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Glossary of terms


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S

Significator

A planet that signifies a particular person, object, event or principle, by its rulership of the sign on the cusp of the house that governs that matter. For example, partners are represented by the 7th house so if the 7th house cusp falls in Leo, the Sun, as the ruler of Leo, signifies the partner and is termed his or her significator.


Sinister

See ‘dexter/sinister’.



Slow in course

When a planet's speed is less than its average; it therefore moves less through the zodiac than it normally would. This is considered a debility.

See 'Swift in course'.

Table showing the daily movement of the planets.

* All planets that can station and turn retrograde are capable of attaining zero velocity.


Solstice

From the Latin sol 'sun' + stitium 'standing still' the early term solstitium became  shortened to solstice in the 14th century. 

The term refers to the two points in the zodiac (0° Cancer; 0° Capricorn) where the Sun's latitude is at its greatest distance north or south of the equator. The Sun's movement to these extreme points marks the peak of the seasons (mid-summer or mid-winter), so the Sun appears to stop rising or falling in latitude, and temporarily halts (stands still) as it reverses its relationship with the equator. 

The Sun's placement at 0° Cancer marks the northern hemisphere summer solstice, which occurs around 21 June; it's placement at  0° Capricorn marks the northern hemisphere winter solstice, which occurs around 21 December (the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere). 

Contrast with the equinoxes: the two moments in the year when the sun's path falls upon the equator.



Succedent

Literally “following”; the succedent houses are those which follow the angles and which, by diurnal revolution, will succeed to their positions: the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th houses. Considered to be positions of intermediate strength.


Superior planets

See ‘inferior/superior’ planets.


Swift in course

When a planet's speed is more than its average; it therefore moves more through the zodiac than it normally would. This is usually considered a strength.

See ‘Slow in course’.

Table showing the daily movement of the planets.
* All planets that can station and turn retrograde are capable of attaining zero velocity


Synodic cycle

A synodic cycle measures successive returns of a planet to its conjunction with the Sun, as seen from Earth. From the Greek sýnodos'meeting'.

Example of the synodic cycle of Venus.




The diagram above shows the synodic cycle of Venus, as seen from Earth. The trail that has been picked out shows the geometrical relationship that Venus makes with the Earth, beginning with the superior conjunction of 11th January 2010 (at 22 Capricorn) and ending with the completion of the cycle on 16th August 2011, (the next superior conjunction at 23 Leo). As one cycle leads to another, Venus will trace out an almost perfect pentagram over five cycles, which will take eight years to complete.



T

Terms

Otherwise known as ‘limits’ or ‘bounds’, terms are divisions within each sign that are ruled by the planets. Various lists existed in antiquity, most excluded the lights from participating in the rulership; that proposed by Ptolemy remains in popular use. When a planet is in its own terms it is dignified. Term rulers modify the effects of the planets within their territory and also offer descriptive influence – for example the term of the ascendant ruler is considered when judging physical descriptions.


Translation of light/transference of virtue

Occurs when an inferior planet, whilst still within orb of its last separating aspect, is already within orb of its next aspect. It is then able to convey the influence of the former to the latter and create a connection between them. The term most often applies to the Moon because of its swift movement between the other planets, and it is often used in practical interpretation to suggest the relaying of a message or the influence of a ‘go-between’.



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