Astrology · Alchemy · The Seven Planets · Circle · Cross · Crescent
♄ ♃ ♂ ♀ ☿ ☽ ⊕

Planetary Symbols

The seven classical planets — each encoded in a symbol built from three primal elements: the circle of spirit, the crescent of soul, and the cross of matter. Every planetary symbol is a diagram of the planet's essential nature, compressed into a few strokes that have been read for millennia by astrologers, alchemists and magicians.

System
Seven classical planets
Elements
Circle · Crescent · Cross
Used in
Astrology · Alchemy · Magic
Days of week
All seven named for planets
Section 01

Three Elements, Seven Combinations

Every classical planetary symbol is constructed from three basic elements in different combinations and orientations:

The circle (○) represents spirit — the divine, infinite, self-contained. It has no beginning or end; it contains everything within itself. When the circle appears in a planetary symbol, it signals the presence of the spiritual principle in that planet's nature.

The crescent (☽) represents soul — the receptive, reflective, responsive. The crescent is an arc, not a closed form; it is open to receive what comes to it. Soul mediates between spirit and matter; it reflects the light of spirit into the darkness of matter. When the crescent appears, it signals the soul principle — responsiveness, receptivity, the capacity to mirror.

The cross (✚) represents matter — the four directions, the four elements, the embodied world of physical existence. The cross is the intersection of two lines — horizontal and vertical — and their crossing is the definition of location in space. When the cross appears, it signals the material principle — embodiment, limitation, the specific.

The arrangement of these three elements in each planetary symbol is a compressed philosophical statement about the planet's essential nature and the relationship between spirit, soul and matter that it embodies.

Section 02

The Seven Planetary Symbols

☉
Sun
Circle + Centre Point · Spirit made manifest
A circle with a point at its centre — spirit (circle) with a specific focal point (the dot). The sun is pure spirit concentrated into a single radiating centre. The source of light and life, the principle of individual identity and consciousness. Sunday is the Sun's day; gold is the Sun's metal; the heart is the Sun's organ.
☽
Moon
Crescent alone · Pure soul
The crescent standing alone — pure soul without spirit or matter. The Moon is the principle of receptivity and reflection, of emotional life, of cyclical change and return. It reflects the Sun's light rather than generating its own. Monday is the Moon's day; silver is the Moon's metal; the brain is the Moon's organ.
☿
Mercury
Crescent + Circle + Cross · All three
The only planet whose symbol contains all three elements: crescent above, circle in the middle, cross below. Mercury mediates between all levels — between spirit and matter, between gods and humans, between the visible and invisible. The messenger, the communicator, the trickster. The mind, language, trade, medicine. Wednesday (Mercredi in French) is Mercury's day.
♀
Venus
Circle above Cross · Spirit over matter
The circle of spirit raised above the cross of matter — spirit triumphant over, or lifting above, material limitation. Venus is beauty, harmony, love and the principle of attraction — the soul's capacity to draw beauty from matter, to find the spiritual in the physical. The biological symbol for female. Friday (Vendredi) is Venus's day; copper is Venus's metal.
♂
Mars
Circle + Arrow · Spirit thrust outward
The circle of spirit with an arrow pointing upward-right — spirit directed outward as force and action. Mars is will, drive, aggression, the capacity to act and to fight. The biological symbol for male. Tuesday (Mardi in French, from Mars) is Mars's day; iron is Mars's metal; the muscles and adrenals are Mars's organs.
♃
Jupiter
Crescent left of Cross · Soul expanding matter
A stylised crescent and cross combined — soul (crescent) positioned to the left of and above the cross of matter, expanding it outward. Jupiter is expansion, abundance, wisdom, the principle of growth and largeness. The great benefic of classical astrology. Thursday (Jeudi in French, from Jove/Jupiter) is Jupiter's day; tin is Jupiter's metal.
♄
Saturn
Cross above Crescent · Matter constraining soul
The cross of matter placed above the crescent of soul — matter constraining, limiting, defining the soul. Saturn is the principle of limitation, time, structure, discipline, death and wisdom-through-restriction. The great malefic of classical astrology — but also the teacher. Saturday is Saturn's day; lead is Saturn's metal; the skeleton and skin are Saturn's organs.
Section 03

In Plain Sight

The planetary symbols are among the most widely used symbols in the modern world — appearing daily in contexts most people do not recognise as astrological. The symbols for male (♂ Mars) and female (♀ Venus) are planetary symbols. The days of the week are named for the seven classical planets in every European language: Sunday (Sun), Monday (Moon), Tuesday (Tiw/Mars), Wednesday (Woden/Mercury), Thursday (Thor/Jupiter), Friday (Frigg/Venus), Saturday (Saturn). The sequence of days follows the Chaldean order of the planets — a specific ordering based on the speed of planetary motion that has governed the seven-day week for over two thousand years.

The alchemical metals: Each classical planet ruled a metal: Sun—gold, Moon—silver, Mercury—quicksilver, Venus—copper, Mars—iron, Jupiter—tin, Saturn—lead. The alchemical project of transmuting lead to gold was, in this framework, the project of transmuting Saturn (limitation, death, the most material) to Sun (spirit, life, the most divine). The planetary metal sequence mapped the entire hierarchy of existence from the most material (lead/Saturn) to the most spiritual (gold/Sun).

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