The planets regulate energy flow and represent the dimensions of experience. The term "Planet" is used to describe the major heavenly bodies that are close to our home planet, Earth. (If someone was born on Mars, for example, then this system would still apply--yet in relation to Mars. We'd use the Earth as a planet and take both of Mars' moons into account!) This thus includes the Sun and the Moon, even though they are not planets; they are a star and a satellite, respectively. However, to simplify, we use the term planet.
In Astrology, ten of the heavenly bodies are used because of their size, proximity and influence on the earth, and its human, animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. In the proper order of their speed through the Zodiac they are: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
The benefic planets are Jupiter and Venus; is known as "the greater fortune" and Venus is "the lesser fortune." The influence of the Sun and Moon is considered good also.
Mercury, Neptune and Pluto are neutral planets—their influence is good when they are well aspected with other planets, but malefic when adversely aspected.
When you see words like "malefic", "adverse", "bad", "unfavorable", etc., bear in mind that such terms are used only for want of terminology that more fittingly describes planetary vibrations.
All signs and all planets are good but our human reactions may be bad, according to our stage of development. No planets are evil in nature, but our manifested responses may be judged as good or adverse.
| SUN | Sense of individuality; creative energy, radiant inner self (attunement of soul); essential values | Urge to be and to create | Need to be recognized and to express self |
| MOON | Reaction; sub-conscious predisposition; feeling about self (self-image); conditioned responses | Urge to feel inner support, domestic and emotional security | Need for emotional tranquility and sense of belonging; need to feel right about self |
| MERCURY | Communication; conscious mind (i.e., logical or rational mind) | Urge to express one’s perceptions and intelligence through skill or speech | Need to establish connections with others; need to learn |
| VENUS | Emotionally-colored tastes; values; exchange of energy with others through giving of self and receiving from others; sharing | Social and love urge; urge to express affections; urge for pleasure | Need to feel close to another; need to feel comfort and harmony; need to give of self’s emotions | MARS | Desire; will toward action; initiative; physical energy; drive | Self-assertive and aggressive urge; sex urge; urge to act decisively | Need to achieve desires; need for physical and sexual excitement |
| JUPITER | Expansion; grace | Urge toward a larger order or to connect self with something greater than self | Need for faith, trust, and confidence in life and self; need to improve self |
| SATURN | Communication; conscious mind (i.e., logical or rational mind) | Urge to defend self’s structure and integrity; urge toward safety and security through tangible achievement | Need for social approval; need to rely on one's own resources and work |
| URANUS | Individualistic freedom; freedom of ego-self | Urge toward differentiation, originality, and independence from tradition | Need for change, excitement and expression without restraint |
| NEPTUNE | Transcendent freedom; unification; freedom from ego-self | Urge to escape from the limitations of one's self and of the material world | Need to experience a oneness with life, a complete merger with the whole |
| PLUTO | Transformation; transmutation; elimination | Urge toward total rebirth; urge to penetrate to the core of experience | Need to refine self; need to let go of the old through pain |