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Glossary of Astrological Terms
- Arabic parts
Abstract points, developed by the Arabian astrologers, which express the quality of the relationship between any two planets and the ascendant. While the meaning of any pair of planets can be so related to the ascendant to produce numerous 'parts', the only part in general use today is that of the 'part of fortune' which relates the sun/moon meaning through the ascendant. The part of fortune is said to be a sensitive point of ease and natural personal self expression.
Angles
The basic cross of the birthchart formed by the horizon and the meridian, consisting of the ascendant/descendant (see separate entries) and the midheaven(MC)/nadir(IC) axes.
Ascendant (also Rising sign)
The degree of the sign of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth. It is a picture of the way a person instinctually comes into life, moves into any new situation. It is said to correspond to how one appears most immediately to others. The sun, moon and other planets express themselves through the 'lens' of the ascendant when one is actively asserting or expressing one's individuality.
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Aspects
The angle between any pair of planets which determines the kind of energy exchange between them. There are so-called hard and soft aspects. Hard aspects are challenges and conflicts which, although difficult, potentially enable us to develop and grow. The soft aspects represent natural energy flows, assets or abilities that we possess. Neither are essentially good or bad, since both are generally necessary for balance and growth. The major aspects are the conjunction (two or more planets together), the square (90 deg angle), the opposition (180 deg), the trine (120 deg.) and the sextile (60 deg.). The trine and the sextile are soft aspects. The square is a hard aspect. The conjunction and the opposition are a mix of hard and soft qualities depending on the planets involved. The minor aspects are the semisquare (45), semisextile (30), sesquiquadrate (135), quincunx (150) quintile (72), septile (51.5) and novile (40).
Asteroids
Minor heavenly bodies mostly between Mars and Jupiter, except for Chiron which is between Saturn and Uranus. Astrologers, when they use asteroids at all, usually focus on the minor planet Chiron (the wounded healer) and the four largest of the asteroids -- Ceres, Pallas Athene, Vesta, and Juno, generally associated with different facets of relationship and the feminine.
Composite Chart
A chart created by taking the midpoints between the planets of any two charts and
which symbolizes the quality and meaning of that relationship.
Descendant
The point 180 deg. opposite the ascendant where the sun sets on the western horizon. It symbolizes our approach to relationships particularly one to one partnerships.
Ecliptic
The line prescribed by the passage of the Sun across the sky which is the plane of the earth's orbit around the Sun.
Electional Astrology
The field of astrology which determines the most auspicious times to engage in a particular venture.
The (Four) Elements
Fire, Earth, Air and Water which in modern psychological terms correspond with four psychological functions or temperaments; namely, self expressive and inspirational for Fire, practical and sensory for Earth, verbal and social for Air and emotional and intimate for Water.
Horary Astrology
Branch of divinatory astrology resonant to the I Ching or Tarot where a chart is cast to throw light upon a particular question of the moment.
Houses (see Angles)
The twelve segments of space, defined by the cross of the horizon and meridian which orient the planetary picture to the precise time and place on the earth, which is the centre of the circle. The houses represent psychological structures in relation to the various areas of life such as parents, family, career, sexuality, relationships, social life etc.
Midheaven(MC)
The zenith (meridian) projected onto the ecliptic and the Noon position of the Sun. As the cusp of the tenth house, it symbolizes one's public role, achievement, contribution and profession.
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Mid-points
The half way point between any two planets whether or not they are in aspect to each other. It sensitively expresses the relational meaning of the two planets. Major hard aspects of any other planets to this midpoint implicate the aspecting planet in their relationship.
Three Modes
Each of the four elements has three modes: the cardinal, fixed and mutable stages of a cycle of development. The cardinal is the initiatory phase; the fixed is the stabilization and accomplishment of the initial purpose, the mutable is the re-adaptation, modification, learning, or dissolution phase. Each corresponds to certain temperaments which can be combined with the four elements to produce the twelve signs.
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Moon's Nodes
Consisting of the north and south nodes always at 180 degrees opposite each other, they are the intersection points of the plane of the moon's orbit around the earth with the ecliptic. They retrograde through the zodiac completing their cycle every 19 years. Astrologically, they are generally understood in two ways: One - as sensitive points implicated in relationship factors. Two - as a developmental tension between past and future in which it is optimum to intentionally develop the qualities of the north node, whereby the south node becomes a creative result of the north node efforts rather than a regressive falling back into past habits and patterns.
Mundane Astrology
The branch of astrology concerned with collective, social, political, economic, institutional and historical events and processes.
Nadir
Point on the meridian opposite the midheaven. It is the midnight position of the sun. As cusp of the fourth house, it symbolizes the inner private being and one's personal and domestic space.
Natal Astrology
Astrology which is specifically concerned with the interpretation of a person's birth chart, now usually from a psychological orientation such as Jung, humanistic and transpersonal psychology, object relations and so on. Transits and progressions indicating the ever changing processes of a person's life are related back to an understanding of this level.
Personal Planets
Includes the two lights -- the Sun and the Moon -- and Mercury, Venus, and Mars symbolizing the individual's structures of selfhood.
Progressions
Taking the planetary positions of the days and months following birth at the rate of one day equals one year, progressed charts provide the symbolic background for the ever changing process of one's life. They are considered, along with the transits, to symbolize and reveal the meanings of the events and experiences which are currently unfolding.
Relocation Astrology
Branch of astrology concerned with identifying and understanding the effects of various geographic locations upon an individual. It is based upon a map of the planetary positions relative to the four angles calculated for any location on the earth for the same moment as the person's birth.
Retrogradation
The periodic geocentrically experienced backward movements of the planets through the zodiac, except for the Sun and Moon.
Rising Sign (see Ascendant)
Sign
In the tropical zodiac, one of twelve 30 degree sections of the yearly apparent cycle of the Sun around the earth beginning with the Spring equinox defined as 0 degrees Aries.
Synastry
The complex study of the relational interaction of two or more persons using various techniques for understanding chart interconnections and interaspects.
Transits
The ever changing relationship of the present movement of the planets to the planetary positions in the birth chart in terms of the aspects formed. They symbolize the nature and meaning of current events and experiences in the person's life.
The TransSaturnians
The three outer planets beyond the orbit of Saturn, namely, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. They signify cosmic, transpersonal, and transformational forces operating beyond the bounds of personal consciousness. They are accessible through artistic creativity, dreams, altered states of consciousness, meditation, extrasensory perception, pathology, and are the largest formative forces of collective history.
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