You are SO MUCH more than your sun sign
As an astrology enthusiast, I’ve lost count of the number of times people have told me things like, “I’m a Virgo, but I don’t feel like a Virgo.” I don’t blame them for not knowing better because when we think of astrology, horoscopes are typically the first thing that comes to mind, specifically those horoscope mobile apps we’re tempted not to check every day…
The problem is that horoscope apps typically only focus on sun signs, but the sun is just one piece of the massive, interconnected, mess of a web that we call astrology. What many people aren’t aware of is that a birth chart contains several components that provide insight into overall energetic influences (the planets) a person’s personality traits (the zodiac signs), and how different areas of their life are steered to unfold (the houses.)
The Planets
In astrology, the planets are representative of different energies and themes that can manifest in various ways:
The Sun: Our core energy, the essence of the self, aspirations, fathers/father figures, where we “shine”, relationship with authority. Rules the zodiac sign Leo.
The Moon: Our emotions/emotional needs, inclinations, and relationship with our mother/mother figure. Rules the zodiac sign Cancer.
Mercury: Communication, learning style, the mind, and writing abilities. Rules the zodiac signs Gemini and Virgo.
Venus: Feminine energy, beauty, artistry, romantic relationships, love language. Rules the zodiac signs Taurus and Libra.
Mars: Masculine energy, assertiveness, action, war, impulses, sexual drive, how we respond when challenged. Rules the zodiac signs Aries and Scorpio (co-ruler.)
Jupiter: Luck, wisdom, optimism, higher learning, soul expansion, abundance, and good fortune. Rules the zodiac sign Sagittarius.
Saturn: Karma, lessons, limits, boundaries, seriousness, authority. Rules the zodiac sign Capricorn.
Uranus: Unconventionality, uniqueness, sudden changes, disruptions, rebellion. Rules the zodiac sign Aquarius.
Neptune: Dreams, spirituality, the unconscious, and imagination. Rules the zodiac sign Pisces.
Pluto: Transformation, death, rebirth, power, obsession. Co-ruler of the zodiac sign Scorpio.
The Zodiac Signs:
Aries: Action-oriented, likes to lead, takes initiative, passionate, but can be impulsive and impatient.
Taurus: Values stability, prioritizes comfort, is typically reliable, slower-paced than many of the other signs, but can be stubborn and materialistic.
Gemini: Quick-witted, clever, intellectual, loves learning and sharing knoweldge, but can be flighty and inconsistent.
Cancer: Blessed with high emotional intelligence, intuitive, sensitive, and aware of others’ needs, but can be moody and reactive.
Leo: Loves to shine and be in the spotlight, is passionate, and social, but can be attention-seeking and demanding.
Virgo: Analytical, structured, practical, and honest, but can be overly critical and moody.
Libra: Balanced, values harmony, makes and excellent mediator, stylish, but can be superficial and indecisive.
Scorpio: Deep, introspective, loyal, and mysterious but can be obsessive and demanding.
Sagittarius: Adventurous, worldly, interesting, and friendly, but can be difficult to pin down and dogmatic.
Capricorn: Hardworking, structured, disciplined, and organized but can be overly-competitive and controlling.
Aquarius: Unique, unafraid to stand out, rebellious, forward-looking, but can be cold and come off as insensitive.
Pisces: Creative, dreamy, is often spiritually inclined, but can struggle with boundaries and structure.
The Houses: Just like we have 12 zodiac signs in total, we also have 12 houses in astrology. The houses in astrology tell us about the different areas of a person’s life.
1st House: The self, ego, personality, vitality, physical appearance, and beginnings.
2nd House: Money, physical possessions, self-worth, values, and resources.
3rd House: Siblings, communication, extended family, local community, short-distance travel, extended family, and local community.
4th House: Immediate family, home, roots, ancestry, foundations.
5th House: Children, creativity, dating, sex.
6th House: Daily routine, work, health, and acts of service.
7th House: Committed partnerships and romance.
8th House: Taboo topics, death, the psyche, the subconscious mind, other people’s resources, sexuality, and secrets.
9th House: Long-distance travel, higher education, publishing, philosophy, belief systems, and religion.
10th House: Career, reputation, status, public roles.
11th House: Chosen community, friendships, goals, aspirations, and luck.
12th House: The unseen, hidden parts of ourselves, the unconscious mind, dreams, visions, spirituality, isolation, and endings.
When reading a birth chart, we can see that the planets are placed in different zodiac signs. Those planets are placed in various houses (sometimes several in one house) and each house has a different zodiac sign ruling over it.
For example, let’s say we have a person with a birth chart containing the following:
Sun in Leo in the 10th House
Moon in Scorpio in the 9th House
Mercury in Virgo in the 1st House
We could infer that this person is not afraid to shine and stand out, thanks to their Sun in Leo in the 10th House and Mercury in the 1st House. This is because the 10th House deals with our public life and reputation and the first house is one’s personality and physical appearance. In essence, both houses give us clues as to how we’re perceived and what we’re recognized for. Leo suns also tend to be drawn to the spotlight while craving recognition and praise for their talents and accomplishments. This person could also make an excellent orator, thanks to their Mercury in Virgo in the 1st House.
This person’s moon placement could indicate that they view travel as a form of emotional release and could therefore have a time staying in one place for too long because the moon rules our emotions and our deepest needs, and the 9th House rules travel and journeys. This person could also hold a deep interest in philosophies, belief systems, and different cultures, and could have a love for learning and spend many years studying both independently and in institutions. Furthermore, Moon in Scorpio in the 9th House points to a person who craves depth and authentic travel experiences and who dislikes surface-level information, preferring to dive deep into a topic.
Now that you have an overview of the planets, signs, and houses in astrology, you have just scratched the surface of this fascinating discipline that dates back to the 3rd Millennium BCE. Check out some of the other blog posts to learn more about astrology and how to decipher birth charts!
