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.

S

Sagittarius

The ninth sign of the zodiac. Mutable and fiery. Ruled by Jupiter. Emblem: The Archer, or Centaur. More about Sagittarius.

Satellite

An attendant body revolving around a larger one, its primary. The Moon is a satellite of the Earth, but for historical reasons is called in astrology a planet (wanderer), as is the Sun. Astronomically, all planets in our solar system are satellites of the Sun.

Satellitium

A group of planets conjoined in a particular area of a chart having a significant effect comparable with the conjunction of all the planets concerned, even though outer members of the group would be normally considered out of orb with each other. Also called a stellium, or "satellium" (by the classically challenged...).

Saturn

The planet symbolising matters to do with karma, responsibility, age and so on. Ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius. Exalted in Libra. The greater malefic. More about Saturn.

Saturn Return

A twenty-nine year cycle, representing a time in life when we feel frustrated, angry, sad, confused, tired and insecure. A time when we become aware that we must accept responsibility for our actions.

Scorpio

The eighth sign of the zodiac. Scorpio, the Scorpion, is a fixed water sign. It is traditionally ruled by Mars and modern astrologers have designated Pluto as its co-ruler. More about Scorpio.

Secondary Directions

The progressed horoscope, based on the "day for a year" system of progressing the nativity first employed by the ancient Arabian astrologers. So called to distinguish the system from the Primary Directions.

Semi-decile

A minor benefic aspect of 18 degrees. Also called virgintile.

Semi-quintile

Kepler's decile, a minor benefic aspect of 36 degrees.

Semi-sextile

A minor benefic aspect of 30 degrees.

Semi-square (semi-quadrate)

A minor adverse aspect of 45 degrees, deriving from Kepler.

Separating Aspect

See Separation.

Separation

Moving away from the partile (exact aspect). As the planet separates, the aspect becomes weaker. In Horary Astrology, it indicates events just past, or that the matter under inquiry will not eventuate.

Sesqui-quadrate (sesqui-square)

A minor adverse aspect of 135 degrees.

Seventh House

The seventh segment of an astrological chart. It governs marriage, business partnerships, harmony, disharmony and open enemies.

Sextile

A benefic aspect of 60 degrees.

Short Ascension

Signs of short ascension are often found intercepted in horoscopes, They are Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini. Interception is neither a dignity nor a debility. For places in the southern hemisphere, long and short ascension are reversed.

Sidereal Time

Right ascension of the meridien at mean noon. The angular distance of the first point of Aries, or the true vernal equinox quoted in hours, minutes and seconds. Birth time is converted into sidereal time for the latitude of the birth place in order to calculate the house cusps.

Significator

In Natal Astrology, the planet which rules the Ascendant. In Horary, the planet ruling the house governing the matter or person in question.

Signs

Twelve equal divisions of the zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Sinister Aspect

An aspect read from the left (ie applying to the exact point of aspect).

Sixth House

The sixth area of an astrological chart. It is an area of health, helping others, daily activities and the continuous harvesting or planting of positive and negative experiences

Slow in Course

A planet moving slower than its Mean Motion.

Sol

The Sun, central power source of our solar system. The Sun stands for the individuality in the nativity. It rules Leo and is exalted in Aries.

More about the Sun.

Solar Return

A chart constructed for the moment when the Sun returns to the degree and minute of its longitude at nativity (because of the Sun's irregular apparent motion, it seldom returns at the same time as birth). A solar return chart using the latitude of the present residence for construction of House Cusps indicates the course of events during the ensuing year. The transits of planets over these chart factors is used to time and date the events indicated. The solar return should be compared with the nativity and the progressed chart to make the most informed judgement.

Solar Revolution

Solar Return.

Solar System

The Sun and the family of celestial bodies which revolve around it as it journeys through space and time. It includes the nine known planets and their satellites, the numerous asteroids which orbit between Mars and Jupiter, plus the comets and meteors, along with the various hypothetical planets such as Trans-Pluto (Bacchus).

Solstice

Sol+systere, latin for Sun and standing still. The place in the ecliptic where the Sun appears to stand still at its furthest point north or south of the equator, the first degree of Cancer or Capricorn. The northernmost point is the summer solstice and the southernmost is the winter solstice, when viewed from the northern hemisphere. The Sun at maximum declination appears to stand still at these points for about three days. The seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere. See Tropic.

Solsticial Signs

Cancer and Capricorn. These signs hold the summer and winter solstices (shortest and longest nights). cf Equinoctial Signs.

South Node

See Dragon's Tail.

Southern Signs

Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. The Sun in these signs has a southern declination.

Speculum

A table of the data concerning the planets in a horoscope. Useful in calculating directions.

Speculum of Aspects

A table of every degree in a horoscope that may be in aspect with the planets. Useful for noting transiting aspects at a glance.

Square

Major malefic (unfavourable) aspect of 90 degrees.

Standard Time

Time adopted in modern time zones. This is not true local or Mean Time and must be corrected according to longitude for the accurate calculation of horoscopes.

Stationary

A planet in its station appears to be standing still between periods of Retrograde and Direct motion. Sun and Moon are never stationary. See Retrograde.

Stellium

See satellitium.

Sun

The Sun, central power source of our solar system. The masculine Sun stands for the individuality in the nativity. He rules Leo and is exalted in Aries.

More about the Sun.

Sun Signs

The twelve traditional signs of the zodiac. The Sun Sign is the sign through which the Sun is passing at a given moment, such as the moment of birth.

Succedent

Second, fifth, eighth and eleventh houses in a chart. Corresponding to the fixed signs, they lie between the cardinal angles and the cadent houses.

Superior Planets

Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. Also the trans-plutonian "planets" such as Trans-Pluto (Bacchus, or Persephone). Their orbits lie beyond that of the Earth from the Sun. The orbits of the inferior planets lie between the Earth and the Sun (Vulcan, Mercury and Venus).

Swift in Motion

A planet moving faster than its mean motion.

Synastry

Art of chart comparison, for analysis of relationships.

Synodical Lunation

The time taken by the Moon from one conjunction with the Sun until the next: 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds...

Syzyges

Refer conjunctions and oppositions.