Glossary

Every special word, simply explained

These definitions also pop up wherever the words appear on the site: just tap a word with a dotted underline.

aspect: An angle between two planets in a chart, such as 90° (a square) or 120° (a trine). Aspects show which parts of you work together easily and which clash.
Ben Ming Nian: The year of your own animal, which comes round every 12 years. Traditionally a year of change, when people take extra care and often wear red for luck.
Big Three: Your Sun, Moon and Rising signs together: the three most important parts of a birth chart.
birth chart: A map of where the Sun, Moon and planets were at the exact moment and place you were born.
clash: Two animals directly opposite each other on the wheel. Their energies pull in opposite directions, which can bring friction, or growth if handled with care. Read more →
Dark Moon Lilith: The point where the Moon's orbit is farthest from Earth. In astrology it represents your raw, untamed side and what you refuse to compromise.
Earth Element: In Chinese astrology, the energy of stability and nourishment. In Western astrology, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, known for being practical and grounded.
Expression number: A number from every letter of your full birth name. It describes your natural talents and how you express yourself.
Fire Element: In Chinese astrology, the energy of warmth, passion and action. In Western astrology, the signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, known for enthusiasm and courage.
friend group: Three Chinese zodiac animals that sit four places apart on the wheel and share the same colour. Traditionally they understand and support each other. Read more →
house: One of twelve areas of life in a birth chart, such as home, money or friendships. The house a planet sits in shows where in life its energy shows up.
Life Path number: The most important number in numerology, worked out from your full birth date. It describes the main lesson and direction of your life. Read more →
Lunar New Year: The start of the Chinese zodiac year, on a new Moon between 21 January and 20 February. Your animal depends on whether you were born before or after it.
Lunar Phase: How much of the Moon we see lit by the Sun, from new Moon (dark) to full Moon (bright) and back, over about 29.5 days.
master number: The numbers 11, 22 and 33. They are not reduced to a single digit because they are believed to carry extra intensity and potential.
Metal Element: In Chinese astrology, the energy of strength, clarity and determination, like a polished blade.
Midheaven: The point of the zodiac highest in the sky when you were born. It begins your 10th house and is linked to career and reputation.
Moon sign: The sign the Moon was in when you were born. It describes your feelings, needs and what makes you feel safe.
orb: How many degrees an aspect can be from exact and still count. A tighter orb means a stronger aspect.
Personal Year: Your number for the current year, from your birth day and month plus this year. It moves through a 9-year cycle of beginnings, growth and completion.
Personality number: A number from the consonants in your name. It describes the side of you other people see first.
Placidus: The most widely used way of dividing a birth chart into twelve houses. It is based on how long each degree takes to rise to the top of the sky.
retrograde: When a planet seems to move backwards across the sky because of how Earth overtakes it. Traditionally a time to review rather than start.
Rising sign: The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment you were born. It shapes first impressions and needs your birth time and place.
secret friend: Each Chinese zodiac animal has one hidden ally, shown by a matching colour on the inner ring. The bond is quiet, loyal and often unexpected. Read more →
sidereal time: Time measured by the turning of the stars rather than the Sun. It is used to work out which sign was rising when you were born.
Soul Urge number: A number from the vowels in your name. It describes what you want most deep down.
Sun sign: The sign the Sun was in when you were born: your core self. It is what people usually mean by your star sign.
synastry: Comparing two birth charts to see how two people's planets connect, harmonise or challenge each other.
transit: Where a planet is in the sky right now, compared with where it was when you were born. Transits describe the energy of the moment for you.
tropical zodiac: The zodiac most Western astrologers use, where 0° Aries is fixed to the spring equinox rather than to the stars.
Universal Year: The number of the calendar year for everyone, made by adding its digits (2026 makes 1).
Water Element: In Chinese astrology, the energy of wisdom, flow and adaptability. In Western astrology, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, known for feeling and intuition.
Wood Element: In Chinese astrology, the energy of growth, kindness and new beginnings, like a tree reaching for light.
yin and yang: The two complementary forces in Chinese thought. Yang is active, bright and outward; yin is receptive, calm and inward. Every animal is one or the other.