The planets are the actors in the horoscope, so if life is a theatrical play, then the planets are the actors who each have a role. It is the planets that can act and do something in the horoscope. Although the role is roughly given based on which planet it is, it is the sign that the planet is in that gives the planet its clothes and make-up, so to speak, and thus determines how the planet will play its role.
The house determines where on the stage the planet plays from. Does it stand in the middle and lead the battle (10th house) or is it hidden to the side and difficult to spot (e.g. 8th or 12th house)?
The descriptions of the planets below are focused on how they are interpreted in a birth chart. Astrology is a large subject, and the interpretation of the planets in other branches of astrology, e.g. the moment astrology or mundane astrology is different.
The planets are very different, this applies both astronomically and in the astrological interpretation. Astrology generally divides the planets into three groups. The personal planets, the social planes, and the collective planes.
The personal planets
This group consists of The Sun, The Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These planets move relatively quickly around the horoscope, which means that even if there are two people born close to each other in terms of time, these planets are not the same. The personal planets are the ones we all use in our everyday life. It is our will, needs, communication, emotions, and agency, which for most people are active and in use every single day. They are the ones who give us our immediate character traits, such as a gentle or violent temperament, a loving or cold approach, an ability to put yourself through or to get along with others, etc.
The social planets
The social planets are Jupiter and Saturn. They are a little further away from us and therefore move a little slower around the horoscope. In ancient times these were the two outermost planets and it was through them that we learned our destiny. In our dealings with others, we encounter either opportunities (Jupiter) or limitations (Saturn) and learn the laws of life.
The collective planets
These are Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, all of which are so far from us that they move slowly around the horoscope. This means that the people we were in class with at school basically all had these three planets standing roughly in the same place. Therefore, they are also interpreted differently and their sign positions are used to describe generations and general traits.
Often these planets are seen as forces from outside that influence us and give us difficult challenges in life, and here their positions in the houses play an important role in the individual horoscope. However, many people also manage to integrate these forces into their lives, so that they are allowed to play an active role in the person’s life.
Planets or not?
All the planets in astrology are called planets subordinate to what they are categorized as in astronomy. We operate with ten planets even though the Sun is a star, the Moon a moon, and Pluto a dwarf planet. In astrology, they are all ten actors and thus planets in the horoscope.
The Sun
The Sun is both the most important planet in the horoscope and at the same time also the one that can sometimes be the most difficult to put into concrete words. The Sun represents our core and inner personality. It is the Self and the ego and our very basic nature. Most often, the Sun is who you are when you are completely alone with yourself and thus can enter and be your core when all external layers have been peeled away.
The sign that the Sun is in is significant, and many people can see themselves described when they read a description of the sign. However, there are also cases where there are other things in the horoscope that overshadow the Sun or pull the energy in a completely different direction so that people do not feel like the classic description of the sign. In such situations, it also forms part of a description and understanding of the personality of this person.
But there is more than the sign position to interpret when interpreting the Sun.
The house it is in is also very important because it is the area of life through which a person lives out his personality. The sun shows us what will and strength a person is born with, and to what extent the person can push through and take his position in life. A Sun in a fire sign gives strength and immediacy, but if it is locked up in e.g. 12th house, then it can be difficult to bring this power actively into life, whereas if it is in the 10th house, then the real effort is put into achieving what one wants and the person immediately has no problems filling his shoes off.
The aspects from other planets to the Sun are also significant because it shows how the personality is affected by other influences that it can either benefit from (positive aspects) or have to fight with (negative aspects).
Astronomically, the Sun is the center of our Solar System, so it is us on Earth who move around it. In the horoscope, however, it is seen as a moving planet that takes a year to go through all 12 signs. The sun thus moves approx. 1 degree per day.
The Sun rules over the sign of Leo.
Keywords for the Sun: I, the self, ego, creative power, will, personality, authority, self-esteem, individuality, radiance, impact, authorities, the father.
The Moon also plays an important role in the interpretation of personality, because it symbolizes our needs and feelings.
Astronomically, the Moon orbits our planet Earth. It is approx. 28 days to go around once, making it the fastest planet in the horoscope. The Moon has virtually no atmosphere, and the light we see from it is a reflection of the Sun’s light.
In the horoscope, the Moon shows our very basic needs. What it is that we as newborns need. Safety, warm food, and care. Our mother is typically seen on the Moon. Later in life, our needs unfold and develop, and they change from the very basic to the more personal.
The Moon’s sign positions tell us what kind of stimulation we need from others, this can be, for example, dynamism, excitement, challenges, and play in the sign of Aries, or it can be calm, stability, well-being, and predictability in the sign of Taurus.
The house in which the Moon stands tells which area of life is important for the person to be stimulated in. For a Moon in the 7th house, it is important to have a partner and experience the relationship. For a Moon in the 3rd house, it becomes important for the person to put into words and convey the inner life, and that one can talk about one’s feelings and express one’s needs. Aspects of the Moon also play a big role and show how complicated or straightforward the emotional life is for the person.
The moon also shows us our emotional life. How sensitive and sensitive are you? Do you sense your surroundings or are you blind to what is happening on the non-concrete planes? The strength of the moon in the horoscope also shows to what extent it is the emotions that control the course of the game when life rolls out of it.
The overall interpretation of the Moon shows us how basic needs have been fulfilled throughout life and how the person has emotionally handled it.
A person for whom the Moon plays a large role in the horoscope (is significantly placed and forms many aspects) will be largely governed by how they feel right now and what their feelings say. So whether you want to or not, does it feel right or wrong? Whereas a person who e.g. has a strong Sun and a Moon that is less dominant will be much more guided by his will and his desire to achieve something in life, and therefore he/she will be much better able to put his feelings aside and maybe even oppress them.
The Moon rules over the sign of Cancer.
Keywords for the Moon: Feelings, needs, sensitivity, sensibility, vulnerability, capricious, care, growing up, past, memories, the mother, nurturing.
Mercury is our planet of communication and it symbolizes all our exchange of knowledge and information with our outside world. It is Mercury we talk to and explain ourselves to. It shows our perception and how we take in information.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and is thus within the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Mercury moves quickly and is never more than 28 degrees away from the Sun. As it is within our orbit, it has a cycle where three times a year seen from Earth it moves backward through the signs of the zodiac, this is called retrograde motion, and it is overtaken by the Sun. This retrograde movement lasts approx. 21 days each time it is on, and it is therefore not highly unusual to have a retrograde Mercury in your horoscope.
Mercury is in many ways a neutral planet. It is neither feminine nor masculine. In classical astrology, it was neither good nor evil, but it was the messenger who could act in all walks of life.
Mercury traditionally symbolizes both merchants and thieves (since the two were not so distinguished), while in our time it symbolizes journalists, communicators, teachers, mediators, writers, bloggers, and people who otherwise bring forth words and knowledge.
Mercury in the horoscope shows our ability to handle knowledge and information, and how we can navigate and connect the data we have in our heads. It shows how we teach basic knowledge such as e.g. language, mathematics, etc. Our ability to speak is also seen in Mercury. Do you formulate yourself clearly and distinctly, or are you creative and unconventional in your way of expressing yourself?
It is Mercury that we partly use in our everyday life when we have to organize ourselves and plan a day’s activities. It shows our sense of logistics and systematics, and how we structure ourselves when it has to do with knowledge and planning. It is Mercury we use when we “figure it out” and think through solutions and options for practical and concrete problems in everyday life.
Mercury rules both the signs of Gemini and Virgo.
Keywords for Mercury: Communication, speech, learning, mentality, information, logistics, knowledge, logic, objectivity, overview, traffic, network.
Venus is the planet of love. With Venus, we love both others and ourselves. Venus is also our joy and our ability to enjoy life.
Venus lies in its orbit closer to the Sun than Earth. It is therefore never further than 47 degrees from the Sun in the horoscope. It is not unusual to have it in the same sign or the sign next to one’s Sun sign. With Venus, the Sun follows in the horoscope, so it is approx. a year to come all the way around. It goes retrograde once every approx. 19 months.
Venus is a feminine planet. It shows our ability to express love, care, and well-being. In Venus, we see how we enjoy life and accept its gifts, and we see what it is in life that we value and enjoy. It is Venus we love with, and from its position and aspects in the horoscope, we can understand how to love life plays out. Is it a self-sacrificing Venus that gives more than it takes, is it a rejecting Venus that finds it difficult to accept, is it a mental and intellectual Venus that tries to understand love or is it a Venus that loves with life and soul where passion is the driving force?
People with a strong Venus are often also very interested in art and culture. They delight in sensory impressions and the language of emotions. They appreciate good taste and quality, and not least the right price. In the same way, it can also be food and the pleasures of the table that a Venus person throws their commitment over. Gastronomy and taste experiences are completely in the spirit of Venus.
Our material values are shown in the second house of the horoscope, which Venus, via its rulership in Taurus, rules over in the primordial horoscope. Venus shows how we piece together our set of values, i.e. how we appreciate the values of life. Is it e.g. money and materialism that matter, is it relationships with other people that matter the most, or is it spiritual life principles that form the basis for how we piece together our lives in terms of values?
Venus is also the planet that largely helps to give us our radiance. She helps shape the energy we have around us, both when we are alone and when we meet with other people. A strong Venus gives a good and loving radiance, which is often also tied to the person’s ability to love both themselves and others.
For a woman, Venus shows her ideal woman and how she expresses her feminine side and femininity. It shows her sensuality and sensuality. For a man, it is also his female ideal and which women he is typically attracted to, which is not necessarily the same as the person or persons he chooses as his partner.
Venus rules both Taurus and Libra.
Keywords for Venus: love, care, values, radiance, presence, joy, sensuality, femininity, the joy of life, pleasures, harmony, partnership.
Mars is our planet of masculine action. It is with Mars that we defend our exclusive brands and our values. Mars is the planet of the warrior and shows our inner warrior.
With Mars, we have arrived on the other side of the Earth’s orbit, in that Mars is further away from the Sun than the Earth is. Mars is approx. 2 years to go all the way around the horoscope and is retrograde once during those two years. Mars is a red planet that can easily be spotted in the night sky.
Mars symbolizes our physique and physicality. It shows how we use our bodies and act concretely in specific situations. How is it that we get tasks off our hands and get to handle the many practical tasks in everyday life and life? Mars is the planet of action, and it will always try to act out of a problem. With Mars, we take action and do something about it.
Typically, a person’s temperament is also seen in Mars’ position and aspects. How quickly do we get our blood boiling and how do we behave in a tense field? How do we accept a challenge, is it the attack as the best defense principle, or is time given for thought and reflection before Mars is sent into action?
Mars also shows our dynamism, commitment, and drive in life. It is Mars that lights up the passion and the desire to do something and throw yourself into the possibilities of life. It is Mars that gives us the courage to take a step into the unknown and give ourselves a shot at what we have not tried before. Roughly speaking, a strong Mars gives courage and a manly heart, while a weak Mars gives uncertainty and timidity.
It is Mars that gets us out of bed in the morning and into the day. It is our tenacity and spontaneity as well as our ability and willingness to try the diversity of life.
Mars, like Venus, is our archetype just in the masculine field. In a man’s horoscope, Mars shows what masculine ideal is aspired to, and for a woman, it typically shows what type of man she feels attracted to.
Mars rules the sign of Aries and was previously also the ruler of Scorpio.
Keywords for Mars: action, force, war, defense, temper, anger, drive, passion, weapon, masculinity, strength, impact, willpower.
Jupiter is the planet that represents growth and expansion. In classical astrology, Jupiter was a lucky planet that augured well.
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It works almost like a small sun, as it emits more energy than it receives. It can be seen in the night sky as a bright, clear star, but it is, after all, a planet. Jupiter is approx. a year to go through each sign, and thus it is 12 years to come around the sun. Every year it is also retrograde for a period of approx. 4 months.
Jupiter is, in its basic principle, expanding, i.e. that everything that comes near Jupiter must and must grow. It is Jupiter that shows how we grow and grow in life. Jupiter is a huge battery of energy, drive, and courage, and it is with it that we develop and become greater people.
It is also in Jupiter that we find life optimism, faith, and idealism. Jupiter shows how much and how fiercely we advocate for “our” cause, and with what force we express our opinions, attitudes, and worldview. It is with Jupiter that we believe in a religion or a philosophy of life, or otherwise, go out into the world and piece together our very own worldview. With Jupiter, we travel, and it is whatever it is, a very concrete journey into the world, a journey on the mental plane or it is a spiritual awakening.
People who have a strong Jupiter are typically very cheerful, committed, strong, and dynamic. They take up a lot in a company, but they also give a lot away.
They are not stingy but generous, because there is more where it comes from. However, since expansion is the basic principle of Jupiter, it destroys everything it comes near. Then there is uncertainty, mistrust, and sensitivity associated with Jupiter, then it magnifies that as well and it can be a challenge. Therefore, it is no longer considered a one-sided lucky planet either, since, as with so much else, there are two sides to the coin.
Jupiter rules Sagittarius and previously also ruled Pisces.
Keywords for Jupiter: expansion, growth, faith, the joy of life, optimism, travel, outlook, attitudes, ethics, law, philosophy, development, ideals, university, education.
In classical astrology, Saturn is designated as the planet of fate, it is here that we meet opposition and are held accountable for our actions. But Saturn can also be used constructively.
Saturn is a gas planet with an iconic ring of ice and rock around it. It is approx. 28-30 years to go once around the horoscope, which is why the 30-year crisis is attributed in many places to Saturn.
In Saturn, we meet demands and consequences. This is where we have something to live up to. Many find that meeting Saturn is like banging your head against a wall because it is hard and consistent. Saturn is the authority in our lives, it can be the father, the teacher, the boss, or even the society around us that also makes demands on us. In the horoscope, we see how the individual feels about authorities and demands from the outside.
At the same time, Saturn also shows the expectations we have of ourselves and how we manage to achieve the goals that are set. For some, Saturn is a force they encounter outside themselves, as a list of what must be met (character requirements, rules, forms, experience, achievements, etc.), while for others Saturn is a force they carry within themselves, where they can find the tenacity and strength to set goals and carry them out.
Saturn people are very hardy and persistent. They do not give up but continue no matter what and thus they also achieve the results they set out for. These people can seem focused, goal-oriented, structured, and tough, but they don’t have to be, as long as you don’t challenge them on the plans they’ve made for themselves. They will always seek something to strive for, something to live up to, and it is that struggle that gives them sustenance and self-satisfaction.
Put another way, Saturn can be the door that keeps us out and denies us access, or it can be the door that, with great effort, can be opened and give us access to a bigger and better world on the other side.
Saturn’s position in the horoscope shows which area of life has to be fought with. In other words, what and how we fight our battles in life and what it is possible for us to achieve.
Saturn rules Capricorn and was previously ruler of Aquarius.
Keywords for Saturn: Structure, responsibility, order, duties, consequences, demands, goal-setting, authorities, conservatism, admonitions, teaching, stubbornness, endurance, struggle.
Uranus is the planet of revolution, rebellion, and the unexpected. Uranus goes its way and shuns all forms of structure and control.
Uranus was discovered in 1781 and was quickly linked to major events of the time such as the French Revolution. Uranus is approx. 84 years to go all the way around the Sun, so those of us who live a long life is allowed to experience a full round of Uranus. Unlike the other planets, Uranus’ axis lies down, so that it revolves around the Sun.
Uranus represents ruptures and sudden changes. Uranus is developing unpredictably and violently. It is through Uranus that we make up and say no to history. This is where we want something new and go our own way. Uranus is thus new development in all areas, including technology, politics, and society. It is also Uranus that is at stake when the people suddenly rise and act collectively against the leaders. It is the belief that changes can be created with joint efforts.
People who have Uranus aspects to the personal planets are often restless and restless. Something has to happen and stagnation is to be feared. They are very interested in what is happening with ground-breaking things in society and are often excited about the new technological gizmos and possibilities. These people seek freedom and find it difficult to lock into relationships and close connections.
They seek non-traditional relationships and usually function best as self-employed people in the labor market.
Having strong Uranus aspects can be quite a challenge because it is constantly breaking up and creating change. What interests them one day may be forgotten and passed over the next. But with Uranus, there is also the opportunity to be innovative and original. Uranus can move into unknown territory and think thoughts and get ideas that have never existed before. Uranus needs a free framework to unfold, and if it is allowed, it is fascinating, rich in experience, creative, and creative like no other.
Uranus rules the Aquarius.
Keywords for Uranus: Change, upheaval, revolution, showdown, restlessness, development, inventions, technology, freedom, independence, unusual, original, innovative.
Neptune is the planet that represents our imagination and dream world. It is via Neptune that we enter that which is indefinable and not of the physical world, this is where the mystery hides.
Neptune is a large planet, which is approx. 165 years to go around the Sun. It is so far away from Earth that we have to use binoculars to spot it. After a long search, it was found in 1846.
Neptune represents all that is fluid and undefined. It dissolves what is fixed and anchored, which not everyone likes. Neptune influences can therefore often be experienced as chaotic because here there is no structure and order. Things flow together, and precisely this means that with Neptune you can often see the larger contexts in both the small and the large perspective. There is great creativity in Neptune that shows us the more diffuse sides of life and tries to make us relate to them. Dream interpretation, healing, journeys of consciousness, and intuition belong to Neptune.
People who are heavily influenced by Neptune may find it difficult to settle into our rather structured society. Getting up at the same time every day, working in the same place, shopping, cooking and washing clothes and cleaning up and…
It can be a big challenge for a Neptunian person. They would much rather go with the injection and spontaneity. They do what they want and don’t let themselves be controlled by plans and agreements. They are often very sensitive and sensitive people, who thus also have a good sense of moods and emotions. They understand how others feel, and may even be psychic or clairvoyant.
Neptune’s influence can also become a bit too big a mouthful, and there you can see people who end up abusing either alcohol, pills, or hard drugs. Again, it is the need to “get away” from the many demands of everyday life, and if you do not manage to seek spirituality or inner religiosity, then this can mean that you go to the other end of the scale and try to escape through abuse.
Neptune rules Pisces.
Keywords on Neptune: Imagination, dreams, water, gradual change, intuition, sensations, creativity, escape, abuse, limitless, spirituality, faith, idealism.
Pluto represents the ultimate transformation. This is where we go from one phase to another in life. Thus, Pluto is also both birth and death.
Pluto was discovered as recently as 1930. People were looking for a much larger planet and were therefore surprised when Pluto turned out to be the smallest planet in the solar system. It is only slightly larger than its Moon Charon. Today Pluto is astronomically no longer categorized as a planet, but in astrology, it still functions on an equal footing with the other planets. Pluto is on average approx. 248 years to go around the Sun. Its orbit is slanted concerning the Sun’s orbit and it is elliptical, so it comes in between Neptune’s orbit.
Pluto represents transitions and changes. It is the origin of life and its decay. Pluto is the definitive one where we have to make a choice that cannot be made again. Pluto tells us to learn to let go. Life is changeable, and if we try to hold on to things around us, there comes a day when we have to let go. And when we do that, we also discover that when you let go and move on in life, new landscapes and opportunities appear.
Pluto is also all that is hidden, mysterious, and hidden. It is our waste and the sewers underground. Pluto is our secrets and taboos, what we dare not talk about. Pluto is what we fear and what we are most afraid of in life. Thus, death is also linked to Pluto, both because many nowadays have a great fear of death and also because it is the unequivocal end of this life.
Plutonian people can be very direct and confrontational in their dealings with others. This is not because they wish others harm, but because they want to bring the truth to light. They say what others dare not say, and they point to the factual consequences in life that others do not always like to deal with. Plutonic people know that they were born alone and that they must die alone. They find strength in being able to handle the hard aspects of life and see it as an honor to be able to stand on your own two feet when life is difficult.
Pluto rules Scorpio.
Keywords for Pluto: transformation, death, birth, mystery, taboo, psychology, secrets, trash, the hidden, extremes, black and white, the truth, extremes.
