the lights" or the "luminaries".
Classical planets
The seven classical planets are those which can easily be seen with the naked eye, and were thus known to ancient astrologers before the advent of the telescope. Uranus can also just be seen with the naked eye, though no ancient culture appears to have noticed it. The meanings attached to the seven classical planets have been preserved since ancient times.
Sol
According to first-century poet Marcus Manilius in his epic, 8000-verse poem, Astronomica, the Sun ( ), 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
According to Manilius, the moon ( ), 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
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
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
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? 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 the ruling planet of Aries and, for many astrologers, Scorpio. Before the discovery of the planet Pluto, it was universally considered the ruler of Scorpio. Most modern astrologers consider Pluto the ruler of Scorpio, but may regard Mars as a co-ruler, while all 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
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, for many astrologers, also the ruler of 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
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 universally regarded as 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".
Modern planets
Western astrology has incorporated the three planets discovered since the invention of the telescope into its methodology. Other astrologies have tended to retain the ancient seven-planet system. Meanings have had to be assigned to them by modern astrologers, usually according to the major events which occurred in the world at the time of their discovery.
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. 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
Modern Western astrologers associate the planet 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
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 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
Several new planet-sized bodies, including Sedna, Quaoar, and 2003 UB313 ("Xena"), have been discovered in the 21st century but not yet incorporated into mainstream astrological predictions, although some more avant-garde groups attempt to incorporate them see Karmastrology.com.
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.
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