Air signs:  Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Air signs view life from a high-level perspective, like the air. They’re objective and value logic and reason more than feelings.

Angles: denote the cusps, or dividing lines, of the first, seventh, tenth, and fourth houses, in a birth chart. There are five angles in every birth chart, the Ascendant (ASC) on the first house cusp, Descendant (DSC) on the seventh house cusp, Midheaven (MC) on the tenth house cusp, and Innum Coeli (IC) on the fourth house cusp.

Ascendant: also known as the rising sign. It’s the sign on the cusp, or dividing line, of the first house in a birth chart. It was the zodiac sign that was rising—or ascending—in the sky on the eastern horizon when you were born. Your ascendant is how people see you. It’s like your front door. It’s the impression you make on others and how you show up in the world. When you meet someone new, it’s actually your rising signs that are meeting first. Your rising sign is the most unique and personal part of you because it’s determined by the minute you were born. Your time of birth is pretty rare. There are only a few babies born at the exact same minute as you. The abbreviation is ASC.

Aspects: are the distances, or geometric angles, between planets in your chart. As the planets move along in the sky in their orbits they form various angular relationships with one another. These are aspects. Aspects are formed when planets are within eight degrees of each other, plus or minus. Aspects explain how planets get along. When two planets form an aspect with one another, their energies either work well together or not.

There are six main aspects:

Conjunction, Sextile, Trine: these aspects are considered harmonious and have an easy connection. The energies of each planet work well together. They like each other and get along making each energy able to advance. Think of them as BFF’s sharing a chocolate cake.

Square, Inconjunct (or Quincunx), Opposition: these aspects are more challenging connection and have a harder time working well together. Think of them as two wives on a “Real Housewives” show that just can’t get along. Pass the popcorn.

Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Cardinal signs want to go forward and plant new ideas. Cardinal signs start every season—Aries kicks off Spring, Cancer starts summer, Libra begins Fall, and Capricorn is the first winter sign.

Cusp: divides houses in a birth chart. It denotes the beginning of a house in a birth chart. It is listed in degrees. Think of it like a fence or county line that divides one area from another. The zodiac wheel or birth chart, is made up of twelve signs and twelve houses. The line that divides one house from another is a cusp.

Descendant: the cusp of the seventh house of the astrology chart. This point is directly opposite the ascendant. It describes your marriage and spouse.

Earth signs:  Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth signs are grounded, like the Earth. They’re reliable, practical, organized, structured, cautious, persistent and work-oriented.

Eclipse: are when the Earth, Moon and the Sun line up in the sky. Eclipses happen between four and seven times every year, but some are considered partial. Eclipses of the Moon and Sun happen roughly twice a year about two weeks apart during “eclipse seasons”. These are 30-35 day periods during the year when there will be at least two eclipses. Typically there are two “eclipse seasons” a year roughly six months apart.  Eclipses are times of radical change and surprise. Eclipses are also warning signals. They force you to confront things, whether you’re ready or not.

Solar eclipse: is when the Moon is directly between the Earth and Sun. It's like a mega new Moon. Things are revealed or some changes happen - mainly because of issues that you're not aware of or that have been repressed in your subconscious. What a solar eclipse promises, it delivers in six months.

Lunar eclipse: the Earth is exactly between the Sun and the Moon. It's like a mega full Moon. Lunar eclipses are endings and times of letting go. What a lunar eclipse promises, it delivers in three months.

Electional astrology: a branch of astrology where favorable dates and times picked in advance. People chose to get electional readings to find a good date to start something (e.g. a marriage (wedding date), or launch of a business or product).

Elements: the twelve signs are divided into four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. They’re groups of three zodiac signs each that have a similar approach to life. Signs that have the same element, share similar temperaments.

Equinox / Solstice: There are two equinoxes and two solstices every year. Each denotes a change in seasons. The winter (December 21) and summer (June 21) solstices are either the longest or shortest days of the year, depending on your hemisphere. The Sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky. The spring (March 21) and autumn (September 21) equinoxes are when there are equal amounts of sunlight.

Fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire signs are quite literally like fire, fast and bold. They act first and think and feel later. They tend to be willful, passionate, enthusiastic, independent and competitive. 

Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Fixed signs want to set a secure foundation. Fixed signs fall in the middle of every season.

Glyphs: are the symbols used for the astrological signs, planets and aspects.

Houses: the horoscope divides the heavens into twelve houses. Each house represents a different area of your life. Your family, work, health, and relationships are all represented by a house. Collectively, the twelve houses describe all matters in your life and personal experience.

1st house: You and your impression on  others

2nd house: Your money and  how you can make it

3rd house: Your mind and education

4th house: Your home and family

5th house: Romance and children

6th house: Your job, daily  routine, and health

7th house: Your marriage and spouse

8th house: Your partners resources that affect you

9th house: Your higher education and travel

10th house: Your career and reputation

11th house: Your friends

12th house: Your intuition, subconscious

 Luminaries: the Sun and the Moon.

Midheaven:  the cusp of the tenth house of the natal chart. It is the highest point in the zodiac at the moment of birth. It focuses on your career and social standing. It’s abbreviation is MC.

Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Mutable signs have flexibility and adaptability to change things that may not be working. Mutable signs end every season and prepare for the next.

Natal or birth chart:—is a map of you. It reveals who you are. Your natal chart is a circular diagram that shows the location of all the planets in the sky at the exact moment you were born. It’s like a freeze frame snapshot. It displays where the ten planets, twelve zodiac signs, twelve houses, and aspects were at your birth. To create a chart, you need your birth date (day, month, and year), exact birth time (to the minute), and your birth location (city, state, country).

Orbs: refer to the exactness of the angle connecting two planets. Orbs are the range of influence when an aspect between two planets comes into effect. When a planet is “within orb” to another planet, it means that it is within eight degrees of an exact degree match. That’s eight degrees plus or minus. One planet forms an aspect to another, astrologers allow an “orb” of influence, which is a specific number of degrees. When an aspect is exact, it has its greatest impact. The effect of most aspects can be felt for some time before and after the moment when it is exact.

Moon Phases: Every 28 days, the moon cycles through four phases. each phase of the moon has its own distinct energy and can impact the way we feel.

Moon sign: the sign the moon was in when you were born. Your moon sign represents your inner life and emotions.

Personal planets: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These planets impact you on a personal level. That’s because they’re closest to the Sun and therefore closest to you astrologically.

Planetary rulers: each sign is ruled by a planet.

• Aries' ruler: Mars

• Taurus' rulers: Venus

• Gemini's ruler: Mercury

• Cancer's ruler: the Moon

• Leo's ruler: the Sun

• Virgo's rulers: Mercury

• Libra's ruler: Venus

• Scorpio's rulers: Mars

• Sagittarius' ruler: Jupiter

• Capricorn's ruler: Saturn

• Aquarius' rulers: Uranus (modern)

• Pisces' rulers: Neptune (modern)

Rising sign: see ascendant above

Retrograde: is when a planet appears to go backward in the sky. It’s an optical illusion. Planets don’t go in reverse. They just slow down compared to the Earth’s speed. Think of two trains traveling along parallel tracks. When one train goes faster, the slower train seems to be moving backward even though it’s still going forward. When a planet retrogrades, the areas that the planet rules don’t work properly. The planet doesn’t have its full power. Retrogrades are good times to take a step back and review your life and the area that the planet that is retrograding represents.

Saturn Return: happens when Saturn returns to the same point in the sky as it was when you were born. Your first Saturn return happens between the ages of 27 and 30. It’s influence can last for up to three years. Next Saturn return time periods are ages 59-60 and then again 89-90. It’s a time of adulthood and learning life lessons, which are sometimes challenging. Your mistakes and things you’ve ignored or taken for granted come back to teach you lessons and help you grow.

Sun sign: the sign the sun was in when you were born. There are twelve Sun signs that last around 28-31 days. Your Sun sign reflects your ego and sense of self.

Supermoon: when the Moon is as close to the earth as possible. The Moon looks larger than normal.

Synastry: means "the stars together." Synastry is a subset of astrology that focuses on relationships and romance. It can explain why you fall in love with someone at first sight, or can’t stand to be in the same room with another. It can give you a clue about how you’ll get along with someone and what you need to do to have a successful relationship with them.

Transits: compare your birth chart to a particular time either in the future or past. When you want to know what is happening in your life at a particular moment, you use a transit chart to tell you. A transit chart looks like two concentric circles, kind of like a bullseye. The inner ring is your birth chart. The outer ring is the chart of the moment in time you want to know about.

Void-of-course Moon: is when the Moon’s energy is low or non-existent. It’s when things don’t work out as planned. Something gets in the way. It could even be yourself. You’re just not as productive or on top of things then. The Moon can go void for a few minutes or a few hours several times a week. A void Moon lasting half a day is rare. Starting something on a void Moon is like planting a seed in bad soil. It may never grow.

Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Water signs are deep, mysterious, like the ocean. They’re emotional, sensitive, and intuitive. They feel their way through things rather than relying only on their intellect.

Zodiac or chart wheel: a circular diagram that looks like a wheel. It is divided in twelve sections called houses. Planets in the heavens are placed on the chart wheel in houses. The twelve zodiac signs are located around the circumference. Typically the zodiac wheel is used for your birth chart where your exact birth determines the location of all the components.