Author's Notes: While size is not always a factor, it is a prime consideration for determining the importance of an astrological/astronomical body. As of this writing(2011) ten sizeable bodies are officially recognized by the astrological community as having a major astrological influence. They are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus(discovered in 1781), Neptune(discovered in 1846), and Pluto(discovered in 1930). In terms of size, the Sun is obviously the most important body in our solar system, but this all relative. Because we live on the Earth and not the Sun, the Earth, in fact takes precedence over all other bodies for us, and plays the most critical role in the chart(which will be explained later). Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all larger than the Earth but may be less dense and the smallest planets may be the most dense so it all balances out. Also every planet has the potential to grow and birth into a Sun or solar system. While the Moon does not have its own orbit around the Sun, it certainly has the size to acquire such an orbit. Besides, astrology is an Earth-centered science or art, so to us(astrologers) the Moon is still a "planet". Likewise for the Sun, which has an orbit around some other star or body, but which looks like a large bright "planet" to us.

Besides these ten bodies or planets, two other influences have always been noted as strongly shaping the individual's character, destiny, or appearance, namely the Ascendant or Rising Sign/Eastern Horizon and the MidHeaven or Medium Coeli/Zenith. These two other factors have always been referred to as the two most critical "angles" in the chart essentially dividing it into four quadrants. But is that all they are? Long time readers of this site know that this author equates the Ascendant or Rising influence with none other than that of our own planet Earth and the Midheaven or MC with that of our planet's Inner Sun(Earth is hollow). Are these the 11th and 12th planets? Others are looking elsewhere for two more planets, mostly beyond Pluto. What about Ceres(declared a planet in 1801), newly discovered Eris(slightly larger than Pluto and discovered in 2005), and the other recently discovered dwarf planets? What influence if any, do all these other bodies have and how do they compare to the major planets? These questions have not been satisfactorily answered yet, and we may just have to wait longer for the answers.

Why must twelve bodies or planets be of particular importance? Simply because there are twelve signs in our zodiac, and ideally one planetary ruler for each. While the old traditional dual-rulership set-up still works, it remains unsatisfactory for most. Except for the Sun and Moon -which rule one sign each, dual rulership is an ambiguous system hiding the true nature of a planet. Ultimately a planet is either masculine or feminine and belongs to one sign only. This is called the true ruler. Mercury and Venus are currently the only two planets still ruling over two signs but this may change soon. Earth or Eris are my two personal choices for Libra, leaving Venus for Taurus. I am less certain about Gemini-Virgo. There is much talk or speculation now about a large star-like body out beyond the Kuiper belt or near the Oort region with a period in the thousands of years. This is certainly possible. It will be great when we have a planetary ruler for every sign again. Then astrology can be much more specific in its meanings or interpretations.