No conversation about astrology would be complete without looking into the planets. Your own personal astrological chart is like a snapshot of the planets as they were positioned on the date and time of your birth. How the planets are positioned in the houses, and how they interact with one another, will determine much about the way you see yourself, and how you will go about learning your life's lessons.

The Sun is the center of our universe, and so what we call our Zodiac Sign is really our Sun Sign, or the position of the Sun at the time of our birth. Moving outward from there, we have the personal planets, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, which move faster than some of the outer planets. Mercury is generally associated with communication and self-expression, Venus governs creativity, beauty, and love, and Mars oversees action, masculinity, and assertiveness.

The plants beyond Mars are known as the transpersonal planets, because they move at a slower pace than the personal planets, and often affect changes on a generational level. The transpersonal planets are Jupiter, which governs luck, expansion, and opportunity; Saturn, which is associated with restrictions, limitations, and responsibility; Uranus, which is associated with sudden change, instability, and strokes of insight; Neptune, governing dreams, psychic ability, metaphysics, and creativity; and Pluto, which oversees deep transformation and generational shifts in consciousness.

Each planet is always moving through the sky, which is called transiting. As the planets transit each sign, they form aspects with the existing planets in your personal chart, setting off events and bringing new people to help you grow and develop in this lifetime.

Each planet is also associated with a particular Zodiac Sign as its ruler. The planet gives the sign its unique flavor, and influences how it will express itself in your life.