Glossary of Astrological Terms

Here is a list of terms commonly found in the translations of ancient astrologicaltexts:

achrematistikos:

From the Greek "chrematistikos", meaning profitable.In this case the "a" at the front causes it to mean the opposite. In other words: not a profitable place.

acquisition:

As in the place of acquisition. This is the 11th sign countingfrom the lot of fortune counting fortune itself as the 1st and going in acounterclockwise direction. Similar in nature to the 11th house.

affliction:

This is a condition of a planet that is poorly aspected bymalefics or ill dignified.

alchocoden:

This is the bound lord of the apheta (or hyleg) according tohellenistic sources. Medieval era astrologers usually used the almuten of the hyleg. Used in length of life calculations.

almuten:

Means the "strong holder". This is the planet that has the mostdignities in a given place in the zodiac, according to the dignities of house, exaltation, trigon (or triplicity), bound (or term) and face(decanate).

anangke:

One of the three fates referred to by hellenistic philosophers,meaning agnoia, or unwit. Also known as ignorance. Thought to beassociated with Saturn.

aphesis:

The greek word for releasing, as in the releasing of a debt. Oftenused in connection with time lords governing periods of an individualslife.

apheta:

Also known as the "giver of life". Was used in length of lifecalculations by the greek and medieval astrologers.

Aphrodite:

One of the greek gods, has references to the planet Venus.

10.

apotelesma:

The greek word for astrological influence literally meaning"outcomes".

11.

arabic part:

A sensitive point in the sky usually derived from 2 planetsand the ascendant. For instance: Arabic part of Fortune = Longitude of Asc + Longitude of Moon - Longitude of Sun. (day time formula)

12.

Ares:

One of the greek gods, has references to the planet Mars.

13.

ascendant:

The sign rising in the east at a given time. Determined by theintersection with the eastern horizontal plane with the ecliptic in tropicalzodiacs.

14.

ascensional times:

Similar to progressions, refers to the number of degrees that pass over the meridian (equatorial degrees) in the time that agiven zodiac sign rises. Used in connection with forcasting events, also

known as circumambulation, or primary direction (of which there aredifferent types).

15.

aspect:

A greek word related to looking or seeing. According to greek optical theory, looking is to cast a ray out from the eye to an object, seeinga passive reception of the perception back from an object. In astrology,this refers to the divisions of the circle by numbers starting with 2. Aconjunction is not technically an aspect because there is no looking or seeing involved, only a presence.

16.

aversion:

A term used to indicate a lack of acknowledgement betweenzodiac signs based on aspects (of 30 and 150 degrees to be precise). Somehellenistic astrologers thought aversion to be cancelled by like-engirding,equal power, or commanding and obeying relationships. For instance Leois in aversion to: Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces and Cancer. However, Cancer islike-engirding which may allow Leo to "have dealings" with planets inCancer. Aversion is the most unfavorable of circumstances according tohellenistic astrologers, due to an inability for the planets involved tofunction. At least with squares and oppositions they can "see" eachother to be able to work out differences.

17.

benefic:

A planet, that without much effort on an individuals part isnaturally beneficial and conducive to life. A planet that moderates or balances.

18.

bi-corporeal:

Litterally means double-bodied, refers to the mutable signsGemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

19.

bound:

One of the dignities also known as terms (from the latin -terminus), thought of as delimiting a certain circumstance within a certainconfine of life. Often used in life expectancy calculations.

20.

cardinal:

The signs of thequadruplicity: Aries, Cancer, Libra andCapricorn. Somes times called tropical.

21.

cazimi:

Arabic term meaning, "in the heart of the Sun". Technically, thismeans that a planet has to be either directly in front of the Sun's disk or behind it, by plus/minus 15' arc. A very rare condition, and a powerfuldignity according to arab sources.

22.

chrematistikos:

From the Greek "chrematistikos", meaning profitable. Inother words: a profitable place in which a planet can conduct affairs.

23.

chronocrator:

Derived from the greek word "chronos", meaning "time"and "crator" meaning "lord", hence: time lord. It is a planet that hasgovernance over an individuals life for a period of time on a givensubject.

24.

circle of the Other:

Refers to the ecliptic. Platonic terminology.

25.

circle of the Same:

Refers to the motion of the celestial sphere caused bythe daily rotation of the earth (celestial equator). Platonic terminology.

26.

circumambulation:

A form of progression known as primary directions.See "ascensional times".

27.

combust:

A form of debility that befalls a planet because it is "burned" bythe Sun. Technically, within 8 degrees either side.

28.

conjunct:

A planet that is in the same sign as another planet (by greek standards). Later astrologers applied an "orb of light", standard by which planets outside this orb are not conjunct even if in the same sign. This"orb of light" is also used with aspects. In the last century, the orb of light became confused with orb of aspect.

29.

co-sectarian:

A reference to the guardians of the sect. For the Sun, the co-sectarians are Jupiter and Saturn; for the Moon, Venus and Mars.

30.

debility:

A general hindrance placed upon a planet due to its unfavorable position. Can be based upon the essential dignities, accidental dignities or aspects.

31.

decennia:

One of the greek time lord systems based upon the minor periods of the planets, counted in months: Saturn 30, Jupiter 12, Mars 15,Sun 19, Venus 8, Mercury 20, Moon 25 = 129 months (10 yrs, 9 mths),starting with the planet period that is in sect (giving it 10 years and 9months), and handing over sub periods (in months) to the planetsfollowing in zodiacal order from birth (again based upon the minor period). After 10 years and 9 months, the next planet in the order of thesigns from the last major period receives the current major period.

32.

decline:

This is what the greek astrologers called a cadent house; i.e. a planet is said to be in decline when in a cadent house.

33.

depression:

Another name for fall. One of the essential debilities.

34.

destroyer:

That planet in a primary or other direction that brings life to anend by making a malefic contact with the apheta.

35.

dexter:

An aspect ray cast to the right (against the direction of the signs).

36.

dignity:

The essential strength of a planet in a given location. A planet isin dignity when it is in it's own house, exaltation, trigon, bound, and phaseor configuration (aspect). Face was added later as another dignity.Reception and/or mutual reception strongly affects essential dignities for better or worse depending on the circumstances.

37.

direct:

1. To move a planet or point foreward as in a progression. 2. A planet that is transiting foreward in motion. Sometimes called "additive innumbers".

38.

direction:

The progression of all of the planets at the same rate as theSun, a day representing each year.

39.

dispositor:

The planet taking up the rulership from another ruler determined by planetary placement. For instance: Mars in Virgo; thedispositor of Mars is Mercury, because Mercury is lord of Virgo.

40.

distributor: