(Sample Substack Article)

Imagine it’s 3 am and you’ve dozed off on your couch, when suddenly you awake with a start — you’ve fallen asleep to some movie, but nothing is on TV now except those late night infomercials. And specifically, you’re roused by a white-haired lady yelling the classic “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” She just presses the button on her handy dandy alert device necklace and help is on the way to rescue her.

If only it was that simple for you when you have planets in fall.

A planet in fall is like a hero stripped of their armor — exposed, vulnerable, and forced to confront challenges without their usual tools. Kinda like Grandma or Grandpa lying on the cold linoleum of the bathroom floor, injured and unable to get back on their feet.

But oh, the planets aren’t broken, and getting back on their feet? They can do much more than that.

In astrology, a planet in fall occupies a zodiac sign where it struggles to express its natural energy, often feeling disempowered or out of alignment. Yet, just as physical therapy can recuperate broken bones and prevent further falls, adversity in planetary conditions can forge unshakable resilience. A planet in fall pushes us to develop hidden strengths and unconventional talents. These placements are not cosmic curses but invitations to grow, adapt, and transform.

It may have started as a fall, but becomes the foundation for extraordinary heights.

What Does It Mean for a Planet to Be in Fall?

In Hellenistic astrology, each planet has a “home” or “domicile” where it operates most naturally and effectively. For example, the Sun rules Leo, the Moon rules Cancer, and Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces. Planets also have “exalted signs,” where they aren’t at home, but an honored guest in that sign’s house: like Venus in Pisces or the Sun in Aries, my two personal exalted planets (which sounds like the start to an awesome chart, but pretty much everything else in in fall or detriment, except Mars sitting on his throne in Aries.)

Now, when a planet occupies the sign opposite its exaltation, it’s in its “fall,” where its energies are… a little less comfortable, to say the least.

If you are “blessed” with planets in fall, it’s like being stuck in a hole, clawing to get out, but you keep falling back in deeper. But sometimes, you don’t — you figure out how to fight and kick your way back to even ground. Maybe even higher.

This positioning creates tension, but tension can sometimes create something much greater, like two planets duking it out in a square or opposition — someone eventually wins, but is forever change by the battle. Someone rises to the battle. Forever forged in the fires and changed forever (gratuitous Mars/Sun in Aries metaphor.)

The planet’s natural qualities will clash with the traits of the sign it occupies, leading to struggles in self-expression, decision-making, or relationships. But — and this is an important “but” — planets in fall push us, mold us, and transform us by making us work harder and find ingenious, creative ways through their challenges. Then we can express their energies, often leading to opportunities for profound growth and transformation — much like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, but we won’t get into all that juicy Pluto stuff today.

“Clean up in Aisles 3 and 11, clean up in Aisles 3 and 11…” (and 6 needs some attention, too)

The Challenges and Strengths of Planets in Fall

The Sun in Fall: Shining Through Shadows

The Sun represents identity, vitality, and purpose. It is exalted in Aries, a sign known for its boldness and individuality. So that makes its fall in Libra, where the Sun’s “all-about-me” assertive nature is challenged by Libra’s focus on relationships, harmony, and compromise.

Challenges

The Sun in Libra often struggles with self-identity, especially with Libra distracting him with such pesky concerns like justice, fairness, getting along well with others — he’s the King dammit! Why should he care about these… commoners!

People with this placement may also come across very “un–Kinglike” in ways others may view as good or encourage — such as having difficulty prioritizing their needs over others’, leading to indecision or even self-sacrifice. The desire to maintain harmony can suppress their natural urge to assert themselves, creating a sense of imbalance.

Those with Sun in Libra also have a tendency to “lose themselves” in other people, such as partners, children, social or political groups, and identifying a little too closely with the “other.”

Strengths

Despite these challenges, the Sun in Libra offers unique gifts. They often possess exceptional interpersonal skills, a keen sense of fairness, and a natural ability to mediate conflicts balancing out all that King ego. Their struggle to balance self and others makes them thoughtful leaders who excel at fostering collaboration and understanding.

So is Sun in fall really a bad thing? A King who actually cares about people? If only all our politicians had Sun in fall!

Overcoming Challenges

Having said that, for those with the Sun in fall, one key is learning to assert their identity without fear of disrupting relationships, particularly when it comes to boundaries. Firm boundaries must be formed to protect a strong sense of self, which is a whole lot easier said than done. But it can be done, slowly — try setting one firm boundary at a time. This problem didn’t happen overnight and won’t change overnight.

People with Sun in fall tend to be indecisive and second-guessing, so practice making all decisions quickly and decisively, no pun intended. Practices like journaling, therapy, or creative pursuits can help clarify personal values and build self-confidence. Create a sort of manifesto to get your ideals and boundaries down in writing. The very act of writing them makes them more concrete, more real.

And please run for office… ‘kay thanks!

The Moon in Fall: Emotional Mastery

The Moon governs emotions, intuition, and the inner self. Its exaltation in Taurus highlights its nurturing and stable qualities. Its fall in Scorpio? Well, not so much. This is one of my fallen planets and it can be a real bitch (quite literally.) It creates intensity and transformation, plus a dynamic of emotional extremes.

This rollercoaster is not a fun ride.

Challenges

They say bipolar disorder creates highs that are too high, and lows that are too low. Well, with Moon in Scorpio, forget the high part. Expect emotions with unmatched depth, often leading to feelings of vulnerability or mistrust. This placement can create a fear of betrayal, difficulty in opening up to others, or a tendency to dwell on past wounds.

Like… forever. Waiting for a Scorpio Moon to forgive you? Good luck with that. (Scorpio Moon in da house.)

Strengths

Despite these hurdles, the Moon in Scorpio endows individuals with remarkable emotional intelligence and resilience. Their capacity to navigate life’s darker moments often makes them gifted healers, counselors, or artists. Their intuitive understanding of human nature allows them to connect deeply with others.

Overcoming Challenges

To harness the power of a fallen Moon, it is essential to cultivate trust and emotional balance. Mindfulness, meditation, and emotional release practices can help transform intensity into inner strength.

That is the advice, but don’t think for one minute I’ve mastered trust.

It is true I worked as a nurse over 25 years, and did the work most don’t want to do — hospice, including working in an AIDs unit back in 1994. It was a whole different ballgame then, and to this day, I have never seen suffering like that. To this day, I’ve never had such wonderful co-workers, dedicated to doing the right thing and advocating for the people under their care.

Like people who couldn’t get certain life-saving meds because their insurance said it was “experimental” and wouldn’t cover it. Of course, we could never take the meds left behind by those who had died and distribute them to those who couldn’t get those meds — that would have been illegal and we certainly would never do that.

Nope, not us.

And along with more personal… difficulties in recent years, nothing has influenced my world view and fiction more than that. I may not have taken a walk on the wild side, but I sure as hell took one on the dark side. And still fumbling around in the dark.

Venus in Fall: Redefining Love

Venus symbolizes love, beauty, and values. “It’s Friday, I’m in love!” sayeth Mr. Smith. It is exalted in Pisces, where its energies of compassion and devotion flourish. But in Virgo, its sign of fall, Venus struggles with perfectionism and a focus on practicality. Not exactly a romantic match made in heaven.

Challenges

Venus in Virgo often brings self-critical tendencies that spill over into relationships. Am I good enough? Am I too fat and undesirable? Can anyone ever love me?

STOOOOPPP!!!

Could you raise that bar a little higher? (Rhetorical) By setting impossibly high standards for themselves and others, Astrologers can expect a big helping of dissatisfaction or fear of vulnerability in people with this placement.

Hello, self-fulfilling prophecy.

Strengths

But, Venus in Virgo offers the gift of further refinement to a sign that loves refined things. Those with Venus in fall excel in areas requiring precision and attention to detail, such as art, design, or writing. In relationships, their thoughtfulness and dedication create deep and enduring bonds. Venus is already artistic, but Virgo can take you from an average artist to a Grand Master.

Overcoming Challenges

To overcome the challenges of Venus in fall, it is crucial to embrace imperfection. Practices like gratitude journaling or affirmations can help cultivate self-acceptance and appreciation for life’s inherent beauty. Set an hour a day — or even 30 minutes — to something relaxing. Learn to paint, listen to calming music without doing anything else, take a walk in nature. Not only will these help calm you, but Venus loves these activities.

When a planet is in fall, it’s like an empty well you need to refill with the things that planet loves.

Try creating something with a set time limit so you have to keep going despite perceived imperfections. Take a photography class with group critiques (and boy, can you critique!) Let someone see that first draft of your article or book.

The world won’t end, I promise.

Mars in Fall: Finding Strength in Sensitivity

Boy, is this relevant right now — we’re all feeling this one. Mars governs drive, ambition, and assertiveness. Its exaltation in Capricorn highlights its disciplined and determined nature, like an efficiently-run military operation. But in Cancer, its sign of fall, Mars struggles with emotional reactivity and indirect expression. Or, to put it more bluntly, Austin Coppock calls it The Werewolf.

Indeed.

Challenges

On one hand, Mars in Cancer often hesitates to take decisive action, fearing emotional consequences. This placement may lead to passive-aggressiveness or difficulty asserting boundaries, as emotions heavily influence decision-making.

On the other hand… it may go fucking postal. Exploding like a Mother Bear on cocaine (do you think that’s where the Cocaine Bear screenwriter got his idea?) But that could also turn against the family, because a werewolf has no logic or reason and just destroys when in full fury.

Strengths

After all that, it’s hard to believe that Mars in Cancer can develop a unique form of leadership rooted in empathy and care. These individuals are fiercely protective of loved ones and excel in nurturing roles. Their ability to combine emotional intelligence with action makes them exceptional caregivers, mentors, or community leaders. Just… do not fuck with them, at your peril.

Overcoming Challenges

The key to overcoming Mars in fall is learning to channel emotions constructively. Creative outlets, physical activity, or therapy can help balance emotional sensitivity with assertiveness. As with any strong Mars placement, anger management may not be such a bad idea, okay? Please don’t take that the wrong way and get upset, ‘kay?

Jupiter in Fall: Expanding Through Discipline

Jupiter represents growth, abundance, and wisdom. It’s the philosopher, the guru, the spiritual leader. At its best, at least. It is exalted in Cancer, where it’s all about nurturing and expansive qualities thrive. But in Capricorn, its sign of fall? Yeah, not so much. Jupiter is constrained by practicality and discipline — that’s what you get, hanging out with Saturn.

Challenges

Jupiter in Capricorn struggles to embrace optimism and spontaneity. (Hell, any sign in Capricorn will!) This placement emphasizes hard work and material success, sometimes at the expense of joy or spiritual growth. Individuals with this placement may feel burdened by responsibilities or skeptical of “luck.”

Skepticism can be good in healthy measure, but when overdone, can make you seem like a bitter old man… just like Saturn! It can also rob you of that child-like sense of wonder. That wonder that keeps life interesting, when you grapple with things that can never be known in this life, but that makes us look up into the night sky with wonder.

Strengths

Yes, Jupiter in Capricorn offers unparalleled determination and a strong work ethic. These individuals excel in setting long-term goals and achieving them through patience and persistence. Their ability to combine ambition with wisdom often leads to lasting success. That’s certainly good qualities to have.

Overcoming Challenges

Balance is your word of the day. To balance Jupiter in fall, it is important to cultivate a sense of gratitude and trust in life’s abundance. To not just disregard things we can never know, but embrace… possibilities. Embrace the unknown, things beyond science and reason. Engage in those airy-fairy practices like visualization, meditation, or volunteer work you may have rejected — they can help reconnect with Jupiter’s expansive energy.

And gaze up at the stars.

Saturn in Fall: Mastering Limits

And speaking of our good… friend, Saturn *COUGH*. Saturn governs discipline, structure, and responsibility. It is exalted in Libra, where its focus on balance and fairness is highlighted. In Aries, its sign of fall, Saturn struggles with impulsiveness and a lack of structure.

My Saturn isn’t in fall, but it’s my rising sign with my Sun in Aries. They definitely do not play well together here.

Challenges

Have you ever had to babysit that one unruly child in his “Terrible Twos” who just never stops getting into things, making messes, drawing on the walls, starting wars… oh wait, that’s much later. Saturn in Aries often wrestles with impatience and difficulty managing responsibilities, as Aries can try anyone’s patience and push them to the breaking point.

This placement can create a fear of failure or a tendency to act impulsively, without considering long-term consequences. Definitely not Saturn’s usual forte, but Aries drives him to it. He’s just not in his element here.

Strengths

Despite its struggles, Saturn in Aries fosters courage and determination. These individuals often rise to challenges with remarkable tenacity, using setbacks as stepping stones to success. Their ability to navigate obstacles with resilience makes them inspiring leaders and role models.

If you are young and have Saturn in Aries, you probably don’t believe that, because you are still struggling with that placement. Remember, Saturn brings success later in life, and balancing the two to bring out the best expressions of this combination can take time. (Aries is screaming, “But I want it NOW!”)

Overcoming Challenges

For those with Saturn in fall, sorry, but you need to practice some self-discipline — developing patience and long-term planning skills is essential. Tools like goal-setting, mentorship, or mindfulness practices can help harness Saturn’s energy effectively. Find an older mentor (preferably with a strong Saturn!) to help bring out the discipline and self-control. Develop hobbies that need it — something like chess, where impulsiveness loses the game. And you’d probably become quite good at it!

Embracing the Gifts of Fallen Planets

While planets in fall present unique challenges, they also hold immense potential for growth and transformation. These placements encourage us to confront our limitations, develop resilience, and discover hidden strengths. In Buddhism, they’ll often tell you to thank your enemies — their challenges push to evolve and become a better person.

In Shantideva’s “Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra” (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) he advocates our enemies as one of our greatest assets:

“If there were no one who challenged me, I would not have the chance to develop patience. Therefore, let me be grateful to my enemies, for they are my greatest teachers.”

Hmmm… kind of makes you look at planets in fall in a different way, doesn’t it? Or, dare I say, the malefics, Saturn and Mars, as well. But that’s for another day, sayeth the woman whose “Big Three” rulers are Saturn, Mars, and Mars —a virtual carnival of “let’s fuck with this woman. For fun.”

Cultivating Self-Awareness

Understanding the dynamics of a fallen planet fosters self-awareness, helping us navigate its challenges with clarity and intention. For example, someone with Jupiter in Capricorn might consciously balance ambition with gratitude, while someone with Venus in Virgo might work to embrace imperfection in relationships.

Seeking Support

Astrology reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. Working with mentors, therapists, or supportive communities can provide invaluable guidance and encouragement.

But find your people. Bonus if they’re into astrology, which is a helluva lot cheaper than therapy. Probably more effective, too. For the win!

Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths

The beauty of astrology lies in its emphasis on growth. No placement is inherently “bad” or “doomed” — not even Mars and Saturn. There I said it! Sue me! (Shit, Saturn rules my second, so you won’t get anything anyway.)

Instead, every challenge is an opportunity to cultivate unique skills and perspectives. Really, it is, even though when people tell you that after something shitty just happened, you want to punch them in the teeth. Or at least I do —don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry! Mars conjunct Sun in Aries!)

Famous Examples of Fallen Planets

People with planets in fall who went on to greatness? They may not have had the greatest life moments or ends, but they certainly left their mark:

· Frida Kahlo (Venus in Virgo): Redefined beauty through her raw and emotive art.

· Mahatma Gandhi (Mars in Libra): Revolutionized leadership with his philosophy of nonviolence.

· Sylvia Plath (Moon in Scorpio): Transformed emotional intensity into timeless poetry.

· Winston Churchill (Saturn in Aries): Led with courage and resilience during times of crisis.

These examples highlight how fallen planets can inspire extraordinary achievements. What have you achieved — or want to achieve — where you have a fallen planet? Do you feel it’s impossible?

Or are you uniquely qualified to achieve it and excel after learning from all your mistakes and challenges?

Could Planets in Fall Be a Good Thing?

Okay, maybe that’s going a bit far, like saying Saturn is your best friend or Mars is joining you for a peace rally.

But… planets in fall remind us that our greatest struggles often lead to our most profound growth (like the challenges of Saturn and Mars, my best frenemies.) By embracing the lessons of these placements, we can transform challenges into strengths, discovering resilience, creativity, and wisdom along the way. Whether it’s the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn, a fallen planet is not a limitation — it’s an invitation to rise.

Let me repeat that: a fallen planet is not a limitation — it’s an invitation to rise.

With self-awareness, patience, and determination, we can turn the weight of these placements into wings. Like the farthest and last known planet, rising from the flames as the Phoenix.

It’s an invitation to rise.

So, if your chart features a fallen planet, or two, take heart. The journey may be challenging, but it is also transformative. After all, every fall is an opportunity to rise again — you may have fallen, but you’re getting back on your feet stronger, smarter, and more badass than before.

References

• Greene, Liz. Astrology for the Soul. Bantam Books, 2000.
• Arroyo, Stephen. Astrology, Karma & Transformation. CRCS Publications, 1978.
• Forrest, Steven. The Inner Sky: How to Make Wiser Choices for a More Fulfilling Life. Seven Paws Press, 2001.
• Sasportas, Howard. The Twelve Houses. The Aquarian Press, 1985.
• Cunningham, Donna. Healing Pluto Problems. Weiser Books, 1986.