A Glossary of Astrological Terms

Use this glossary to look up the meanings of words you come across on this website, or in your astrological reading. Just select the first letter of the word you need and click on it in the table below to go straight to that sector.

O

Occidental & Oriental

From cusp of tenth house westward to fourth is occidental The opposite half is oriental. Planets are sometimes described as being occidental or oriental of the Sun. Occidental means setting before the Sun, oriental means rising after the Sun. Ptolemy says: "When oriental, the influence is masculine; when occidental, feminine." This is a very subtle influence.

Occultation

Planets occasionally obscure other planets or stars temporarily. The Moon, transiting a variable orbit, does so frequently. The phenomenon is termed occultation to distinguish it from eclipses. An occultation is equal to a powerful total or partile conjunction. (To be actually partile, these bodies should at the time have the same lattitude and longitude.)

Opposition

An adverse aspect of 180 degrees.

Orb

An aspect between planets or sensitive points is usually allowed some inexactitude, which is called its orb of influence. Major aspects are allowed a greater orb than minor ones. For example, a conjunction is usually allowed an orb of 8 degrees, whereas an semi-sextile would only be allowed an orb of 2 degrees of arc. The Moon is usually allowed more orb than other planets, while faster planets are allowed more orb than slower ones. Greater orb is allowed in natal astrology than in mundane, where timing is more critical.

Oriental

See Occidental.