The sun was the source of all warmth and life. From the dawn of humanity, it had been worshipped. It had symbolized the absolute power kings and despots yearn for and emulate. The sun king, the nucleus of society, embodied a principle of cohesion and harmony. Various subordinates—aka planets—revolved around it. In terms of psychological symbolism, the sun corresponds to the center of an individual, the factor that rules your psyche. Its luminous aspects were usually associated with knowledge and consciousness. As a creator of life, it was related to the image of the mother and the influence of motherhood on an individual’s consciousness and ideals. As a result, the sun’s position in a birth chart always indicated the way in which an individual would relate to your goals and ideals, what your ambitions and aspirations might involve. A person whose chart was strongly “solar” usually identified very positively with motherhood. Your personality was friendly, energetic, and creative, with high ideals and a firm determination to accomplish them. You took your own superiority and authority over others for granted, and you had a natural ability to command the attention and admiration of an audience. You were a born leader who enjoyed being in the limelight and may behaved somewhat theatrically or with dramatic exaggeration. You had definite artistic leanings. The sense of your ideals was evident to you and may lead you to be somewhat self-focused. If ill-directed, your deep aspirations may lead to such faults as egotism, selfishness, or greediness for power.

According to Greek myth, Mercury (or Hermes, whose name derives etymologically from the piles of rocks which marked trails and guided travelers) was the messenger of the gods. He carried orders from Olympus to the mortals on Earth. The child of the illegitimate union of Zeus with Maia, Mercury was born “unknown to the immortal gods” and had to win his place among them by trickery, cleverness, and cunning. This is why he became the vagabond deity of travelers and wanderers. He is the instinctive foe of the settled who see him as an outcast roaming on the outskirts of society: a pariah, a thief, and a swindler. As ruler of the sign of Gemini, the Twins, he symbolizes the brother—the alter-ego who teaches us as much as we teach him and is associated with adolescence, a period of intense intellectual discovery. Mercury thus symbolizes lively, sparkling wit, mobility in any form, mental exchange, and interaction. As a result, a person strongly ruled by Mercury is quite likely to be clever and skillful. If Mercury is “afflicted” in one’s chart, their intellectual velocity may sometimes become mere mental hyperactivity. In any case, these skills are a great resource in the social realm. You communicate easily and effectively, orally or in writing. Your ability to unite and transmit would be a good resource in diplomatic or commercial endeavors.

In the Greek tradition, Mars or Aries was the god of war. Astrology associates him with the element fire, the color red, and the taste of bitterness. Although it also symbolizes the elder brother in the cosmic family, it is more likely to be associated with declared enemies or adversaries. Mars morphology is typically virile, angular, and athletic and corresponds to aggressive, domineering, masculine behavior. Likewise, Mars is usually associated with rage, its resultant brutality, and male destructiveness and domination. Psychologically, Mars figures in any situation of conflict, opposition, and confrontation. Mars symbolism intervenes to separate, oppose, and decide and corresponds to duels, war, and any situation in real life which involves confronting an obstacle. Individuals who are greatly influenced by Mars are typically direct and straightforward—either unabashedly extroverted or furiously introverted. They are extremely active and extremely emotive. Their purpose in life seems to be inextricably mingled with a combat against an unacceptable situation, a challenge which they either issue or are forced to accept.

The twelfth house is significant in your astrological theme because it contains several planets, including the one which rules your rising sign. In the following paragraph, we shall explain the general meaning of this fact.

According to tradition, this area of the astrological chart was related to hardship, disease, hospitals, and all other areas associated with weakness and weariness. More specifically, this last area of the sky map is associated with the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces, or the Fishes. It symbolizes the end of your various experiences. This is where the failures you encountered as you were going about your evolution may have accumulated; in certain extreme cases, they may have an impact on your health or well-being. This sector should thus be associated with your need to confront your own past, analyze it, and learn from it. Before starting something new, it is often important to make sure all unfinished business is settled first. If this house is especially prominent, you may have to concentrate on making sure every initiative is followed through to completion, including a constructive analysis of your experiences afterward. You may wonder about the personal and spiritual value of your acts and thoughts. You may sometimes be haunted by the memories of your failures; at that point, you must have the courage to confront your mistakes and learn from them.

The seventh house is an area of the sky which is especially important in Alex Salmond’s theme. In the following paragraph, we shall explain the general meaning of this fact.