Astrology Cheat Sheet: Planets, Zodiac Signs & Rulerships
Astrology can feel complicated until you learn one simple shortcut:
To understand any sign, look at its ruling planet.
And to understand any planet, look at what it wants (planet) and how it behaves (sign).
This page gives you a quick, easy reference for:
- what each planet symbolizes
- what each zodiac sign represents
- which planet rules which sign (modern + traditional)
Quick Rulership Map (fast lookup)
- Aries → Mars
- Taurus → Venus
- Gemini → Mercury
- Cancer → Moon
- Leo → Sun
- Virgo → Mercury
- Libra → Venus
- Scorpio → Pluto (modern) / Mars (traditional)
- Sagittarius → Jupiter
- Capricorn → Saturn
- Aquarius → Uranus (modern) / Saturn (traditional)
- Pisces → Neptune (modern) / Jupiter (traditional)
The Planets (what they represent)
Think of planets as inner “functions” of the psyche. They describe what part of you is speaking.
| Body | Main meaning | Key themes | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Core self | identity, purpose, vitality, ego | Leo |
| Moon | Emotional needs | feelings, habits, comfort, instincts | Cancer |
| Mercury | Mind & communication | thinking, speech, learning, curiosity | Gemini, Virgo |
| Venus | Love & values | relationships, taste, money, harmony | Taurus, Libra |
| Mars | Drive & action | energy, will, sex, conflict, courage | Aries (and Scorpio traditionally) |
| Jupiter | Growth & meaning | luck, faith, expansion, wisdom | Sagittarius (and Pisces traditionally) |
| Saturn | Structure & mastery | discipline, responsibility, time, lessons | Capricorn (and Aquarius traditionally) |
| Uranus | Awakening & change | innovation, rebellion, breakthroughs | Aquarius (modern) |
| Neptune | Spirit & imagination | dreams, compassion, art, illusion | Pisces (modern) |
| Pluto | Power & transformation | intensity, rebirth, shadow work, control | Scorpio (modern) |
Traditional vs Modern Astrology (quick note)
- Traditional astrology uses the visible planets: Sun–Saturn.
- Modern astrology adds the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and often treats them as rulers of Aquarius/Pisces/Scorpio.
Both systems can work. A simple way to blend them:
- Traditional ruler = day-to-day personality expression
- Modern ruler = deeper generational “vibe” and long-term evolution
The Zodiac Signs (style, element, modality, ruler)
Signs describe how energy expresses itself.
- Element = what it’s made of (Fire/Earth/Air/Water)
- Modality = how it moves (Cardinal/Fixed/Mutable)
- Ruler = the “boss planet” behind the sign
| Sign | Element | Modality | Ruler (modern) | Traditional ruler | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Fire | Cardinal | Mars | Mars | bold, initiating, direct, competitive |
| Taurus | Earth | Fixed | Venus | Venus | steady, sensual, loyal, comfort-loving |
| Gemini | Air | Mutable | Mercury | Mercury | curious, witty, social, adaptable |
| Cancer | Water | Cardinal | Moon | Moon | nurturing, protective, sensitive, intuitive |
| Leo | Fire | Fixed | Sun | Sun | creative, proud, heart-led, expressive |
| Virgo | Earth | Mutable | Mercury | Mercury | precise, helpful, practical, improving |
| Libra | Air | Cardinal | Venus | Venus | balanced, social, aesthetic, partnership |
| Scorpio | Water | Fixed | Pluto | Mars | intense, loyal, private, transformative |
| Sagittarius | Fire | Mutable | Jupiter | Jupiter | adventurous, optimistic, truth-seeking |
| Capricorn | Earth | Cardinal | Saturn | Saturn | ambitious, disciplined, strategic, enduring |
| Aquarius | Air | Fixed | Uranus | Saturn | independent, future-minded, unconventional |
| Pisces | Water | Mutable | Neptune | Jupiter | dreamy, empathic, spiritual, artistic |
How to interpret “Planet in a Sign” (the easy formula)
Use this simple translation:
Planet = what (the function)
Sign = how (the style)
Examples:
- Mars in Libra → action style is diplomatic, strategic, partnership-oriented
- Venus in Capricorn → love/values are serious, loyal, long-term
- Mercury in Gemini → thinking style is fast, curious, talkative
Elements & Modalities
The 4 Elements (what motivates us)
- Fire (Aries/Leo/Sag): passion, courage, inspiration
- Earth (Taurus/Virgo/Cap): practicality, stability, results
- Air (Gemini/Libra/Aquarius): ideas, social connection, logic
- Water (Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces): emotion, intuition, bonding
The 3 Modalities (how we act)
- Cardinal (Aries/Cancer/Libra/Cap): starts things
- Fixed (Taurus/Leo/Scorpio/Aquarius): sustains things
- Mutable (Gemini/Virgo/Sag/Pisces): adapts and changes things
Quick takeaway
If you remember only one thing, remember this:
Signs describe style. Planets describe energy.
Rulership tells you which planet is “in charge” of that sign’s style.