The 39 astrology terms starting with S, explained simply: meaning, use in chart interpretation and related notions.
The ninth sign (Fire/Mutable), symbolizing expansion, philosophy, and travel.
Sagittarius marks the end of autumn, when one seeks light amid the growing darkness. Ruled by Jupiter, it embodies optimism, a thirst for meaning, and adventure. It aspires to spiritual elevation and to an understanding of universal laws. Its challenge is to channel its enthusiasm so as not to fall into fanaticism or overconfidence, and to give concrete form to its vast ideals.
The planet of structure, discipline, and limits.
Saturn is associated with responsibility, the passage of time, and life's lessons. It symbolizes obstacles, delays, and restrictions, but also the wisdom gained through effort and perseverance. In karmic astrology, Saturn indicates the areas where the client must work in order to grow. Its influence can feel heavy, yet it is necessary for building a solid and authentic life.
An attempt to validate astrology through statistical and observational methods.
This branch seeks to isolate measurable correlations between planetary positions and character traits or professional destinies. The most famous works are those of Michel Gauquelin on “the Mars effect” among athletes. It often rejects the most symbolic or esoteric aspects in order to focus on what is mathematically verifiable.
The eighth sign (Water/Fixed), symbolizing transformation, intensity, and mystery.
Scorpio corresponds to deep autumn, the time of decomposition that prepares future life. Ruled by Mars (traditional) and Pluto (modern), it explores the depths of the psyche, sexuality, and taboos. It is an energy of extreme regeneration (the Phoenix). Its challenge is to transform its destructive passions and its need for control into a power of healing and occult wisdom.
The house of possessions, resources and personal values.
The Second House concerns everything that holds value for the individual: material goods, financial resources, but also personal talents and moral values. It indicates how a person earns a living, manages their finances and what they consider precious. By analogy with Taurus and Venus, this house reflects our relationship to material security and to self-esteem.
A predictive technique in which one day after birth corresponds to one year of life.
This symbolic method reflects the individual’s inner evolution. One observes, for example, the movement of the progressed Moon, which changes sign every two and a half years, marking cycles of slow psychological maturation.
A fundamental classification between diurnal and nocturnal charts.
Sect is a cornerstone concept of Hellenistic astrology that has come strongly back into favor today. A chart belongs to the "sect of the day" if the Sun is above the horizon, or to the "sect of the night" if it is below. This radically changes the strength of the planets: Jupiter is more beneficial by day, while Venus is more so by night. Likewise, Saturn is less "malefic" by day, and Mars is more manageable by night.
A technical synonym for an astrological house.
The term sector is often preferred by statistical or scientific astrology (e.g., the Gauquelin sectors). It denotes a portion of the local space (the sky divided into twelve).
Half of a planet's diurnal or nocturnal arc.
The semi-arc represents the time a celestial body takes to travel from the horizon to the meridian (diurnal semi-arc) or from the meridian to the horizon (nocturnal semi-arc). It is a crucial technical concept for time-based house systems such as Placidus. It allows space to be divided dynamically, taking into account the Earth's rotational speed and the latitude of the place.
A minor aspect of 30° linking two consecutive signs.
The semi-sextile is an aspect of 30 degrees. Since it links signs that follow one another, it brings together energies that are very different yet adjacent. Its influence is often considered weak or neutral, acting as a subtle link of growth. It compels the individual to integrate the following or preceding stage of their evolution. Although traditionally minor, it can indicate a friction necessary to move from one state of consciousness to another.
A minor aspect of 45° indicating moderate tension between two planets.
The semi-square is an aspect of 45 degrees, half of a square. It is considered a tense aspect, but less intense than the square itself. The semi-square generates an irritation or frustration that drives one to action, but without the open crisis of the square. It can indicate minor challenges or obstacles to overcome, often linked to necessary adjustments in the native's life. The orb generally allowed for the semi-square is 2 degrees.
The moment when two planets move away from the exact aspect.
Separation occurs when the faster planet passes the degree of the exact aspect with another planet. The influence of the aspect gradually diminishes. In natal astrology, this can indicate an experience already integrated or a character trait that is less compelling. In predictive astrology, a separating aspect often indicates that the major event has already passed.
A tense minor aspect formed by an angle of 135° between two planets.
The sesquisquare (or sesquiquadrate) is a minor aspect of 135°, equivalent to one and a half squares (90° + 45°). It is classed among the tense aspects and has an energy close to that of the square, but with a duller, more chronic shade of irritation. Where the square creates a clear, identifiable conflict, the sesquisquare generates an underlying tension, a diffuse unease that can manifest as annoyance, accumulated frustration, or constant small adjustments. The orb usually allowed for the sesquisquare is 2° to 3°. Although often neglected in quick interpretations, the sesquisquare deserves attention because it reveals areas where the native feels blocked without quite understanding why. Some astrologers consider the sesquisquare to be particularly active during the transits of slow planets.
The sector of unions, partnerships and open enemies.
By analogy with Libra and Venus, the Seventh House governs all forms of contractual association: marriage, business partnerships, lawsuits. Unlike the Ascendant (the Self), it represents Otherness (the You). It shows how the individual interacts with others and what kind of partner they attract in order to complement or to confront themselves.
A harmonious aspect formed by an angle of 60° between two planets.
The sextile is a major harmonious aspect of 60° (orb of 4° to 6°). It generally links two planets located in signs of the same polarity (compatible elements: Fire-Air or Earth-Water). The sextile offers opportunities, openings, and talents that require a slight effort to manifest. It is a less powerful aspect than the trine (which gives without asking) but more constructive, since it stimulates initiative. A Mercury-Jupiter sextile opens the mind to foreign languages and higher studies, but the native must seize this chance actively. Astrological tradition sums up the difference well: "The trine is a gift, the sextile is an open door — you still have to walk through it." In interpretation, sextiles indicate the areas where the native can make progress with moderate effort.
A reference system based on the fixed stars.
Sidereal astrology (used in India under the name Jyotish) relies on the actual position of the constellations in the sky. It stands in contrast to the tropical (Western) system, which is based on the seasons. The offset between the two systems, called the Ayanamsa, is about 24 degrees today. Sidereal time is also used by all astrologers to calculate the houses (domification) of a chart.
The time a planet needs to return to the same fixed star.
This is the real revolution in space. For the Earth, it lasts 365.25 days. For Saturn, about 29.5 years. In astrology, a planet's return to its sidereal position marks a key stage of maturation.
A measure of time based on the Earth's rotation relative to the fixed stars.
Sidereal time is the indispensable tool for calculating the house division of a chart. Because the Earth rotates on its axis while orbiting the Sun, a solar day lasts 24 hours, but a sidereal day lasts only 23h 56m 4s. To cast a chart, the astrologer converts the time of birth into 'Local Sidereal Time' (LST) using the Tables of Houses. It is this time that makes it possible to determine which degree of the zodiac was crossing the meridian and which sign was rising on the horizon at the exact moment of birth.
The duration of the Earth's revolution relative to the fixed stars.
The sidereal year lasts about 365.256 days. It is slightly longer than the tropical (seasonal) year by roughly 20 minutes. This small constant discrepancy is the cause of the precession of the equinoxes and of the difference between the zodiacs.
A zodiac based on the actual constellations of the sky.
The sidereal zodiac is mainly used in Vedic astrology (India) and by some Western astrologers. It takes into account the precession of the equinoxes, which currently creates a discrepancy of about 24 degrees with the tropical zodiac. For the sidereal zodiac, the sign corresponds to the actual position of the stars behind the planets.
A division of the zodiac into 12 parts of 30° each, every one with specific characteristics.
The zodiac is divided into 12 signs of 30 degrees each, corresponding to the constellations the Sun crosses over the course of the year. Each sign has its own qualities, elements, and modes, influencing the way planets express themselves when placed within it. The signs are as follows: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. They form the basis of astrological interpretation and color every aspect of the natal chart.
A planet or point designated to represent a specific area of life.
A distinction is made between natural significators (e.g., Venus for love, Saturn for death or structure) and accidental significators (the ruler of the 2nd House for finances, or of the 7th House for marriage). The art of interpretation lies in synthesizing the action of the natural significator with that of the house ruler in order to predict how a specific area will unfold.
The brightest star of the night sky (Canis Major), linked to immortality.
Sirius (located at about 14° of Cancer) is a star of colossal power. In ancient Egypt, its heliacal rising announced the flooding of the Nile. In astrology, it symbolizes a success that goes beyond the scope of a single life: it brings honor, fame, and sometimes a form of genius. It indicates that the individual's actions will have a lasting impact on the community.
The sector of daily work, health and service.
By analogy with Virgo and Mercury, the Sixth House describes routine life, professional obligations one must endure, hygiene and minor illnesses. It also represents subordinates and domestic animals. It is the house of technical refinement and concrete usefulness. Strong activity in the Sixth often indicates a need to make oneself indispensable through care or organization.
Synonym for the natal chart: a graphic representation of planetary positions at a given moment.
The sky map is the historical term for what we now call the natal chart or birth chart. It depicts, as a circular diagram, the exact position of the planets, signs and houses at the precise moment of an event — usually a birth. The sky map can also be drawn for a specific event (horary astrology), for the founding of a company or for a country (mundane astrology). The term reminds us that astrology is first and foremost an art of observing the sky, transposed onto paper or screen. Three pieces of information are needed to cast a sky map: the date, the exact time and the geographic location. The chart is read by combining the planetary positions in sign, in house and the aspects they form with one another.
A chart cast for the exact moment the Sun returns to its natal position each year.
The solar return (SR) is one of the most widely used predictive techniques in astrology. It involves casting a chart for the precise moment when the transiting Sun returns exactly to the degree, minute, and second of its position in the natal chart. This return occurs every year around the birthday. The solar return chart is interpreted as an "energetic photograph" of the year ahead. The SR Ascendant, the position of the Moon, and the distribution of the planets across the houses give valuable indications of the areas of life that will be activated. The SR does not replace the study of transits: it complements them by offering a yearly framework. André Barbault and Alexandre Volguine did much to popularize this technique in French-language astrology.
The moments of the year when the difference in length between day and night is greatest.
The two solstices mark the Sun's entry into the Cardinal signs of Cancer (June 21 — the longest day) and Capricorn (December 21 — the longest night). Symbolically, they represent major turning points: the summer solstice is the apex of light but also the beginning of its decline, while the winter solstice is the darkest moment, which carries within it the promise of the Sun's rebirth.
The last six signs of the zodiac (Libra to Pisces).
Located south of the celestial equator. They mark the period when the nights prevail over the days (in the northern hemisphere). Symbolically, they concern the relationship to others, to the collective, and to spirituality.
The brightest star of Virgo, a symbol of protection and giftedness.
Spica (located at 23° Libra) is one of the most beneficial stars. It represents the harvest, artistic talent, success through knowledge, and divine protection. It is often present in the charts of people endowed with great ease of expression or with outrageous luck in their ventures.
An aspect of tension formed by a 90° angle between two planets.
The square is a major aspect described as “dissonant” or “tense.” It forms when two planets are 90° apart (with a commonly accepted orb of 6° to 8° for the luminaries, 5° to 6° for the other planets). Contrary to popular belief, a square is not “bad”: it is dynamic. It creates an inner friction, a tension that drives one to act. Without squares in a chart, there may be a lack of motivation, ambition or fighting spirit. The square forces the native to resolve a conflict between two energies that do not naturally agree. For example, a Moon-Mars square creates a pull between the need for emotional security (Moon) and the impulse to act (Mars). Resolving this tension is the work of a lifetime, but it is precisely this work that builds strength of character. In traditional astrology the square was feared; in modern astrology it is regarded as an engine of growth.
The moment when a planet appears to stop before changing direction.
The station occurs at the beginning and end of a retrograde phase. A stationary planet has its influence considerably amplified in the chart: it is as if 'focused' on a precise point of the zodiac. A stationary-direct planet is often seen as very positive, since it is about to release its energy after a phase of withdrawal.
A concentration of at least three (sometimes four) planets in the same sign or house.
The stellium (or planetary cluster) creates a massive energetic focus in one area of life or one type of character. This concentration makes the individual strongly typed by the sign concerned, sometimes even overshadowing the importance of the Sun sign or the Ascendant. It is a point of strength but also a challenge, since every transit over this zone affects several planets at once.
The planet of identity, vitality, and self-expression.
The Sun represents the center of our natal chart, our deepest essence and our sense of "I am." It symbolizes will, self-confidence, and the need to shine. In traditional astrology, the Sun is the greatest of benefics, bringing strength and protection. However, it can also indicate a tendency toward pride or narcissism if poorly handled.
The Sun's placement in Aries, where it expresses its potential at its best.
The Sun is in exaltation in the sign of Aries. This placement grants it great vitality, a strong will, and the ability to initiate projects with enthusiasm. The Sun in Aries favors self-assertion, courage, and initiative. It is a placement that encourages one to live one's singularity to the full and to embrace challenges boldly.
The Sun's placement in Libra, where it expresses its energies with greater difficulty.
The Sun is in fall in the sign of Libra. This placement can point to challenges connected with self-assertion, confidence, and clarity of identity. The Sun in Libra may translate into a tendency toward indecision, a need to please, or difficulty in asserting oneself without compromise. However, it can also confer great diplomacy, an ability to create harmony, and a sensitivity to the needs of others.
A simple forecasting method in which all the points of the chart advance by 1° per year.
Also called direction of one degree for one year, this technique is widely used to date major life events. When a directed planet forms an aspect with a natal planet, it signals a key period.
The technique of comparing two natal charts to analyze a relationship.
Synastry involves superimposing the charts of two individuals to observe how the planets of one interact with the planets and houses of the other. The inter-chart aspects (for example, A's Venus on B's Mars) are analyzed to understand compatibility, points of tension, and relational dynamics. It is the principal tool of relationship astrology, whether romantic, familial, or professional.
The cycle between two bodies as seen from Earth, generally relative to the Sun.
The best-known synodic cycle is that of the Moon (29.5 days). Each planetary cycle (e.g., Jupiter/Saturn) defines major phases of human history and of the individual psyche, from the seed (conjunction) to Full Light (opposition).
The alignment of three celestial bodies (Sun-Earth-Moon).
The syzygy corresponds to the moments of the New Moon and the Full Moon. In ancient astrology, capital importance was given to the "syzygy of the nativity" (the lunation preceding birth) for determining certain points of destiny.