Astrology Names Index

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Astrology Names Index

Aaron's Rod - Aaron: the enlightened; a seer or initiate. The rod, or wand, with a serpent twined around it, which was used in the mosaic ceremony of initiation; appears to have contained the sacred fire. Now commonly employed as an emblem signifying a physician; similar to the caduceus (q.v.) of Hermes, Aaron, the first high priest, brother of Moses the law-giver, belonged to the tribe of Levi, symbolized in the sign Sagittarius; religion, prophecy. v. Tribes of Israel.

Ab - the fifth month of the Hebrew year. Begins with the August lunation. v. Calendar, Jewish.

Abbadon (Hebrew) - the bottomless pit; place of the lost in Sheol; the abyss of hell. Apollyon (Greek) the angel of the bottomless pit (Rev. 9:11). Perhaps a prophetic illusion to the planet Pluto. 

Aberration (Astron) - a slight alteration in the apparent position of a star, caused by the motion of the Earth in its orbit and the effect of that motion on the time required for the light of the star to reach the Earth. The motion of the Earth across a ray of light causes a slight apparent change of direction, which altered angle is called the aberration of light - and to this is due the aberration of the star. The effect is that each star appears annually to describe a minute circle, of about 40.5" diameter, which runs parallel to the Earth's diameter.

Abracadabra - a mystic word or collocation of letters, which if worn on an amulet was supposed to ward off, among other ills, a fever. Origin of word unknown. Abraxas, the same, engraved on a gem.

Abscission - L. Abscissio; "to cut off." v. Frustration.

Accidental Ascendant - a device employed by Evangeline Adams whereby to draw Horary interpretations from a natal Figure. In applying this method one determines the Ascendant for the moment the question is propounded, and rotates the Figure until this degree occupies the East point.

Accidental Dignity - v. Dignities.

Acronycal - said of the rising after sunset, or setting before sunrise, of a planet that is in opposition to the Sun, hence in a favorable position for astronomical observation. Acronycal Place - the degree the planet will occupy when it is in opposition to the Sun.

Active Influence - that which results from an aspect between two or more astrological factors or sensitive points, thereby producing the action that can materialize in an event.

Adar - the twelfth month of the Hebrew year. The March lunation. v. Calendar, Jewish.

Adept - one who has attained to proficiency in any art or science. It may be said of a skilled astrologer who, through spiritual development, has attained to superior powers and transcendental knowledge concerning the origins and destiny of mankind. Formerly said of an alchemist who had attained the "great secret" - presumably that concerning the "transmutation of metals." Its modern application is to the transmutation of unfavorable cosmic stimuli and the baser emotions into nobler impulses - thereby achieving the triumph of mind over matter, and of the spiritual over the carnal.

Adjusted Calculation Date - a term used in reference to a directed or progressed horoscope, as indicating the date on which the planet culminates. Also termed Limiting Date. v. Directions.

Adonis - beautiful youth beloved of Aphrodite. His mother, Myrrh, was changed into a tree. He was slain by the jealous Ares who  was temporarily changed into a wild boar. Because of Aphrodite's grief the god required him to spend only half the year in Hades. At the midsummer Festival of Adonis, lament over his death merged into rejoicing over his resurrection. Quick-growing potted plants were tended for eight days, then allowed to wither and were flung into the sea. The Greek goddess Aphrodite represented the cosmic power of love and the reproductive forces of Nature; hence the myth symbolizes the annual recurrence and decay of vegetation, and the life cycle of growth, maturity, senescence and death.

Advantage, Line of - a term sometimes used with reference to the position of the Moon's Ascending Node in a Geocentric Figure. The line of advantage runs between the cusps of the third decanates of the Third and Ninth Houses. A position of the Node East of this line is judged to be favorable. Related to it are the Arcs of Increased and Dwarfed Stature. From the middle of the First House, clockwise to the middle of the Eighth House, is the arc of Increased Stature, with its peak at cusp of the Twelfth House; and from the middle of the Seventh House, clockwise to the middle of the Second House, is the Arc of Dwarfed Stature, with its peak at the cusp of the Sixth House. See Nodes, Moon's.

Affinity - a binding by mutual attraction. The Sun is said to have an affinity with all the planets; Mars with Venus, in a magnetic or physical sense; Venus with Jupiter, in a philanthropic sense as one who loves his fellowman; Venus with Mercury, in an artistic sense.

Afflicted (Afflicted by / in affliction with) - unfavorably aspected. Loosely applied to: (a) any inharmonious aspect to a planet, or (b) to any aspect, particularly the conjunction, parallel, square or opposition, to a malefic planet. Also by some authorities applied to a mundane or zodiacal parallel with, or when, besieged by both Infortunes (q.v.). Some authorities consider that the sensitive degree on any House cusp can be afflicted, though any such consideration must be confined to instances where the birth-moment is known to a certainty.

Ages, Astrological - as anciently considered, a period of roughly 2150 years during which the point of the Spring Equinox recedes through one sign of the Zodiac of Constellations. Since the constellations have no precise boundaries, the points of beginning and ending are mere approximations. However, it is an absurdity to date the beginning of the precessional cycle, of presumably 25,800 years, from the particular time in history when it was decided no longer to treat the Equinox as a moving point, but instead to freeze it at 0º Aries. It is probably that midway between the Equinoctial points are the Earth's Nodes, where the plane of its orbit intersects that of the Sun, at an inclination of approx. 50º; but since the Equinoctial Point is now considered as a fixed point and the motion takes place only within its frame of reference, it appears that a study of the circle which the celestial pole describes around the pole of the Ecliptic will be required in order to determine when it passes an East point, to mark the time of beginning of the first of twelve astrological ages of 2150 years each, into which the precessional cycle is subdivided. On this manner of reckoning the Earth might now be in the Capricorn Age, as well as any other. At least there is no justification for us to consider mankind as now in the Aquarian age, even though a recent astronomical treatise speaks of the Signs of the Zodiac as 'now precessed some 25º west of the constellations of the same name'. Historical records show the Equinox as having once began in Taurus, at which time Taurus was considered to be the first Sign of the Zodiac. See 'Precession'.

Ages, Hindu - v. Kalpa

Agoraphobia - fear of unenclosed spaces; generally indicative of a Mercury/Saturn aspect. Antonym of claustrophobia, usually associated with a Mercury/Uranus aspect.

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