We all grew up learning the planets, likely being tasked with making a 3D model of them for science class. Many we can see in the sky on a clear night, their orbits predictable and true. The stars are also a magical constant, glittering through a vast darkness, covering us with their light. Many of us grew up locating constellations like the big dipper and Orion’s belt, and these formations of stars leave us with a feeling of familiarity and closeness to something that is light years away. While perhaps lesser known and harder to spot, each Zodiac sign has an accompanying constellation that marks their place in the sky above us.

 

Time seems to collapse when we gaze at the planets and the stars, and rightfully so, as every moment can be captured by charting where each planet is within the stars. Each celestial body rules certain aspects of our existence. The inner planets, the sun, and the moon dominate our human interactions: the way we communicate, the way we love, the way we feel. The outer planets are more concerned with guiding principles: what limits us, where we seek expansion, our dreams. Like the elements, understanding the parts of our lives that each one oversees can guide us in our actions and help us gain a deeper knowledge of why we are the way we are.