GLOSSARY OF ASTROLOGY TERMS

Constellations: groups of stars the ancients identified with a mythological figure or symbol.

Cusp: the point (technically, the degree) in which one sign ends and another begins. If you’re born “on the cusp” some astrologers say you may have aspects of both sun signs; but most say we only have one sun sign.

Electional astrology: a branch of astrology that deals in favourable times for actions and transactions.

Ephemeris: an astrological almanac or calendar, showing the positions of the planets day by day throughout any particular year.

Glyphs: symbols used for the astrological signs, planets and luminaries.

Houses: each of the 12 houses in a chart rule certain areas of life: self-image, communication, money, family, romance, work, health and so on.

Luminaries: the joint title given by the ancients to the Sun and the Moon.

Moon sign: the Moon represents your emotions, your inner being. It’s considered a very important influence in your chart. Mundane astrology: used to predict world affairs and events.

Planets: astrology deals with eight planets ( plus the two Luminaries), each representing a function in your personality.

Retrograde: a planet that appears to be going backwards (it’s an optical illusion). In practical terms, you experience the planet’s energy in a more subjective, internal way.

Rising sign: also known as the Ascendant, it’s the Zodiac sign that was coming up on the eastern horizon at the moment you were born. It represents your outward self, how you present yourself in the world.

Signs: each of the 12 signs belong to a certain element in a certain state (see above).

Sun sign: the position of the Sun at your birth gives rise to your sun sign. It represents your basic nature, the constants in your personality. It’s the basis of the horoscopes you read in the daily papers – a simplified image of your astrological make-up.

Zodiac: a map of the sky based on the positions of the 12 constellations.