The Astrology Book

IMMERSION

Immersion is a term used to describe the Sun or the Moon as it enters an eclipse.

Sometimes the term is applied to occultations.

IMPEDED

A celestial body was traditionally said to be impeded or impedited when poorly aspected.

IMUMCOELI

Imum coeli(IC) is the point directly opposite the midheaven (which is the most ele-

vated degree of the zodiac). In many systems of house division, it is also the cusp

(beginning) of the fourth house. The term imum coelimeans “bottom of the sky” in

Latin. Imum coeliis often used interchangeably with nadir, although this usage is tech-

nically incorrect: The nadir is the point directly opposite the zenith, not the point

opposite the midheaven. The IC is occasionally referred to as the antimidheaven.

INCEPTION

Inceptional astrology is the branch of astrology dealing with the beginnings of things,

and an inception chart is a horoscope calculated for the beginning of a given enter-

prise. The term was originally coined by Charles E. O. Carter to encompass electional

astrology (consciously choosing the most astrologically propitious times to begin pro-

jects) as well as the retrospective study of starting points (e.g., casting a horoscope for

the launch date of the Titanicto determine if its sinking could have been predicted).

INCLINATION

An inclination is the angle at which two planes cross. In astrology, it is used to refer to

the movement of a celestial body to a position other than the one occupied at birth.

INFERIORCONJUNCTIONS

Inferior conjunctions are conjunctions between the Sun and the inferior planets in

which Mercury or Venus lies between the Sun and Earth. The antonymous expression

superior conjunction refers to conjunctions in which Mercury or Venus is located

behind the Sun. None of the other planets is capable of inferior conjunctions, because

their orbits never carry them between the Sun and Earth.

INFERIORPLANETS

The original meaning of inferior was below. In the concept of the universe that was

prevalent prior to the Copernican revolution, when Earth was thought to be the sta-

ble center around which every other celestial body revolved, the orbits of Mercury

Immersion

[358] THEASTROLOGYBOOK