Sabian Symbols

A system of working with individual degree meanings that were first created by Marc Edmund Jones with the help of psychic, Elsie Wheeler, and then modified by Dane Rudhyar.

Recommended websites are: http://www.sabiansymbols.com
and http://www.sabian.org

Sextile

An aspect with a difference of 60 degrees. A generally helpful and 'positive' aspect.

Sidereal Time

Time in relations to the fixed stars, rather than clock time.

Sidereal Zodiac

A Zodiac based on the placement of the stars, not the Vernal Equinox. It is used in Eastern, Hindu, or Vedic Astrology.

Signs

Twelve 30° segments of the ecliptic which can be defined tropically or sidereally. Not the same as constellations, which are unequal in degree star groups that can be seen beyond the general path of the ecliptic. The classical Greeks named the Tropical Signs for the constellations that, at that time, approximately coincided. Due to the Precession of the Equinoxes, the Signs and the Constellations no longer coincide. See also Zodiac.

Soft Aspects or Easy aspects

A harmonious and easily flowing aspect such as Conjunct, Trine or Sextile and Quintile

Solar Return

A horoscope cast for the moment when the Sun returns to the exact degree/minute/second of celestial longitude which it occupied at birth. This moment will be within a day or two of one's birthday. The horoscope is considered symbolic of the coming year.

South Node

see Moon Nodes

Square

Aspect with a difference of 90 degrees. Generally causes difficulty and discord.

Station

The point at which a planet appears motionless from the perspective of the Earth, about to change from Retrograde to direct (forward) or direct to Retrograde.

Stellium

A multiple conjunction involving three or more planets in one house and/or one sign in an astrological chart. This configuration indicates an emphasis on the matters associated with the house and/or sign in which the stellium occurs.

Succedent Houses

Houses 2, 5, 8 and 11. Associated with the Fire Signs

Sun Sign

You Sun Sign is what most people refer to when they say that they are a "Gemini" or a "Sagittarius". In effect the Sun Sign is the sign of the Zodiac that the Sun is in on the day you are born. It presents a generalized description of your personality.

Sunrise Chart

A horoscope calculated for sunrise on the day of birth at the birthplace. Used sometimes within the time of birth is unknown. The Sun's position at sunrise defines the Ascendant. Other cusps are based on the house system used.

System of Axes

The horoscope is divided into two main axes: The East-West axis and the North-South axis. East/West=Ascendant and Descendant and the North/South=Midheaven (Medium Coeli, MC) and Imum Coeli (Nadir, IC). The Midheaven is the Noon point of the Sun and Imum Coeli is the Midnight point of the Sun. This creates the hub of the wheel for the chart. For more information go to this page.

Syzygy

1. Astronomy a) Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun. b) Either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth. c) The configuration of the sun, the moon, and Earth lying in a straight line.

Temporal Houses or Substance Houses

Houses 2, 6, 10. Usually associated with the Earth Signs.

Terminal Houses or Endings Houses

Houses 4, 8, and 12. Associated with the Water Signs.

Time Zones or Time Types

In calculating a horoscope it is not enough to know the time of day a person was born. It is also necessary to know in what type of time the birth was recorded. Additionally, the mathematics of chart calculation involve the use of other time types that are not generally used by the public, such as sidereal time. The various time zones and time types are listed below. These are by no means exhaustive. The best resource you have in determining the exact time zone for someone chart is the ACS Atlas or http://www.astrodienst.com. If these two references fail then call the Local Library Reference desk for clarification.

Transit

1) The actual positions of the planets on any given date 2) The passage of a planet through a sign or house (e.g. The sun transits Aries from about March 20 through April 20. 3) The passage of a planet over any degree which forms significant aspects to any planet or important point in a chart.

 

 

Transpluto

Hypothetical planet said to orbit beyond Pluto. Sometimes called Bacchus (or Isis or Persephone), not to be confused with the asteroid Bacchus,which is physically observable.

Trine

An aspect with a difference of 120 degrees. A generally helpful and positive aspect.

Triplicity also triplicities

This describes the grouping of signs denoting their element and the quality of the house they occupy.

Fire and Houses of Life	Air and Houses of Relationship
Earth and Houses of Substance	Water and Houses of Endings

 

Tropical Zodiac

Zodiac that follows the path of the Sun. The First point of Aries corresponds to the vernal Equinox, not an actual star position. Also called a Philosophical Zodiac.

T-Square Configuration

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Uranian Astrology

The astrological study of eight hypothetical (never observed) planets postulated by Alfred Witte and Friedrich Sieggrun—Cupido, hades, Zeus, Kronos, Appolion, Admetos, Vulcanus,Poseidon. Also called Transneptunian planets.

Vertex

Intersection of the prime vertical the with ecliptic in the west. Assumed by some astrologers to be like an auxiliary Descendant. Sometimes association with fate and wish fulfillment.

Via Combusta

The Burning way or Combust Way is considered the section of the zodiac between 15° Libra and 15° Scorpio, except for 23° through 24° Libra. This was a rule for Horary astrology that is not used much these days suggesting this part of of the zodiac as being the most dangerous because of the violent fixed stars that reside there. The exception results because the fixed stars Spica and Arcturus reside there and are considered fortunate stars which contradicts the original concerns. Via Combusta is often confused with combust, they are quite different in definition.

Water Signs

Signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Signs which represent receptivity, sensitivity and the emotions. In the natural wheel they occupy the fourth, eighth and the twelfth house.

Yod or the Finger of God

Aspect planetary chart pattern that is formed by three planets. Planets A and B are inconjunct (quincunx) and planets A and C are inconjunct (quincunx) and finally planet B and C are sextile each other. See illustration here
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Zodiac

From the Greek Zodiakos, meaning "circle of animals" or "zoo". In astrology, this is the path of 16° on each side of the ecliptic through which the Sun, Moon, and all the planets travel. The Zodiac is divided into twelve sections of the heavens or signs named for the the twelve constellations (not the same as the size of the actual constellations). Each of the sections comprise of an equal 30° of the 360° path.

Zodiac, Astronomical

Constellations — groupings of stars that form a rough circle. Observable in an arc across the southern sky, beyond the invisible Great Circle that we call the ecliptic. The constellations are unequal in size, and should not be confused with the signs.

Zodiac, Sidereal

The division of the ecliptic into twelve 30° segments, originally based on a Babylonian system using the fixed stars Aldebaran (in constellation Taurus) and Antares (in constellation Scorpio) as reference points.

Zodiac, Tropical

The division of the ecliptic into twelve 30° segments, based on the Earth's seasons. The location of the Sun at the Vernal Equinox (when day and night are equal in the northern hemisphere's spring) defines 0 degree Aries, as the beginning of the zodiac signs. This is the zodiac most commonly used in western astrology.

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