Every craft has its jargon. Astrology has more than most. Here is a short, plain-English glossary of the 30 terms you will meet most often.

The basics

Natal chart — a snapshot of the sky at your birth. Sign — one of the 12 zodiac segments. House — one of 12 areas of life. Planet — one of the moving bodies, including Sun and Moon.

The angles

Ascendant — eastern horizon at birth. Midheaven — top of the chart. IC — bottom. Descendant — west.

The connections

Aspect — angle between two planets. Conjunction, opposition, trine, square, sextile — the major aspects.

The motion

Transit — current planetary position. Retrograde — apparent backward motion. Return — a planet back to its natal place.

For everything else

See our full astrology glossary.