CONCISE DICTIONARY OF ASTROLOGICAL TERMS
AFFLICTION.--When a planet is on the cross (square) or in
opposition, it is said to afflict.
AIRY SIGNS.--Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These are the mental
signs.
ANGLES.--The cardinal points forming the cross or square; the
first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses.
APPLICATION.--As its name implies, when one planet applies to
another. The Moon applies to all the planets, being the quickest
traveller.
AQUARIUS (the Water bearer).--The eleventh sign of the zodiac,
or 300° from the 0° of Aries. The Sun enters Aquarius about the
21st of January each year.
ARIES (the Ram).--The first sign of the zodiac. In making up the
360° in the zodiac, we count from 0° of Aries. The Sun enters
Aries on the 21st of March each year.
ASCENDANT.--This is the first house, or that point which rises at
birth.
ASCENDING.--When a planet is between the fourth and tenth
house; it is always the east.
ASPECTS.--This means the relationship one planet, or sign, has to
another in the zodiac. The Table of Aspects should be well
studied; it is important.
BENEFICS.--Jupiter and Venus are always good, because they
give Hope and Love, and, if we add the Sun, we have Faith, Hope,
and Charity.
BESIEGED.--A term used when a planet is found between two
others; if between Jupiter and Venus, it is good; if between Saturn
and Mars, evil.
BI-CORPOREAL SIGNS.--So-called because they are double. It
is rarely used. The signs are Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
CADENT.--The third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth houses are cadent.
It means falling from angles.
CANCER (the Crab).--The fourth sign of the zodiac; it is 90° from
0°. The Sun enters Cancer on 21st June.
CAPRICORN (the Goat).--The tenth sign of the zodiac, into
which the Sun enters on the 21st of December.
CARDINAL SIGNS.--Aries, Cancer, Libra, and, Capricorn. These
four signs form the
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E + W
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they are important signs.
COMMON SIGNS.--Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
CONJUNCTION.--When two planets are close together, or within
orbs of each other. At New Moon the Moon is conjunction Sun.
CULMINATE.--When a planet is in the mid-heaven, it is said to
culminate; it means being on the cusp of the tenth.
CUSP.--The beginning of any house. At noon the Sun is on the
cusp of the tenth house. It means the first point of the houses.
DECLINATION.--The distance any planet is North or South of
the Equator.
DECREASING IN LIGHT.--When a planet is past the opposition
of the Sun, it is then said to be weak.
DEGREE.--The 360th part of the zodiac; its mark is °; 90° is a
square; 120° a trine of the zodiac.
DESCENDANT.--The seventh house, or opposite to the
Ascendant; the West.
DESCENDING.--When a planet is between the tenth and seventh
houses.
DETRIMENT.--A planet in a sign opposite to its own house is in
its detriment. The house of the Moon is Cancer. When the Moon is
in Capricorn, it is in its detriment.
DIGNITIES.--When a planet is in exaltation, or in an angle,
increasing in light, etc.
DIRECT.--When the planets are moving in their true order
through the zodiac.
DIRECTIONS.--The period after birth. The position of the planets
as life advances. The Sun moves about one degree per day, and
this is equivalent to one year. The thirtieth day after birth would
denote the thirtieth year of life, and the Directions would be taken
out of the ephemeris for this day, the Sun's aspects forming the
primary directions and the Moon the secondary.
DRAGON'S HEAD.--The Moon's North Node, or when she crosses
the ecliptic into north latitude. The Moon's course is of
serpentine form, having a head and tail.
DRAGON'S TAIL.--The Moon's South Node when she crosses into
south latitude.
EARTHLY SIGNS.--Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
ECLIPSE.--An obscuration of a heavenly body, owing to the
interposition of another. The Moon in the shadow of the Sun is
eclipsed.
ECLIPTIC.--The circle of the heavens which the Sun appears to
describe in the course of the year, in consequence of the earth's
motion round him.
ELEVATED.--The planet nearest to the mid-heaven is elevated
over any other.
EPHEMERIS.--A Table for each day, giving the latitude and
longitude of the planets. "Raphael's" _Ephemeris_, price 1s., is
considered the best. It is all that is needed to cast the horoscope.
EQUINOCTIAL SIGNS.--Aries and Libra.
EXALTATION.--There are certain houses in which a planet is
exalted, as follows: Sun, Aries; Moon, Taurus; Mercury, Gemini;
Jupiter, Cancer; Saturn, Libra; Mars, Capricorn; Venus, Pisces.
FALL.--When a planet is in a sign opposite to its exaltation, it is
weak.
FEMININE SIGNS.--The odd signs, as Taurus, Cancer, Virgo,
Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces.
FIERY SIGNS.--Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
FIGURE.--A map of the heavens is called by astrologers a figure.
FIXED SIGNS.--Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius.
FORTUNES.--Jupiter, Venus, and the Sun when well placed.
FRUITFUL SIGNS.--Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
GEMINI.--The third sign, or house of Mercury. The Sun enters the
sign about 21st May.
GENETHLIACAL.--That which applies to the geneture in nativity.
GEOCENTRIC.--As viewed from the centre of the earth.
GELIOCENTRIC.--As seen from or having reference to the centre
of the Sun.
HOUSES.--One of the twelve divisions of the zodiac.
IMUM COELE.--The fourth house, or lower meridian.
INCREASING IN LIGHT.--When the Moon or any planet is leaving
the Sun, until the opposition is reached.
INFORTUNES.--Saturn, Mars, and Uranus when afflicted.
INTERCEPTED.--A sign lying between the cusp of two houses.
LATITUDE.--The distance of any planet north or south of the
ecliptic.
LEO.--The fifth sign in the zodiac; the house of the Sun.
LIBRA.--The seventh sign and house of Venus.
LOGARITHMS.--Of great use to astrologers. A Table of artificial
numbers; to be found at the back of "Raphael's" _Ephemeris_.
LONGITUDE.--The angular distance of a heavenly body from the
first point of Aries, measured from the ecliptic as seen from the
earth.
LORD.--The ruler of a sign or house. Mars is the lord of Aries,
and if Aries was in Ascendant, it would be lord and ruler.
LUMINARIES.--The Sun and Moon.
LUNATION.--A lunar period.
MALEFICS.--See Infortunes.
MASCULINE SIGNS.--Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius,
Aquarius.
MASCULINE PLANETS.--Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
MODERN ASTROLOGY.--A monthly magazine of interest to all
thinkers.
NORTHERN SIGNS.--Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo,
Virgo.
OCCIDENTAL.--The western portion of the map.
OPPOSITION.--When two planets are opposite each other, or
180° distant.
ORBS.--The orbs of the planets are the number of degrees allowed
to each in which their influence is felt. Five degrees all round is
the safest number to give.
ORIENTAL.--When a planet is in the eastern part of the heavens.
PARALLELS.--The declination north or south of the equator. It is
a position considered of the nature of a conjunction.
PART OF FORTUNE.--A point in the horoscope where the rays
of the Sun and Moon converge.
PISCES.--The twelfth sign of the zodiac.
QUERENT.--One who asks a horary question.
QUESITED.--The one enquired about.
QUINTILE.--An aspect of 72° in longitude.
RADICAL.--That which is connected with the radix, or root,
dealing with the horoscope.
RECEPTION.--The planet that receives the aspect.
RECTIFICATION.--A method by which the true Ascendant is
discovered.
RETROGRADE.--An apparent motion of a planet that is not in the
order of the signs.
REVOLUTIONS.--A solar revolution is the return of the Sun to its
place at birth.
SAGITTARUS.--The ninth sign of the zodiac.
SCHEME.--A map of the heavens.
SEMI-SEXTILE.--A difference of 300 in longitude; a weak, good
aspect.
SEMI-SQUARE.--An aspect of 450 difference in longitude; an
evil aspect.
SEPARATION.--When a planet is separating from another.
SESQUIQUADRATE.--An evil aspect being a difference of 1350
in longitude.
SEXTILE.--A good aspect, a difference of 60° in longitude.
SIGNIFICATION.--The ruling planet, or word, of the Ascendant.
SOUTHERN SIGNS.--Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius Capricorn,
Aquarius, Pisces.
SPECULUM.--A Table of the aspects in the horoscope.
STATIONARY.--When a planet appears to have no motion, it is
said to be stationary.
SUCCEDENT.--Those houses which follow the angles. The second,
fifth, eighth, and eleventh.
TABLE OF HOUSES.--A Table for calculating nativities.
TAURUS.--The second sign of the zodiac and the house of Venus.
TRANSITS.--The passing of the planets over places or points in
the horoscopes by daily motion, as seen from the Ephemeris.
TRINE.--A good aspect; a difference of 120° in longitude.
URANUS.--The name given to the planet Uranus, or Herschel.
VIRGO.--The sixth sign in the zodiac; the house of Mercury.
ZENITH.--The point directly overhead. The pole of the horizon.
ZODIAC.--The belt of the heavens containing the twelve signs,
divided into 300 parts each, making 3600.