When I first started studying astrology, one of my biggest questions was, “Ok, cool…but why does each thing have that particular symbolism?” I wanted to better understand why and how astrologers gave meaning to each planet, asteroid, zodiac sign, and angle. Once I started to study the discovery stories, appearance, and associations of each planet, this clicked for me. I finally understood why Uranus has to do with spontaneous flashes of insight and why Pluto is all about the subconscious and the underworld. If you’ve ever asked these same questions (or you want to better understand the planets), you’ve come to the right place.

What is the reasoning behind each planet’s meaning and symbolism?…Also, what does each planet symbolize?

Sun: 

The way you shine. How you show up in the world. The role you play in the world. Your identity.

The Sun is the center of our solar system and is also the brightest luminary (“bringer of light”) present. For this reason, I like to think that all other planets decorate and flavor the Sun, but the Sun still explains a person’s core identity and most prominent characteristics.

Moon: 

Your emotional nature. Your instincts and comfort zone. What you need to feel nourished. How you nurture.

The Moon is mostly seen at night, in the privacy of darkness and shadows, much like your internal emotional nature. While the Sun can be seen by all every single day (just like your core personality), the Moon is the more private sister to the Sun. Not everyone can see your lunar nature. It’s reserved (most of the time) for those who know you well and have been let into your home and heart.

Mercury: 

How you think, learn, communicate, and write. What you’re interested in thinking, learning, and communicating about.

Mercury is incredibly quick-moving and is therefore seen as our quick-witted, mind-focused planet. From Earth’s perspective, it also appears as though Mercury randomly moves backwards for a few weeks 3 times a year, making it a bit of a changeable trickster, which is exactly why Mercury is mercurial in nature. ; ) Mercury represents our mind – the most changeable, flitty part of ourselves. Since Mercury is always so close to the Sun as well (it’s never more than one zodiac sign away), it’s as if it gets all of the information and special knowledge from our largest luminary – Mercury is always listening!

Venus: 

What you’re attracted to. What you value. What and how you love. Your social skills.

Venus is our “pretty” planet that is often referred to as the “morning star” or the “evening star” since it’s visible just before sunrise and just after sunset. Because of the reflection off of Venus’ clouds, Venus appears to be glowing brilliantly and beautifully as a star. In addition, Venus makes a perfectly symmetrical five-pointed orbit every 8 years. All of these reasons lead to Venus being our planet of beauty, art, charm, luxury, harmony, and social cohesion.

Mars: 

How you go after your goals. How you fight and assert yourself. Your drive and willpower.

Mars is the dusty, red-colored planet that we often associate with war and violence. Since Mars likes to do its own thing (aka it’s not always near the Sun), we see it as an independent, brave warrior type going off to do and achieve that which it wants.

Jupiter: 

Where you have faith and wisdom. Where you always want to grow and expand. Where/how you have fun. Your natural gifts and blessings.

Jupiter is the gas giant of our solar system. It is so large that you could combine all of the planets (minus the Sun) and still not reach Jupiter’s weight. Jupiter’s size grants it a strong gravitational pull that sucks in comets and stray asteroids near the asteroid belt, almost as if it’s kindly protecting our solar system. As a result, its known as the “vacuum cleaner of our solar system”. Because of its size, weight, and protection of our solar system, Jupiter is associated with abundance, growth, optimism, benevolence, and to the extreme, overdoing things.

Saturn: 

What takes longer to ripen. Where you have insecurity and fear. Where you mature and become an expert. Your challenges and trials.

Whereas Jupiter is all about expansion and generosity, Saturn represents challenge, difficulty, restriction, and hard-earned rewards. Saturn is the furthest planet that we can still see with the naked eye, so it’s associated with being so far out that it’s cold and harsh. Its quick winds only exacerbate this association with being harsh and requiring foundations that can stand the test of time. Saturn’s rings have also granted it an association with structure and boundaries. Since Saturn is the second largest planet after Jupiter though, it’s seen as the “master” in many ways, exuding a sense of authority and maturity.

Uranus: 

Where you simply can’t follow. Where your originality and uniqueness lies. Where change is present in your life.

Uranus is seen as the higher octave of Mercury. While Mercury is step by step memorization and learning and speaking, Uranus is sudden flashes of insight and brilliance. Discovered in March 1781 by a musician-turned-astronomer, Uranus arrived like a lightning bolt—sudden, shocking, and completely unexpected. Before its discovery, no one even imagined there could be more planets beyond Saturn, and yet, there it was, tilting reality on its head just as the planet itself spins on its side. Its turquoise glow and eccentric rotation make it an unmistakable outsider, a fitting symbol of rebellion, originality, and breaking boundaries. The world at the time was already in upheaval—revolutions in America and France, the dawn of the Industrial Age, and the harnessing of electricity, all mirroring Uranus’ themes of innovation and radical change. Just like a bolt of lightning, Uranus brings sudden insight, shocks to the system, and a drive to clear out the old and usher in the future. It compels us to stand out, break free from societal norms, and challenge what has always been—whether through revolution or revelation. But, like any force of chaos, its shadow can be erratic, destructive, and unpredictable, bulldozing the past without always considering what comes next.

Neptune: 

Where you find a spiritual connection and are open-hearted. Where you have compassion. Where you can be deluded.

Neptune is seen as the higher octave of Venus. Venus is about love and social connection whereas Neptune is about absolute unconditional love and transcendence of perceived boundaries and differences. Neptune was not found through direct observation but rather through intuition—scientists noticed something strange in Uranus’ orbit, leading them to seek out the unseen. When they did find Neptune in September 1846, its discovery was shrouded in confusion. It was first mistaken for a star, and even its credit was debated. Fittingly, Neptune rules illusion, mystery, and the unseen realms. Its deep blue hue and swirling, hazy atmosphere mirror its themes of mysticism, boundless love, and the dissolution of rigid structures. The time of its discovery reflected this growing awareness of interconnectedness—Eastern spiritual teachings made their way to the West, movements for social compassion gained traction, and mind-altering substances began weaving their way into society. Neptune dissolves boundaries, allowing us to feel oneness, universal love, and spiritual surrender. However, its shadow can blur reality, leading to escapism, deception, and confusion—like a dream so vivid you forget what’s real. It teaches that surrender is necessary for spiritual awakening, but without grounding, it can lead to drifting aimlessly in illusion.

Pluto: 

Where you completely transform. Where you’re obsessed and intense. How/where you find your own power.

Pluto is seen as the higher octave of Mars. Mars is about drive and willpower and assertion, but Pluto asks you to transform that into a mission that will transcend yourself and your ego. Pluto emerged from the shadows in February 1930, a time of global upheaval—economic depression, rising dictatorships, and the aftermath of World War I. Like the hidden forces it represents, Pluto was discovered indirectly—scientists noticed Neptune’s orbit was being disturbed by something unseen, leading them to hunt for the mysterious force at work. When it was finally found, its naming was serendipitous—a young girl suggested Pluto, after a cartoon character, but also the Roman god of the underworld, a fitting symbol for this distant, enigmatic planet. Pluto represents transformation, power, and the depths of the subconscious. Its discovery coincided with breakthroughs in psychology, as Freud and Jung explored the hidden forces of the mind, as well as with world events that revealed the dark side of unchecked power. Pluto’s influence demands destruction before renewal—death before rebirth. It forces us into the shadows, into our deepest fears and subconscious wounds, to purge what no longer serves us and emerge stronger. Its power is immense, capable of profound transformation or ruthless control. Like a phoenix, Pluto reminds us that true power is not in clinging to control but in surrendering to the cycle of destruction and regeneration.

Wasn’t that all so interesting?? I think so too!

Now that you know the backstory for each planet, do you want to dive deeper into their meanings in the birth chart and how they create our character and life narrative? If so, then dive into my super entertaining Create Your Avatar: How the Planets Shape Us blog post! I had a total blast crafting a video game analogy so that you can better understand each planet’s role in the birth chart while having fun. Enjoy, my friends, and happy learning!