Post by Allan on Aug 8, 2007 22:34:11 GMT -5
Glossary of Astrological Terms
Items in italics are defined elsewhere in the Glossary.
Air Signs - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Adaptable and social. Also referred to as one of the
Elements.
Angle - The four angles of a chart wheel which form quadrants within it; namely, the
Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven and Imum Coeli or Nadir.
Arc - Any portion of the circle which comprises your Chart Wheel, measured around its
circumference.
Ascendant - Also referred to as the Rising Sign - the sign of the Zodiac which was rising on
the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth, and representing how you present yourself
to the world. You will find your Ascendant on the left side of your chart wheel (in the 9
o'clock position). Notation for the Ascendant is ASC.
Aspects - Aspects are formed when one planet is a certain number of degrees distant from
another when their positions are plotted on a Chart Wheel.
Astrology - The study of the influences of the various celestial bodies in the solar system
on those of us here on Earth. There are many forms of Astrology, including Western, Vedic,
Chinese, Native American, Celtic and others.
Cardinal Signs - Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Forceful, active and authoritative.
Also referred to as one of the Qualities.
Chart Wheel - The Chart Wheel is a visual representation of the positions of the Planets in
the Signs and Houses, organized into a circle containing twelve equal sections, like slices
of a pie.
Cusp - The cusp of a Sign or House is the line dividing each section of the Chart Wheel from
the next. For instance, you'll find your Ascendant on the cusp or start of the first House.
In addition, the cusp is the 1st degree of any particular sign, each of which is comprised
of 30 degrees of arc, arranged in a circle on your Chart Wheel.
Descendant - Also referred to as the Setting Sign - the sign of the Zodiac found directly
opposite the Ascendant, and representing what you seek in others. The Descendant is located
on the right side of your chart wheel (in the 3 o'clock position). Notation for this
position on the Birth Chart is given as DSC.
Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Conservative and practical. Also referred to as
one of the Elements.
Ecliptic - The path of the Sun as it appears to revolve around the Earth.
Electional Astrology - Charts drawn to pick the best time to start an enterprise. This is
the opposite of what is done in Horary Astrology because in this branch of Astrology, you
are trying to determine a favorable time, rather than using the current time to determine
the chart.
Elements - Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Also referred to as Triplicities.
Feminine Signs - Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. Symbolizing
introversion, also referred to in older texts as negative signs.
Fire Signs - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Passionate and action oriented. Also referred to as
one of the Elements.
Fixed Signs - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Masterful and stable. Also referred to as
one of the Qualities.
House - Any one of the twelve divided sections around your Chart Wheel. Each one pertains to
a particular area of your life.
Horary Astrology - Charts drawn to help find lost objects, answer questions, etc. The
querant asks a question and a chart is drawn for the time of the question to get an answer.
Horoscope - Another way of saying the Birth Chart. From the Greek "horo skopos" which
means "consideration of the hour" or "consideration of the ascending degree".
Imum Coeli - Also referred to as the Lower Heaven or Nadir, it is the sign located at the
cusp of your 4th House, the lowest point on your chart wheel. Your Imum Coeli is located at
the bottom of your chart wheel (in the 6 o'clock position). Notation for this point on the
Birth Chart is given as IC.
Luminaries - The Sun and the Moon as the main celestial bodies that light up the heavens
from our perspective on Earth. Sometimes the Sun and Moon are loosely referred to as
"planets" by astrologers when describing all those celestial bodies that exert an influence
on the Natal Chart.
Locational Astrology - The branch of Astrology that uses geographical location to determine
astrological effect. (Relocation Chart - A Chart is drawn up which is used to determine how
a move to a new location will affect your life.)
Masculine Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Aquarius, Gemini. Symbolizing
extroversion, also referred to in older texts as positive signs.
Medium Coeli - See also Midheaven. Notation for this point on the chart is often given as
MC.
Midheaven - Also referred to as the Medium Coeli, it is the most elevated sign in the sky at
the moment of your birth, giving you a glimpse of how society sees you. Your Midheaven is
located at the top of your chart wheel (in the "high noon" position).
Modalities - Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable. Also called Qualities.
Mutable Signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Adaptable and flexible. Also referred
to as one of the Qualities.
Nadir - See also Imum Coeli. The cusp of the 4th House is found at the Nadir which
signifies your early home life. It is one of the four angles and can be found in the 6
O'clock position on the birth chart.
Natural Chart - The organization of a Chart Wheel containing the Signs of the Zodiac in the
order they naturally appear and with all their respective Planets and Houses where they
"naturally" would be. A Natural Chart is used to help the Astrologer quickly take note of
planetary or elemental correspondences.
Natal Chart - As natal means "birth", your natal chart is simply a snapshot of the planets'
positions at the time of your birth (also referred to as a Birth Chart or Horoscope).
Nodes - The North and South Nodes of the Moon are points in space which arise from the
intersection of the Moon's orbit with the plane of the ecliptic.
Orb - The number of degrees that an aspect can vary from being exact, while still exerting a
particular influence.
Planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Astrologers
also include the influences of the Sun and Moon, sometimes referring to them as Luminaries,
although the Sun is really a star and the Moon is a satellite of Earth.
Polarity - Each sign is masculine or feminine, and belongs to one of the family of elements
(fire, earth, air or water). Polarity describes how the signs interact with each other, for
instance, the natural attraction of opposites.
Progressed Chart - Beginning with the Natal Chart, the positions of the planets can be
"progressed" forward to future periods, and interpreted according to events occurring at
that time.
Qualities - Also referred to as the Modalities. Cardinal Signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and
Capricorn; Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius; and Mutable signs are Gemini,
Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
Sign - Refers to one of the twelve Sun Signs of the Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer,
Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Transits - The movement of planets through a Sign or House, and specifically how the current
positions of planets interact with the positions they occupied at the time of your birth.
Triplicities - Also referred to as the Elements. Fire Signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius;
Earth Signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; Air Signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and
Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Sensitive and emotional. Also referred to as one
of the Elements.
Zodiac - The space through which the Earth moves as it revolves around the Sun. It is a
circle of 360 degrees divided into twelve sections of 30 degrees each. Each section
corresponds to a particular sign or constellation.
Items in italics are defined elsewhere in the Glossary.
Air Signs - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Adaptable and social. Also referred to as one of the
Elements.
Angle - The four angles of a chart wheel which form quadrants within it; namely, the
Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven and Imum Coeli or Nadir.
Arc - Any portion of the circle which comprises your Chart Wheel, measured around its
circumference.
Ascendant - Also referred to as the Rising Sign - the sign of the Zodiac which was rising on
the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth, and representing how you present yourself
to the world. You will find your Ascendant on the left side of your chart wheel (in the 9
o'clock position). Notation for the Ascendant is ASC.
Aspects - Aspects are formed when one planet is a certain number of degrees distant from
another when their positions are plotted on a Chart Wheel.
Astrology - The study of the influences of the various celestial bodies in the solar system
on those of us here on Earth. There are many forms of Astrology, including Western, Vedic,
Chinese, Native American, Celtic and others.
Cardinal Signs - Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Forceful, active and authoritative.
Also referred to as one of the Qualities.
Chart Wheel - The Chart Wheel is a visual representation of the positions of the Planets in
the Signs and Houses, organized into a circle containing twelve equal sections, like slices
of a pie.
Cusp - The cusp of a Sign or House is the line dividing each section of the Chart Wheel from
the next. For instance, you'll find your Ascendant on the cusp or start of the first House.
In addition, the cusp is the 1st degree of any particular sign, each of which is comprised
of 30 degrees of arc, arranged in a circle on your Chart Wheel.
Descendant - Also referred to as the Setting Sign - the sign of the Zodiac found directly
opposite the Ascendant, and representing what you seek in others. The Descendant is located
on the right side of your chart wheel (in the 3 o'clock position). Notation for this
position on the Birth Chart is given as DSC.
Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Conservative and practical. Also referred to as
one of the Elements.
Ecliptic - The path of the Sun as it appears to revolve around the Earth.
Electional Astrology - Charts drawn to pick the best time to start an enterprise. This is
the opposite of what is done in Horary Astrology because in this branch of Astrology, you
are trying to determine a favorable time, rather than using the current time to determine
the chart.
Elements - Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Also referred to as Triplicities.
Feminine Signs - Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. Symbolizing
introversion, also referred to in older texts as negative signs.
Fire Signs - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Passionate and action oriented. Also referred to as
one of the Elements.
Fixed Signs - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Masterful and stable. Also referred to as
one of the Qualities.
House - Any one of the twelve divided sections around your Chart Wheel. Each one pertains to
a particular area of your life.
Horary Astrology - Charts drawn to help find lost objects, answer questions, etc. The
querant asks a question and a chart is drawn for the time of the question to get an answer.
Horoscope - Another way of saying the Birth Chart. From the Greek "horo skopos" which
means "consideration of the hour" or "consideration of the ascending degree".
Imum Coeli - Also referred to as the Lower Heaven or Nadir, it is the sign located at the
cusp of your 4th House, the lowest point on your chart wheel. Your Imum Coeli is located at
the bottom of your chart wheel (in the 6 o'clock position). Notation for this point on the
Birth Chart is given as IC.
Luminaries - The Sun and the Moon as the main celestial bodies that light up the heavens
from our perspective on Earth. Sometimes the Sun and Moon are loosely referred to as
"planets" by astrologers when describing all those celestial bodies that exert an influence
on the Natal Chart.
Locational Astrology - The branch of Astrology that uses geographical location to determine
astrological effect. (Relocation Chart - A Chart is drawn up which is used to determine how
a move to a new location will affect your life.)
Masculine Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Aquarius, Gemini. Symbolizing
extroversion, also referred to in older texts as positive signs.
Medium Coeli - See also Midheaven. Notation for this point on the chart is often given as
MC.
Midheaven - Also referred to as the Medium Coeli, it is the most elevated sign in the sky at
the moment of your birth, giving you a glimpse of how society sees you. Your Midheaven is
located at the top of your chart wheel (in the "high noon" position).
Modalities - Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable. Also called Qualities.
Mutable Signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Adaptable and flexible. Also referred
to as one of the Qualities.
Nadir - See also Imum Coeli. The cusp of the 4th House is found at the Nadir which
signifies your early home life. It is one of the four angles and can be found in the 6
O'clock position on the birth chart.
Natural Chart - The organization of a Chart Wheel containing the Signs of the Zodiac in the
order they naturally appear and with all their respective Planets and Houses where they
"naturally" would be. A Natural Chart is used to help the Astrologer quickly take note of
planetary or elemental correspondences.
Natal Chart - As natal means "birth", your natal chart is simply a snapshot of the planets'
positions at the time of your birth (also referred to as a Birth Chart or Horoscope).
Nodes - The North and South Nodes of the Moon are points in space which arise from the
intersection of the Moon's orbit with the plane of the ecliptic.
Orb - The number of degrees that an aspect can vary from being exact, while still exerting a
particular influence.
Planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Astrologers
also include the influences of the Sun and Moon, sometimes referring to them as Luminaries,
although the Sun is really a star and the Moon is a satellite of Earth.
Polarity - Each sign is masculine or feminine, and belongs to one of the family of elements
(fire, earth, air or water). Polarity describes how the signs interact with each other, for
instance, the natural attraction of opposites.
Progressed Chart - Beginning with the Natal Chart, the positions of the planets can be
"progressed" forward to future periods, and interpreted according to events occurring at
that time.
Qualities - Also referred to as the Modalities. Cardinal Signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and
Capricorn; Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius; and Mutable signs are Gemini,
Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
Sign - Refers to one of the twelve Sun Signs of the Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer,
Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Transits - The movement of planets through a Sign or House, and specifically how the current
positions of planets interact with the positions they occupied at the time of your birth.
Triplicities - Also referred to as the Elements. Fire Signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius;
Earth Signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; Air Signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and
Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Sensitive and emotional. Also referred to as one
of the Elements.
Zodiac - The space through which the Earth moves as it revolves around the Sun. It is a
circle of 360 degrees divided into twelve sections of 30 degrees each. Each section
corresponds to a particular sign or constellation.