The nine planets in sidereal astrology and their effects on the human mind and life force:

The planets are not just physical entities roaming around in the sky. They have vibrations affecting the Earth.

On the basis of your past life karmas, your current life is ordained. The exact position of the planets in your horoscope, the rāśīs (or zodiacal signs) in which they are posited, and the mansions they occupy will certainly affect your psyche and physicality in some way or the other.

The Moon represents your mother or mother figures in your life. It rules over the emotional domain, imagination, and sentiments, provides you mental clarity, and gives you a sense of purpose.

The Sun, representative of your father or father figures, confers fame and recognition. It gives success in jobs and ensures support from the government. It is considered the ruler (or king) of all the planets in astrology.

Mercury rules over intellect and all its myriad usages. Study material, stationery, paperwork, professions related to writing, journaling, music, literature, poetry, and travelling, all come under Mercury’s rulership. One must not disrespect any material for writing lest they should provoke Mercury’s wrath. It is said to curse people with skin diseases such as eczema.

Mars rules over charisma and sexual drive/libido.

Venus bestows attractiveness and enhances desirability. It supports you in finding a perfect life partner.

Saturn is the ultimate Judge. When deified, he is popularly worshipped as Śani (शनि) in Hindu belief. It bestows upon you the fruits of the karma you have generated in your past lives; hence, teaches you how to respect the law of karma; follow discipline and order; and respect the ones who are lower in social status. It causes delays, fear, anxiety, and restriction; represents the labour class, servants, and the poor. Its energy resides in the colour black, footwear, ironware, oil extracted from the seeds of yellow mustard as well as the cold pressed seeds of black sesame, kohl, antimony, and the precious stone of blue sapphire (नीलम). It presides over Saturdays amongst weekdays; rules the earthy sign of Capricorn and the aerial sign of Aquarius; and governs the direction of West in the ancient architectural science of Vāstu Śāstra. It acts as a significator of employment, financial security, money, and fulfilment of desires. The house of your natal chart that Saturn occupies indicates the karma you have been born to balance out in your current lifetime. It is exalted in the Venusian sign of Libra and gets debilitated in the Martian sign of Aries. Its negative effect is supposed to soften in the sixth, eighth, and the twelfth houses of the horoscope. It aspects the third, seventh, and the tenth house from its placement in your natal chart.

In Pauranic mythology, Jupiter is known as the Guru of the Devas (gods and demi-gods). It opens up doors for higher education and spiritual knowledge, ignites interest in learning of occult sciences and esotericism. Jovian energy gets activated while listening to or chanting of Vaidic hymns and mantras. It bestows a happy conjugal life in case of women as it is the significator of one’s husband in the horoscope. It also signifies philosophy, knowledge, education, the profession of teaching, your teachers or Guru, wealth, capability of active listening and understanding, expansion, fat, and lethargy in a person. It presides over Thursdays amongst weekdays, rules the fiery sign of Sagittarius and the aqueous sign of Pisces; and governs the direction of North-East (Īsānakona) in the ancient architectural science of Vāstu Śāstra. Its energy resides in yellow colour, turmeric, marigold flowers, gold, and the precious stone of yellow sapphire (पुखराज).

Rāhu (the North Node of the Moon) and Ketu (the South Node of the Moon) are shadow entities or mere mathematical points in the sky. Rāhu is supposed to delude and keep you away from reality. It is illusionary. Ketu makes you a maladaptive daydreamer; influences the faculties of imagination and psychic abilities, and heightens fantasies or romanticisation in the house that it occupies. Ketu is a significator of children, dogs, detachment, spirituality, dissatisfaction, unrealistic expectations from self, isolation, anxiety, and depression. It makes you gullible and directionless when negative. Feeding multi-coloured dogs is a remedy to propitiate Ketu.

‘Dānaṃ’ (दानम्), or ‘giving-away’, is the best remedy for neutralisation of unfavourable influence of a planetary position in the natal chart. Except one thing that people tend to overlook is that there should be no expectation of a favour in return.

A donation is considered a donation only when it is given without the expectation of a beneficiary result. Often people donate certain foods associated with planets in order to gain favourable results. Unfortunately, that is not how it works.

Astrology is all about lifestyle correction and character development. When change starts from within, only then all other outer aspects of planetary remedies begin to show results. You should not expect benefits from the gods without changing your mindset and behaviour towards others.

As a Virgin ascendant, my Venus is in the solar sign of Leo, which is an enemy sign for Venus. Venus is the lord of the second and the ninth house, as the second house has been occupied by the aerial sign of Libra and the ninth house has been occupied by the earthy sign of Taurus.

Venus itself is situated in the twelfth house of my horoscope. It aspects the sixth house of Aquarius, and is aspected by Jupiter placed in the eighth house with Saturn. The Venus posited here makes me luxurious and glorious. I respect people with good qualities and I am also a person who believes in doing good deeds. People also respect me. I will not face any financial problems. I always avoid making expenses unnecessarily, but I do not hesitate to spend money for my comfort.

Venus makes me a person who spends money on good deeds and enjoys the feeling of spending money in such a way. Venus present here helps me lead a happy conjugal life. Hopefully, I will get married soon, even before I expect it. Venus makes me a person who is a centre of attraction for the opposite gender. I try to maintain a smile on everyone's face by my behavior and I succeed in the same. I have a larger number of friends.

Due to the malefic effects of Venus, I may feel inclined towards sensual activities (like excessive masturbation or consuming pornographic material). I may gain weight as my age increases; however, my diet and exercise regime is completely under my control. I may also spend unnecessarily on useless things at times. I may have some differences with my closed ones. I may not understand the evil plans of my opponents and make them my close friends. I may not give proper respect to my spouse and there is a possibility of inclining towards an extra-marital affair.

Nevertheless, all these influences of Venus are going to be limited and very subtle. My actions (karma) are in my control. I will decide what I do in my life. Planets are not the driver of my life, I am. They direct me and show me the way. I do the karma.