Sign InIn astrology, ten main planetary factors are traditionally used: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The Sun and the Moon, which are not planets in the astronomical sense, are called the luminaries but are treated as planets in astrological interpretation. Other bodies or points, such as Chiron, Ceres, the lunar nodes, Lilith, and the Part of Fortune, may complement the analysis and are presented later on this page.
Each planet symbolizes a particular function and energy in the natal chart. Its expression depends notably on the sign it occupies, the house in which it is placed, the aspects it forms with other planets, and, when it is close to an angle, its angularity.
Three broad groups are generally distinguished:
- The personal or fast-moving planets: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. They describe the functions most directly perceptible in character, reactions, and behavior.
- The social planets: Jupiter and Saturn. Moving more slowly, they relate the individual more closely to the social environment, development, ambitions, and limits.
- The transpersonal or collective planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Their sign positions often characterize a generation, while their houses, aspects, and possible angularity individualize their influence in the natal chart.
The Sun and the Moon occupy a special place in interpretation. Called the luminaries because they are the two brightest celestial bodies seen from Earth, they provide information about identity, willpower, sensitivity, and the individual's fundamental needs.
With the exception of the Sun and the Moon, the other eight planets can display apparent retrograde motion. Astronomically, this is an effect of perspective caused by the relative motions of Earth and the other planets. In astrology, retrogradation is given a symbolic meaning that depends on the planet involved and the rest of the chart.
Secondary progressions may also show a change of direction for a progressed planet during the course of life. They are based on the symbolic correspondence of one day after birth to one year of life and complement, without replacing, the natal chart.
For the slower planets, the sign position is shared by many people born during the same period. Their individual interpretation therefore depends especially on the house occupied, the aspects received, rulerships, and possible angularity.
The approximate average annual duration of retrograde motion for the eight planets is as follows:
- Mercury: about 23 days per year,
- Venus: about 42 days per year,
- Mars: about 73 days per year,
- Jupiter: about 121 days per year,
- Saturn: about 138 days per year,
- Uranus: about 152 days per year,
- Neptune: about 159 days per year,
- Pluto: about 162 days per year.
To explore the meaning of each planet in greater depth, you can consult our articles on dominant planets, illustrated with examples of public figures, by choosing below the one that interests you.
The Sun
The Sun takes approximately 365 days to travel through the zodiac and spends about 30 days in each sign. Its apparent daily motion is roughly one degree. As viewed from Earth, neither the Sun nor the Moon can display retrograde motion; the two luminaries are the only astrological "planets" that never appear to move backward through the zodiac.
Average distance from Earth: about 150 million km. Mass: about 333,000 times that of Earth.
Fire is his element. His nature is hot and dry. He rules Leo and is in exaltation in Aries. He is in analogy with the heart.
He represents the father, the husband, and the leader. The age of the Sun covers the period from 20 to 40 years, approximately.
Temperament: choleric.
Characterology: emotive, secondary, active. He is passionate.
The Sun represents the individual's ego, aspirations, inner self, and will, what one tends to be at the deepest level, unlike the Ascendant, which describes the image and manner projected to others.
The Sun is the masculine, Yang principle of the personality and traditionally represents male figures such as the father, husband, or leader. It provides clues to the image of the father and of men in general, as well as to the type of relationship the chart owner develops with them.
The Sun is a star of warmth, life, and light. He therefore emphasizes courage, loyalty, nobility, and generosity, but also pride, irritability, and self-centeredness.
In a woman's chart, the Sun usually symbolizes her father, and later on, her husband. The Sun is always active in the woman's personality and represents her ideal of man.
The Sun is associated with youth, the period in life when, brimming with ambitions and hopes, one completes one's studies.
To illustrate Sun as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Sun.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring the Sun in the 12 zodiac signs or the Sun in the 12 astrological houses.
Tens of thousands of examples are also available through the search tool by positions, by aspects, or by categories.
The Moon
The Moon is the swiftest of all the celestial bodies. She travels through the Zodiac in approximately 28 days, and spends two and a half days in each sign. Her daily motion is an average of 12 degrees.
Average distance from Earth: about 384,000 km. Mass: about 1/81 of that of Earth.
Water is her element. Her nature is cold and moist. She rules Cancer and is in exaltation in Taurus. She is in analogy with the stomach.
She represents the mother, the wife and the crowd. Her age covers the period from birth to childhood before puberty, or even earlier, according to some authors.
Temperament: phlegmatic.
Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or non-emotive, non-active and primary. She is nervous, or amorphous.
She is complementary to the Sun in the sense that she represents the feminine part of the personality (the Yin), the unconscious, the emotions and the sensitivity of the chart's owner. She symbolizes all feminine figures such as the mother, the wife, etc.
She is associated with fertility, femininity, imagination, and memory, whose expression is colored by the aspects she receives. In traditional interpretation, she is particularly important in a woman's chart and contributes to the way feminine identity and sensitivity are expressed.
In a man's chart, although the Moon represents his sensitivity, she may be of a lesser importance, since she is often repressed. In addition, she symbolizes the chart owner's mother, and later on, his wife as well as his representation of the ideal woman.
The Moon is the night star. Therefore, she is associated with dreams, the unconscious, subjectivity, moods, the past, nostalgia, but also with laziness, nonchalance and whims. Besides, she is of utmost importance for children, because they have not yet learned to master their primary instincts, and remain very attached to their mother.
To illustrate Moon as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Moon.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring the Moon in the 12 zodiac signs or the Moon in the 12 astrological houses.
Mercury
Mercury's revolution takes about 88 days. The apparent daily motion of this very small planet is of one degree on average, similar to the Sun's. Mercury never moves further than 28 degrees away from the Sun, when viewed from the Earth.
Earth is his element. His nature is cold and dry. He rules Virgo and Gemini, and is also in exaltation in Virgo. He is in analogy with the arms, hands, and nervous system.
He represents traders, attorneys and messengers. His age covers the period from 12 to 18 years, approximately.
Temperament: nervous
Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or non-emotive, active, primary. He is nervous, or nervous and sanguine.
Mercury symbolizes intellectual capacity, thought process, comprehension and learning abilities, and all intellectual activities in general. He is the planet of communication and exchanges. Indeed, in mythology, he was the messenger of the gods.
When Mercury is a dominant planet, he emphasizes mental quickness, mobility, curiosity, and wit. In a more difficult expression, he can also produce nervousness, dispersion, opportunism, or excessive detachment. He favors reasoning and intellectual activity over feelings and emotions.
Unlike the Moon and the Sun, Mercury has neither masculine nor feminine gender. He is neutral and works at the service of the Sun, which means that the intellect is at the service of the self and of willpower. He may represent siblings, friendships based on intellectual ties, merchants, and also thieves.
Mercury's importance increases toward a peak at adolescence, when the individual's intellectual curiosity awakens, when studies are begun and friendly relationships are built.
To illustrate Mercury as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Mercury.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Mercury in the 12 zodiac signs or Mercury in the 12 astrological houses.
Venus
Venus's cycle is variable. She takes approximately 225 days to travel through the zodiac. Viewed from Earth, her average daily motion is about one degree, similar to that of the Sun and Mercury. Venus never moves more than about 48 degrees away from the Sun, slightly farther than Mercury.
Air is her element. Her nature is moist. She rules Taurus and Libra, and is in exaltation in Pisces. She is in analogy with the kidneys, the venous system, the bladder, and the neck.
She represents artists, traders, and all occupations related to beauty and seduction. Her age covers the period from 18 to 25 years, approximately.
Temperament: sanguine and phlegmatic
Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or emotive, non-active, secondary.
Venus is associated with love, beauty, well-being and gentleness.
She describes one's romantic life, affections, leisure, and the way one behaves with one's love partners. Venus softens, beautifies and creates pleasant situations at the place where she is posited.
When Venus is a dominant planet, the chart owner tends to be gentle, accommodating, charming, attractive, and attentive to appearance. Artistic talents may also be present, particularly in decoration, fashion, painting, music, or dance. Like the Moon, Venus is a feminine planet, but she is more sensual and more closely associated with the pleasures of life. In a more difficult expression, Venus may encourage laziness, materialism, self-indulgence, or excessive concern with comfort and approval.
In a man's chart, Venus symbolizes the mistress and the type of woman who physically attracts him, and with whom he wishes to have short-lived love affairs.
The age of Venus starts with the arousal of feelings, when one starts to get interested in the opposite sex, and to pay attention to one's physical appearance.
To illustrate Venus as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Venus.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Venus in the 12 zodiac signs or Venus in the 12 astrological houses.
Mars
Mars is a relatively small planet and travels through the Zodiac in 1 year and 220 days. He usually spends about eight weeks in each sign, although at certain stages of his cycle, he remains in the same sign during five or six months. His average daily motion is of half a degree.
Fire is his element. His nature is hot and dry. He rules Aries and is in exaltation in Capricorn. He is in analogy with the muscles and the spleen.
Mars represents the military, sportsmen, warriors, surgeons, blacksmiths, etc. His age covers the period from 42 to 58 years, approximately.
Temperament: choleric
Characterology: emotive, active, primary. He is a choleric.
Mars is a combative energy and describes how one commands and takes action. He symbolizes virility, action, violence, courage and boldness. He bestows dynamism and enterprising spirit, but he can also turn the chart's owner into a despotic, irascible and primary person.
Mars gives information on the ability to come to grips with things and to overcome hurdles, as well as the types of sports practiced. It also describes sexual life and desires.
Because Venus is his opposite, in a woman's chart Mars represents her lovers and the type of man to whom she is attracted and with whom she is willing to have a love affair.
Like the Sun, Mars is a masculine planet. However, he is less idealistic than the Sun, and more active, more primary and more sexually driven.
He is associated with the forties and the fifties, the fully mature individual, the stage of life when one must fight to assert oneself, when professional activities are at their heights, and one is aware that nothing is achieved without effort.
To illustrate Mars as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Mars.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Mars in the 12 zodiac signs or Mars in the 12 astrological houses.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the first slow-moving planet and the largest planet in the Solar System. He takes nearly twelve years to travel through the zodiac (about 11 years and 11 months) and spends approximately one year in each sign.
Air is his element. His nature is hot and moist. He rules Sagittarius and Pisces (along with Neptune), and is in exaltation in Cancer. He is in analogy with the hips and the endocrine system. N.B.: the planet's element, Air in the case of Jupiter, should not be confused with the elements of the signs it rules (Fire for Sagittarius and Water for Pisces).
Jupiter represents people in power, magistrates, great professors, and religious figures. The age of Jupiter covers the period from 55 or 58 years to approximately 70 years.
Temperament: sanguine.
Characterology: emotive, active, primary. He is an extroverted choleric, some sort of a moist version of Mars, and as the latter, he is action-oriented.
He symbolizes abundance, warmth, blossoming, good luck and self-confidence. He also describes the potential for good fortune and the way the individual expresses his enthusiasm, his benevolence, as well as the way he integrates into the mainstream.
Jupiter is the biggest of all planets. Therefore, he is associated with wealth, glory and honors, and he also is a success factor. Although he is often beneficial, he may show a tendency toward exaggeration and pretentiousness, and sometimes, he promises more than he can deliver.
When Jupiter is a dominant planet, the individual is generous, outgoing and enthusiastic. He has charisma and usually loves children.
Jupiter represents public figures who offer support or protection, as well as magistrates, lawyers, politicians, and people in positions of influence.
Jupiter is associated with maturity and the beginning of retirement, when the individual may enjoy what has been acquired throughout professional life. It is traditionally linked with a period of greater freedom, fulfillment, leisure, and confidence derived from experience.
To illustrate Jupiter as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Jupiter.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Jupiter in the 12 zodiac signs or Jupiter in the 12 astrological houses.
Saturn
Saturn takes about 29 years to travel through the Zodiac, and spends two and a half years in each sign.
Earth is his element. His nature is cold and dry. He rules Capricorn and Aquarius (along with Uranus), and is in exaltation in Libra. He is in analogy with the skeletal system and the skin.
He represents grandparents, wise people, the elderly, scientists, and people of knowledge. The age of Saturn is traditionally associated with old age, from around 70 onward, sometimes earlier depending on the individual's health.
Temperament: nervous.
Characterology: non-emotive, active, secondary, or sometimes, emotive, non-active, secondary. He is a phlegmatic, sentimental or apathetic.
As the opposite of Jupiter, who is synonymous with expansion, Saturn is synonymous with restriction. He symbolizes time and its implacable principle. He is associated with toughness, austerity, discipline and limitation.
He describes obstacles, lessons to be learned, and ordeals to be endured. Wherever Saturn is placed, he slows things down and demands effort, concentration, and patience. Although traditionally considered a malefic planet, Saturn can also foster reflection, endurance, responsibility, ambition, maturity, wisdom, and self-discipline.
When Saturn is a dominant planet, the individual is rather introverted, solitary, quiet, discreet, observant, ambitious and impassive. He may seem cold and emotionless, which is not true. He is passionate and proud, but he does not want to show that he may be weak and that his sensitivity or his feelings can be moved. Nevertheless, he may be stingy, cruel, curt and selfish.
Saturn is associated with the elderly, the wise, and all people who can help us overcome an ordeal such as priests, medical practitioners, etc.
Saturn symbolizes old age, when one may begin to detach from material concerns. It is traditionally associated with solitude, withdrawal, and retirement.
To illustrate Saturn as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Saturn.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Saturn in the 12 zodiac signs or Saturn in the 12 astrological houses.
Uranus
Uranus takes some 84 years to travel through the Zodiac, and spends about 7 years in each sign.
Fire is his element. His nature is dry. He rules Aquarius and is in exaltation in Scorpio. He is in analogy with the brain and the nerves.
He represents inventors, originals, reformers, and revolutionaries.
Temperament: extremely nervous.
Characterology: emotive, active, secondary. He is passionate.
Uranus is a dynamic and abrupt energy. He brings sudden and unexpected changes, new situations, revolutions, and disruptions. He symbolizes eccentricity, originality, inventiveness, independence, and the refusal of convention. In a more difficult expression, he can also bring instability, abruptness, or intolerance.
When Uranus is a dominant planet, the individual is therefore always eccentric, very independent, idealistic, inventive and quite extravagant. He may also show intolerance, insensitivity, a lack of human warmth, which is quite paradoxical because, although he is on the fringe of society, he needs to be at the service of humankind and to contribute to the betterment of the world.
Uranus is associated with modernity, technological progress, and communication through new means such as the telephone, the Internet, social networks, and the media. As a collective planet, his energy is also expressed on the mundane level, like that of the still slower planets.
To illustrate Uranus as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Uranus.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Uranus in the 12 zodiac signs or Uranus in the 12 astrological houses.
Neptune
Neptune takes approximately 165 years to travel through the zodiac and spends roughly 14 years in each sign.
Water is his element. His nature is moist. He rules Pisces and is in exaltation in Cancer. He is in analogy with the autonomic nervous system.
He represents dreamers, psychics, magicians, purveyors of illusions, and drug addicts.
Temperament: lymphatic.
Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary or secondary. He is sentimental, sometimes amorphous.
With Neptune, everything is slowed down, blurred, nebulous and shrouded in mystery. He represents all things unreal and incomprehensible, as well as imagination, inspiration, faith, religion and mysticism.
Neptunian people are often described as gentle, dreamy, mystical, inspired, selfless, and generous. They are highly sensitive and readily perceive the subtleties of the surrounding atmosphere.
Their psychological sensitivity may be highly developed, and they often appreciate music. In a more difficult expression, they can be passive, malleable, impressionable, gullible, easily deceived, or lacking in practical realism.
In traditional astrological symbolism, difficult Neptune configurations are associated with escapism, dependency, confusion, discouragement, or psychological uneasiness. Such symbolism should not be treated as a medical or psychological diagnosis.
On the mundane plane, he is associated with slow, subtle, almost imperceptible changes, often of a religious, spiritual, artistic, or ideological nature.
To illustrate Neptune as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Neptune.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Neptune in the 12 zodiac signs or Neptune in the 12 astrological houses.
Pluto
Pluto takes approximately 248 years to travel through the zodiac, but because of his highly elliptical orbit, he can remain in one sign for roughly 12 to 30 years.
His element is undefined. His nature is traditionally described as burning. He rules Scorpio and is in exaltation in Pisces. He is in analogy with the sexual and excretory functions.
He represents dictators, sadists, violent, instinctive and powerful persons, as well as hidden and mysterious forces.
Temperament: choleric.
Characterology: emotive or non-emotive, active, primary. He is passionate and choleric.
Discovered in 1930 and classified astronomically as a dwarf planet since 2006, Pluto retains in astrology the status of a major transpersonal factor. He represents occultism, hidden forces, mystery, death, the hereafter, profound self-examination, deep transformation, and power.
Pluto brings about radical upheavals from which it is impossible to escape. After his transit, one feels totally transformed, whether positively or negatively. Pluto also rules our deepest instincts, our obsessions, our anxieties, and our sexual energy.
Plutonian people are enigmatic, deep, magnetic, sometimes worrying, endowed with an incredible amount of energy, and able to constantly carry out self-questionings. They can also, in some rare cases, be violent, sadistic, and perverse.
On the mundane plane, as already mentioned, Pluto brings about shattering changes and major crises, including financial crises, since he is also associated with wealth.
To illustrate Pluto as an astrological dominant, you will find thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring dominant Pluto.
You may also explore thousands of celebrity birth charts featuring Pluto in the 12 zodiac signs or Pluto in the 12 astrological houses.
Sedna, a Very Distant Trans-Neptunian Object
Sedna, officially numbered (90377), was discovered on November 14, 2003, and publicly announced in March 2004. It is an extremely distant trans-Neptunian object, now generally classified among the detached objects and the group known as sednoids, rather than as a recognized planet.
Its diameter is estimated at roughly 1,000 km. Sedna follows a highly elliptical orbit that carries it to enormous distances from the Sun, and its orbital period extends well beyond ten thousand years. Its unusual orbit has led astronomers to discuss a possible connection with the inner regions of the Oort Cloud, although its exact dynamical origin remains a subject of study.
Astrologically, Sedna has no broadly established symbolism comparable to that of the ten main planetary factors. Its use remains marginal and experimental, so we prefer not to assign it a fixed interpretation here.
Asteroids, Lunar Nodes, Lilith, Arabian Parts, and Hypothetical Points
Beyond the ten main planetary factors, some astrologers also use Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, Chiron, the lunar nodes, Lilith, the Part of Fortune, and various hypothetical points. Their importance varies greatly from one school to another. Astronomically, Ceres is now classified as a dwarf planet, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta as asteroids, while Chiron belongs to the family of centaurs. For fictitious or hypothetical points, we limit ourselves to a brief presentation, and the greatest caution remains appropriate. The hypothetical trans-Neptunian factors of the Hamburg School were developed by Alfred Witte and later by Friedrich Sieggrün.
Ceres, now classified as a dwarf planet and the largest object in the asteroid belt, is associated with the Roman goddess of grain and harvest, equivalent to Demeter in Greek mythology. In astrology, Ceres is linked with physical constitution, vitality, fertility, and a nurturing function that is considered less emotional than that of the Moon. Some schools assign Ceres rulership over Virgo and exaltation in Gemini, with detriment in Pisces and fall in Sagittarius.
Pallas is also used in modern astrology. It is associated with intelligence, the capacity for abstraction, synthesis, and strategic thinking, particularly in political or organizational contexts.
Juno is the asteroid associated with the capacity to adjust to the spouse, and it also deals with the defense of personal rights. It is therefore very often used to interpret marriage topics.
Vesta is less used. It indicates the capacity to dedicate oneself to a cause and to bring a higher level of efficiency into it.
Chiron, astronomically classified among the centaurs, is recognized and used by many astrologers, though not by every school. It is often considered a symbolic mediator between Saturn and the outer planets. Astrologically, Chiron is associated with wisdom, patience, wounds, and the capacity to relieve suffering; it is often described as the "great healer" of the zodiac.
The Lunar Nodes are two opposing points on the lunar orbit where it intersects the ecliptic (the Sun's apparent path around the Earth). The point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic from south to north is called the North Node, and where it crosses from north to south is called the South Node.
There are two primary ways they are represented in astrology: the "true" nodes and the "mean" nodes.
True Lunar Nodes (or Oscillating Nodes): these nodes are calculated from the actual position of the Moon at a given moment and take into account gravitational perturbations caused by the Sun and other celestial bodies. Because of these perturbations, their apparent motion can include irregular oscillations. Astrotheme uses the true position of the lunar nodes by default; the mean position can be selected in the free applications below the birth charts.
Mean Lunar Nodes: this method calculates an average position of the nodes by smoothing their movements over a given period. They move in a constant retrograde fashion, without oscillations.
In summary, the difference between the two lies in the calculation. The true nodes can oscillate around the mean due to gravitational disturbances, while the mean nodes offer a more "smoothed" version of these movements.
Which position to choose? The decision to work with true or mean nodes depends on personal preference or the astrological tradition followed. Some astrologers, like Astrotheme, believe that the true nodes are more accurate as they represent the actual position at a specific time. Others prefer the consistency of the mean nodes.
It should be noted, however, that unlike Lilith, the difference between the true and mean positions of the lunar nodes remains quite small, a few degrees at most.
How to interpret them? The lunar nodes in astrology are often associated with karma, destiny, life lessons, and spiritual growth. The North Node typically represents the qualities or situations we should strive for or evolve toward, while the South Node represents past or innate tendencies, already acquired qualities.
As with the Black Moon (Lilith), caution is advisable when interpreting the lunar nodes. Some astrologers attribute little or no importance to them, whereas certain schools, particularly those described as karmic, consider them essential. Their interpretation therefore remains dependent on the astrological framework being used.
Lilith or the "Dark Moon" is the empty focus of the lunar orbit, the other focus being the Earth. It symbolizes the "debt", or the karmic consequences of our deeds. It means dearth, unfathomable fear, foolish challenge, sufferings which lead to growth, the limits of earthly bearable pain, and therefore, the possibilities to surpass oneself, the ambivalence of desire and denial, as well as the ability to metamorphose oneself, and to turn an ordeal into a redeeming experience.
Like Pluto, Mars, and, to some extent, Uranus, Lilith has a strong and active sexual symbolism. It evokes temptation, refusal, desire, and the rejection of submission. Lilith spends approximately nine months in each sign, with an average yearly motion of about forty degrees. It is traditionally assigned a domicile in Scorpio, exaltation in Aries, detriment in Taurus, and fall in Libra. The point opposite Lilith is sometimes called Priapus; it corresponds to the lunar perigee, where the Moon is closest to Earth, and is given a contrasting symbolic interpretation by some schools.
There are mainly two methods to calculate the position of the Black Moon: the Mean Black Moon (or Mean Lilith) and the True Black Moon (or Corrected or Oscillating Lilith). On Astrotheme, by default, we use the true position. It is possible to choose the mean black moon in the free applications, as an option under each sky map.
For the Mean Black Moon, the calculation method is based on an average position, mathematically calculated, from the second focus of the elliptical orbit of the Moon around the Earth. It is stable in a natal chart because it does not have abrupt oscillations.
The position of the True Black Moon also takes into account the gravitational disturbances caused by the Sun. It oscillates around the Mean Black Moon, which can lead to more changing positions. This position is supposed to be more accurate because it is more comprehensive, hence it is called "true" for this reason.
It is important to be clear about the version of the Black Moon used because sometimes, the difference in position, for the same chart, can reach twenty degrees, which is two-thirds of a zodiac sign.
Should the True Black Moon be interpreted differently from the Mean Black Moon? The question has never been settled. Some astrologers use both positions, this delicate question indeed leads to being particularly cautious about the relevance of considering or not the Black Moon in a chart. There are many astrologers who prefer not to consider it at all, as the evidence of its activity has never been clearly demonstrated.
Dionysus, also called the Black Sun, is a hypothetical point sometimes described as a balance point of the Sun. It is associated by its users with an unconscious or unawakened dimension of the personality. Its use is rare and controversial. Its yearly motion is only about 1 degree and 52 minutes, which gives it a collective character in this system.
Other hypothetical points include Cupido, Hades, Zeus, Kronos, Poseidon, Apollon, Admetos, Vulcanus, Proserpina, Eros, and Thanatos. Many astrologers do not use hypothetical planets, asteroids, Arabian parts, or other fictitious points, although several of them are available as optional factors in our free charts. The trans-Neptunian factors Cupido, Hades, Zeus, Kronos, Apollon, Admetos, Vulcanus, and Poseidon belong to the Hamburg School tradition.
Cupido is related to socialization, the arts, and marital life. On the downside, it may indicate vanity, dependence on pleasure, or strong susceptibility to group influence.
Hades corresponds to intellectual rigor, service to others, and the desire to be useful. On the downside, it may indicate carelessness, indifference, apathy, decline, or disorder.
Zeus is related to creativity, organizational ability, and leadership. On the downside, it may indicate aggressiveness or excessive militancy.
Kronos is related to authority and cleverness. In tough aspect, it may make the person conceited, presumptuous, or elitist.
Apollon is related to the ability to synthesize, broad-mindedness, experience, learning, and recognition. In difficult aspect, it may indicate superficiality or extravagance.
Admetos is related to depth of thought, austerity, simplicity, and analytical ability. In difficult aspect, it may indicate nitpicking, inflexibility, immobility, or narrow-mindedness.
Vulcanus, sometimes said to be the higher octave of Saturn, provides strength to improve collective relations, to structure things, to be efficient, and to get straight to the point. On the downside, he may bring about arrogance and scattered efforts.
Poseidon brings about wisdom, a clear mind, and sometimes spirituality. On the downside, it may make the person dogmatic, manipulative, or out of touch with reality.
Proserpina, sometimes referred to as Persephone, is a trans-Plutonian hypothetical planet. Proserpina is related to mysteries, revival and reconstruction, as well as cycles. She enriches the unconscious, and gives the possibility to combine modern life with spirituality, the East with the West, and mysticism with concrete life. Its symbolism has its source in the myth of Persephone, daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) and Demeter (Ceres). After Persephone was abducted by Hades (Pluto), she became his wife. Upon Demeter's request, Hades accepted to allow Persephone to leave the Underworld and stay with her mother during half of the year, which Persephone agreed on. Proserpina is simultaneously Venus' complement and her reverse, just like Pluto is Mars' complement and his reverse.
Some points introduced or popularized in 20th-century astrology arose from research into house systems or other experimental frameworks. Their usefulness remains debated. The Vertex and the East Point are among the additional points sometimes used in natal interpretation.
The Vertex, sometimes called counter-Ascendant, is a fictitious point which is at the intersection of two great circles, the Ecliptic and the great vertical circle (Prime Vertical) in the West of the birthplace, linking the East, the Zenith, the West, and the Nadir. It is always located in the West of the chart around the Descendant. It is the chart's fifth angle, so to speak, less important than the other angles. Its interpretation is controversial, because certain astrologers pay no attention to it.
The East Point is a fictitious point at the intersection of two great circles, the Ecliptic and the great vertical circle (Prime Vertical) in the East of the birthplace, linking the East, the Zenith, the West, and the Nadir. It is always located in the East of the chart, around the Ascendant. The East Point is sometimes considered to be a second Ascendant, less important, but also related to how one is seen by other people, and to how one expresses one's personality.
The famous Part of Fortune, used since antiquity, and the so-called Arabian Parts are calculated points derived from the longitudes of planets, angles, or other zodiacal factors. Many different parts have been proposed over time, often using formulas of the type: Part = ASC + Planet X - Planet Y. This subject is described in greater detail in our Arabian Parts section.
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