Numerology is all about understanding human behavior and various personalities through numbers. To understand the meaning and the energetic vibrations behind each number, you need to understand the planets in astrology. Simply because the meaning of the numbers one to nine originates from the natural qualities, characteristics, and energies of the planets in our celestial universe. So in this blog post (part 1 of 2), I will explain in a simplified manner what the planets and their energies represent in astrology. In the next post, we’ll delve deeper into the connection between the astrological significations of each planet and the numbers in numerology, including our own behavioral and personality traits.
But before I go ahead and explain what the planets symbolize, I just want to stress their importance in astrology. Namely, it is the belief that their energies influence us on a daily basis. Every second, minute, and hour we are under the influence of various planets. Not only do they have an effect on our psyche and decision-making but they pretty much coordinate with all aspects of our human life. In Vedic astrology, the Indian astrological system, only nine planets are used. They are known as the Navagraha (nine planets or celestial bodies) and include the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. Obviously, in astronomy, the Sun is in fact a star, and the Moon is neither a star nor a planet, but in astrology, they are both considered planets. Apart from these seven aforementioned, there are also the two so-called ‘shadow planets’ Rahu (aka North Node) and Ketu (aka South Node). Rahu and Ketu are not exactly planets. In fact, they are the intersection (mathematical) points and shadow parts of the Moon. Nonetheless, their nature, characteristics, and influence are very important in Vedic astrology, and therefore, numerology. So when we include these nodes, it brings the total to nine ‘planets’.
Now, keep in mind that the following descriptions for each planet, as per Vedic astrology, are just generic. The ultimate effect the planets may have in your life always depends on a number of things, which include the astrological and numerological placements in your birth chart, your ability to handle their energies, and the way you react or respond to your circumstances, or whatever life may throw at you.
Without further ado, let’s start with the Sun since it’s the closest to Earth. For your convenience, I have included the planet’s Vedic/Hindi name as well.
Sun / Surya:
The Sun represents the king, father (or father figure), provider, leader, authority (or authority figures), the government, and overall dominant male energy. It is the center of our universe and solar system. The Sun is the creator of life. It is the beginning and the end of life. It represents your soul, identity, ego, pride, self-esteem, confidence, sense of self, and the center of your being. It is how you carry yourself, how you present yourself, and your unique individuality to the world using two powerful words “I am”, followed by those qualities that describe your uniqueness, personality, and characteristics; e.g., I am beautiful, I am kind, I am diligent, I am creative, I am confident, I am strong, I am smart, I am independent, I am an introvert, I am an extrovert, etc. The Sun is all about how you see yourself, and at the same time, it resembles people’s first impressions of you. This strong and fierce planet symbolizes your outer self, outer strength, creative self-expression, inner child, artistic abilities, appearance, physicality, body, vitality, willpower, overall health, and well-being. The Sun also signifies the masculine aspect of yourself, including your ability to lead, manage, direct, act responsibly, and take ownership and accountability.
It is the planet that resembles joy and upliftment because its energies can help brighten up your life and recharge yourself when you feel depleted. The energetic vibration of the Sun can also help you when you feel confused and directionless in life. It is through the influence of the Sun that you can find the light and yourself again, and return to the core essence of your being when you are absolutely lost in the dark. So when you go on a soul-searching journey, know that the Sun may help you find your direction and your true path by going within. In a way, the symbolism of this planet resembles the words of the song Amazing Grace “I once was lost but now I’m found”.
When you use the energies of the Sun wisely or when its position is strong in your chart, it can help you build the confidence you need to take charge of your own life, initiate new and original ideas, make decisive decisions, achieve your ambitions and goals, and become your independent self and thus your own authority. Through the Sun, you can attract lots of attention, recognition, power, fame, fortune, and many successes in your life provided that you know your talents, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. When you misuse its energies or when the Sun is afflicted in your chart, it can either make you lack confidence, or you may express overconfidence and have power struggles in your relationships – be it personal or professional. It could also make you an egotistical, selfish, self-centered, and narcissistic person who lacks self-awareness, empathy, and humility.
Nevertheless, remember that life is all about balance, and not a one-man or one-woman show. In order to balance off the powerful energies of the Sun, you would need to incorporate some qualities of the feminine aspect of yourself, which you can find through the energies of the Moon. In other words, it is important to connect with your inner world.
Nice to know:
- The Sun rules over the zodiac sign Leo (a fire sign). In numerology, the Sun is connected to the number one. Understanding this sign and its ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, the Sun is known as a natural ‘malefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces inauspicious results, it doesn’t always have a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out the Sun’s dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Moon / Chandra:
The Moon represents the queen, mother (or mother figure), nurturer, caregiver, selfless (motherly) love, and just overall female energy. It is a fast-moving, supportive, yet dependent planet, as it depends on the Sun for its moonlight. In general, this ever-changing planet signifies your inner self, emotional sensitivity, receptivity, (subconscious) mind, intuition, self-reflection, thoughts, and mental processes. The Moon is your creative imagination and, thus your ability to come up with ideas to plan, build and create things from scratch, such as a book, business, or a house. It represents how you perceive and understand reality, including other people’s perspectives on things. The Moon is your ability to empathize and (intuitively) connect with others. At the same time, it resembles your ability to support and take care of yourself and others – whether you do that on a mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical level.
This planet is associated with the feminine, hidden, and shadow aspects of yourself. The Moon’s energies denote your state of mind and your emotional reactions to things, people, and situations; i.e. it’s how you may project your personality and feelings onto others. Just like the Moon causes high and low ocean tides (as it goes through different cycles/phases), so can its energies affect the fluctuations of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In many worldly cultures, this is the planet that denotes a woman’s menstrual cycle, which, at the same time, symbolizes a period of solitude, introspection, seclusion, self-reflection, tranquility, cleansing, and purification. Out of all the nine planets, the Moon is quite enlightening and illuminating, as it can shed light on how you process emotional and psychological traumas. It can show you how to deal with a variety of negative feelings, including sorrow, misery, grief, frustration, fear, humiliation, shame, and disappointments, but also positive feelings of hope, joy, bliss, contentment, and happiness.
The Moon is a planet that represents nourishment; i.e., it’s how you take time out to nourish and nurture your soul (e.g., through a home-cooked meal, exercise, yoga, meditation, reading, writing) and how you pamper yourself (e.g., through a day at the spa, facial treatment, manicure, pedicure). At the same time, it resembles your conveniences; i.e. how you enjoy the comforts and luxuries of life (e.g., splurging on home decor or skincare products, dinner at a fancy restaurant, traveling to an exotic location, and a stay at a fancy hotel). Your ability to feel comfortable and protected in your everyday environments, such as your home or workspace, along with the people in it, is also heavily influenced by this feminine planet. Since your mother (the Moon) is generally speaking the first person who naturally nurtures you, cares for you, and protects you after you’ve taken your first breath on Earth, her behavior towards you, especially in the early foundational years, also sets the tone for your entire relationship with her for the rest of your adult life. And so, the Moon signifies your foundation, roots, early childhood, upbringing, homeland, family of origin, and ancestral lineage. It reflects the way you’ve been raised, including the way your experiences from your past have developed and shaped you into the person you have become today. The Moon further symbolizes protection, property, and security i.e. it’s how you seek and gain emotional security, and how you ensure that your (emotional and mental) needs are being met. This includes those things that make you feel happy, mentally stable, emotionally secure, and fulfilled.
The Moon’s energy can help you connect with your inner world so that you can get a deep understanding of your psychological self. When you learn how to use this planet’s energy or when it is well placed in your chart, the Moon can help you heal, balance, and center yourself after you have come to terms with your own emotional psyche. In addition, a strong Moon can increase your ability to empathize with others, care for others, and help and support those in need. But when the Moon is weak in your chart, or you don’t know how to use its energies, you can lack peace of mind or self-expression. You can also be more emotionally vulnerable, overly sensitive, and mentally imbalanced, and you may have strained relationships.
Nice to know:
- The Moon rules over the zodiac sign Cancer (a water sign). In numerology, the Moon is connected to the number two. Understanding this sign and its ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, the Moon is known as both a natural ‘benefic’ and a natural ‘malefic’ planet; i.e. it can produce both auspicious and inauspicious results, due to its ever-changing waxing and waning cycles. A waxing Moon (the phase between a new and a full moon) generally produces better results than a waning Moon (the phase between a full moon and a new moon). However, this also depends on your ascendant sign and other aspects. So, it is very important to check out the Moon’s dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Mars / Mangal:
The fiery-red planet Mars represents the Commander-in-Chief, the general of an army, the warrior, the fighter, the soldier who will protect and defend at all costs, the go-getter, and just overall strong male energy. In general, Mars symbolizes aggression, temper, emotional depth, compassion, selflessness, passion, (sexual and non-sexual) attraction, attention, action, will-power, perseverance, leadership, dominance, ambition, motivation, self-assurance, action, competition, activism, courage, chaos, destruction, wars, fights, blood, arguments, power, control, defense, defeat, and victory. It represents death, rebirth, transformation, dissolution, and the cutting of things in both a spiritual and literal sense, e.g., surgery or letting go of people, things, places, and situations that no longer serve you. It further denotes longevity, high energy, vitality, and any form of physical energetic activity (e.g., high-impact exercises or extreme sports). Mars signifies anything that deals with property, real estate, mechanics, engineering, steel, iron, fire, and weapons (e.g., pistols and knives).
The Martian energy governs your ability to use all your knowledge, weaponry skills, and creative talents to express yourself creatively and protect yourself and those people or things you care about, including your ideals. It is your ability to organize things, i.e., create order out of chaos, and complete a task or project with success. Mars is also the planet that denotes your capability to lead a team to victory and reach the finish line successfully. Its powerful energy enables you to discipline yourself, be in charge of your life, and release the warrior within so that you can go after your utmost desires and goals, and fight for what you want (and believe in) with vigor, passion, and determination. It is that fighting spirit, resilience, and confidence within you that enables and empowers you to not give up on your hopes, wishes, desires, and dreams. It is about “fighting” for justice, literally or figuratively, and sometimes, without compromise. Mars is your ability to get up 10 times stronger after you have been knocked down nine times. At the same time, it is also your ability to deal with loss and your willingness to accept defeat and rejection or call a truce when things don’t pan out as you had hoped. This all depends on your level of emotional intelligence, maturity, spiritual awareness, elevation, and evolution.
When you use the energies of Mars carelessly or when it’s not so well placed in your chart, it can lead to repressed emotions, sudden outbursts, anger, and possessiveness, including controlling, demanding, and confrontational behavior. A weak Mars can also lead to feelings of humiliation, self-destruction, and self-defeat. At the same time, it can make it difficult for one to deal with devastating and challenging situations or to let go of traumatic experiences and memories of the past. Nonetheless, when you use the Martian energy ethically and wisely, or when it is positively placed in your chart, it can give you the ability to deal with difficulties successfully and rebuild your life from the ground up. It can provide you the strength to overcome all sorts of battles, obstacles, challenges, and adversities, including the courage to change and transform yourself for the better through (self-) sacrifice, (inner and outer) strength, (military-like) discipline, dedication, and resilience. However, the key in dealing with Martian energy, no matter the placement in your chart, is to live life as balanced as possible without having too many ambitions, desires, high expectations, or ideals, as these could lead to disappointments.
Nice to know:
- Mars rules over the zodiac signs Aries (a fire sign) and Scorpio (a water sign). In numerology, Mars is connected to the number nine. Understanding these signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, Mars is known as a natural ‘malefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces inauspicious, negative results, and therefore doesn’t always have a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out Mars’ dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Mercury / Budha:
The planet Mercury is the fastest-moving planet in our solar system. It represents the messenger of the Gods but also the outgoing, curious crown prince who likes to party, play, have fun, and meet new people. At the same time, it’s the young student who loves learning new things and enjoys exploring new avenues. Mercury further symbolizes everything that has to do with communication and information sharing, including the way you use your communication skills to share knowledge through e.g., writing, teaching, and public speaking. It is the creative and versatile way you broadcast, publish, and communicate a message to influence an audience using various types of media, platforms, technology, and creative marketing communication tools (e.g. advertising, sales promotions, personal selling, TV, radio, print, social media, Public Relations, email, trade shows, and events). Your practical or manual skills, i.e., any type of activity or labor you do with your hands, are also linked to this planet, such as carpentry, cooking, baking, driving, painting, drawing, sculpting, and sewing.
Mercury represents your conscious mind, intelligence, and analytical thinking abilities. It is your thought process, including your ability to think logically, critically, and consciously. Hence, your ability to make conscious, calculative, and wise decisions can all be seen through this planet’s position in your chart. Moreover, the way you use your creativity and come up with innovative ideas and efficient solutions can also be seen through this planet’s energy. The same goes for your capability to learn and initiate new things that require your self-effort, courage, motivation, practicality, inquisitiveness, and memory; e.g., starting a new business, learning a foreign language, or teaching yourself how to code. This planet further signifies everything that has to do with logistics, transportation, and the movement of people and goods from one destination to another, either by bike, car, bus, plane, train, or ship. Hence, Mercury rules short-distance travels and going on adventurous trips. However, this usually involves short journeys within your own vicinity or the continent and/or the country you live; e.g., a weekend getaway to another province or a neighboring country, traveling from home to work by public transportation, going for a walk around the block, or exploring your city by bike. When things are called ‘mercurial’, it often means that they are uncertain and ever-changing. Thus, this planet also deals with instability, uncertainty, sudden changes, and unpredictable events, such as the weather, flight cancellation, bus delays, train strikes, traffic jams, or car accidents. And since it’s a fast-moving planet, it denotes one’s flexibility and ability to adapt to change very quickly.
Other things that Mercury governs include; smart work, efficiency, process improvement, administration, any type of business documentation or paperwork (e.g. contracts, agreements, letters, reports, business plans, user manuals), mathematics, any dealings with numbers, finance, trade, commerce, astrology, astronomy, primary (early) education, youth, siblings, close network circle (friends, neighbors, colleagues), and just everything in relation to your immediate surroundings (e.g. shops, parks, schools, streets, library, office buildings, train station, bus stops).
Considering the fact that it is the fastest moving planet in our solar system, its energy can therefore affect your thinking ability, decision-making skills, and nervous system. Especially when Mercury gets highly activated in your chart or becomes retrograde. The latter happens about three or four times a year during an approximately three-week cycle and impacts us all on planet Earth. To keep it short, Mercury retrograde is a popular phenomenon in the world of astrology. It’s basically a time period in which the planet appears to be going backward but isn’t in reality. In fact, it is all just an optical illusion when you look at the planet’s movement from our human viewpoint here on Earth. Nonetheless, this illusionary backward motion can have a serious effect on our thought process as it slows things down a bit. As such, matters pertaining to communication, technology, commerce, travel, and transportation often go out of balance during the retrogradation period. This may result in delays, disruptions, do-overs, mishaps, miscommunication, and misunderstandings, including feelings of anxiety, confusion, exhaustion, forgetfulness, restlessness, and frustration tend to crop up.
When the planet Mercury is well placed in your chart, or when you use its energies wisely, it can provide you with very effective and creative communication skills, and it can also help you develop strong business acumen. It can also make you quite a tech-savvy person, grasp complex information quickly, and help you make well-thought strategic decisions that are backed by logic and common sense. When you have a weak Mercury, your mind could be scattered all over the place, which could lead to impulsive, impatient, and irrational behavior. You could even have trouble in your speech, and perhaps experience difficulties with learning and absorbing new information.
Nice to know:
- Mercury rules over the zodiac signs Gemini (an air sign), and Virgo (an earth sign). In numerology, Mercury is connected to the number five. Understanding these signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, Mercury is known as a natural ‘benefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces auspicious, positive results, and therefore has a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out Mercury’s dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Jupiter / Guru:
Jupiter represents the teacher of the Gods, the royal advisor, the priest who loves to preach, the philosopher who loves to philosophize, and just overall masculine energy. It is the largest planet in our solar system. In general, Jupiter symbolizes the following things; expansion, growth, luck, fortune, wealth, wisdom, spirituality, hope, optimism, faith, religion (including religious ceremonies, celebrations, and rituals), truth, justice, legal advice, lawfulness, children, creative self-expression (e.g., writing, public speaking, acting, singing), exploration, freedom, adventures (e.g., extreme, action sports), foreign cultures, long-distance travel, higher knowledge, higher education and your ability to learn in-depth, mind-expanding subjects.
Jupiter denotes your blessings in life, either small or big. The way you attract joy and bliss into your everyday existence can also be determined by this social and jovial planet. This can be through, for example, your hobbies, interests, or the people you meet and socialize with. Jupiter is your ability to create your own luck and happiness. Its positive energies can help you attract various opportunities for growth, wealth, and abundance, from within as well as without, in a material or immaterial sense. However, as the planet of abundance and expansion, it can enlarge and expand things in different areas of your life, literally or figuratively, for better or for worse; from your educational path, career, and finances to your health and relationships. This all depends on how you use or misuse its energies, or how it’s placed in your chart. In a woman’s astrological birth chart, Jupiter represents the husband.
Through the influence of Jupiter, you can connect with God, the Creator, the Divine energy, a higher power than yourself. It is through this planet that you can develop and grow yourself on a more spiritual (internal) level, as well as find meaning and purpose in life. Hence why this planet denotes your Dharma, i.e., your path and purpose in this lifetime. Jupiter’s energy can help you raise your consciousness and awareness, and help you gain a deeper understanding and broader perspective of the world around you through, e.g., higher studies, foreign travels, and spiritual and religious teachings. However, Jupiter isn’t just about broadening your horizons, expanding your mind and worldview, and keeping whatever you’ve learned all to yourself. Instead, it wants you to share your knowledge about the world with others. Jupiter is all about learning from your own personal experiences (negative or positive) so that you can ultimately guide, teach, inspire, and motivate others with the newfound wisdom you have gained from the lessons you have learned throughout your life’s journey. It’s all about passing on knowledge to educate others.
Jupiter signifies your belief system and philosophies, and the tools you use to express your beliefs to the world. It is your life force; the power within that gets you going in life. It is your creative imagination; that part of your energetic self that allows you to think big, dream big, and come up with the most creative ideas. It is that part of yourself that makes you believe that there is more to life than meets the eye. Besides that, Jupiter is often associated with any role that involves consulting, teaching, coaching, mentoring, or guiding others. Hence, it is those people who can inspire, empower, guide, and provide you with knowledge, wisdom, and advice. But in a more spiritual sense, it can also mean being your own motivational coach or guide through self-empowerment, especially during tough times. Its energy simply serves as an internal guide and motivator; i.e., one who can plant ideas and visions in your head (in a typical inception fashion) and can make you believe that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. However, with Jupiter’s energy, it is imperative to understand that although you may create and visualize wonderful ideas, nothing will fall in your lap without putting in the necessary work. No one is going to hold your hand and do the “dirty” work for you. No one will turn your beliefs, creative ideas, hopes, wishes, and dreams into a reality. At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own actions, and thus you have to take the initiative and get the ball rolling. And so, with Jupiter, it is important to keep in mind that the only way for you to manifest anything in life is by putting your thoughts into serious action and taking the necessary practical steps. In a way, you can say that this positively charged planet symbolizes the law of attraction, i.e., what you think about, you bring about.
When Jupiter is not well placed in your chart or you don’t know how to work with its energy, it can make you irresponsible, lackadaisical, and lazy. It can even damper your outlook on life and make you feel like you have to work ten times harder than others to attract or manifest anything. However, if it’s well placed in your chart, it can make you a very joyful, optimistic, and positive-minded person. In addition, with a well-placed Jupiter, visualizing, attracting, and manifesting good and positive things become quite easy.
Nice to know:
- Jupiter rules over the zodiac signs Sagittarius (a fire sign) and Pisces (a water sign). In numerology, Jupiter is connected to the number three. Understanding these signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, Jupiter is known as a natural ‘benefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces auspicious, positive results, and therefore has a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out Jupiter’s dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Venus / Shukra:
Venus is primarily known as the planet of love (all kinds of) relationships, romance, and beauty. It represents the beautiful princess and just overall strong feminine energy. However, in Hinduism and thus Vedic astrology, Venus is also the teacher of the demons because it had the power to bring the dead back to life. Hence why it denotes death, rebirth, health, and healing. Other things that are associated with this planet are as follows; attraction, sensuality, compassion, passion, harmony, marriage, contractual agreements, partnerships, (re) union of people, get-to-getters, celebrations, procreation, fertility, conception, childbirth, maternity, affection, sensitivity, tenderness, seduction, passion, devotion, desires, all kinds of pleasures (incl. bed/sexual), gastronomy, fine food, sweets or sugary foods, animals, gardens, nature, luxury goods and services (e.g. cars, perfumes, clothes, hotels, restaurants, spa, and wellness resorts), design (e.g., interior, fashion, web), money, finances, business, music, dance, fine arts, film, entertainment, artistic abilities, and creative talents. In a man’s astrological birth chart, the planet Venus represents the wife.
Venus’ energy also deals with your family values and your personal value system. It is the way you see yourself (i.e. self-image, self-esteem), including your sense of self-worth. It governs your livelihood and just your overall ability to sustain yourself and those you care about, such as your family, friends, the community you belong to, your pets, and the environment. It further signifies your ability to make money from your talents and skills, including your capability to accumulate wealth, material possessions, and financial success (i.e. your net worth).
This planet represents your sense of happiness, and those things that enable you to feel happy, content, safe, and secure in life, whether those things are of material or immaterial value. Venus is your comfort zone, your overall well-being (emotional, mental, spiritual, physical), and your ability to gain peace of mind (e.g., after a long day of hard work or a stressful situation). It signifies how you spend your time, energy, and (inner and outer) resources to be of service to others while also finding the time to relax, rejuvenate and indulge yourself in all the worldly pleasures through the five senses. Venus is all about the good, sweet, and finer things in life, a.k.a. La Dolce Vita. At the same time, its energy serves as a reminder to not overindulge and overdo things. There should always be harmony and balance in everything you do. For example, there should be the right kind of balance in how you spend your money, how much you consume, how you take care of yourself, how you interact and connect with others, and how much you give and receive. The way you make certain life choices and decisions, and nourish all your relationships (both personal and professional) can also be seen from this planet’s position in your chart.
Thus, when you have a well-placed Venus in your birth chart, it can give you strong decision-making skills. You can be someone who’s empathetic, sympathetic, and service-oriented. In addition, a well-placed Venus can give you the ability to heal yourself (e.g., after an illness or trauma) and others. But when you have a weaker Venus or don’t know how to use its energies, it can make you bossy and inconsiderate towards others, or you can overindulge in things. In addition, a weak Venus in your chart can also indicate having unbalanced relationships or being overly sensitive or it may indicate that you lack the ability to increase your earning power and manage your personal finances.
Nice to know:
- Venus rules over the zodiac signs, Taurus (an earth sign), and Libra (an air sign). In numerology, Venus is connected to the number six. Understanding these signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, Venus is known as a natural ‘benefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces auspicious, positive results, and therefore has a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out Venus’s dignity and position in your birth chart because its strength (or weakness) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Saturn / Shani:
Saturn is the ultimate lord of karma. It represents the reason why you came into this birth, i.e., it represents those things that you need to do and accomplish before your soul leaves this earth. At the same time, it symbolizes the hard taskmaster, the servant, the ordinary working class, and people from the lower ranks of society (e.g. poor and homeless people). Since it’s the farthest and slowest-moving planet from the Sun, it denotes everything in relation to time, delays, old age, elderly (sick) people, maturity, mortality, and death. Saturn is that “fearful” planet that reminds you of the impermanence of life. Through its energies, you realize that your time on earth is precious, limited, and short, but what you do with your given time is ultimately up to you.
In general, this planet signifies the following things; justice, law and order, rules, regulations, the government, the public, conservatism, tradition, all things old-fashioned, obstacles, boundaries, limitations, restrictions, sanctions, structure, organization, corporations, separation, isolation, seriousness, hard labor, systematic work, slow progress, productivity, discipline, mastery, stabilization, longevity, hard tissues of the human body (bones, teeth), service-oriented professions, frugality, minimalism, modesty, land/soil, dirt, oil, iron, steel, and all things related to dark colors (especially black and blue).
Saturn further signifies the duty, commitment, and obligation you have towards yourself and others. It is the planet that governs your public life and your status in society. However, your social status and reputation depend on your sense of responsibility, devotion, and contribution toward the community, organization, or society you belong to. So, when you dedicate yourself wholeheartedly and put in a certain amount of work and time towards the betterment of others, you will find that your reputation in society will rise. Thus, the keyword concerning this planet is ‘service’. It is the belief that when you are of service to others, you will gain recognition, acknowledgment, and rewards in return.
With this planet, it is all about work, including the way you use your talents, traits, and skills to help improve both your life and that of others. And it doesn’t matter whether you are the CEO or the receptionist of a corporation. In the eyes of Saturn, your job title and position is basically insignificant. All that matters is your behavior and attitude toward others. It is all about how you treat your fellow human being and utilize your time and skills for the betterment of everyone and everything around you. Also, the term ‘work’ does not necessarily mean employment or a salaried job. It could be volunteer work, a hobby that enables you to help/serve others, or the work you put in to maintain your health and balance your relationships. Saturn’s energy pretty much symbolizes your ability to organize, structure, and improve things around you, and make them better than they were before – be it your health, relationships, your community, the business you own, or the company you work for.
In astrology, Saturn is often considered a cruel, cynical, pessimistic, strict, and disciplinarian planet. Many see it as a harsh and cold master with a negative outlook on life. One may even associate its energies with feelings of depression, grief, fear, failure, misery, and sorrow; i.e., everything we humans dislike and do not want to experience. Although it’s mainly associated with negativity, this planet actually resembles a wonderful and great teacher everyone needs from time to time; one who teaches you tough love and shows you the realities of life. Out of all the planets, Saturn is the one that deals with responsibilities to the highest degree. It teaches you that you are responsible and accountable for your actions, including the feelings that come up as a result. Hence, your happiness and sufferings are all up to you. This planet simply teaches you that your behavior has consequences. Any action you take or any move you make yields results, good or bad. If you cannot deliver what you have promised to do or cannot adhere to your duties and responsibilities (whatever they may be), then you should not be surprised when things go sour. And so, whatever you do (or have done in the past), you will have to face the consequences of your actions, whether in this lifetime or the next. This is, in short, the law of karma or the law of manifestation.
Nonetheless, it is through Saturn that you can achieve greatness, reach the top, improve your financial position, and get rewarded for your deeds, provided that you obey its rules and regulations. In a way, you can say that this planet denotes your ability to accomplish your life’s aspirations and gain financial stability and security in the long run. But as long as you know your limits, are realistic about your goals and are willing to put in the work with no intention of doing any harm to anyone or anything. With Saturn, it is imperative to note that any form of material gain and success can only be attained through hard work, discipline, determination, dedication, and doing things in a focused, organized, consistent, and routine manner. Only then you may yield significant and positive results. Additionally, having a sense of good morals, values, and ethical behavior (e.g., respect for others, loyalty, kindness, humility, and integrity) is also of utmost importance. This heavy, karmic planet simply governs effort-based results. It can help you balance out your good versus your bad karma based on your past and present actions. It teaches you that nothing good in life comes without (self-) sacrifice, compromise, consistency, persistence, sometimes adversity, and putting in your own blood, sweat, and tears. Moreover, it is through the energies of this planet that you can truly learn from your past mistakes, grow up quickly and mature faster, especially after a devastating or traumatizing experience. Similar to Jupiter, it is also through Saturn that you can, ultimately, share your personal experiences and life lessons with others. But only after you have endured the adversities, overcome the obstacles, and managed to become an expert in your chosen field and thus mastered a certain skill over a period of time – all with the intention of making a positive social change. It is also important to note that, unlike Jupiter, Saturn is a steadfast and grounded planet that wants you to experience real life from the ground, not necessarily from above or a higher perspective.
There is a well-known saying about Saturn in relation to time, rewards, and the achievements of one’s goals and successes: Saturn delays, but never denies. This basically serves as a reminder that everything happens according to Divine timing, not human timing. Hence, patience is a virtue as slow and steady wins the race. Your successes may not happen suddenly (like with Rahu) but gradually, as long as you are patient, diligent, and resilient.
Now, the exact results you may get from this planet depend on its position in your chart and the number of karmic debts and lessons you have carried over into this birth. If Saturn is weak in your chart, it can create negative thinking and distrust in others. In addition, you may experience a lot of hardships and instability in life, which can make it difficult for you to accomplish things, or you may have to work ten times harder than anyone else to gain just a tiny bit of success. When Saturn is well-placed in your astrological chart, it tends to be easier for you to materialize your ambitions and attain financial stability over a period of time. You may also do very well in your career and even rise to a top position.
Nice to know:
- Saturn rules over the zodiac signs Capricorn (an earth sign), and Aquarius (an air sign). In numerology, Saturn is connected to the number eight. Understanding these signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to this number.
- In astrology, Saturn is known as a natural ‘malefic’ planet; i.e. it generally produces inauspicious, negative results, and therefore doesn’t always have a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out Saturn’s dignity and position in your birth chart. Because its strength (or weakness for that matter) can indicate how its energies may manifest in your life.
Rahu and Ketu
Rahu and Ketu represent two mysterious entities in Vedic astrology and thus Hindu mythology. To keep the story short, these two entities used to be one big demonic dragon serpent that was cut into two pieces after it stole and drank – through disguising as a faux God – some of the elixir (or nectar) of immortality from the Gods. Vishnu, one of the Gods of the Universe, witnessed this atrocity and immediately beheaded the demonic dragon that was, at the same time, sitting between the Sun and the Moon. The beheading resulted in two separate body parts of which Rahu represents the dragon’s head and Ketu the dragon’s tail. Although separated physically, they are always together astrologically and spiritually. In astrology, Rahu and Ketu are also known as the North Node (Rahu) and South Node (Ketu) of the moon. Even though they are part of the astrological planetary family, they are, in fact, lunar nodes. As mentioned earlier, they are the intersection points/shadow sides of the Moon and cause both lunar and solar eclipses. From a spiritual and astrological point of view, these so-called “shadow planets” are very karmic and can create sudden, explosive, unexpected, shocking events in the world and in our personal lives. Their nature, influence, and energies are very dark, gloomy, and demonic, yet insightful for understanding human behavior. Since they are so mysterious, hidden, shady, and quite unpredictable by nature, they symbolize things like secrecy, mysteries, illusions, fogginess, smoke, and just plain darkness. In Hindu mythology, Rahu and Ketu are seen as outcasts; that’s why they symbolize anything or anyone foreign, exotic, eccentric, out-of-the-box, and just out of the ordinary.
Rahu
In general, Rahu’s energy signifies the following things; insatiable desires, cravings, ambition, obsession, material possessions, expansion, opulence, addictions (e.g. gambling, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes), temptation, deception, immoral behavior or better known as the seven deadly sins (e.g. crime, theft, greed, lust, cheating, gluttony, hoarding/extravagant excess). Other things that this planet denotes include waste, toxins, chemicals, poison, diseases, viruses, feelings of dissatisfaction, manipulation, sneakiness, deception, speculative risks, radical changes, chaos, electrifying shocks, stubbornness, harsh speech, gossiping, originality, independence, strategic planning, revolution, and invention. Rahu’s energy is all about rule-breaking, including the breaking of boundaries, restrictions, and traditions. It represents unconventional and rebellious behavior, unorthodox thinking, questioning the status quo, going against the norm, and not living one’s life according to society’s expectations. Moreover, it resembles the destruction of old foundations and the establishment of new creations (through groundbreaking strategies) in return, i.e., reformation. Other things that symbolize Rahu are electronics e.g., computers, smartphones, and the virtual world, i.e. the internet including social media. Pretty much anything that deals with innovation and advanced technology (e.g. artificial intelligence) is part of this shadow planet’s energy. Even the entertainment industry (e.g. movies, magic shows, casinos, strip clubs) is considered an area that is strongly under the influence of this illusionary planet.
Rahu represents a dragon with only a head, and hence it is never satisfied. It’s always hungry for more because it simply lacks a body to store everything that it takes in. So when its energy becomes highly active in your life, you tend to crave more material things, all sorts of luxuries, pleasures, and experiences (e.g. food, clothes, money, sex, parties, social media thrills) but in the end, you will never feel satisfied and fulfilled. You also tend to live more inside your head than in your body. In other words, its energy can create a lot of confusion, dark thoughts, strange dreams, frustration, discontent, irrational fears, doubts, mental distress, and sometimes even illusion (as it likes to play tricks with the mind). So you may see things that aren’t there, desire things you don’t need, or chase things out of greed. However, this shadow planet has quite a dual nature and energy. It can create a sudden rise or downfall in a person’s life. On the one hand, its energy can be very destructive and can create a lot of hurdles, struggles, adversities, and challenges. It can also tempt you to behave unlawfully and take part in unethical activities (e.g. going for shortcuts, scamming, and manipulating others), especially when you want fast results, or when things don’t go your way. On the other hand, it can make you do whatever it takes (at any cost) to achieve your goals and satisfy your desires in this present lifetime. The reason for this thirst for achievement and hunger for material success is that Rahu denotes everything your soul could not achieve (or was deprived of) in various past lives, and so now you are (consciously or unconsciously) obsessed with achieving and manifesting these things in this present time. Thus, Rahu is your future karma; what you couldn’t do in the past, you try to aim for it now, and what you do now, may affect your future – be it positive or negative. Through this shadow planet’s energy, you can soar to greater heights; you could even achieve world fame and celebrity status, and gain massive fortune, provided that is your destiny.
Ultimately, the lesson of Rahu is that one can overcome adversity and prosper in life, but only through hard work, dedication, patience, perseverance, and practicing ethical and lawful behavior. This is quite similar to the energies of Saturn. However, one of the main differences is that Rahu is a disobedient, rebellious, and feisty planet, i.e., it tends to rebel against everything and disregard boundaries, rules, and regulations. And due to its illusionary, foggy, and smokey nature, it doesn’t always enable you to see things clearly or make rational decisions. So what you think you want isn’t always good for your growth. Saturn, on the other hand, makes you see the reality of things and puts pressure on you to do the right thing. In addition, Saturn forces you to do everything within certain boundaries and limitations while obeying the rules and regulations that are put into place.
Ketu
Ketu’s energy is the complete opposite of Rahu’s. This ego-less planet does not have an interest in money, power, fame, fortune, recognition, social status, or an agenda to cultivate wealth. Instead, this shadow planet is all about detaching and releasing oneself from material possessions, prosperity, and worldly desires. It breaks things apart and disconnects you materially so that you can focus on more wholesome things such as spirituality or religion. Its mission is to get you more connected with something bigger than yourself i.e., the Creator, God, or your higher self – if you don’t believe in the religious concept of God. Ketu represents anyone with a strong belief and conviction, sometimes to an extreme degree where logic and common sense stop and, unfortunately, irrationality and unpredictability take over (e.g., think of the actions and behavior of an extremist).
In general, Ketu symbolizes the following things: spiritual awakening, enlightenment, Moksha (liberation), dreams, Maya (illusion), confusion, delusion, fantasy, magic, creative imagination, subconscious mind, intuition, hidden emotions, deception, sneakiness, suffering, discontentment, blockages, hindrances, death, ego dissolution, isolation, solitude, idealism, self-sacrifice, selflessness, impulsiveness, minimalism, reduction, scarcity, destruction, transformation, eccentricity, loss, breakups, separation, culmination, detachment, renunciation, and cutting (e.g., surgery or cutting off communication with someone). It further denotes matters in relation to investigation, research, science, advanced computer technology (e.g., AI), aviation, aerospace, outer space, UFOs, astronomy, astrology, the occult, and mysticism. Moreover, this shadow planet resembles exploring the unknown, searching for hidden truths, and going into the depths of one’s own psyche. It’s about self-discovery and exploring your inner world. At the same time, it denotes your ability to find new inspiration, create new ideas, and write new, strategic plans. Hence why researchers, strategists, writers, artists, and all sorts of creative individuals are often associated with this planet’s energy. In addition, Ketu signifies your past life, including your karma and what you already have achieved and accomplished in a past lifetime.
As mentioned before, Ketu doesn’t have a head, but only a tail. So when its energy becomes active in your life, you tend to live more in your body than in your head. Therefore, things may look blurry and foggy, like a veil covering your face. You may not see things for what they truly are, which could affect clear decision-making or lead to irrational behavior. You could act like a headless chicken, sort of say, and make impulsive, careless, irrational decisions. Not being able to think or see things clearly and living more in your body could also lead to sudden injuries (e.g., due to over-exercising) or accidents (e.g., a bicycle or car crash). With Ketu’s energy, you could also play the blame game and adopt a victim mentality when things do not go as you had anticipated. In addition, when its energy becomes highly activated in your chart, it may remove people, places, and things from your life. This could happen out of the blue, outside of your power. But if you are aware and prepared, then it can be you who initiates the ‘letting go’ process and detach yourself from that which no longer serves your highest good.
Ultimately, the lesson of Ketu is about surrendering to the Divine energy and freeing oneself from mental slavery, suffering, and misery. This includes not having any material goals, living without expectations, and not holding on to things, places, people, desires, and situations because these will only limit your personal and spiritual growth. All these things and desires are just illusions. The more you hold on and attach yourself to the material world, the more you will suffer and get stuck in the cycle of death and rebirth.
In conclusion, Rahu is your karmic future, and Ketu is your karmic past. Rahu attaches you to anything in the material world, and Ketu detaches you from the material pleasures and gains of this world so you can walk the path of righteousness, spirituality, and minimalism. With Rahu, you can gain a lot but Ketu can take it all away from you. In addition, Ketu denotes those things you are already familiar with and comes to you naturally, including your innate talents, skills, and interests. Rahu, on the contrary, governs your desires in this present life, which you were not able to achieve in a past lifetime. But through Ketu (your past) you can fulfill your inner Rahu (your future). And so, in order to manifest your wishes into a physical reality, you have to learn the dynamics of these two shadow planets and understand their placement in your chart. When you understand their placement and develop your hidden talents, you can use their energies to your advantage, maximize your potential and strive towards achieving your goals.
Even though Rahu is mainly associated with materialism, just keep in mind that it is absolutely not wrong to be ambitious and driven. It is not wrong to have hopes, wishes, and dreams, and go after them with vigor. After all, we came into this birth as a result of our unfulfilled desires and unresolved karma. However, you still need to be mindful of the fact that nothing lasts forever. Things always change. So when that time has come for you to let go of those ambitions, worldly desires, and attachments (through Ketu), you ought to be ready to accept this as well. Therefore, learning how to balance these two karmic energies is key. Or in the words of Persian Poet Rumi: “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go”.
Nice to know:
- Rahu and Ketu do not own or rule a specific zodiac sign. However, in Vedic astrology, Rahu is often associated with Aquarius (ruled by Saturn) and Ketu is associated with the sign of Scorpio (ruled by Mars). In numerology, Rahu is connected to the number four and Ketu to the number seven. Understanding these associated signs and their ruling planet will help you gain more insight into the energies pertaining to these numbers.
- If you’re more familiar with Western astrology, then you may find that, at some level, Rahu shares a lot of traits with the planet Uranus, and Ketu resembles that of Neptune.
- In Vedic astrology, Rahu and Ketu are known as natural ‘malefic’ planets; i.e. they generally produce inauspicious, negative results, and therefore don’t always have a beneficial influence on a person’s life. However, it is very important to check out the dignity and position of both Rahu and Ketu in your birth chart. Because their strength (or weakness) can indicate how their energies may manifest in your life.
That’s it! We’ve now covered all nine planets.
Before I end this post, I just want to stress that, from an astrological point of view, planets have both positive and negative traits. Just like we do as human beings. At the end of the day, it is all about how we use their energetic vibrations to develop, improve, and grow ourselves through our experiences here on Earth. And the best thing is to focus more on the positive sides of each planet, rather than getting yourself stuck on the negative, irrespective of their position in your chart. Also, keep in mind that planets work like a team. You cannot hold one planet responsible for the events in your life. In order to benefit from their energy and guidance, you need to understand their dynamics from all angles. For example, you can’t just rely on Jupiter and Venus for showering you with endless blessings and opportunities. It is you who has to create your own luck and happiness. You can do this by working with the energies of the planets; for example, Mercury, which represents your practicality and common sense, and Saturn resembles your dedication and hard work. The Sun reflects your self-confidence and self-esteem; the Moon is your creativity and mind, and Mars denotes your perseverance and willpower. When you combine all your strengths and put in your best effort, you can attract and create an abundance of all kinds in your life!
In the next post, I will further explain the importance of the planets in relation to numerology, i.e. I will show you how their energies and characteristics are connected to the nine numbers, including our behavioral traits.
Thanks for reading!
