Miriam's Crash Course in Astrology Basics

The Planets and the Lights

by Miriam Klamkin

The planets in the horoscope are the familiar planets of our solar system. The only exception is the Earth, which occupies the center of the chart as the reference point. The "lights" are the Sun and the Moon.

The planets and the lights each represent an active force, or energy, in our lives. The sign in which a planet is placed indicates the manner in which that energy is expressed. The house placement denotes the planet's main field of action, the primary area of experience in which that planetary energy is expressed.

SUN: THE LIFE FORCE. Ego and self-consciousness; pride and shame; the need to be noticed, admired and loved; self-expression; creative ability.

MOON: THE EMOTIONS. The need to feel protected, comforted and cared for; nurturing ability; emotional response patterns learned early in life.

MERCURY: THE MENTALITY. Mode of perceiving, thinking, communicating and learning; cognitive, planning and organizing abilities; skill development.

VENUS: THE AFFECTIONS. Mode of relating to others; the need for relationships; ability to attract; aesthetic sense; physical comfort, pleasure and sensuality.

MARS: THE WILL. Mode of pursuing desires; ability to assert oneself and to initiate action; the need for autonomy; aggressive urges; fear and courage.

JUPITER: GROWTH. The need to understand; the framework of beliefs; ability to expand consciousness; the search for truth; adventure, expansion, hope, help, generosity, perspective and humor.

SATURN: STRUCTURE. The need for limits and boundaries; ability to build and maintain structures; consensus reality; authority, conventions, rules, and roles; wisdom gained from experience.

URANUS: FREEDOM. Individuality and originality; detachment; ability to break with tradition; the need to be different.

NEPTUNE: EMPATHY. The capacity for unconditional love; psychic ability; magical reality; imagination, fantasy, escapism; the need to be part of a whole.

PLUTO: POWER. The ability to control and manipulate energy; the ability to transform through death and rebirth; the need for depth, intimacy, and trust.