THE SEVEN(?) PLANETS

In Astrology, there are seven major bodies from which significations are drawn, referred to as Planets: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. There are also two points known as the Shadow Planets: Rahu and Ketu, which are the nodes of the Moon. It is the interaction between these nine bodies that we can draw complex significations and come to deep understandings. Each are briefly described below.

The Sun is the primary planet in Astrology, much like it is the primary force in our Solar System. He is firm, powerful, and enduring - symbolizing confidence and self worth. He is ambitious, strong and zealous, honoring religion and moral code. His element is Fire and his people are kings, leaders, and authoritative figures. His sign is Leo.

The Moon is the relaxing, night-time counterpart to the Sun. She represents our mind and our emotions. She is calm, gentle, and sweet - offering empathy in place of the Sun’s intensity. She represents internal peace. Her element is Water and her people are mothers and other maternal figures. Her sign is Cancer.

Mercury is the quick, witty planet of intelligence. They adapt to any role seamlessly and easily and are excellent at math and science. They symbolizes friendships, recreation, and play. Mercury’s element is Earth. Their people are students and the youth. This planet owns two signs: Gemini and Virgo.

Venus is the kind, lovely planet of beauty and romance. She symbolizes unity and togetherness. She is empathetic and full of desire. She loves both collecting and sharing her wealth. Her element is Water and her people are artists, celebrities, and women in general. Venus owns Taurus and Libra.

Mars is the dark, cruel planet of power and energy. He is cunning, dominant and belligerent. He is selfish and overflowing with ambition and greed. He conveys physical activity and exercise, as well as practical work. He is furious and disrespectful. His element is Fire and his people are warriors, criminals, and men in general. Mars owns Aries and Scorpio.

Jupiter is the opulent advisor, conveying success and spiritual comprehension. He is wealthy, abundant and generous, conveying compassion and morality. He is deeply lawful and represents religion and belief. His element is Ether and his people are teachers and guides. Jupiter owns Sagittarius and Pisces.

Lazy, miserable, and broken, Saturn, filled with gloom and darkness, slowly crawls across the sky. They convey hard work and longevity, but also suffering and death. They are old, sickly, and depressed. They are overlooked, exploited and used as a stepping stone for the goals of those more powerful. Their element is Air and their people are laborers, workers, and the masses in general. Saturn owns Capricorn and Aquarius.

The final two planets aren’t really planets at all.

Rahu and Ketu are Shadow Planets - they don’t really exist in the way you’d expect. Their positions are formed when the Moon crosses from the northern latitude to the southern one on the ecliptic, and vice versa. When the Moon and Sun both exist at either of these points simultaneously, an Eclipse occurs, creating a brief moment of chaos and confusion. This is where the nodes get their significations.

Rahu is the node of the North. The dragon’s head. She symbolizes an unstable pull toward materialistic progress - an incessant outward expansion. She is shallow, disingenuous, and hungry - endlessly consuming as if she were a head without a body.

Ketu is the node of the South. The dragon’s tail. They symbolize the unstable pull inward toward spiritual progress - an imbalanced inward magnification. They are impossibly deep, obsessed with unseen meaning, and only satisfied with spiritual development - endlessly wandering as if they were a body without a head.

Combined, the nodes are agents of chaos, causing destruction to anything in their path. They are the only two planets that can overtake the Sun.

Their people are outcastes. Rahu symbolizing liars and manipulators, and Ketu representing spiritualists and mystics. Rahu is Air, Ketu is Fire. Neither of them own any sign.