Glossary of Astrological Terms by Benebell Wen

A comprehensive vocabulary list of astrological terms, asteroids, chart points, and methodologies from the provided lecture notes.

Accidental Dignity

A planet or celestial body’s strength in an astrological chart augmented by its positions on the angles (ascendant, descendant, midheaven, or imum coeli), being direct and swift in motion, or being positively aspected (e.g., a trine) to a beneficent planet.

Active Element

Elements that correspond with an extroverted nature, creators, pioneers, and yang energy; includes the elements of Fire and Air.

Aesculapia 1027

An asteroid relating to health, healing, and medical professions; rising in a birth chart, it can indicate a destiny as a healer, physician, or nurse.

Affliction

An unfavorable aspect between two planets, such as an opposition or square.

Air (Element)

An active element corresponding with intellectualism, logic, analysis, communication, and social change; associated with Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini.

Almuten

The most influential planet in a natal chart as determined by essential and accidental dignities, intrinsic character, zodiac sign governance, and harmonious aspects.

Anaretic Degree

The $29^{\circ}$ dignity; a position that can show a lack of self-awareness due to its placement on a cusp between two signs, but also prognosticates a visionary with exceptional social position.

Angle

The most powerful arcs in a chart: the zenith (south vertical), nadir (north vertical), eastern horizon, and western horizon; also the cusps of the tenth, fourth, first, and seventh houses.

Angular House

A cardinal house that is highly influential over personality and destiny; these include Houses 1, 4, 7, and 10.

Apollo 1862

An asteroid that indicates where a native is most creative; a strong position shows creative talent while a weak one indicates unexercised intuitive abilities.

Aquarius

A zodiac sign associated with humanitarianism, social progress, unconventionality, and eccentricity; the sun is in this sign from January 20 to February 18.

Arachne 407

An asteroid relating to one’s social network and connectivity; its house placement shows which area of life allows for tapping into networks to achieve goals.

Arabic Parts

Also called Hermetic Lots; mathematical calculations using planets and angles dating back to Babylonian and Persian astrology, such as the Lot of Fortune.

Aries

A zodiac sign related to leadership, achievement, and a competitive nature; the sun is in this sign from March 21 to April 19.

Ascendant Sign

The zodiac sign ascending on the eastern horizon at the exact time of birth, corresponding to House 1; it signifies the formation of personality and awakening consciousness.

Aspects

Lines connecting celestial bodies that represent the angle formed between them; primary aspects include conjunctions, trines, sextiles, squares, and oppositions.

Astraea 5

An asteroid used in shadow work to show where a native feels materially detached, unable to let go of pain, or where toxins poison life experiences.

Bacchus

An asteroid that indicates areas of excess, abuse, intoxication, or addiction; its placement alerts the native of where they must choose the middle path.

Besiege

When a planet is positioned between (flanked by) two other planets in conjunction; if flanked by malefic planets Mars and Saturn, its influence is severely limited.

Benefic Planet

Planets that create positive character attributes or auspicious circumstances; Jupiter and Venus are considered benefic planets.

Cadent House

The last house in each quadrant (3, 6, 9, and 12) that reveals areas of learning, growth, and development through life experience and trials.

Cardinal Modality

A mode of zodiac signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) that represents initiation, leading, and rising to challenges at the start of a season.

Cazimi

A planet in conjunction with the sun (often within $0^{\circ}$ to $1^{\circ}$), said to be "under the sunbeam," causing its energy to be inextricably fused with the native's spirit.

Cetus

A fourteenth zodiac sign associated with a whale or sea monster observed by some sidereal astrologers; the sun is specifically in this sign on March 27.

Chiron

A planetary body denoting our deepest wounds and our efforts to heal them; it reveals where our greatest healing power and soul purpose lie.

Classical Critical Degree

A specific degree based on modality (Cardinal: $0^{\circ}$, $13^{\circ}$, $26^{\circ}$; Fixed: $8^{\circ}$, $9^{\circ}$, $21^{\circ}$, $22^{\circ}$; Mutable: $4^{\circ}$, $17^{\circ}$) that makes a planet highly potent and amplified.

Co-ascendant (CAS)

The rising sign at the colatitude of the same longitude; it reveals how a native interacts one-on-one and how their social interactions are perceived by those in close proximity.

Commanding Signs

The northern signs (Aries through Virgo, plus Libra and Pisces) which suggest an individual needs to acquire assets or status to feel validated.

Conjunction

An aspect formed when two planets are within close proximity (typically $5^{\circ}$ or less), indicating their energies are in alliance and harmony.

Decanates

Subdivisions of zodiac signs where each sign is ruled by a triplicity of three $10^{\circ}$ segments; there are 36 decans in total across the zodiac wheel.

Decisive Age

A specific year of epiphanies and transformation where a flux of energies presents two different destinies; it is calculated using numerology of the birth date.

Diurnal Sect

The southern hemisphere (top half) of a chart; diurnal planets like the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn are more powerful when positioned here.

Ecliptic

The apparent annual geocentric path of the sun through the twelve zodiac signs as viewed from Earth.

Electional Astrology

The practice of selecting an auspicious date and time for an event by assessing the moon's phase, dignities, and angular aspects.

Elements

The four essential forces (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) that rule every House, Sign, and Planet to profile a native’s metaphysical chemistry.

Elevated Planet

The planet closest to the midheaven or the cusp of the tenth house, which heavily influences the native's career and social status.

Empath

An individual with sensitive personal shields who is highly attuned to vibrational forces; indicated by Cancer, Aquarius, Pisces, the Moon, Neptune, or Chiron.

Ephemeris

Tables that provide the location of various planets at specific times used traditionally to cast birth charts manually.

Eris

A dwarf planet named after the Greek goddess of discord; it moves slowly (orbital period of $558$ years) and represents the inner chaos that leads to manifesting inner divinity.

Fixed Modality

A mode of zodiac signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) at mid-season that represents persistence, focus, and the ability to see projects to completion.

Grand Cross

A chart configuration formed by four squares and two oppositions, indicating a hero’s journey where overcoming challenges leads to high success.

Grand Trine

A configuration of three trines connecting all signs of a single element, serving as an indicator of innate talent and professional strengths.

Great Conjunction

A conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn within $10^{\circ}$ of each other, historically viewed as a divine omen and leading to a dynamic life path.

Health Degree

The $29^{\circ}$ dignity in medical astrology; placement here can indicate past emotional wounds that have become chronic physical conditions.

Hellenistic Astrology

Early traditions of Western astrology from Egypt and the Mediterranean, rooted in the works of Neopythagoreans, Platonists, and Stoics like Claudius Ptolemy.

Herculean Ternary

A triangle formed by two squares and an opposition, representing obstacles the native must endure to manifest their higher purpose.

Horary Astrology

A form of divination where a chart is constructed for the exact time a question is asked to provide an answer through a significator planet.

House

A $30^{\circ}$ subdivision of the ecliptic plane based on the time and location of birth; there are 12 houses total governing different areas of life.

Hyleg

A point in a natal chart that is a strong indicator of person, such as the ascendant sign's ruling planet or the Lot of Fortune.

Imum Coeli (IC)

The point opposite the midheaven representing our roots, parental influence, and the least conscious motivation for our ambitions.

Juno 3

A dwarf planet symbolizing eternal love, marriage, and fruitful romantic unions; it is atypically reflective and brighter than Neptune.

Life Path Number

A value based on Pythagorean numerology that intersects with House 1 and House 10 to express the purpose and contribution of the native.

Lilith (Black Moon)

An abstract geometrical point representing the apogee of the moon’s orbit; it relates to the shadow self, negative karma, and subconscious skeletons.

Lot of Fortune

An Arabic Part associated with the body and matter; its placement offers insights into material success and the optimal source of financial prosperity.

Luminaries

A term referring to the Sun and the Moon as the two primary lights/sources of energy in an astrological chart.

Lunar Node

The intersection of the moon's orbit with the ecliptic; includes the North Node (destiny/beacon) and South Node (karma/shadow).

Medical Astrology

Also called Iatromathematics; a discipline dating back to the first century AD that relates the human body to the sacred planets and twelve zodiac signs.

Midheaven Sign (MC)

The highest point in the visible sky at birth; it points to professional potential, social status, and the traits one admires most.

Mutable Modality

A mode of zodiac signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) at the end of a season that represents adaptability, change, and resourcefulness.

Natal Chart

A geocentric diagram of planets and celestial bodies at the exact moment and location of a native's birth.

Native

The term used by astrologers to refer to the individual whose natal chart is being interpreted.

Nemesis 128

An asteroid relating to inner weaknesses and one's bête noire; it shows the area of life that could be the native's undoing during shadow work.

Nocturnal Sect

The northern hemisphere (bottom half) of a chart ruled by the yin principle; planets like the Moon, Venus, and Mars are more powerful here.

Ophiuchus

The thirteenth zodiac sign (associated with the snake) observed in some sidereal systems between November 29 and December 17.

Opposition

A $180^{\circ}$ aspect between two planets representing a choice, crossroads, or tension between two different possible futures.

Peregrine Planet

A planet with no major aspects (conjunctions, trines, etc.); it acts as a wild card or 'loose cannon' in the natal chart.

Personal Planets

The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars; these represent the basic components and psychological urges of a native's personality.

Placidus Quadrant Houses

A 17th-century house system where the midheaven is always in the tenth house and other houses are trisected on a time arc basis.

Pluto

The planet of catharsis, waste, chaos, and metamorphosis; it brings disruption and drama to the house it occupies.

Polar Ascendant (PAS)

An angle $180^{\circ}$ from the co-ascendant; it reveals how strangers see you and their first impression of your visible traits.

Progression

Predictive astrology where each day after birth corresponds to one year in the native's life to project future events.

Profection

Predictive astrology based on shifting the chart by one sign per year to determine annual forecasts and planetary rulers for each age.

Quincunx

A $150^{\circ}$ aspect (also called inconjunct) indicating where free will must be channeled to actualize a higher purpose.

Retrograde Planet

A planet (marked Rx) appearing to move backward in the zodiac; having three or more in a chart indicates events manifest slower and significances occur later in life.

Saturn Return

A threshold occurring when transiting Saturn returns to its natal degree (approx. ages $28-31$, $56-60$, and $84-90$), marked by growing pains and trials.

Sesquisquare

A minor hard aspect of $135^{\circ}$ indicating previous soul fragmentation or karmic dissonance that has since scarred over.

Sextile

A soft aspect of $60^{\circ}$ indicating harmony and synergy; native should 'pair' these two planetary energies to optimize success.

Sidereal Zodiac

A model measuring time and positioning according to the sun’s actual movement across constellations; commonly used in East Asian and Vedic traditions.

Sign of Voice

A traditional concept where strong Mercury placement in specific signs (Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Aquarius) indicates professional writing or oration talents.

Succedent House

Houses (2, 5, 8, 11) that support their preceding angular houses, such as wealth (House 2) supporting the personal journey (House 1).

Synastry Astrology

Interpersonal compatibility analysis performed by superimposing and comparing two natal charts to assess relationship strengths and weaknesses.

Traditional Rulerships

A system observing only the seven sacred planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) to govern the zodiac signs.

Trine

A harmonious aspect of $120^{\circ}$ representing innate gifts, natural strengths, and areas of life that come to the native with ease.

Triplicity

The classification of three zodiac signs belonging to the same element (e.g., Aries, Leo, Sagittarius forming the Fire Triplicity).

Uranus Opposition

A period occurring around the $40$s when transiting Uranus is at $180^{\circ}$ from the natal Uranus, marked by tension between mind and reality.

Vertex (Vx)

A sensitive point in the western hemisphere used to shed light on karmic or fated relationships when compared with another's vertex.

Void of Course

When a planet or luminary forms no aspects before leaving its current sign; at birth, a moon void of course can indicate listlessness or abandonment issues.

Water (Element)

A passive element corresponding to intuition, sensitivity, and emotions; includes the signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

White Moon Selena

A fictitious sensitive point based on a hypothetical circular orbit; it represents the 'pure light' and part of the native that is Divine.

Whole Sign Houses

The oldest Western house system (dating to 1 B.C.) where each house is a fixed $30^{\circ}$ starting at $0^{\circ}$ of the ascendant zodiac sign.

Yod

Also called the Hand of God; formed when two sacred planets in a sextile both quincunx a third, indicating a sacred mission assigned by destiny.

Zi Wei Dou Shu

Purple Star Astrology; a Chinese Taoist system based on twelve palaces and fourteen constellations representing social archetypes.