As the heart of the solar system and the gravitational center of the travels of the earth and the other planets, the sun is the primordial light, the source of all warmth and life. From the dawn of humanity, it has been worshipped. It has symbolized the absolute power kings and despots yearn for and emulate. The sun king, the nucleus of society, embodied a principle of cohesion and harmony. Various subordinates—aka planets—revolved around it. In terms of psychological symbolism, the sun corresponds to the center of an individual, the factor that rules your psyche. Its luminous aspects are usually associated with knowledge and consciousness. As a creator of life, it is related to the image of the mother and the influence of motherhood on an individual’s consciousness and ideals. As a result, the sun’s position in a birth chart always indicates the way in which an individual will relate to your goals and ideals, what your ambitions and aspirations might involve. A person whose chart is strongly “solar” usually identifies very positively with motherhood. Your personality is friendly, energetic, and creative, with high ideals and a firm determination to accomplish them. You take your own superiority and authority over others for granted, and you have a natural ability to command the attention and admiration of an audience. You are a born leader who enjoys being in the limelight and may behave somewhat theatrically or with dramatic exaggeration. You have definite artistic leanings. The sense of your ideals is evident to you and may lead you to be somewhat self-focused. If ill-directed, your deep aspirations may lead to such faults as egotism, selfishness, or greediness for power.

Venus, the planet of love, is both the magnetism that brings people together and the gift of love. Depending on the individual’s degree of awareness, Venus may take on very different aspects. This ambiguity is interpreted astrologically by the fact that Venus rules two houses of the zodiac: Taurus, the house of awakening to bodily lust, and Libra, the house of marriage. As a result, Venus may take on very different aspects depending on the individual’s degree of awareness. Additionally, this ambiguity explains Aphrodite’s equivocal conduct in Greek mythology and her innumerable couplings and motherhood. Depending on the legend, she may embody brutal, passionate love (with Anteros), the wisdom of the heart which rescues from passion (Harmonia); she also becomes tenderness and purity (with Adonis), pure sexuality (with Eros), a transforming energy (with Vulcan), etc. Mistress of the Arts, she represents beauty, understanding, and peace. Psychologically, individuals under the influence of Venus are struggling with their love instincts.

In astrology, Mars is associated with the element fire and the color red, as well as the taste of bitterness. It is also considered the elder brother in the cosmic family, and is usually associated with declared enemies or adversaries. Mars morphology is typically virile, angular, and athletic, and corresponds to aggressive, domineering, masculine behavior. Psychologically, Mars figures in any situation of conflict, opposition, and confrontation. Mars symbolism intervenes to separate, oppose, and decide, and corresponds to duels, war, and any situation in real life which involves confronting an obstacle. Individuals influenced by Mars are typically direct and straightforward–either unabashedly extroverted or furiously introverted. They are extremely active and extremely emotive, with a purpose in life which is inextricably mingled with a combat against an unacceptable situation or a challenge which they either issue or are forced to accept.

Ben, the subject of the text, will find that the eleventh house is an area of the sky which is especially important in his theme, because it contains several planets, including the one which rules his rising sign.