STRONGSIGNS
In traditional astrology, Scorpio and Aquarius were referred to as the strong signs, pre-
sumably because of their fixed natures.SUBLUNAR
The ancient geocentric concept of the universe arranged the Sun, Moon, and planets
in concentric, moving, crystalline spheres around a stable Earth at the center of the
solar system. Because the Moon is closest to Earth, it is the last celestial body. Every-
thing that is sublunar (below the Moon) belongs to this terrestrial, earthly realm. In
classical astrology, astrological forces were viewed as having an influence in the sublu-
nar realm, but not in the celestial realm.SUCCEDENTHOUSE
The houses of an astrological chart are classified into three groups of four: angular hous-
es (the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth), succedent houses (the second, fifth, eighth,
and eleventh), and cadent houses (the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth). Traditionally,
the succedent houses have been referred to as the resource houses, although this ascrip-
tion applies best to the second house and the eighth house (the houses of personal
resources that are obtained through inheritance and partnership). In classical astrology,
planets positioned in succedent houses are said to exercise a stabilizing effect.Sources:
Brau, Jean-Louis, Helen Weaver, and Allan Edmands. Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology.New
York: New American Library, 1980.
Hand, Robert. Horoscope Symbols.Rockport, MA: Para Research, 1981.SUN
The Sun is the star around which Earth and the rest of the planets in the solar sys-
tem orbit. The earth orbits the sun at an average distance of 93 million miles and
takes 365.26 days to complete a revolution—known as a sidereal year. The plane
upon which the Earth travels around the Sun is called the ecliptic. From the per-
spective of the Earth, it appears as if the Sun is revolving around the Earth against a
particular band of background stars. This band of 12 constellations is known as the
Zodiac. The moon and all the planets orbit within the confines of this 18-degree-
wide band, with the Sun apparently traveling on the ecliptic, its center. Therefore
the latitude of the Sun is always zero. Although the Sun never appears to retrograde
in the sky as the other planets do, it does appear to slow down in speed as the Earth
distances itself from it in its annual orbit. This occurs during the northern hemi-
sphere’s summer months when the Sun’s apparent speed falls under its mean 59 min-
utes and 8 seconds per day. Astrologically, it rules the sign of Leo where it is most
comfortable and is exalted in the sign of Aries where the Babylonians considered it
to be held in special esteem.Strong Signs
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