Ten Vital Bodies in Astrology

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From the first time that humans looked toward the sky and began to chart the movement of the sun, moon and the planets, men have been assigning meaning to what they saw. It wasn't enough to simply record where the sun moved, when an eclipse happened or when a planet was brightest, complex and varying stories and myths were given to each celestial event to help explain things that were happening in the observer's own life.

If crops failed, it was blamed on the stars. If war broke out, it was blamed on the stars. Let's take a look at ten of the heavenly bodies that astrologers assigned meaning to and what each body meant.

The Sun -- Not only was the sun the easiest body to see in the sky, it provided light, warmth and life. Most cultures saw the sun as a life giver, not vengeful or angry, but almost judgementless. A benign and powerful giver of life and wellness.

The Moon -- The moon, to many early astrologists, represented the unconscious mind and stood for emotion and desire. It often had a negative connotation, simply because it was thought the moon help power over the weak to indulge in their inner most desires. The old superstition of a full moon altering people's behavior or even turning some into werewolves stems from the idea of the moon holding a mysterious power over one's emotional side. The Moon is also associated with Monday, short for MoonDay.

Mercury -- This planet is named after the Roman messenger god of the same name and thus the planet Mercury is thought to be the body that rules things like communication, rationality and logic, as well as transport. It is thought to bring out people's curious nature, as well as being vivacious and inconsistent. Mercury is thought to rule over Wednesday. In astrology practiced in China, Mercury is ruled over by the element of water. In India, Mercury stands for intelligence.