Astrology Glossary
Plain-language definitions for 33 astrology and Vedic astrology terms you'll come across on this site.
33 terms
Ascendant (Rising Sign)
The zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment and place of birth. It shapes outward personality and first impressions, alongside the Sun and Moon signs.
Aspect
The angular relationship between two planets in a chart, such as conjunction, opposition, or trine. Aspects describe how planetary energies interact with each other.
Birth Chart (Natal Chart)
A map of where the Sun, Moon, and planets were positioned in the zodiac at the exact time and place of a person's birth.
Cardinal Sign
One of the four signs that begin each season — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — associated with initiating action and leadership.
Compatibility (Synastry)
The astrological comparison of two people's charts to look at how their signs and placements relate to one another.
Conjunction
An aspect where two planets sit at roughly the same degree of the zodiac, blending their energies together.
Cusp
The boundary between two zodiac signs. Someone born near a cusp date may feel they carry traits of both neighboring signs.
Dasha
In Vedic astrology, a system of planetary time periods used to indicate which planet's influence is most active in a person's life at a given time.
Decan
A subdivision of a zodiac sign into three 10-degree segments, each carrying a slightly different flavor within the sign.
Earth Sign
Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn — signs associated with practicality, stability, and groundedness.
Elements
The four groupings of zodiac signs — Fire, Earth, Air, and Water — each associated with a different temperament.
Ephemeris
A table listing the calculated positions of celestial bodies for a range of dates, used as the raw data behind astrological calculations.
Fire Sign
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius — signs associated with energy, passion, and initiative.
Fixed Sign
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — signs that fall in the middle of each season, associated with stability and determination.
House
One of twelve divisions of the birth chart, each representing a different area of life such as career, relationships, or home.
Lucky Color / Lucky Number
A traditional astrology convention pairing a sign or day's planetary influences with a suggested color or number, offered as a lighthearted daily prompt rather than a literal guarantee.
Midheaven (MC)
The point in a birth chart representing career, public reputation, and life direction, located at the top of the chart.
Modality
The grouping of zodiac signs into Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable, describing how each sign tends to approach change.
Moon Sign
The zodiac sign the Moon occupied at the time of birth, associated with emotions, instincts, and inner life.
Mutable Sign
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — the signs that close out each season, associated with adaptability and transition.
Nakshatra
One of 27 lunar constellations used in Vedic astrology to add finer detail to the Moon's position beyond its zodiac sign.
Opposition
An aspect where two planets sit roughly 180 degrees apart, often described as creating tension or a need for balance between them.
Retrograde
The apparent backward motion of a planet as seen from Earth, an optical effect caused by differences in orbital speed. Astrologically it's associated with periods of review or delay.
Rising Sign
See Ascendant.
Ruling Planet
The planet traditionally associated with governing a particular zodiac sign, such as Mars for Aries or Venus for Taurus.
Sidereal Zodiac
A zodiac system, used in Vedic astrology, that is aligned to the actual observed positions of the constellations rather than the seasons.
Sign (Zodiac Sign)
One of the twelve 30-degree segments of the zodiac, from Aries through Pisces, each with its own traditional traits and ruling planet.
Sun Sign
The zodiac sign the Sun occupied at the time of birth — what most people mean when they say "my sign."
Synastry
See Compatibility.
Transit
The current, ongoing movement of a planet through the zodiac, used to interpret what a given day, week, or month may bring.
Trine
An aspect where two planets sit roughly 120 degrees apart, traditionally considered harmonious and easy-flowing.
Vedic Astrology (Jyotish)
A system of astrology originating in ancient India that uses the sidereal zodiac and incorporates tools like nakshatras and dashas.
Water Sign
Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces — signs associated with emotion, intuition, and sensitivity.
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