Astrological
Terms

Air signs: There are four astrological elements—water, fire, air, and earth. Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini are all air signs. People who are air signs tend to appear emotionally detached and analytical. They often lead with their mind rather than their heart but have an amazing level of creativity and sensitivity.

Aquarius: Those born between January 20 and February 18.

Aries: Those born between March 21 and April 19.

Ascendant: The “ascendant” (or “rising sign”—these terms are used interchangeably) refers to the sign that is “rising” or is on the eastern horizon at the time of birth.

Autumn equinox: Occurs in September and is connected to gathering harvest and conserving your resources.

Birthchart: A diagram showing the exact positioning of the planets in the signs at the moment of birth.

Cancer: Those born between June 21 and July 22.

Capricorn: Those born between December 22 and January 20.

Cardinal signs: Refers to the astrological signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. These signs are associated with the start of a new season—spring, summer, fall, and winter, and represent new beginnings.

Cusp: The line dividing the twelve zodiac signs.

Decanate: Each sign is divided into three equal parts of 10 degrees.

Earth signs: There are four astrological elements—water, fire, air, and earth. Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

Eclipse: When the sun and the moon intersect in their paths around the earth. These include solar eclipses (when the moon casts a shadow on the earth) and lunar eclipses (when the earth casts a shadow on the moon). Eclipses bring about changes and are usually tied to a certain theme.

Elements: There are four elements of the zodiac: fire, earth, air, and water. The signs of the same element often share qualities of their like element.

Equinox: This is when the center of the sun lines up with the Earth’s equator. It signifies the beginning of spring and fall.

Feminine Signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.

Fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.

Gemini: People born between May 21 and June 21.

Houses: A birthchart is divided into twelve sections, called houses. Each house represents a different experience or energy.

Jupiter: This planet is associated with luck, leisure, wealth, intellect, and optimism.

Leo: People born between July 23 and August 22.

Libra: People born between September 23 and October 23.

Luna: The Moon.

Masculine signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Those born under the masculine signs can be seen as assertive and confident.

Mercury: This planet is associated with communication, logic, reasoning, restlessness, and opinions.

Mercury in retrograde: When Mercury is in retrograde it’s as if the planet goes into sleep mode. Because Mercury is the ruler of communication, electronics, shipping, and travel, many related things can be disrupted and cause frustration to our daily lives.

Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Those born under mutable signs are often seen as more flexible.

Natal chart: The natal chart refers to a chart for the time of birth.

Opposition: An opposition is when planets are exactly opposite each other in the chart wheel. Oppositions create stress and anxiety.

Pisces: People born between February 19 and March 20.

Planetary return: When a planet in transit returns to the position it was at when a person was born.

Polarity: Each sign has a relationship with another sign. Opposite signs have a polarized relationship.

Retrograde: If a planet is in retrograde on your birthchart, you may feel the energy portrayed by that planet in a deeper way.

Rising sign: “Ascendant” or “rising sign” are used interchangeably. This is the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth.

Rulership: Different signs are “ruled” by different planets. Those planets then influence the different signs.

Sagittarius: People born between November 22 and December 21.

Scorpio: People born between October 24 and November 22.

Solstice: This occurs twice a year, at the beginning of summer and winter. The longest or shortest days of the year. The summer solstice occurs in June and is connected to abundance and harvest. The winter solstice occurs in December and helps us see light in our life through the darkness.

Spring equinox: The spring equinox, in March, is associated with new beginnings.

Sun sign: Your zodiac sign according to the day and month you were born.

Taurus: People born between April 20 and May 20.

Transit: The study of where planets might be in the future and how they may change aspects.

Uranus: This planet represents unexpected disruptions and sudden catastrophes.

Virgo: People born between August 23 and September 22.

Water element: There are four astrological elements—water, fire, air, and earth. Water signs are emotional and have amazing intuition.

Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Zodiac: From the Greek word zodiakos, which means “circle of animals.” It’s divided into twelve signs, and acts as a gauge for personality traits.

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