Astrology Glossary
Key astrology terms, explained simply
- Natal chart
- A map of the sky at the exact moment and place of your birth, showing where every planet, the Sun, and the Moon were positioned. It is the foundation of all personal astrology. Learn more →
- Sun sign
- The zodiac sign the Sun occupied when you were born — your core identity and the sign referred to in horoscopes.
- Moon sign
- The sign the Moon occupied at your birth. It governs your emotions, instincts, and inner needs. Learn more →
- Rising sign (Ascendant)
- The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth. It shapes your outward personality and first impressions, and requires your birth time to calculate.
- House
- One of the twelve sectors of the natal chart, each governing a specific area of life such as relationships, career, or home.
- Aspect
- The geometric angle between two planets — such as a trine, square, or conjunction — that describes how their energies interact.
- Transit
- The current position of a planet as it forms an aspect to your natal chart. Transits are the basis of astrological timing. Learn more →
- Retrograde
- An optical effect in which a planet appears to move backward from Earth. Astrologically it is an invitation to review and reflect, not a bad omen.
- Element
- One of the four temperaments — fire, earth, air, or water — shared by groups of zodiac signs and central to compatibility. Learn more →
- Modality
- How a sign expresses its energy: cardinal (initiating), fixed (sustaining), or mutable (adapting).
- Synastry
- The branch of astrology that compares two natal charts to explore relationship dynamics and compatibility.
- Ephemeris
- A table of planetary positions over time, used to calculate natal charts and track transits.