Need assistance defining an unfamiliar astrological phrase? You’re in the suitable place.
Altar
An altar is a desk or floor dedicated to the presentation of formality gadgets or choices. In case you create an altar at residence, you’ll be able to consider it as an area to honor the seasons, the planets, or your interior world — or as a sacred place devoted to your psychological, religious, and emotional therapeutic. An altar will be so simple as a candle on a bookshelf, or it may be crowded with your entire favourite trinkets. Frequent altar gadgets embody cloths, candles, incense, flowers, crystals, and collectible figurines, however use no matter objects really feel most resonant to you.
Angle
The angles are the 4 cornerstones of a delivery chart. Decided by the precise time and site of your delivery, they’re a part of what makes your natal chart so particular — and distinctive to you.
- The ascendant (or rising signal) is the signal that was rising on the jap horizon in the intervening time of your delivery. The ascendant is the place the Solar rises every single day, so it represents life and vitality. The precise diploma of the signal on the horizon in the intervening time of your delivery is the purpose that almost all intimately represents you.
- The descendant (or DC) is the signal precisely reverse the ascendant. It all the time types the seventh Home of the chart, and it represents your important others: your beloveds, greatest associates, enterprise companions, inventive collaborators, and anybody in an in depth 1:1 dynamic with you, similar to purchasers or therapists.
- The midheaven (or MC) is the symbolic fruits level in your chart. This space represents your most public, “outdoors” selves — the roles you tackle in your profession or vocation and your fame amongst different individuals.
- The imum coeli (or IC) sits precisely reverse the midheaven. That is the symbolic midnight of your chart: the bottom level within the Solar’s journey beneath the horizon from our perspective. It represents residence, household, roots, ancestors, and foundations.
Facets
Facets are the relationships that planets type with one another. They’re decided by the geometric angles held between planets, both by present transit or inside a delivery chart. When two planets are in a facet, they’re able to affect one another and change power.
There are 5 main elements:
- Conjunctions happen when any planet is in the identical signal as one other planet. The nearer the planets are to one another, the extra their energies will fuse, like two important oils mixing collectively to type a novel perfume.
- Sextiles are harmonious elements that bestow cooperation and help upon the 2 planets concerned. Planets sextile one another when they’re two indicators (or round 60°) aside. For instance, the indicators Leo and Gemini sextile one another, as do Taurus and Most cancers.
- Squares are among the many two more difficult elements. They’re factors of friction that encourage us to take motion — and the method shouldn’t be all the time snug. Planets which are three indicators (or round 90°) away from one another type a sq..
- Trines are thought of probably the most harmonious elements — much more so than sextiles. These items happen when planets are 4 indicators (or round 120°) aside and subsequently in the identical aspect (e.g., Most cancers and Scorpio). Trines supply synchronicities, alternatives, and ease to the planets concerned.
- Oppositions are the opposite more difficult elements. They act like tugs-of-war that ask us to stability contrasts inside ourselves, or between ourselves and the outer world. Planets which are six indicators (or round 180°) aside are in opposition to one another — take Gemini and Sagittarius, for instance.
Delivery chart
Your delivery chart is a freeze-frame of the sky on the exact second and site of your delivery. It gives a street map of the teachings, items, and challenges that may unfold all through your lifetime.
Your delivery chart has three major parts:
- Planets / factors — aka the “who.” The planets and factors act as totally different characters throughout the play of our lives, supporting our storylines or foiling sure plots. Each is important, creating particular circumstances for our our bodies, lives, and relationships.
- Indicators — aka the “how.” Every signal has its personal signature model, and each planet features otherwise via its filter. For instance, Mars (the planet of braveness and drive) is action-oriented in its fiery area of Aries. Intimately-oriented Virgo, nevertheless, it’s aggressively thorough.
- Homes — aka the “the place.” Every home correlates with a particular space of life — your day by day routines, your vocation or profession, your communities, and so forth. If the planets are the actors and the indicators are their costumes, then the homes are the units the place their tales are lived out.
Cazimi
Derived from the Arabic phrase which means “within the coronary heart of the Solar,” cazimi refers to a conjunction (or merger) inside 1° between the Solar and any planet. The ancients thought of these auspicious moments as occasions when the planets concerned are purified and their truths are revealed. Cazimis can supply us divine downloads and insights, if we concentrate.
It’s additionally essential to notice that there are two forms of cazimis: (1) “inferior conjunctions,” when Mercury or Venus is between the Solar and the Earth throughout its retrograde, and (2) “superior conjunctions,” when Mercury, Venus, or one other planet is on the other aspect of the Solar from our vantage level on Earth and is shifting ahead. Whereas inferior conjunctions with the Solar can carry extra private revelations, superior conjunctions assist us zoom out to watch the larger story.
Decan
Whereas the zodiac is split into 12 equal indicators of 30° every, decans divide every signal even additional — into three distinct segments of 10°.
- The first decan refers back to the first 10° of the signal.
- The second decan refers back to the center 10° of the signal.
- The third decan refers back to the ultimate 10° of the signal.
Levels
Don’t let these numbers scare you! In astrology, as in geometry, a diploma is just a measure of area — one tiny fraction of a circle, which consists of 360°. The chart wheel is a circle, so there are 360° within the zodiac, which astrologers divide into 12 equal chunks of 30° (aka the indicators of the zodiac).
Questioning what the numbers after the diploma symbols are? They’re referred to as arc minutes. Each diploma within the chart wheel consists of 60 arc minutes. For instance, in case your Solar is at 8°36 of an indication, you’d learn this as eight levels and 36 minutes — that’s somewhat greater than eight and a half. It’s much like telling time… however to explain area. If that’s nonetheless complicated, thank these wizzes who invented geometry.
Aspect
The 12 indicators are divided into 4 components: fireplace, earth, air, and water. Every aspect has its personal temperament, which tells you whether or not the signal operates via inspiration (fireplace), practicality (earth), communication (air), or emotion (water).
Important dignity
Important dignities describe the relative strengths, weaknesses, and items of the planets, based mostly on the signal they’re positioned in. For instance, the Solar is alleged to be at residence within the signal of Leo, the place it might probably most powerfully fulfill its duties of shining, creating, and revitalizing.
There are 4 major important dignities:
- Domicile — aka an indication {that a} planet guidelines and the place it feels at residence. When in domicile, the planet has entry to all its assets and feels as snug as will be. Examples of domiciles embody the Moon in Most cancers and Mercury in Gemini. Observe that Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn rule two indicators every, whereas the luminaries (the Solar and the Moon) rule one signal every.
- Detriment — aka the signal reverse a planet’s domicile. When in detriment, the planet is so opposite to its placement that it has little curiosity in doing its assigned job. For instance, Venus in Scorpio or Aries isn’t centered on “enjoying good” in the identical approach that it’s in different indicators. Planets in detriment require us to work additional onerous to compensate for these disparities, pushing us to develop in methods we wouldn’t in any other case. Different examples of detriments embody Saturn in Most cancers and Mars in Taurus.
- Exaltation — aka the signal the place a planet good points recognition. When exalted, the planet is refined by the signal, which suggests it yields probably the most constructive outcomes. For instance, whereas Mars is of course reckless and hot-headed, it learns persistence in its exaltation signal of Capricorn and spreads its drive over the lengthy haul. Different examples of exaltations embody Venus in Pisces and Jupiter in Most cancers.
- Fall — aka the signal reverse a planet’s exaltation. When in fall, the planet feels much less acknowledged and revered. Not like a planet in detriment, a planet in fall could need to do its job, but it surely’s beginning at a drawback. This wrestle will unlock hidden strengths in us, if we’re persistent. Examples of falls embody the Moon in Scorpio and Saturn in Aries.
Exaltation levels
Every of the seven conventional planets is exalted in one of many 12 zodiac indicators. Inside every signal of exaltation, there may be one particular diploma the place the corresponding planet is taken into account particularly potent and auspicious.
The exaltation levels are as follows:
- The Moon: third diploma of Taurus (i.e., 2°00′ – 2°59′ Taurus)
- The Solar: nineteenth diploma of Aries (i.e., 18°00′ – 18°59′ Aries)
- Mercury: fifteenth diploma of Virgo (i.e., 14°00′ – 14°59′ Virgo)
- Venus: twenty seventh diploma of Pisces (i.e., 26°00′ – 26°59′ Pisces)
- Mars: twenty eighth diploma of Capricorn (i.e., 27°00′ – 27°59′ Capricorn)
- Jupiter: fifteenth diploma of Most cancers (i.e., 14°00′ – 14°59′ Most cancers)
- Saturn: twenty first diploma of Libra (i.e. 20°00′ – 20°59′ Libra)
Home techniques
Home techniques are totally different modes of presenting the homes in an astrology chart, which supply other ways of perceiving your relationship to the cosmos. Every system emphasizes or de-emphasizes sure particulars, however none of them adjustments the place the celebs or planets had been positioned within the sky if you had been born; they only supply distinct views. Most astrologers have a tendency to decide on one or two home techniques to work with.
Listed below are two examples:
- The complete signal home system is without doubt one of the oldest, originating from the Hellenistic interval. Put merely, the boundaries of the indicators decide the boundaries of the homes. Every home divides the wheel of an astrology chart into 12 equal chunks. As a result of the indicators are additionally divided into 12 equal chunks, irrespective of which home system you utilize, every home traces up with one of many indicators. For instance, for those who’re born with the ascendant at 22º Pisces, all of Pisces will type your 1st Home. Your 2nd Home will start at 0º Aries, your third Home at 0º Taurus, and so forth. That is the home system we use within the CHANI app.
- Quadrant home techniques divide the chart into 4 quarters, utilizing the axes from the ascendant to the descendant and from the midheaven to the imum coeli. They then divide every quadrant into three homes every, which will be related in dimension or wildly totally different, relying on the latitude of an individual’s delivery. In quadrant home techniques like Placidus, a number of homes can fall inside one signal, and one home can embody a number of indicators.
No home system is kind of correct than another. They’re merely other ways of mapping the sky out of your vantage level on Earth.
Ingress
Ingress is simply the flowery astrological phrase for a planet’s entrance into a brand new signal. For instance, if the Solar enters the signal of Virgo, you’ll be able to say it has “ingressed” into Virgo.
Lunar nodes
Astronomically talking, the nodes of the Moon are the 2 factors in area the place the Moon’s orbit round Earth intersects with the ecliptic (i.e., the trail that the Solar traces within the sky from the attitude of us Earthlings). The North and South Nodes are all the time precisely reverse one another (learn: separated by 180°).
- Astrologically, the North Node is the purpose of improve, achieve, alternative, and starvation. Traditionally, it has been depicted as the pinnacle of a ravenous dragon.
- The South Node is the purpose of give up, loss, and reduce. It’s the place we resign, launch, and purify. Traditionally, it has been depicted because the tail of that mythic dragon.
Lunation
A lunation is a “lunar month,” or the time that passes between two New Moons (round 29.5 days). Throughout this time, the Moon’s form adjustments because it waxes to full after which wanes once more.
The primary lunar phases we concentrate on are New Moons and Full Moons, which embody lunar and photo voltaic eclipses.
- New Moons happen when the Solar and Moon be part of collectively, which suggests you’ll be able to’t see the Moon within the night time sky. This second has the power of a freshly planted seed. It brings a top quality of emergence and youthful curiosity.
- Full Moons happen when the Moon opposes the Solar, receiving the total extent of its gentle. Full Moons are occasions of peak expertise and fruits, once we get to benefit from the fruits of our labor.
- Lunar eclipses are Full Moons that happen close to one of many lunar nodes. On this place, the Moon strikes into the shadow of the Earth, which darkens its reflection of the Solar’s gentle. Astrologically, lunar eclipses carry fateful change and transformation.
- Photo voltaic eclipses are New Moons that happen close to one of many lunar nodes. On this place, the Moon is aligned between the Solar and the Earth, and it blocks out the Solar’s gentle. Like lunar eclipses, photo voltaic eclipses could sign an unraveling of one thing in our life whereas additionally awakening new passions and needs.
Modality
The 12 indicators are divided into three modalities: cardinal, mounted, and mutable. The modality of an indication tells us what its job is. Cardinal indicators provoke new seasons, mounted indicators maintain them, and mutable indicators transition us into the following. Due to this, no two indicators in a given aspect work precisely alike.
- The cardinal indicators are Aries, Most cancers, Libra, and Capricorn. Because the indicators that provoke the seasons, they’ve an action-oriented vibe. Capricorn, for instance, excels at launching long-range plans, whereas Libra initiates relationships.
- The mounted indicators are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Mounted indicators stabilize the present season and signify what’s sturdy and enduring. For instance, Leo sustains the powers of creativity, whereas Aquarius applies its mental stamina towards designing and innovating techniques.
- The mutable indicators are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. These are the indicators that conclude the seasons and let go of 1 factor in preparation for one more. For instance, Gemini distributes and absorbs data, whereas Sagittarius disperses and seeks enthusiasm and knowledge.
Moon part
The Moon part refers to how the Moon seems — or doesn’t seem — in our sky, based mostly on its place because the Earth orbits across the Solar.
At CHANI, we work with eight Moon phases:
- New Moon 🌑 A New Moon happens when the Moon conjoins the Solar and disappears from the night time sky. It is a time for brand new beginnings. Plant seeds in your future progress and hear to what’s rising inside.
- Crescent Moon 🌒 A Crescent Moon happens when the Moon turns into seen once more after its conjunction with Sol. Preserve tending to your tasks and plans. They’re gathering momentum.
- First-Quarter Moon 🌓 A First-Quarter Moon happens when the Moon is 90° forward of the Solar within the zodiac, forming a semicircle within the sky. It is a time within the month to take motion. No matter desires and schemes you’re concocting, dedicate your unwavering consideration. Be taught all you’ll be able to from the hurdles. They’re right here to show you one thing.
- Gibbous Moon 🌔 A Gibbous Moon happens when the Moon continues to fill with gentle, days earlier than the Full Moon. Now’s the time to pause, fine-tune plans the place wanted, and rejoice your progress.
- Full Moon 🌕 A Full Moon happens when the Moon is strictly reverse the Solar, receiving and reflecting its full highlight. This time of the month corresponds to peaks, culminations, and heightened exercise (and emotions). Carry your tasks to the end line, however keep in mind to relaxation and nurture your system amid the thrill of the second.
- Disseminating Moon 🌖 Because the Full Moon begins to wane, it enters its Disseminating part. Flow into your knowledge. Distribute your findings. Share the fruits of your labors and the teachings you’ve realized.
- Final-Quarter Moon 🌗 The Final-Quarter Moon happens when Luna is 90° behind the Solar within the zodiac, forming one other semicircle within the sky. It’s time to refine. Rewrite your mission assertion, honor your limits, and spot what you need to launch.
- Balsamic Moon 🌘 Within the days earlier than the following New Moon, Luna seems narrower and darker. Throughout this Balsamic part, compost outdated constructions and outgrown patterns. No matter you launch now will nourish the soil for the following stage of your progress.
Orb
An orb refers back to the variety of levels that separate one planet from making an actual side with one other; it’s a bit like a planet’s “sphere of affect.” The nearer two planets are to creating a facet, the tighter the orb shall be.
It’s as much as every astrologer to determine how broad of an orb to make use of when evaluating a natal chart. Some astrologers will solely contemplate elements with a comparatively tight orb, similar to 4° or narrower (e.g., Venus at 7° Capricorn is sextiling Mars at 11° Scorpio with a 4° orb). Different astrologers use totally different orbs for various planets, relying on their planetary speeds. Conventional astrologers generally used a 13° orb for the Moon as a result of that’s how a lot Luna sometimes strikes in a given day.
At CHANI, we use complete signal elements moderately than degree-based connections for natal placements, so we don’t work with particular orb parameters for decoding your delivery chart. That mentioned, the tighter the side between two planets, the extra highly effective the consequences are usually.
Overcoming
When two planets are engaged in a facet, the planet that’s behind the opposite as they cycle via the twelve indicators in a chart is taken into account to be in a stronger place. In these cases, it’s mentioned that the planet within the stronger place overcomes the opposite planet concerned within the side, as if it had been a race automobile catching up with the front-runner in a lap across the zodiac. For instance, in a chart the place Venus is in Aries and Mars is in Most cancers, Venus overcomes Mars and subsequently has extra affect over how this side will pan out. This time period will be utilized to any planets configured in a sq., trine, or sextile. So in the identical instance, Venus in Aries would additionally overcome Saturn in Leo.
Level calculations
In astrology, there are totally different chart calculations that an astrologer has to contemplate, particularly for the astronomical factors that are likely to “wobble” due to the Moon’s elliptical orbit.
- The lunar nodes usually progress backward via the indicators in a chart, however their actual actions have a tendency to modify between retrograde and direct movement.
- The imply calculation of the lunar nodes smooths out these minor wobbles by producing a mathematical common of the general motion.
- The true calculation displays the exact location of the nodes at a given second moderately than the mathematical common. The discrepancy between the true and imply calculations will be as much as 1°45, so the calculation you utilize can typically change the signal and home placements of the nodes.
- Black Moon Lilith (BML) is one other level that oscillates between retrograde and direct movement. It stations retrograde about as soon as a month, main it to tread forwards and backwards over the identical territory for a number of months at a time.
- The imply calculation produces a location based mostly on the typical of those retrograde and direct stations. In case you comply with the imply location of BML over time, you’ll discover that it all the time strikes in direct movement.
- The true calculation captures BML’s actual place at a given second because it sweeps forwards and backwards. This may be many levels other than the imply calculation, usually in one other signal and home altogether.
At CHANI, we use true calculations for each the lunar nodes and Black Moon Lilith.
Polarity
Identical to components and modalities, polarity is without doubt one of the conceptual constructing blocks that distinguishes the indicators. It displays an implicit binary, similar to that between even and odd numbers — or within the case of the zodiac, between alternating indicators. Whereas some astrologers describe fireplace and air indicators as “masculine,” “constructive,” or “yang” and water and earth indicators as “female,” “damaging,” or “yin,” we choose the extra impartial and sky-rooted language of “diurnal” and “nocturnal.”
Retrograde
A retrograde is a interval when a planet seems to maneuver backward within the sky from our vantage level on Earth. It’s an optical phantasm brought on by a distinction in planetary speeds — and that visible impact of backward movement tends to reflect our experiences throughout these occasions.
In astrology, retrogrades are mentioned to create confusions, delays, and slowdowns associated to the mission of the planet concerned. That mentioned, these hiccups within the narrative give us time to pause, replicate, and combine that planet’s classes.
- Throughout a Mercury retrograde, communications, travels, and on a regular basis duties get disoriented and stalled. Mercury retrogrades are additionally glorious occasions for overview, revision, and parsing plans. Because the fastest-moving planet, Mercury stations retrograde three to 4 occasions a yr.
- Throughout a Venus retrograde, {our relationships} with magnificence, pleasure, and different individuals come below overview. Venus retrogrades will be prime alternatives to go inside ourselves for love and reaffirm our important wants in partnership. Venus stations retrograde each 18 months.
- Throughout a Mars retrograde, our will, drive, and needs can really feel thwarted or obstructed. The present of a Mars retrograde is the area it offers us to discover how we relate to anger, ardour, and motivation. Mars stations retrograde each two years.
- Throughout a Jupiter retrograde, our desires, progress alternatives, and knowledge pursuits get recalibrated. These will be intervals of religious doubt and realignment, once we’re requested to contemplate life’s deeper questions. As one of many farther planets from the Solar, Jupiter spends half of yearly retrograde.
- Throughout a Saturn retrograde, we dig into problems with authority, self-discipline, parental archetypes, and limits. Our tasks, commitments, and long-term plans can also go below overview. As one of many farther planets from the Solar, Saturn spends half of yearly retrograde.
- Throughout a Uranus retrograde, our rebellious urges and our relationship to vary get re-examined. It is a second to stability innovation with time-honored approaches. A time to ask: “Is that this insurgent’s trigger really aligned?” As one of many farther planets from the Solar, Uranus spends half of yearly retrograde.
- Throughout a Neptune retrograde, we frequently wrestle with deep religious questions or spells of disillusionment. In case you’ve observed that you simply’ve felt disenchanted, this time might provide help to replenish your capability to dream and belief in the next energy. As one of many farther planets from the Solar, Neptune spends half of yearly retrograde.
- Throughout a Pluto retrograde, our transformation processes and private evolutions come up for overview. This era might immediate your relationship with your personal energy to shift for the higher. As one of many farther planets from the Solar, Pluto spends half of yearly retrograde.
Retrograde shadow
A retrograde shadow is the territory {that a} retrograding planet will ultimately cowl throughout its backward trek.
- Pre-retrograde shadow intervals start earlier than a planet’s retrograde, when mentioned planet reaches the diploma the place it would ultimately station direct weeks or months later. At this level, the planet is making ready to decelerate, and we could discover some early methods and turbulence.
- Submit-retrograde shadow intervals finish after a planet’s retrograde, when mentioned planet reaches the diploma it initially stationed retrograde on weeks or months earlier. After this level, we’re out of the proverbial woods, and the snafus ought to begin to easy out.
Ritual
A ritual is a ceremonial follow during which each motion, gesture, and affirmation has nice intention behind it. Rituals can maintain area for communing with the planets, our ancestors, or our personal magic. You’ll be able to consider the rituals on this Yearbook as religious choices, therapeutic practices, or alternatives to deepen your relationship with your self.
Sect
Sect is an idea in conventional astrology that distinguishes day charts from night time charts.
The best option to perceive the sect of your chart is to seek out out whether or not the Solar is above or beneath the horizon (i.e., the road between the ascendant and the descendant). If the Solar is above the horizon, you could have a day chart, and the Solar is your gentle chief. If the Solar is beneath the horizon, you could have an evening chart, and the Moon is your gentle chief.
The normal planets additionally belong to particular sects. Along with the Solar, the daytime planets are Jupiter and Saturn. They have a tendency to perform extra powerfully in day charts and/or once they’re in the identical hemisphere because the Solar. The nighttime planets, along with the Moon, are Mars and Venus. They achieve extra power in night time charts and/or once they’re within the reverse hemisphere from the Solar. Mercury, true to its shapeshifting methods, can belong to both group.
Transit
Transits confer with the planets within the present, ever-changing sky. The phrase “transit” merely means “to maneuver from one place to a different.” In astrology, transits confer with how the planets shifting via the sky interact with one another and together with your delivery chart.
In search of extra intel? Learn your day by day horoscope:
Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Most cancers | Leo | Virgo | Libra
Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces
Then obtain the CHANI app on iOS or Android for extra horoscopes, meditations, affirmations, readings for the present Moon part and signal, and extra.