Astrology is best used as a psychological tool—a symbolic language for navigating the complexity of the human condition. Each planet represents a dimension of the psyche, while the zodiac signs act as behavioral patterns or temperaments through which those energies express themselves.
Far from predicting fate, astrology offers a framework for self-inquiry. It helps us map our drives, fears, preferences, and aspirations with clarity. The planetary bodies below are each aligned with a classical Greek deity, not to spin mythology but to reveal essential attributes you can draw on in interpretation.
Planets
☉ Sun
Keywords: Consciousness, individuality, self-expression, leadership, confidence, creativity, masculinity
Mythology: Associated with Apollo, god of the sun, prophecy, and reason. Apollo represents clarity, nobility, and the pursuit of excellence. His light reveals potential and calls for disciplined expression of selfhood.
Personal: Ego, basic personality and vitality
Societal: Global energy levels and collective focus
Ruling Zodiac: ♌ Leo
☽ Moon
Keywords: Habits, instincts, behaviors, the unconscious, memories, femininity, domesticity, intuition
Mythology: Linked to Selene and Artemis, the feminine lunar forces of emotion and rhythm. Artemis reflects primal protection, emotional independence, and a quiet, piercing wisdom.
Personal: Your inner world and soul
Societal: The human collective’s general mood
Ruling Zodiac: ♋ Cancer
☿ Mercury
Keywords: Communication, intelligence, technology, information, ideas, business, education, legalities
Mythology: Represented by Hermes, the swift and cunning messenger. Hermes governs intelligence, mobility, and all forms of exchange—mental, verbal, and commercial.
Personal: Your mind and style of communication
Societal: The collective’s mental patterns, the economy and the media
Ruling Zodiacs: ♊ Gemini, ♍ Virgo
♀ Venus
Keywords: Love, attraction, profit, harmony, relationships, art, pleasure
Mythology: Venus is Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and desire. She governs relational chemistry, sensory refinement, and the quiet power of attraction.
Personal: Your aesthetics and love language
Societal: The collective’s romantic energy and sense of connection
Ruling Zodiacs: ♉ Taurus, ♎ Libra
♂ Mars
Keywords: Passion, courage, sex, desire, aggression, drive, competition, conflict
Mythology: Aligned with Ares, god of war and untamed drive. Ares signifies direct force, competition, and unfiltered passion. He moves with instinct, not strategy.
Personal: Your determination and sex drive
Societal: The collective’s focus and level of aggression
Ruling Zodiac: ♈ Aries (traditional), ♏ Scorpio (co-ruler in traditional astrology)
♃ Jupiter
Keywords: Luck, optimism, hope, vision, growth, wisdom, influence, prosperity
Mythology: Corresponds with Zeus, ruler of Olympus and enforcer of cosmic law. He governs expansion, belief, and the pursuit of meaning through both knowledge and faith.
Personal: Where you find your luck
Societal: The collective’s sense of hope and growth
Ruling Zodiacs: ♐ Sagittarius (traditional), ♓ Pisces (co-ruler in traditional astrology)
♄ Saturn
Keywords: Karma, strength, perseverance, discipline, restriction, law, authority, life lessons, obstacles, tradition
Mythology: Saturn echoes Cronus, stern father of time, order, and law. He rules delayed reward, structural mastery, and the necessity of limitation.
Personal: Where you must take responsibility and learn life lessons
Societal: Global structures, governments and collective karma
Ruling Zodiacs: ♑ Capricorn, ♒ Aquarius (traditional ruler before Uranus)
♅ Uranus
Keywords: Change, freedom, rebellion, individuality, chaos, progressive ideas, humanitarianism, invention, astrology
Mythology: Linked to Ouranos, primal sky god who symbolizes cosmic awakening and sudden disruption. Uranus electrifies systems, challenging tradition with innovation.
Personal: How you express eccentricity
Societal: Progressive and future-oriented growth, the Internet, technology, science
Ruling Zodiac: ♒ Aquarius (modern)
♆ Neptune
Keywords: Spirituality, fantasy, dreams, art, mysticism, illusion, deception, escapism
Mythology: Reflected in Poseidon, god of the sea, whose domain is vast and formless. Neptune governs inspiration and the boundary between imagination and delusion.
Personal: Your imagination and mystical side
Societal: Global artistic interests, illusions, scandals, religion, and spirituality
Ruling Zodiac: ♓ Pisces (modern)
♇ Pluto
Keywords: Transformation, destruction, death, evolution, domination, power, regeneration, the subconscious
Mythology: Pluto is Hades, lord of the underworld and unseen wealth. He governs all that is buried—psychological, institutional, or historical. Through him, death becomes power.
Personal: How you transform and are reborn
Societal: Global powers, institutions, banks
Ruling Zodiac: ♏ Scorpio (modern)
Zodiacs
♈ Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Keywords: Action, courage, impulsiveness, initiation
Mythology: Aries is associated with Ares, the Greek god of war—not for his strategy, but for raw aggression and boldness. He embodies primal instinct, the will to conquer, and immediate action without reflection.
Personal: Your drive to begin, assert, and take risks
Societal: Collective moods of action, conflict, or innovation
Ruling Planet: Mars ♂
♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Keywords: Stability, sensuality, patience, materiality
Mythology: Taurus links to Aphrodite’s sacred bull—symbolizing the divine in earthly pleasures. It reflects the psyche’s desire for security, beauty, and tactile experience.
Personal: How you seek comfort, build stability, and express values
Societal: Collective focus on resources, economy, and sustainability
Ruling Planet: Venus ♀
♊ Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Keywords: Communication, duality, curiosity, adaptability
Mythology: Gemini is tied to the Dioscuri twins, Castor and Pollux—symbols of duality, quick wit, and changeability. They reflect the mind’s dual nature: logic and emotion, intellect and instinct.
Personal: How you think, speak, and relate to new ideas
Societal: Trends in communication, media, and education
Ruling Planet: Mercury ☿
♋ Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Keywords: Nurturing, memory, protection, sensitivity
Mythology: Cancer is linked to the crab from the myth of Heracles, sent by Hera. It symbolizes protective instincts and emotional armor—the psyche’s need to guard vulnerability while serving others.
Personal: Your emotional safety needs and caregiving instincts
Societal: Public focus on family, home, and national identity
Ruling Planet: Moon ☽
♌ Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Keywords: Leadership, pride, creativity, vitality
Mythology: Leo echoes the Nemean Lion, a symbol of invincibility and divine strength. It reflects the psyche’s hunger for recognition, purpose, and expression.
Personal: Where you shine and express individuality
Societal: Cultural trends in entertainment, pride, and leadership
Ruling Planet: Sun ☉
♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Keywords: Precision, analysis, service, purity
Mythology: Virgo is associated with Astraea, the virgin goddess of justice and harvest. She represents the psyche’s pursuit of order, ethics, and meaningful contribution.
Personal: Your habits, work ethic, and care for details
Societal: Emphasis on health, service industries, and systems
Ruling Planet: Mercury ☿
♎ Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Keywords: Balance, justice, harmony, relationship
Mythology: Libra is linked to Themis, the Greek goddess of divine law and order. She personifies the psyche’s need for fairness, equilibrium, and refined judgment.
Personal: How you seek harmony and connect in relationships
Societal: Public focus on law, diplomacy, and cultural refinement
Ruling Planet: Venus ♀
♏ Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Keywords: Intensity, transformation, secrecy, resilience
Mythology: Scorpio relates to Hades, god of the underworld, ruler of hidden power and rebirth. It mirrors the psyche’s relationship with desire, destruction, and personal evolution.
Personal: How you handle depth, endings, and regeneration
Societal: Collective shifts, financial power, taboo issues
Ruling Planet: Pluto ♇ (traditional: Mars ♂)
♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Keywords: Freedom, optimism, exploration, truth-seeking
Mythology: Sagittarius is linked to Chiron, the wise centaur, who represents the dual nature of animal instinct and human wisdom. He reflects the psyche’s urge to seek higher meaning.
Personal: How you pursue adventure, knowledge, and belief
Societal: Attitudes around travel, religion, and philosophy
Ruling Planet: Jupiter ♃
♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Keywords: Ambition, discipline, structure, responsibility
Mythology: Capricorn is connected to the goat Amalthea or the sea-goat Pricus, symbolizing sacrifice and mastery over time. It reflects the psyche’s drive to build and endure.
Personal: Your goals, limits, and sense of duty
Societal: Systems of power, government, and tradition
Ruling Planet: Saturn ♄
♒ Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Keywords: Innovation, independence, intellect, progress
Mythology: Aquarius is linked to Prometheus, who defied Zeus to gift fire to humanity. It reflects the psyche’s rebellion against limits and desire to uplift humanity.
Personal: Your uniqueness and revolutionary ideas
Societal: Focus on change, social causes, and futuristic tech
Ruling Planet: Uranus ♅ (traditional: Saturn ♄)
♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Keywords: Compassion, imagination, mystery, dissolution
Mythology: Pisces connects to the myth of Aphrodite and Eros escaping as fish. It symbolizes the psyche’s longing to transcend the material world and merge with the divine.
Personal: Your spiritual instincts and emotional depth
Societal: Cultural undercurrents in art, healing, and escapism
Ruling Planet: Neptune ♆ (traditional: Jupiter ♃)
☆ Conclusion: Astrology and the Tarot Mind
Astrology, when stripped of superstition and viewed through the lens of psychology, becomes a powerful tool for understanding human behavior. Each planetary archetype and zodiac sign reflects an inner function of the psyche—drives, patterns, values, and wounds. These energies live within all of us. Their symbolic language gives form to feelings and helps articulate what is often unconscious.
When merged with Tarot, astrology becomes a companion system that strengthens the interpretive depth of each card. A card ruled by Venus will naturally carry a different tone than one ruled by Saturn. Likewise, seeing the archetype of Aries or Scorpio in a reading evokes a distinct psychological climate—a temperament, a challenge, a motive.
Just as each card in the Tarot speaks a visual language, each astrological symbol speaks a celestial one. Learn them both, and you begin to speak fluently with the soul.