Astrological terms explained H-Z
Harmonics
The term for the Aspects describing the relationship between two points, bodies or Signs.
Heliocentric
See Geocentric.
Horary astrology
The use of horary astrology is increasing. In it an astrologer can suggest an answer to a question by drawing up a chart for the moment when the question is put.
Horizon
The horizontal plane passing through an observer and experienced as the circle where the sky meets the ground. Geometrically, it's the "tangent plane" to the Earth's surface at the position where the observer is located.
Horoscope
See birth chart.
Houses
The birth chart is divided into 12 houses (although these do not correspond to the segments of the chart occupied by the zodiac signs). See house division.
House division
There are various different ways of dividing the chart into 12 houses. Equal House system. Placidus, Regiomonta-nus, Campanus, Porphyry and Morinus.
IC/Imum Coeli
One of the four major angles of a birth chart; this one falls at the bottom of the chart wheel. It is the start of the Fourth House and is one of the most personal points of the chart.
Inferior planets
Mercury and Venus - the planets placed between the Earth and the Sun - are known as inferior. Those planets further from the Sun than Earth: i.e., Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron, are referred to as superior.
Inner Planets
The faster moving planets that are in the inner part of the solar system. Includes the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars; usually the Moon is thrown in as well. These planets generally indicate parts of the personality that are well-known to the ego and relate to everyday behavior patterns
Jupiter
The fifth planet from the Sun, and the largest planet in the Solar System. In astrology, Jupiter is associated with benevolence, abundance, success, joy, happiness, and good fortune. It tends to exaggerate the effect of any planet with which it is in aspect. It rules the sign Sagittarius.
Kite
A pattern of 4 planets, 3 in a Grand Trine pattern, and the 4th directly opposite one of the other 3. A very dynamic and positive complex.
Lights, the
The traditional term for the Sun and Moon.
Lunar Eclipse
When the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow and seems to disappear. An omen of deep transformation, often lasting 6 to 12 months.
Lunar Node
The points on the zodiac where the plane of the moon's orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic (the Earth's orbit). These points are called the north node and the south node. They are generally considered to describe a person's karmic patterns and goals. They also mark the parts of the zodiac where eclipses can currently happen
Malefic
A planet that operates in a difficult, unpleasant manner, often producing negative or unwanted results after much effort.
See benefic.
Mars
The fourth planet from the Sun, also known as the "red planet." In astrology, Mars is associated with energy, action, anger, violence, sexual desire, and war. It rules Aries and co-rules Scorpio.
Masculine signs
Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Also known as "positive" or "yang" signs, these are said to be the more active and assertive signs of the Zodiac.
MC/Medium Coeli
The point directly above the birthplace at the exact time when someone is born; the highest point in the Natal Chart. Usually associated with career and public image
Medical astrology
There is an almost ageless association between astrology and medicine, based on the study of natal and progressed charts and what they reveal about the physique of the subject, and the treatment of possible illnesses.
Mercury
The closest planet to the Sun. In astrology, Mercury is associated with the mind, quickness, the hands and arms, intellect, communication, and thoughts and ideas of all kinds. Mercury rules both Gemini and Vir
Meridian
The meridian at Greenwich - the point from which time and space is measured - divides longitude into east and west; the meridian of the place of birth is used more personally by the astrologer.
Midheaven
The point of the zodiac where the ecliptic intersects the upper part of the meridian, a vertical plane that passes directly north and south.
Midpoint
As the term suggests, the midpoint between two planets or angles, sometimes house cusps.
Modality
The 3 modalities are different styles or manners of expression of the 4 elemental energies. These modalities go by the names cardinal, fixed and mutable.
Moon
Earth's satellite, which circles the Earth every 28 days. In astrology, the Moon is associated with emotion, moods, the mother, pregnancy and birth, land, the home, and all bodies of water.
Mundane astrology
The area of astrology which is concerned with politics and world events.
Mutable signs
One of the modalities for expressing elemental energies. The mutable expression involves expanding in all directions at once, changing or transforming the original energy in new ways. It suggests traits of flexibility, changeableness and adaptability, often promoting a change in conscious awareness. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. See quadruplicities.
Mutual reception
Planets are in mutual reception when each is in the sign ruled by the other.
Natal - Synonymous with 'birth.' Natal chart and birth chart are terms which can be used interchangeably.
Negative signs
See feminine signs.
Neptune
The eighth planet from the Sun. In astrology, Neptune is associated with illusion, confusion, deception, the arts, romance, and spiritual, psychic, and metaphysical matters. It rules Pisces.
Ninth House
The ninth segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with philosophy, religion, law, higher education, intellect, intuition, vision, and with the sign Sagittarius.
Nodes
The north and south nodes of the Moon are those points on the ecliptic where the Moon crosses it going either north or south.
Opposition A planetary aspect which occurs when two planets are posited in exact opposite signs and degrees of the Zodiac. The effect is mostly believed to be stressful, yet an opposition can bring two conflicting energies into balance and mitigate the negative effects of both planets. See aspects.
Orb
Astrologers allow an "orb" of influence for a planetary aspect - depending on the nature of the aspect. An aspect is considered, even if it is not exact to the precise degree.
Outer Planets
The planets farthest out in the solar system. These move the slowest around the zodiac and have the deepest effects on our lives, mostly at an unconscious level. Includes Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto; Saturn and Chiron are often added to the list.
Parallel
An aspect formed when two planets are in the same declination, that is, when they are the same distance north or south of the celestial equator. Generally considered to operate much like the conjunction.
Perihelion
The point in a planet's orbit where it is closest to the sun and moving as fast as it can. This often intensifies the planet's effects on us (especially for those planet's further from the sun than the Earth), as we are getting a "close up view" of it.
Planets
For convenience, astrologers call the Sun and Moon planets, though, of course, the Sun is a star (the main star used in astrology) and the Moon merely Earths satellite.The other planets are Mercury,Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. It is increasingly supposed by astronomers that another planet exists, beyond the orbit of Pluto.
Pluto
The ninth planet from the Sun, and the only one besides the Earth to have a large, single satellite. In astrology, Pluto is associated with the masses, large groups of people, organizations, wealth, violence, transformation, and upheavals. It rules Scorpio.
Polarity
Opposite or polar signs affect each other: each sign has a relationship with its partner across the zodiac: Aries/Libra, Taurus/ Scorpio, Gemini/Sagittarius, Cancer/Capricorn, Leo/Aquarius,Virgo/Pisces. The term polarity expresses this fact.
Positive signs
See feminine signs.
Precession of the Equinoxes
The phenomenon concerns the shift which has resulted in the zodiac signs no longer occupying precisely the position vis-a-vis Earth that they occupied several thousand years ago. But astrologers use the constellations' names to denote areas of the ecliptic rather than the constellations themselves; the astrological theory is not (as astronomers tend to argue) devalued by the phenomenon.
Prediction
Though the public in particular speaks of astrologers as "predicting", it cannot too often be emphasized that astrology cannot be relied upon to predict specific events.
Progressed horoscope
The natal birth chart can, by various means (but usually by a system known as "a day for a year") be "progressed" to represent future periods. A horoscope drawn up for a future date is known as "progressed", and rather than "predictions" made from it, an astrologer will refer to "progressions".
Quadruplicities
The zodiac signs have over millennia been divided into three groups of four - known as the quadruplicities: cardinal, fixed and mutable. The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn; the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius; and the mutable signs Gemini,Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. The signs in a particular group are said to share certain qualities.
Radix
The basic birth chart, from which all astrological work begins.
Rectification
An attempt to correct a perhaps uncertain birth time by studying the subjects characteristics and the events in his or her life.
Retrograde
A planet sometimes looks, when seen from the Earth, as though it is travelling backwards through the zodiac. It is then said to be retrograde.
Rising Sign, or Ascendant
The sign ascending on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of an individual's birth. The cusp of the first house of the Natal Chart.
Rulership
Different signs are "ruled" by different planets, and their influences can be affected bv this fact. planets have been attributed to signs, displacing traditional sign rulers. There has been much discussion of sign rulerships, and some astrologers pay little attention to the theory. In another sense, countries and cities are said to be ruled by certain signs - England by Aries, North America by Gemini, and so on.
Saturn
The sixth planet from the Sun, and the one with the most massive system of rings. In astrology, Saturn is associated with sorrow, obstacles, limitations, perseverance, caution, business, strength, and longevity. It rules Capricorn and co-rules Aquarius.
Second House
The second segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with resources, money, talents, property, self-confidence, and the sign Taurus.
Seventh House The seventh segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with marriage, partnership, social lives, manners, and relations with people as well as with the sign Libra.
Sextile
A planetary aspect in which two planets are roughly 60 degrees apart. Its effect is said to be favorable, though effort is required to attain its best possible manifestation.
Sidereal Time
Time reckoned by the stars rather than by the Sun.
Signs
See Sun sign astrology.
Sixth House
The sixth segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with work, health, employees, diet, nutrition, pets, and small animals and with the sign Virgo.
Solar Chart
An astrological chart drawn up with the Sun on the first house cusp - usually set up for a subject with an unknown birth time; also used by journalist astrologers writing Sun sign columns
Solar Eclipse
When the Sun is covered up by the Moon. An omen of deep transformation, often lasting 6 to 12 months
Solar Return
When the sun returns to the same zodiac position as it was in your birth chart (around the time of your birthday); also the entire chart set up for this time. A solar return chart describes the circumstances in your life for the coming year.
Solstice
Point at which Sun is furthest south or north from Earths equator.
South Node
The lunar node where the moon's orbit passes from north of the ecliptic to south. Also known as "Caudus Draconis" (Latin for "tail of the dragon"). Indicates your karmic talents, habits and blockages from previous lives.
Southern latitudes
The astrological theory is, of course, the same for people born in southern latitudes as in northern; the adjustment is easily made.
Square
A planetary aspect in which two planets are roughly 90 degrees apart. Its effect is said to be stressful, though it doesn't deny the positive effects. It just makes them more difficult to attain.
Star Sign
See Sun Sign
Stars
For some inexplicable reason, popular journalists have come to believe that the stars have something to do with astrology, and continually write about what "the stars" say about their readers. While an increasing number of astrologers use the fixed stars that fall within the zodiac, for popular astrology "the stars" have nothing to do with interpretation.
Stellium
A group of planets gathered in one area of the zodiac, sometimes, a multiple conjunction.
Sun
The central star of our Solar System, the giver of all life on Earth and beyond. In astrology, it is the most important of all the planetary factors and rules the individual will, the ego, and the path the entity takes in this particular lifetime
Sun Sign
What people think of as their 'Sign' or 'Star Sign.' It is the position of the Sun in the Zodiac at the moment of one's birth. The Sign placement of the Sun shows an individual's basic character. It is the core of one's potential and uniqueness as an individual
Sun-sign Astrology
In newspaper Sun-sign columns, journalists make predictions for the day, month or year ahead on the basis of solar charts set up for those with specific Sun signs.
Superior planets
See inferior planets.
Synastry
Comparing natal charts to find strengths and weaknesses in the area of compatibility.
T-square
The configuration formed when two planets in opposition both square the same third planet (and form a 'T' in the heavens). This is a challenging focal point for planetary energies.
Tenth House The tenth segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with career and business matters, public image, the father, authority figures, and with the sign Capricorn.
Third House
The third segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with brothers, sisters, other relatives, neighbors, visitors, communications, thoughts and ideas, and with the sign Gemini.
Transit
An aspect between the current position of a heavenly body and the position of another heavenly body in the Natal Chart. The combination of the energies between those two celestial objects is read in order to discern events in the immediate and long-term futureTriplicity Signs have over the millennia been assigned to the four elements: so fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; earth signs are Taurus,Virgo and Capricorn; air signs arc Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and water signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Trine
A planetary aspect in which two planets are roughly 120 degrees apart. Its effect is said to be favorable, due to luck, or being in the right place at the right time.
Triplicities
Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Designations from ancient alchemy that reflect the basic nature of the sign: Fire = energy; Earth = practicality; Air - intellect; Water = emotion. Also called the Elements.
Twelfth House
The twelfth segment of the Natal Chart, counted counterclockwise from the Ascendant. Associated with mystical and psychic abilities, creativity, imagination, self-undoing, and the unknown, including the secret enemy, and with the sign Pisces.
Uranus The seventh planet from the Sun. In astrology, Uranus is associated with upsets, luck, surprises, the unexpected, independence, the desire for friends, and a need for freedom and adventure. It rules Aquarius.
Venus
The second planet from the Sun, and closest to the Earth, known for its beauty. In astrology, Venus is associated with love, harmony, beauty, money, talent, the arts, land, and other resources. It rules Taurus and Libra.
WaterOne of the 4 classical elements, representing the traits of fluidity, emotion/feeling, love and belonging. Often signifies unconscious tendencies. The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
Zenith
The point of the sky immediately overhead.
Zodiac
The great circle made by the Sun as it seems to revolve around the Earth has from time immemorial been divided into sections (although it has not always been divided into 12 sections).The zodiac we know, with its mythological creatures and stories, dates from perhaps 5,000 years ago. Its history is fascinating and obscure.
Zodiacal Man
During the evolution of medical astrology the 12 signs of the zodiac leave become associated with various parts of the body - starting with Aries and the head and ending with Pisces and the feet. This useful form of shorthand is still used in modern medical astrology.