Astrologers, as a whole, include Jupiter and Saturn from The Outer Planets when charting our personal planetary positions, along with The Luminaries and Inner Planets. More modern Astrologers include all The Outer Planets & some, if not all, of The Dwarf Planets when looking at our Natal Charts. The Outer Planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and, while Astronomers have downgraded Pluto to a Dwarf Planet, Astrologers still treat it as a Planet…
The Outer Planets
The five outer planets have faster orbits, faster spin and rings. They are composed of gases and liquids and have numerous moons. The five outer planets within our Solar System are: Jupiter 
Saturn 
Uranus 
Neptune 
& Pluto 
The outer planets orbit around the Sun slowly, changing signs every one to fifteen years. As a result, they shape the bigger trends in our life. Neptune, Uranus & Pluto orbit the sun so slowly that their influence shapes entire generations, and therefore are referred to often as The Generational Planets.
Jupiter - The Planet of Luck
Jupiter rules luck 
and good fortune 
as well as higher learning, intellect, spirituality and philosophy. Long distance travel, ethical and moral values, leisure time, wealth and success also fall under its remit. Its position in the Natal Chart can show us what type of studies we gravitate towards and how we relate to social aspects 
Jupiter is more than twice as massive than the other planets of our solar system combined. The giant planet’s Great Red spot is a centuries-old storm bigger than Earth itself!
Jupiters size plays an important role when we look at it in Astrological terms; Jupiter expands, it wants us to grow 
and flourish in a positive way. Optimism is a key theme with Jupiter.
Jupiter rules Sagittarius 
& Pisces 
and the 9th and 12th houses. It is masculine 
in its energy.
The energy is mostly positive, Jupiter is a your friend and a guide of sorts. However, the more negative aspects of Jupiters energy can be lazy 
or lethargic in quality and, at its worst, is associated with weight gain.
It takes Jupiter about 12 years to circle the zodiac (the planet visits an average of one sign a year) and he retrogrades for 4 months roughly once a year.
Saturn - The Planet of Karma
Saturn along with Mars, is possibly one of the most “challenging” planets in our Solar System. The taskmaster of the zodiac, he is often referred to as The Father of the Solar System and commands us to get to work and work hard. 
Discipline and responsibility are key themes here, as are order, structure and the way in which we conduct our affairs.
Saturn implores us to look at the clock 
and check that we have time for all we want to do. In keeping with the passage of time, Saturn governs old age along with the lessons it teaches us 
Learning life’s lessons is key to this planet, in keeping with its role as teacher - Saturn is not afraid of hard facts and the lessons that you really didn’t want to learn!
Saturn is masculine in its energy and rules both Capricorn 
& Aquarius 
and the 10th & 11th houses.
The Lord of Karma brings powerful energy to our charts, his placement will point to your toughest lessons, your fears and your integrity 
“You reap what you sow” is Saturn’s motto. He reveals where you’ll be tested, and which struggles can transmute into strengths through hard work. Learn your lesson, change your behaviour, change your Karma, for Saturn will not rest until you do! 
Saturn returns to the point it was in at our birth around every 29 and a 1/2 years. This, the Return of Saturn, is a pivotal and impactful time in our lives. We usually start to feel the vibrations of the Return of Saturn from around the age of 27 and this can last until our mid thirties.
This can be a time of crisis, depression, fear and turmoil! The change is unavoidable, profoundly personal and sometimes even earth-shattering. 
In this moment, we have a lesson to learn. As a result, we can often find our early to mid thirties are somewhat chaotic and a little confused.
Divorce, affairs, lifestyle changes, addiction problems, and big career changes are common themes during this time of our lives, as well as an overall sense of being lost, or that something is missing.
This is Saturn imploring you to find your path 
If we make the right decision and live out the will of our hearts, the next time Saturn returns our lives will be richer, smoother and happier… If we don’t, Saturn will not be gentle in his reminder! 
(Once we’ve covered the basics, I’ll go a little deeper on the Return of Saturn 
)
It takes Saturn 28-30 years to complete its orbit of the zodiac, and it retrogrades every 12 months for around 4 and 1/2 months.
Saturn gets a bad rap, but astrologically speaking it is such an important planet, with A LOT to teach us.
Uranus - The Planet of Rebellion
Here, we find the first of our Generational Planets in progressive Uranus Uranus is associated with technology 
innovation, discovery, and future thinking.
Uranus can be a planet of platonic love. At its best, Uranus can help us feel that sense of universal connection. It can awaken the humanitarian spirit 
reminding us that sharing resources is the way to thrive collectively. At its worst, rebellion, revolution and dictatorship are brought to the forefront 
Uranus’s energy is neither male or female, and is rather androgynous. It rules Aquarius and the 11th house.
The energy of Uranus is electric and crammed with change 
Erratic and bizarre behaviours are Uranus’s wheelhouse as well as individuality, originality and where we fly our “freak” flag. Uranus is not afraid to rebel!
Uranus takes 84 years to complete its trip around the zodiac and retrogrades once a year for 150 days. Uranus is considered to be the higher octave of Mercury 
The notes are similar but its a higher section of the instrument.
Neptune - The Planet of Illusion
Next up in our Generational Planets is dreamy Neptune This planet rules the “unseen”, all that is hidden below the surface; dreams, fantasies, illusions 
- all that is felt rather than seen. This planet loves poetry, music 
and dance, creativity and mystery.
Neptune is feminine 
in its energy and rules Pisces & the 12th House.
Neptunian energy is Magickal! 
Our spirituality is important to this planet, and how we harness that energy for our personal betterment. Neptune invites us to let its energy wash over us and to use a meditative state to gain insights and heightened awareness 
It takes Neptune 165 years to complete its cycle around the zodiac, spending roughly 14 years at each sign. Neptune retrogrades once a year for around 5 to 6 months. Neptune is known as the higher octave of Venus 
Pluto - The Planet of Power
Last, but by no means least of our Generational Planets, is the omnipotent Pluto This tiny planet packs a punch and while Astronomers have downgraded it to a Dwarf Planet, it is still very much a Planet in Astrological terms.
Named after the Roman God of the Underworld, Pluto holds the key 
to our secrets. Everything from money, sex, power and shame fall under their hefty domain. They can be possessive when it comes to money and relationships. This planet shows the way we bond with people and how we share resources.
Pluto is all about transformation. Birth, Life, Death, they shows us what we need to release in order to be reborn
Most say this planet is feminine in energy, while others lean towards masculine due to its link to Mars. It rules Scorpio 
and the 8th house.
This planet’s energy is often focused on the masses and what the collective will do. Pluto beseeches us collectively, to look inward to see what’s there.
It takes Pluto approximately 248 years to complete its orbit around the zodiac! Pluto’s orbit is an ellipse - the sun is not in the center - and so it takes this planet between 12 and 31 years to pass through a sign. It retrogrades once a year, for around 6 months. Pluto is the higher octave of Mars 
Next time, we’ll have a look into dwarf planets, asteroids and comets
Love & Light to all 
