Litha
March 31st, 2001, 11:49 AM
Planetary Families and Groups
The Lights.
In astrology the Sun and Moon are referred to as planets, mostly for convenience, but also because they move against our geocentric (earth-centered) sky. Because the etymological meaning of the word “planet” is “to wander,” it made sense for the ancient astrologers who formulated much of astrology’s jargon and terminology to refer to the Sun and Moon as planets.
Nevertheless, the Sun and Moon are given special status in astrology, together they are known as the Lights.
They symbolize the life-giving and forming-giving factors of existence. In a sense, they are the solo performers of the celestial planetary orchestra.
The Sun, the fountainhead of life energy, represents the will and purpose of all life its power sustains.
The Moon, representing ever-changing life-experiences, symbolically gives form to and nourishes solar purpose. Together they represent the bi-polar activity found at the core of all forms of existence—life-force as a unitary power and the distribution of power to wherever it is needed.
In the symbolic language of astrology, the planets are not regarded as causal or controlling agencies, the planets don’t “make things happen.” In other words, although the human heart is said to be the biological analogue of the Sun in astrology, the Sun does not make the heart beat, no more than the clock on my wall causes me to feel hungry when it indicates dinner time.
The symbolic correspondence between the human heart and the Sun is holistic and symbolic rather than causal, the heart serves a function in our biology similar to the Sun’s in the solar system.
There is a deep order and consistency underlying the functions and attributes astrology assigns the planets. The basis for a planet’s symbolism lies in its position within the solar system as a whole, as well as its color, size and its orbital characteristics. The planets may be divided into three characteristic groups, based on their positions in the solar system and distance from the Sun.
Each group represents a general type of consciousness—our inner, personal consciousness; our consciousness of the outer, social world; and our collective and transcendent consciousness.
The Inner or Personal Planets.
This group consist of the planets inside Earth’s orbit: Sun, Mercury, Venus and, in a special sense, the Moon. They move quickly through zodiacal space, corresponding with the rapid pace of ever-changing daily circumstances.
This group operates largely, but not exclusively, in the personal sphere, representing our personal faculties and our consciousness of the inner world and its landscape. Operating inwardly, theirs is a centripetal movement reaching toward the centralizing self. In this context, Sun represents your core purpose and sense of self, and your personal energy and vitality.
Next, Mercury differentiates your primal solar energy, it produces bi-polar, electrical, mental energy. Mercury symbolizes thought processes and mental associations.
Venus adds personal values, ideals and goals into the mix. The first planet within Earth’s orbit, it represents all inward movement and attempts to reach center. The Moon, spending half its time within the orbit of the Earth and half its time outside Earth’s orbit, is the mediating principle of adjustment, linking the personal and the social spheres.
The Social Planets.
These are the classical, visible planets beyond Earth’s orbit: Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. While the inner planets symbolizes an inward movement toward self, the social planets represent outward activity and participation. They represent consciousness of the outer world.
These slower moving planets (Mars has a 2-year orbit, Jupiter’s is 11 years and Saturn has a 29-year orbit) relate to functions and activities that place you within a social context, within situations requiring ambition and interaction with others.
Mars, the first planet outside Earth’s orbit, symbolizes all forms of outer action and mobilization. Jupiter expands the external field of activity. It represents participation and the social sphere in general, and what it can give you.
Saturn is the outermost planet visible to unaided human vision. It symbolizes the principle of form and definition. Saturn is the binding principle that structures and holds things together. On the biological level, it represents the skin, hair and bone that holds your body together and gives you a unique form and appearance. On the social level, Saturn symbolizes the laws, traditions and special identity of a society or social group.
The Collective or Transcendental Planets.
This group is made up of the three known planets outside Saturn’s orbit and beyond the range of human sight: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Operating largely in a transcendent sphere, they refer to consciousness of the collective and universal forces operating behind the scenes acted out by Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
They are very slow moving bodies (Uranus has a 84-year orbit, Neptune’s orbit is 165 years and it takes Pluto 246 years to orbit the Sun), and they function primarily in a collective, historical, unconscious or transformative mode. Uranus, e first planet beyond Saturn, symbolize the breaking-down of barriers.
Uranus represents transformations and revolutions—inner and outer—and the inventions which alter our lives and relationships. In our personalities, it is the unrelenting urge to go beyond any limitation.
Neptune represents universalizing and dissolving processes, and our transcendent faculties and mystical or psychic experiences.
Pluto is the cosmic tester and integrator. It tests for fitness to operate at a higher, more inclusive order, and it reintegrates the psychic material Uranus transformed and Neptune universalized around a new center of being and purpose.
for learning porposes only/credits to Michael R. Meyer
The Lights.
In astrology the Sun and Moon are referred to as planets, mostly for convenience, but also because they move against our geocentric (earth-centered) sky. Because the etymological meaning of the word “planet” is “to wander,” it made sense for the ancient astrologers who formulated much of astrology’s jargon and terminology to refer to the Sun and Moon as planets.
Nevertheless, the Sun and Moon are given special status in astrology, together they are known as the Lights.
They symbolize the life-giving and forming-giving factors of existence. In a sense, they are the solo performers of the celestial planetary orchestra.
The Sun, the fountainhead of life energy, represents the will and purpose of all life its power sustains.
The Moon, representing ever-changing life-experiences, symbolically gives form to and nourishes solar purpose. Together they represent the bi-polar activity found at the core of all forms of existence—life-force as a unitary power and the distribution of power to wherever it is needed.
In the symbolic language of astrology, the planets are not regarded as causal or controlling agencies, the planets don’t “make things happen.” In other words, although the human heart is said to be the biological analogue of the Sun in astrology, the Sun does not make the heart beat, no more than the clock on my wall causes me to feel hungry when it indicates dinner time.
The symbolic correspondence between the human heart and the Sun is holistic and symbolic rather than causal, the heart serves a function in our biology similar to the Sun’s in the solar system.
There is a deep order and consistency underlying the functions and attributes astrology assigns the planets. The basis for a planet’s symbolism lies in its position within the solar system as a whole, as well as its color, size and its orbital characteristics. The planets may be divided into three characteristic groups, based on their positions in the solar system and distance from the Sun.
Each group represents a general type of consciousness—our inner, personal consciousness; our consciousness of the outer, social world; and our collective and transcendent consciousness.
The Inner or Personal Planets.
This group consist of the planets inside Earth’s orbit: Sun, Mercury, Venus and, in a special sense, the Moon. They move quickly through zodiacal space, corresponding with the rapid pace of ever-changing daily circumstances.
This group operates largely, but not exclusively, in the personal sphere, representing our personal faculties and our consciousness of the inner world and its landscape. Operating inwardly, theirs is a centripetal movement reaching toward the centralizing self. In this context, Sun represents your core purpose and sense of self, and your personal energy and vitality.
Next, Mercury differentiates your primal solar energy, it produces bi-polar, electrical, mental energy. Mercury symbolizes thought processes and mental associations.
Venus adds personal values, ideals and goals into the mix. The first planet within Earth’s orbit, it represents all inward movement and attempts to reach center. The Moon, spending half its time within the orbit of the Earth and half its time outside Earth’s orbit, is the mediating principle of adjustment, linking the personal and the social spheres.
The Social Planets.
These are the classical, visible planets beyond Earth’s orbit: Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. While the inner planets symbolizes an inward movement toward self, the social planets represent outward activity and participation. They represent consciousness of the outer world.
These slower moving planets (Mars has a 2-year orbit, Jupiter’s is 11 years and Saturn has a 29-year orbit) relate to functions and activities that place you within a social context, within situations requiring ambition and interaction with others.
Mars, the first planet outside Earth’s orbit, symbolizes all forms of outer action and mobilization. Jupiter expands the external field of activity. It represents participation and the social sphere in general, and what it can give you.
Saturn is the outermost planet visible to unaided human vision. It symbolizes the principle of form and definition. Saturn is the binding principle that structures and holds things together. On the biological level, it represents the skin, hair and bone that holds your body together and gives you a unique form and appearance. On the social level, Saturn symbolizes the laws, traditions and special identity of a society or social group.
The Collective or Transcendental Planets.
This group is made up of the three known planets outside Saturn’s orbit and beyond the range of human sight: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Operating largely in a transcendent sphere, they refer to consciousness of the collective and universal forces operating behind the scenes acted out by Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
They are very slow moving bodies (Uranus has a 84-year orbit, Neptune’s orbit is 165 years and it takes Pluto 246 years to orbit the Sun), and they function primarily in a collective, historical, unconscious or transformative mode. Uranus, e first planet beyond Saturn, symbolize the breaking-down of barriers.
Uranus represents transformations and revolutions—inner and outer—and the inventions which alter our lives and relationships. In our personalities, it is the unrelenting urge to go beyond any limitation.
Neptune represents universalizing and dissolving processes, and our transcendent faculties and mystical or psychic experiences.
Pluto is the cosmic tester and integrator. It tests for fitness to operate at a higher, more inclusive order, and it reintegrates the psychic material Uranus transformed and Neptune universalized around a new center of being and purpose.
for learning porposes only/credits to Michael R. Meyer