Astrology Glossary

Planetary Qualities & Nature

48 terms with definitions, classical sources and practice notes.

48 Terms
All Categories
Greek: Akronykhios / Latin: Ortus Acronychus

A superior planet's rising on the eastern horizon as the Sun sets; a powerful position occurring near opposition with the Sun.

Latin: Crescens in Lumine / Arabic: Mütenâmiyü'n-Nûr

A planet's brightness increasing as it moves away from the Sun; a favorable position providing accidental dignity.

Latin: Decrescens in Lumine / Arabic: Mütenâkısü'n-Nûr

A planet's brightness decreasing as it approaches the Sun; a position evaluated as accidental debility.

Latin: Vacuus Cursus / Arabic: Hâliyye / Greek: Kenodromia

The condition where the Moon will not make an exact aspect with any other planet before leaving its current sign.

Arabic: Kasmîmî / Latin: In Corde Solis / English: Cazimi

The condition where a planet is closer than 17 arc minutes to the Sun; a rare position that paradoxically grants extraordinary power.

The narrow 17 arc-minute range where the cazimi condition occurs and its calculation details.

Hairesis (Αἵρεσις) / Secta

The fundamental Hellenistic doctrine that divides planets into day and night teams and determines their overall function in the chart.

Latin: Prohibitio / Arabic: Men' / English: Prohibition

A third planet preventing the conjunction between two planets; signifies outside interference in horary astrology.

Latin: Refrenatio / Arabic: İn'ikâs / English: Refranation

One planet retreating into retrograde before two planets form an exact aspect; signifies 'last-minute withdrawal' in horary astrology.

Latin: Retrogradus / Arabic: Rücû' / Greek: Anapodizon

A planet appearing to moand backward through the zodiac, opposite to its normal direction of progress, as sethe most from Earth.

Latitudo Planetarum / Planetary Latitude

A concept expressing the degree to which planets are north or south of the ecliptic plane, affecting aspect interpretation.

Planetary Days and Hours Detail

The system of matching days of the week and hours of the day with planets and its use in electional astrology.

Planetary Speed / Velocitas Planetarum

A concept addressing the importance of planets' daily movement speeds in astrological interpretation and the meanings of speed changes.

Planetary Colors and Metals

The astrological tradition of color and metal assignments associated with each planet and their alchemical origins.

Greek: Chara / Latin: Gaudium / Arabic: Ferah

A specific house where each planet is considered 'happiest': Mercury in the 1st, Moon in the 3rd, Venus in the 5th, Mars in the 6th, Sun in the 9th, Jupiter in the 11th, Saturn in the 12th house.

Planetary Joys Detail

A detailed analysis of the planetary joys system expressing the house position where each planet works most productively.

Planetary Ages

The ancient system of planetary ages matching different periods of human life with planets.

Greek: Phasis / Latin: Ortus Heliacus / Arabic: Tulû'

A planet becoming visible to the naked eye for the first time at dawn after separating from the Sun's beams; a powerful accidental dignity.

Latin: Beneficus / Arabic: Sa'âdet, Sa'îd / Greek: Agathopoios

Planets that produce positiand effects by nature: Jupiter (greater benefic) and Venus (lesser benefic).

Arabic: Hayz / English: Similitude of Condition / Latin: (karşılığı yok — İslam kökenli terim)

The ideal accidental dignity condition where a planet meets all conditions in terms of sect, gender and horizon position.

Greek: Krypsis / Arabic: Gurûb

A planet becoming visible for the last time as it approaches the Sun; a period of concealment and withdrawal.

Bonification / Maltreatment

Benefics strengthening a planet by trine and sextile aspects (bonification) or malefics weakening it by square and opposition aspects (maltreatment).

Latin: Abscissio Luminis / Arabic: Kat'ü'n-Nûr

A third planet cutting off and preventing the conjunction of two planets; a specific variation of the obstruction concept.

Latin: Translatio Luminis / Arabic: Naklü'n-Nûr

A fast planet separating from one planet and joining another to establish a connection between them; completion through intermediation in horary astrology.

Arabic: Reddü'n-Nûr / Latin: Redditio Luminis

A planet sending back the light/power it received to the planet it aspected; signifies refusal or return in horary astrology.

Latin: Collectio Luminis / Arabic: Cem'ü'n-Nûr

Two planets simultaneously joining a slower third planet to establish a connection between them; resolution through an authority figure.

Latin: Sub Radiis / Arabic: Taht-ı Şuâ' / Greek: Hypo tas augas

The condition where a planet is approximately within 15-17 degrees of the Sun; a milder but still debilitating accidental debility compared to combustion.

Latin: Directus / Arabic: Müstakîm / Greek: Proodos

A planet moving in its normal forward direction (west to east) through the zodiac; considered the normal and positiand condition.

Latin: In Curru Suo / Arabic: fî Mercebetihî

The ideal accidental dignity when a planet is simultaneously in its own sign and meets hayz conditions.

Greek: Chronokrator / Latin: Chronocrator / Arabic: Sâhibü'z-Zamân

The planet governing a specific time period; the fundamental concept of time lord systems such as progressions, firdaria and decennials.

Latin: Obsessio / Arabic: Muhâsara / English: Besiegement

A planet being squeezed between two malefics (Mars and Saturn) on either side; one of the most severe accidental debilities.

Latin: Matutinus / Vespertinus

A planet being a morning star (rising before the Sun) or evening star (setting after the Sun).

Latin: Orientalis / Occidentalis / Arabic: Şarkî / Garbî

The position determining whether a planet is east or west of the Sun; used in accidental dignity evaluation.

Latin: Motus Medius / Arabic: el-Hareke el-Vustâ

A planet's average daily speed of motion through the zodiac; whether the actual speed is above or below this value is a dignity indicator.

Latin: Dies Planetarum / Arabic: Eyyâmü'l-Kevâkib

An ancient timing system assigning a planet as ruler to each day of the week: Sunday-Sun, Monday-Moon, Tuesday-Mars, etc.

Latin: Horae Planetariae / Arabic: Sâ'ât el-Kevâkib

A timing system dividing daylight and nighttime into seven equal parts each, assigning a planet to each part according to the Chaldean order.

Latin: Motus / Arabic: Hareke / English: Velocity

A planet's daily speed of motion through the zodiac; being above average speed provides accidental dignity, below it provides debility.

Latin: Anni Planetarum / Arabic: Sinîn el-Kevâkib

Four different numerical values assigned to each planet (minor, middle, greater, greatest years); used in lifespan prediction and timing techniques.

Arabic: Daf'ü'l-Kuvve / Latin: (İslam kökenli — Latince karşılığı değişken)

A planet transferring its power or nature to the planet it aspects; a series of concepts specific to the Islamic astrological tradition.

Latin: Statio / Arabic: İkâme, Vukûf / Greek: Stasis

The powerful position where a planet appears to stand still at the moment of transitioning from direct to retrograde motion or vice versa.

Greek: Synodos / Latin: Cyclus Synodicus / Arabic: Devrü'l-İctimâ'

The period between two successive conjunctions of two celestial bodies; the Moon's synodic cycle (29.5 days) is the most fundamental example.

Latin: Maleficus / Arabic: Nuhûset, Nahs / Greek: Kakopoios

Planets that produce challenging effects by nature: Saturn (greater malefic) and Mars (lesser malefic).

Greek: Hairesis / Latin: Secta / Arabic: (bkz. Hayz)

The fundamental classification dividing planets into day and night teams; the primary factor determining whether a planet operates constructively or destructively in a chart.

English: Sect Light / Luminary of the Sect

The primary luminary determined by the chart's sect: the Sun in day charts, the Moon in night charts.

English: Contrary to Sect

A planet working completely contrary to its own sect; the most harmful position for malefics.

Greek: Hairetikos / English: In Sect, Out of Sect, Contrary to Sect

A fundamental evaluation determining whether a planet operates in accordance with its diurnal or nocturnal sect.

Latin: Ferus / Arabic: Vahşî

In Hellenistic terms, an isolated planet that makes no aspect to any other planet; a serious accidental debility.

Latin: Combustio / Arabic: İhtirâk, Muhtarik / Greek: Hypo tas augas (Işınlar Altında)

The condition of a planet being within approximately 8 degrees of the Sun; an accidental debility that seriously weakens the planet's visibility and power.