Why am I explaining all these? There are several good reasons. First it's interesting. Second the glyphs are much more than little drawings. They are magical codes that contain within them keys to the meaning of the planets. Cracking the code can teach you immediately, in a visual way, much about the deeper meaning of a planet or sign.

THE PLANET GLYPHS IN GENERAL:

Almost all the glyphs of the planets are combinations of the most basic forms: the circle, the half-circle or arc, and the cross. The circle, which has no beginning or end, is one of the oldest symbols of spirit or spiritual forces. All of the early diagrams of the heavens-spiritual territory- are shown in circular form. The semicircle or arc symbolizes the receptive, finite soul, which contains spiritual potential in the curving line. The vertical line of the cross symbolizes movement from heaven to earth. The horizontal line describes temporal movement, here and now, in time and space. Superimposed together, the vertical and horizontal planes symbolize manifestation in the material world.

The Sun Glyph

The sun is always shown by this powerful solar symbol, a circle with a point in the center. It is you, your spiritual center, you infinite personality incarnation (the point) into the finite cycles of birth and death.

The Moon Glyph

The moon glyph is a left-facing arc stylized into the crescent moon, which perfectly captures the reactive, receptive, emotional nature of the moon. As part of a circle, the arc symbolizes the potential fulfillment of the entire circle. It is the life force that is still incomplete.

The Mercury Glyph

This is the 'Venus with a hat' glyph. The upturned crescent could be antennae that tune in and transmit messages from the sun, signifying that Mercury is the way you communicate, the way your mind works. The upturned arc is receiving energy into the spirit or solar circle, which will later be translated into action on the material plane, symbolized by the cross. All the elements are equally sized because Mercury is neutral-it doesn't play favorites! This planet symbolized objective, detached, unemotional thinking.

The Venus Glyph

Here is the relationship between two elements, the circle or spirit above the cross of matter. Spirit is elevated over matter, pulling it upward. Venus asks, "What is beautiful? What do you like best? What do you love to have done to you?" Venus determines both your ideal of beauty and what feels good sensually. It governs your own allure and power to attract, as well as what attracts and pleases you.

The Mars Glyph

In this glyph, the cross of matter is stylized into an arrowhead pointed up and outward, propelled by the circle or spirit. You can deduce that Mars embodies your spiritual energy projected into the outer world. It is your assertiveness, your initiative, your aggressive drive, what you like to do to others, your temper.

The trick is to use your outgoing Mars energy wisely and well.

The Jupiter Glyph

Jupiter is the basic cross of matter, with a large stylized crescent perched on the left side of the horizontal, temporal plane. You might think of the crescent as an open poral plane. You might this of the crescent as an open hand-one meaning of Jupiter is "luck", or whatever is handed to you. You don't work for what you get from Jupiter-it comes to you if you're open to it.

This is the planet of travel, mental and spiritual, of expanding your horizons via new ideas, new spiritual dimensions, and new places. Jupiter embodies the optimism and enthusiasm of the traveler about to embark on an exciting adventure.

The Saturn Glyph

Flip Jupiter over and you've just about got Saturn. The principle it expresses is the opposite of Jupiter's expansive tendencies. Saturn pulls you back to earth-the receptive arc is pushed down underneath the cross of matter. Before there are any rewards or expansion, the duties and obligations of the material world must be considered. Saturn says, "Stop, wait, finish your chores before you take off!"

The Uranus Glyph

The glyph for Uranus has two curves perched on the horizontal material line of the cross (matter) and pushed from below by the circle of the spirit.

Uranus channels the highest energy of all, the white electrical light of the universal spiritual sun, the force that holds the cosmos together. This pure electrical energy is gathered from all over the universe. Because it doesn't follow an ordinary celestial drumbeat, it can't be controlled or predicted (which is also true of those who are strongly influenced by this eccentric planet). In the symbol, this energy is manifested through the balance of polarities (the two opposite arms of the glyph) like the two polarized wires of a light bulb.

The Neptune Glyph

Neptune's glyph is usually stylized to look like a trident, the weapon of the Roman god Neptune. However on the more esoteric level, it shows the large upturned crescent of the soul pierced through by the cross of matter. Neptune nails down, or materializes, soul energy, bringing impulses from the soul level into manifestation. That is why Neptune is associated with imagination or "imagining in," making an image of the soul. Neptune works through feeling, sensitivity, and mystical capacity to bring the divine into the earthly realm.

The Pluto Glyph

The Pluto glyph is a small circle above a large open crescent that surmounts the cross of matter. This depicts Pluto's power to regenerate-you might imagine from this glyph a new little spirit emerging from the sheltering cup of the soul. Pluto rules the forces of like and death-after a Pluto experience, you are transformed, reborn in some way.

THE SIGN GLYPHS IN GENERAL:

Since sun-sign symbols do not always bring together the same basic components of the planetary glyphs, where do their meanings come from?

Many have been passed down from ancient Egyptian and Chaldean civilizations with few modifications. Others have been adapted over the centuries. In deciphering many of the glyphs, you'll often find that the symbols reveal a dual nature of the sign. Which is not always apparent in sun-sign descriptions.

For instance, the Gemini glyph is similar to the Roman numeral for two, and reveals that sign's longing to discover a twin soul. The Cancer glyph may be interpreted as either resembling nurturing breasts, or the self-protective claws of the crab. Libra's glyph embodies the duality of the spirit balanced with material reality. The Sagittarius glyph shows that the aspirant must also carry along the earthly animal nature in his quest. The Capricorn sea goat is another symbol with dual emphasis. The goat climbs high, yet is always pulled back by the deep waters of the unconscious. Aquarius embodies the double waves of mental detachment, balanced by the desire for connection with others in a friendly way. And finally, the two fishes of Pisces, which are forever tied together, show the duality of the soul and the spirit that must be reconciled.

The Aries Glyph

Since the symbol for Aries is the ram, this glyph's most obvious association is with a ram's horns, which characterizes one aspect of the Aries personality - an aggressive, me-first, leaping-head-first attitude. But the symbol may have other meanings too. Some astrologers liken it to a fountain of energy, which Aries people also embody. The first sign of the zodiac bursts on the scent eagerly, ready to go. Another analogy is to the eyebrows and nose of the human head, which Aries rules, and the thinking power that is initiated in the brain.

One theory of the origin of this symbol links it to the Egyptian god Amun, represented by a ram. As AmonRa, this god was believed to embody the creator of the universe, the leader of all the other gods. This relates easily to the position of Aries as the leader (or first sing) of the Zodiac, which begins at the spring equinox, a time of the year when nature is renewed.

The Taurus Glyph

This is another easy glyph to draw and identify. It takes little imagination to decipher the bull's head with long curving horns. Like the bull, the archetypal Taurus is slow to anger, but ferocious when provoked, as well as stubborn, steady, an sensual. Another association is the larynx (and thyroid) of the throat area (ruled by Taurus) and the Eustachian tubes running up to the ears, which coincides with the relationship of Taurus to the voice, song and music. Many famous singer, musicians, and composers have prominent Taurus influences.

Many ancient religions involved a bull as the central figure in fertility rites of initiations, usually symbolizing the victory of man over his animal nature. Another possible origin is in the sacred bull of Egypt, who embodied the incarnate form or Osiris, god of death and resurrection. In early Christian imagery, the Taurean bull represented St. Luke.

The Gemini Glyph

The standard glyph immediately calls to mind the Roman numeral for two and the symbol for Gemini, the "twins". In almost all images for this sign, the relationship between two persons is emphasized. This is the sign of communication and of human contact, and it manifests the desire to share, many of the figurative images for Gemini show twins with their arms around each other, emphasizing that they are sharing the same ideas and the same ground. In the glyph, the top line indicates mental communication, while the bottom line indicates shared physical space.

The most famous Gemini legend is that of the twin sons, Castor and Pollus, one of whom has a mortal father, while the other was the son of Zeus, king of the gods. When it came time for the mortal twin to die, his grief-stricken brother pleaded with Zeus, who agreed to let them spend half the year on earth, in mortal form, and half in immortal life, with the gods on Mt. Olympus. This reflected a basic concept of humankind, which possesses an immortal soul yet is also subject to the limits of mortality.

The Cancer Glyph

Two convenient images relate to the Cancer glyph. The easiest to picture is the curving claws of the Cancer symbol, the crab. Like the crab, Cancer's element is water. This sensitive sign also has a hard protective shell to protect its tender interior. It must be wily, to escape predators, scampering sideways and hiding shyly under rocks. The crab also responds to the cycles of the moon, as do all shellfish. The other image is that of two female breasts, which Cancer rules, showing that this is a sign that nurtures and protects others as well as itself. In ancient Egypt, Cancer was also represented by the scarab beetle, a symbol of regeneration and eternal life.

The Leo Glyph

Lions have belonged to the sign of Leo since earliest times and it is not difficult to imagine the king of beasts with his sweeping mane and curling tail from this glyph. The upward sweep of the glyph easily describes the positive energy of Leos, the flourishing tail, their flamboyant qualities. Another analogy, which is a stretch, is tat of a heart leaping up with joy and enthusiasm, also very typical of Leo. Notice that the Leo glyph seems to be an extension of Cancer's glyph, with a significant difference. In the Cancer glyph, the figures are folding inward, protectively, while the Leo glyph expresses energy outwardly. There is no duality in the symbol, or in Leo. In early Christian imagery, the Leo lion represented St. Mark.

The Virgo Glyph

You can read much into this mysterious glyph. For instance,, it could represent the initials of "Mary Virgin," or a young woman, holding a staff of wheat, or stylized female genitalia, all common interpretations. The "M" shape might also remind you that Virgo is ruled by Mercury. The cross beneath the symbol could indicate the grounded, practical nature of the earth sign.

The earliest zodiacs link Virgo with the Egyptian goddess Isis, who gave birth to the Hornus after her husband Osiris had been killed, in the archetype of a miraculous conception. There are many statues of Isis nursing her baby son, which are reminiscent of medieval Virgin and Child motifs. This sign has also been associated with the image of the Holy Grail, when the Virgo symbol was substituted with a chalice.

The Libra Glyph

It is not difficult to read the standard image for Libra, the scales, into this glyph. There is another meaning, however, that is equally relevant-the setting sun as it descend over the horizon. Libra's natural position on the zodiac wheel is the descendant or sunset position (as the Arian natural position is the ascendant, or rising sign) Both images relate to Libra's personality. Libra is always weighing pros and cons for a balanced decision. In the sunset image, the sun (male) hovers over the horizontal Earth (female) before setting. Libra is the space between these lines, harmonizing yin with yang, spiritual and material, ideal and real worlds. The glyph has also been lined to the kidneys, which are ruled by Libra.

The Scorpio Glyph

With its barbed tail, this glyph is easy to identify with the sign of the Scorpion. It also represents the male sexual parts, over which the sign rules. However, some earlier symbols for Scorpio, such as the Egyptian, represent it an as erect serpent. You can also draw the conclusion that Mars is its ruler by the arrowhead.

Another image for Scorpio, which is not identifiable in this glyph, is the eagle. Scorpios can go to extremes, soaring like the eagle or self-destruction like the Scorpion. In early Christian imagery, which often used zodiacal symbols, the Scorpio eagle was chosen to symbolize the intense apostle St. John the Evangelist.

The Sagittarius Glyph

This glyph is one of the easiest to spot and draw-an upward-pointing arrow lifting up a cross. The arrow is pointing skyward, while the cross represents the four elements of the material world, which the arrow must convey. Elevating materiality into spirituality is an important Sagittarius quality, which explains why this sign is associated with higher learning, religion, philosophy, travel-the aspiring professions. Sagittarians can also send barbed arrows of frankness in their pursuit of truth.

Sagittarius is symbolically represented by the centaur, a mythological creature who is half-man, half-horse, aiming his arrow toward the skies. Though Sagittarius is motivated by spiritual aspiration, it also must balance the powerful appetites of the animal nature.

The Capricorn Glyph

It is a representation of the seagoat-a mythical animal that is a goat with a curving fish's tail. The goat part of Capricorn wants to leave the waters of the emotions and climb to the elevated areas of life. But the fish part is the unconscious, the deep chaotic psychic level that draws the goat back. Capricorn is often trying to escape the deep, feeling part of life by submerging himself in work and steadily climbing to the top.

To some, the glyph represents a seated figure with a bent knee, a reminder that Capricorn governs the knee area of the body.

An interesting aspect of this figure is how the sharp pointed horns of the symbol, which represent the penetrating, shrewd, conscious side of Capricorn, contrast unconscious, emotional force.

The Aquarius Glyph

This ancient water symbol can be traced back to an Egyptian hieroglyph representing streams of life force. Symbolized by the water bearer, Aquarius is distributor of the water of life-the magic liquid of regeneration. The two waves can also be linked to the positive and negative charge of the electrical energy that Aquarius rules, a sort of universal wave length. Aquarius is tuned in intuitively to higher forces via this electrical force. The duality of the glyph could also refer to the dual nature of Aquarius a sign that runs hot and cold, is friendly but also detached in the mental world of air signs.

The Pisces Glyph

Here is an abstraction of the familiar image of Pisces, two fishes swimming in opposite directions, bound together by a cord. The fishes represent spirit, which yearns for the freedom of heaven, while the soul remains attached to the desires of the temporal world. During life of earth, the spirit and the soul are bound together; when they complement each other, instead of pulling in opposite directions, the creative expression for which Pisceans are know takes place.