PlanetaryPsychology

The Astrological chart is an Earth based view of the solar system for a given point on the Earth at a given time. The Ascendancy, Midheaven and houses represent the daily turning of the Earth. The signs represent the annual motion of the Earth around the Sun. The planets move through the signs at different rates and as such represent those aspects of life that operate on a similar timescale.

The Ascendent traverses the whole of the Zodiac in 24 hours, about two hours in each sign. It is the clock on our day and as such governs those functions of the body and mind that operate on a similar timescale - body functions and associated feelings, impressions, attention.

SUN Takes one year to complete the cycle of the zodiac. The Sun is too bright to look at safely under most circumstances. Only during the brief period of totality during a solar eclipse can you look at the Sun without protective filters or without taking other precautions. It takes light only about 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth; the next nearest star is over 4 light-years away. The Sun like all stars, is a ball of hot gas. It has an interior and an atmosphere. The surface of the Sun sends us the light and heat that provide energy for us here on Earth. In fact the Sun could be called a fusion reactor located 93 million miles from us.

The Moon takes twenty eight days to go once around the Zodiac, spending only two days in each sign. It governs those aspects of life that change from day to day, the many faces of our everyday personality that may seem consistent to ourselves but may seem to wax and wane to others. When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, the Moon is full. Everyone on Earth who can see the Moon above the horizon sees the same phase of the Moon at the same time. The Moon keeps essentially the same face toward the Earth as it orbits the Earth.

Mercury takes about three months to circle the Sun but because it is so close to the Sun it follows it around the Zodiac, moving backwards and forwards around the Solar position on a three monthly cycle. At its fastest it passes through a zodiacal sign in a fortnight and covers affairs of this nature - our pattern of work, our weekly routine, our immediate plans. In the course of a year Mercury marks out the seasons. It has no moons, no atmosphere. The midday temperature is well over 400 degrees C (750 degrees F). Mercury is always close to the Sun in the sky and can be seen briefly after sunset or before sunrise

Venus takes about eight months, 18 and 2/3 days in each sign. On this timescale we see a curious relationship with the Moon with its 18 and 2/3 year eclipse cycle or Saros. Venus covers the rise and fall of feelings, the span of desire. In the sky it is moon-like in that it can be seen in the evening or morning, and it waxes and wanes. In the way that the moon is the reactive feelings, externally stimulated, Venus is those feelings that are internally generated over time. Venus is one of the brightest objects in the sky besides the Sun and Moon. As its orbit is inside that of the Earth, we can see Venus only when we are looking in the general direction of the Sun. Venus is visible only during the first few hours after sunset, when it known as "the evening star," or before sunrise, when it is know as "the morning star". When Venus is just about to pass between the Sun and us, it appears as a crescent and is at its largest.

Venus, Mercury and Moon are the three planets that lie between the Earth and the Sun - the Inner Planets - and as such govern our mundane existence of thinking, feeling and acting. They cover activities of less than a year - short terms goals and aspirations.

Mars takes two years to traverse the Zodiac. It is the last of the local planets - there is quite a leap to Jupiter - and as such sets the limits of our practical existence. Mars covers our strategies for life, our perceivable building blocks. Most educational courses are based around two years.

Over a period of months, Mar's path among the stars reverses itself in a giant loop. This occurs when the Earth passes Mars, as both planets orbit the Sun. Suggestions of life on Mars began due to apparent seasonal changes and because some observers at the turn of the century thought they saw thin lines crossing Mar's surface. The seasonal changes were thought to have been caused by vegetation and the lines were "canals" dug by Martians to carry water. Turns out the "seasonal changes" are the result of blowing dust during huge seasonal storms generated by the effect of solar heating. As the dust is blown off certain surfaces, the dark underlying material is revealed. The "canals" don't really exist either; they were presumably the effect of the eye and brain, which tend to imagine connections even when they do not exist.

Jupiter takes 12 years to traverse the Zodiac, about a year in each sign. Now we have a marker on life itself. The seven ages of man would give a lifespan of 84 years, which some astrologers take as the natural span of human life. Jupiter then rules those events that take years to unfold, a timescale beyond the perception of the inner planets. Jupiter is known for the "Great Red Spot" observed on its surface from time to time for hundreds of years. The Great Red Spot is about 8,400 by 18,000 miles in diameter - much larger than Earth - and is a giant storm in Jupiter's clouds. Jupiter has 16 moons; the four brightest can be seen with a small telescope. The moons range from 1,860 to 3,180 in diameter. All but one of the four brightest moons are larger than our own Moon. The largest of Jupiter's moons, Ganymede, is even larger than the planet Mercury

Saturn takes 29 years on its journey through the Zodiac. This is the span of a single generation. Based on our 84 year life, humans just about cover three generations. This is supported in fact; child, parent and grandparent are usually co-existent. Great grandparents are usually near the very end of their span. Saturn therefore rules the generations and acts on a scale of this magnitude. The rings or ringlets consist of chunks of rock, range in size from pebbles to huge boulders, each independently orbiting the planet. Saturn has the second largest moon in the solar system, Titan, which is 3,625 miles in diameter, nearly half the size of Earth, and is surrounded by an atmosphere that is even thicker than ours. Saturn has another dozen moons over 60 miles across and many smaller ones

Uranus and its 84 year journey we complete the full cycle of life. This is the level to which Uranus applies - the life's work, the changes that echo down three generations, the wisdom passed from the very old to the very young. The inspiration of Uranus may not be recognized in a lifetime - it may require death to give the perspective. Each of Uranus's moons has a different personality. They are all made out of a frozen mixture of rock and ice, and all are fairly dark, reflecting only a small percentage of sunlight that hits them. Miranda is only 300 miles across, and may have been completely broken up in the past in a collision and came together with its parts jumbled - hence the varied surface. Ariel, 720 miles across, shows few craters or other old features so must have been reshaped by geological activity. Umbriel, also 720 miles across though darker, is covered with craters and its surface may not have changed since it was formed 4.5 billion years ago. Titania and Oberon are each somewhat bigger, 950 miles across. Titania shows no large craters; Oberon has many large craters. Voyager 2 also discover 10 additional moons.

Neptune's cycle of 165 years goes beyond a single life to cover two lifetimes. It is the maximum extent of living memory - your grandfather's flickering memory of his great grandfather - six generations of Saturn on the limit of human recall. So all that you were in life collapses to just a handful of memories that will be all that is left of you in living memory. And with the years that too fades. Neptune cares not for individuals. Until 1999 Neptune is the farthest of the nine planets from the Sun. It gets its color from the traces of methane in its atmosphere, which is mainly made of hydrogen and helium. Neptune also has a "Great Dark Spot" which is a circulating storm, much like Jupiter's "Great Red Spot". The Great Dark Spot is about the size of the Earth and rotates around Neptune every 17 days.

Pluto takes 248 years on its journey around the Zodiac. Three lifetimes, nine generations, the period of total renewal. This is the timescales on which nations rise or fall, over which enemies become friends, over which profound change works through all society. 248 years ago the industrial revolution was just gaining momentum. Now we enter the completion of that cycle with its consequences. This planet is so far away and so small that we know little about it. It has methane ice or snow on its surface and an atmosphere consisting of methane gas plus traces of other substances. Pluto is the only planet to be discovered in modern times by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Pluto has one moon, Charon and is less than 1/5 the size of Earth, even smaller than our moon. Pluto and Charon are closer in size to each other than any other planet and its moon in our solar system. Pluto/Charon are often thought of as a double planet.

Heaven Sent - Signs of the Zodiac

ARIES ~ March 21-April 19.....The Ram - The golden fleece of this ram was the prize ultimately carried off by Jason, Leader of the Argonauts.

Element: Fire, Principle: Active, Resonates with Mars, Anatomy: Head, Face, Brain, Upper Teeth. Opposite Sign: Libra. Positives: Pioneering, Executive, Competitive, Impulsive, Eager, Courageous, Independent, Dynamic, Lives in the Present, Quick. Negatives: Domineering, Quick-Tempered, Violent, Intolerant, Hasty, Arrogant, Very Selfish, Lacks Follow-through.

TAURUS ~ April 20-May 20.....The Bull - Zeus disguised himself as a snow-white bull in order to attract Europa, Princess of Phenicia. Drawn to the animal by its beauty, she climbed onto its back. Zeus then swam with his passenger to Crete, where he reveled his identity to her and won her.

Element: Earth, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Venus, Anatomy: Throat, Neck, Ears, Vocal Chords, Thyroid, Tongue, Mouth, Tonsils, Lower Teeth. Opposite Sign: Scorpio. Positives: Patient, Conservative, Domestic, Sensual, Thorough, Stable, Dependable, Practical, Artistic, Loyal. Negatives: Self-Indulgent, Stubborn, Slow-Moving, Argumentative, Short-Tempered, Possessive, Greedy, Materialistic.

GEMINI ~ May 21-June 21.....The Twins - These are the two devoted twins and, some say half-brothers. Gemini is the Roman word for the Dioscuri, who in Greek mythology were the sons of Leda, the wife of Tyndarus, the king of Sparta. Though Castor was the son of Tyndarus, Pollux may have been the son of Zeus, which would have made him immortal. After Castor's death, Pullux was overwhelmed with grief, and wanted to share his immortality with his twin. Finally Zeus reunited them by placing them together in the heavens.

Element: Air, Principle: Active, Resonates with Mercury, Anatomy: Lungs, Collar Bone, Hands, Arms, Shoulders, Nervous System. Opposite Sign: Sagittarius. Positives: Dual, Congenial, Curious, Adaptable, Expressive, Quick-Witted, Literary, Inventive, Dextrous, Clever. Negatives: Changeable, Ungrateful, Scatterbrained, Restless, Scheming, Lacking in Concentration, Lacking in Follow-Through.

CANCER ~ June 22-July 22.....The Crab - When Hercules was struggling with Hydra, Juno sent this crab to attack him. The crab did not succeed in its mission, and instead was crushed. But Juno rewarded the crab for its attempt by placing it among the stars.

Element: Water, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Moon, Anatomy: Breast, Stomach, Upper Lobes of the Liver. Opposite Sign: Capricorn. Positives: Tenacious, Intuitive, Maternal, Domestic, Sensitive, Retentive, Helpful, Sympathetic, Emotional, Patriotic, Good Memory, Traditional. Negatives: Brooding, Touchy, Too Easily Hurt, Negative, Manipulative, Too Cautious, Lazy, Selfish, Feels Sorry for Self.

LEO ~ July 23-August 22.....The Lion - The thick, tough skin of this, the fiercest lion in the world, became the trademark of Hercules after the hero succeeded in strangling the lion to death, thus successfully completing his First Labor.

Element: Fire, Principle: Active, Resonates with Sun, Anatomy: Heart, Sides, Upper Back. Opposite Sign: Aquarius. Positives: Dramatic, Idealistic, Proud, Ambitious, Creative, Dignified, Romantic, Generous, Self-Assured, Optimistic. Negatives: Vain, Status Conscious, Childish, Overbearing, Fears Ridicule, Cruel, Boastful, Pretentious, Autocratic.

VIRGO ~ August 23-September 22.....The Virgin - Virgo has been identified with a variety of heroines. The association with Ceres, goddess of the harvest, helps explain the name of the brightest star in Virgo, Spica, which means an ear of wheat or corn.

Element: Earth, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Mercury, Anatomy: Intestines, Liver, Pancreas, Gall Bladder, Lower Plexus, Upper Bowel. Opposite Sign: Pisces. Positives: Industrious, Studious, Scientific, Methodical, Discriminating, Fact-Finding, Exacting, Clean, Humane, Seeks Perfection. Negatives: Critical, Petty, Melancholy, Self-centered, Fears Disease and Poverty, Picky, Pedantic, Skeptical, Sloppy.

LIBRA ~ September 23-October 22.....The Scales - This constellation was probably invented at the time the zodiac was established. The Arabic names of the two brightest stars in Libra mean the southern and the northern claw, confirming that at one time Libra was a part of Scorpius. The constellation was later associated with the scales held by Astraea, goddess of justice.

Element: Air, Principle: Active,Resonates with Venus, Anatomy: Kidneys, Lower Back, Adrenal Glands, Appendix. Opposite Sign: Aries. Positives: Cooperative, Persuasive, Companionable, Peace-Loving, Refined, Judicial, Artistic, Diplomatic, Sociable, Suave. Negatives: Fickle, Apathetic, Loves Intrigue, Pouting, Indecisive, Easily Deterred.

SCORPIO ~ October 23-November 21.....The Scorpion - According to one account, Apollo, who was concerned about protecting his sister Artemis's virginity, sent the scorpion to kill Orion. Both Orion and Scorpius were placed as far from one another in the heavens as possible, so as to avoid further trouble between them, though Scorpius still pursues Orion around the celestial sphere.

Element: Water, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Pluto and Mars, Anatomy: Genitals, Bladder, Rectum, Reproductive Organs. Opposite Sign: Taurus. Positives: Motivated, Penetrating, Executive, Resourceful, Determined, Scientific, Investigative, Probing, Passionate, Aware. Negatives: Vengeful, Temperamental, Secretive, Overbearing, Violent, Sarcastic, Suspicious, Jealous, Intolerant.

SAGITTARIUS ~ November 22-December 21.....The Archer - This constellation has been associated with the centaur Chiron, who was known for his marksmanship a well as for his expertise in medicine and music. Others say that Chiron was too civilized a model for Sagittarius; the say that Chiron is associated with the constellation Sagittarius because he identified it in the sky to help guide the argonauts on their voyage to Thessaly.

Element: Fire, Principle: Active, Resonates with Jupiter, Anatomy: Hips, Thighs, Upper Leg. Opposite Sign: Gemini. Positives: Straightforward, Philosophical, Freedom-Loving, Broad minded, Athletic, Generous, Optimistic, Just, Religious, Scholarly, Enthusiastic. Negatives: Argumentative, Exaggerative, Talkative, Procrastinating, Self-Indulgent, Blunt, Impatient, A Gambler, Pushy, Hot-Headed.

CAPRICORN ~ December 22-January 19.....The Sea Goat - The last three constellations of the zodiac are in the region of the sky called the Sea. From early antiquity this constellation has been depicted with the head and body of a goat and with the tail of a fish. According to one interpretation, the goat, an expert climber, represents the sun's climb from its lowest position in the sky, which is in this constellation. The fish tail my represent the seasonal rains.

Element: Earth, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Saturn, Anatomy: Knees and Lower Leg. Opposite Sign: Cancer. Positives: Cautious, Responsible, Scrupulous, Conventional, Businesslike, Perfectionist, Traditional, Practical, Hard working, Economical, Serious. Negatives: Egotistic, Domineering, Unforgiving, Fatalistic, Mind Rules the Heart, Stubborn, Brooding, Inhibited, Status-seeking.

AQUARIUS ~ January 20-February 18.....The Water-Bearer - Early artifacts depict this constellation as a man or boy pouring water from a bucket, also representing the rainy season.

Element: Air, Principle: Active, Resonates with Uranus, Anatomy, The Ankles. Opposite Sign: Leo. Positives: Independent, Inventive, Tolerant, Individualistic, Progressive, Artistic, Scientific, Logical, Humane, Intellectual, Altruistic. Negatives: Unpredictable, Temperamental, Bored by Details, Cold, Unflexible Opinions, Shy, Eccentric, Radical, Impersonal, Rebellious.

PISCES ~ February 19-March 20.....The Fish - Venus and Cupid escaped from the monster Typhon by disguising themselves as these fish and jumping into the Euphrates River.

Element: Water, Principle: Passive, Resonates with Neptune, Anatomy: The Feet. Opposite Sign: Virgo. Positives: Compassionate, Charitable, Sympathetic, Emotional, Sacrificing, Intuitive, Introspective, Musical, Artistic. Negatives: Procrastinating, Over-Talkative, Melancholy, Pessimistic, Emotionally Inhibited, Timid, Impractical, Indolent, Often Feels Misunderstood.