Planets and points in an astrology chart

The planets and points are the main characters in any astrological chart.

You can think of a chart as a theatrical performance, where the signs are the costumes, the houses are the set designs and areas of life where the action takes place, and the planets and points are the lead actors. They represent the central drives in a chart, such as the impulse to love and connect (Venus), to think and communicate (Mercury), or to win (Mars). And the interactions between the various planets and points in a chart can shape our motivations and tendencies throughout our lives.

In this article, we break down the major players of the solar system so that you can better interpret your birth chart.

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The luminaries

The luminaries are the light-bringers of the sky: the Sun and the Moon. Along with the ascendant (or rising sign) and the planet that rules it (aka the chart ruler), the luminaries are the main keys to understanding a birth chart.

The Sun illuminates your sense of purpose and where you shine in your life. It can shed light on what you’re here to do and how you’re meant to do it.
The Moon represents your body, emotions, and daily life. It can highlight what you need to feel secure and the daily habits you gravitate toward as you live out your purpose.

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The personal planets

The personal planets are the ones that orbit closest to the Sun. Because they move faster than the distant planets, they are more personal to you, providing further hints about your inclinations and desires.

Mercury is the messenger and trickster of the solar system, representing how we think, communicate, and learn. Mercury is traditionally described in nonbinary terms, even in ancient astrology; it can be coded as either masculine or feminine, diurnal or nocturnal, helpful or challenging, depending on other chart factors. It’s the planet that loves to dwell in the in-between.
Venus is the planet of love, connection, beauty, pleasure, and art. Described as the “lesser benefic” by ancient astrologers, Venus generally offers support and sweetness to the area it occupies in a chart. It also indicates your relationship style and the types of people, things, and experiences you’re attracted to.
Mars is the planet of action, drive, and confrontation. Known as the “lesser malefic” among the ancients, Mars signals what makes us irritable, inflamed, and angry — but it also highlights our motivations and the ways we pursue our goals.

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The social planets

The social planets are the last two celestial wanderers that the ancients knew about, since they are the farthest planets that humans can perceive with the naked eye. Most people born in a given year will have the same Jupiter sign, and most born within two to three years of each other will have the same Saturn sign. Each planet’s sign placement describes a subset of a generation rather than an individual character, though the house where Jupiter or Saturn resides in your chart can be revealing in more personal ways.

Jupiter is the so-called “greater benefic” of the solar system — our helper, wise teacher, and fairy godmother. It can indicate a part of the chart that is auspicious, abundant, or spiritually meaningful.

Saturn is known as the “greater malefic” — the planet of discipline, growth edges, and reality checks. Saturn’s placement can hint at how you set boundaries, make commitments, and hold yourself accountable.

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The outer planets

The outer planets are the three planets that were discovered between 1781 and 1930, with the help of advancing telescope technology. Because they move so slowly, these planets tend to reveal the larger patterns of a generation rather than the distinct qualities of a single person — unless they show up near a personal planet or point.

Uranus is the first planet beyond Saturn, and the planet that shook up how astronomers had conceived of the cosmos for thousands of years. For this reason, Uranus has a reputation for being a rule-breaker. It is the planet of disruption, innovation, and surprise.

Neptune is the next planet beyond Uranus. It represents idealism, dreams, and intuitive gifts like empathy and psychism. This is the planet that can both inspire our fantasies and lure us toward escapism, whether through movies, music, video games, or intoxicating substances.

Pluto is the farthest planet from the Sun in our solar system. Named after the mythical ruler of the underworld, Pluto is the planet of power dynamics and subterranean things such as secrets, shadows, and wealth — especially in the form of oil or minerals dug from underground.

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Asteroids and minor planets

Our solar system’s asteroid belt is home to millions of asteroids and minor planets that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Of these millions, about 22,000 have been named, including the so-called “Goddess asteroids,” such as Vesta, Juno, Pallas Athena, and Ceres. We don’t yet include these asteroids in the CHANI app, but we do feature one special minor planet.

Chiron is named after the centaur, healer, and teacher in ancient Greek mythology. Half human and half horse, half mortal and half god, Chiron can churn up questions about belonging and highlight where you feel like an outsider. Its placement in your chart may reflect a wound that keeps flaring up or an emotional knot you’re continually untangling.

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Points

So far, every character we’ve described on the “stage” of the birth chart has a physical mass and shape. But some important actors don’t have bodies in space. Instead, they’re astronomical points that are calculated based on the positions of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon (in the case of the lunar nodes), or of just Earth and the Moon (in the case of Black Moon Lilith).

The lunar nodes are the two points in space where the Moon’s orbit around Earth intersects with the ecliptic — that is, the path that the Sun traces in the sky from the perspective of us Earthlings. In many cultures, the lunar nodes have been depicted as the two halves of a dragon:

The North Node represents the hungry head of the dragon — a point of increase and ambition, according to Hellenistic and medieval astrologers.
The South Node is the tail of the dragon; it denotes releasing, cleansing, or letting go.
Black Moon Lilith is a point named after Lilith, the mythic figure. It represents wildness, exile, and the parts of ourselves that can be uncomfortable to witness. It also has something to say about the ways we reject and resist oppressive forces in both our personal lives and the world at large.

The planets and points are among the main ingredients in the birth chart. The other key ingredients are the signs (which describe the styles in which the planets and points present themselves) and the houses (which indicate the areas of life where the planets and points show up).

To learn more about how these puzzle pieces click together, explore your personalized chart reading in the Me tab of the CHANI app.

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