Essential Astrology Vocabulary – Beginner’s

1.     Planets/Signs/Aspects/Houses. The planets are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Signs means the 12 zodiacal signs; aspects are how they interact with each other; houses indicate the 12 areas of life.

2.     Solar Return. This is the precise date and time that the Sun returns to the exact degree and minute of your birth. Often referred to as your birthday, it can be either before or after the date you normally celebrate.

3.     What is a Retrograde and what are Station Points? Retrograde is an optical illusion. From our vantage point here on Earth, it appears that the planets pause in the sky and move backwards, retracing the same space. The Sun and Moon never retrograde; only the other planets. When the planet appears to pause in the sky (either moving forward or backward) it is considered the station point. A planet can be stationary retrograde (pausing, and then moving backward) or stationary direct (pausing, and moving forward again).  The “shadow” of the retrograde is when the planet is moving through the degrees where it will retrograde ie before it moves backwards; or after it has began to move forward, the degrees that it is covering again.

4.     Conjunction. Two planets so close together their energy is considered to be touching. Some astrologers use a wide range (9 degrees or less); others do not consider it a conjunction until it reaches the 3-degree range.

5.     Square. When the planets are in a 90-degree angle to each other, which forces their energies to clash and not flow harmoniously. Considered difficult.

6.     Trine. When the planets form a 120-degree angle and their energies flow harmoniously. It is considered a beneficial aspect, but requires work in order to gain the positive momentum.

7.     Opposition. When the planets are standing across the sky from each other. This creates a “tug-o-war” energy, amplified because the signs that stand across from each other tend to be very different energies. It is an aspect that asks for balance, harmony and a meeting in the middle.

8.     Sextile. This is a 60-degree aspect (half of a trine) and is considered a luck or blessing angle in the chart. This presents opportunity that must be acted upon in order to gain from the energy.

9.     What is a Stellium? This is when there are 3 or more planets each no more than 3 degrees apart from each other. This focuses the energy in this area of the chart, but also requires that the different planets harmonize with each other, which can be difficult. Think of you trying to do your work with your arms linked with two other people. It can be positive or negative, depending on the planets involved and the other angles they are creating.

10.  House Systems. There are many different ways to divide up the 360 degrees of the astrological wheel. Different astrologers rely on different house systems.

11.  Ascendant/Rising Sign. This is the sign that was on the cusp of the planet in the town you were born in at the time of your birth. It changes about every two hours, which is why a birth time is so important. This is the sign that is on the first house of your chart, which influences your body, how you look, how you view the World and how the World views you. Highly influential and as important as your Sun sign.

12.  Degrees. The 360-degree wheel is divided into 12 houses of 30 degrees. Each sign rules their own 30 degrees. These degree points are very specific and each has a different meaning and energy.

13.  Difference between the Natal Chart and Transit Chart. The natal chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of your birth and is the primary template for you in this incarnation. The natal chart is the primary indicator of karma. The transit chart is what is happening in the sky currently, and it influences your natal chart, as well as the general astrological weather.

14.  What are the Nodes? Nodes are mathematical points in space, and all planets have Nodes. The ones we most often follow are the Nodes of the Moon, also known as Lunar Nodes or by the ancient Vedic astrology name of Rahu and Ketu. These are extremely potent symbols in the chart that are indicators of previous life karmas, as well as the pathway towards the highest expression of this incarnation. Very important!