SELENE
Selene, asteroid 580 (the 580th asteroid to be discovered, on December 17, 1905), is
approximately 41 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 5.8 years. It is
named after the goddess of the Moon. She granted a boon to the handsome, vain king
Endymion, who chose to sleep forever without aging. Selene was also seduced with a
gift of a golden fleece from Pan. The placement of this planetoid in a natal chart
shows where and how vanity opens one up to seduction, as well as where and how one
is willing to seduce others.Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.SEMIOCTILE
A semioctile (also known as a semisemisquare) is a minor aspect of 22^1 ⁄ 2 ° that is creat-
ed by subdividing a circle into 16 equal parts. It exerts a very weak, inharmonious
influence and, according to contemporary researchers, is involved in health concerns.
It is rarely utilized outside cosmobiology and Uranian astrology.SEMISEXTILE
A semisextile (also called a dodecile) is a minor aspect of 30° created by subdividing a
circle into 12 equal parts. Semisextiles exert a weak though helpful influence. Unlike
sextiles, which indicate opportunities, semisextiles often refer to inherited character-
istics. The orb of influence is very small, no more than 1° or 2°.SEMISQUARE
A semisquare is a minor aspect of 45° created by dividing a circle into eight equal seg-
ments. A semisquare, as the name implies, is half a square, and a semisquare acts as a
weak square. Though weak, it is perhaps the strongest of the minor aspects, and
astrologers give it an orb of influence of 2° to 3°.SEPARATINGASPECT
When a transiting planet has completed making an aspect with another planet or a
house cusp and is beginning to pull away, it is said to be separating. Before the aspect
became exact—as the transiting planet was approaching—the aspect was applying. To
illustrate, suppose Neptune is located at 25° in the sign Leo. As transiting Venus pass-
es Neptune (e.g., moves past 25° and reaches 26°, 27°, and 28° Leo), Venus is said to
be separating from a conjunction with Neptune. Prior to reaching 25° (prior to
becoming exact), the aspect was applying.Selene
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