Astrological Terms
A complete reference of the core concepts of modern astrology. Here you will find clear definitions of the terms that will help you understand astrological forecasts more deeply.
Core Concepts:
Natal Chart (Birth Horoscope)
An astrological map of the celestial sphere at the moment of your birth, fixed for a specific place on Earth. It is your cosmic passport, showing the positions of the planets, zodiac signs, and houses at the moment of your first breath. The natal chart remains unchanged throughout life and serves as the foundation for all astrological interpretations.
♈ Zodiac Sign
One of the 12 sectors of the zodiacal circle that characterizes the manner of expression of planetary energy. A sign colors the quality of a planet: for example, Mars in Aries acts impulsively and directly, while Mars in Libra acts diplomatically and through partnership. The sign answers the question of "how?" a planet expresses itself.
🪐 Planets
The main active factors of the natal chart: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Each planet symbolizes a particular function of the psyche and an area of life.
🏠 Houses
The 12 sectors of the chart representing specific areas of life: identity (1), money (2), communication (3), family (4), creativity (5), work and health (6), partnership (7), transformation (8), philosophy (9), career (10), friends (11), spirituality (12). The houses answer the question of "where?" a planet expresses itself.
Axes and Important Points
⬆️ ASC (Ascendant)
The rising sign, the cusp of the 1st house. This is your social mask, your way of presenting yourself to the world, the first impression you make. The Ascendant shows your behavioral style and appearance. It changes every two hours, which is why an exact birth time is critically important.
⬇️ DSC (Descendant)
The point opposite the Ascendant, the cusp of the 7th house. It describes the type of partners you attract and the qualities you seek in significant relationships. It is a mirror of your personality reflected through others.
⭐ MC (Midheaven)
The midheaven, the cusp of the 10th house. The point of career, public reputation, and life calling. The MC shows how society sees you and the social role you strive toward. It is your summit, your visible achievement.
🏡 IC (Imum Coeli)
The bottom of the sky, the cusp of the 4th house, the opposite of the MC. It symbolizes roots, family of origin, home, and the inner foundation of the personality. It is your private world, hidden from outside eyes.
🔲 Angular Houses
Houses 1, 4, 7, and 10 are the most powerful and visible points of the chart. Planets in angular houses act most vividly and noticeably in a person's life. They lie on the ASC-DSC and MC-IC axes and form the main cross of the chart.
✨ Fixed Stars
Bright stars outside the Solar System (Regulus, Aldebaran, Spica, and others) that some astrologers take into account in interpretation. Their influence appears through a close conjunction with planets or chart angles (an orb of 1-2°) and is often associated with fateful events.
Planetary Positions
🎨 Planet in a Sign
Determines the quality and style of expression of a planetary function. Mars in Aries is direct and impulsive; Mars in Cancer is defensive and emotional. The sign is the "costume" that the planet wears.
📌 Planet in a House
Indicates the area of life in which the planet is active. Venus in the 10th house — love of career, a public display of charm; Venus in the 4th — creating beauty at home, family values.
℞ Retrograde Motion (℞)
The apparent backward movement of a planet through the zodiac (an optical illusion caused by differing speeds). A retrograde planet acts introvertedly, unconventionally, and requires a rethinking of its function. Mercury ℞ — unconventional thinking; Venus ℞ — a reassessment of values; Mars ℞ — restraint in action.
⏸️ Stationary Planet
A planet at the moment of "standstill" before changing direction (the shift from direct to retrograde motion or vice versa). A stationary planet has intensified influence, like the beam of a spotlight frozen on a single point.
⚡ Planetary Speed
The angular speed of movement through the zodiac. A fast Moon or Mercury intensifies activity; slow ones provide depth and thoroughness. A peregrine planet (one at average speed) is considered neutral in strength.
Aspects (Angles Between Planets)
↔️ Aspect
A geometric relationship between planets based on angle. Aspects show how planets interact with one another: harmoniously, tensely, or neutrally. It is an inner dialogue between different parts of the psyche.
☌ Conjunction (0°)
The merging of the energies of two planets at a single point. The strongest aspect, where the functions of the planets work together, sometimes inseparably. It can be harmonious or tense depending on the nature of the planets.
⚹ Sextile (60°)
An easy opportunity, a talent that needs to be activated. A harmonious aspect that links friendly elements (fire-air or earth-water). It grants abilities but requires effort to realize them.
□ Square (90°)
Tension, conflict, challenge. Planets in a square require action and resolution. It is an inner discomfort that pushes toward growth. Squares are a source of growth through overcoming.
△ Trine (120°)
Natural harmony and support. It links planets of the same element, creating a flow of easy energy. The talents of a trine come so naturally that a person may not value or develop them.
☍ Opposition (180°)
Polarity, opposition, the need for balance. Two planets "see" each other across the zodiac, creating tension between "self" and "other." It requires the integration of opposites.
⚻ Quincunx (150°)
Discomfort, the need for adjustment and adaptation. It links signs incompatible in element and quality. It requires constant micro-corrections and creates a feeling of being "out of one's element."
↔️ Orb
The permissible margin of an aspect in degrees. For example, a conjunction with an orb of 8° means that planets within 0-8° of each other are considered to be in conjunction. The smaller the orb, the more exact and stronger the aspect.
↗️↘️ Application/Separation
Application is a converging aspect (the planets are approaching the exact angle); separation is a diverging one (they have already passed exactness). Application is stronger and points to future events, while separation points to the past.
Rulership and Planetary "Strength"
🏛️ Sign Ruler
The planet that is the master of a zodiac sign. Mars rules Aries, Venus rules Taurus and Libra, Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, and so on. The ruler is responsible for the expression of its sign's energy.
🗝️ House Ruler
The planet that rules the sign on a house cusp. If Aries is on the cusp of the 7th house, then Mars is the ruler of the 7th house, and its position will show where and how the theme of partnership manifests.
🔗 Dispositor
The planet that "receives" another through rulership. If Mars is in Taurus, its dispositor is Venus (the ruler of Taurus). The dispositor shows who is influencing the planet "behind the scenes."
🤝 Reception
Mutual support between planets through rulership. For example, Mars in Taurus (Venus's sign) and Venus in Aries (Mars's sign) form a mutual reception. Planets that are "guests" in each other's signs help one another.
💫 Planetary Dignities and Debilities
A planet can be stronger or weaker depending on the sign. This is an ancient system for assessing planetary strength that still works in interpretation today. A strong planet acts confidently and effectively; a weak one requires more effort to realize itself.
🏠 Domicile
A planet in its own sign. The Sun in Leo, the Moon in Cancer, Mercury in Gemini or Virgo, and so on. This is maximum strength — the planet is "at home" and acts freely and naturally.
🚪 Detriment
A planet in the sign opposite its domicile. The Sun in Aquarius, the Moon in Capricorn, Venus in Aries. The planet is "not at home," acts with difficulty and unconventionally, and requires compensation.
⬆️ Exaltation
An elevated position of a planet. The Sun in Aries, the Moon in Taurus, Venus in Pisces. The planet acts vividly, festively, at the peak of its form, but sometimes through idealization.
⬇️ Fall
The opposite of exaltation. The Sun in Libra, the Moon in Scorpio, Venus in Virgo. The planet is deprived of natural support and acts through tension and deficiency.
Chart Figures and Structures
🌟 Stellium
A cluster of three or more planets in one sign or house. It creates a powerful concentration of energy in a single area. A stellium makes a person an expert in its theme but can create imbalance — all the eggs in one basket.
🔶 Aspect Configurations
Stable geometric figures formed from aspects between three or more planets. They work as a single mechanism, creating recurring patterns in life.
🔺 T-Square
Two planets in opposition, both square a third (the apex). It creates constant tension and a need to act. The apex of the T-square is the point where energy is released, the area of active problem-solving.
🔻 Grand Trine
Three planets in trine to one another, forming a triangle. A harmonious configuration that grants talents and luck within a particular element. The danger is laziness and lack of expression due to its ease.
✖️ Grand Cross
Four planets in squares and oppositions, forming a cross. Maximum tension, a constant need to balance opposites. It grants enormous strength through overcoming but can be draining.
🪁 Kite
A grand trine with a fourth planet in opposition to one of the vertices and in sextile to the other two. Talent + tension = realization. The kite directs the energy of the trine into concrete action.
👑 Dominant Planet
The planet that is most prominent in the chart by strength, aspects, or position. Different schools use different criteria: the ruler of the Ascendant, a planet conjunct an angle, a planet in domicile/exaltation with numerous aspects. The dominant planet colors the entire personality.
Elements and Modalities
🔥💧 Elements
The four primary elements: fire (energy, action), earth (matter, practicality), air (thought, communication), water (emotion, intuition). Each triad of signs belongs to one element.
⚡ Qualities (Modalities)
The three modes of action: cardinal (initiation), fixed (stabilization), mutable (adaptation). They show how a sign expresses its element.
⚖️ Balance of Elements
The distribution of planets among the elements in a chart. An excess of one element creates a skew (too much fire — impulsiveness; too much earth — being overly grounded); a deficit creates blind spots (little air — difficulties with communication; little water — emotional detachment).
Nodes, "Karmic" Points, and Additional Objects
☊☋ Lunar Nodes
The points where the Moon's orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic. The North Node (☊, Rahu) — the direction of development, new skills, the future; the South Node (☋, Ketu) — past experience, innate talents, the comfort zone. The axis of the nodes shows the evolutionary task of the soul.
🌑 Lilith (Black Moon)
A sensitive point (the apogee of the lunar orbit) or a fictitious planet (in different calculations). It symbolizes shadow femininity, suppressed desires, and taboo themes. A place of power through accepting the dark side.
🌕 Selena (White Moon)
The point opposite Lilith (the perigee of the orbit), used in not all schools. It symbolizes the light side, spiritual protection, a guardian angel. The realm of natural ethics and grace.
⚕️ Chiron
A minor planet between Saturn and Uranus. The symbol of the wounded healer — a place of deep pain through which wisdom and the ability to heal others arrive. It shows an area of vulnerability and potential mastery.
☄️ Asteroids
Minor planets between Mars and Jupiter: Ceres (care, motherhood), Pallas (wisdom, strategy), Juno (marriage, fidelity), Vesta (service, focus). They add nuance to interpretation, especially in the context of relationships and vocation.
Forecasting Techniques
🛸 Transits
The current position of the planets in the sky in aspect to your natal chart. This is the current weather of your life. A transit of Saturn over the Sun — a time of trials and the structuring of the personality; a transit of Jupiter — expansion and opportunities.
📖 Progressions
A symbolic "unfolding" of the natal chart over time. Secondary progressions: 1 day after birth = 1 year of life. They show the inner development of the personality, slow psychological changes.
🎯 Directions
A symbolic shifting of chart points by a particular key (usually 1° per year). Directions show fateful events and important life stages, especially when a directed point contacts a natal planet.
🎂 Solar Return
The chart of the solar return, cast for the moment when the transiting Sun returns to its natal degree (the birthday). It shows the themes and events of the coming year of life.
🌙 Lunar Return
The chart of the lunar return (the Moon returns to its natal position), which occurs roughly once a month. It describes the emotional themes and events of the coming 28 days.
🔄 Return
The moment when a transiting planet returns to its natal position. The Saturn Return (at age 29-30) is a landmark threshold of maturity. The Jupiter Return (at ages 12, 24, 36) marks cycles of expansion and luck.
Temporal and Phase Terms
🌑🌕 Moon Phase
The position of the Moon relative to the Sun. The new moon (0°) — the start of the cycle, sowing intentions; the first quarter (90°) — action; the full moon (180°) — culmination, awareness; the last quarter (270°) — completion, cleansing.
📅 Lunar Day
One of the 30 days of the lunar month in the esoteric tradition (from new moon to new moon). Each lunar day has its own symbolism and recommendations. It is widely used in lunar calendars for planning activities.
✨ How to Use This Reference
These terms are the keys to understanding the language of astrology. Start with the basics (the natal chart, planets, signs, houses), then study the aspects and more complex concepts. Return to this section whenever you encounter an unfamiliar term in your interpretation. Astrology is a system of symbols, and each term reveals a new layer of understanding of the cosmic order and your place within it.