Out of Bounds

The planets move through the Zodiac at various angles rela­tive to the celestial equator (if you were to draw an imagi­nary extension of the Earth's equator out into the universe, you would have an illustration of this celestial equator). The Sun - being the most dominant and powerful influence in the Solar system - is the measure astrologers use as a stan­dard. The Sun never goes more than approximately 23 degrees north or south of the celestial equator. At the winter solstice the Sun reaches its maximum southern angle of orbit (declination); at the summer solstice it reaches its maximum northern angle. Any time a planet exceeds this Solar boundary - and occasionally planets do - it is said to be 'out of bounds'. This means that the planet exceeds or tres­passes into strange territory - beyond the limits allowed by the Sun, the Ruler of the Solar system. The planet in this condition becomes more emphasized and exceeds its author­ity, becoming an important influence in the forecast.