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Astrology Names Index

Astromancy - a system of divination by means of the stars, the practice of which had much to do with the popular connotation of Astrology with fortune-telling, which modern scientific Astrology has had to live down.

Astrometeorology - investigation of the relation between the Solar system bodies and the weather.

Astronomical unit - mean distance of Earth to Sun, or 92,900,000 miles; employed as a unit for indicating intra-solar system distances.

Astronomos - the title given by the priests to the Initiate in the seventh degree of the reception of the mysteries in the Initiation at Thebes in Egypt.

Astronomy - the science that deals with the heavenly bodies: their positions, motions, magnitudes and conditions.

Astrotheology - a system of theology founded on what is known of the heavenly bodies, and of the laws which regulate their movements.

Aten - the solar disk, or more specifically the light that proceeds from the sun, as defined by Akhenaten, or Amenhotep IV (obit. circa 1397 B.C.), father of King Tutankamen, who promulgated a religion largely based on astrological teachings.

Athazer - an ancient term applied to the Moon when in conjunction with the Sun, or separated from it by an arc of 12°, 45°, 90° 150°, 160°, or 180°.

Aura - in occult terminology, a psychic effluvium that emanates from human and animal bodies and inanimate objects. It is composed of electro-vital and electro-mental magnetism; an envelope surrounding that of which it partakes - visible only to the psychic. The aura is multicolored and brilliant, or dull, according to the character or quality of the person or thing. To the seer, the aura of a person is an index to his hidden propensities.

Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights - scientists associate the phenomena with unusual sun-spot activity, and astronomers are working on the theory that the sun-spot cycles, generally recognized as having some connection with economic trends, are the result of planetary movements. The most brilliant display of the Aurora Borealis in fifty years occurred on January 25, 1938. Transatlantic radio was interrupted and crowds in Holland, awaiting the birth of Princess Juliana's baby, cheered the display as a lucky omen for the little Princess Beatrix, who was born January 31, 1938, with 15° Aries on the Asc., and 6° Capricorn on the M.C. At this time Venus and The Sun were forming conjunctions with Jupiter, and Mars was forming a conjunction with Saturn.

Axis, Inclination of - the equators of rotating bodies appear never to parallel their orbits. Hence there is an inclination of the axis when considered in reference to the plane of the orbit. Within the solar system these inclinations arc, at this epoch, as follows: Mercury 72°, Venus 60°, the Earth 23½°, Mars 25°, Jupiter 3°, Saturn 26°, Uranus 102°, Neptune 155°, Pluto unknown. The inclination of the Sun's axis to the plane of the Earth's orbit is about 7°. Its inclination to the plane of its own orbit is unknown, because the Sun's orbit is itself unknown. It is claimed by some that there is an additional motion of the Earth's axis amounting to 50" a century, making an orbit of about 2½ million years, in the course of which the North Pole and the South Pole successively point to the Sun instead of as at present to the Pole Star. This theory is advanced by way of explanation for successive Ice Ages.

Axial rotation - the diurnal motion of the Earth around its axis; also similar motion on the part of any other celestial body. v. Solar System.

Azimene - said of a planet posited in certain weak or lame degrees or arcs which, if ascending at birth, were supposed to make the native blind, or lame, or otherwise physically afflicted.

Azimuth - a point of the horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith; or an arc of the horizon measured clockwise between the south-point of the horizon and a vertical circle passing through the center of any object.

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