Sun Sign
Your core identity and ego - the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at your birth.
The Sun sign represents your essential self, life purpose, and conscious will. It's what most people mean
when they ask "what's your sign?" While just one piece of a complex chart, it reveals your fundamental
approach to life, what energizes you, and how you express your individuality.
Moon Sign
Your emotional nature and inner world - how you feel, nurture, and seek security.
The Moon sign reveals your emotional responses, instincts, and subconscious patterns. It shows what you
need to feel safe and nourished, how you process feelings, and your relationship with your mother or
nurturing figures. Often more accurate for understanding your private self than the Sun sign.
Ascendant (Rising Sign)
Your public persona and first impression - the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth.
The Ascendant determines your outer personality, physical appearance tendencies, and how others perceive you.
It sets the entire house system of your chart, making it crucial for accurate readings. Changes every 2 hours,
which is why birth time precision matters so much.
Mercury Retrograde
When Mercury appears to move backward in the sky - a period affecting communication, travel, and technology.
Occurs 3-4 times per year for about 3 weeks. Mercury rules information flow, so retrogrades bring
delays, miscommunication, and tech glitches. Not a time to sign contracts or launch projects -
instead, review, revise, and reconnect with the past.
Houses
12 life areas where planetary energies manifest - from identity to relationships to career.
Houses divide your chart into domains: 1st (self), 7th (partnerships), 10th (career), etc.
Planets in houses show where their energy plays out. Your rising sign determines which sign rules each house,
creating a unique map of life themes and timing.
Aspects
Angular relationships between planets creating harmonious or challenging energy patterns.
Major aspects include conjunctions (0Β°, fusion), trines (120Β°, flow), squares (90Β°, tension),
and oppositions (180Β°, polarity). Aspects show how planets "talk" to each other -
some conversations are supportive, others create friction that drives growth.
Transit
Current planetary positions moving through your birth chart - timing for events and opportunities.
Transits are the real-time movements of planets as they activate points in your natal chart. When Saturn
transits your Sun, or Jupiter crosses your Ascendant, specific life themes emerge. Transits are the
primary timing technique in Western astrology for predicting and planning.
Saturn Return
When Saturn returns to its birth position around ages 29 and 58 - major life transitions.
The first Saturn Return (ages 27-30) marks the end of youth and beginning of true adulthood. It often brings
career changes, relationship milestones, or existential questioning. The second return (ages 56-60) initiates
elder wisdom. These are profound restructuring periods demanding authenticity.
Conjunction
Two or more planets at the same degree - fusion of energies creating intensity and new beginnings.
Conjunctions blend planetary energies so completely they act as one force. This can be harmonious (Venus-Jupiter)
or challenging (Mars-Saturn), depending on the planets involved. Conjunctions mark potent points in your chart
where concentrated energy seeks expression.
Square
Planets 90Β° apart - dynamic tension that creates friction, challenges, and motivation for growth.
Squares represent internal conflict between planetary energies that demand resolution. They're uncomfortable but
productive, forcing action and development. People with many squares often accomplish more because they must
work through their tensions rather than coast on easy energy.
Trine
Planets 120Β° apart - natural flow and harmony between energies, talents that come easily.
Trines connect planets in the same element (fire, earth, air, water), creating effortless cooperation.
They indicate innate gifts and areas where life flows smoothly. However, too many trines without squares
can lead to complacency - gifts need challenges to fully develop.
Opposition
Planets 180Β° apart - polarity and projection, seeing yourself through relationships with others.
Oppositions create awareness through contrast. You may project one planet's energy onto others while
over-identifying with the other. The goal is integration - learning to balance both energies rather than
swinging between extremes. Relationships often mirror your oppositions back to you.
Elements
Fire, Earth, Air, Water - the four fundamental energies that color zodiac signs and planets.
Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are enthusiastic and action-oriented. Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
are practical and grounded. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are intellectual and social. Water signs
(Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are emotional and intuitive. Balance of elements shows your natural tendencies.
Modalities
Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable - three qualities describing how signs initiate, maintain, or adapt energy.
Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) initiate and lead. Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)
stabilize and persist. Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) adapt and transform.
Your modality balance shows whether you're a starter, sustainer, or finisher.
Synastry
Comparing two birth charts to analyze relationship compatibility, chemistry, and challenges.
Synastry overlays one person's chart onto another's to see how planets interact. Venus-Mars connections
show attraction, Moon aspects reveal emotional compatibility, and Saturn contacts indicate longevity
and lessons. Essential for understanding romantic, business, and family relationships.
North Node
Your soul's growth direction - the karmic path you're meant to develop in this lifetime.
The North Node (Rahu in Vedic) points toward unfamiliar territory that feels uncomfortable but leads to growth.
Its sign and house show what you're here to learn. The South Node opposite represents past-life talents
and comfort zones that can become crutches if overused.
Dasha
Planetary Period - time-based cycles where specific planets exert dominant influence over your life.
The Vimshottari Dasha system spans 120 years, divided among 9 planets. Each planetary period
(from 6-20 years) brings themes related to that planet's nature and placement in your chart.
Understanding your current Dasha explains why certain life chapters feel so different from others.
Sade Sati
Saturn's 7.5 Year Transit - a challenging but transformative period when Saturn transits your Moon sign.
Occurs roughly every 30 years for about 7.5 years. Saturn tests and strengthens the areas ruled by your Moon -
emotions, home, mother, mental peace. Difficult but necessary for maturity.
The lessons learned during Sade Sati create lasting wisdom and resilience.
Nakshatra
Lunar Mansion - 27 divisions of the zodiac providing deep psychological and karmic insights.
Each Nakshatra spans 13Β°20' and has unique deities, symbols, and qualities.
Your Moon's Nakshatra reveals your emotional nature, instincts, and karmic patterns.
More precise than Sun signs, Nakshatras are essential for compatibility and timing in Vedic astrology.
Rashi
Vedic zodiac sign - your Moon's sign in the sidereal zodiac, central to Vedic interpretation.
Unlike Western astrology which emphasizes the Sun sign, Vedic astrology focuses on your Moon's Rashi.
The sidereal zodiac accounts for precession, so your Vedic signs may differ from Western by about 24Β°.
Your Rashi reveals your emotional constitution and is used for most predictions.
Lagna (Ascendant)
The rising sign in Vedic astrology - the foundation of your entire chart and life path.
The Lagna is even more important in Vedic than Western astrology. It determines your physical constitution,
basic temperament, and how you approach life. All houses are counted from Lagna, making accurate birth time
essential. The Lagna lord's placement shows where you direct your primary energy.
Yoga
Planetary combinations - special configurations that indicate specific life patterns and potentials.
Yogas are unique to Vedic astrology. Raj Yoga indicates success and power. Dhana Yoga brings wealth.
Gaja Kesari Yoga grants wisdom and reputation. Hundreds of yogas exist, each modifying your chart's
interpretation. Strong yogas can override otherwise challenging placements.
Dosha
Affliction or imbalance - planetary conditions creating challenges that require remediation.
Doshas are not curses but karmic patterns needing attention. Manglik Dosha (Mars affliction) affects marriage.
Kaal Sarp Dosha (all planets between Rahu-Ketu) brings intensity. Pitru Dosha relates to ancestral karma.
Vedic remedies like mantras, gems, and rituals can mitigate doshas.
Rahu
The North Node - a shadow planet representing worldly desires, obsession, and unconventional paths.
Rahu is the head of the celestial serpent, always hungry and never satisfied. It amplifies whatever it touches,
creating intense desire and sometimes illusion. Rahu brings foreign influences, technology, and breaking of
traditions. Its Dasha period (18 years) brings dramatic life changes.
Ketu
The South Node - a shadow planet representing spirituality, detachment, and past-life mastery.
Ketu is the tail of the serpent, representing what you've already mastered and must release. It brings
spiritual insight, psychic abilities, and liberation from material attachment. Ketu's placement shows
innate talents that can become limitations if you don't evolve beyond them.
Bhava (House)
The 12 houses in Vedic astrology - life areas with specific karmic significations.
Bhavas function similarly to Western houses but with deeper karmic interpretation. The 1st house is body and self.
The 7th is partnerships and desires. The 10th is karma and career. Vedic astrology also uses divisional charts
(Vargas) that divide houses for specialized readings like marriage (D9) or career (D10).
Manglik
Mars affliction affecting marriage - when Mars occupies certain houses creating relationship challenges.
Manglik Dosha occurs when Mars is in the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house from Lagna or Moon.
It can bring conflict, delays, or difficulties in marriage. Traditionally, Manglik individuals are advised
to marry other Mangliks. The dosha lessens after age 28 when Mars matures.
Antardasha
Sub-period within a Dasha - finer timing divisions that modify the main planetary period.
Each Mahadasha (major period) is divided into 9 Antardashas (sub-periods) of varying lengths.
The Antardasha planet colors the experience of the Mahadasha lord. For example, Jupiter Mahadasha
with Saturn Antardasha blends expansion with restriction. Precise timing uses even finer divisions.
Navamsa (D9)
The 9th divisional chart - crucial for marriage, dharma, and the fruits of your karma.
The Navamsa divides each sign into 9 parts, creating a hidden layer of your chart. It reveals your spouse's
nature, married life quality, and spiritual potential. A planet strong in the birth chart but weak in Navamsa
may not deliver its promises. Essential for relationship analysis.
Saju (Four Pillars)
The Four Pillars of Destiny - your complete birth chart based on year, month, day, and hour.
Saju calculates your destiny from four time pillars, each containing a Heavenly
Stem and Earthly Branch. Together they reveal your elemental constitution, life patterns, and optimal timing.
The system emphasizes balance and the flow of five elements through time.
Ilju (Day Pillar)
Your Day Pillar - the core of your Saju chart representing your inner self and personality.
The Day Pillar combines your Heavenly Stem (yang element) and Earthly Branch (yin element) from birth day.
It reveals your true character, how you relate to others, and your marriage compatibility.
The most important of the four pillars for understanding who you really are.
Yeonju (Year Pillar)
Your Year Pillar - representing ancestry, early childhood, and social standing.
The Year Pillar shows your relationship with family, ancestors, and society. It influences your early life
until around age 15. The year's animal sign (the 12 zodiac animals) comes from this pillar and shapes
how others perceive you socially. It also indicates inherited traits and family karma.
Wolju (Month Pillar)
Your Month Pillar - representing parents, career path, and young adulthood.
The Month Pillar governs the period from roughly ages 15-30. It shows your relationship with parents,
especially your mother, and indicates career inclinations. The month determines the seasonal energy
present at birth, influencing your vitality and how you pursue goals.
Siju (Hour Pillar)
Your Hour Pillar - representing children, later life, and your legacy.
The Hour Pillar reveals your relationship with children and subordinates, as well as your later years
after age 45-50. It shows what you leave behind and how you'll be remembered. Without accurate birth time,
this pillar cannot be calculated, limiting the reading's precision.
Daewun (Major Luck Cycle)
Major Luck Cycle - 10-year periods that shape your life's major themes and opportunities.
Each Daewun brings different elemental energies that interact with your birth chart.
Some decades feel effortless, others demanding. Knowing your current Daewun helps you
align with timing rather than fighting against it. Strategic planning becomes possible.
Cheongan (Heavenly Stems)
The 10 Heavenly Stems - yang expressions of the five elements that form half of each pillar.
The 10 Stems are: Gap/Eul (Wood), Byeong/Jeong (Fire), Mu/Gi (Earth), Gyeong/Shin (Metal), Im/Gye (Water).
Odd-numbered stems are yang, even are yin. Your Day Stem is your Day Master - your core identity.
Understanding stem interactions reveals relationship dynamics and timing quality.
Jiji (Earthly Branches)
The 12 Earthly Branches - the zodiac animals representing hidden elemental energies.
The 12 Branches are: Ja (Rat), Chuk (Ox), In (Tiger), Myo (Rabbit), Jin (Dragon), Sa (Snake),
O (Horse), Mi (Goat), Sin (Monkey), Yu (Rooster), Sul (Dog), Hae (Pig). Each contains hidden stems
that add complexity. Branch relationships (harmony, clash, punishment) are crucial for compatibility.
Ohaeng (Five Elements)
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water - the five transforming energies underlying all of existence.
The five elements flow in cycles: Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth produces Metal,
Metal generates Water, Water nourishes Wood. They also control each other: Wood breaks Earth,
Earth dams Water, etc. Your elemental balance determines strengths, weaknesses, and favorable directions.
Yin and Yang
The fundamental duality - complementary forces of receptive and active energy in all things.
In Saju, each element expresses as either yin (receptive, internal) or yang (active, external).
Yang Wood is a tall tree; Yin Wood is a flower. Your yin/yang balance affects personality and how
you interact with others. Too much yang brings aggression; too much yin brings passivity.
Sipseong (Ten Gods)
The Ten Gods - relationship dynamics between your Day Master and other elements in your chart.
Each element relates to your Day Master as one of ten "gods": Resource, Power, Wealth, Output, or Companion
in either yin or yang form. For example, if you're Yang Wood, Water is your Resource (supportive mother energy)
and Metal is your Power (controlling authority energy). These relationships define life themes.
12 Animals (Zodiac)
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig - the 12 Earthly Branches.
Each animal embodies specific elemental energies and personality traits. The Rat is clever Water.
The Tiger is bold Wood. The Dragon is powerful Earth. Animals form harmony groups (Rat-Dragon-Monkey)
and clash pairs (Rat-Horse). Your four animals from each pillar create a complex personality matrix.
Yongshin (Useful God)
The element your chart needs most - the "useful god" that brings balance and favorable outcomes.
After analyzing your elemental balance, practitioners identify which element would most benefit you.
If you have too much Fire and lack Water, Water becomes your Yongshin. Wearing colors, choosing careers,
or selecting partners aligned with your Yongshin increases luck and harmony.
Saeun (Annual Luck)
Yearly energy cycle - how each year's pillar interacts with your birth chart.
Each year brings its own Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch that interact with your natal chart.
Some years support your Day Master; others challenge it. Understanding Saeun helps with annual planning -
when to push forward, when to consolidate, and what themes will dominate each year.
Hapchi (Harmony & Clash)
Branch combinations and conflicts - how animal signs interact favorably or unfavorably.
Some branches harmonize (Six Harmonies like Rat-Ox), forming stable bonds. Others clash (Six Clashes like
Rat-Horse), creating friction. Three Harmony groups (Rat-Dragon-Monkey) amplify elemental energy.
These relationships affect compatibility with people, years, and timing decisions.