What Astrology Can Tell You About Career
Confession: I wish I would’ve consulted an astrologer before I went to graduate school. I don’t believe anything is wasted, but looking back, I would’ve made some very different decisions had I known what my astrology said about career.
Yep, your astrology chart has intel on what industries and jobs you’re well-suited for or may find fulfilling. It even has insight on how and where you work best, as well as when peak career seasons are on the horizon. Knowing what I know now, I never make a career move without checking in with the planets.
Here you’ll find a small exploration in career from an astrological perspective. Note that I said small. This is one side of a thorough, multi-faceted career assessment I might do for a client.
I think the best place to start when exploring career in your chart is identifying your career planet. Each planet has a personality and gifts to share. By extension, your career planet describes professional roles and talents that you may find natural. Even if you’re not working in its associated fields yet, your career planet may describe a professional outcome that you aspire towards.
So, how do you find your career planet? Grab your birth chart and look for something called the Midheaven. It will be represented by an MC somewhere in the top half of your chart. Then, determine which zodiac sign your MC is occupying. And finally, use the list below to determine which planet “rules” that zodiac sign. That’s your career planet (Only traditional rulers work for this technique.)
If your MC is in Aries or Scorpio, your career planet is Mars.
If your MC is in Taurus or Libra, your career planet is Venus.
If your MC is in Gemini or Virgo, your career planet is Mercury.
If your MC is in Cancer, your career planet is the Moon.
If your MC is in Leo, your career planet is the Sun.
If your MC is in Sagittarius or Pisces, your career planet is Jupiter.
If your MC is in Capricorn or Aquarius, your career planet is Saturn.
Below you’ll find a few career possibilities for each planet. But no matter what you do, you’ll bring this planet to work. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive and that there’s way more astrology where this came from. We’re just scratching the surface. And yes, some planets can overlap.
Sun Careers
To understand sun careers, just think about the sun hanging high up there in the sky. It's a bright, consistent, very visible light. No matter the content of your career, the sun will often put you in the spotlight, or have you work with people who are. Sun careers may be very high profile and include things like leadership roles or even public office. The spotlight of the sun may also translate into careers that require a stage presence or a performance element. Self-expression is usually a big part of the job. The Sun is also a visionary and you may find yourself being the vision holder for a brand, company, or even having a personal brand. (The sun loves a solo act.) Careers in spirituality are also a possibility.
Moon Careers
The moon moves and changes shape at a rapid clip. This alone may correlate with careers that are changeable. Because the moon speeds around the zodiac, picking up the vibes of other planets, it has lesser-known associations with transportation and communication. Other moon careers tend to fall into three categories: home, nourishment, and emotion. Perhaps you actually work from home, or your work may have to do with maintaining homes or other intimate spaces—hotels and hospitality come to mind. The moon rules the body, especially the stomach, making food and beverage another moon career path. The moon's nourishing side may come out in other ways too, such as counseling, caretaking, health care, or jobs in protection or public safety.
Mercury Careers
Most Mercury careers are in the realm of communication. You may be drawn to journalism, broadcasting, language, or writing. Any job that hinges on exchanging information falls under Mercury's domain. Tech and social media are other Mercury industries, along with anything to do with data, numbers, or math. Mercury is the planet of commerce and may lead you to careers in sales or retail. Like the Moon, Mercury zips around the sky at a quick clip, associating it with careers in transportation or travel. This planet also rules the hands and its work may require fine motor skills. Working with young people is another possibility.
Venus Careers
Venus is the planet of beauty, pleasure, and just having a good time. With a Venus-ruled midheaven, you may be drawn to working in the arts, or your work may require a lot of creative juice in another capacity. Design of all types, ranging from interior to graphic to fashion belong to Venus. Branding is another thing Venus has a blast with, along with any career in aesthetics. Venus loves to bring people together, which may lead to you to jobs in events, or social clubs and communities. Venus wants to have fun, and helping others relax or play may feel fulfilling. Venus also values intimate connection, which could translate as you working very deeply with clientele, working in the realm of relationships, or even weddings. Venus has some nurturing overlap with the Moon and you could find yourself in jobs caring for others. Working on behalf of women is also a possibility.
Mars Careers
Mars is full of energy and is usually attracted to physically-demanding jobs. Working in fitness, athletics, or construction is possible. Mars figures could also include service providers that rely heavily on their bodies, like massage therapists. Mars wants to be stimulated and on-the-go. It also likes a bit of danger. Classic Mars careers include first responders, law enforcement, or military personnel. Another thing that Mars excels at is simplification and cutting away. This could be literal, in the case of surgeons and butchers, or figurative, in the case of editors. Mars is sharp and can bring a lot of precision and strategy to any type of work.
Jupiter Careers
Jupiter careers often involve sharing wisdom with others. Education is a classic Jupiter field, as is scholarship and research. Jupiter isn't just a wonderful teacher, but an excellent encourager. You may be drawn to career paths like coaching, mentoring, or spiritual guidance. Jupiter careers also include travel, especially foreign, or maybe even working abroad. Jupiter is associated with abundance, and you may feel interested in wealth management or finance. Other career paths to do with money or donations are also possibilities, such as fundraising, grant writing, or philanthropy. Jupiter also has its hand in law, government, and foreign affairs.
Saturn Careers
Saturn is a very earthy, practical planet that's often drawn to careers requiring a high level of responsibility. It's a serious planet and it likes serious work. Saturn jobs may include a lot of planning, organization, or recordkeeping. Saturn likes rules and authority, which could translate into careers involving law, taxes, or business administration. Because Saturn rules the soil, agriculture is a classic Saturn career, as is working with things built on the land, bringing in the realms of real estate and property management. Saturn also governs things that are mature, making work in history, preservation, or even end-of-life care possibilities. And fun fact—in ancient times, Saturn was associated with waterside trades.