| Name | Dignity | Detriment | Exaltation | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sun |
Leo | Aquarius | Aries | Libra |
 Moon |
Cancer | Capricorn | Taurus | Scorpio |
 Mercury |
Gemini | Sagittarius (Pisces) | Aquarius | Leo |
 Venus |
Taurus | Scorpio (Aries) | Pisces | Virgo |
 Mars |
Aries | Libra (Taurus) | Capricorn | Cancer |
 Jupiter |
Sagittarius | Gemini (Virgo) | Cancer | Capricorn |
 Saturn |
Capricorn | Cancer (Leo) | Libra | Aries |
 Uranus |
Aquarius | Leo | Scorpio | Taurus |
 Neptune |
Pisces | Virgo | Libra | Aquarius |
 Pluto |
Scorpio, Aries |
Sun
Keywords
-
- BASIC
- Individuality, what one really is, vitality, will, chief ambitions, those in authority, men.
- POSITIVE
- Generosity, dignity.
- NEGATIVE
- Despotism, arrogance, ostentation, lack of ambition, animalistic qualities.
Mythology & Symbolism
Each planet in astrology is named after — and shares its nature with — a deity from Greco-Roman mythology. Understanding these myths deepens our interpretation of planetary energies in the birth chart.
☉ Sun — Sol / Apollo
Apollo, Greek god of the sun, music, poetry, art and prophecy — brilliant, radiant and commanding. The Sun represents the conscious self, will, vitality and one's core identity. It is the life-giving centre around which everything else revolves.
Astrological symbolism: Ego, purpose, father, authority, creativity, the heart.
☽ Moon — Luna / Selene / Artemis
Selene drove her silver chariot across the night sky; Artemis was the huntress, goddess of the moon and wild nature. The Moon governs the tides, emotions and all cyclical processes. It represents the unconscious mind and our instinctual responses.
Astrological symbolism: Emotions, mother, instinct, home, memory, the past.
☿ Mercury — Mercurius / Hermes
Hermes, the swift messenger of the gods, guided souls between worlds and was patron of travellers, merchants and thieves. He was the only god who could move freely between Olympus, Earth and the Underworld. Mercury rules all forms of communication and the rational mind.
Astrological symbolism: Communication, intellect, travel, commerce, siblings, nervous system.
♀ Venus — Venus / Aphrodite
Aphrodite, born from sea-foam, was the goddess of love, beauty and desire. Her power could move even the mightiest gods. She personifies the principle of attraction — the magnetic force that draws things together in harmony and union.
Astrological symbolism: Love, beauty, art, pleasure, relationships, values, money.
♂ Mars — Mars / Ares
Ares, the fierce god of war, embodied raw aggression, courage and physical conflict. Unlike the strategic Athena, Ares represented the brutal, instinctual side of battle. Mars channels this energy as drive, desire and the will to act and conquer.
Astrological symbolism: Drive, aggression, sex, courage, conflict, physical energy, desire.
♃ Jupiter — Iuppiter / Zeus
Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, ruled with wisdom and authority from Mount Olympus. He governed divine law, justice and order, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked. Jupiter represents expansion, abundance and the search for higher truth.
Astrological symbolism: Expansion, abundance, wisdom, philosophy, law, higher education, luck.
♄ Saturn — Saturnus / Cronos
Cronos (Cronus), the Titan who ruled before Zeus, devoured his children to prevent being overthrown — embodying fear, time and limitation. Saturn is the planet of karma, discipline and the lessons we must learn through hardship and perseverance.
Astrological symbolism: Discipline, responsibility, karma, time, limitations, structure, father figures.
♅ Uranus — Uranus / Ouranos
Ouranos, the primordial sky god, was overthrown by his own son Cronos in an act of sudden, revolutionary change. Discovered in 1781 during the Age of Enlightenment, Uranus rules over revolution, invention, sudden change and the liberation of the individual.
Astrological symbolism: Revolution, freedom, technology, innovation, sudden change, eccentricity.
♆ Neptune — Neptunus / Poseidon
Poseidon, god of the seas, earthquakes and horses, ruled the boundless, shapeshifting ocean — representing the formless, the mystical and the beyond. Neptune dissolves boundaries, blurs reality and opens gateways to imagination, compassion and spiritual transcendence.
Astrological symbolism: Illusion, spirituality, compassion, dreams, addiction, transcendence, the ocean.
♇ Pluto — Pluto / Hades
Hades, lord of the Underworld, presided over death, the dead and the riches buried beneath the earth. His realm was inescapable — yet also the source of all underground wealth. Pluto governs deep psychological transformation, death and rebirth, and the hidden forces of power.
Astrological symbolism: Transformation, death & rebirth, power, the unconscious, evolution, destruction and renewal.
Chiron, the immortal centaur, was accidentally wounded by a poisoned arrow and could not heal himself despite being the greatest healer of the ancient world. Rather than despair, he channelled his suffering into wisdom and became a renowned teacher of heroes like Achilles and Asclepius.
Astrological symbolism: Core wounds, healing, teaching, bridging the material and spiritual, mentorship.
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The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. (Eden Phillpotts)