✦ Astrology Glossary
Astrology Glossary
Every term — Aries, Mercury, aspects, houses — explained plainly, without the esoteric clichés.
170 terms
A
AI Astrologer
An AI astrologer is a conversational tool that uses artificial intelligence to interpret your birth chart and provide personalized astrological insights.
Air Signs
The three zodiac signs ruled by the element of Air: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. They are associated with intellect, communication, and social connection.
Anaretic Degree
The 29th degree of any zodiac sign, a point of urgency and completion before a new cycle begins.
Angles
The four most important points in a natal chart: Ascendant, Descendant, MC, and IC.
Applying Aspect
An aspect where the faster planet is moving toward an exact angle with a slower planet, building energy.
Aquarius
Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, known for its innovative, humanitarian, and independent spirit.
Aries
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, known for its bold, energetic, and pioneering spirit.
Ascendant
The Ascendant is the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth, shaping your outward personality and first impressions.
Aspect
An angle between two planets in a birth chart that reveals how their energies interact.
Astrologer
An astrologer interprets celestial patterns to offer insights into personality, timing, and life themes.
Astrology
Astrology is a symbolic language that studies the relationship between celestial movements and human experience.
B
Balsamic Moon
The Balsamic Moon phase is the final, quiet stage of the lunar cycle, a time for release and reflection before the new moon.
Big Three
The Sun, Moon, and Ascendant signs — the three core components of your astrological identity.
Birth Chart
A snapshot of the sky at your exact moment of birth, mapping planets, signs, houses, and aspects.
Blood Moon
A Blood Moon is a total lunar eclipse where the Moon appears reddish, caused by sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere.
C
Cancer
Cancer is the fourth zodiac sign, ruled by the Moon, known for emotional depth, intuition, and a strong connection to home and family.
Capricorn
Capricorn is the tenth zodiac sign, ruled by Saturn, known for ambition, discipline, and a practical approach to life.
Cardinal Signs
The four zodiac signs that initiate each season and are known for their leadership, action, and drive.
Chart Wheel
A circular diagram representing the positions of planets, signs, and houses at a specific time and place.
Chiron
Chiron is a comet-like body in astrology representing the wounded healer, pointing to deep, often hidden wounds and the potential for healing.
Compatibility
Compatibility in astrology measures how two charts interact, revealing strengths and challenges in a relationship.
Composite Chart
A composite chart blends two natal charts into one, revealing the unique energy and purpose of a relationship.
Conjunction
A conjunction occurs when two planets are close together in the same zodiac sign, blending their energies into a single powerful focus.
Constellation
A constellation is a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern, traditionally named after mythological figures or objects.
Crescent Moon
A lunar phase occurring a few days after the New Moon, when a thin sliver of the Moon becomes visible.
Critical Degree
A critical degree is a specific degree in a zodiac sign that is believed to carry extra weight or intensity in a birth chart.
Cusp
The boundary line between two astrological houses, where one house ends and another begins.
D
Davison Chart
A Davison Chart is a composite chart calculated by taking the midpoint of time and space between two people, revealing the nature of their relationship.
Decanate
A decanate is a 10-degree subdivision of a zodiac sign, giving each sign three distinct faces with different planetary rulers.
Descendant
The Descendant is the point opposite the Ascendant, marking the cusp of the 7th house and representing relationships and partnerships.
Detriment
A planet in detriment is in the sign opposite its rulership, weakening its expression.
Direct Motion
Direct motion is when a planet appears to move forward through the zodiac, its usual and strongest mode of expression.
Disseminating Moon
The Disseminating Moon is the phase after the Full Moon, when the Moon wanes and the light begins to decrease.
Domicile
A planet in its domicile is in the sign it rules, giving it strength and ease of expression.
E
Earth Signs
Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn form the earth element — grounded, practical, and focused on material security.
Eclipse
An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, temporarily blocking light — a powerful transit for change and revelation.
Ecliptic
The Sun's apparent annual path across the sky, serving as the reference line for zodiac signs and planetary positions.
Eighth House
The Eighth House in astrology governs transformation, shared resources, intimacy, and the mysteries of life and death.
Electional Astrology
Electional astrology is the practice of choosing the most favorable time to begin an event based on planetary alignments.
Element
The four elements — fire, earth, air, water — describe core personality traits and energy styles in astrology.
Eleventh House
The house of friendships, groups, hopes, and long-term goals in the natal chart.
Ephemeris
A table or dataset showing the daily positions of planets, used to calculate birth charts and transits.
Equal House System
A method for dividing the birth chart into twelve houses of equal 30° arcs, starting from the Ascendant.
Equinox
An equinox occurs twice a year when day and night are nearly equal in length, marking the start of spring and autumn.
Essential Dignity
A measure of a planet's strength based on its zodiac sign placement, indicating how comfortably it expresses its energy.
Exaltation
Exaltation is a planet's second-highest dignity, where its energy is especially honored and expressed with ease.
F
Fall
A planet in fall is in the sign opposite its exaltation, weakening its expression and making its energy harder to channel.
Feminine Signs
Feminine signs (Earth and Water) are receptive, intuitive, and nurturing. They represent inward-focused energy in astrology.
Fifth House
The Fifth House governs creativity, romance, self-expression, and pleasure in the birth chart.
Fire Signs
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius share the Fire element, driving passion, action, and enthusiasm.
First House
The First House in astrology represents your self-image, physical appearance, and how you present to the world.
Fixed Signs
The four fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) represent stability, persistence, and a resistance to change in astrology.
Fixed Star
A star that appears fixed in the sky, used in astrology to add nuance to planets and points in a natal chart.
Fourth House
The Fourth House in astrology represents home, family, roots, and the inner emotional foundation of a person's life.
Full Moon
A Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are opposite, illuminating the sky and highlighting themes of culmination and release.
G
Gemini
Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, known for its curiosity, adaptability, and dual nature.
Gibbous Moon
A phase between the First Quarter and Full Moon, when the Moon is more than half but not fully illuminated.
Glyph
A glyph is a symbolic icon used in astrology to represent planets, signs, aspects, and other chart elements.
Grand Cross
A Grand Cross is a rare aspect pattern where four planets form two oppositions and four squares, creating intense tension and a call for action.
Grand Trine
A harmonious aspect pattern where three planets form a triangle of 120° aspects, creating ease and natural talent.
H
Hard Aspect
A hard aspect is an astrological angle that creates tension, challenge, or friction between two planets.
Hemisphere
A division of the birth chart into two halves, revealing where planetary energy is concentrated.
Horary Astrology
A branch of astrology that answers a specific question by casting a chart for the moment the question is asked.
Horoscope
A horoscope is a map of the sky at a specific moment, used in astrology to interpret personality and life themes.
House
A house in astrology represents a specific area of life, like career, relationships, or home, based on the sky at your birth.
House System
A method for dividing the birth chart into 12 houses, each representing a different area of life.
I
J
K
Karmic Astrology
A branch of astrology that interprets past-life patterns and soul lessons through the birth chart.
Kite
A rare aspect pattern formed by a grand trine plus one planet opposite the apex, creating a focused release point.
Koch House System
A house system that divides the birth chart based on the ecliptic's intersection with the local horizon and prime vertical.
L
Leo
Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, ruled by the Sun, known for its bold, creative, and generous nature.
Libra
Libra is the seventh zodiac sign, symbolized by the Scales, representing balance, harmony, and relationships.
Lilith
Lilith represents the dark, primal, and repressed feminine in astrology, tied to our shadow side and untamed desires.
Luminaries
The Sun and Moon, the two brightest bodies in the sky, representing core identity and emotional nature in astrology.
Lunar Eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, creating a powerful full moon that often brings endings and revelations.
Lunar Node
Points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic, revealing karmic themes and life direction.
Lunar Phase
The Moon's current stage in its orbit around Earth, defined by its angular relationship to the Sun.
Lunar Return
A chart cast for the moment the Moon returns to its natal position, revealing themes for the next month.
M
Major Aspects
Major aspects are the five key angular relationships between planets in a birth chart that reveal core personality dynamics.
Mars
Mars is the planet of action, drive, and desire in astrology, representing how you assert yourself and pursue what you want.
Mars Retrograde
Mars Retrograde is a period when Mars appears to move backward in the sky, slowing down action and prompting inner reflection.
Masculine Signs
Masculine signs are the six active, outgoing zodiac signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius) that express energy outwardly.
Medical Astrology
Medical astrology is a traditional branch that links zodiac signs, planets, and houses to parts of the body and health tendencies.
Mercury
Mercury is the planet of communication, intellect, and information flow in astrology.
Mercury Retrograde
A period when Mercury appears to move backward in the sky, often linked to communication delays and reflection.
Midheaven
The Midheaven (MC) marks the highest point in your birth chart, representing your career, public image, and life direction.
Minor Aspects
Minor aspects are subtle astrological angles like sextiles, semisquares, and quincunxes that add nuance to a chart.
Modality
Modality describes how a zodiac sign expresses its energy: Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable.
Mode
A mode (or quality) describes how a zodiac sign expresses its energy: cardinal, fixed, or mutable.
Moon
The Moon represents emotions, instincts, and the subconscious in astrology, shaping how we nurture and respond.
Moon Sign
The zodiac sign the Moon occupied at your birth, revealing your emotional nature, instincts, and inner needs.
Mundane Astrology
Mundane astrology interprets world events, nations, and collective trends through planetary cycles and charts.
Mutable Signs
Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) are the adaptable, flexible signs that close each season and bridge change.
Mystic Rectangle
A rare aspect pattern formed by two oppositions and two trines, creating a harmonious flow of energy between four planets.
N
Natal Astrology
Natal astrology interprets a person's birth chart to reveal character, life themes, and potential paths.
Natal Chart
A natal chart is a snapshot of the sky at your exact birth moment, used in astrology to map your personality and life themes.
Neptune
Neptune rules dreams, intuition, and illusion, dissolving boundaries between self and universe.
New Moon
A New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon align in the same zodiac sign, marking the start of a new lunar cycle.
Ninth House
The Ninth House rules higher learning, philosophy, travel, and the search for meaning through expanding horizons.
North Node
The North Node points to the karmic lessons and growth areas you're meant to explore in this life.
O
Opposition
An aspect where two planets sit 180° apart, creating tension and a push-pull dynamic that demands balance.
Orb
The allowed degree range within which an astrological aspect is considered active.
Outer Planets
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto — the slow-moving planets that shape generational themes and deep transformation.
P
Part of Fortune
The Part of Fortune is a calculated point in a natal chart that shows where you find natural ease, joy, and material well-being.
Personal Planets
The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars — the fastest-moving planets that shape your core personality and daily experience.
Pisces
Pisces is the twelfth sign of the zodiac, known for its intuitive, compassionate, and dreamy nature.
Placidus
The Placidus system is the most widely used house system in Western astrology, dividing the birth chart into 12 unequal houses based on time and space.
Planetary Ruler
The planet that governs a zodiac sign, influencing how that sign's energy is expressed.
Pluto
Pluto represents transformation, power, and the deep unconscious in astrology.
Polarity
Polarity describes the complementary relationship between opposite signs, elements, or houses in astrology.
Progressions
A predictive technique in astrology that moves the natal chart forward by one day for each year of life to reveal inner development.
Q
R
Relationship Chart
A composite or Davison chart that blends two natal charts to reveal the dynamics of a relationship.
Retrograde
A period when a planet appears to move backward in the sky, often associated with review and reflection.
Rising Sign
The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth, shaping your outward personality and first impressions.
Rulership
Rulership is the foundational dignity where a planet governs the sign(s) it naturally rules, giving it strength and ease of expression.
S
Sabian Symbol
A symbolic image associated with each degree of the zodiac, used for deeper chart interpretation.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac, known for its adventurous, optimistic, and truth-seeking nature.
Saturn
Saturn is the planet of structure, discipline, and life lessons, revealing where you face challenges and build lasting rewards.
Saturn Return
A Saturn Return is a major astrological cycle that occurs every 29.5 years when Saturn returns to the same position it held at your birth.
Scorpio
Scorpio is the eighth zodiac sign, known for intensity, depth, and transformation. Ruled by Pluto and Mars.
Second House
The Second House in astrology governs personal finances, material possessions, values, and self-worth.
Secondary Progressions
A predictive technique where each day after birth equals one year of life, revealing inner psychological shifts.
Semi-Sextile
A 30-degree aspect between planets, indicating a subtle connection that often requires conscious effort to integrate.
Semi-Square
A minor aspect of 45° that creates mild tension and friction between two planets.
Separating Aspect
An aspect that is moving away from exactness, losing influence as the planets continue their orbits.
Sesquiquadrate
A minor challenging aspect of 135°, indicating friction and tension that requires adjustment.
Seventh House
The Seventh House governs partnerships, marriage, contracts, and open enemies in astrology.
Sextile
A 60-degree angle between two planets, indicating ease, opportunity, and natural talent.
Sidereal Zodiac
The Sidereal Zodiac is a coordinate system used in astrology that aligns with the actual positions of constellations in the sky.
Sixth House
The Sixth House governs daily routines, health, work, service, and habits in your natal chart.
Social Planets
Jupiter and Saturn, the planets that describe how we relate to society, rules, and long-term growth.
Soft Aspect
A harmonious angle between two planets that creates ease, flow, and natural talent.
Solar Arc
A predictive technique that moves the natal Sun one degree per year to trigger key life events.
Solar Eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun's light.
Solar Return
A Solar Return chart is a predictive tool cast for the exact moment the Sun returns to its natal position, outlining the year ahead.
Solstice
A solstice marks the longest and shortest days of the year, when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.
South Node
The South Node represents your past-life karma, innate talents, and comfort zone, pointing to patterns you may outgrow.
Square
A challenging 90° aspect between two planets that creates tension, friction, and motivation for growth.
Stationary Planet
A planet that appears to stop moving in the sky before changing direction, marking a period of intensified energy.
Stellium
A stellium occurs when three or more planets cluster in the same zodiac sign or house, intensifying that area of life.
Sun
The Sun represents your core identity, ego, and life purpose in astrology. It's the essence of who you are.
Sun Sign
The zodiac sign the Sun was in at your birth, representing your core identity and ego.
Supermoon
A Supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth, appearing larger and brighter than usual.
Synastry
Synastry compares two birth charts to reveal relationship dynamics, strengths, and challenges.
T
T-Square
A T-Square is a dynamic aspect pattern formed by two planets in opposition, both square a third planet.
Taurus
Taurus is the second zodiac sign, known for its earthy stability, sensuality, and determination.
Tenth House
The Tenth House in astrology governs career, public reputation, and life direction.
Third House
The Third House in astrology rules communication, siblings, short trips, and early education.
Transit
A transit is the current position of a planet in the sky as it moves through the zodiac and interacts with your birth chart.
Trine
A trine is a 120° aspect between two planets, creating harmony and ease in the areas they rule.
Tropical Zodiac
The Tropical Zodiac is the system that aligns the zodiac signs with the seasons, starting at the March equinox.
Twelfth House
The house of endings, solitude, and the subconscious in a birth chart.
U
V
Vedic Astrology
Vedic Astrology, or Jyotish, is an ancient Indian system that uses sidereal zodiac and lunar mansions for chart interpretation.
Venus
Venus rules love, beauty, values, and pleasure in your birth chart, showing how you attract and what you enjoy.
Venus Retrograde
A period when Venus appears to move backward in the sky, often prompting reflection on love, values, and relationships.
Vertex
The Vertex is a sensitive point in a natal chart, often linked to fated encounters and turning points.
Virgo
Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac, associated with detail, service, and analytical thinking.
Void of Course Moon
A Void of Course Moon occurs when the Moon makes no major aspects before leaving its current sign, signaling a time to pause and reflect.
W
Waning Moon
The Waning Moon is the phase between Full Moon and New Moon, when the illuminated portion decreases each night.
Water Signs
Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces form the water element — the emotional, intuitive, and deeply feeling signs of the zodiac.
Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon is the period from new moon to full moon when the moon's visible surface grows larger each night.
Western Astrology
Western astrology is a symbolic system based on the tropical zodiac, interpreting planetary positions relative to Earth.
Whole Sign Houses
A house system where each sign is one house, starting from the rising sign.