Understanding the planets is the key to understanding astrology. Though signs get a lot of attention in our current culture, they really get their power and attributes from the planets that rule them, fuel them, shape them. I wrote my series on Embodying the Planets to help people bring that information into their bodies through ritual activities and what I saw as the most important attributes of each planet.
If you don’t know the basic attributes of the 7 visible planets, start there:
But here’s the thing: in charts and in our lives, planets rarely show up by themselves. A rose, for example, may be of the nature of Venus for its color, smell and association with love buts its thorns are of the nature of Mars. You may have a really sweet Cancer Moon, natally or by transit, but if it’s opposed by Saturn, you can’t get the nurturing, protecting qualities of Luna without the scarcity and struggle of Saturn.
Again and again in client consults, I find that by solely talking about the planetary combinations in someone’s chart, you can get to the heart of the foundational dynamics of their heart. And if you start looking around, you see planetary duos, specifically between two planets, show up all over astrology. Lots, or calculated points of fate, are determined via the relationship between two planets in your chart. Signs are defined by both their domicile and exaltation rulers. All fixed stars are assigned a planetary duo that reflects their nature.
By beginning to understand what it means when two planets come together, you see the relationships between them and the common ways they manifest in our mixed-up, varied lives.
In our charts, a planet is considered in combination with another when they are in the same sign, in opposing signs, or in mutual reception (a swapping of rulerships, i.e. when the Moon is in Leo and the Sun is in Cancer. Terms, exaltations and decans count here too).
So today, I begin a series exploring these planetary combinations in part because I find them so interesting. This work is heavily inspired by Austin Coppock’s “36 Dramas: Essential Planetary Relationships” Lecture from NORWAC 2022, so please check that out if you want to learn more! Going beyond his wonderful starting point, I will also include information on the decans, each of which have two planetary rulers when you consider both the Chaldean and Triplicity system, as their dynamics do a great job demonstrating what the planetary combinations look like in action. We will also be examining the fixed stars that share the same nature as this planetary combination to further our understanding.
Other uses for these combinations:
understanding mixed planetary correspondences
determining which herbs may help you if they have more than one ruler
connecting with your holy guardian angel (who is classically of the nature of two planets)
seeing your chart more clearly
attuning yourself to both planetary days and hours
P.S. If you want help understanding your own planetary combinations, my books are open for April! Book now to reacquaint yourself with your magic and destiny (no big deal).
Jupiter and the Sun: Summary
The Sun and Jupiter are friends. They are both part of the diurnal sect, thus co-ruling the day together, and both share a specific expansive, far-ranging view. Both live from places of ideals, as Coppock points out, whether that be us living up to our full potential, in the Sun’s case, or following our religious or moral codes as closely as possible in Jupiter’s case. But, as this combination is the first I’ve discussed without a malefic, there is ultimately an auspicious bent to the pairing of these two planets. Together, they forge a dream based both on the future world they want to live in and the type of person they want to be in it.
One way Sun-Jupiter people make this dream a reality is through their networks and connections. Coppock calls this the “popular kid” duo, which the Yavanajataka supports by pointing outs its connection to “wealth obtained by resorting to their friends” as well as “[delighting] in serving the king”.1 Jupiter is connected to wealth and friendship, so no wonder resources flow from our bonds when he is in combination with the planet of the self. But, whereas the Sun on its own delights in being the leader, with Jupiter he can also serve other masters and benefit from service to a powerful, resourced person.
Even when Valens describes these natives as “distinguished men, rulers, governors, dictators, vigorous men,” he also points out they are “honored and blessed by the crowd”2— any power they themselves gain (the Sun), is built on consensus and popularity. Firmicus points out that even their family line is blessed: “The natives will be born from respectable parents and from the day of birth all their parents' good fortune will be bestowed on them”.3 Even their children will be sources of pride and wealth, claiming that natives “will rejoice in fortunate offspring”.4 He also points out that the good fortune of this combination counts especially for day births, as the Sun and Jupiter belong to their sect.
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