What's that mean in astrology?

What's that mean in English, too?

There's already plenty to learn about astrology and astrological terms. Then, when you finally get up the nerve to talk to other astrologers on the internet you're met with this:

Are you in a 12H profection and your LOY is UTB in the SR but phasis in the radix and acting as L12/3?

So your eyes glaze over and you decide to go back to the New York Time's crossword puzzle because at least you there's an actual answer to those riddles.

Do you want to know what that stuff means, but figure if it's that hard it may not be worth it in the end? Then this page is for you!

Most of that stuff is relatively easy to understand if you've got the fundamental elements of astrology sorted out. If you know what houses, signs, and planets are, you can understand most of the astrologese you see around the internet. And Bear's here to help!

From the most common to the most obscure, Bear will break down astrologer's shorthand and abstruse astrological terms here.

Astrology Definitions, Terms, Lingo, Jargon, Slang, Short-Hand...

any number + H (e.g., 1H, 4H, 10H, etc.)

This is a short-hand way of writing "the 'specific' house", aka any house in the chart. 

For example, if you are a Sagittarius rising, Capricorn falls in your 2H, while Cancer marks you 8H. 

Every single person has every single sign represented in their chart. You might have your 5H empty, but your L5 is somewhere doing something in your chart (see entry above)!

chronocrator

Yeah, you read that right. That's chrono as in time, and crator as in ruler. Time ruler, aka timelord.

Typically, this word is only used by professionals, and of them, only the most die-hard and pedantic of the traddies. It's used to highlight the fact that there are multiple chronocrators operating on different scales and within different (but often interlocking) frameworks and rationale.

decan(s)

aka face(s). 

These are a 10° division of the signs which yield 36 in total. A division of the sky which comes from an Egyptian tradition which predates the arrival of Hellenic culture to the Nile River Valley and surrounding areas.

Based on the system of the Watches of the Night, each decan or face corresponds to a specific fixed star or asterism. These are related specifically to the images associated with the constellations. 

L + any number (e.g., L2, L5, L12, etc.)

This is a short-hand way of writing "the lord of 'x' house", aka the ruler of a particular house in a chart.

For example, if you are a Cancer rising, your L2 is the Sun, because Leo is the sign occupying the 2nd house. 

The planet that rules a sign is very important astrologically! It provides more details and information regarding the way that a particular part of your life, or set of impulses and inclinations plays out for you specifically.

timelord

Timelords are not like edgelords but make it time. Timelords refer to planet which is deemed to be activated by some type of predictive timing technique.

Typically when folks talk about timelords they're talking about the ruler of the annually profected house. When someone talks about the "lord, or lady, or the year" they're referring to this timelord by annual profection. 

Other types of timelords, or chronocrators, include the Distibutor, the partner of the distributor, the fardar lord, and the partner of the fardar lord. 

trip, trip ruler, trip lord

Trip is short-hand for triplicity. Triplicity of one of the types of essential dignity in astrology.

While the Moon is the domicile lord or ruler of Cancer, Mars and Venus are the triplicity rulers of the crab's sign.

quad houses, quad chart, or quad system

No, they're not talking about an ATV, or off-road vehicle. They're talking about a quadrant-based, or divisional chart. Aka, any chart cast in a system other than wsh or equal houses.

wsh

Whole sign houses. That is, taking the signs as houses. It's the easiest and quiet likely oldest system of reconing houses. It stands in contrast to equal houses, and other divisional or quadrant-based systems.

Submit your own request!

Don't see a term here? Just submit a request and Bear will add it to the list!

Bear Ryver is a professional astrologer helping his clients hone strategies for grounded growth and embodied empowerment by bringing them back to the BASICS. Winner of OPA’s Most Promising Astrologer in 2018, Bear has lectured at conferences like NORWAC and ISAR. He holds certifications in Hellenistic, Electional, and Horary astrology, and specializes in Intersectional Astrology. He was a teacher for the Portland School of Astrology, and has volunteered as a mentor for AFAN. When he’s not talking stars, or pulling cards, you can find him climbing rocks and playing guitar.