A–ZGlossary

Astrological terms in plain language

If you came across an unfamiliar word in an article — it's here. A short definition and a link to the in-depth material.

1st house: The house of the self: appearance, behaviour, temperament, first impressions. The cusp of the 1st house is the Ascendant. Planets in the 1st house strongly colour a person's character and manner, and affect the body and vitality.
2nd house: The house of resources and values: personal money, possessions, what a person considers their own. It shows how they earn, spend and what they value. Planets in the 2nd house colour the attitude to material things and self-worth. details →
3rd house: The house of the close environment: brothers and sisters, neighbours, early schooling, short trips, thinking and speech. It shows the communication style, learning habits and relationships with relatives of your own generation. Naturally ruled by Mercury.
4th house: The house of roots: family, parents (often the mother or whoever kept the home), the house, property, the emotional foundation. Its cusp is the IC. It shows what ground a person feels is their own and where they return for support and peace. details →
5th house: The house of creativity and pleasure: children, romance, games, hobbies, self-expression. It shows what brings a person joy, how they fall in love and what they create. Planets in the 5th house colour the creative temperament. details →
6th house: The house of daily life and work: routine, duties, health, diet, pets, subordinates. It shows how a person organises everyday life and looks after the body. Naturally linked to the sign of Virgo.
7th house: The house of partnerships: marriage, business partners, open enemies, contracts. Its cusp is the Descendant. It shows the image of the partner a person attracts and how they build close one-to-one unions. details →
8th house: The house of transformation and other people's resources: crises, loans, inheritance, shared money in a couple, sexuality, secrets, psychology. It shows through which trials a person is reborn and how they handle what belongs to others. details →
9th house: The house of expansion: higher education, philosophy, religion, long-distance travel, foreigners, law. It shows through which meanings a person builds their worldview and how ready they are to step beyond the familiar world.
10th house: The house of career and reputation: profession, status, vocation, public image. Its cusp is the MC. It shows the peak of social achievement, what a person moves towards in the second half of life and what role they play in public. details →
11th house: The house of communities and goals: friends, like-minded people, projects, hopes, social movements. It shows in which circle a person feels they belong and through which connections they fulfil long-term dreams.
12th house: The house of the unconscious: solitude, hidden enemies, hospitals, monasteries, the secret processes of the psyche, karmic themes. It shows what a person hides even from themselves and where they find strength through withdrawal and silence. details →
Aquarius: The eleventh sign, fixed air. Rulers — Uranus and Saturn. Symbol — the water bearer with a jug. The archetype of the reformer: originality, love of freedom, friendships and alliances, interest in the future. In the chart — communities, ideas, the unconventional.
Aries: The first sign of the zodiac, cardinal fire. Ruler — Mars. Symbol — the ram. The archetype of the warrior and pioneer: impulse, initiative, directness, the need to be first. In the chart it governs the ability to start and move forward.
Ascendant: The point of the ecliptic rising over the horizon at the moment of birth. It governs how the personality shows on the outside, the body, and how others see us. Depends on the exact time and place of birth. details →
Astrocartography: A method that projects the planetary lines of a natal chart onto a map of the world. It shows in which locations a given quality is amplified — career, love or crisis, for example. Used to choose where to live and travel. details →
Cancer: The fourth sign, cardinal water. Ruler — the Moon. Symbol — the crab. The archetype of the keeper of the home: emotional depth, care, attachment to roots and family. In the chart it governs the sense of safety, home and the relationship with the mother.
Capricorn: The tenth sign, cardinal earth. Ruler — Saturn. Symbol — the mountain goat. The archetype of the builder and strategist: discipline, ambition, responsibility, climbing the ladder. In the chart — career, status, long-term projects.
Chiron: A minor planet between Saturn and Uranus. It symbolises the “wounded healer” — a deep pain that becomes a source of help for others. The sign and house of Chiron show the area of vulnerability through which a gift unfolds. details →
Conjunction: A 0° aspect between planets: they stand at the same degree of the ecliptic and merge their functions into a single action. The tone depends on the nature of the planets. The most powerful aspect, the core of a theme in the chart. details →
Cusp: The boundary between houses — the point of the ecliptic where a house begins. The sign on the cusp colours the affairs of the house and determines its ruler. Which cusps you get depends on the house system (Placidus, Koch, Equal).
Descendant: The point opposite the Ascendant — the cusp of the 7th house. It describes the image of a partner, the kind of people we attract into close relationships and our projections in a couple. Depends on the exact time of birth.
Gemini: The third sign, mutable air. Ruler — Mercury. Symbol — the twins. The archetype of the messenger: curiosity, quick speech, multitasking, always ready to go. In the chart it governs learning, contacts and the exchange of information.
Hellenistic astrology: The ancient tradition that took shape in Greece and Egypt between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD. The foundation of the Western school. It uses rulers, sect (day or night chart) and lots. Today it is enjoying a revival thanks to translations of Greek texts.
Horary astrology: A method of answering a specific question with a chart cast for the moment the question is asked. It follows the strict rules of the medieval tradition. Used to decide “yes or no”, find something lost or judge the outcome of a matter.
House ruler: The planet that rules the sign on a house cusp. Its position by sign, house and aspects determines how the affairs of that house unfold. One of the key analytical tools: it shows where the house's energy “flows” in the chart.
Imum Coeli (IC): The lowest point of the chart, the cusp of the 4th house. It is linked to home, family line, roots and the unconscious foundation of the personality. The sign on the IC shows in what emotional soil a person feels at home and where they return for support.
Jupiter: Expansion, luck, worldview, travel, philosophy and learning. The sign of Jupiter shows through which meanings a person grows. Its house is where opportunities come and where it is not worth thinking small. details →
Jyotish: The Vedic astrology of India. It uses the sidereal zodiac, tied to the actual constellations, and the system of nakshatras — 27 lunar mansions. It is strong in forecasting through planetary periods (dashas) and in analysing family karma.
Karmic nodes: The North and South Lunar Nodes seen as an axis of karma. The South Node is the baggage of past lives or early years, the North Node is the soul's task in this life. In synastry, contacts with a partner's nodes are considered a marker of a karmic connection. details →
Leo: The fifth sign, fixed fire. Ruler — the Sun. Symbol — the lion. The archetype of the king and creator: dignity, generosity, the wish to be the centre of attention, creative self-expression. In the chart it governs charisma, children, romance and play.
Libra: The seventh sign, cardinal air. Ruler — Venus. Symbol — the scales. The archetype of the diplomat: partnership, harmony, aesthetics, the search for balance. In the chart it governs one-to-one relationships, agreements and the sense of justice.
Lilith: The Black Moon — a calculated point, the apogee of the lunar orbit. It is linked to shadow femininity, taboos, passions and rebellion against rules. The sign and house of Lilith show where a person meets the forbidden and uncomfortable truths about themselves. details →
Lunar return: The chart for the moment the transiting Moon returns to its natal degree — roughly every 27.3 days. It describes the emotional climate and everyday themes of the coming lunar month. Used for short-term forecasting.
Mars: Action, drive towards a goal, sexual energy, aggression and competition. The sign of Mars shows how a person gets what they want: fast or methodically. Its house is the arena where they push forward and spend their energy. details →
Mercury: Thinking, speech, learning, exchange of information and short trips. The sign of Mercury shows the communication style: quick or deliberate, concrete or imaginative. Its house shows the area where a person talks and analyses the most. details →
Midheaven (MC): The highest point of the chart, the cusp of the 10th house. It covers career, social status, reputation and the image a person projects to the world. The sign on the MC shows the area where the public self unfolds.
Moon: Emotions, instincts, unconscious reactions and the need for safety. The Moon sign describes how a person feels and what they need to be comfortable. The Moon's house shows where they seek comfort and through which area they live out their feelings. details →
Natal chart: A snapshot of the planets, houses and points at the moment a person is born. The core tool of Western astrology for analysing character, potential and life scenarios.
Neptune: Illusions, inspiration, mysticism and the dissolving of boundaries. A generational planet, about 14 years in a sign. The house of Neptune is the area where a person sees the world through an ideal and where self-deception or insight comes most easily. details →
North Node: The mathematical point where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic heading north. In astrology it is the direction of growth in this life: qualities that feel unfamiliar but help you grow. The sign and house of the node show where to go. details →
Opposition: A 180° aspect between planets: they stand opposite each other. It creates polarity, projections and an “I versus the other” conflict. It is often played out through significant people and asks a person to integrate both sides. details →
Orb: The allowed deviation from the exact angle of an aspect. For example, a square is considered active within an orb of ±6–8° from the exact 90°. The smaller the orb, the more strongly the aspect shows in the chart. details →
Part of Fortune: A calculated point, traditionally Ascendant + Moon − Sun (for a day chart). It shows where luck, material comfort and a state of flow come most easily. Its sign and house show through which area fortune arrives.
Pisces: The twelfth sign, mutable water. Rulers — Neptune and Jupiter. Symbol — two fish. The archetype of the mystic: compassion, intuition, blurred boundaries, a pull towards art and the spiritual. In the chart — the unconscious, dreams, solitude, art.
Pluto: Deep transformation, power, crises, the birth and death of life themes. A generational planet, 12–30 years in a sign. The house of Pluto shows which area goes through the most radical change and where a person gains strength. details →
Progression: A forecasting method in which each day after birth equals one year of life (secondary progression). It shows inner evolution: how character, emotions and focus change with age. It complements the analysis of transits.
Psychological astrology: A 20th-century school that combined astrology with Jungian psychology. The chart is read as a description of the psyche's archetypes and the path of individuation. The emphasis is on self-knowledge rather than fatalistic prediction of events.
Rectification: Restoring the exact time of birth from life events when it is unknown or only approximate. The astrologer checks key dates against transits and progressions, adjusting the minutes so that the Ascendant and houses fall correctly. details →
Retrograde planet: The state in which a planet, seen from Earth, appears to move backwards along the ecliptic. It is an optical effect, but in astrology it means the theme turns inward: review, repair, a return to the old. Mercury retrograde is the one discussed most often. details →
Rising sign: The zodiac sign in which the Ascendant falls. Sometimes called the “mask”: it sets the style of behaviour, the type of appearance, the first impression and the filter through which a person perceives the world. details →
Sagittarius: The ninth sign, mutable fire. Ruler — Jupiter. Symbol — the centaur archer. The archetype of the philosopher and traveller: faith, optimism, a thirst for knowledge and distant lands. In the chart — worldview, higher education, expansion.
Saturn: Discipline, limits, responsibility, time and mastery. The sign of Saturn shows fears and the areas where a person learns maturity. Its house is where life demands patience and where the most solid results come. details →
Scorpio: The eighth sign, fixed water. Rulers — Pluto and Mars. Symbol — the scorpion. The archetype of the transformer: depth of feeling, passion, control, secrets. In the chart — crises, sexuality, other people's resources, psychological rebirth.
Sextile: A 60° aspect between planets. Harmonious, it offers easy opportunities and an exchange of energy between areas of life. It takes a little effort to show up — it does not work “by itself”, but it opens doors if you notice them. details →
Solar return: The chart for the moment the transiting Sun returns to its natal degree (around your birthday). It describes the themes and tone of the coming year of life. Read together with the natal chart and current transits.
South Node: The point opposite the North Node. It describes accumulated experience, habitual scripts and the comfort zone that pulls you back but no longer helps you grow. Its sign and house show what has already been worked through and now serves as a resource. details →
Square: A 90° aspect between planets. Tense: it creates an inner conflict between the planets' functions and demands a decision and action. Often painful, but squares are exactly what push a person to grow and overcome inertia. details →
Stellium: A cluster of three or more planets in one sign or house. It strongly amplifies the themes of that sign or house: they become dominant in character and destiny. Such a stellium often defines a person's calling and main life scenarios.
Sun: The centre of the personality: ego, will and vitality. The Sun sign is who a person becomes in adulthood by living out their essence. The Sun's house shows the area where they shine brightest and want to be seen. details →
Synastry: An astrological method of comparing two natal charts to assess compatibility. It looks at mutual aspects between planets, planets falling in the partner's houses and the karmic nodes.
Taurus: The second sign, fixed earth. Ruler — Venus. Symbol — the bull. The archetype of the farmer: stability, sensuality, love of beauty and comfort, a slow pace. In the chart it describes the attitude to money, the body and material values.
Transit: The movement of the actual planets in the sky relative to the fixed natal chart. When a transiting planet forms an aspect to a natal one, the corresponding theme is activated. The main forecasting tool for days, months and years. details →
Trine: A 120° aspect between planets of the same element. Harmonious and flowing: it gives innate talents and areas where everything works out without effort. The downside — it can lead to laziness because it requires no tension. details →
Uranus: Freedom, innovation, sudden change and rebellion against templates. A generational planet that spends about 7 years in a sign. The house of Uranus shows where a person seeks independence and where unexpected turns happen. details →
Venus: Love, aesthetics, money, pleasure and values. The sign of Venus describes what a person finds beautiful and how they love. Its house is the area where they find joy and attract resources. details →
Vertex: A calculated point in the western half of the chart, sometimes called the “second Descendant”. It is linked to fateful meetings, unexpected turns and people who enter your life as if from outside. It is activated by planetary transits.
Virgo: The sixth sign, mutable earth. Ruler — Mercury. Symbol — the maiden with a sheaf of wheat. The archetype of the craftsman and analyst: attention to detail, service, discipline, care for health. In the chart — routine, work, the body, habits.
Western astrology: The main astrological tradition of Europe and the Americas. It uses the tropical zodiac, tied to the equinoxes rather than to the actual constellations. Its focus is psychology, character and forecasting through transits and progressions.
Zodiac wheel: The ecliptic divided into 12 equal 30° sectors, each one a zodiac sign. Western astrology uses it as the basis of the chart: planetary positions are measured along this circle. The starting point is the vernal equinox (0° Aries).