In Astrology, an archaic term still used by some astrologers to describe a planet that has challenging aspects (such as squares, oppositions, and quincunxes) linked to it.

Alchemical measurement meaning a drop.

In astrology, a name given to the 29th degree of any sign; it is sometimes called the degree of fate. When a planet is in the anaretic degree of a sign (especially the Water signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces), spiritual qualities (including intuition, intuitiveness, psychic abilities, and empathy) associated with the planet and sign are enhanced.

On an astrological horoscope, the "angles" are the lines formed by the ascendant (0 degrees), the I.C. (Latin for Imum Coeli, "bottom of the sky," at 90 degrees), the descendant (180 degrees), and midheaven (270 degrees). These are considered to be important points in a chart and are said to represent Cardinal qualities.

In astrology, a special calculation (attributed to Arabic astrologers) resulting in points on the chart that are believed to be impactful. To determine them you add the positions of two parts of a chart (such as the Ascendant and the Moon) and then subtract a third factor (such as the Sun).

In astrology, an arc is the difference on a chart between a progressed planet and the position of the planet on the natal chart. The Solar Arc is the most used form of this calculation.

In astrology, when there is strong, challenging relationship between Mars and Neptune it can signify potential violence in a relationship.

An expression used by astrologers to mean an object that physically exists in space. Examples would include planets, stars, moons, asteroids, comets, etc. The ecliptic, an imagined circle of the sun's apparent path through the sky, is not a celestial body.

Although Ceres is just one of thousands of known asteroids, in astrology it is often treated as a minor planet. The asteroid is named after the Roman harvest goddess and is a version of the Greek Demeter. Keywords used in astrological interpretation of Ceres include: abandonment, agriculture, anger, compassion, domesticating, ecological, fertility, foster parenting, governess, menopause, mother, nanny, nurturing, animal husbandry, and survival.

An expression used by astrologers that generally indicates the planet that rules the first house (also called the Rising Sign or Ascendant) of a horoscope chart. Some astrologers use a different definition, describing the Chart Ruler as the planet nearest the first house cusp, which is very close to the Ascendant.

No matter the definition, the effects of a Chart Ruler are often quite profound, and according to some are associated with one's physical appearance.

An organization called The Magic Society® describes the Cinderella Linkage as an aspect generally between Chiron and another planet (Venus, Jupiter, or Neptune) and also between Venus and either Neptune or the Sun (or combinations of these aspects). They claim that a connection between two people with any of these aspects (when positive in the chart) impels a "rags to riches" life.

A very ancient astrological belief, possibly dating back to the Chaldeans, that certain years, especially multiples of 7, are important in a person's life (especially when it comes to the appearance of the body). Supposedly, a person is more likely to die during a climacteric year than during other times.

In astrology, a composite horoscope is created taking the mathematical midpoints between the same planets and points on two different horoscope charts, thus creating a new chart that blends planets, points, etc. Such a Composite Chart is believed to quickly reveal a relationship's dynamics. 

An artificial grouping of stars. They are often given names and mythologies that become fixed over time, such as the constellations of the zodiac. 

The name used by astrologers to describe the situation where the declination (distance in degrees north or south of the celestial equator) of two planets is the same, but one is north and the other is south. There is usually a bit of leeway here, up to about three degrees. Contraparallels are usually interpreted as being like oppositions.

An astrological chart drawn up for the time and location of a person's death.

In astrology, every sign is composed of 30 degrees. Each sign can be divided into three equal parts of 10 degrees. Each part is known as a decanate.

In astrology, an aspect observed between two planets, corollary points, or cusps that has a relationship of 36 degrees. Also called a semi-quintile.

In an astrological (or astronomical) chart, the term declination refers to the number or degrees something such as a planet is above or below (north or south) of the celestial equator. 

In astronomy and astrology, direct motion is a description of the appearance of normal forward motion of a body such as a planet through the zodiac signs. Sometimes, due to orbits of the planets in relation to the earth, the motion of the planets seems reversed or retrograde.

Although a popular concept with Medieval calendars, Egyptian Days were supposedly listed by Egyptian astrologers as being unlucky. New enterprises and surgeries should not be performed on these days:

January 1, 26

February 4, 26

March 1, 18

April 10, 20

May 3, 25

June 10, 16

July 13, 22

August 1, 30

September 3, 21

October 3, 22

November 5, 28

December 7, 22

1.  The zodiacal signs are divided into four groups called "triplicities," and in their order they represent the four elements, fire, earth, air and water.

Fiery Triplicity is composed of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

Earthly Triplicity: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn

Airy Triplicity: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius

Watery Triplicity: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces

An astrological expression for the Earth and Water signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.

An astrological term that relates to the very slow movement of the outer planets on a horoscope. Because of that extremely slow motion, entire age groups or generations are born with virtually the same aspects of the outer planets in their charts. 

In astrology, an aspect is a relationship between two points in a chart. Hard aspects indicate challenges, tensions, disagreement, and friction. Three major hard aspects are squares, oppositions, and quincunxes.

An astrological chart where the Sun is the center rather than the Earth. Unlike the more common geocentric system, a heliocentric chart shows the Earth and not the Sun. The inner planets, such as Venus and Mercury, can have quite a different position in heliocentric and geocentric charts, while the distant planets will show very little difference.

2.  A "map" of the planetary positions at any moment of time as seen for a point on the earth’s surface. It is the form from which astrological interpretations are given based upon thousands of years of observed coincidental phenomena.

Suggested Reading:

Perry: Saturn Cycles: Mapping Changes in Your Life

Clement: Mapping Your Birthchart: Understanding Your Needs & Potential

See Imum Coeli.

Latin, "Bottom of the Sky.") In astrology, the Imum Coeli, or I.C., is the point found at the bottom of a horoscope. It is exactly opposite the Midheaven.

A term used in astrology to mean the entrance of a planet or other moving object into a zodiacal sign or quadrant.

The system of astrology primarily practiced in India. It has three major differences from Western astrology:

1. It uses a sidereal zodiac rather than a tropical zodiac
2. It focuses on predictions rather than psychological interpretations
3. It gives specific remedies to resolve problems

 Although it is sometimes called Vedic astrology, astrological research in India pre-dates the book known as the Vedas.

Latin name of the Moon and the Roman Moon goddess. In the Kabalah, Luna corresponds to the ninth Sephirah on the Tree of Life. Astrological keywords for Luna include: emotion, feelings, things that are reflected, changeability, mother and mothering, instinctual, all things to do with the home, the subconscious, memory.

"Man is subject, like other mammals, birds, and even insects, to the mysterious law that causes normal processes, such as gestation, as well the maturation and duration of various diseases, to follow lunar periods."

—Charles Darwin: The Descent of Man

In astrology, a midpoint is the exact point (degree and minute) that is midway between two points (such as two planets, a planet and an angle, etc.).  

See Asteroids.

As the Moon orbits the Earth, its relative position with the Sun and Earth light the surface of the Moon, giving the impression of the Moon growing or shrinking. This is generally divided into four phases, the growing or waxing phase, the shrinking or waning phase, the full Moon and the dark or New Moon. Some systems add more phases to this model.

The zodiacal sign in which the moon is located, determined by the moment and location for which a horoscope is drawn (such as the time and place of birth). Many astrologers believe the moon rules emotions (and rules the intuition along with Neptune); therefore, the Moon sign in a birth chart will reveal a great deal about a person's personality. 

Many astrologers believe the three most significant parts of a birth horoscope are the Sun sign, Moon sign, and ascendant.

In astrology, the point at the bottom of the horoscope chart. 

In astrology, a lesser-used relationship where two points, such as two planets, are at an aspect of 40°. Some astrologers equate the Novile aspect with the ability to understand and make use of information that can lead to evolutionary growth.

In astrology, this refers to the situation when two planets have a certain aspect to each other, but the signs they are in do not match that aspect. This may refer to the concept that a relationship on the surface is not the same as a deeper aspect.

In astrology, an aspect where two planets are at the same degree (either north or south of the horoscope's equator). Usually, only a very small Orb of difference is allowed when claiming planets are parallel.

In Western astrology, planets are objects that move through the sky. The planets most used in astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron, and the asteroids. Earth is not considered a planet, as Western astrology is geocentric and has the Earth as a point of reference around which the planets appear to move. Since, from this viewpoint, the Earth doesn't move in the sky, it's not considered.

In astrology, the polarities describes a division of the signs into two sets of groups, often related to masculine and feminine qualities. Many modern astrologers use the Chinese terms Yang (masculine) and Yin (feminine) to describe them. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries, is Yang. The second, Taurus, is Yin. This alternation continues through the twelve signs.

See: Modality

In astrology, the signs are classified in several ways. One way is by their Qualities (Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable). Qualities are also referred to as modes, modalities, or quadruplicites.

Rectification is an important part of astrology that has become easier to accomplish with the aid of computers. The precise time of birth is important when making a horoscope, but many people do not have a birth certificate with an accurate time. Rectification is a technique that uses known events, relationships, and experiences, as well as personality traits, to determine a precise birth time, allowing for the creation of an accurate horoscope.

In astrology, a report is the name given to an interpretation of a birth chart. Llewellyn offers many such reports; click here to view them. Reports are also called delineations or interpretations.

In astrology, each planet has certain qualities and is linked to a zodiacal sign with similarities or an affinity to that sign. The planet is said to be the sign's ruler. If the planet appears in that sign in a horoscope, the effect is enhanced. If it appears in a sign that is at odds with the sign it rules, its effect is diminished.

An minor aspect created between two planets, corollary points, or cusps that has an arc of 18°. Also called virgintile, it is considered mildly positive or beneficial.

See Decile.

See Signs of the Zodiac.

Latin for the Sun, the only star in our solar system. In Astrology it is treated as a planet, the ruler of the sign Leo. On the Kabbalistic Tree of Life it corresponds to the sixth Sephirah, Tiphereth. When interpreting horoscopes, astrological keywords associated with the Sun include: identity, vitality, creativity, ruler, king, ego, pride, self esteem, inner self, forcefulness, leadership, will power, egotism, authority, boss.

In astrology, a solar return chart is a horoscope created for when the Sun returns to the exact degree/minute/second of its position at your birth, usually within a day or two of your birthday. Because the other planets move at different speeds, they will be at different positions in this chart compared to your natal horoscope. This new solar return chart may be interpreted to give a report for the upcoming year.

Synthesis is the name for the techniques of uniting all the separate bits of information and themes of a divination or reading together, determining the relative importance of each of these things to stress what is more important, and blending them into an internally consistent and harmonious whole. Although most commonly used by astrologers, the idea of synthesizing the bits of data in a reading can apply to any divinatory technique, such as a Tarot reading.

In astrology, an undetected theoretical planet with an orbit outside that of Pluto. Astrologers believe such a planet has to do with learning wholeness and being able to integrate your relationships.

A minor astrological aspect between two planets, corollary points, or cusps that are 108° apart.

In astrology, the zodiacal signs each have characteristics of one of the four natural elements of fire, earth, water, and air. 
Although it can be confusing to call them triplicities (there are four elements, so shouldn't they be called quadruplicates?), since there are 12 zodiacal signs, the pattern repeats three times to give each sign one of the elements.

Eight hypothetical planets "discovered" by Alfred Witte and Friedrich Sieggrun at the beginning of the twentieth century. Ephemeredes for their positions exist. These hypothetical planets are called Cupido, Hades, Zeus, Kronos, Apollon, Admetos, Vulcanus, and Poseidon.

See Spring Equinox.

One of the thousands of known asteroids, it is named after the Greek goddess who served as a comforter, keeper of the sacred hearth, and sacred harlot. In Astrology some practitioners treat it as a minor planet and interpret it using keywords such as: sister, sexuality, fertility, comforter, charity, sacred chastity, sacred warrior, sacred harlot, sacred sex, diplomacy, rituals, secret societies, hospitality, and tradition.