Astrology Symbols Guide – discover the deeper meaning of astrological symbols in your birth chart.
This astrology symbols guide is a list of common astrological symbols and astrology glyphs to help you quickly figure out what those strange looking symbols are on your birth chart! If you found this guide helpful please support us by sharing and add astrology-symbols.com to your favorites for future reference.
Glyphs are a kind of shorthand. There isn’t much room on a birth chart to write everything in full, so astrologers use symbols known as glyphs to represent the zodiac signs, planets, and other astrological factors on your chart. This makes life easier for the astrologer, but makes your birth chart look very mysterious until you learn what all the symbols mean!
This guide will help you to quickly learn the glyphs on your birth chart so that it will begin to make sense. For more in-depth exploration of the glyphs used for the 12 Zodiac signs read “ZODIAC Symbols: decoding the ancient symbolism of the Zodiac”
Zodiac Signs and Their Glyphs
Zodiac Sign: | Glyph: | Keywords & notes: |
Aries | Cardinal Fire. Bold, courageous, enthusiastic…. read more… | |
Taurus | Fixed Earth. Practical, persistent, sensual… read more… | |
Gemini | Mutable Air. Intelligent, light-hearted, communicative… read more… | |
Cancer | Cardinal Water. Caring, sensitive, empathic.. read more… | |
Leo | Fixed Fire. Warm, creative, playful… read more … | |
Virgo | Mutable Earth. Discerning, analytical, helpful… read more … | |
Libra | Cardinal Air. Gracious, charming, diplomatic… read more … | |
Scorpio | Fixed Water. Intense, passionate, resourceful… read more… | |
Sagittarius | Mutable Fire. Optimistic, gregarious, honest… read more… | |
Capricorn | Cardinal Earth. Organized, serious, ambitious… read more… | |
Aquarius | Fixed Air. Independent, detached, humanitarian… read more… | |
Pisces | Mutable Water. Sensitive, imaginative, compassionate… read more… |
The Zodiac and The Zoo
Do you know what the words Zodiac and Zoo have in common? The word Zodiac comes from the ancient Greek zodiakos which literally meant “circle of little animals”, it has it’s roots in the word zoion which meant “animal” and was also the root of the modern word “zoo”.
Astrological Glyphs for the Planets
Planets: | Astrology Symbols: | Keywords & notes: |
The Sun | Vitality, prana, life-force energy, and radiance Read full post | |
Moon | Instinct, emotions, receptivity, and nurturing… Read full post | |
Vulcan | A hidden planet used in esoteric astrology. The natal placement is said to be within 8º 20′ of the Sun. | |
Mercury | Mental processes, intelligence, speech, and communication Read full post | |
Venus | Love, attraction, beauty, and sensuality… | |
Earth | The path, dharma, contribution, and service… read more | |
Mars | Personal drive, action, will, and courage… | |
Jupiter | Expansion, benevolence, generosity, and wisdom… | |
Saturn | Authority, authenticity, structure, and responsibility… | |
Uranus | Rebellion, innovation, intuition, and awakening… | |
Neptune | Spirituality, compassion, illusion, and transcendence… | |
Pluto | Transformation, power, catharsis, regeneration, and emptiness… |
Carl Jung on Astrology
Did you know that the eminent forefather of modern psychology, Carl Gustav Jung, had a lifelong interest in astrology? Jung believed that astrology could provide symbolic insight into the workings of the human psyche. He viewed astrology as a symbolic language of archetypes, the formative principles and patterns in the depths of the unconscious mind.
“[Astrology is] the sum of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity.” – Carl Gustav Jung
Astrology Glyphs that represent Angles and Points
Angles & Points: | Astrology Symbols: | Keywords & notes: |
Ascendant (Rising Sign) | The zodiac sign that was rising on the horizon at the time of your birth Read more... | |
Midheaven | Read more... | |
Lunar North Node (Caput draconis or Dragon’s Head | Potential future path that may bring deeper insight and awareness. Read more... | |
Lunar South Node (Cauda draconis or Dragon’s Tail) | Indicator of past patterns that bring a sense of ease but lack the potential for growth. Read more... | |
Vertex | The vertex of a horoscope is the westernmost point on the Ecliptic where it intersects the Prime Vertical. | |
Retrograde Motion | When planets appear to move backwards in their orbit. Read more ... | |
Lilith (Lunar Apogee) | Otherwise known as the Black Moon (Lilith). Read more on the Mean and True Black Moon (Lilith). This is not to be confused with the asteroid Lilith or the Dark Moon Lilith (below). read more | |
Dark Moon (Lilith) | Sometimes known as “Waldemath’s Moon“, “Sepharial’s Moon” or the “Ghost Moon“. read more. Not to be confused with the asteroid Lilith or the Black Moon Lilith (above) read more | |
Arabic Part (Lot) of Fortune | The Arabian Parts are not used in all branches of astrology, but are mainly used in Horary Astrology. The Part of Fortune is thought to be a good luck factor in a chart. |
What’s the difference between astrology symbols and astrology glyphs?
A symbol is anything we use to represent something else. So if we say x=10 then the number 10 is being symbolized by the letter x. Glyphs are pictorial images that are used to symbolize something.
Glyphs are a type of symbol, but you can have a symbol that is not a glyph. Take the zodiac sign of Taurus, for instance. The symbol for Taurus is a Bull, and the glyph for Taurus is a circle with what appears to be ‘horns’ coming out of the top:
When Is A Symbol Not A Glyph?
You could just as easily symbolize Taurus with a picture of a bull. That would be a symbol, but not a glyph. Using this example we can see how all astrology glyphs are symbols, although all astrological symbols are not glyphs!
Astrology Sigils
Sometimes astrological glyphs are referred to as astrology sigils but this is not accurate because a true sigil is used as a magical talisman whereas in current everyday use, astrology glyphs are not used for this purpose.
Aspects
Aspects Etymology: The Latin word aspicere means ‘to regard’, ‘to behold’, ‘view’, ‘look at’, ‘witness’ or ‘see’ each other. – AstroWiki
Aspects in astrology describe the geometric relationship between planets, points and angles. The orb of any aspect is the range of degree allowed for the aspect to still be considered valid. For example, a conjunction may still be valid within an orb (a range) of 0º to 12º
Glyphs used to represent Aspects
Major Aspects
Aspects: | Astrology Symbols: | Keywords & notes: |
Conjunction | 0º angle – commonly with an orb of 8º – variable . | |
Opposition | 180º angle – orb of 8º – Tense . | |
Square | 90º angle – orb of 8º – Challenging . | |
Trine | 120º – orb of 8º – Harmonious |
Minor Aspects
Sextile | 60º – orb of 4º This is a harmonious major aspect where the energies involved flow and work well together. | |
Semi-Sextile | 30º – orb of 2º Uneasy minor aspect. Some integration of the energies is required. | |
Quincunx/ Inconjunction | 150º – orb of 2º Uneasy minor aspect. Energies may be ‘blind’ to one another and find it difficult to engage. | |
Semi-Square | 45º – orb of 2º Tense minor aspect. Effort may be required to resolve tension. | |
Sesqui-Square / Sesquiquadrate | 135º – orb of 2º Tense minor aspect. Effort may be required to resolve tension. | |
Quintile | 72º – orb of 2º Harmonious minor aspect. | |
Bi-Quintile | 144º – orb of 2º Harmonious minor aspect. | |
Quindecile | 24º or 165º – orb of 2º This minor aspect is sometimes associated with obsession and/or compulsion. read more | |
Septile | This minor aspect is associated with “Inspiration”. read more | |
Novile | 40º – with 1-2º orb This aspect is associated with the “gestation of ideas” read more |
Declinations
Declinations are “planets the same distance from the celestial equator” read more
Parallel | definition | |
Contra-Parallel | definition |
Asteroids, Dwarf Planets, Plutonians, Centaurs …and everything else!
“The Centaurs are about the journey of releasing a consciousness that is caught and trapped in what is too compulsive, earthly and literal, and yet is also seeking embodiment.” – Melanie Reinhart, in “Chiron, Pholus and Nessus: To The Edge And Beyond”
Centaurs
Centaurs: | Astrology Symbols: | Keywords & notes: |
Chiron | Chiron is associated with healing, teaching, suffering, and questing. Read more... | |
Pholus | Pholus is associated with divination, sacred knowledge, and addiction. Read more... | |
Nessus | Nessus is associated with lust, betrayal, abuse of power, facing consequences, and atonement. Read more... |
Asteroids
The fine-line astrology glyphs for the asteroids below were researched and beautifully drawn by Denis Moskowitz
Asteroids: | Astrology Symbols: | Keywords & notes: |
Ceres | ||
Pallas | ||
Juno | ||
Vesta | ||
Astraea | ||
Hebe | ||
Iris | ||
Flora | ||
Metis | ||
Hygeia | ||
Parthenope | ||
Victoria | ||
Irene | ||
Eunomia | ||
Psyche | ||
Eris | ||
Lilith | This is Asteroid Lilith, which is not to be confused with Black Moon Lilith and Dark Moon Lilith read more |
Download a FREE eBook “Your Essential Guide to Soul Astrology” by Ruth Hadikin