What is the Most Important Planet in Your Natal Chart?

​When you're learning about your natal chart, you may wonder what the most important planet in your natal chart is. Of course, it's usually not simple! And you need to look at your natal chart in totality to get a real idea of who dominates your natal chart.

Your Chart Ruler: The Ruler of the Ascendant

The ruler of your Ascendant (1st house/Rising sign) is said to be the ruler of your natal chart, and is called the chart ruler. The ruler of your Ascendant is the natural planetary ruler of the sign your Ascendant falls in.

But your chart ruler isn't always the most dominant planet in your natal chart. What are some other instances of a dominant planet that isn't your chart ruler?

Note that the examples listed below will be extra strong and more likely to be your dominant planet if they are located in their home sign (the Zodiac sign the planet naturally rules).

Planets on an Angle

Planets conjunct an angle, especially the Ascendant, can be extra strong. The angles are the Ascendant (often 1st house cusp), Imum Coeli (often 4th house cusp), Descendant (often 7th house cusp), and Midheaven (often 10th house cusp). 

The angles connect to the main pillars of life (self = Ascendant, home/family = Imum Coeli, others = Descendant, goals = Midheaven). They are active positions, and any natal planets conjunct an angle is elevated in your natal chart and has extra importance.

This is especially going to feel like the case when it's conjunct (aligned with) your Ascendant. Because the Ascendant rules the self, planets conjunct the Ascendant are a strong part of you as a person. A natal planet conjunct the Ascendant is usually the most important planet in your natal chart, almost no matter what else is happening.

Anaretic Natal Planets

There are 30 degrees in every Zodiac sign, and the last degree is 29 degrees. This is called the anaretic degree, and it's supercharged energy. In the natal chart, planets at the anaretic degree tend to go one of two ways: you play them up way too much to the point of it being kind of self-defeating, or you don't play it up at all and may kind of hide from it.

An anaretic natal planet is usually a source of major struggle because of all the energy it contains, even if you run from it. There is great potential because of this though, and once you work through the issues, it can become a source of strength and great asset.

So, the anaretic planet can be the most dominant planet in your chart because of all of that energy and potential to burn you up or set you free. 

Mercury, Venus, or Mars Retrograde

A planet or body is called retrograde in astrology when it appears to be moving backward through the Zodiac. The planet operates differently from usual when retrograde. Mercury, Venus, and Mars don't retrograde as much as the slower planets, so when they're retrograde in your natal chart, this has a big impact on you and your life.

Mercury retrograde natives tend to struggle with this position the most, and have to learn how to best express themselves and find their voice. Venus retrograde natives have to sift through connection issues, and Mars retrograde natives have to work through issues with taking initiative and being assertive.

Similar to anaretic planets, there is a lot of potential if you can work through the baggage with one of these planets retrograde, and accept that you operate a bit differently from the norm. 

Most-Aspected Planet

Sometimes the planet that makes the most aspects to the other planets in your natal chart is your dominant planet. That planet touches on most/all of your other planets, so it's strong in its influence on most areas of your life and personality as a result.

Slow Planet in a Stellium

A stellium occurs when 3 or more planets are together in one Zodiac sign. If you have a stellium involving the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, and just one of either Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto, then Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto dominates the stellium, and might be your most dominant planet. These planets are very strong, and can overtake the others.

Suggested Reading: Natal Planets Square the Ascendant & Descendant