Prependix:
Astrological symbols
Use these tables for regular reference until you have absorbed the symbols as an oft-used alphabet.
The signs of the zodiac
The Zodiac = 360°. Each sign = 30°. 1° = 60'.
| sign |
symbol |
element |
mode |
gender |
home |
detriment |
exaltation |
fall |
strong |
house |
| Capricorn |
 |
earth |
cardinal |
yin |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
X |
| Aquarius |
 |
air |
fixing |
yang |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
XI |
| Pisces |
 |
water |
mutable |
yin |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
XII |
| Aries |
 |
fire |
cardinal |
yang |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
I |
| Taurus |
 |
earth |
fixing |
yin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
II |
| Gemini |
 |
air |
mutable |
yang |
|
|
|
|
|
|
III |
| Cancer |
 |
water |
cardinal |
yin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IV |
| Leo |
 |
fire |
fixing |
yang |
|
|
|
|
|
|
V |
| Virgo |
 |
earth |
mutable |
yin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
VI |
| Libra |
 |
air |
cardinal |
yang |
|
|
|
|
|
|
VII |
| Scorpio |
 |
water |
fixing |
yin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
VIII |
| Sagittarius |
 |
fire |
mutable |
yang |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IX |
NOTES:
The outer planet co-rulers are my own system, worthy of contemplation, but generally not used by astrologers. The traditional sign-rulerships are retained, and each of the three outer planets is seen to influence four signs, in a variety of ways. Try it out!
Chiron connections are not attempted: it seems to me that Chiron does not fit neatly into the rulership system.
The idea of 'strong' planets is not in general use either.
Explanations of these delineations are to be found in the text of the book.
The planets
| planet |
symbol |
home |
detriment |
exaltation |
fall |
orb (°) |
period |
home
houses |
| Sun |
|
|
|
|
|
7-15 |
1 year |
V |
|
| Moon |
|
|
|
|
|
7-15 |
27-28 days |
IV |
|
| Mercury |
|
|
|
|
|
3-7 |
+/- 1yr |
III |
VI |
| Venus |
|
|
|
|
|
3-7 |
+/- 1 yr |
II |
VII |
| Mars |
|
|
|
|
|
3-7 |
2 years |
I |
VIII |
| Jupiter |
|
|
|
|
|
2-5 |
12 yrs |
XII |
IX |
| Saturn |
|
|
|
|
|
2-5 |
28 yrs |
XI |
X |
| Chiron |
|
? |
? |
|
|
2-4 |
51 yrs |
|
|
| Uranus |
|
|
|
|
|
2-4 |
84 yrs |
XI |
|
| Neptune |
|
|
|
|
|
2-4 |
165 yrs |
XII |
|
| Pluto |
|
|
|
|
|
2-4 |
250 yrs |
VIII |
|
NOTES.
Sign-connections for Chiron are debateable.
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto do not follow the same standard rulership patterns as the inner planets.
Orbs: an orb is the rough area around a planet where it has a noticeable influence when in aspect with another planet – the two values given here are tighter and looser values for orbs, which you can use with your own judgement, according to how you find orbs to work.
A planet is in detriment in the sign(s) opposite its home (aka. 'dignity'), and in fall in the sign opposite its exaltation.
A period is the time it takes for a planet to make one round of the zodiac.
Aspects
| Aspect |
symbol |
angle (°) |
signs
apart |
divisor |
orb (°) |
| Conjunction |
 |
0 |
0 |
1/1 |
5-15 |
| Opposition |
 |
180 |
6 |
1/2 |
5-15 |
| Square |
 |
90 |
3 |
1/4 |
4-8 |
| Trine |
 |
120 |
4 |
1/3 |
4-8 |
| Sextile |
 |
60 |
2 |
1/6 |
3-6 |
| Semisquare |
|
45 |
1½ |
1/8 |
2-4 |
| Sesquiquadrate |
 |
135 |
4½ |
3/8 |
2-4 |
| Semisextile |
 |
30 |
1 |
1/12 |
2-3 |
| Quincunx |
 |
150 |
5 |
5/12 |
2-3 |
NOTES:
Orbs used in connection with aspects can be tightened or loosened according to the planets involved – they can also be loosened if there is a larger configuration of three or more planets going on.
Houses are always marked using roman numerals, I-XII.
R = retrograde (backwards), D = direct (forwards), S = stationary (standing still), St.t.R = stationary turning retrograde, and St.t.D = stationary turning direct.
Syntax.
When writing down astrologese, in the case of aspects, the faster planet doing the aspecting is written first, followed by the aspect, and the slower planet being aspected comes last. For example: (Moon trine Sun), (Sun quincunx Mars), 
(Mars semisquare Jupiter) and (Jupiter opposition Uranus).
T = transiting, N = natal (in the birth chart) – thus TN – always putting the transiting planet first, regardless of its speed, and the transited planet last.
When writing a planet in a sign, it is usual to write either or in .
