The Astrology Book

SIVA

Siva, asteroid 140 (the 140th asteroid to be discovered, on September 29, 1930), is

approximately 104 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 4.5 years. Siva was

named after one of the principal Hindu divinities, a complex deity who was, among other

things, a god of destruction. According to Martha Lang-Wescott, Siva represents

“entrenched beliefs and expectations that are ‘wiped out’ to enable a liberation ...; inter-

est in India or oriental culture, objects and influences.” Jacob Schwartz adds to this,

“understanding through catharsis.” This asteroid’s key words are “insight” and “episodic.”

Sources:

Lang-Wescott, Martha. Asteroids-Mechanics: Ephemerides II.Conway, MA: Treehouse Moun-

tain, 1990.

———. Mechanics of the Future: Asteroids.Rev. ed. Conway, MA: Treehouse Mountain, 1991.

Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.

SNAKE

The Snake is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. It refers to one of the 12

earthly branches that are used in Chinese astrology, together with the 10 heavenly

stems. Such a branch designates one day every 12 days: the days are named according

to a sexagesimal (60) cycle, made of 10 series of 12 branches.

Attractive, smart, hateful of vulgarity, and sometimes narcissistic, the Snake

has a disconcerting manner. Reserved and passive, he is a solitary person, but he fasci-

nates. Elusive, he prefers to go around obstacles. Remarkably able to keep his compo-

sure, he is materialistic, very perceptive (sometimes visionary), and he makes an

excellent organizer. He is also a generous, emotional, even fragile person who can

prove to be very devoted, in spite of his apparent reserve. He often seems lazy until he

finds his real goal in life.

—Michele Delemme

SOFTASPECTS

Soft aspects refer to aspects that present a native with opportunities—namely, trines,

sextiles, and the like. Soft aspects is the preferred, contemporary term for what were

traditionally termed benefic aspects (the word benefic has dropped out of general

usage because soft aspects are not always “good” ones).

SOL

Sol is the Latin word for Sun and the root of such words as solar and solstice.

SOLARCHART(SOLARASTROLOGY)

Solar astrology is a system often used when an exact birth time cannot be determined.

Rather than begin the natal chart’s house cusps at the ascendant (which cannot be

Siva

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