A Quick Guide To Astrological Definitions

The astrological system's major components are planets, signs, houses and aspects. This is an abbreviated glossary of the central indicators.

Planets

Sun:
Central organizer of identity, awareness and life force of an individual.

Moon:
Unconscious motivations & needs, feminine and receptive.

Mercury:
The intellect, rational thought & communication.

Venus:
Relational and aesthetic sensibilities, pleasure, connection to others.

Mars:
Action, desires, physical activity, self-assertion.

Jupiter:
Growth, expansion, philosophy, joy.

Saturn:
Maturity, responsibility, limits, reality, discipline.

Uranus:
Individuality, change, reform, transpersonal intuition, group consciousness.

Neptune:
Imagination, illusion, transpersonal or spiritual experience, mysticism.

Pluto:
Transformation, psychic depth including wounding, death & regeneration.

Aries:
Establishment of identity, assertion, courage, fiery enthusiasm.

Taurus:
Resources, self-worth, sensuality, earthy belongings and pleasure.

Gemini:
Curiosity, variety, adaptability, intellectual endeavors, dualistic.

Cancer:
Nurturing, empathic, sensitive, loyal, emotional, family centered.

Leo:
Creative, self-expression, dramatic, strong, extravagant.

Virgo:
Practical, methodical, industrious, modest, conscientious.

Libra:
Diplomatic, social, charming, refined, balanced.

Scorpio:
Passionate, intense, persistent, complex, purposeful.

Sagittarius:
Exploring, optimistic, energetic, broad thinking, search for meaning.

Capricorn:
Leadership, steadiness, wisdom, patient, disciplined.

Aquarius:
Independent, progressive, freedom loving, inventive, original.

Pisces:
Intuitive, changeable, mystical, impressionable, compassionate.

1st House:
Who we are, free will, personality.

2nd House:
Resources, self-worth and security, what we value.

3rd House:
The mindset and perceptual environment.

4th House:
The home, roots, inner life.

5th House:
Creativity, self-expression, children, love affairs..

6th House:
Self-improvement, service, health, work.

7th House:
Marriage, partnerships, the other.

8th House:
How we value others, legacies, death and the "shadow."

9th House:
Travel, expansion, higher learning, religion.

10th House:
Career, the public face, social structures.

11th House:
Groups, friends, hopes, dreams, receiving love.

12th House:
Spiritual experience, collective consciousness, the "attic" of consciousness, endings.

Conjunction:
The fusing of two planetary energies.

Opposition:
180 degrees apart, tension, pulling in 2 directions.

Sextile:
60 degrees apart, stimulation, excitation.

Square:
90 degrees apart, friction, challenge, stress.

Trine:
120 degrees apart, supportive, harmonious.

Air:
The element associated with intellect, socialization, communication.

Angles:
The four points that represent the horizon and meridian. These points are very sensitive and establish the Ascendant and Midheaven axis.

Angular Houses:
Houses 1,4,7,10 that are derived from the angles.


Ascendant:
Also known as the Rising sign. This sign was rising on the eastern horizon at birth and establishes the first house in the birth chart
.
Aspect:
A geometrical relationship between planets in an astrology chart. See above.

Birth Chart:
A diagram of the celestial bodies, as they appeared at a specific time.

Cadent:
Houses 3,6,9,12 that precede the angles.

Cardinal:
Action, initiative, leadership. Includes: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.

Cusp:
The point at which a sign or house begins.

Descendant:
The angle that opposes the Ascendant. Begins the 7th house.

Detriment:
A planet that resides in a sign where its expression is weakened.

Dignity:
A planet that resides in the sign is rules, giving it more strength.

Earth:
The element associated with practicality, conservatism, materialism.

Elements:
Earth, Air, Fire, Water. All signs are classified as one of these.

Exaltation:
A planet resides in a sign where its energy is strengthened.

Fall:
A planet that resides in a sign where its expression is weakened.

Fire:
The element associated with energy, enthusiasm, warmth, impulsiveness.

Fixed:
Persistence, concentration of energy. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius.

Houses:
Areas of activity. See above.

Midheaven:
The angle at the top of the chart (10th cusp) that represents the public face.

Midpoints:
The exact point between two planets.

Mutable:
Adaptable, dispersion of energy. Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces.

Nadir:
The point at the bottom of the chart that signifies, inner life, roots.

Nodes:
Karmic indicators of the Moon.

Orb:
The amount of degrees in which an aspect is still potent. 2 is close, 8 is far.


Progressed Chart:
A day for a year formula is applied to see how a natal chart evolves.

Retrograde:
The perceived backwards motion of a planet as seen by the earth.

Ruler:
The planet that has dominion over a certain sign.

Singleton:
A planet that solely occupies a chart hemisphere or area.

Solar Return Chart:
A horoscope cast for the exact moment the Sun returns to its original spot in the natal chart.

Stationary:
When a planet is standing still, about to either turn retrograde or direct.

Stellium:
A grouping of planets together as seen in the birth chart.

Succedent Houses:
Houses 2,5,8,11 that do not touch angles.

Transit:
The passage of a planet to a sensitive point in the horoscope.

Water:
The element associated with emotion, sensitivity, spirituality.