Astrology originally studied the effects on people of the planets visible to the naked eye: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. As new planets were discovered, they were associated with new human discoveries. Because of their distance from the Sun, such planets have little effect on people, but they affect entire generations: scientific discoveries, epidemics, wars, protests, medical breakthroughs.
Planets that affect people are part of the so-called Septener (because there are seven of them). They are also called personality planets or minor planets. That said, Jupiter and Saturn have a dual nature: although minor, they can also influence generations and events in society.
The planets outside of the Septener are called major, or generational planets. These are Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. There are also dummy planets, these are Proserpine, Chiron, Lunar Nodes, Selene, and Lilith. Although not all of them influence the personality, they can create aspects with minor planets and change their influence.
Next we will look at the characteristics of the planets, their symbolism and their sphere of influence.
Sun
The main planet in the human horoscope. It defines the Zodiac, vocation, spirit, spirituality, inner core, ideals, character, vitality, talents, energy and our ego. Also the Sun indicates the sphere in which we will shine.
Moon
The second most important planet in the horoscope. It speaks of the inner world, emotions, intuition. The Moon determines our mood, inner strength, health, subconscious desires and capacity for compassion.
Mercury
This planet is responsible for our intellect and development. Shows how we learn, formulate thoughts, write, communicate and manifest in society.
Venus
Venus rules aesthetics, tenderness, love, beauty and pleasure, as well as the creative energy of humans. This planet determines how we give and receive love. By understanding our Venus sign, we can figure out how we express feelings toward others and the type of people we are attracted to.
Venus also rules money and is responsible for knowing how to handle it.
Mars
This militant planet is responsible for ambition, perseverance, determination, decisiveness, and masculinity. Mars can be the greatest source of courage and self-confidence as well as aggression and rudeness. This planet indicates the degree of energy with which we take on certain actions and also governs our primal sexual instincts.
Jupiter
This planet rules prosperity and growth, inspires optimism, and is considered the planet of luck, hope, and opportunity. Jupiter shows us what direction we should go in order to be useful to society, what we can teach others, and what we can give to the world. Jupiter also points to our patrons.
Saturn
It is the planet of rules, limitations, personal responsibility, respect for tradition, and the courage to face our fears. Saturn sends us challenges, making us work at them so that we become better people.
Uranus
Uranus rules inventions, revolutionary ideas, unexpected changes, makes us go beyond what is possible and stand out.
In order to make the most of the power of this planet, one must be inquisitive and possess the ability to change oneself and one’s surroundings quickly.
As the planet of solving mysteries, Uranus patronizes astrologers.
Neptune
Neptune rules our dreams and ideals. It is the planet of receptivity, imagination, illusion and irreality, revealing the soul and developing spiritual consciousness.
Pluto
The planet of destruction, which is responsible for natural disasters: volcanoes, tsunamis, storms, floods, and fires. In addition, Pluto patronizes oil, nuclear power, power, deadly diseases and epidemics.
Chiron
Planet of higher justice, the key to truth. Helps understanding and simplification of difficult things. By conjunction with a minor planet in a person’s horoscope, it strengthens its qualities. In transit it can create an aspect that gives a person everything they want.
Proserpine
Responsible for duty, service, alchemy, karma, aura, and medicine, including unconventional medicine. Aspects of Proserpine and Pluto can provoke prolonged epidemics.
Lilith
The moon moves around the earth on an ellipse. The point at which it is most distant from our planet is called Lilith (Black Moon).
Lilith indicates our passions, addictions, painful attachments, but generally means bad karma. We can feel the lower manifestations of the sign where Lilith is located on ourselves. This is how karma works out.
Selene
This is the closest position of the Moon to the Earth. It is responsible for good luck, guardian angel, help from higher forces. It is light karma and the characteristics of the sign where it is located manifest the best in us.
Lunar North Node (Rahu).
The Sun also has an ecliptic – a trajectory visible from Earth. Where the Lunar trajectory intersects with the Solar ecliptic there is a Lunar Node. Rahu is the Lunar North Node. Shows which sign characteristics will be easiest for us to develop. It is our mission and a pointer to where to go in life. Area of Acquisition.
South Lunar Node (Ketu).
The South Lunar Node shows our baggage of past life knowledge that we can draw on in the present time.
When studying the influence of the planets on a person, astrologers consider not only the sign of the zodiac and the house they fall into in the cosmogram, but also aspects. Planets that are at different angles to each other can suppress or intensify their qualities. Thus, planets create aspects to each other, which can be harmonious or tense.