The glossary
Machine Words
The words astrologers, numerologists and almanac-makers use, in plain English. Each page says what the word means (all of its meanings, popular and technical), how the machine works it out, where the idea comes from, what people get wrong about it, and where we read it.
The zodiac
The measuring tape the signs are cut from, and how the twelve are grouped. Go deeper: The twelve sun signs · Every chart the machine uses.
- Ecliptic
- What is the ecliptic?
- Sidereal vs tropical
- What is the difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs?
- Cusp
- What does it mean to be born on the cusp?
- Element
- What is an element in astrology?
- Modality
- What is a sign's modality?
- Decan
- What is a decan?
- Ruling planet
- What is a ruling planet?
The birth chart
The words you meet once a chart has a birth time and a birthplace. Go deeper: The birth chart · Moon signs · Rising signs · Every chart the machine uses.
- Ascendant (rising sign)
- What is the Ascendant, or rising sign?
- Descendant
- What is the Descendant in astrology?
- Midheaven (MC)
- What is the Midheaven in a birth chart?
- House
- What are the houses in astrology?
- Moon sign
- What is a moon sign?
- Aspect
- What is an aspect in astrology?
- Retrograde
- What does retrograde mean in astrology?
Timing and pairs
How astrologers follow a chart through the years, or set two charts side by side. Go deeper: Life cycles · The year ahead · The love chart · The zodiac compatibility chart.
- Transit
- What is a transit in astrology?
- Return (Saturn return)
- What is a Saturn return, and what is a solar return?
- Synastry
- What is synastry in astrology?
Numerology
The numbers drawn from a birthday and a name. Go deeper: Life path numbers · Name numbers.
- Life path number
- What is a life path number?
- Master number
- What is a master number?
- Expression number
- What is an expression number in numerology?
- Personal year number
- What is a personal year number?
The Chinese calendar
The animals, the elements and the sixty-year count. Go deeper: The twelve Chinese zodiac animals.
- Chinese zodiac
- What is the Chinese zodiac?
- Sexagenary cycle (stems and branches)
- What are the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches?
- Lunar New Year
- When does the Chinese zodiac year start?
There are things about you that you don't know.
The more you feed the machine, the more it reveals.
Your personalized card prints in minutes. $9.95 + tax · What do I get?
Spotted something wrong, out of date or missing? The corrections page says how we fix it.