Solar Dispositions - The Sun through the 12 Signs of the Zodiac

As we make choices and take action throughout our lives, we typically do so with certain goals in mind. Our goals inform how we prioritize our activities and how we apply our resources. We often perceive and experience our lives qualitatively relative to where we stand in relationship to our goals. In astrology, we can understand the agenda and activities of a planet to be informed in the same way. The domicile of a planet - the sign(s) which a planet is said to rule - represents a version of reality which matches the ideals of the archetype, one in which their actions and desired outcomes are facilitated. A planet’s domicile is more than just a place it lives; it is its temple, a place which it calls home. It is a place over which the planet has responsibility and which it seeks to cultivate as it travels through the zodiac.

The essential nature and function of the Sun in astrology is that which the Ancient Greeks call Gnosis - knowledge, or the state of knowing. Epistemology is a philosophical discipline that is concerned with the study of the nature of knowledge, how to define it, and on what basis a thing can be justified as known. Epistemology would likely hold little utility for the core archetype of the Sun, as the Sun represents the state of knowing which emanates from within. To know is to exist, and to exist is to know - it warrants no justification because it is derived from the truth of one’s own experience. From this place of Gnosis, we become aware of ourselves and the world around us, and from this awareness, choices are made and actions follow. However, there are numerous factors that augment, interfere with, or otherwise complicate (and sometimes make more interesting) how the Sun fulfills its essential function.

The journey of a planet from its home through all 12 signs and back again is colored by a broad spectrum of experience as it encounters the unique features of the zodiacal terrain. Through decans, fixed stars, and lunar mansions, signs ruled by planets both friendly and hostile, under planetary rays and bodily conjunctions, the Sun will face conditions that continually test its archetypal nature. It is an odyssey through which the Sun can be brought to both great heights of glory and cast down into the very heart of darkness. But all is undertaken, experienced, and contextualized relative to that sought-after Elysium, which is envisioned in the planetary domicile.

A planet’s relative position to - or disposition towards - its domicile(s) is one of the many ways to gain a more nuanced understanding of the experiences described by a planet in any given sign. To identify the disposition of a planet toward one of its domiciles, count forward from the domicile sign of the planet until you arrive at the sign the Planet is located in, then consider how some of the corresponding house topics may interact with the Planet/Sign combination. The Sun is one of the easier planets to do this with, because - like the Moon - it only claims one Sign as its domicile. While this technique will be most relevant for a planet which rules the ascendant, it can be nonetheless applied to any planet to add context to, but not override, a planet’s sign and house placement in a chart as well.

Leo - 1st Disposition

The Sun in Leo is in its home sign, the first sign on its journey through the zodiac. This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of self, agency, and visibility.

The Sun reaches the height of its power in the image of the Lion and heralds those who claim personal sovereignty as their birthright. They tend to gain attention easily for better and for worse and possess a natural awareness of the gravitas of their presence. they possess an innate strength of character which lends itself to positions of authority and leadership. They instinctively understand that they cannot hide the truth of who they are any more than they can deny their own existence. There are no screens that filter out the light of their being, only those who see them and those who do not. However, not all of those born to the Leo Sun are suited to the Crown fate places on their heads, and some feel the burden of its weight more keenly than others, as their shortcomings shine through with the same radiance as their merits. People follow the Sun in Leo because in its unwavering light, they discover the truth of their own potential and become inspired to reach for a vision of who they might become. The Sun in Leo knows that showing up means giving yourself over fully to what the moment calls for. While what we bring forth may be burned under the heat of the spotlight, it is through this process of rarefication that we uncover our gold.

Virgo - The 2nd Disposition

The Sun in Virgo is in the second sign from its home in Leo. This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of material resources, livelihood, and support.

In the sign of the Virgin, awareness shifts from the rarefication of spirit to the refinement of body and the substance which gives it form. Those born while the Sun is in Virgo will have to do more than simply show up to earn their place in the world. Often humble by nature, these natives craft an identity based on the acquisition of useful skills, their self-esteem a biproduct of the fruits of their labor. Meny derive a sense of personal empowerment from projecting a vison of order onto the world around them, facilitating productivity and prosperity for those who inhabit it. Some will actively seek out chaos for the satisfaction of bending it to their will. Still others, however, in search of a surrogate for the internal turmoil which they are unable to bring to heel, become the secret authors of chaos which seems to regularly unfold around them. The Sun in Virgo knows that both order and chaos serve a purpose in nature’s grand design, and that perfection of form comes only as a result of humble collaboration with forces beyond our control.

Libra - The 3rd Disposition

The Sun in Libra is in the third sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to how we relate to the people in our day-to-day lives and those whom we call our peers.

The Sun is said to have its joy in the ninth house, a house where we are called to adventures in the world at large and to discover our place within it. The Sun's third disposition is thus akin to the ordinary world, the setting of the opening act in every hero's journey, where the first test is finding the will to forsake the familiar and travel beyond its congenial boundaries. Those born under the Libra Sun often struggle to discern the call of their own spirit from the expectations placed upon them, while others find themselves bound to agreements which prevent them from crossing the threshold. But often, these natives find their inmost cave awaits them in the everyday spaces they share with others. These natives are highly tuned to the subtlest of cues, expertly navigating through different social spheres, reflexively adopting behavior circumscribed by tacit codes of etiquette. They seek harmony with those in their orbit, readily taking on the perspectives of others, but they are often too willing to sacrifice their personal authority on the altar of equanimity. Those born under the Libra Sun will be asked how much of themselves they are willing to keep in the dark to preserve the relationships in which they have invested their identity and learn to account for the imbalances which result from placing themselves on both sides of any equation. The Sun in Libra knows that the social unit is a marketplace rife with unfair exchanges, but those who seek the intervention of Justice must be willing to place their gold on her austere scales.

Scorpio - The 4th Disposition

The Sun in Scorpio is in the fourth sign from Leo, its home.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to privacy, secrets, and that which lies below the surface of matters.

Those born under the Scorpio Sun learn from an early age that the surface which is presented can do much to conceal the true nature of things. As a result, they take little at face value and are highly attuned to subtext, ever watchful for subtle clues that might reveal a hidden threat. Introspective by nature, time spent probing deeply into their own psyches, in time, uncovers a tangled web of triggers and traumas which inform their powerful desires, animosities and fears. Knowledge of their own complex nature paired with carful observation of those around them will often make them highly adept at detecting the hidden motives and vulnerabilities of others, as well as well-versed in the art of carefully concealing their own. While some may use their powers of revelation and concealment to manipulate, deceive and exploit others, most simply need to identify friend from foe before they engage in the mutual spilling of guts which is their preferred mode of relating. The Sun in Scorpio knows that true intimacy involves making yourself vulnerable and giving another the power to inflict grievous harm, and some of our gold belongs in deep underground vaults, only to be shared with a worthy, trusted few.

Sagittarius - The 5th Disposition

The Sun in Sagittarius is in the fifth sign from Leo, its home.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to that which pours forth from one's being when inspired by joy and passion.

It is said that those born under the Sagittarius Sun like to party. Those with the Sun here are often enthusiastic, lively, and possess a buoyant and restless spirit. They are often touched with the luck of Jupiter, granting them a particular brand of confidence that can lead some to overestimate their abilities from time to time. They usually learn quickly from mistakes, however, and are not prone to dwelling on past failures. Their jovial behavior often belies a deeply thoughtful and contemplative streak that is paired with a boundless hunger for knowledge and experience. Some require periods of solitude during which they contemplate the meaning of the many passions they have ignited. Many sparks coalesce to form a singular unifying flame, which once alight is not easily stamped out. These natives can become quite zealous in spreading the light of the torches they carry, and their ambitious quests will naturally draw the support of like-minded followers. However, these natives often have to find out the hard way that their grand visions can also lead them astray, as their decisive and resolute nature disinclines them from heeding countervailing advice. The Sun in Sagittarius knows that where your personal path leads is less important than the wisdom you gain from walking it and invites you to be a beacon to those who follow in your footsteps by sharing what you have learned.

Capricorn - The 6th Disposition

The Sun is in the sixth sign from its home when it's in Capricorn.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of work, duty, and entropy.

The Sun in Capricorn often heralds those of a serious, hardworking, and responsible character. This is not the easiest sign for the Sun to express itself in, as it represents a time of year in the northern hemisphere where the Sun spends the most time under the horizon. Those born under the Capricorn Sun concern themselves with raw material reality and all its gritty underpinnings. Many possess potent ambitions and lofty goals, but just as the peak of a mountain rests at the top of a colossal mass of invisible earth, the greatest achievements are built upon innumerable unseen labors. These natives must become intimate with the effects of time and learn to acclimate themselves to its relentless march. They come to know time as both friend and foe, a facilitator of the accumulation of many toils into great works, as well as the agent of their erosion back into the dust from which all things emerge. Their self-concept develops around the image of a doomed hero, preparing for a battle whose outcome was long ago foretold but must be fought, nonetheless. Those born under the Capricorn Sun will have to decide how best to spend their time awaiting Heimdall's Horn. Many will be drawn to lives of nihilistic self-indulgence, while others will endeavor to build something that might endure beyond the dying of their own light. Often it is the shared fate that awaits both Gods and Mortals humming in the background of their consciousness that spurs them to push forward, undaunted by daily shifts in fortune. The Sun in Capricorn knows how to keep their head up in times of scarcity and remain steadfast when the outcome is uncertain. Like the story of The Tortoise and the Hare, the Capricorn Sun reminds us that steady perseverance can win out over privilege and natural talent.

Aquarius - The 7th Disposition

The Sun is in the seventh sign from its home when it's in Aquarius.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of the "not self," open enemies, and the visible becoming invisible.

The Sun in Aquarius is a walking contradiction. A "man of the people" and yet one of a kind. Those born of it often define themselves by what they are not and shine their brightest when in opposition to an established order. Those born under Aquarian rays often experience themselves the same way they experience the world, as an outsider looking in. This ability to depersonalize grants them great gifts of objectivity and lends them the ability to assess human behavior from a broader perspective. This grand perspective reveals patterns and flaws not easily detected by those ensnared within them. By refusing to involve themselves in "the rat race," they may spare themselves its burdens and trappings, but often at the cost of alienation. They must avoid falling into hypocrisy and misanthropy by becoming living role models of the shoulds and coulds they've collected. The Sun in Aquarius knows that nothing gets better unless someone is willing to identify and confront the source of a problem and say the things other people don't want to hear. Sometimes the price of doing what is right is being unpopular or enduring scarcity, hardship, and unhappiness. But the Sun in Aquarius shows us how to sacrifice what may benefit us personally today in service of the greater long-term good.

Pisces - The 8th Disposition

The Sun in Pisces is in the eighth sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of entanglement, liminality, and sacrifice.

The Sun in Pisces is compassionate, deep, and imaginative. However, the Sun’s natural sense of personal will, identity, and authority become diffuse in these protean waters. Here, the ego encounters the great chasms which lie outside ordinary boundaries of perception. Those born under the Pisces Sun often struggle to find themselves reflected in the prosaic environs of their day-to-day lives. Calls issued from beyond the veil beckon them; they follow the songs of Sirens and the trumpets of angels down Cimmerian paths in search of a grail to pour themselves into, to make sacred their substance, that it might redeem and nourish the hallowed world of forms. Their perspective emanates from a space which straddles the spiritual and the profane; a shared reality and one which they possess unique access to. They must learn to keep a firm foot in both, for those who are successful become a conduit of dreams, a source of the transcendental nectar which enlivens and inspires. Others whose romantic notions are too fantastic or extreme to find traction in the temporal sphere may retreat deeper into dissolution. The Sun in Pisces knows that the self is greater than the sum of its parts, and that dreams can only be made manifest through acts of faith and a willingness to stay the course through uncharted waters.

Aries - The 9th Disposition

When the Sun is in Aries, it is in the ninth sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of beliefs, mentors, and thoughts and actions guided by pure intentions.

Those born during the Sun’s passage through Aries are brave, decisive and often role models to others. From the ninth disposition, the Sun can see clearly who it must become to be deemed worthy of the throne. Aries is not a place where crowns are placed on the heads of the blue-blooded, but won and forged by those willing and able to plunge headlong into chaos and come out on top. These natives often feel the need to prove themselves to themselves, and tend to define themselves in terms of the challenges they’ve overcome and the deeds they have performed. They are self-sufficient by nature but enjoy the company of others and tend to get along with them easily enough as theirs is an independence which is broadcast by their presence and rarely needs to be asserted. When they lead, they lead by example and easily gain the loyalty of those who follow them because their nature disinclines them from asking of others what they are not willing to do themselves. Those born under the Aries Sun are on a lifelong mission to shape the world around them in accordance with what they know to be true and are not afraid to stand and fight on behalf of it. The Sun in Aries knows that in order to carve out a kingdom to call your own, you must test your mettle in a baptism of purifying fire, exposing yourself to risk, failure, and defeat to excavate the hero that lives within.

Taurus - The 10th Disposition

The Sun in Taurus is in the tenth sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of status, ambition, and all that goes into achieving success.

What does it mean to be successful? What does it look like? The Sun in Taurus knows that half the game of achieving success is looking the part. The other half is knowing what success means to you, what it feels like, and designing your life around activities that serve that end. When those born under the Taurean Sun have a vision, they will work diligently to bring it into physical form. Realizing the external vision also necessitates the refinement and cultivation of the Realizer. The Sun in Taurus works on the ego like a sculpture, patiently shaping, kneading, and chiseling it into an embodied ideal worthy of immortalizing in stone. These natives can be quite vain at times and will have to learn to wear their imperfections, as well as adapt to flaws in their grand design. The Sun in Taurus knows that to be the center of gravity for others, you must be steadfast and unwavering. To stay the center of gravity, however, you must gradually, almost imperceptibly reshape the contours of your being to accommodate the changing needs of those in your orbit.

Gemini - The 11th Disposition

The Sun in Gemini is in the 11th sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to social networks, gatherings, and the ideas, topics and experiences that engage one’s intellectual participation with the wider world.

The Sun takes on a dynamic and a multi-dimensional perspective when it’s in Gemini. Those born under the Gemini Sun have the traits, opinions, and behaviors of several people rolled into a single personality. The Swiss-Army-Knife of Sun Signs, they can adapt their persona to best suit their social environment. And while Gemini Sun's can use their charm and guile for both nefarious and reputable ends (sometimes both at the same time), their capricious nature has contributed to an often undeserved reputation for duplicity, manipulation and insincerity. This is because the Sun in Gemini is a creature of contrariety, and their intentions can be easy to misunderstand for the absolutists among us. These natives are quintessential renaissance men and women, and have a gift for gaining proficiency in many diverging subjects and activities. They hold within them the potential for great achievements, but their potential can only be realized after they learn to cull the many bifurcations of their consciousness. The Sun in Gemini knows that there are always at least two sides to every story, and that both are true. Socrates said that "the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing" - figuring out what to do with the rest is the fun part.

Cancer - The 12th Disposition

The Sun in Cancer is in the twelfth sign from its home in Leo.

This means that the Sun brings the light of awareness to the topics of vulnerability, charity, and those who tend to get overlooked.

The Sun shares its light generously when in the sign of Cancer, granting those born to it a gentle and unobtrusively regal flair. Some believe that the Sun enjoys a sort of co-rulership of Cancer or consider it a possible nocturnal domicile, perhaps accounted for by its tropical cusp marking the summer solstice; the time of year when the daylight hours are longest. Suffice it to say that the Sun is generally not uncomfortable in Cancer, and its natives often take to the spotlight naturally enough, though they are often less inclined to seek it out. The cooling and moistening nature of Cancer softens the Sun’s rarefied edges, granting its natives an approachable and disarming presence that arises from an underlying concern (sometimes preoccupation) with how their presence is received - a sensitivity to their own light’s reflection. Sometimes their nature can incline them to bring themselves only to situations where their contributions will be most valued or to hide themselves altogether, as they are prone to feeling taken advantage of or underappreciated when evidence of gratitude or validation is not reflected back to them. With maturity, most born under Cancerian rays learn not to get caught up in the ever-shifting tides of approval and to not take themselves too seriously, rooting their self-concept instead in honest self-appraisal and a healthy respect for their modest place in the greater human drama. They can become quite generous with their time and energy and often find joy in sharing their personal gifts and warming presence with those not blessed by Fortune’s favor. The Sun in Cancer knows that the powerful will rise and fall in their own time just as surely as the seasons change and that true leaders are wise to step aside when it is time to pass on the torch to the next generation.