Affinity: A mutual attraction or natural compatibility between signs, planets, houses, or other astrological factors.
Affliction: A traditional term for a challenging or disharmonious astrological condition, particularly an aspect involving tension between planets or significant points.
Air: One of the four elements into which the zodiac signs are classified, along with fire, earth, and water. In astrology, air is associated with intellect, thought, communication, and the exchange of ideas. The air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Angles: The four cardinal points of a horoscope formed by the intersection of the ecliptic with the horizon and meridian: the Ascendant, Descendant, Imum Coeli (IC), and Medium Coeli (MC), also known as the Midheaven. These points form the primary axes of the birth chart and are traditionally considered especially significant.
Angular House Cusps: The cusps of the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses, corresponding in quadrant house systems to the Ascendant, Imum Coeli, Descendant, and Medium Coeli. Planets in angular houses, particularly when close to an angle, are traditionally considered especially influential in the chart.
Aquarius (♒): The eleventh sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with January 20 through February 18 in the tropical zodiac. Aquarius is a fixed air sign symbolized by the Water Bearer. Uranus is its modern ruler, while Saturn is its traditional ruler.
Aries (♈): The first sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with March 21 through April 19 in the tropical zodiac. Aries is a cardinal fire sign symbolized by the Ram and ruled by Mars.
Ascendant (also known as Rising Sign): The zodiac sign and exact degree rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. The Ascendant begins the first house in most house systems and is traditionally associated with outward expression, physical presence, first impressions, and one's instinctive approach to the world.
Aspects: Angular relationships between planets or other significant points in a birth chart. Aspects describe geometric relationships between chart factors and are interpreted according to their type and degree of separation.
Asteroids: Small rocky or metallic bodies that orbit the Sun. In astrology, certain asteroids are used as additional chart points, including Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta.
Birth Chart (also known as Natal Chart): A map of the celestial positions at the exact time and location of a person's birth, including the Sun, Moon, planets, zodiac signs, houses, and other calculated points used by astrologers.
Cancer (♋): The fourth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with June 21 through July 22 in the tropical zodiac. Cancer is a cardinal water sign symbolized by the Crab and ruled by the Moon.
Capricorn (♑): The tenth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with December 22 through January 19 in the tropical zodiac. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign symbolized by the Sea-Goat. Saturn is its ruling planet.
Cardinal: One of the three qualities, or quadruplicities, into which the zodiac signs are classified. The cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—begin the four seasons in the tropical zodiac.
Chiron: A minor body orbiting between Saturn and Uranus with an unusual, elongated orbit. In astrology, Chiron is commonly associated with the themes of wounding, vulnerability, healing, and the development of wisdom through difficult experiences.
Conjunction: An aspect in which two planets or significant points occupy the same or very similar degree of the zodiac. Their energies are interpreted as closely blended.
Constellations: Recognized regions of the celestial sphere containing groups of stars that appear to form patterns when viewed from Earth. The zodiac signs are named for twelve constellations associated with the ecliptic, although the tropical zodiac signs and astronomical constellations do not occupy identical boundaries.
Cusp: The boundary at which one zodiac sign or astrological house begins. In astrology, the term is also commonly used for a birth occurring near the transition between two signs.
Descendant: The point directly opposite the Ascendant. It represents the seventh house cusp and is traditionally associated with partnerships, relationships, and qualities encountered through others.
Duality: One of the classifications used to group zodiac signs as masculine or feminine. The masculine signs are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. The feminine signs are Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.
Earth: One of the four elements into which the zodiac signs are classified, along with fire, air, and water. In astrology, earth is associated with practicality, stability, material concerns, and groundedness. The earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Ecliptic: The apparent annual path of the Sun across the celestial sphere as observed from Earth. It corresponds approximately to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun and forms the reference circle for the zodiac.
Elements: The four elemental classifications of the zodiac signs: fire, earth, air, and water. 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.
Equinoxes: The two points in the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, producing approximately equal lengths of day and night. In the tropical zodiac, the vernal equinox corresponds to the Sun entering Aries and the autumnal equinox corresponds to the Sun entering Libra.
Fire: One of the four elements into which the zodiac signs are classified, along with earth, air, and water. In astrology, fire is associated with energy, action, enthusiasm, and inspiration. The fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Fixed: One of the three qualities, or quadruplicities, into which the zodiac signs are classified. The fixed signs—Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius—occupy the middle portion of each season in the tropical zodiac.
Gemini (♊): The third sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with May 21 through June 20 in the tropical zodiac. Gemini is a mutable air sign symbolized by the Twins and ruled by Mercury.
Glyphs: Symbols used to represent planets, zodiac signs, and other astrological points. Astrological glyphs provide a standardized visual shorthand for identifying chart factors.
Grand Configurations: Large-scale aspect patterns formed by three or more planets or significant points in a birth chart. Examples include the Grand Trine, Grand Cross, and T-square.
Grand Cross: An aspect pattern formed when four planets or significant points create four squares and two oppositions, forming a cross-like configuration within the birth chart.
Grand Trine: An aspect pattern formed when three planets or significant points are approximately 120° apart from one another, creating an equilateral triangle in the birth chart.
Hellenistic Astrology: A historical tradition of astrology that developed in the Hellenistic Mediterranean world, beginning around the late first millennium BCE. It contributed many techniques and concepts that influenced later Western astrological traditions.
Hemispheric Emphasis: A method of interpreting the distribution of planets across the four hemispheres of a birth chart: the northern, southern, eastern, and western hemispheres.
Horizon: The horizontal plane in a horoscope represented by the line connecting the Ascendant and Descendant. It divides the chart into an upper, or visible, hemisphere and a lower, or below-the-horizon, hemisphere.
Horoscope: A diagram representing the positions of celestial bodies and astrological points for a particular time and place. The term can also refer more generally to an astrological interpretation or forecast.
Houses: The twelve divisions of a birth chart, each traditionally associated with a different area of human experience. Different house systems use different methods for calculating house cusps.
Imum Coeli (IC): One of the four primary angles of a birth chart. The Imum Coeli marks the fourth house cusp in quadrant house systems and lies directly opposite the Midheaven.
Jupiter (♃): The fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System. In astrology, Jupiter is associated with expansion, growth, abundance, philosophy, wisdom, and opportunity.
Leo (♌): The fifth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with July 23 through August 22 in the tropical zodiac. Leo is a fixed fire sign symbolized by the Lion and ruled by the Sun.
Libra (♎): The seventh sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with September 23 through October 22 in the tropical zodiac. Libra is a cardinal air sign symbolized by the Scales and ruled by Venus.
Mars (♂): The fourth planet from the Sun. In astrology, Mars is associated with action, assertion, physical energy, desire, sexuality, competition, and aggression.
Medium Coeli (MC): Another name for the Midheaven. The Medium Coeli is one of the four primary angles of a birth chart and marks the tenth house cusp in quadrant house systems.
Mercury (☿): The planet closest to the Sun. In astrology, Mercury is associated with thought, communication, perception, reasoning, and the exchange of information.
Meridian: The north-south line in a horoscope connecting the Midheaven and Imum Coeli. It divides the chart into eastern and western hemispheres.
Midheaven: One of the four primary angles of a birth chart, also known as the Medium Coeli or MC. It marks the tenth house cusp in quadrant house systems and is traditionally associated with career, public life, reputation, and achievement.
Moon (☽): Earth's natural satellite and one of the two luminaries used in astrology. The Moon is traditionally associated with emotions, instincts, habits, memory, and the private or subjective self.
Moon Sign: The zodiac sign occupied by the Moon at the moment of birth. In astrology, it is associated with emotional instincts, inner needs, responses, and the private self.
Mundane Astrology: The branch of astrology concerned with countries, governments, political events, social developments, natural phenomena, and other collective or world events.
Mutable: One of the three qualities, or quadruplicities, into which the zodiac signs are classified. The mutable signs—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces—occupy the end of each season in the tropical zodiac.
Nadir: Another name for the Imum Coeli, or IC. It is one of the four primary angles of a birth chart and marks the fourth house cusp in quadrant house systems.
Natal Chart: Another name for a birth chart: a map of the celestial positions at the exact moment and location of a person's birth.
Native: A person whose birth chart is being discussed, particularly in reference to a specific planetary or astrological placement.
Neptune (♆): The eighth planet from the Sun. In astrology, Neptune is associated with imagination, spirituality, compassion, idealism, illusion, and transcendence.
Nodes: The North Node and South Node are the two points where the Moon's orbital path intersects the ecliptic. They are always directly opposite one another and form the nodal axis.
North Node: The ascending lunar node, calculated as the point where the Moon's orbit intersects the ecliptic as the Moon moves northward. In astrology, the North Node is commonly associated with growth, development, and qualities a person is encouraged to cultivate.
Opposition (☍): A major aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 180° apart in the zodiac. The opposition creates a relationship of polarity between the two chart factors.
Orbit: The path followed by a celestial body as it moves around another body under the influence of gravity.
Part of Fortune: A calculated point in a birth chart traditionally derived from the longitudes of the Ascendant, Sun, and Moon. In modern astrology, it is commonly associated with material circumstances, ease, and areas of potential fulfillment.
Pisces (♓): The twelfth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with February 19 through March 20 in the tropical zodiac. Pisces is a mutable water sign symbolized by the Fish and ruled by Neptune in modern astrology and Jupiter in traditional astrology.
Planet: A celestial body that orbits a star. In astrology, the term planet is commonly used broadly to include the Sun and Moon as well as the planets and other celestial bodies used in a chart.
Pluto (♇): A dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. In modern astrology, Pluto is associated with transformation, power, regeneration, destruction, and profound change.
Polarity: The relationship between two zodiac signs that lie directly opposite one another on the zodiac wheel, such as Aries and Libra or Taurus and Scorpio.
Progressed Chart: A chart calculated using secondary progressions, a symbolic timing technique in which one day after birth corresponds approximately to one year of life. Progressions are used to study internal development and changing life themes.
Quadrant: One of the four quarters of a horoscope. Each quadrant contains three houses and is defined by the four primary angles of the chart.
Quadruplicity: A classification of four zodiac signs that share the same quality: cardinal, fixed, or mutable. Each quality contains four signs.
Qualities: The three classifications of zodiac signs based on mode of expression: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. Cardinal signs initiate, fixed signs stabilize, and mutable signs adapt.
Quincunx (⚻): A minor aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 150° apart in the zodiac. It is traditionally associated with adjustment, incongruity, or difficulty integrating the two energies.
Retrograde: The apparent backward motion of a planet as observed from Earth, caused by the relative orbital motions of Earth and the planet. In astrology, retrograde motion is given additional interpretive significance.
Rising Sign: Another name for the Ascendant: the zodiac sign and degree rising on the eastern horizon at a particular time and location.
Ruler (also known as Ruling Planet): A planet traditionally or modernly associated with rulership over a particular zodiac sign. For example, Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, while Mars traditionally rules Aries and Scorpio.
Sagittarius (♐): The ninth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with November 22 through December 21 in the tropical zodiac. Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign symbolized by the Archer and ruled by Jupiter.
Saturn (♄): The sixth planet from the Sun. In astrology, Saturn is associated with structure, responsibility, limitation, discipline, boundaries, time, and authority.
Scorpio (♏): The eighth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with October 23 through November 21 in the tropical zodiac. Scorpio is a fixed water sign symbolized by the Scorpion and traditionally ruled by Mars and modernly associated with Pluto.
Semisextile (⚺): A minor aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 30° apart in the zodiac.
Semisquare (∠): A minor aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 45° apart in the zodiac.
Sesquisquare: A minor aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 135° apart in the zodiac.
Sextile (⚹): A major aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 60° apart in the zodiac. It is traditionally considered a harmonious aspect.
Signs of the Zodiac: The twelve 30° divisions of the tropical zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Solstices: The two points in the year when the Sun reaches its greatest apparent distance north or south of the celestial equator. In the tropical zodiac, the summer solstice corresponds to the Sun entering Cancer and the winter solstice corresponds to the Sun entering Capricorn.
South Node: The descending lunar node, directly opposite the North Node. In astrology, the South Node is commonly associated with familiar patterns, established tendencies, and qualities that are already well developed.
Square (□): A major aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 90° apart in the zodiac. The square is traditionally considered a challenging aspect associated with tension, friction, and the need for action or development.
Stellium: An astrological grouping of three or more planets or significant chart bodies concentrated in the same zodiac sign or house, creating an area of particular emphasis in the birth chart.
Sun (☉): The star at the center of the Solar System and one of the two luminaries used in astrology. The Sun is traditionally associated with vitality, identity, individuality, purpose, and conscious self-expression.
Sun Sign: The zodiac sign occupied by the Sun at the moment of birth. In astrology, it is commonly associated with identity, vitality, individuality, and conscious self-expression.
Taurus (♉): The second sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with April 20 through May 20 in the tropical zodiac. Taurus is a fixed earth sign symbolized by the Bull and ruled by Venus.
Transit: The movement of a planet through the zodiac or through a particular position in relation to a birth chart. In astrology, transits are used as a timing technique.
T-Square: An aspect pattern formed by three planets or significant points in which two form an opposition and both form squares to a third point, creating a T-shaped configuration in the birth chart.
Trine (△): A major aspect in which two planets or significant points are approximately 120° apart in the zodiac. The trine is traditionally considered harmonious and associated with ease and compatible flow between the chart factors.
Triplicity: A group of three zodiac signs belonging to the same element. The fire triplicity is Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius; the earth triplicity is Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn; the air triplicity is Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius; and the water triplicity is Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Uranus (♅): The seventh planet from the Sun. In modern astrology, Uranus is associated with innovation, disruption, independence, rebellion, sudden change, and unconventional thought.
Venus (♀): The second planet from the Sun. In astrology, Venus is associated with relationships, attraction, aesthetics, pleasure, values, affection, and creativity.
Virgo (♍): The sixth sign of the zodiac, traditionally associated with August 23 through September 22 in the tropical zodiac. Virgo is a mutable earth sign symbolized by the Maiden and ruled by Mercury.
Water: One of the four elements into which the zodiac signs are classified, along with fire, earth, and air. In astrology, water is associated with emotion, sensitivity, intuition, imagination, and receptivity. The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Western Astrology: A broad astrological tradition that developed primarily in Europe and the Mediterranean and uses the tropical zodiac as its primary zodiacal framework. Its historical development includes Hellenistic, Roman, medieval, Renaissance, and modern traditions.
Zodiac: A belt of the celestial sphere centered on the ecliptic. In Western tropical astrology, the zodiac is divided into twelve equal signs of 30° each: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.