Astrology words, defined

A

aspect (AS-pekt) n. A specific angle between two planets, as seen from Earth. The five major ones are the conjunction (0°), sextile (60°), square (90°), trine (120°), and opposition (180°). Orbit Calendar marks the minute each one is exact. How far either side of exact still counts is called the orb, and astrologers will be arguing about it long after the rest of us have gone to bed.

C

conjunction (kun-JUNK-shun) n. Two planets at the same degree of the zodiac, 0° apart. Whatever each one stands for, they are now doing it together—a two-person band, for better or for worse.

D

degree (dih-GREE) n. One 360th of the circle. Each sign holds 30. Our entries read like 22°34′ Pisces, where the ′ is an arcminute, a sixtieth of a degree. Not a minute of time. Confusing on a calendar, we know.

direct (dih-REKT) adj. Moving forward through the zodiac again, the usual way, after a retrograde. A good day to send the email you drafted three weeks ago.

E

eclipse (ih-KLIPS) n. The Sun, Moon, and Earth lined up closely enough for a shadow to land. Solar eclipses happen at a New Moon, lunar eclipses at a Full Moon, usually in pairs about two weeks apart, twice a year. Astrologers treat them as the season’s plot twists. Astronomers treat them as a reason to travel. Either way, don’t look straight at the solar kind.

ephemeris (ih-FEM-er-iss) n. A table of where the planets are, day by day. Plural: ephemerides, which is fun to say. Ours is calculated from NASA JPL’s DE440, the same data used to steer spacecraft. Arguably overkill for timing a haircut.

F

Full Moon (FULL-MOON) n. The Sun and Moon on opposite sides of the sky, an opposition, with the Moon fully lit. Traditionally a culmination: things come to light, come to a head, or come to an end. Ask anyone who works an emergency room night shift and they’ll tell you it’s busier. The studies disagree. The nurses don’t care.

I

ingress (IN-gress) n. The moment a planet enters a new sign. The Moon does it every two and a half days. Pluto does it once every couple of decades, which is why people make such a fuss when it does.

M

Mercury (MER-kyuh-ree) n. Planet of messages, errands, contracts, and small talk. It turns retrograde three or four times a year for about three weeks at a time, and gets blamed for everything from reply-all to the missed train. Now you can blame it in advance.

Moon (MOON) n. The fastest thing in the sky: once around the zodiac every 27⅓ days, a new sign every two and a half. Moods, home, instinct, appetite. It changes signs before most planets finish a thought.

N

New Moon (NOO-MOON) n. The Moon and Sun at the same degree, a conjunction, with the Moon dark. Traditionally the time to start things. Plant the seeds, make the list, keep it short.

O

opposition (op-uh-ZISH-un) n. Two planets 180° apart, on opposite sides of the sky. A seesaw: balance is possible, but somebody has to keep a foot on the ground. Every Full Moon is one.

Q

quarter Moon (KWOR-ter-MOON) n. The Sun and Moon 90° apart, the Moon half lit. The first quarter falls a week after the New Moon, the last quarter a week after the Full Moon. Two check-ins a month. You may skip neither.

R

retrograde (RET-roh-grayd) adj. Appearing to move backward through the zodiac, from where we stand on Earth. No planet actually reverses. It’s an overtaking effect, like the car in the next lane that seems to slip backward as you pass it. Every planet does it except the Sun and Moon. See station.

S

sextile (SEKS-tyle) n. Two planets 60° apart. The friendliest of the working aspects: an open door. You do still have to walk through it.

sidereal zodiac (sy-DEER-ee-ul ZOH-dee-ak) n. A zodiac anchored to the stars rather than the seasons, used in Vedic astrology. Earth’s axis wobbles, so the two zodiacs drift apart by about a degree every 72 years; right now they’re about 24° apart. Yes, your Sun sign may be the one before. No, you don’t have to change the tattoo. Compare tropical zodiac.

square (SKWAIR) n. Two planets 90° apart. Friction. The aspect you blame for the argument and credit for the renovation.

station (STAY-shun) n. The moment a planet appears to stand still before turning retrograde or direct. A planet moves slowest right around its station, lingering on one degree, which is why astrologers pay attention. It’s a pause, and pauses are where things get said.

T

trine (TRYNE) n. Two planets 120° apart. The smoothest aspect, so easy it’s easy to miss—like a talent you don’t notice you have.

tropical zodiac (TROP-ih-kul ZOH-dee-ak) n. A zodiac anchored to the seasons: 0° Aries is always the March equinox, whatever the stars behind it are doing. Most Western astrology uses it, and so does Orbit Calendar. Compare sidereal zodiac.

V

void-of-course Moon (VOYD-uv-KORS-MOON) n. The stretch after the Moon makes its last major aspect in a sign and before it enters the next one. It can last a few minutes or more than a day. Traditional advice: fine for routine, not for launching anything. Don’t sign the lease. Do the laundry.

Z

zodiac (ZOH-dee-ak) n. The circle of twelve signs, 30° each, that the Sun, Moon, and planets travel around as seen from Earth. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. Said fast, it sounds like a spell.