Summary
Zoom in on the Sun
Just as the sun emits light, it produces life. The Sun represents the self, personality and ego of each, the spirit and what makes the individual unique. It is our identity and our face to the world. The sun is also the creative capacity and the power of the individual to meet the challenges of daily life.
The energy of the Sun is powerful, and in its wake comes authority, the ability to lead, and the essence of an individual, their fundamental being. By the will of the Sun, we learn to manifest ourselves in the world.
The sun is majestic and, in keeping with its regal air, it has a high function. It also dominates our health and well-being. The golden glow of the Sun is a life force that imbues us with strength, energy and a will to succeed. It is the Sun that gives strength to the other planets, which is why it occupies a key role in astrology.
The sun spends about a month visiting each sign and takes a year to cycle through the 12 signs of the zodiac. It is masculine energy and it rules Leo and the Fifth House.
The Sun in Astrology
Astrologers believe that Sol (the name of the corresponding Roman sun god) is what makes us vibrate. The Sun’s heat and energy radiate outward, warming all the planets. Without the Sun as planetary ruler, there would be no life for us Earthlings. Symbolically, astrologers see the Sun the same way: its position is central to your personality.
Solar energy radiates outward: think of the sun’s rays flooding the sky during the day. How you express yourself outwardly is greatly revealed through your sun sign. What is the light you shine in the world? How can you be the most radiant? A Libra sun sign can be most luminous when creating beauty, while a Capricorn sun sign can build structures that provide order for the world. Understanding your sun sign reveals a lot about you! And while all the planets shape our character, the Sun can be seen as the Self; the « me » that you show to the world.
Since the Sun is our source of energy, your sun sign can reveal places to tap into your strength, confidence, and creative expression.
The sun also rules our pride. This celestial body inspires humans to produce great works. But the ego is also the domain of the Sun. The Sun, the giver of life, represents our conscious mind in astrology. It represents our will to live and our creative life force.
Just as the planets revolve around the Sun in our solar system, we derive our life purpose from the Sun in our natal charts. The Sun is our ego. It is also our “adult” – the part of us that censors our “inner child”, who reasons and makes the final decisions. The Sun is our core identity, representing self-realization.
When you are asked « Who are you? » Your answers will likely include a description of your Sun. The sun also represents our overall vitality. The Sun directs us and can be considered the “boss” of our chart.
The Sun represents reason as opposed to instinct. It reflects the present or “here and now,” while the Moon breathes the past into our lives through feelings.
The Sun will dominate our actions. You can think, dream, imagine, hope to be a thousand things, according to your Moon and your other planets: but the Sun is what you are.
When we “act” our Sun, we are determined, directed, proud and creative. On the negative side, we can be haughty, self-centered, and judgmental.
The Sun in the natal chart
In the chart, the position of the Sun by zodiac sign represents the native’s life purpose and the style in which he leaves his mark in the world.
By house, the position of the Sun shows where our personalities shine. The areas of life associated with this house reveal the kinds of experiences that contribute to our sense of individuality and shape our sense of pride. These areas of life are where we seek to express and focus our Sun sign qualities.
The position of the Sun by house (i.e. the house the Sun occupies in the natal chart) reveals an area of life where we should feel special. This is where we feel the need to distinguish ourselves from others.
The Sun is an active force rather than a reactive one. As such, we can effect change in the affairs ruled by the house of our Sun. In fact, to find happiness and direction in our lives, it is important to recognize that we identify with the areas of life governed by this house. We must somehow shine in these areas of life!
For example, if the Sun is in the 6th house, we must recognize that being of service to others, such as through daily work, is vitally important to our identity. This will contribute a lot to our self-esteem.
We must also be careful not to identify too much with the house that our Sun occupies. Our ego can be overdeveloped in these areas and our pride can be easily bruised. In our example of the Sun in the 6th house, the negative expression of this position may be a tendency to over-identify with work; feeling useless when not working; to define ourselves solely in terms of the service we provide to others; overreact to criticism of the work we do.
In summary, while the sign of our Sun shows us our fundamental personality traits and how we shine, the house in which we find our Sun reveals where we shine.
