General Overview

Once we understand that everything is energy ~ including our physical bodies ~ we can then grasp the importance of studying the types of energies pouring down upon us ~ virtually all energies contained within the zodiac ~ and how these emanations and radiations impact us mentally ~ emotionally ~ physically.

We must also keep in mind that all the energies are modified by the other energies present in any given moment: their polarity, modality, orientation, and the relationships they form as they move in their orbits around the Sun. Recognizing the totality of the energies present in any given moment and how they affect us is no simple task. But it constitutes effort very well spent.

Altogether, the function of the Luminaries, Planets and Asteroids, along with the Signs, Houses. and other components, create a knowledge formula. By studying what energy exists, the temperament and orientation of that energy; how that energy is modified; its cycle of movement; and where, in what area of our lives it will move/manifest; we are then in the position to know how to utilize the power this knowledge puts in our hands to improve our lives and further God’s Plan on Earth.

The Nature of the Luminaries and Planets:

One has only to study astrology to understand that its status as a complicated and compelling science is well-deserved.

The most important point Theos would like to make about all luminaries and planets is this:

“The Sun, Planets, Asteroids and other Heavenly Bodies are not “lumps of rock” or “balls of gas” ~ They are the physical bodies of Great Beings, whose lives are of greater scope than you can yet imagine.”

Each Heavenly Body represents a principle energy ~ a type of fundamental characteristic it radiates/emanates outwardly. Altogether they present a comprehensive profile of the components of the human psyche and constitute the what energy of the knowledge formula given above.

  • Sun ~ Masculine/Yang Principle
  • Moon ~ Feminine/Yin Principle
  • Mercury ~ Mental Principle
  • Venus ~ Magnetic Principle
  • Earth ~ Growth Principle
  • Mars ~ Desire Principle
  • Jupiter ~ Spiritual Principle
  • Saturn ~ Discipline Principle
  • Uranus ~ Awareness Principle
  • Oceana/Neptune ~ Artistic Principle
  • Pluto ~ Transformative Principle

 

The Major Asteroids: Chiron, Ceres, Juno, Pallas Athena, and Vesta are covered further on in Foundational Astrology.

The Archetypes and the Signs:

Planets are People. The natal horoscope is primarily a personal blueprint. But if you know how to look, you can also discover a great deal about many of the other individuals who play important roles in the expression of your personal and shared destinies. These people are represented by the planets in their signs and houses.

Astrology works because the basic alphabet of our ancient science is archetypal in nature. This means that each of the signs, planets, and house of the horoscope not only indicate individual people, places, things, and events, but also the categories and repeated patterns of these circumstances and relationships.

If we look therefore to the archetypal meanings of these astrological significators as our source of understanding, who we meet and under what kinds of circumstances these meetings take place, can become very clear. As there are literally thousands of possible combinations between planets, signs, and aspects, obviously it will not be possible to cover all of these archetypes and their variations.

Concurrently, each Sign represents an archetype ~ a universal pattern of behavior intrinsic to human nature, which shows how the energy of the Heavenly Body is modified:

  • Aries ~ The Initiator
  • Taurus ~ The Provider
  • Gemini ~ The Messenger
  • Cancer ~ The Mother
  • Leo ~ The Creator
  • Virgo ~ The Healer
  • Libra ~ The Peacemaker
  • Scorpio ~ The Alchemist
  • Sagittarius ~ The Explorer
  • Capricorn ~ The Rule Maker
  • Aquarius ~ The Maverick
  • Pisces ~ The Mystic

A Few Necessary Astrological Terms:

Affliction: An adverse aspect, or position, creating problems in the expression of the relevant energies. Aspects from malefics are almost always adverse, so the aspected planet is said to suffer affliction, or be afflicted, but benefics can also afflict if poorly placed in the chart. A planet can also be said to be afflicted if it is debilitated by chart position (for example, if in fall or detriment, or by rulership of certain houses).

Applying: In a general sense the term ‘applying’ is used for any planet moving towards the conjunction or aspect of another, in strict terminology a planet is said to be ‘in application’ or ‘applying’ to another when the planets are within orb of aspect and moving towards perfection (exactness). Planetary motion must be considered, for if a planet is retrograde an aspect that appears to be applying towards exactness may in fact be separating, and if a planet is about to turn retrograde an aspect that is currently in a state of application may fail to perfect. Usually one planet is moving more quickly than the other, and this planet is said to be making the application or casting the aspect. The slower planet receives the influence. If the slower moving planet is retrograde or turns retrograde before the aspect perfects, the planets are said to be mutually applying to each other.

Aspect: The relationship between Planets, Angles, or Points in a chart. These relationships are based on geometry and are defined by the angles, (small a), they form with one another, expressed in degrees and within a specific orb. The aspects considered major are:

Conjunction = 0°

Opposition = 180°

Quincunx (Inconjunct) = 150°

Semi-Sextile = 30°

Sextile = 60°

Square = 90°

Trine = 120°

Benefic: Beneficial, good, or favorable relationship.

Detriment: a planet in a sign opposite to the one it rules is in detriment.

Dignity: A planet is essentially dignified when in its own sign. It can be accidentally dignified by being angular, in a favorable house; or by being disposited or aspected by a beneficial planet or fortunate fixed star, increasing in light or speed, direct in motion or by its oriental/occidental relationship to the Sun.

Exaltation: A planet’s exaltation is a Sign of the zodiac in which it is thought to be particularly well-placed.The traditional exaltations are as follows:

    • The Sun is exalted in Aries.
    • The Moon is exalted in Taurus.
    • Mercury is exalted in Virgo.
    • Venus is exalted in Pisces.
    • Mars is exalted in Capricorn.
    • Jupiter is exalted in Cancer.
    • Saturn: is exalted in Libra.
    • Uranus: is exalted in Scorpio.
    • Oceana/Neptune: is exalted in Aquarius.
    • Pluto: has no widely regarded sign of exaltation.

According to the 7th century astrologer Rhetorius of Egypt, the exaltations are auspicious placements for the planets because the domicile lord of that sign interacts particularly well with the planet that has its exaltation in the sign.

Fall: a planet opposite its exaltation sign. The signs of planetary fall are as follows:

Intercepts: A sign is said to be intercepted when it falls within a house, enclosed between two other signs that hold the cusps – as in the illustration below where Mars is intercepted in Pisces in the 2nd house, the cusps being held by Aquarius and Aries.

Intercepted

Some modern authors have suggested that planets in intercepted signs are weakened or in some way confined but this view does not appear to be supported in traditional texts where they are sometimes used as secondary significators upon the affairs of that house.

Malefic: Difficult or stress-inducing relationship.

North and South Nodes: The north and south nodes indicate the points in the zodiac where the plane of the moon’s orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic (the Earth’s orbit. These are sensitive areas where eclipses occur.

The north node is represented by the symbol: north node

The south node is represented by the symbol: South node

Traditionally the north node is considered to be equivalent to a benefic, whereas the south node is equivalent to a malefic.

Orb: The distance, (in degrees), between two Planets, Angles, Points, or Aspects in the chart. The Orbs  essentially limit the distance allowed for specific Aspects to be considered valid.

Part of Fortune: Also known as ‘fortuna’. One of the so-called Arabic Parts and the most commonly used. It is treated as a benefic and generally considered as a significator of good fortune when well placed or favourably aspected. Its symbol is: fortuna

Partile: Originally the term partile referred to aspects that were calculated by degree (rather than by sign) because they acknowledged the ‘parts’ (degrees) of the sign. Aspects judged according to the relationship of the signs were termed platick, from a phrase which meant ‘plate’ or ‘broad area’. In later astrology the term partile generally referred to aspects which were exact or near perfection, whereas platick referred to those which were ‘loose’, or within the limits of their recognized orbs

Retrograde: From the Latin “to step backwards”, this term is applied to the apparent backward motion of the planets through the zodiac as they decrease in longitude as viewed from the earth. The symbol for retrograde is: retrograde

When significators are retrograde, delays, recurrences, returns to previous conditions and reversals of events may be experienced.

Separating: Although in a general sense the term ‘separating’ is applied to any planet moving away from the conjunction or aspect to another, in strict terminology a planet is said to be ‘separating’ from another when the planets are within orb of aspect and moving away from perfection (exactness). Planetary motion must be considered, for if a planet is retrograde an aspect that appears to be separating from exactness may in fact be applying, and if a planet is about to turn retrograde an aspect that is currently in a state of separation may once again perfect.