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The
Planets
Each of the planets of
astrology can be thought of as a type of energy
that is present in each of our lives. In ancient
times (and for modern Pagans), these energies were
conceived of as gods and goddesses, interjecting
their will into human events. You can think of them
as components of your personality, but it is
important to understand that you can encounter
these energies in your relationships with other
people; they are not just sitting quietly inside
your own head.
The seven classical planets
of astrology are listed here, with a brief
description of the energies and forces they
represent.
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 The
Moon is our subconscious needs, our
bodily memories. She rules our dreams and
our imagination.
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 Mercury
is our clever, verbal, analytical
capacity. Mercury rules our thoughts,
words, and skills.
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 Venus
is the power of attraction, love, and
pleasure. She rules our romantic
relationships, but also our esthetic
sense.
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 The
Sun is our personal will, our sense of
purpose and destiny in life. He rules our
personal growth and
authenticity.
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 Mars
is our physical, competitive drive. He
rules anger, conflict, and physical
activities, including sex.
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 Jupiter
is our openess to possibility and
opportunity. He rules religion, education,
and other channels for broadening our
understanding and
experiences.
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 Saturn
is the structurer and setter of
boundaries. He presides over our
responsibilities, limitations, and
endings.
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In addition, modern
astrology generally recognizes three additional
planets:
Uranus is our
spontaneity, sense of humor, and restlessness. He
presides over sudden changes, impulses, and
creativity.
Neptune is our
sense of oneness and interconnection. He presides
over mystical experience, spiritual depth, and ego
transcendence.
Pluto is our
deepest fears and longings. He rules over death and
profound transformation.
Since the planets exist at
all times, each of them was present at the moment
of our birth, and each of them lends its energy, in
some fashion, to our lives. Depending on where a
planet is placed in the sky, it may be very
prominent in your personality, or very subdued. It
may manifest in a straightforward way, or in a
convoluted and oblique way. Before going on, you
might want to take a few moments to reflect on how
you experience each of these energies in your own
life.
Next Steps
To go further, we will need
to learn why the planets express themselves
differently for different people. To do this, we
will need to look at how the energy of the planets
change depending on where they are in the sky. This
is where the 12 signs of the zodiac come
in.
Go to Page
Three.
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