THe Planets — Overview

Zodiac signs get most of the attention in pop astrology, but they’re only part of the story.

The real action comes from the planets.

And let me pause here and say that what in astrology, what call planets in astrology would send NASA into a tizzy, and not just re: poor Pluto’s demotion. We also use the term planets as a bucket term to describe things like the sun and moon, and even sometimes include the Rising sign, which isn’t even a physical entity. Yes, we do remember from 5th grade science class that the sun is a star, no need to lecture us.

In natal astrology, each planet represents a different part of you: how you think, what you want, how you react, how you connect, where you stall out, where you grow.

In transit astrology, the movement of the planets determines shifting, what’s being tested, where there’s pressure, and where something new might be unfolding—ready or not. The most classic example is Mercury retrograde, when communication glitches and delays tend to spoke, because Mercury rules communication.

But back to natal astrology, which is focused on what the placement of the planets says about you. Below is a quick guide to which facet of your personality each planet (or point) represents.

The Planets

Sun – The Operating System

The core personality you return to. How you assert yourself, how you shine, and how you center your life. Usually what people mean when they ask your sign.

Moon – The Internal Monitor

Your default emotional setting. How you self-soothe, what throws you off, and what feels like safety—especially when no one’s watching.

Mercury – The Commentary Track

How you think, talk, explain, text, overanalyze, and interrupt. Your internal narrator and external explainer, tone included.

Venus – The Attraction Algorithm

What you’re drawn to, what you find beautiful, how you flirt, and how you handle relationships—both romantic and platonic. Also: aesthetic taste and how you treat your belongings.

Mars – The Reaction Shot

How you act on what you want. Your ambition style, fight style, and the way you get things done (or don’t).

Jupiter – The Expander

Where you want more. Your belief system, your growth edge, your philosophical side—or the area where you overdo it and call it “opportunity.”

Saturn – The Boundaries

Where you feel pressure to improve. The structure you need, the lessons you repeat, the part of you that tightens up under scrutiny. Long game, high standards.

Uranus – The Disruptor

Your refusal to play along. Where you rebel, innovate, and shock even yourself. Unpredictable, sharp, often necessary.

Neptune – The Blur Tool

Where you idealize, daydream, avoid, or dissolve boundaries altogether. Sometimes magic, sometimes illusion. Often both.

Pluto – The Power Line

Where your control issues live. What you bury, what you fixate on, what you fear losing, and what forces you to evolve.

The Points

Ascendant / Rising Sign – The Cover Page

How you come across. Your vibe on a first date. The way you enter a room. It sets the tone for your whole chart—and determines your houses.

Midheaven (MC) – The Public Title

Your visible identity. Not just your job, but your reputation, your ambition, your high-level goals. The version of you that shows up in bios and applications.

Imum Coeli (IC) – The Emotional Basement

What’s underneath it all. Your inner foundation, early emotional memory, and the mood of home you carry—whether or not you unpack it.

North Node – The Unfamiliar Direction

Where you’re headed, even if it feels weird. It’s not comfortable, but it’s compelling. Growth, not ease.

South Node – The Auto-Pilot

Your default moves. The skills you don’t have to think about. Easy, instinctive, possibly overused.

Chiron – The Bruise That Knows Things

A tender spot that teaches. Not your downfall, not your whole story—but the thing that still stings and gives you insight.

Lilith – The Line You Won’t Cross (Until You Do)

Where you resist control. Where you reject shame. Where you won’t behave just because someone told you to. Also known as your “don’t test me” placement.

Key takeaways

All of us have these planets/points in a different Zodiac sign, which is why we all communicate differently (Mercury in Cancer is quite different from Mercury in Aries), process emotions differently (Moon in Pisces vs Moon in Leo), and so on.

And even if you do have the same sun sign or moon sign as someone else, keep in mind that you may have your moon in a different house—which can explain things like why your best friend and sister are both October-born Libras, but seem to have totally different personalities. One may have their sun in Libra in in the 2nd house, the other in the 9th. One expresses Libra through money, possessions, and stability (2nd house), while the other channels it into beliefs, travel, and big-picture thinking (9th house).