Astrology is a complicated subject. It’s not always as simple as reading your sun sign horoscope to figure out if you’re going to have a good day or not. The energetic influence of the cosmos doesn’t stay isolated. It intermingles with other energies to create a variety of possibilities. So what is transiting in the sky is likely to affect us all just not all in the same way.
This is mainly due to the zodiac signs that are in our personal planets; Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. To understand better how the planets affect you, take a look at your natal chart. A detailed natal chart will give you information on your inner and outer planets, the zodiac signs in your houses, and other aspects in the sky from the day you were born.
Read More »Why Are They Called ‘Personal Planets’?
To put it simply, the personal planets are those so close in orbit to Earth that their planetary influence impacts society daily. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are known as the outer planets because their transits take longer. As a result, their impact comes at a greater scale. As a matter of fact, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are also known as generational planets because their influence spans across an entire generation of people.
Sun
Even people who don’t follow astrology know that the sun sign is an important piece to unlocking their horoscope. The position of the sun at the time of birth determines which zodiac sign you fall under, and presumably, the bulk of your personality. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are those most in touch with their feelings, even if they don’t express them all the time. Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) tend to have a serious disposition when you first meet them. You’re more likely to hear a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) before actually seeing them since they’re inclined to be boisterous in public, and Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) can have a conversation with just about anyone anywhere.
What Does This Have To Do With the Sun?
Despite not having evidence to support their theories, ancient civilizations knew that the Earth received its life force from that ball of fire in the sky. Centuries later, it was proven that life wouldn’t exist on this planet if not for the sun. Ultimately, the ancients were right. And in the same manner that Earth receives its vitality from the sun, its inhabitants do, too.
This energy is the source of one’s personal power because it creates the most prominent aspects of your personality. Fire signs are described as passionate or energetic. Air signs are the social butterflies of the zodiac. Earth signs are seen as dependable and almost parental in their demeanors, while Water signs come off as motherly to friends.
And while the sun shows how you come off to the world, the moon knows your secrets.
Moon
The night hours have always been regarded with either romantic mysticism or precaution for what’s unseen. Ancient civilizations believed that the veil between the living and the spirit world was thin at night, allowing for easier communication between the two. Modern astrologers interpret the moon’s influence in a similar way.
Instead of being a gateway to the spiritual realm, however, the moon gives way to the emotions hiding beneath the surface and how you process them. Air moons, for example, innately process their emotions through their intellect. They must analyze them to understand them. Earth moons can detach themselves from emotions, allowing them to compartmentalize their feelings better than any other sign.
Because of this connection to emotions, the moon is also associated with intuition.
Mercury
Named after the Roman god of communication, the planet Mercury is the ruler of all things intellectual. This ranges from higher learning to manipulative mindsets like that of the archetypal trickster. In Vedic astrology, Mercury is associated with the Hindu god, Budha, not to be confused with the spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism. Like his European counterparts, Budha is said to be the protector of merchants.
Any successful salesman will tell you that it’s not always what you say that closes the deal but how you say it that makes the difference. And this is where Mercury shows its planetary influence in your life. The way in which you communicate is just as much a part of your personality as is how you behave.
Naturally, Mercury is an Air sign. If you have Gemini, Aquarius or Libra in Mercury on your natal chart, expect to be the most talkative one in your friend group. These people love to communicate and can sometimes talk so fast you need to remind them to slow down. Fire signs in Mercury, on the other hand, can just be quick to respond, and that may not always be a good thing. The spontaneous reactions can lead to miscommunication or downright alienation, depending on what the conversation is about. Sometimes Fire signs in Mercury don’t think before speaking and can unwillingly offend their company.
Venus
Odds are people only associate the planet Venus with sex and romance. Greek mythology has firmly placed in our minds that this is Cupid’s mother, after all. And although physical pleasures are her specialty, those aren’t the only planetary influences it brings to your life.
Venus encompasses all things you deem beautiful, from people’s faces to types of scenery. A Venus in Aquarius’ heart flutters at watching the night sky light up with stars, whereas a Venus in Gemini would rather be in the sky traveling to another fabulous location. The planet’s influence over aesthetics doesn’t stop there though. It also governs your fashion sense and decorating style.
Just like with other planets, when Venus goes retrograde, there is some reviewing that needs to occur. Fortunately, the love planet doesn’t go into retrograde as often as Mercury. It only backspins every 18 months. However, during that phase, your outlook on the day-to-day aesthetics will come under scrutiny. Venus retrograde, including its pre and post shadow period, is never a time for redecorating the home or doing personal makeovers. It’s always best to wait until the planet is direct so that you have a clearer vision of what you’re doing.
Mars
According to astrologers, the planet Mars is the ruler of primal raw energy. It’s the source of your passions, both within and out of the bedroom. It is also the reason behind what makes you fight and the things you hate. The zodiac sign in Mars is the best explanation as to why some people have seemingly sudden melt-downs and why others continuously write endless social media rants.
People who have Mars in Water signs aren’t the type to initiate a conflict or be directly aggressive. These people can be, however, very strategic and stealth when exacting revenge, unlike Fire signs. If your chart shows you have Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius in Mars, you act first and ask questions later. These signs are already spontaneous, but when placed in Mars, the planet of aggression, that fire quickly combusts into flames.
