When The Stars Align

by Pilar Bradley

Assuming you know your Sun sign, you probably have a general idea of your sign’s character traits. Maybe you resonate with them, maybe you don’t. Let’s dig a little deeper. You aren’t just your sun sign.

Whether you “believe” in astrology or not, let’s get one thing straight: it’s not something to believe in. It is simply something to observe. What happens above, happens below. Astrology is a pseudoscience, so the beauty of it comes through objectivity. While the stars suggest things for us, we also have free will. It’s pretty hard to be objective about yourself, so let’s listen to the stars. Shall we begin?

It’s pretty fun to check your horoscope, but it’s even more fun to create your own. There’s more to astrology than the 12 signs of the zodiac. There are signs, planets, and houses. I always like to tell beginners, “the signs tell us who, the planets tell us how, and the houses tell us where.” Today we’ll be looking at the planets, and how your energy is expressed based on what signs your planets are in. There are 9 planets in our solar system. Four of those are considered 'outer planets’: Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. In astrology, those planets are considered generational: you probably share those placements with your peers, so it makes it a little less personal. We’re going to focus on the big 6 planets, or the ones that affect us directly.  

THE SUN ☉

Think of the saying, "the world revolves around me.” The sun sign is the indicator of personality, values, and beliefs. In astrology, the sun sign is the core sign to one's natal chart. The sun, a masculine luminary, indicates the beginning of spiritual consciousness. Your sun sign indicates who you truly are at your soul's core, and represents the ego. As human beings, the ego is the human side of the spirit. Think of your mannerisms, morals, and personality. The sun moves through the zodiac every 30 days. It is considered a benefic planet, a luminary with positive polarity and optimistic energy. To move through the entire zodiac, the sun takes 364 1/4 days. The sun shows us how we shine.  

THE MOON ☽

The moon in astrology is the luminary that represents emotional nurturing, reflection, and our deepest thoughts. A feminine planet that represents the mother and women in general, the moon has the ability to teach us plenty, in regards to our deepest feelings and emotions. The moon shows us how to nurture these areas of life that often need careful attention. This is the swiftest moving planet, taking approximately 29 days to orbit around the zodiac. Take note of the phases of the moon. Just like her, our emotions wax and wane. I personally take note of these phases, and make note of what sign the moon is in to get a general understanding of the energy above. The moon indicates an individual's feelings + reactions. 

MERCURY ☿

Mercury is the closest orbiting planet to the sun, and makes a stop at each zodiac in one year. It is considered an androgynous planet, as its fast paced energy can contain both masculine and feminine energies. Mercury is the Roman counterpart of Greek God Hermes, the messenger god. Mercury rules technology, communication, and expression. It explains the energy of our communication style.

VENUS ♀︎

Venus is all things beauty, love, romance, and aesthetics. Venus is the goddess of love and beauty. It is a feminine planet, ruling pleasures, tastes, and desires. Venus in the natal chart places an emphasis on your love language, and your aesthetic. It moves through the entire zodiac in 254, remaining in each sign for approximately 4 weeks. Venus tells us how we want to receive love, how we love, create, and share our energy.

MARS ♂︎

Mars, the planet of assertion and aggression, is also referred to as "the red planet". Mars, the god of war and aggression, has a masculine energy. It is considered a malefic or an abrasive, darker, more powerful planet with a potent energy. Mars takes approximately 687 days to journey through the zodiac, stopping at each sign for about 6-8 weeks. Mars in the natal chart captures the essence of vitality, sexual energy, and assertion. He tells us how we aggress, how we confront, and serves as an indication of our energy in the bedroom. 

JUPITER ♃

When I think of Jupiter, I think of the phrase "larger than life". Jupiter is the planet of expansion, growth, abundance, and blessings. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, so think big when you take note of Jupiter's presence in the natal chart. It is a jovial, benefic planet, and denotes higher wisdom, fruition, and honesty. Jupiter shows us how we grow and expand. 

Find your placements on this chart to see how these energies are expressed

(If you do not know your other placements, use this link)

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