The Sun is not a planet in the astronomical sense, but in astrology it is treated as one — and as the most important one. It represents the vital force itself: the life-giving energy that animates the entire chart. In traditional astrology, the Sun is called the Luminary of the Day, and it is the natural significator of kings, rulers, fathers, and anyone in a position of authority.
In psychological terms, the Sun describes the central organizing principle of the personality: your sense of identity, your conscious purpose, and the way you seek to be recognized and valued. It is not the whole chart — the Moon, the ascendant, and the other planets all contribute their own layers — but it is the center around which the other planets are arranged, just as the solar system is arranged around the Sun.
The Sun rules Leo, the sign of fixed fire, and is exalted in Aries, the sign of cardinal fire. It is in its detriment in Aquarius and its fall in Libra. These placements describe the Sun's essential dignities: where it is strongest, where it struggles, and why.
In a chart, the Sun describes:
- Vitality and health — the overall strength of the life force, the capacity for recovery, and the basic constitution.
- Identity and purpose — what you are here to do, in the broadest sense, and how you seek to be seen.
- Father and authority figures — in traditional astrology, the Sun signifies the father, the king, the boss, and anyone who holds power over you.
- Recognition and honor — how you seek to be acknowledged, and what kind of recognition matters to you.
The Sun's placement by sign describes the style of your vitality: a Leo Sun burns with a steady, dramatic, self-expressive flame; a Capricorn Sun burns with a slow, steady, contained fire that endures through difficulty. The Sun's placement by house describes the area of life where you most need to shine — and where you are most likely to be recognized.