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| The E-Mail Astrologer, copyright Sherrie Nist, 2011 |
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| As Above, So Below Planetary Functions by Sherrie Nist Planets, signs, and houses: those are the three basic components of an astrology chart. Everyone knows that the sign the Sun was in when they were born is important, but many people don’t realize that astrologically, their Sun sign is just the tip of the iceberg. This month’s column will cover planets; the next two columns will discuss signs and houses. Every planet (and in this context the Sun and Moon are considered planets) is present in every birth chart, and every planet has it’s own function, and that function is essential to how the individual acts out their Sun sign. The Sun is the real you; your true self, your creative life force. The Sun illuminates; it’s what lights you up and makes you shine. The location of the Sun in the natal chart shows the area of life where you are your creative best, what you identify with, what you want to be. It’s your personal creative potential, as detailed by the sign and house it is in, and it’s relationship to the other planets in the chart. The other planets describe how you go about acting out your Sun sign, how you present your essential self to the world. The Sun corresponds to the sign of Leo, the 5th house, and the element of fire. The Moon is your emotional nature; it’s function in the natal chart is to feel. The Moon describes your instinctive reactions, moods, and memories. Because the Moon is associated with your mother, it portrays your nurturing patterns; how you were nurtured, and how you nurture others. The Moon in the chart, relative to house and sign, reveals the basic NEED that is embedded in your personality which instinctively comes into play when dealing with almost any issue, and around which most of your actions revolve. The Moon corresponds to the sign of Cancer, the 4th house, and the element of water. Mercury’s function is to communicate. In Mercury’s realm we discover how someone collects and processes information; how they think, reason, and express themselves. A Mercury with difficult aspects to it in the natal chart can point to learning disabilities, and trouble with early education. Mercury is one of the planets that “rules” 2 different sets of signs and houses. The Gemini/3rd house/air Mercury functions primarily on the mental plane, while the Virgo/6th house/earth Mercury is a lot more focused and practical. Venus is another “2 for the price of 1” planet. The function of Venus is to attract. It speaks to what you attract to yourself, and what attracts you. The Taurus/2nd house/earth Venus is descriptive of the things you need to attract in order to feel secure. The earth Venus is about survival, and your personal values. What you consider valuable is whatever you perceive that you need to be secure, whether it is money, property, or a fabulous (and expensive) art collection. Venus collects all types of things of value. The Libra/6th house/air Venus, relative to sign and house, describes the type of people/relationships you attract into your life. These relationships are related to the Taurus Venus in that we often project what we think we need for security, but don’t have ourselves, into what we think we need in a relationship. Mar’s function in any horoscope is to act. Mars supplies the energy we need to experience whatever it is we are looking to experience. Mars acts impulsively, takes risks, is aggressive; where Mars is in your chart will determine what you are willing to fight for. Martian energy is naturally self-centered, impatient (hates to wait, won’t stand in line) and competitive (has to be first, plays to win). Mars acts out the will of the Sun. Mars is associated with the sign of Aries, the 1st house, and the element of fire. Jupiter’s function is to expand. Everything is bigger and better (or worse) when it comes in contact with Jupiter. Jupiter is optimistic, enthusiastic, often excessive, sometimes wasteful, and doesn’t know when to quit. Jupiter is also the seeker of truth, lover of philosophy, the teacher, the preacher; spiritual growth is a form of expansion. Jupiter corresponds to the sign of Sagittarius, the 9th house, and the element of fire. Saturn’s job is to provide structure. Saturn is the planet of stability, responsibility, control, restrictions, laws, boundaries, ambition, discipline, and authority. Saturn is not the most popular planet; being Saturn is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. Saturn in your chart describes where you have a sense of responsibility, where you feel repressed and restricted, your relationship to authority. Saturn is the social climber, the CEO, the one in charge. When you screw up, you’ll have to answer to Saturn. Saturn corresponds to the sign of Capricorn, the 10th house, and the earth element. The function of Uranus in the natal chart is to rebel. It is the planet of independence, freedom, originality, non-conformity, unpredictability, and eccentricity. Uranus is never happy with the status quo. Uranus driven events happen suddenly, when least expected. Uranus is the planet of surprises. “Rules were meant to be broken” is a phrase undoubtedly originated by someone with a strong Uranus in their chart. Uranus delights in shock value and the breaking of traditions. Uranus is associated with the sign of Aquarius, the 11th house, and the element air. Neptune’s function is to transcend boundaries. This can take the form of anything from escapism to spirituality. Neptune is the planet of fantasy, dreaming, sensitivity, compassion, and intuition. Neptune’s escapism takes many forms; both positive and negative; from mediatation to drugs and alcohol. Neptune is the planet of denial, confusion, and not seeing things clearly. It’s hard to pin down and sort out. Neptune can be very deceiving. Any way that you can avoid reality is Neptune ruled. People who have trouble understanding the boundaries of other’s, and people who can’t set their own boundaries, have a difficult Neptune in their chart. Neptune corresponds to the sign of Pisces, the 12th house, and the element water. Pluto’s function is to transform. Pluto governs your relationship to power and control. Birth and death, rebirth, personal transformation, and sex (because of it’s connection to birth) are all Pluto issues. So is anything that can be perceived as a power symbol. Pluto has many secrets. Other people’s money (money YOU didn’t EARN) is also Plutonian. Pluto corresponds to the sign of Scorpio, the 8th house, and the element water. |
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