The Sun as the king of the chart

The Sun is naturally associated with the sign Leo.  Leo is the lion, the king of the jungle.  Our Sun in our chart is the king of our own jungle (our psyche- which can be very jungle-like!)

Someone needs to rule this place!

He may be the ruler but he also knows how to chillax! Sun bathing is an absolute must. Likewise, when we are in touch with our Suns we tend to worry less, and enjoy ourselves more.

My favorite astrologer these days is the great Alice O. Howell.  In her book, “Jungian Symbolism in Astrology” she goes into great depth in describing the natural hierarchy of the natal chart, with the Sun as the rightful ruler.

This book is top notch!

She explains that this is because the Sun is the only true STAR of the chart, therefore it is the natural “king” and it deserves to sit on the throne.  Problems can arise when another planet tries to usurp that throne.  A strongly placed Saturn or Uranus (or any planet) can run wild and attempt to be the king but it will never truly be the king because it is not a STAR.  Thus we have the many myths about the king in exile.  A look at the natal chart can attempt to find the guilty archetype.  Who is trying to steal the throne?  Venus (too much focus on pleasing)?  Mercury (the forever-child)?

Here is an image of the king in exile. Symbolically, the lion is the heart, and the king of the psyche. He needs to break out of this cage and resume the throne.

O’Howell also cites the cowardly lion as an archetype of a thwarted Sun.

Leo is the sign associated with hollywood and it is no wonder that we call famous people “stars”.  We tend to project these stars “out there” in hollywood as we do the Sun “out there” in the sky.  The beautiful reality is that we are ALL stars when we tune inward towards our hearts and let our spirits shine.  The Sun isn’t only “out there”, it is “in here”.  The heart is ruled by the Sun, and Leo.  It functions in our bodies as does the Sun in the sky.  It is central, life giving and constant.  Our hearts are “warmed” as the Sun warms us.

The MGM lion looks a lot like a sun here. The archetype roars out the idea of man as star.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell imprint their hands on Hollywood Boulevard. The hands are pentagrams (five pointed)

Da Vinci’s Vituvian man shows the notion of man as a “star”. The pentagram.

O’Howell also talks about how children are much more aware of their inner Suns than adults.  Leo also rules children, and the child in all of us.  She says this fact is abundantly clear when we look at children’s drawings.  They seem to ALWAYS include the Sun somewhere.  They intuitively understand it’s true centrality.  Don’t you remember drawing in those Suns?  Maybe in the corner, or in the middle.  Long rays short rays.  Maybe a smiley face on it?

Are you letting YOUR Sun shine?

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