Glossary Of Common Astrological Terms Used By AstroMommy
Hello, Friends!
This is a working document of some of the most common Astrological terms used here in the AstroMommy Newsletter. All of these definitions can be found on any well-known astrological website, but I wanted to compile a list of the most common ones I use for easy reference, plus, it is good practice for me to explain what a term means in my own words.
I practice Western Tropical Hellenistic Astrology, with some Modern adornments. If a definition is particular to one or the other practices, I will try to include that distinction.
If there is a term that you would like me to define, please send me an email to astromommyastrology@gmail.com and I would be happy to include it.
This glossary is not exhaustive and I will be adding to it as I go along!
Thank you,
AstroMommy
Glossary Of Common Astrological Terms Used
By AstroMommy
A
Angle—when a planetary ray hits another planet, point, or other celestial body, creating an angle between the two.
Antiscia—a mirror relationship of equal light and dark qualities between two planets over the Solstice points on the ecliptic. Acts like a hidden conjunction.
Aspect — an angular relationship between points, planets, or other celestial bodies.
Aversion—either a 30-degree angle or a 150-degree angle to a celestial point or body.
B
Bendings—the North and South Bendings are the 90-degree angles from the North and South Nodes.
Bound—a partition of the 30-degree segment of each sign broken apart into 5 segments, of varying degrees, and ruled by various planets, excluding the luminaries. (I use the Egyptian bounds).
C
Celestial Bodies—planets, asteroids, fixed stars, moons, etc…any physical body in space (this excludes points such as the Nodes which do not have a physical body)
Combust—When a planet is within 08° of either side of the Sun it is said to be combust, which means, burnt up, debilitated, weakened, not seen, obscured, and this is not a good place to be for a planet. When the planet is in its own domicile, i.e. Mercury in Virgo, it is said that the planet is in its own “chariot,” and is protected from the harms of combustion.
Conjunct/Conjunction —when planets, fixed stars, or points on the chart wheel occupy the same zodiacal placement. (This is a “bodily or corporeal” conjunction and technically is not considered an “aspect” because it has no angular relationship, but I may call it an aspect for the sake of simplicity within the newsletter).
Contra-Antiscia—a mirror relationship of the opposite light and dark qualities between two planets over the Equinox points on the ecliptic. Acts like a hidden opposition.
D
Decan—[deh-can, rhymes with “reckon”]—a 10-degree segment (out of the three equal divisions) of the 30-degree segment of the chart wheel given to each sign in the zodiac. Also called “Face.” (I use the Chaldean/Ptolemaic Decans).
Detriment—when a planet is in the sign opposite to a sign that it rules.
Domicile—when a planet has rulership over a sign it is said to be in its “domicile” because it is “at home.” (I use the Hellenistic domicile/rulership scheme based on the Thema Mundi).
E
Exaltation—when a planet is exalted in a sign it is said to be brought to a heightened state and in ancient astrology was when the planet was at its highest declination in the sky along the ecliptic. (I use the Hellenistic exaltation/fall scheme).
F
Face—a 10-degree segment (out of the three equal divisions) of the 30-degree segment of the chart wheel given to each sign in the zodiac. Also called a“Decan.”
Fall—when a planet is in the sign opposite to the sign of its exaltation. In ancient astrology was when the planet was at its lowest declination in the sky along the ecliptic.
G
H
House—also called a “place,” by Hellenistic astrologers. One of the twelve regions of a chart connected with the daily rotation of the planets. The houses are numbered successively starting with the Ascendant, which marks the sign of the first house and/or the first house cusp.
I
Inferior Conjunction—when one of the inferior planets (planets that orbit the Sun closer than the Earth), either Mercury or Venus, conjoins the Sun from Earth’s point of view at the same zodiacal placement. The planets that orbit the Sun beyond the orbit of the Earth can never be in an inferior conjunction.
J
K
L
Luminaries—the Sun and the Moon
M
N
Nodes—the North and South nodes are opposite points on the ecliptic that represent the intersection points of the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, and tell us where along the ecliptic path the eclipses will occur during the current eclipse cycle.
O
Out of Bounds — the declination, the distance that a celestial body is either North or South, from the celestial equator, is further than the obliquity of the Earth, which is 23.5° (23°27’ of arc). The obliquity of the Earth is caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis in relationship to the Sun’s path, the ecliptic. The Sun is bound to this area of our sky and can only travel as high up as the Tropic of Cancer and as low down as the Tropic of Capricorn, thus giving us the seasons. But, the planets and the Moon are not bound to this plane.
Opposition — a 180-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
P
Partile—when two celestial bodies are making a degree-based aspect, but it is not necessarily exact to the minute.
Perfect—when two celestial bodies are making a degree-based aspect down to the minute.
Place—also called a “House,” by Modern astrologers. One of the twelve regions of a chart connected with the daily rotation of the planets. The places are numbered successively starting with the Ascendant, which marks the sign of the first place.
Q
Quincunx— a 150-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies, also known as an “Aversion” in Hellenistic Astrology.
R
S
Semisextile—a 30-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies (commonly used in Modern Astrology and known as an “Aversion” in Hellenistic Astrology).
Semisquare—a 45-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
Sesquiquadrate—a 135-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
Sextile—a 60-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
Superior Conjunction—when a planet is on the other side of the Sun from the Earth and in a conjunction, occupying the same zodiacal placement from Earth’s point of view; this can occur with any of the planets.
Square—a 90-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
T
Trine —a 120-degree angle between two points or celestial bodies.
U
V
Via Combusta—the area of the zodiac from 15°Libra to 15° Scorpio thought by the ancients to be a perilous path for the moon. Also called the “burnt path.” Learn about the origins of the Via Combusta here.
Void of Course Moon—this is when the Moon will not make any more traditional aspects before ingressing into the next sign.
W
X
Y
YOD —[rhymes with God]—a special transit that involves at least three planets and forms a narrow triangle-shaped aspect between the three. The base of the triangle is a sextile (a 60-degree angle) between two planets, a harmonious aspect, representing an opportunity. Then, those two planets each make a quincunx (a 150-degree angle), which is not a harmonious aspect, but one that represents change and separation-- with a third planet, forming the apex of the triangle. One nickname for a YOD is: “The Finger of God.” This is a configuration most commonly used in Modern Astrology.
Z
Disclaimer: All of the definitions above are in my own words but have been learned from various teachers, texts, and publications that have made up my astrological knowledge. If you see a mistake or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention by emailing me at astromommyastrology@gmail.com. I welcome all feedback. Thank you!
My work has been influenced, first by my parents, who are both Modern astrologers, and next by my teachers: David L. Palmer, a.k.a. The Leo King, Adam Elenbaas, Mychal A. Bryan; and also by the various authors of the books I have read: William Lilly (and Deborah Houlding), Guido Bonatti (and Benjamin Dykes), Anthony Louis, Bernadette Brady, Christopher Renstrom, Joseph Crane, Oner Doser, Sue Ward, John Frawley, Lee Lehman, Nicholas Culpepper, and more! Learning astrology is an ongoing process, like a fractal, there is no end, only an endless deepening, widening, and scrutinizing experience. The closer I look at one part the bigger it gets!
~AstroMommy