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 inter laced, 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. Most people are not quite sure how astrology "works", and astrologers can explain to you how it works on a technical level, but not why. In the hands of a skilled and qualified astrologer the symbolic language of astrology is an essential tool provided to accompany life. Planets have no power over us and they do not beam their energy onto earth to "make us do things". They were placed in the sky as symbols and signs, and as we all partake of the same building blocks of hot, cold, moist and dry, when the planets "behave" in a certain way, so does "matter" on earth which partakes of that planet's essence. It is simply a mirror image and a reflection - "as above, so below".

Using these symbols and the interpretation thereof we are able to take a step into the future to assess the potential for events and movement here on earth.  Astrologers often forget that the public is fascinated by their craft and to be able to impart some of our knowledge, in a non technical manner, is a privilege. While this is difficult to do as one needs to avoid producing content found in the nonsensical columns in contemporary magazines, it is possible, provided we keep in mind at all times that for the planetary movements to have direct relevance to our lives, they need to connect with our natal charts.

The Monthly Planetary Movement is produced by Jacqueline Brook, astrologer and tutor of the Tradition and founding director of AORTA.