Overview of the Planets
In astrology, we often reference the planets and in fact, they are the core of most astrological efforts. But, what newcomers to astrology often notice and wonder about is the fact that we also call the Sun and the Moon, “Planets”. Of course, astronomically, they are not considered planets. They are other forms of celestial bodies. The Sun is a star with planets orbiting it and the moon is the satellite of a planet, namely, Earth.
Astrology is thousands of years old, and it originated during a time when the understanding of the cosmos was based on a geo-centric (or earth-based) view. It seemed as though the stars and “planets” were moving around the earth, and therefore, the earth was the center of the universe. We know now that is not the case, however, the measurements and techniques in astrology are based on this world view, because it is a philosophy that is focused on the earth and the people inhabiting it.
In astrology, we call the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Mars, the “planets” because they are the celestial bodies that move across the sky. They can be further broken down into categories: Luminaries (Sun and Moon), Inner/Personal Planets: (Mercury, Venus, Mars), Social Planets (Jupiter, Saturn) and Transpersonal/Generational planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto).
Here is a list of them and their various characteristics)
Insert table of characteristic and meanings here. (speed, core meaning, distinguishing features, etc.)