The outer planets, namely Neptune, Pluto and Uranus are not allocated rulerships nor the importance afforded them in other disciplines of astrology. These planets cannot be seen with the naked eye, and in the Tradition, that which cannot be seen by the naked eye has no power to rule and thus does not fit into the traditional model. These three planets are treated in the same way as fixed stars and need to be in close conjunction or opposition to one of the seven planets, or one of the house cusps, to have any relevance. If this occurs, Neptune is seen as mass destruction on a grand scale, Uranus brings separation or divorce, which is normally sudden; and Pluto is simply highly malefic.

In a nativity the planets have relevance based on the houses they rule as well as their natural rulerships, and it is important to understand that you cannot take one planet and evaluate the person based solely on that. Everything in a chart is layered and interlaced, and all of this is woven through the fabric of the basic temperament. In other words, the parts equal the whole, but to assess the person, the whole must be evaluated, not just the parts. The seven planets of the Tradition are listed below, with some of their main signatures as well as examples of rulerships.

Technical Terminology relating to the Planets

New Moon: The Sun and the Moon are at the same degree in the sky, called a conjunction. The Moon has no light of her own and can only reflect the light of the Sun; when she is at the same degree, this is not possible, hence she is not visible from earth in this position. Upon separation she begins increasing in light, and her disc enlarges.

Full Moon: The Sun and the Moon are at opposite ends along the ecliptic. The Moon is thus able to reflect the complete light of the Sun; from earth the full disc of the Moon is visible thus she is “full”. Upon separation from opposition she commences her return to conjunction with the Sun and her disc begins decreasing.

Solar Eclipse: An eclipse takes place when the Moon’s path around the Earth crosses the Sun’s apparent path around the Earth (the ecliptic). This happens twice a month: new Moon & full Moon. If at the time this happens, the Moon has little latitude (i.e. is near the Nodes), there will be an eclipse at the new or full Moon. In a solar eclipse, the Moon’s disc passes between the Sun and the Earth, hiding the Sun from view. This can happen only at New Moon (i.e. Moon conjunct Sun). Sun, Moon, Earth, all in a line. Earth can’t see Sun because Moon is in the way.

Lunar Eclipse: In a lunar eclipse, the Moon is directly opposite the place of the Sun, as seen from Earth. So the Sun’s light can’t reach the Moon, because the Earth is getting in the way. The Moon therefore becomes invisible, or almost so. Sun, Earth, Moon, all in a line. Sun’s light can’t reach Moon because Earth is in the way. This can happen only at Full Moon (i.e. Moon opposes Sun).

Retrograde: During the course of a year five of the seven planets turn retrograde at different times, the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, never do. A planet cannot physically travel backwards along its path in the sky but because the planets travel at different speeds, some planets are moving ahead while others are slowing down. It can be compared to being stationary at traffic lights and the car next to you moves forward; you feel as if you have slipped backwards yet you haven’t moved at all. A retrograde planet is said to behave against its nature.

Stationary and Direct: When a planet slows down to turn retrograde (the illusion of going backwards) or speeds up to go direct (the illusion of moving forward again) it is seen as being at its station on both occasions. Just as you start slowing your car down before you stop – this is known as 1st station and is highly debilitating - and prior to speeding up, known as 2nd station and more positive -  you must accelerate, building up to the desired speed. Any planet at its station is extremely vulnerable and is going nowhere slowly; this places what the planet rules and represents in limbo. As the great master craftsman William Lilly states "And note, a planet in his second station signifies an aptness, and the renewing and strength of everything; but in his first station, dissolution and destruction. Remember and understand these things well, for they will often come in practice."

Combust: Any planet within 8.30 degrees of conjunction with the Sun, either applying or separating, is combust. The symbolism is that due to the light and heat of the Sun this planet is burnt up, thus highly debilitated, and also cannot see or be seen as it is blinded. It is the worst place of affliction for any planet.

Via Combusta: Only the Moon can be considered in the Via Combusta – the area between 15 degrees Libra and 15 degrees Scorpio. This is likened to the “burnt up road” and has its origins in the female menstruation cycle; the Moon is highly vulnerable in this section of the zodiacal belt. She represents the emotional nature of man and if affecting the nativity, a person is said to be emotionally vulnerable or distraught when she is posited here.

The Traditional Planetary Order

	Saturn Saturn, the great malefic, is the planet furthest from the earth and is the last planet that can be seen by the naked eye. He is the god of doors; he rules the first house of the physical body and the eighth house of death. He is the slowest moving of the seven planets, travelling at approximately 0deg02 per month. Saturn denotes boundaries, time, constraints, structure and wisdom, and he is the natural ruler of fathers. View full information card.
	Jupiter Jupiter, the great benefic, is the next planet in the Chaldean order, ruling the second house of moveable assets and the ninth house of God. He is the natural significator of wealth and rain and travels approximately 0deg05 per month. Jupiter symbolises abundance, expansion, and higher matters such as religion and higher learning. View full information card.
	Mars Mars, the lesser malefic, is next in line in the Chaldean sequence, ruling the third house of siblings and routine journeys, and the tenth house of our jobs and public activity. He travels approximately 0deg31 per month along his path around the ecliptic. View full information card.
	The Sun The Sun is the symbol of God and is also the core of who we are; the ego in the true sense of the word. He is one of the two luminaries and is the Lord of Light. He travels approximately 0deg59 per month. He rules the fourth house of  fathers, our ancestry and paternal lineage, and he rules the eleventh house of friends and "pennies from heaven". View full information card.
	Venus Venus, the lesser benefic following the Chaldean order, is next in line moving towards the earth, and travelling approximately 0deg59 per month. She rules the fifth house of pleasure, creativity, sex and children, and the twelfth house of sin, self undoing and hidden enemies. View full information card.
	Mercury Mercury travels approximately 0deg59 per month, the same as Venus and the Sun, and these three planets travel together. The Sun travels at a constant speed with Mercury and Venus taking turns to speed up and then slow down – likened to a man taking two dogs for a walk. He rules the sixth house of illness and life's misfortunes which also governs small animals (pets) and those who work for us. View full information card.
	The Moon The Moon, the handmaid of the Lord, is the closet planet to the earth. She is the second luminary (light) and her role is to reflect the truth of the Sun. She travels approximately 13deg11 per month, her speed is always constant, and she has no light of her own. She rules the seventh house of significant and insignificant others, which also includes open enemies or opponents. View full information card.