Planetary Rulership

In astrology, Planetary Rulership describes the traditional relationship between planets and the zodiac signs they are considered to rule. These associations are used to connect planets with signs and, through the signs on house cusps, with different areas of the natal chart. Planetary rulership can help astrologers trace relationships among chart factors, identify a chart ruler, and examine dispositor chains. Different astrological traditions may use somewhat different rulership schemes, but the underlying idea is that a planet has a special symbolic relationship with the sign or signs assigned to its rulership.

Planetary Rulership by Zodiac Sign

In modern Western astrology, most signs retain the same planetary ruler used in traditional astrology. Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pisces are the principal exceptions, because modern astrology commonly assigns them to Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune respectively, while traditional astrology retains Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter as their rulers.

Both systems remain in use. The rulership scheme applied in a particular interpretation depends on the astrological tradition or method being followed.