The Planets

The Planets

THE PLANETS

In Astrology, every planet is connected with certain “functions.”

Planetary Influences on the Signs

The influence of the each planets on the signs is made manifest through an urge or need ruled by that planet that we feel compelled to express in some form or function. Each of the planets falls within one of their own triplicities, namely, “benefic,” “malefic,” or “neutral.”

Jupiter and Venus are benefic planets. Jupiter is known as the “greater fortune” and Venus as the “lesser fortune.” The Sun and Moon are also both considered benefic planetary influences. These planets, well placed in an individual’s chart, eases troubles and smoothes the way for success.

Mars, Saturn, and Uranus are known as malefics. This doesn’t mean that they are evil planets, but only that their energies are challenging, restrictive, and limiting.

Mercury, Neptune, and Pluto are neutral planets. Their influence is good when they are well aspected with other planets, and malefic if badly aspected.

Distinctions should be made between the different ways in which signs and planets manifest their energy. The signs correspond to parts of the body and psyche. The twelve signs together represent the sum total of physical and psychological functioning. Their expression is moderated by the placement of the planets and their rulerships over the signs. Thus, a planet channels, interferes with, intensifies, harmonizes, or effects in some way according to the nature of the planet, the sign it is in and has rulership over.

Orbits: The orbits of the planets are ellipses with the Sun at one focus – though all except Mercury and Pluto are very nearly circular.Relative Sizes: One way to visualize the relative sizes in the solar system is to imagine a model in which it is reduced in size by a factor of one billion. Then the Sun is about the height of a man. The Earth is about the size of a grape and orbits about 1 city block from the Sun. The Moon orbits about a foot away from the Earth. Jupiter is the size of a large grapefruit and is 5 blocks away from the Sun. Saturn is the size of an orange and is 10 blocks away; Uranus and Neptune, the size of lemons, are 20 and 30 blocks away.The above composite shows the nine planets with approximately correct relative sizes. Astrology maintains that all living things are linked to forces caused by the constantly changing positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets that make up our solar system. Five of the planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – have been known ever since man began looking at the heavens. Other planets – Uranus, Neptune, Pluto were discovered after the invention of the telescope and are generally referred to as “the modern planets” by astrologers. The Sun The center of our Solar System The Moon Earth’s only moon Mercury 1st Planet from the Sun Venus 2nd Planet from the Sun Mars 4th Planet from the Sun Jupiter 5th Planet from the Sun Saturn 6th Planet from the Sun Uranus 7th Planet from the Sun Neptune 8th Planet from the Sun Pluto 9th Planet from the Sun