Sun

suhn

greek: Ἥλιος (Helios) · latin: Sol

Definition

The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system, the body Earth orbits once in about 365.25 days. From Earth, it appears to travel a yearly path through the zodiac, spending roughly 30 days in each sign. Astrology counts it as one of the two luminaries — the Sun and Moon — and gives it a home (domicile) in Leo, its strongest placement (exaltation) in Aries, its weakest (fall) in Libra, and a difficult placement (detriment) in Aquarius.

In Tradition

Western astrologers read the Sun as your core identity — your vitality, your conscious sense of self, and the direction you feel your life is meant to take. In Hellenistic practice the Sun leads the day-born "sect" (whether you were born by day or by night) and stands for the soul, the spirit, and your capacity to be seen and recognized.

In Practice

Reading a chart usually starts with the Sun. Its sign, house, and aspects (the angles it makes to other planets) point to your basic character and the central themes of your life, and its house shows the area — work, home, creativity — where you most want to be recognized and naturally pour your energy. Each year the Sun returns to where it sat at your birth; that moment casts a Solar Return chart astrologers use to read the year ahead. In Hellenistic work, a day-born chart is judged first through the Sun: how close it sits to an angle, its dignity by sign, and whether it is helped by the benefics (the easy planets) or pressured by the malefics (the difficult ones) all speak to your capacity for public achievement.

Historical Origin

The Sun's astrological meanings appear in the earliest surviving Hellenistic texts. Valens uses the Sun as the chief significator of the soul and of vitality in day charts. Its domicile in Leo and its exaltation in Aries are among the oldest dignity assignments in the tradition.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Further Reading