Astrology is such a powerful tool to learn, understand and predict cosmic cycles; in this article, I would like to give you insights into the personal planets.
The inner planets in Astrology allow us to understand ourselves and others better and give great insights into the internal aspects of the self.
Each astrological planet has its energetic nature, meaning, and area of influence.
The planets are viewed as fascinating, dynamic, and alive in shamanic astrology. The experiences with their energies are compelling and help us transform parts of ourselves.
Sun rules Leo and the 5th House:
The glyph of the Sun is a circle with a central dot depicting the Sacred or Spirit Circle. The circle represents Spirit, infinite and eternal, perfect in its form and without beginning or end. It is also the horizontal axis, the endless creative possibility that includes all that exists.
The dot in the middle is the vertical axis, of which the circle is an emanation, the Centre, the connection with the Spirit Guide. In Shamanic Astrology, if we want to work with the suns energy, we understand that:
The dot suggests that the way to master the lessons consists of taking time off from the endless Rotation around the circle and relating to the Centre. The circle reminds us that existence follows a cyclic rhythm where the past repeats until it is definitively released. Lessons continue to be taught until they are learned.
The solar glyph is one of the oldest images. It is at least 50000 years old and most likely much older than that. The evidence for this comes from tablets discovered in Mexico. The symbol represented the Sun, worshipped as a God named Ra on those tablets. In later tablets, the same glyph stood for the king.
Position of the sun in Horoscope
The position of the Sun in the natal chart can indicate the primary Intent of the person, the areas of central creative expression, and the ego according to the Freudian model of the psyche. The Sun tunes in with the primary identity of the person, his potential to shine in the world and express his gifts, his will to live, and show his vital force.
Just as the Sun is the Centre of the solar system, the Sun in the astrological chart represents the Centre of the perception of what I am. Sometimes the Sun is obscured by clouds, and the awareness of that Centre can be lost for a while. Then I lose track of my true self by conforming to what is required of me according to conventional reality’s senseless and artificial values.
If it is afflicted or weakly placed – for example, when it receives square or opposition aspects from other planets- it may either have difficulties in fulfilling this role or, through healing and transformation, outstandingly fulfill its mission at its very best.
When the Sun is located below the horizon, in the lower part of the natal chart, the individual’s Intent generally develops through inner research, withdrawal, solitude, or intimate and meditative activities. The Sun above the horizon can indicate that the individual realizes himself through actions in the outer world and relationships with others.
If the Sun is situated in the eastern part of the chart, the Intent is often expressed through creative acts, initiative, and use of power in the outer world. When it dwells in the western part, the person seems to face events produced by uncontrolled circumstances and tends to follow a path of acceptance.
In traditional medicine wheels, the position of the Sun is the area to go to when I need to receive energy, courage, capacity to discriminate, warmth, and creativity. The space allows me to connect with the male principle, gain my sense of purpose, and achieve a sense of balance or reconciliation between female and male polarities.
Moon rules Cancer and the 4th House:
The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth, which it fully rotates around every 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes. It is the most luminous body in the night sky, and, although it is astronomically much more minor, its size appears to human eyes as similar as that of the Sun.
The Moon’s diameter is only four times less than the Earth’s, and, although in the solar system, there are satellites that are bigger than the Moon, no one of them is as big compared to its planet of reference. This is one of the reasons why the Earth and the Moon are sometimes defined as twinned planets.
The Moon represents a protective shield from the energies coming from other planets and outer space. It is believed that these energies cannot reach our awareness until the issues related to the Moon have been appropriately dealt with. In the tradition of many native Americans, the Moon is called Grandmother Moon to distinguish her role from that of Mother Earth.
To access the Earth, the energies of other planets have to ask permission from the Moon. A way to honor the Moon here is to respect her cycles, which account for its phases’ importance in many traditions.
Position of the Moon in Horoscope
According to many astrologers, the position of the Moon in the chart indicates the unconscious, instinctive reactions, the inherited traits, habits, conditioning or behavioral patterns in everyday life, and the id according to the Freudian model of the psyche. The nature of the Moon is familiar and intimate, no matter whether it finds a harmonious or grieving expression.
It is usually a safe return point in stressful and difficult situations or when nothing specific happens. There is simply the need to relax or be in familiar territory. Sometimes, the Moon indicates the areas where energy can be blocked out of the fear of experiencing pain.
Its placement in the chart can pinpoint such situations of suffering from all the defensive and unconscious strategies that the individual has developed to protect himself.
Like silver, the substance of the psyche is malleable. However, if your inner purpose is not focused, your lunar self will be shaped by influences from other people in conflicting ways”.
Moon and its meaning
The Moon often describes the mother of those who has played that role during childhood. As for all other roles that can be spotted in the chart, it is indeed the projection of the mother and not the actual mother. Here the Moon describes how the mother archetype experienced and the first interaction with the outer world made an emotional imprint in the person’s system.
When the Moon is prominent in a natal chart, the mother archetype and its related physical counterparts play a significant part.
In astroshamanic work, the position of the Moon plays a significant role as it provides substantial clues regarding the lineage and the ancestral initiatory path or mystery school the person has already experienced. This area, which the individual is likely to have mastered in previous times or parallel realities, represents an essential foundation for realizing the primary Intent in this current life or dimension.
At the same time, it can easily cause addiction, attachment, or misuse if its acquired potential is not focused within the current path of initiation, which may differ considerably from the previous one.
Mercury rules Gemini & the 3rd House, as well as Virgo & the 6th House:
Mercury is the smallest and fastest planet in the solar system (as we on Earth know it so far). Its revolution around the Sun is 88 days, whereas the distance from the Sun, as seen from the Earth, never exceeds 28°. This means that Mercury will always be within 28° before or after the Sun in a natal chart.
Such proximity suggests that although the mind (Mercury) and Intent (Sun) can appear as separate, they are always very close and never in opposition (180°). Mercury is also both the hottest and coldest planet as it always turns the same side to the Sun, with the other face being in constant shadow.
In shamanic astrology, Mercury rules the star signs Gemini and Virgo.
Position of Mercruy in the Chart
The position of Mercury in the astrological chart gives indications about the kind of mentality or intellect of the subject and the way someone thinks, expresses himself, and learns. Its placement may also provide clues to easy and informal ways of communicating with Spirits, non-ordinary beings, Guides, or whoever we meet in life.
Aspects and transits of this planet may help pinpoint areas or times where difficulties in communication, mental disorders, and grievances in the realm of Sector 3 can occur.
Like it’s metal Mercurius (quicksilver), Mercury is neutral and adapts itself to the quality of the environment.
Virgo traditionally shares the rulership of Mercury with Gemini. Virgo’s Mercury expresses its qualities in concrete and practical ways. This sign represents the introverted and analytical inner aspect of thoughts, the capacity for classification, selection, definition, and order of the mind. It is related to Hermes as the inventor of astronomy, written music, alphabets, weights, and measures.
Mercury in Virgo is also associated with healing as represented by the caduceus (a staff with two serpents spiraling in opposite directions), signifying the vertical axis and Sacred Cone structure, and Mercury’s function as Hermes Psychopomp, the guide of dead souls into the Lower World, and as the androgynous Spirit of alchemical transformation.
Asteroids:
Although ways of considering asteroids differ among astrologers, in Astroshamanism, we are inclined to assign all to Virgo and Sector 6. They are a belt of thousands of minor planets between Mars and Jupiter. They are estimated to be more than 50000, with a size ranging from a maximum of 1000 kilometers in diameter (Ceres) to boulders only a few hundred meters across.
The four main asteroids are Ceres (), Vesta (), Pallas (), and Juno (). Those that are most related to Sector 6 are Ceres and Vesta.
Venus rules Taurus & 2nd House and Libra & 7th House:
After the Sun and the Moon, Venus is the most bright planet in the sky and the most similar to the Earth regarding diameter, volume, mass, density, and gravity. The Rotation around its axis is backward.
Therefore on Venus, the Sun rises in the West and sets in the East. Besides, its Rotation is slower than its revolution; a Venusian day is longer than a year.
Although it is the nearest planet to the Earth, its thick clouds make it difficult to observe its surface.
Venus is never more than 48 degrees away from the Sun, as seen from Earth. According to the astronomer Immanuel Velikovsky, Venus is a newcomer to the solar system.
Before settling as a planet, it was a wild comet wandering in the solar system and causing massive upheaval and destruction to other worlds. This shows how personal relationships (Venus) can cause severe damage until you manage to orbit around the “SUN.”
If I put others at the Centre of my love and attention and then leave, I’m left with no center, which will inevitably cause pain and all sorts of grievances. At the same time, even if the person stays with me, subconsciously, I would still be scared to lose them.
Venus is a sociable planet and symbolizes the need to meet oneself through external relationships.
Love is one of the most misunderstood energies and, as such, is often found in destructive expression. The position in the chart can provide a key regarding how I express my feelings towards others. Here I identify the types of people, things, or situations that attract me or please me, what I project on others, how I feel can bestow affection on others, the way I behave, and the strategy I employ to be loved, what I may give in relationships and how I act and perceive love. All of this applies to the 7th House and Libra.
In the second House and Taurus, we see indications about your views on material possessions, money, resources, physical pleasure, relationship with our body and body image, and ideas and fears around poverty and lack of financial abundance.
Mars rules Aries & the first House (Co-ruler of Scorpio):
Mars’ revolution around the Sun is one year and 322 days. The planet has a diameter a bit larger than half of Earth’s. Its colour appears red, with white polar zones made of frozen carbon dioxide. It has two satellites, Demos and Phobias, discovered in 1877 but were accurately described one century before by Jonathan Swift.
The position of Mars in the natal chart provides indications about my natural way of directing energy, the action potential, what causes me to become angry, what triggers my desires, and what I am ready to compete or fight for. It also indicates how we react in situations that make us uncomfortable and lead to a fight/flight or freeze response.
Some people say that the placement of Mars also indicates how we approach life.
Mars constitutes the first step in individuation, how I emerge and separate myself from the collective, and bringing about this process. It shows how I operate to accomplish things and how sexual energy can be used to experience deep fulfillment or connection with my Intent, the type of partners that I draw, and all areas of potential conflicts in relationships. The primal and biological urge can either preserve the perception of the ego’s hallucination or be directed into a process of undoing aimed at disclosing the actual reality of unity.
In a man, the position of Mars generally depicts the particular masculine archetype he identifies with or aspires to.
The position of Mars in a woman’s chart tends to show what aspects of the man she feels most attracted to.
