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Taurus
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Traits for
the sign of Taurus are: methodical, careful, down-to-earth,
dependable, pragmatic, stubborn, possessive, tangible, persistent.
Planetary ruler:
Venus. Associated with 2nd
House. Fixed
Earth.
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 Taurus
Symbol |
T-Cross
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Another term for the T-Square
aspect configuration.
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Thor's Hammer
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Another name for the Quadriform
aspect configuration. |
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Traditional Rulerships
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Each sign is assigned a planetary ruler. In modern Western astrology, the transpersonal planets
are most often used as sign rulers. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
are considered the planetary rulers
of Aquarius, Pisces and Scorpio, respectively.
However, before these outer planets were discovered, Aquarius was ruled by Saturn, Pisces was ruled by Jupiter and Scorpio was ruled by
Mars. These planets are seen as the traditional rulers of those signs, whereas using Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are regarded as modern
rulerships.
Some astrologers continue to use only the modern rulers, and in fact, most books and website on modern astrology do this. Since the retranslation of
ancient astrology texts began in the 1990s, there has been a resurgence of interest in classical astrology techniques and methods. As a
result, some astrologers today use only the traditional rulers.
Other astrologers use a combination of both (including me), seeing value in both approaches.
See also: Rulers, Rulerships
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Transits
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Transits refer to where the planets are now
in the sky in "real time" (as opposed to planets in your
natal chart). The term Transits also refers to a predictive
technique used by astrologers, in which the transiting planet positions
are compared to where they were when you were born. When transiting planets form
geometric
aspects to your natal
planets, or move through a house in the natal chart, this activates those
natal energies in your life. Whether the effects are minor and day-to-day,
or major and life-changing, usually depends on the speed of the transiting
planet. Major effect:
Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto
transits usually leave your life very different from how they found
it, taking you through deep transformation and major change. The effects
tend to reach you at a "soul" level. The effects of each transit last
about a year, sometimes two.
Medium effect:
Jupiter,
Saturn and
Chiron transits are also significant and can
be life-changing, but tend to affect you on a social or societal level,
rather than a "soul" level. The effects of the transit can last roughly
from one to nine months.
Minor effect: The
Sun,
Moon,
Mercury,
Venus and
Mars all move so fast that their effects
typically last only a few days at most. They tend to affect us on a
day-to-day basis at a more ego-based level. The exception to this is when
Mercury, Venus or Mars go
retrograde, which brings a longer-term process
of growth lasting a few weeks to a few months. Transits from these
fast-moving planets can sometimes trigger events and turning points in the
longer process of growth brought by the slow-moving planets.
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Trans-Personal Planets
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This is a term often used to describe the slow-moving
planets whose orbits lie beyond the orbit of
Saturn. (Saturn is the outermost planet seen with the naked eye and
known by the ancients prior to the discovery of
Uranus in 1781.)
Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto
are Transpersonal Planets because they embody energies that are more on a
"soul" level, rather than an ego level.
Chiron
is considered by some astrologers to be a transpersonal planet as well. However, Chiron is also seen by some as a kind of "bridge" between the personal and trans-personal
planets.
The sign that a transpersonal planet is in tends to be the same for everyone born in the same
generation or sub-generation. For example, the "Baby Boomers"
(born between 1938 and 1957) typically
have Pluto in Leo.
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Symbols of the Transpersonal Planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
(the first Pluto symbol is most often used in North America). |
Trapeze
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Another name for the
Rosetta
aspect configuration. Trapeze is the term used by Bruno and Louise Huber in their book, Aspect Patterns Astrology.
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Trine
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An aspect
between two planets, which are 120 degrees apart (give or
take a few degrees; see Orb). Planets in Trine
are usually four signs apart. An easy-flowing energy often
indicating natural talent and ability.
Energy flows easily between planets in Trine aspect. This is usually
interpreted as a positive influence, since their energies combine,
cooperate and work together easily. However, sometimes it can also bring
too much of a good thing. There is no such thing as an "all good" or
"all bad" aspect or planet. Trines can be easy to take for granted, so
they can also signify latent talents and untapped natural abilities.
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Trine Aspect Symbol |
Tri-Octile
Sesqui-quadrate
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An aspect between two
planets, which are 135
degrees apart (give or take a few degrees; see
Orb). In the same family of aspects
as the Octile (or
Semi-Square). This aspect is derived by dividing the circle into 8 equal
segments. The Tri-Octile is three eighths of the circle. Geometrically,
a Tri-Octile aspect is one-and-a-half
Square
aspects (which are 90 degrees) or three Octiles (which are 45 degrees).
Similar to the Square, the Tri-Octile represents a stressful yet
dynamic relationship between the aspected planets. When used
constructively, there is motivation and purpose for moving forward,
and/or integrating past experience that has matured. When the energy
becomes stuck or uncontrolled, there can be an obsessive, overbearing or
domineering edge to it.
In transits, this aspect can indicate a turning point in the
development of a situation. There are choices and decisions to be made.
Have you made all the necessary preparations to be ready to manifest
what you've been developing? What still needs to be done? Or, now that
you have reached the mountaintop, which direction will you take
yourself? Now that you have reached the point of no return, how can you
assimilate and integrate the results into your life?
Compare: Octile, Square.
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Tri-Octile or Sesqui-Quadrate or Sesqui-Square aspect
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Tropical Zodiac
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The 12
zodiac signs,
measured by Earth's seasons. The
sign of Aries begins at the
Sun's position at the
Vernal Equinox (in April).
Cancer begins at the Sun's position at the Solstice (June: summer for
northern hemisphere, winter for southern hemisphere). Libra
begins at the Sun's position at the Autumnal
Equinox
(September). Capricorn begins at the
Sun's position
at the other Solstice (December: winter for northern and
summer for southern hemispheres). See also: Sidereal
Zodiac, Precession of the Equinoxes,
Age of Aquarius.
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True Lunar Node
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The Lunar
Nodes are the two places where the orbit of the Moon around the Earth
intersects with the (apparent) path of the Sun
around the Earth (from our perspective on Earth). The positions of these
nodes are always opposite and move in an overall retrograde direction.
However, the precise position of the nodes actually fluctuate slightly due
to a wobble in the gravitational centre between the Earth and Moon. As a
result, the True Nodes vacillate back and forth a bit. Although usually
retrograde, the True Nodes turn in a direct motion briefly, lasting hours
to days, and then return to their normal retrograde motion.
See True versus Mean Lunar Nodes for more about
the differences. |
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True versus Mean Lunar Nodes
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The Lunar Nodes are the intersection points between the Moon's orbit around the Earth
and the (apparent) path of the Sun around the Earth
(the Ecliptic). (See Lunar Nodes in our dictionary section for more details.)
However, there are two ways to calculate the positions of the Nodes – as
the True Node or the Mean Node. Both Nodes move in a retrograde
direction overall, and they go full circle around the zodiac over a
period of about 19 years.
The zodiacal position of the Mean Nodes goes at a steady pace and its
direction is retrograde 100% of the time. It is calculated as an average
position.
The True Node, on the other hand, wobbles somewhat to slight variations
in the distance between the Moon and the Earth. Their shared centre of
gravity fluctuates a bit and so the True Node's zodiacal position does a
little dance of one-step-forward-two-steps-back. The True Nodes are retrograde most of the time, but they hiccup occasionally where they will go direct for a period of
hours to days and then back to retrograde again.
The difference between the two nodal positions is less than 2 degrees at
the most, so we're not usually talking about a major difference. However, if
you're looking for the precise moment of a slow moving transit to
the nodes, for example, it could make a difference whether you use the Mean or
True Nodes.
Which one is better? It's largely a personal choice for each astrologer.
Here in the Evolving Door Astrology
website, the True Lunar Nodes are always used unless otherwise stated. Why? I
figure why use an approximation when you can use the precise position of
something? Blame it on my Virgo Moon. ;-)
See also: Lunar Nodes, North Node, South Node.
For more detailed information, also check out astrologer Steven Forrest's
excellent article about the subject. |
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T-Square
T-Cross |
Aspect configuration. Two
planets in Opposition and
a third planet mid-way between them forming a
Square
to both sides. Looks like a "right angle triangle." A stressful
but motivating energy. There is a lot of tension in the T-square, but also
very dynamic energy. It often represents issues, behaviour and obstacles
that need to be problem-solved. This can generate enormous creative
friction that gives energy, drive and motivation to goals and ambitions
in the person's life. In Huber astrology this is called an Achievement
Triangle. See Bruno and Louise Huber's book Aspect Pattern Astrology for excellent information about aspect patterns. Pronounced: TEE-square.
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T-Square Aspect Configuration |
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