Astrology glossary

The foundations

Birth chart — the map of the sky at the moment and place of your birth; the basis of any personal reading.

Zodiac — the celestial band divided into twelve 30° signs travelled by the Sun, Moon and planets.

Ephemeris — the astronomical tables giving the exact position of celestial bodies at any moment.

Sun sign — the sign the Sun occupied at your birth — your “sign” in the everyday sense.

Moon sign — the sign the Moon occupied: your emotional life and deep needs.

Ascendant (rising sign) — the sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth: your presence, your first impression.

Midheaven — the culminating point of the chart: vocation, life direction, public image.

The planets and their domains

Sun — identity, vitality, direction.

Moon — emotions, instinct, memory.

Mercury — mind, speech, exchanges.

Venus — love, taste, attachments.

Mars — energy, desire, courage.

Jupiter — expansion, luck, meaning.

Saturn — structure, time, maturity.

Uranus — freedom, surprise, invention.

Neptune — dream, intuition, ideals.

Pluto — depths, metamorphoses.

The mechanics of the chart

Houses — the twelve sectors of the local sky, each ruling an area of life (home, partnership, vocation…).

Aspect — the angle between two bodies: it describes their dialogue, flowing or tense.

Conjunction — two bodies side by side (0°): their energies merge.

Trine — 120°: harmony, talent that flows naturally.

Square — 90°: fertile friction, the challenge that makes you grow.

Opposition — 180°: face-to-face tension, a balance to be found.

Sextile — 60°: opportunity, light affinity.

Orb — the tolerance margin, in degrees, for an aspect to be considered active.

Retrograde — a planet's apparent backward motion: a time of inner review.

The sky in motion

Transit — today's planet passing over a sensitive point of your chart: your sky's weather.

New moon — Sun and Moon united: the time for intentions and beginnings.

Full moon — Sun and Moon face to face: the time of culminations and realisations.

Solar return — the chart cast for the Sun's yearly return to its natal position: the colours of your year.

Synastry — the comparison of two charts: the meeting of two skies.