Planetary Rulers

In astrology each sign has a planet that is said to "rule" it. The ruler acts like the sign's manager: it shows how the sign's themes are best expressed and where its energy flows. A planet in its own sign tends to feel at home.

Traditional rulers

Before the outer planets were discovered, only the seven visible bodies were used:

• Sun: Leo
• Moon: Cancer
• Mercury: Gemini and Virgo
• Venus: Taurus and Libra
• Mars: Aries and Scorpio
• Jupiter: Sagittarius and Pisces
• Saturn: Capricorn and Aquarius

Modern rulers

After telescopes revealed Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, many astrologers gave them a sign each: Uranus for Aquarius, Neptune for Pisces and Pluto for Scorpio. Some use the modern rulers, some the traditional ones, and some use both. The choice is a matter of taste and tradition, and neither is wrong.

Four conditions

A planet's comfort can be described in four terms:

• Domicile: in its own sign, where it is at home and expresses itself easily.
• Detriment: in the sign opposite its home, where it must work harder.
• Exaltation: in a sign where it is honored, like a guest of honor. The Sun is exalted in Aries and the Moon in Taurus.
• Fall: in the sign opposite its exaltation, where it can feel unsupported.

Using this

Think of these as comfort levels, not scores. In the traditional scheme a planet in detriment or fall is weakened: it expresses itself less easily than in its domicile or exaltation. Many modern astrologers read it as an area that asks for more effort, where you develop skill by working at it. Either way, it is not a verdict on the person. A planet at home may do its job smoothly but also without much reflection.

To find the ruler of any sign, check the lists above, then see which sign and house that planet occupies in your chart. That link is a useful thread for reading.