Planetary Rulerships
The assignments of the ruling planets are based upon the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, as the sun and the moon, the principal bearers of light and heat, were awarded to Leo and Cancer, respectively, since the months the sun passed through these signs, (in ancient times), were the warmest and had the longest days.
Conversely, Saturn, the most distant, (and hence the “coldest”), of the planets known to ancients, was accorded the rulership of Aquarius and Capricorn, the signs opposite Leo and Cancer, respectively.
Jupiter, being next farthest away, was given the signs on either side of Aquarius, (Capricorn and Pisces), and Mars, next in order, received the next two, (Aries and Scorpio).
Since Mercury never appears more than one sign from the sun in either direction, it was deemed to rule the two signs on either side of Leo and Cancer, (Virgo and Gemini), and since Venus can never be found more than two signs from the Sun, it obtained the rulership of Libra and Taurus.
The relatively recent discovery of planets invisible to the naked eye provided a dilemma for modern astrologers, which was eventually resolved by a general consensus declaring Uranus to be Aquarius’ ruling planet, while assigning Oceana, (Neptune), to Pisces and later, Pluto was given to Scorpio.
Consequently, now in the modern rulerships, only Mercury and Venus have two. As a bow to that part of astrology’s history, there are day and night rulers that reflect the old rulerships.
