Why there are planets in astrology?
Planets get a lot of attention in the astrology world after all, the only thing you need to know to read your daily horoscope is your Sun sign. But the world of astrology is big, bright, and beautiful, and if you want to know what the stars are really trying to communicate, you need to have an idea about what planets mean in astrology.
It's not breaking news that planets are a thing in the astrology world after all, interpreting the movement of the planets and other celestial bodies through the sky (and zodiac) is exactly what astrology is. But understanding the planets will help you make more sense of things like your Sun and Moon signs, and you'll be better clued in the next time someone's ranting about Mercury going retrograde again, or how Venus relates to their love life.
You're probably already familiar with the planets of our little old solar system, but have a seat back at your desk, because planets in astrology are defined a little differently than what you learned in school.
Firstly, in astrology, the Sun and the Moon are both considered planets and are referred to as the "luminaries." Of course, we know these aren't planets in the astronomical sense the Sun is actually a star and the Moon is, well, a moon but they are vitally important celestial bodies in astrology. Also, in astrology, Pluto is still a planet, too. While astronomers may have demoted it to a mere dwarf planet a few years back, in astrology land it's still a full-fledged planet, and it's just as powerful. The last major difference is that we'll scratch the Earth from the list of planets in astrology, because we live on it, and because astrology takes an Earth-centric view of the cosmos. All in all, that makes for 10 major planets.
In astrology, each of the planets represent a different set of qualities and characteristics, and rule over a different part of our lives, each bringing with them their own unique vibes and directives. You can think of the planets as characters, each with different goals, interests, and jobs. Everyone has the same 10 major planets in their astrological birth chart, but they express themselves totally differently based on the zodiac sign they're located in.
As I mentioned, the Sun and Moon are known as the luminaries, while Mercury, Venus, and Mars are known as "inner planets." Both the luminaries and the inner planets "move" (from our vantage point here on Earth, anyway) relatively quickly from sign to sign, and therefore have more of an influence over day-to-day, shorter-term issues. Jupiter and Saturn come next, and they're sometimes known as the "social planets" or "transpersonal planets," given that they govern areas of our lives that relate to interpersonal issues. Some people may categorize these two giants as either inner or outer planets, too, since they fall just in the middle. Finally, we reach the "outer planets," which officially include Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. These babies move more slowly through the zodiac chart, therefore influencing larger, more grand-scheme parts of your life and self, as well as society as a whole. And when someone refers to a planet as "benefic," it refers to their association with bringing really good vibes (Jupiter and Venus are known as benefics). Conversely, "malefic" planets, such as Saturn and Mars, are known for having tougher, more destructive energy (although we love and need them nonetheless!).
In order to know how the planets affect us, well, that all depends on where they're located in the zodiac at any given time. Planets travel through different zodiac signs as they move through the sky, and their energy plays out differently depending on what sign they're in, kind of like putting a filter over a photo. If you want to know where your natal planets are, you'll have to check out your birth chart. Once you know where each of the planets lives in your personal chart (which includes 12 astrological houses, as well as 12 zodiac signs that overlap with said houses), you'll be able to look at how you express their energy, what parts of your life they show up in, and even examine the relationships between the planets, known as aspects. So planets themselves don't cause anything to happen, it's more about where they're placed and how they interact with other parts of your chart. And this is why there are planets in astrology.
Posts before October 2021 have been marked as "Old Posts". Less likely, but they might have out dated or incorrect information, ugly looking bits of code, no labels, etc. Don't get me wrong, many of these posts are top-notch and interesting too.
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
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