planets

The zodiac consists of 12 divisions of the stars. The positions of the stars depend on the position of the Earth in its orbit. The positions of the planets depend on the position of the Earth in its orbit and the positions of the planets in their orbits.

Planetary Symbols
Sun	Mercury	Venus	Earth	Moon	Mars

Jupiter	Saturn	Uranus	Neptune	Pluto

Planetary Correspondences (Made Easy)
Sun	Mercury	Venus	Earth	Moon	Mars
God	Communication	Love	Fertility	Goddess	Victory
Jupiter	Saturn	Uranus	Neptune	Pluto
Abundance	Peace	Spontaneity	Illusion	Change

The Sun has also been called Helios and Sol. It is among the largest 10% of stars in the Universe. Its mass accounts for 99.8% of our solar system's total mass (i.e. other planets, moons, asteroids, etc.). It is the brightest body seen from Earth. The Sun accounts for most of the Earth's energy; it is about halfway through its lifetime, and is estimated to "run out of gas" in another 5 billion years. This will destroy the Earth and all the life it contains.

Mercury was known to the Sumerians as Ubu-idim-gud-ud, and to the Babylonians as gu-ad or gu-utu. It is only visible twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. The Greeks gave it two names, representing its two different positions. It was Apollo in the morning sky and Hermes in the evening sky. Mercury (Hermes in Greek mythology) is the messenger of the gods - some believe this planet was named after him because it traveled so quickly across the sky. The average surface temperature is about 452 K (about 354° Fahrenheit). It is very difficult to study because it's so close to the sun.

In retrograde, Mercury often brings difficulties in communication and travel (your hard drive crashes, your flight is cancelled, etc.). Any important communications you have should be done after retrograde ends, because your message may either be confused or not received at all. Mercury retrograde is a good time for thought and reflection on the self and the past.

Venus has also been called Aphrodite by the Greeks and Ishtar by the Babylonians. This planet is alternately called the "morning star" and the "evening star" - it is only visible just before sunrise and just after sunset, and is the brightest point in the sky (excepting the moon). Like Mercury, it was given two different names to reflect its two positions in the sky: Eosphorus in the morning and Hesperus in the evening. Venus undergoes phases somewhat similar to the Moon.

In retrograde, Venus brings difficulties in relationships - family, business, and romantic. You may find yourself reconsidering a current relationship.

The term "moon" comes from the same Old English root as the word "month." It has also been called Luna by the Romans, and Selene and Artemis by the Greeks. The Moon "waxes" and "wanes." This means that the visible portion of the Moon increases (waxes) and decreases (wanes) over a specific period of time. A new moon occurs every 29.5 days.

Mars was named after the Roman god of war (equated with the Greek god Ares) because it appears blood red in the night sky. In vedic (Indian) astrology, it represents energetic action, confidence and ego. Marks has two moons orbiting it (Phobos, the Greek god of fear and horror, and Deimos, the personification of dread). They are probably captured asteroids. Mars may have housed life at one time in the past. Being associated with the god of war, Mars energy is concerned with motivation and victory. Be cautious, because Mars energy can be so concerned with victory that “the ends justify the means.”

In retrograde, Mars can cause a buildup of internal anger, frustration, and stress. You'll have difficulty asserting yourself in ways that are normally easy for you. Be careful during this time. These emotions need to find a healthy outlet or they can affect your relationships, your emotional well-being, and your physical health.

Jupiter the largest planet in the solar system and has over 50 moons. Of these, the four most prominent are Io, Eurpoa, Ganymede, and Callisto (all named after one of Zeus’s many lovers). The “Great Red Spot” on the planet’s surface is a storm larger than the Earth that has lasted for over 300 years; it moves counter-clockwise across the planet’s surface. Jupiter is the king of the gods (also Jove, or the Greek Zeus) and associated with light and the sky. The Romans called him “Jupiter Optimus Maximus” (all-good, all-powerful). Jupiter energy corresponds to social interactions, abundance, and law.

In retrograde, Jupiter causes disruption in travel. It also causes us to reevaluate our morals, values, and ethics, and become aware if we've committed more than we can deliver to a project or another person.

Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system and is surrounded by very pronounced rings, composed of “space dust” that ranges in size up to a small car. Saturn has many moons, the largest of which is Titan (named after the giant Titans, the 12 children of Gaia and Uranus in Greek mythology, who represented the forces of nature); this moon is largest than Mercury and Pluto. There are two different mythological stories associated with this planet. Saturn is the god of agriculture, who by introducing it began the Golden Age. His festival, Saturnalia, was a week-long event in which work stopped, gifts were exchanged, and slaves and masters reversed roles. He is equated with the Greek Cronus, a Titan who castrated his father Uranus. After doing so, he and his wife Rhea ruled and introduced the Golden Age; his son Zeus later overthrew him. Saturn energy is good for peace, hard work, time, and karma.

In retrograde, Saturn causes us to slow down and do things the right way, even if it means it takes a little longer. Projects that weren't done right or need a change are likely to be completely renovated. Have you ever started cleaning a room, intending to sweep the dust under the carpet, then ended up pulling everything down off shelves, moving furniture, and making everything spotless (down to the tops of the ceiling fan blades)? This is the influence of Saturn in retrograde. Doing the minimum won't cut it - you're going to give 100%.

Uranus was discovered in 1781. He named it “the Georgian Sidus” after King George III; the name Uranus didn’t become common until the mid 1800’s. It’s tilted by 90º, which means that its poles are on the sides of the planet rather than the top and bottom; it rotates vertically (north-south) rather than horizontally (west-east) like the Earth. It has 27 known moons. It moves much more slowly around the Sun than the Earth does, and as a result its influence is on a much larger scale than other planets. Uranus was the first son and husband of Gaia and the father of the Titans. He was castrated by his son Cronus. This planet is associated with change, including rebellion and revolution, as well as originality and uniqueness.

In retrograde, Uranus causes surprising and startling change. It can be good or bad - it's up to you to make the best out of whatever comes your way.

Neptune is the Roman god of the sea, also the Greek Poseidon; the planet itself is blue, but is a gaseous planet. It was discovered in 1846 and has 13 known moons. The largest is Triton, named after Poseidon’s son, the personification of roaring waters. It also moves slowly and its influences change along a large time span. Its association with water makes its energy correspond to emotions, dreams, and illusion.

In retrograde, Neptune brings fantasy, dreams, and spirituality to the forefront. Your fantasies may become more desirable than your reality. This is a good time to look deeply into your soul and assess your whether your spirituality fulfills your needs, and if not, what you can do to change it. You'll rely more on your intuition than usual, as well as daydream more.

Some scientists argue Pluto’s status as a planet; nevertheless, is has traditionally been considered one. It was discovered in 1930. It is the smallest planet and has a very eccentric orbit that is so strange that it actually comes closer to the Sun than Neptune at times, making Neptune the furthest planet from the Sun for a time. It is named after the merciless Roman god of the underworld (the Greek Hades), maybe because it’s too far from the Sun to receive any light and so is always in darkness. Therefore, Pluto’s energy is associated with death, destruction, and endings, as well as birth and beginnings. It also rules secrets.

In retrograde, Pluto means change. Big change. Life altering change. Old habits die hard, but they allow the opportunity for new beginnings. Don't hold on to the past. You may not like it, but maybe accepting change is the lesson you were meant to learn.