An Abbreviated Astro-Glossary
Air Signs – [Gemini, Libra, Aquarius] the triplicity that represents the function of thinking, and the communicative process
Angles – the term used to identify the two most “important” axes of a natal chart, and thus four most “important” points. The Horizon (Ascendant-Descendant) and the Meridian (Medium Coeli-Imum Coeli)
Angular Houses – the houses corresponding to the Cardinal Signs
Aquarius – the eleventh sign, an air sign of the fixed modality
Aries – the first sign, a fire sign of the cardinal modality
Ascendant – the degree of the zodiac that is rising on the horizon at the moment of birth, also known as the Rising (usually the cusp of the First House)
Aspects – specific geometrical relations between two bodies in a chart
Cadent Houses – the houses corresponding to the Mutable Signs
Cancer – the fourth sign, a water sign of the cardinal modality
Capricorn – the tenth sign, an earth sign of the cardinal modality
Cardinal Signs – [Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn] the quadruplicity existing at the initiation of a season (equinoxes and solstices). These signs serve to initiate change and begin the cycle of creation
Composite Chart – a type of relationship chart created by calculating the mid-points of two different charts, in an attempt to describe the energetic quality of the relationship
Conjunction – a major aspect, in which the two bodies are overlapping
Cusp – the dividing line between two consecutive signs or houses
Decan or Decanate – a further division of each sign by three, each subsection totaling ten degrees
Degree – one 30th part of a sign, or one 360th part of a circle
Descendant – the degree of the zodiac that is setting on the horizon at the moment of birth (usually the cusp of the Seventh House)
Detriment – the placement of a planet in a sign or house opposite to the one that it rules
Dignity//Domicile – the placement of a planet in the sign or house that it rules
Duplicated Signs – signs that rule two houses in a natal chart, accompanied by Intercepted Signs
Earth Signs – [Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn] the triplicity that represents the function of the senses, and the need for practicality in our lives
Ecliptic – the apparent motion of the sun through our sky as the Earth orbits around. Divided into 360 degrees and then twelve sub sections of thirty degrees called Signs
Exaltation – the placement of a planet in the sign or house in which it best expresses its energy
Fall – the placement of a planet in the sign or house opposite to its Exaltation
Feminine Signs – the three earth signs and the three water signs that represent the perceptive-emotional functions. The signs of negative polarity
Fire Signs – [Aries, Leo, Sagittarius] the triplicity that represents the function of feeling, and our passions and drives
Fixed Signs – [Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius] the quadruplicity that exists as the proliferation of a season. They serve to maintain and develop the change of the Cardinal Signs
Gemini – the third sign, an air sign of the mutable modality
Houses – the twelve sections of a chart that correspond to various spheres of activity in our lives (see here)
Imum Coeli – the degree of the zodiac that is directly below the earth at the moment of birth, also known as the Nadir (usually the cusp of the Fourth House)
Inconjunct – a minor aspect, in which two bodies are separated by 150 degrees
Intercepted Signs – signs completely encased within a house and who thus rule no houses in the chart, accompanied by Duplicated Signs
Leo – the fifth sign, a fire sign of the fixed modality
Libra – the seventh sign, an air sign of the cardinal modality
Lord – the ruler of a sign or house
Masculine Signs – the three fire signs and the three air signs that represent the rational-communicative functions. The signs of positive polarity
Medium Coeli – the degree of the zodiac that is directly overhead at the moment of birth, also known as the Midheaven (usually the cusp of the Tenth House)
Midpoint – the ecliptic degree halfway between two bodies or points
Modality – [Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable] the mode of operation of a sign, and the way in which it directs its energies
Mutable Signs – [Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces] the quadruplicity the exists as the end of a season. They serve to transform the developments of the fixed signs to pave the way for cardinal creation.
Nodes – the Lunar Nodes: the points in the Moon’s orbit that cross the ecliptic, also known as the North and South Nodes, the Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail, or Rahu and Ketu
Opposition – a major aspect, in which two bodies are separated by 180 degrees
Orb – variation of degrees from an aspect
Pisces – the twelfth sign, a water sign of the mutable modality
Planets – the ten heavenly bodies that correspond to various drives and energies in our lives (see here)
Quadruplicity – a set of four signs with the same modality
Retrograde – the apparent backwards motion of a planet in our sky due to their relative motion
Sagittarius – the ninth sign, a fire sign of the mutable modality
Scorpio – the eighth sign, a water sign of the fixed modality
Sextile – a minor aspect, in which two bodies are separated by 60 degrees
Signs – 30 degree sections of the Ecliptic beginning at the Vernal Equinox
Square – a major aspect, in which two bodies are separated by 90 degrees
Stellium – a grouping of 3 or more planets in a sign or house (potentially 4 or more depending on the planets involved and the astrologer)
Succedent Houses – the houses corresponding to the Fixed Signs
Synastry – the study of relationships in astrology utilizing inter-chart overlays and the creation of a composite chart
Taurus – the second sign, an earth sign of the fixed modality
Transit – the current movement of the planets, and the interaction between them as well as their interaction with a natal chart
Trine – a major aspect, in which two bodies are separated by 120 degrees
Triplicity – a set of three signs with the same element
Virgo – the sixth sign, an earth sign of the mutable modality
Water Signs – [Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces] the triplicity that represents the function of emotion, and our intuitive abilities
Zodiac – The Circle of Animals. The imaginary belt surrounding the Ecliptic in which the Zodiacal Constellations fall. Note that these are different from the Astrological Signs
