The Sun in astrology represents who we are at the end of the day. It's who/how we strive to be. It's how/where we shine and get our energy. The Sun is not always a given: it doesn't always function properly in our lives. In a natal chart, the Sun can have challenging aspects and placements, so the entire complexity of a chart has to be taken into account, which is one reason why interpretations based solely on Sun Signs doesn't always work.
When we are kids, the Sun can represent our main caregiver(s), or source(s) of warmth. As adults, the Sun can represent our vocation, or places where we get our vitality. Because it's our best and brightest self, the Sun is usually not fully active during our youth. Growing up, we are working on developing strong sense of selves, as indicated by our Sun signs, its aspects and placements. I believe it's only after our first Saturn Return, around age 30, that we start embracing the qualities of our Sun signs.
Let's look at each Sun sign, its challenges and desires.
Sun in Aries (Astrology): You are working on becoming a confident leader and a pioneer. The challenge is remaining grounded and balanced while exploring new ideas and territories. Real respect does not come from pushing people around but by leading with harmless actions, being a good example. You respect courage.
Sun in Taurus (Astrology): You are working on understanding value. The challenge is developing emotional skills while accumulating material goods. Real value has an emotional component. Clinging to external objects to alleviate an internal emptiness will not work. You appreciate beauty.
Sun in Gemini (Astrology): You are perceptive and funny. You are learning about how details fit together to form satisfying meanings. Your life can sometimes be devoid of any meaning. When you “connect the dots”, you can find a nice flow. You admire intelligence.
Sun in Cancer (Astrology): Your foundation (i.e., family, home, etc.) is very dear and near to your heart. You like to nurture those around you. You are learning that how an emotion is presented is as important as the emotion itself. You admire gentleness.
Sun in Leo (Astrology): You like to express yourself in any way possible. You are playful and seek enjoyment in all you do. The challenge is to allow others to shine too, even if they may be different from you. You respect uniqueness.
Sun in Virgo (Astrology): You are calm and collected. You are learning about health and healing. You know how to find the extraordinary in ordinary things. Your mere presence can sometimes be healing. The challenge is learning how to trust yourself. You desire organization.
Sun in Libra (Astrology): You focus on relationships. You are cooperative. The challenge is not losing your sense of self while trying to balance everything. You are learning about letting go of perfection and accepting things as they are. You seek pleasure.
Sun in Scorpio (Astrology): You are thoughtful and passionate. You are usually content by your internal structures alone. The challenge is remaining sane while investigating and enjoying crazy emotions. You appreciate intimacy.
Sun in Sagittarius (Astrology): You like to explore possibilities and travel to foreign lands. While trying to find meaning in everything, you may actually deprive everything of meaning. You are learning how to live with meaninglessness. You love philosophy.
Sun in Capricorn (Astrology): You are about building real and supportive structures. You are steady and keep track of time. You are hesitant to rely on emotions for support. Your lesson is that being in touch with your vulnerabilities isn't a sign of weakness. You are reliable.
Sun in Aquarius (Astrology): You like to study humans and find commonalities in everyone and everything. You are learning that human life needs a bit of silly fun and play. There is a seriousness about you. You strive for objectivity.
Sun in Pisces (Astrology): You like to feel your way around. You are sensitive and relaxing to be around. Your lesson is that details matter. Your challenge is remaining grounded while enjoying the world of fantasy. You are kind.
Copyright 2015 Simon Benjamin