Journey to Astrology
Jordan Sage, MA, began studying astrology in 2008 while an English major at Colgate University. Astonished by the validity of this powerful discipline (and despite the relative disregard with which society currently holds it) he was drawn to deepen his studies, and moved to California to pursue an advanced degree at the California Institute of Integral Studies. His astrological practice focuses on reflecting client’s unique relation to the astrological forces to inspire a deeper connection with their true nature. He continues to be fascinated by seeing the endless creative expressions of planetary archetypes in people.
The Planetary Archetypes
the Sun 
Our sense of self and what we identify wth. The Sun’s placement describes our relationship to how we show up in the world, how we express ourselves as individuals, and how we seek and receive recognition. When the Sun is in aspect to another planet in our chart, we often feel a deep sense of identity with the archetype of that other planet.
the Moon 
As one of my former instructors put it, if the Sun is who we are when we think about who we are, the Moon is who we are before we even think about it–it precedes conscious thought and identity. It is our unconscious self, our deeper emotional nature that is felt more than thought.
Mercury 
The fast-moving and erratic planet of Mercury, the “messenger” planet rules over all things related to communication and conscious expression. The written and spoken word, thought and language, these are all the domains of this planetary archetype. Mercury is one of the first things we “meet” when we encounter a new person.
Venus 
The principle of sociability and relationships, art and aesthetics, sensuality and pleasure. Venus is expressed in our personal sense of style and the quality and character of our social lives. Venus aspects also tells us a lot about desire and attraction: what are we attracted to and what do we attract?
Mars 
The force of energy and activity in our charts. Mars is the principle of drive, determination, decisiveness, and aggression. In our chart, it describes how we relate to our sense will and our capacity for action, to our anger and our sexuality. Mars is honored by athletics and sports, competition, the healthy expression of anger, and positive sexuality.
Jupiter 
The magnanimous King of the Gods in Greek mythology, Jupiter expresses a similar influence of bounty and abundance in our astrological lives. It often relates to well-being, opportunity, and good fortune: though these things often come easy to people with prominent Jupiter aspects because they expect and invite them readily. Of course Jupiter also has a shadow side; it may also be expressed as a tendency for over-indulgence and excess: whether in food, sex, or spending, or perhaps in being overly generous beyond ones means.
Saturn 
The planet of limits, Saturn is on the threshold of visibility in the night sky. It represents discipline and maturity, limitations, struggle, repression and oppression, death, challenges, organization, gravity and heaviness. It’s a planet of definition–what defines us, or comes to define us. Likewise it is about has substance in our lives, the tried and true. Unbalanced, Saturn tends to become restrictive and limiting, like tradition or laws that are upheld but which no longer serve their original need or purpose very well. The Saturn return happens around the age of 28-31 and is considered to be one of the most important transits in one’s life: the time when one truly assumes their worldly niche and life responsibilities.
Uranus 
The planet that liberates and amplifies whatever it touches. Uranus has an electric influence in our charts and transits. The glyph symbol for Uranus is flanked by two parabolic antennae, as if reaching out for intuition and insight that are difficult to perceive. This planet is associated with sudden change and surprises. The proverbial “stroke of genius” and sudden insight. An appropriate image of Nature for Uranus is a lightning strike: sudden, decisive, powerful, but fleeting. Its influence is felt in the fugitive moment of sudden perception or unexpected action.
Neptune 
Neptune often has a diffuse yet pervasive effect in one’s birth chart or while in transit. Its orbs are generally wider when transiting a personal planet, and its effects build gradually, and dissipate slowly, typically lasting for several years. We often can look at Neptune’s placement in a chart to understand how someone relates to compassion, aesthetic sensibility, spirituality and religion, and forms of escapism. Neptune heightens our sensitivity to whatever it aspects.
Pluto 
Pluto is a planet of elemental force and primordial instinct. It represents the shadowy underworld: taboos, shame, our inner beast, passion, intense feeling, in short, everything coming from a place of deep life-force. The stirring of the instinct for survival that animates the process of evolution and life: brutal and unintelligible at times, but a force of Nature and vitality nonetheless. In the birth chart, Pluto adds intensity and depth to whatever it touches, while transiting Pluto often compels us to make overdue changes in our life and “clean house.”
North Node 
The archetype that most strongly expresses our life purpose and is the root of any sense we have of our personal destiny. The lunar nodes do not represent a physical heavenly body, but rather the points where the Moon’s orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic. Understanding one’s North Node placement is like grasping the keystone of one’s deeper needs and purpose in this lifetime. The signs and houses tend to have an especially poignant influence on North Node placement, and seem to be more critical than planetary aspects to it.