Quick Overview

In classical astrology, there are six possible conjunctions with the Sun. Here is a super-summarized overview of what each one symbolizes.

+ Moon = architecture and engineering

+ Mars = discipline / enforcement / military 

+ Mercury = expertise & intellect 

+ Jupiter = ethical imposition 

+ Venus = arts / peacemaking / luxuries 

+ Saturn = expertise in crafts involving metal and pottery

[source: 14th Century classical Sanskri astrology text, Phaladīpikā.]

The key to understanding this is that any planet conjoining the sun has to cope with “combustion,” being blotted out and swallowed up by the Sun’s brightness.

Some planets deal with combustion better than others. Mercury and Venus deal with it well well, because they are just used to it – they orbit close to the sun and so experience the Sun’s glare all the time. Jupiter, however, does poorly, for the opposite reason. 

But let’s take our time to explore this, and all these interpretations, much more carefully.

Here is the original Sanskrit version of this list:

18.1 sanskrit and translation

tigmāṃśur janayaty uṣeśa sahito 

yantrāśma-kāraṃ naraṃ

bhaumenāgha-rataṃ budhena nipuṇaṃ 

dhīkīrti-saukhyānvitam

krūraṃ vākpatinānyakāry anirataṃ 

śukreṇa raṅgāyudhaiḥ

labdhasvaṃ ravijena dhātu-kuśalaṃ 

bhāṇḍu-prakāreṣu vā

“The harsh-ray’d sun conjoined with the Moon indicates a person who builds machines and designs; with Mars, a stringent disciplinarian; with Mercury, a person happy due to expert talent and excellent intellect; with Jupiter, one who relentlessly and harshly gets involved in other’s affairs; with Venus, a person who performs art, makes peace, and works with luxuries; with Saturn, a person expert in crafting metal and pottery.”

Let’s explore each conjunction separately, from best to worst.

Mercury

“nipuna dhī-kīrti saukhyam”

dhi = intellect

kīriti = brilliance (nice effect of sun-ray proximity)

nipuna = expert talents (extends the scope of “brilliant intellect” beyond scholastic or scientific contexts, into artistic and creative genius).

saukhyam = prosperity, success

Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun is an indicator of success in any intellectual and artistic field.

Just remember that Mercury is almost always in the same sign with the Sun, so don’t assess conjunctions on that criteria alone. A Mercury-Sun conjunction becomes really significant only when the two are within a few degrees of each other. 

Also, be aware that the sign in which the conjunctions occur will definitely affect the conjunction’s significance & quality. The dignity of both planets vastly affects the interpretation of their conjunction. [This is true of all the conjunctions, not just Mercury’s]. 

The house in which a conjunction occurs affects its interpretation as well. For example, a sun+mercury conjunction in the 5th highlights the intellectual side of the interpretation. The same conjunction in the 11th highlights the artistic talent more.

This list of interpretations for solar conjunction is a starting point. We have to use them syncreticly with all the basic principles of interpretation.

Venus

“raṅga ayudhaiḥ labdhasvaṃ”

raṅga = dance, acting, playing, lovemaking

ayudhaiḥ = reconciliation, peacemaking, non-fighting.

raṅgāyudhāiḥ is a catchy phrase similar to English phrases like “I’m a lover not a fighter,” and “make love not war.”

labdhasva = luxuries, profits, wealths.

Venus’ conjunction with the Sun is an indicator of performance talent, especially for the romantic arts associated with music and dance.

Moon

“yantrāśmakāraṃ”

Yantra = machines / designs / magicks

Āśma-kāra = stone-maker, builder

The Moon+Sun conjunction indicates architect or engineer: but not just in the modern sense of the terms. The full sense includes someone who employs “magic” (elusive and subtle methods) to obtain concrete goals.

The key to understanding this is that the Moon doesn’t really get subjected to the Sunrays like the other planets, rather she just eludes the sun. She wanes and disappears gradually over the weeks during which she approaches the Sun, and by the time of conjunction, she is entirely invisible.

So, her conjunction with represents an unseen force “behind the curtains” / “behind the scenes.”

Saturn 

“dhātukuśalaṃ bhāṇḍu-prakāreṣu”

dhātu = metals

kuśala = expertise

bhāṇḍu-prakāra = making horseshoes.

Saturn’s conjunction with the Sun is an indicator of being able to produce and supply the fundamental, basic things that people need before they can do whatever other fancy stuff they may want to try to do.

Why doesn’t Saturn have more dire implications when conjoined the Sun. The text hints that it is because Saturn is “Ravija” – the Son of the Sun. More astronomically speaking, Saturn is extremely dim to begin with, so being obscured by the Sun’s rays really doesn’t change its status too much. 

Mars

“agha-ratam”

agha = beat, hit 

rata = enjoyment

agha-ratam is like the fight-club-esque English catchprase “enjoying a good whipping.” 

Mars doesn’t do “bad” in conjunction, but it gets amplified. When fiery, masculine Mars comes in close proximity to the fiery, masculine  Sun, all that fiery masculinity intensifies. 

This makes for a strong, forceful individual, capable of regulating and even punishing others,  who never shies away from fighting, and even tends to seek and enjoy conflict. 

For all these conjunctions, always modify the interpretation in consideration of the signs and houses involved. If the Sun and Mars are in better dignity, interpret more dignified use of force: for example the person is extremely disciplined and seldom if ever gives up on their goals. 

It also does better to have masculine energy in upacaya, masculine houses (3, 6, 10, and 11).

Jupiter

“krūraṃ anyakāri anirataṃ”

krūra = cruel / harsh

anyakara = other people’s activities

aniratam = relentless, literally “never ceasing to enjoy”

This phase is very similar to the English phrase, “poking your nose into other people’s business.”

Jupiter fares the worst when it comes to conjunctions with the Sun. This makes sense, because it is almost as bright as Venus, but unlike Venus, doesn’t orbit close to the Sun. Therefore being dimmed by proximity to the glaring sun-rays is really unusual for it, and disturbs its symbolisms.

 One of Jupiter’s main concerns is morality and ethical behavior. When Jupiter conjoins the sun, the royal, strict and assertive nature of the sun has a strong influence on it. This makes Jupiter lose its natural gentle and generous nature and instead starts asserting and imposing moral principles on others. It assesses the morality of others in an overly strict, harsh way, and doesn’t like to pause or relent in doing so.

Outro

Always, always pay attention to the sign and house the conjunction happens in. The sign will tell you how dignified or undignified to frame the interpretation. The house will tell you what aspects of the interpretation to highlight or sideline, as well as what areas of life the interpretation most immediately affects.

If you liked this video, I think you might love one of the reports I can give you on your own birth chart. Please click over to vic dicara dot com to check out them out, in the “readings” section of the site. [https://vicdicara.com/readings].

Thanks so much, and stay tuned for the next video in this series: Conjunctions with the Moon.