The 9 Planets

The soul, ego and vitality. The Sun signifies the father, authority and government, leadership and self-confidence, and overall health. A strong Sun lends purpose, dignity and the will to lead.

The mind and emotions — the planet Vedic astrology reads first. The Moon signifies the mother, comfort, intuition and the public, and shapes mood and daily wellbeing. Its placement is the basis of your Moon sign.

Energy, courage and action. Mars signifies drive and ambition, siblings, land and property, and physical strength. Well-placed it gives initiative and discipline; afflicted it can bring conflict, haste or accidents.

Intellect and communication. Mercury signifies speech, learning, logic and analysis, commerce and trade, and adaptability. It governs how clearly you think, write, calculate and negotiate.

Wisdom, expansion and grace — the great benefic. Jupiter signifies knowledge and teachers, wealth and fortune, children, dharma and faith. It blesses growth, optimism and sound judgement.

Love, beauty and harmony. Venus signifies marriage and romance, the arts, luxury and comfort, vehicles and refined taste. It shapes relationships, attraction and the capacity to enjoy life.

Discipline, time and karma. Saturn signifies hard work, responsibility, longevity, service and justice. Slow and demanding, it rewards patience and integrity but brings delays and lessons when its laws are ignored.

The north lunar node — ambition and amplification. Rahu signifies worldly desire, obsession and the unconventional, foreign lands and sudden gains. It magnifies whatever it touches and pushes toward the new and unknown.

The south lunar node — detachment and liberation. Ketu signifies spirituality, intuition and past-life karma, research and the hidden. It withdraws from worldly attachment and turns the mind toward moksha.