Celestial Symbols: Sun, Moon, Stars & Planetary Correspondences
BY NICOLE LAU
Introduction to Celestial Symbolism
Since humanity first gazed upward, the celestial bodies have served as symbols of divine forces, archetypal energies, and cosmic principles. The Sun and Moon, the seven classical planets, and the stars have shaped mythology, astrology, alchemy, and magic across cultures and millennia. In Western mysticism, celestial symbols provide a complete language for understanding the cosmos, the psyche, and the spiritual path.
This guide explores the symbolic meanings of the Sun, Moon, stars, and the seven classical planets (including their alchemical, astrological, and magical correspondences), and how to work with celestial energies in spiritual practice.
The Luminaries: Sun and Moon
The Sun ☉: Consciousness and Divine Masculine
Symbol: Circle with dot in center ☉
Metal: Gold
Day: Sunday
Color: Gold, yellow, orange
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Tarot: The Sun (XIX)
Deities: Ra, Apollo, Helios, Sol
Solar Symbolism
- Consciousness: The light of awareness, the conscious mind
- The Self: The center around which all revolves
- Divine Masculine: Active, creative, generative force
- Vitality: Life force, health, energy
- Authority: Kingship, sovereignty, leadership
- Illumination: Truth, clarity, enlightenment
- The Father: Paternal principle, provider, protector
Alchemical Sun
In alchemy, the Sun represents:
- Gold, the perfect metal
- The goal of the Great Work (spiritual gold)
- Sulfur, the active masculine principle
- The spirit that must be united with lunar soul
Solar Magic
- Success: Achievement, recognition, victory
- Health: Vitality, healing, strength
- Authority: Leadership, power, influence
- Illumination: Clarity, truth, enlightenment
- Timing: Sunday, noon, summer solstice
The Moon ☽: The Unconscious and Divine Feminine
Symbol: Crescent ☽
Metal: Silver
Day: Monday
Color: Silver, white, pale blue
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Tarot: The Moon (XVIII), The High Priestess (II)
Deities: Diana, Selene, Luna, Hecate
Lunar Symbolism
- The Unconscious: Dreams, the hidden, the shadow
- Divine Feminine: Receptive, nurturing, cyclical
- Emotion: Feelings, moods, the tides of the psyche
- Intuition: Psychic ability, inner knowing
- Mystery: The unknown, the hidden, secrets
- Cycles: Waxing and waning, birth and death
- The Mother: Maternal principle, nurturer, protector
The Triple Moon
The Moon's three phases represent the Triple Goddess:
- Waxing Moon: Maiden, youth, new beginnings
- Full Moon: Mother, fertility, power, manifestation
- Waning Moon: Crone, wisdom, endings, death
Alchemical Moon
In alchemy, the Moon represents:
- Silver, the lunar metal
- Mercury (philosophical mercury), the soul
- Salt, the body principle
- The soul that must be united with solar spirit
Lunar Magic
- Divination: Scrying, dreams, psychic work
- Emotion: Healing feelings, emotional magic
- Intuition: Developing psychic abilities
- Mystery: Working with the unknown
- Timing: Monday, night, full moon for power, new moon for beginnings
The Seven Classical Planets
Mercury ☿: Communication and Magic
Symbol: Circle with cross below and crescent above ☿
Metal: Mercury (quicksilver)
Day: Wednesday
Color: Orange, mixed colors
Zodiac Signs: Gemini, Virgo
Tarot: The Magician (I)
Deities: Hermes, Mercury, Thoth
Mercurial Symbolism
- Communication: Speech, writing, exchange of ideas
- Magic: The Magician, transformation, trickery
- Intellect: Quick thinking, cleverness, wit
- Commerce: Trade, business, exchange
- Travel: Movement, journeys, messages
- Duality: Mediator between opposites
- The Trickster: Cunning, deception, shape-shifting
Mercurial Magic
- Communication and eloquence
- Business success and trade
- Learning and memory
- Travel and safe journeys
- Magical workings and transformation
Venus ♀: Love and Beauty
Symbol: Circle with cross below ♀
Metal: Copper
Day: Friday
Color: Green, pink
Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Libra
Tarot: The Empress (III)
Deities: Aphrodite, Venus, Freya
Venusian Symbolism
- Love: Romance, affection, attraction
- Beauty: Aesthetics, art, harmony
- Pleasure: Sensuality, enjoyment, luxury
- Harmony: Balance, peace, relationships
- Fertility: Creation, abundance, growth
- Values: What we love and value
Venusian Magic
- Love and romance
- Beauty and attraction
- Harmony and peace
- Art and creativity
- Prosperity and abundance
Mars ♂: War and Energy
Symbol: Circle with arrow pointing up-right ♂
Metal: Iron
Day: Tuesday
Color: Red
Zodiac Signs: Aries, Scorpio
Tarot: The Tower (XVI)
Deities: Ares, Mars, Thor
Martial Symbolism
- War: Conflict, aggression, combat
- Energy: Drive, passion, vitality
- Courage: Bravery, strength, assertiveness
- Action: Initiative, doing, making things happen
- Desire: Passion, lust, wanting
- Destruction: Breaking down, cutting away
Martial Magic
- Courage and strength
- Protection and defense
- Energy and vitality
- Passion and desire
- Conflict and victory
Jupiter ♃: Expansion and Fortune
Symbol: Crescent to left of cross ♃
Metal: Tin
Day: Thursday
Color: Blue, purple
Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius, Pisces
Tarot: The Wheel of Fortune (X)
Deities: Zeus, Jupiter, Thor
Jupiterian Symbolism
- Expansion: Growth, increase, abundance
- Fortune: Luck, prosperity, success
- Wisdom: Philosophy, higher learning, understanding
- Benevolence: Generosity, kindness, optimism
- Authority: Kingship, law, justice
- Faith: Belief, hope, trust
Jupiterian Magic
- Prosperity and wealth
- Success and good fortune
- Legal matters and justice
- Expansion and growth
- Wisdom and learning
Saturn ♄: Limitation and Time
Symbol: Cross above crescent ♄
Metal: Lead
Day: Saturday
Color: Black, dark blue
Zodiac Signs: Capricorn, Aquarius
Tarot: The World (XXI), The Devil (XV)
Deities: Kronos, Saturn, the Grim Reaper
Saturnian Symbolism
- Time: Chronos, aging, mortality
- Limitation: Boundaries, restrictions, structure
- Discipline: Hard work, responsibility, duty
- Death: Endings, transformation, the Reaper
- Wisdom: The wisdom that comes through suffering
- Karma: Consequences, reaping what you sow
Saturnian Magic
- Banishing and binding
- Protection and boundaries
- Discipline and structure
- Endings and closure
- Working with time and karma
The Stars: Divine Order and Destiny
The Fixed Stars
Beyond the wandering planets, the fixed stars represent:
- Divine Order: The unchanging celestial sphere
- Fate: The pattern written in the stars
- Eternity: The eternal, unchanging realm
- The Gods: Deities dwelling in the heavens
The North Star (Polaris)
The North Star symbolizes:
- The Axis Mundi: The center around which all revolves
- True North: Guidance, direction, finding your way
- Constancy: The one fixed point in the turning sky
- The Pole: The cosmic axis, the World Tree
The Zodiac
The twelve constellations of the zodiac represent:
- The twelve archetypal energies
- The soul's journey through the year
- The twelve stages of spiritual development
- The cosmic clock marking time and season
Star Magic
- Destiny Work: Aligning with your fate
- Navigation: Finding your true path
- Wishes: Wishing on stars
- Connection: Linking to cosmic consciousness
- Astrology: Reading the celestial patterns
Planetary Hours and Days
Planetary Days
Each day is ruled by a planet:
- Sunday: Sun - success, health, authority
- Monday: Moon - intuition, dreams, emotion
- Tuesday: Mars - courage, conflict, energy
- Wednesday: Mercury - communication, learning, travel
- Thursday: Jupiter - prosperity, expansion, luck
- Friday: Venus - love, beauty, harmony
- Saturday: Saturn - banishing, binding, endings
Planetary Hours
Each day is divided into 12 daylight and 12 nighttime hours, each ruled by a planet in sequence. The first hour of each day is ruled by that day's planet.
Example (Sunday):
1st hour: Sun
2nd hour: Venus
3rd hour: Mercury
4th hour: Moon
5th hour: Saturn
6th hour: Jupiter
7th hour: Mars
(then repeats)
Celestial Correspondences in Magic
Timing Magic by Celestial Forces
- Solar Magic: Sunday, noon, summer solstice
- Lunar Magic: Monday, night, full/new moon
- Planetary Magic: Corresponding day and hour
- Star Magic: Night, especially midnight
Invoking Planetary Energies
- Choose the appropriate planet for your goal
- Work on the planet's day and hour
- Use the planet's color, metal, and incense
- Invoke the planetary deity or intelligence
- Visualize the planetary symbol
- Speak your intention aligned with planetary energy
Correspondences Table
| Planet | Symbol | Day | Metal | Color | Magic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | ☉ | Sunday | Gold | Gold/Yellow | Success, health, authority |
| Moon | ☽ | Monday | Silver | Silver/White | Intuition, emotion, mystery |
| Mercury | ☿ | Wednesday | Mercury | Orange | Communication, magic, travel |
| Venus | ♀ | Friday | Copper | Green/Pink | Love, beauty, harmony |
| Mars | ♂ | Tuesday | Iron | Red | Courage, energy, conflict |
| Jupiter | ♃ | Thursday | Tin | Blue/Purple | Prosperity, expansion, luck |
| Saturn | ♄ | Saturday | Lead | Black | Banishing, binding, endings |
Further Study
Celestial Symbolism:
- The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest
- Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller
- The Planets Within by Thomas Moore
Planetary Magic:
- Planetary Magick by Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips
- The Seven Planets by Nigel Pennick
Conclusion
Celestial symbols—the Sun and Moon, the seven classical planets, and the stars—provide a complete language for understanding cosmic forces, archetypal energies, and the patterns that shape our lives. By working with these celestial powers, we align ourselves with the rhythms of the cosmos, harness planetary energies for magical work, and recognize ourselves as part of the great celestial dance.
May you align with the celestial rhythms. May the planets guide your magic. May you find your place among the stars.
