Astrology is about observing the planets. This is not to say that the planets (or the signs) cause anything to happen. What we observe is synchrony – that things are taking place in sync. One movement is flowing throughout our space, heavens, and Earth. Instead of causing, the planets indicate things, describing what is already taking place. But for the sake of convenience, astrologers use phrases like, “your Venus makes you like this,” or “his Mars made him act like that.” Please note that this is only for convenience in communicating. Astrologers know that the planets don’t force us to do anything, any more than your 5:00pm clock forces you to stop working. But you do stop working when the clock strikes 5:00pm, don’t you? And so you pay careful attention to that clock, because that clock will show you when it’s time to go home from work. But the clock never forced you to leave work, neither did it ever seal your fate. In the end, you decide when to leave work. That is the beauty of synchronicity.
As has been mentioned, the Sun and the Moon are included when we say “the planets.” Astrologers do this for convenience. The ten planets of astrology are: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto[1]. (From our geocentric position, Earth is not included in the list; however Earth's interplay in the scheme of things is denoted by the Ascendant.) However, before the 18th century only the first seven planets were recognized (they were perceivable to the naked eye): Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Since over 2,000 years ago, the seven classical planets were observed to keep time, orbiting steadily on their paths. Perhaps that is why the number seven was symbolic of deity in ancient cultures. The seven were named after Greek gods because their influence was considered to be as such. Seven was the number of days chosen for a week, with each day borrowing its name from one of the classical planets. (The days making up our calendar month were determined based on one complete cycle through the 12 zodiac signs by the moon, from which the word "month" comes from.)
The discoveries of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto corresponded to revolutionary changes in our world, from the Industrial Revolution and discovery of electricity (Uranus), to the financial collapse and interest in world domination of the 1930’s (Pluto). Pluto’s demotion of status to a “dwarf planet” does not change the fact that it is a celestial body participating in the continuous flow of energy in our world. Thus, Pluto is included here as a planet. (Astrology also observes several other asteroids/planetoids, regardless of planetary status. The body is there, thus, it counts.)
Each planet symbolizes a different component of life, a different type of energy. In psychological terms, we can call them “needs” or “drives.” Click on the astrology planets above to learn what each one brings to astrology
