ASTROLOGICAL TERMS OF ART: A GLOSSARY
Accidental DebilityA planet or luminary, which is accidentally debilitated, either exerts an unfortunate influence or reduces the good fortune in terms of the chart under consideration. This can be due to its house placement, its motion and direction, or through its relationship with other planets and/or the luminaries and the nodes. A planet accidentally debilitated experiences a decrease in its strength and power.Accidental DignityA planet or luminary, which is accidentally dignified, exerts a fortunate influence in terms of the chart under consideration. This can be due to its house placement, its motion and direction, or through its relationship with other planets and/or the luminaries, the nodes or the Lot of Fortune. A planet accidentally dignified experiences an increase in its strength and power.AfflictedA planet, a luminary, a cusp of a house, or one of the Lots, which is badly aspected by an Infortune, or other malefic, is said to be afflicted. An Infortune, not in his essential dignities, or other malefic, can afflict a house by its presence.AlmutenAlmuten is an Arabic term for the planet or luminary which has the most counts of dignity in a particular place: the chief ruler of a house or chart.Almuten of a ChartThe strongest planet or luminary in the chart, in terms of both its accidental and essential dignity (usually the most elevated), is referred to as the almuten of that chart. Some authorities believed that the luminaries could not be considered almuten of a chart.Almuten of a HouseThe planet or luminary, which has the most essential dignities in the sign in a house cusp, is referred to as the almuten of that house. The almuten has a rulership of that house, together with the domicile ruler.AngleThe first, fourth, seventh and tenth houses are angular houses.AntisciumIf an imaginary line is drawn from 0 degrees Cancer to 0 degrees Capricorn, the planet can be reflected across that line to the corresponding degree on the other side. This is a planet’s antiscium or antiscion.AntisciaA collective term for more than one antiscium point.ApplicationA planet, or luminary, approaching a conjunction or aspect with another planet, luminary or point, it is said to be applying towards that planet. This is referred to as application. For the application to be effective, the distance between the planets should be within the moiety of their joint orbs.AscendantThe eastern horizon and the cusp of the first house, which starts at that point, is referred to as the ascendant.Ascending DegreeThe degree in the cusp of the first house is the ascending, or the rising, degree.AspectAn angle or fractional division between planets, luminaries or points in the chart is an aspect. The only aspects used in Horary Astrology are the opposition, square, trine and sextile. The conjunction is not really an aspect: it is included for convenience. Aspect means the beginning of the aspect. If, for example, a planet is separated from another by 54 degrees, this is what Ibn Ezra calls ‘the force of the sextile aspect’. When this distance is 60 degrees, the aspect is perfect and signifies ‘completion of all that which they prognosticate’.[1]BeneficThe Sun, Jupiter, Venus, the Moon and Mercury (unless afflicted by a conjunction, square or opposition with Mars or Saturn) or Mars and Saturn in their domicile, exaltation or triplicity. Any of the foregoing in conjunction, square or opposition with the Sun experience a reduction in their power.BesiegementA point, a planet, a luminary or a house positioned between two or more other planets is besieged or contained. Besiegement can take place through conjunction or aspect. If this takes place between Fortunes it is fortunate, but if between Infortunes, the reverse applies.Cadent HouseA house furthest from an angular house is a cadent house: the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth houses are cadent houses.Cadent PlanetA planet or luminary in the third, sixth, ninth or twelfth house is a cadent planet. A planet can also be cadent from its own domicile: Mars in Aries is considered to be angular, but if Mars is in Taurus, he is said to be succedent. Lilly tells us that if Mars is in Gemini ‘he is then Cadent as from his owne House; and so doe the rest: for ever a Planet is Angular in any of his owne Houses [domicile]’.[2]Caput Draconis*The dragon’s head, or north node, is another term for Caput Draconis. The dragon’s head is masculine and was thought to be of the nature of Jupiter and Venus. Not all authorities agree on its precise influence, but in this book the north node is considered fortunate.Cauda Draconis*The dragon’s tail, or south node, is another term for Cauda Draonis. The dragon’s tail is feminine and thought to be of the opposite nature to the head. Not all authorities agree on its precise influence, but in this book the south node is considered to be unfortunate.CazimiA planet or the Moon in the heart of the Sun, within 16 or 17 minutes of a conjunction, is said to be cazimi (not all authorities agree on the exact distance which defines cazimi). In this book the distance for cazimi is considered as 17 minutes or less.ChartA two-dimensional schematic representation of the celestial houses and celestial bodies in those houses. The term ‘chart’ does not appear in pre-modern literature: the term ‘figure’, ‘scheme’ or ‘map’ was commonly invoked. The houses begin at the eastern horizon (the ascendant) and are numbered one to twelve.CollectionTwo planets or luminaries not in aspect with each other, but both applying to an aspect with another (usually slower moving) planet, can be said to have their light collected by the slower moving planet. This collection helps to achieve the desired outcome (bring the matter to perfection).CombustA planet or other celestial body within about eight and half degrees of the Sun is said to be combust. The exact distance thought to be necessary for combustion to take place varies among past authorities, but it is somewhere between six and eight and a half degrees. A planet is more afflicted when moving towards combustion than when moving away.Commit DispositionAny planet or luminary when applying to another planet commits its disposition to that planet. In other words, it sends its characteristics forward on to that planet.Common SignGemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are common, double-bodied, or bi-corporeal signs.ConjunctionA planet, luminary, house cusp, Lot or fixed star in the same sign and degree as another, forms a conjunction. The allowable distance for a conjunction to be effective or to be in operation is dependent on the moiety of the joint orbs belonging to a planet or luminary.Contra-antisciumThe degree opposite to an antiscium is the contra-antiscium. A planet in conjunction with the contra-antiscium of an Infortune may become unfortunate.Contra-antisciaThis is the collective term for more than one contra-antiscium point.Co-significatorA planet or luminary in aspect or conjunction with the principal significator, a planet placed in the house of the matter enquired about, or a planet ruling intercepted degrees in the house of the matter enquired about is a co-significator.CuspThe exact point in the chart where a house begins is the cusp of a house. The cusp of any house is the most powerful part of that house.DayThe day started at dawn in previous centuries. This is where the sequence of planetary hours begins.DebilitySee Essential Debility and Accidental Debility.DeclinationThe distance between a planet or luminary and the equator, in a northerly or southerly direction, is its declination.DecumbitureA chart drawn up for the moment when a sick person lies down or goes to bed is a decumbiture. The chart is drawn up as an Event.DegreeThe circle of the chart is divided into three hundred and sixty degrees, with thirty degrees allocated to each sign.DetrimentThe sign which is opposite to a planet or luminary’s domicile is the sign of its detriment. This is a very weak position for a planet or luminary. Mars in Taurus, Venus in Scorpio and the Moon in Capricorn are in their detriment.DexterAn aspect made against the flow of signs is a dexter aspect: a trine between the Moon in Leo and Jupiter in Aries is a dexter trine.DignitySee Essential Dignity and Accidental Dignity.DirectA planet or luminary moving forwards from one degree to two degrees to three degrees is said to be moving in direct motion.DispositorA planet or luminary ruling one (or more) of the dignities in which another planet is placed is the dispositor of that planet. For example, if Saturn is in Libra, his dispositor (by domicile) is Venus. If Saturn is in Aries, his dispositor (by domicile) is Mars and his dispositor by triplicity during the day is the Sun. A planet or luminary can be a dispositor of the domicile, exaltation, triplicity, term or face of another planet or luminary.Diurnal ChartA chart drawn up during the day, when the Sun is above the horizon, is a diurnal chart.Diurnal PlanetThe Sun, Jupiter and Saturn are diurnal planets. Mercury was thought to be diurnal when rising before the Sun. Diurnal planets exercise their power during the day.Diurnal SignAries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius are the diurnal signs.DomicileAnother term for the sign over which a planet or luminary has rulership, is domicile or house. Jupiter’s domiciles are Sagittarius and Pisces. Mercury’s domiciles are Virgo and Gemini.ElectionA chart drawn up for a particular (auspicious) moment, which is selected by the astrologer, is called an Election. This might relate to a time chosen for the beginning of an enterprise, for getting married, for building a house and so on.ElevatedA planet or luminary in the upper part of a chart (above the horizon) is said to be elevated. This is an important consideration in all charts, but particularly those relating to sickness. In a general sense, planets elevated are stronger than those below.Essential Debility**A planet or luminary placed in a sign or part of a sign, where it is weak, is said to be in its debility or is debilitated. The essential debilities are detriment and fall. These are the places opposite to a planet’s domicile (sign) or exaltation. Mercury in Sagittarius is in his detriment. Mercury in Pisces is in his fall.Essential Dignity**A planet or luminary placed in a sign or part of a sign, where it is strong and which belong to it, is said to be in its dignity or dignified. The essential dignities are domicile, exaltation, triplicity, term and face (decanate). Jupiter in Cancer is placed in his exaltation; Saturn in Gemini is placed in his diurnal triplicity.ExaltationA planet or luminary positioned in a sign where it is strong, such as Venus in Pisces or the Sun in Aries, is said to be exalted. A planet in its exaltation is not usually as strong as a planet in its own domicile (sign), but in certain instances the exaltation is stronger, for example in Horary charts relating to law-suits or disputes.FaceOne of a planet or luminary’s weaker essential dignities is face. This is a subdivision of a sign, which contains ten degrees. Each face is ruled by a different planet or luminary.FallThe sign occupied by a planet or luminary, which is opposite to its exaltation, is the sign of its fall. The Moon in Scorpio is in her fall. Jupiter in Capricorn is in his fall.Feminine QuarterThe quarter or quadrant from the cusp of the tenth house to the cusp of the seventh house and the quarter opposite to it, are the feminine or decreasing quarters.Feminine SignTaurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are the feminine signs.FeralIf the Sun, Moon or planet makes no aspect at all throughout the whole sign where it is placed, it is said to be feral. Some authorities considered a planet to be feral if it did not make any conjunction in a sign.Fixed SignTaurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are the fixed signs.Fixed StarA star (as distinct from a planet), which is visible to the naked eye, but so far away that it does not appear to be moving is given the name “fixed” in its constellation.FortunaThis is another term for the Lot of Fortune.FortuneVenus and Jupiter are the Fortunes.FrustrationThis is a method by which perfection between significators is prevented.Hayyiz or HayzA diurnal planet (or the Sun) correctly placed above the horizon during the day, in a masculine sign, or a nocturnal planet (or the Moon) correctly placed above the horizon during the night, in a feminine sign, is in its hayyiz or hayz. Mars is different in that he is nocturnal and is correctly placed above the horizon during the night, but he is in his hayyiz only when in a masculine sign.HoroscopeIn modern astrology the horoscope refers to the Nativity, but in the classical system this was the term used to represent the ascendant.HouseEach of the twelve divisions within the chart is called a house. In the Regiomontanus system the houses can be of different sizes.ImpeditedA planet or luminary which is unfortunate, because of its position by house, sign, or aspect (or all of them) is impedited.InconjunctA planet or luminary not in aspect with another planet or luminary, nor beholding that planet or luminary through the antiscia, is said to be inconjunct. A planet or luminary is inconjunct the ascendant if it does not behold the ascending sign.Inferior PlanetMercury, Venus and the Moon are the inferior planets, or the Inferiors.InfortuneMars and Saturn are the Infortunes.JoyA planet or luminary’s position where it is most comfortable, either by house, by quarter, or by sign, is said to be its joy. Saturn in Aquarius, Mercury in the first house or a Superior in an increasing quarter are places where these planets are in their joy. In addition to the latter, the diurnal planets joy in diurnal houses in the east and oriental of the Sun near the ascendant. The nocturnal planets joy in nocturnal houses in the west and occidental of the Sun, near to the cusp of the seventh house.Lady of a HouseIf a feminine planet, or the Moon, is the ruler of a particular house, it is referred to as the lady of the house. For example, if the ascending sign is Cancer, the Moon is lady of the ascendant. If Taurus is the sign found in the fifth house cusp, Venus is lady of the fifth house, or ruler of the fifth house.LatitudeA planet or luminary’s distance north or south of the ecliptic is referred to as its latitude.LongitudeA planet or luminary’s distance along the ecliptic starting at the beginning of the sign of Aries is referred to as its longitude.Lord of a HouseIf a masculine planet, or the Sun, is the ruler of a particular house, it is referred to as the lord of the house. For example, if the ascending sign is Aquarius, Saturn is lord of the ascendant. If Pisces is the sign found in the eleventh house cusp, Jupiter is lord of the eleventh house, or ruler of the eleventh house.LotsThe Lots are another word for Parts. The importance of the Lot of Fortune was emphasised by authorities of the past, especially Ptolemy. By day the Lot of Fortune is calculated using the degrees of the ascendant plus those of the Moon, minus those of the Sun. By night the Lot of Fortune is calculated using the degrees of the ascendant plus the degrees of the Sun, minus those of the Moon. Ptolemy uses the diurnal calculation in both the diurnal and nocturnal chart.LuminariesThe Sun and the Moon are referred to as the lights, or the luminaries, and have great power in a chart. The Sun has particular power by day; the Moon has particular power by night. In an overall sense the Moon is usually the most important body in a Horary chart.MaleficA malefic refers to Saturn or Mars in their detriment, fall or peregrine, or any other planet or luminary afflicted by a conjunction, square or opposition with either of them. Rulership of an unfortunate house may also cause a planet to be malefic.Masculine PlanetSun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are masculine. Mercury is usually masculine, but Mercury’s ‘sex’ can depend on which planet has an influence over Mercury. If Mercury is in aspect or in conjunction with Venus, Mercury takes on a feminine role. However, if Mercury is with Mars, the role is more likely to be masculine.Masculine QuarterThe quarter or quadrant from the ascendant to the cusp of the tenth house and the one which is opposite, are the masculine or increasing quarters.Masculine SignAries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius are the masculine signs.Moveable SignAries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are moveable signs (called cardinal signs by modern astrologers).Mutual ReceptionWhere one particular planet or luminary is in a dignity of another, and the latter is also in a dignity of the former, this is mutual reception. The strongest mutual reception is between domiciles (signs), but mutual reception can also be mixed between the stronger dignities and possibly between the lesser dignities. Jupiter in Pisces and Venus in Cancer have a mutual reception between their exaltations. Jupiter in Scorpio and Mars in Cancer have a mixed reception between domicile and exaltation.NativityThe name which astrologers of the past gave to a natal chart is the Nativity.Natural RulersPlanets or luminaries which have a natural association with certain things, people or matters are the natural or universal significators of those things. For example, Jupiter is natural ruler of pregnancy, Saturn is natural ruler of elderly people, the Moon is natural ruler of women.Nocturnal ChartA chart drawn up during the night, when the Sun is below the horizon, is a nocturnal chart.Nocturnal PlanetThe Moon, Venus and Mars are nocturnal planets and exercise their power during the night.Nocturnal SignTaurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are nocturnal signs.OccidentalA planet rising after the Sun in the morning is said to be occidental.OrbThe distance around a planet or luminary, where it is able to exert an influence, is called its orb. Outside its orb, the influence of a planet or luminary comes to an end.OrientalA planet rising before the Sun in the morning is said to be oriental.PartillAn exact aspect between planets, luminaries or other celestial bodies is a partill aspect. The Sun in five degrees of Leo makes a partill trine with Jupiter in five degrees of Sagittarius. A partill aspect is very strong.PeregrineA planet or luminary in a sign and degree, where it has no essential dignity, either through its domicile, exaltation, triplicity, term or face, nor any dignity through one of the stronger mutual receptions, is referred to as peregrine.PerfectionWhen two or more planets, or luminaries, which are significators in the Question, make an exact or partill aspect with each other, this signifies a perfection of the matter enquired about (other testimonies supporting). This is just one (of many) example of perfection.PlatickAn aspect, which takes place within the moiety of the joint orbs between planets or luminaries, is called platick. The platick aspect is weaker than the partill aspect.ProhibitionThis is a method by which the perfection of an aspect between significators is prevented.QuerentThis is the term used to describe the person asking the Question. The Querent is usually signified by the ascendant and the ruler of the ascendant.QuesitedThis is the term used to describe the person, thing or matter enquired about. In any Question concerning a husband or wife, for example, the seventh house and the ruler of the seventh house would usually represent the Quesited.ReceptionWhere a planet or luminary is positioned in the dignity of another, it is received by that planet. Jupiter in Libra is received by Venus being in her domicile. Venus in Leo is received by the Sun, being in his domicile. Reception can take place between any of the dignities of the planet. The receiving planet is the dispositor of the received planet. To be effective, reception usually requires an applying aspect to be in operation.RefranationThis is a method by which the perfection of an aspect between significators is prevented.RegiomontanusThis is a method of house division thought to have been created by Johannes Müller von Königsberg (1436-1476), better known as Regiomontanus. Some authorities claim that the method was in use for centuries before and that he simply popularised the mathematical concepts of Abraham Ibn Ezra.[3] The Regiomontanus house system is frequently used in Horary astrology.RetrogradeA planet moving backwards from three degrees to two degrees to one degree is retrograde. A planet retrograde can be unfortunate in its effect.SectA sect is a division between planets and luminaries, according to whether they belong to the solar diurnal sect (the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury), or the lunar nocturnal sect (Venus, Mars, the Moon).SeparationWhen two planets, or luminaries, have been in a conjunction or an aspect and are moving away from each other, they are separating. An aspect between two bodies which has passed exactitude even by just one minute, but is still within orbs, is separating.SignificatorA planet, luminary, house or sign, which is associated with the matter enquired about, is a significator. The Querent’s significator is usually the ascendant, the ascendant ruler and the Moon. A significator is a ‘symbol of’ the person enquiring and of the person, thing or matter enquired about.SinisterAn aspect made forward in the order of the signs is a sinister aspect: the Sun in Aries makes a sinister trine with Jupiter in Leo.StationaryWhen a planet does not move at all, neither forwards nor backwards, it is stationary. Thereafter, the planet’s direction will change either from direct motion to retrograde motion or from retrograde motion to direct motion.Succedent HouseThe second, fifth, eighth and eleventh houses are succedent houses.SunbeamsA planet or other celestial body within about eight to seventeen degrees away from the Sun is said to be under sunbeams. The exact distance, which was thought to be necessary for a planet to be under sunbeams, varies between different authorities. But it is agreed that any planet (or the Moon) is more afflicted when moving towards sunbeams than when moving away.Superior PlanetMars, Jupiter and Saturn are the superior planets, or the Superiors.TermsSubsections within each sign, where each of the planets has a rulership, are called a planet’s terms.TestimonyThe circumstances particular to a planet or luminary in the chart are referred to as the testimony (or indications) of that planet. For example, the Moon in Cancer in the tenth house has two testimonies of good fortune, being in her own domicile and angular. If, however, she is in conjunction with Saturn, this is a testimony of misfortune.Translation of LightWhere two planets or luminaries are not in aspect, but a swifter planet (or luminary) separates from one and moves to an aspect with the second, this helps to bring about perfection and is called translation.TriplicityA group of three signs, which are of the same nature, form a triplicity. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius belong to the fire triplicity; Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn belong to the earth triplicity; Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces belong to the water triplicity; Gemini, Libra and Aquarius belong to the air triplicity.Via CombustaThis is the area of the zodiac somewhere between fifteen degrees of Libra and fifteen degrees of Scorpio, although not all astrologers agree on the exact distance. It is believed to be an area of misfortune. When the Moon is found in this position the astrologer must be cautious when giving judgement. Some authorities believe that the Moon in the Via Combusta renders the chart unreadable.Void of CourseIf the Moon, the Sun or any planet has separated from an aspect and makes no further aspect in the sign where it is placed, before departing and moving into the next sign, it is void of course.WildIf a planet or luminary makes no aspect whatsoever in any particular sign it is called wild. This is more likely to occur with the Inferiors and very unlikely with the Superiors, especially Saturn.ZodiacThe ecliptic is divided into twelve signs, the first of which is Aries, the last of which is Pisces.This glossary is reproduced from: B. Dunn, Horary Astrology Re-Examined: The Possibility or Impossibility of the Matter Propounded (Wessex Astrologer, 2009), pp. xxiii-xxxv.
* The nodes are the points where the ecliptic is intersected by the orbits of the planets, particularly by that of the Moon. Where the moving body crosses from north to south is the descending node (cauda draconis). Where the moving body crosses from south to north it is called the ascending body (caput draconis). These points are not fixed. They have a motion of their own in the zodiac.**For the purposes of the QHP, Lilly’s table of dignities (derived from Ptolemy) is the point of reference.
[1] R. Levy and F. Cantera (eds.), The Beginning Of Wisdom: An Astrological Treatise by Abraham Ibn Ezra (Oxford,1939). Reprinted by Ascella Publications, pp. 210-211.[2] W. Lilly, Christian Astrology Modestly Treated of in Three Books (London, 1659), p. 227.[3] Also, see: J. North, Warburg Institute Surveys and Texts XIII: Horoscopes and History (London,1986), pp. 33, 44.
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