Glossary
Esoteric Dictionary
300 terms — astrology, tarot, kabbalah, alchemy and beyond
An astrology glossary is the shortest path through a discipline that has 3,000+ years of accumulated terminology. Words like retrograde, aspect, ascendant, nakshatra, house — each carries a long history and a precise technical meaning. This glossary collects 300 core terms in a way you can read in either direction: skim the list, or read each entry as a short concept paper.
Each entry has a one-line definition and a longer explanation. The depth scales as needed: retrograde is two paragraphs because the misconception is what trips people up; nakshatra is four because it carries a whole system. Coverage is mostly Western tropical, with cross-references where Vedic, Hellenistic, or Hermetic uses diverge.
Retrograde
The period when a planet appears to move backward
Rising Sign (Ascendant)
The sign rising on the horizon at the moment of birth
Transit
Current planetary movements across your chart
Aspect
An angular relationship between planets
Conjunction
Two planets meeting (0°)
Square Aspect
A 90° tension between planets
Trine Aspect
A 120° harmony between planets
Opposition
180° polarity and balance
House System
The 12 areas of life in the chart
Placidus
The most widely used house system
Modality
Cardinal, fixed, mutable
Element
Fire, earth, air, water
Solar Return
A chart cast near your birthday each year
Saturn Return
Saturn returning to its natal position around age 29
Progression
The chart's symbolic advance through time
Synastry
Comparing two natal charts
Composite Chart
The midpoints of two people — the chart of the relationship
Lunar Nodes
The North Node and South Node
Chiron
The wounded healer asteroid
Black Moon (Lilith)
Suppressed feminine power
Vedic Astrology
The Indian system of astrology, Jyotish
Tropical Zodiac
The season-based zodiac system
Sidereal Zodiac
The star-based zodiac system
Decan
The ten-degree subdivisions of each sign
Dignity
The signs where a planet is strong or weak
Exaltation
The sign where a planet is most exalted
Detriment
The sign where a planet is weakened
Fall
The sign where a planet is at its weakest
Void of Course Moon
The period when the Moon makes no further aspects
Cazimi
A planet at the heart of the Sun
Combust
A planet too close to the Sun
Electric Aspect
Unexpected triggers
Stellium
Three or more planets gathered in the same sign
Yod (Finger of God)
A rare and fated aspect pattern
T-Square
A tension-triangle aspect pattern
Grand Trine
A triangle of harmony aspect pattern
Grand Cross
A pattern formed by four square aspects
Midheaven (MC)
The point of career and public image
Imum Coeli (IC)
The point of roots and home life
Descendant
The point of relationships and the other
Ecliptic
The Sun's apparent path across the sky
Ephemeris
Tables of planetary positions
Horary Astrology
The chart of the moment of a question
Electional Astrology
The art of choosing the right moment
Mundane Astrology
World events and political astrology
Medical Astrology
Health and the chart of the body
Sabian Symbols
A mystical symbol for each degree
Draconic Chart
The chart of the soul's pure intention
Heliocentric
A Sun-centered chart
Geocentric
An Earth-centered chart
Juno
The asteroid of marriage and commitment
Pallas
The asteroid of wisdom and strategy
Vesta
Devotion and the sacred flame
Ceres
The asteroid of nourishment and care
Part of Fortune
The point of luck and abundance
Vertex
The point of fated encounters
Solstice
A turning point of energy in the year
Equinox
The equality of day and night — a point of balance
Eclipse
A cosmic reset and gateway of fate
Supermoon
A full Moon at its closest to Earth
Blue Moon
The second full Moon in a calendar month
Blood Moon
The red Moon seen during a lunar eclipse
Cosmic Attraction
Planetary gravity and astrology
Aura
The energy body and its colored field
Chakra
The system of energy centers
Kundalini
The dormant serpent energy in the spine
Merkaba
The sacred-geometry light body
Gematria
The system of numerical values for letters
Kabbalah
The Jewish mystical tradition
Alchemy
The art of transformation and the inner gold
Hermetic Principles
As above, so below
Doctrine of Elements
The cosmology of the four elements
Archetype
The universal patterns of the collective unconscious
Shadow Self
Jung — the repressed aspect
Anima / Animus
The inner contrasexual energy
Collective Unconscious
Humanity's shared dream
Synchronicity
Meaningful coincidences — Jung
Mandala
The geometric representation of cosmic order
Yantra
Hindu sacred geometry
Mudra
Sacred hand gestures
Mantra
Sacred sound vibrations
Meditation
The practice of stilling consciousness
Pranayama
Managing energy through breath control
Akashic Records
The universe's library of memory
Reincarnation
The soul's return to embodiment
Karma
The law of cause and effect
Dharma
Spiritual duty and life purpose
Tao
Universal flow and balance
Yin Yang
The unity of opposites
Feng Shui
Arranging the energy of space
I Ching
The Book of Changes — 64 hexagrams
Runes
The Northern European alphabet divination system
Ogham
The Celtic tree-alphabet system
Geomancy
Earth divination
Palmistry
Reading the palm
Numerology
The mystical meanings of numbers
Crystal Healing
Working with the energy of stones
Aromatherapy
The healing power of scent
Sound Healing
Healing through frequency
Reiki
The transmission of universal life energy
Cusp
The borderland between two signs
Orb
The angular tolerance allowed for an aspect
Mutable Signs
The four-sign group that adapts
Opposite Signs
Pairs of signs directly opposite each other in the zodiac
Quadruplicities
Groups of three signs by modality
Triplicities
Groups of three signs by element
Retrograde Shadow
The zone of influence before and after a retrograde
Lucifer Star
Venus as the morning star
Morning Star
A planet visible before sunrise
Evening Star
A planet visible after sunset
Fixed Stars
The active stars in a natal chart
Arabic Parts
Calculated astrological sensitive points
Lot of Fortune
The point of luck and physical wellbeing
Lot of Spirit
Conscious action and the soul's purpose
Prenatal Eclipse
The last eclipse before birth
Birth Time Rectification
A method of calculating the exact birth time
Relocation Chart
A chart recalculated for a different city
Davison Chart
The chart of two people's midpoint date and time
Solar Arc Direction
A method of symbolic progression
Profected Year
The technique of yearly house activation
Firdaria
A planetary period system of Middle Eastern origin
Zodiacal Releasing
A Hellenistic timing technique
Annual Profection
The activation of one house each year
Time Lord
The planet ruling the active period
Sect (Day/Night)
Belonging to the diurnal or nocturnal sect
Triplicity Ruler
The planet that rules an elemental triplicity
Term (Bound)
A roughly five-degree zone of rulership within a sign
Face
The minor ten-degree rulership within each sign
Bound
The Egyptian system of bound rulerships
Almuten
The planet with the most dignity at a given point
Peregrine Planet
A planet with no dignity
Occidental (Western)
A planet west of the Sun
Oriental (Eastern)
A planet east of the Sun
Nocturnal
A planet or chart of the night sect
Diurnal
A planet or chart of the day sect
Succedent House
The houses immediately following the angular ones
Cadent House
The cadent houses, weakest in influence
Angular House
The corner houses, strongest in influence
Accidental Dignity
Strength based on house position
Essential Dignity
Strength based on sign position
Mutual Reception
Two planets each occupying the other's domicile
Antiscion
A point reflected across the zodiacal axis
Parallel
Two planets at the same degree of declination
Contra-Parallel
Two planets at opposite declinations
Out of Bounds
A planet that has crossed beyond 23.5° of declination
Under the Beams
A planet weakened by closeness to the Sun
Besieged
A planet caught between two malefic planets
Dorsal
The symbolic dorsal point of a star
Prenatal Lunation
The New or Full Moon preceding birth
Polarity
The complementary energy of an opposite-sign pair
Minor Arcana
56 cards of everyday life
Court Cards
The four character cards of each suit
Suit of Wands
Fire energy — passion and inspiration
Suit of Cups
Water energy — emotion and relationship
Suit of Swords
Air energy — mind and conflict
Suit of Pentacles
Earth energy — money and body
Significator
The chosen card that represents the querent
Querent
The person asking the question in a tarot reading
Celtic Cross Spread
A comprehensive ten-card spread
Three-Card Spread
A spread showing past, present and future
Daily Card Pull
The practice of drawing a single card each day
Tarot Journal
A record of one's tarot work
Tarot Meditation
A deep inward journey with a card
Reversed Meaning
The interpretation of an upside-down card
Shadow Card
The bottom card of the deck
Clarifier Card
An additional card drawn for clarification
Jumper Card
A card that falls out while shuffling
Tarot Deck
The complete 78-card tarot set
Rider-Waite Deck
The most common modern tarot deck
Thoth Tarot
The Crowley and Harris tarot deck
Marseille Tarot
The traditional French tarot system
Oracle Cards
A free-form divination card system
Lenormand
The 36-card French divination system
Tarot Numerology
The numerical meaning system of the cards
Suit Meanings
The core energies of the four suits
Pip Cards
The numbered Minor Arcana cards
Major vs. Minor Arcana
Greater and lesser life themes
Tarot Ethics
Responsible and ethical card reading
Intuitive Tarot Reading
Instinctive interpretation beyond the guidebook
One-Card Pull
A single card for a focused question
Life Path Number
The core number derived from the date of birth
Expression Number
The numerical essence of the full name
Soul Urge Number
The sum of vowels in the name
Personality Number
The sum of consonants in the name
Birthday Number
The gift carried by the day of birth
Maturity Number
The sum of the life path and expression
Karmic Debt Number
Numbers indicating past-life lessons
Karmic Lesson Number
Numbers from missing letters in the name
Personal Year Number
The yearly cycle of personal energy
Universal Year Number
The yearly energy for all humanity
Pinnacle Cycle
The four major phases of life
Challenge Number
The life lessons that must be overcome
Bridge Number
The difference linking two numbers
Cornerstone
The first letter of the name — the core approach
Capstone
The last letter of the name — the way of finishing
First Vowel
The key to the name's depth and motivation
Hidden Passion Number
The most frequent number in the name
Subconscious Self Number
The gaps filled by present letters in the name
Rational Thought Number
The mental essence of the birthday and name
Balance Number
The number to turn to in moments of crisis
Sacred Geometry
The mathematical-spiritual foundation of the universe
Flower of Life
A pattern of overlapping circles
Seed of Life
The central seven circles of the Flower of Life
Metatron's Cube
The figure containing all the Platonic solids
Vesica Piscis
The symbol formed by the intersection of two circles
Golden Ratio
The divine proportion 1.618 found in nature
Phi
1.618 — the divine mathematical constant
Platonic Solids
The five fundamental three-dimensional geometric forms
Hermetic Principles
The seven universal laws of Hermes' teaching
Emerald Tablet
The mystical text of Hermes Trismegistus
Stages of Alchemy
The four great stages of transformation
Nigredo
The alchemical stage of darkening and decomposition
Albedo
The alchemical stage of whitening and purification
Citrinitas
The alchemical stage of yellowing and awakening
Rubedo
The alchemical stage of reddening and completion
Philosopher's Stone
Alchemy's ultimate substance of transformation
Elixir of Life
The formula of immortality and perfection
Prima Materia
The primal raw matter of all existence
Quintessence
The fifth element — ether and the essence of spirit
Elementals
The nature spirits governing the four elements
Gnomes
The spirits of the earth element
Sylphs
The delicate spirits of the air element
Undines
The water nymphs of the water element
Salamanders
The spirits of the fire element
Theosophy
Blavatsky's divine wisdom movement
Anthroposophy
Steiner's teaching of human wisdom
Rosicrucianism
A hidden European mystical brotherhood
Masonic Symbols
The hidden symbols of the builders' brotherhood
Mystery Schools
The ancient tradition of initiation
Initiation
A ceremony of admittance to hidden knowledge
Adept
A master who has absorbed esoteric knowledge
Neophyte
A candidate newly entering the spiritual path
Hierophant Archetype
The guide who transmits sacred knowledge
High Priestess Archetype
The keeper of intuition and hidden knowledge
Magician Archetype
The master of will and transformation
The Fool's Journey
The tarot's story of spiritual evolution
Tower Moment
Sudden collapse and rebirth
Dark Night of the Soul
A period of deep spiritual crisis
Ego Death
The dissolution of the illusion of who you are
Spiritual Bypassing
Avoiding emotions with spirituality
Shadow Integration
Integrating the rejected parts of self
Inner Child Work
Healing the wounded part of childhood
Anima Work
Recognizing the feminine energy in a man
Synchronicity
Jung's concept of meaningful coincidence
Liminal Space
The experience of passage between thresholds
Cosmic Void
The creative nothingness before existence
Cosmic Consciousness
The experience of oneness with everything
Unity Consciousness
Beyond the illusion of separation
Christ Consciousness
The state of universal love and awakening
Sacred Pattern
The spiritual mathematical order governing the universe
Crystal Grid
The power of arranging stones in geometric patterns
Moon Water
Sacred water charged in moonlight
Smudging
An energy-clearing ritual using smoke
Sage Burning
Clearing a space with white sage
Palo Santo
The sacred South American incense wood
Incense
Purifying and uplifting smoke
Tibetan Singing Bowl
A metal healing instrument that produces vibration
Tuning Fork
Sound vibration at specific frequencies
Binaural Beats
Sending different frequencies to each ear
Solfeggio Frequencies
An ancient sacred series of healing tones
432 Hz
The universal tuning frequency in tune with nature
528 Hz
The love frequency of DNA repair
Grounding Practice
Connecting to the earth and stabilizing energy
Earthing
Barefoot contact with the ground
Breathwork
Transforming energy through conscious breathing
Holotropic Breathwork
Grof's method of deep breath-based exploration
Wim Hof Method
Strengthening through breath, cold and mind
Ayahuasca
The Amazonian brew of spiritual transformation
Psilocybin
A mushroom-derived consciousness expander
Plant Medicine
Botanical substances for natural healing
Pranic Healing
Healing through the life energy prana
ThetaHealing
Reprogramming through theta brainwaves
Acupuncture
Intervening in the energy channels with needles
Reflexology
Pressure-point therapy on the soles of the feet
Iridology
The art of reading health from the iris
Ayurveda Doshas
The three body types — Vata, Pitta, Kapha
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Holistic health based on qi energy
Five Element Theory
The balance of wood, fire, earth, metal and water
Energy Healing
Healing through the unseen energy body
Aura Reading
Perceiving the colors of the energy field
Geomancy
The art of divination through earth patterns
Bibliomancy
Divination by a randomly chosen book passage
Scrying
Gazing into a mirror or crystal ball
Pendulum Divination
Yes-or-no answers via a swinging weight
Rune Casting
Divinatory reading with rune stones
Tea Leaf Reading
Reading the leaves at the bottom of the cup
Coffee Cup Reading
Divination from the grounds at the bottom of the cup
Palmistry Lines
Reading life through the lines of the hand
Cheiromancy
The art of divination through hand analysis
Phrenology
Reading character from the shape of the skull
Dowsing
A rod for locating water or energy
Automatic Writing
Writing that flows from the unconscious
Channeling
Receiving messages from a higher dimension
Mediumship
Communicating with the realm of spirits
Clairvoyance
Receiving intuitive information visually
Clairaudience
Receiving intuitive messages through hearing
Clairsentience
Physical, felt intuition
Claircognizance
Instant inner knowing
Psychometry
Reading energy by holding an object
Remote Viewing
Perception that crosses physical distance