partially eclipsed by the Earth.
Peregrine. Foreign, alien. Said of a planet posited in a sign where it possesses no essential
dignity: where it is neither dignified nor debilitated. It is employed in Horary Astrology,
where it is usually reckoned as a debility. In a question of a theft, a peregrine planet in an
angle or in the second house, is the thief. However, no planet is reckoned peregrine if it be in
mutual reception with another.
Perigee. v. Orbit.
Perihelion. v. Orbit.
Periodical Lunation. A Figure cast for the Moon's synodic period, when it returns to the
exact degree held at birth. It is often employed for monthly forecasts in a manner similar to
the Solar Revolution (q.v.) for annual forecasts. A true Figure for the Moon's periodical return
is difficult to construct, because of the Moon's acceleration from hour to hour.
Phase. (Obs.) A term formerly used by some authorities for Decanate (q.v.). Originally one-
fourth of a Decanate, or 2½ degrees.
Phases. Said of the Moon, but also applicable to Mercury and Venus. The phases are
crescent, shortly before and after lunation; half-moon, at the quarter when one side is a
straight line and the other is convex; gibbous, shortly after the quarters, when both sides are
convex; and Full Moon, when the Earth and the Moon are in opposition. The Lunation is
hardly a phase, since the Moon is invisible except for a slight glow: the Earth-shine resulting
from light reflected back from the Earth. According to Kepler, as the Moon waxes all things
swell with moisture, which is decreased at the Lunation, increased at the Full, and powerfully
stressed at the quadratures. Direct light is heating; reflected light, moistening.
Phenomenon. Any item of experience or reality. Kant divides this into: the noumenon, the
thing in itself, which is utterly unknowable; and the phenomenon, which is the object of
experience. In c,ccult terminology applied to a cosmical chemical, or psychical impulse,
experienced by one who is attuned to Nature's more sensitive forces. Phenomena, pl., is
applied to supplementary data in the ephemeris indicating the exact times of eclipses, of the
passing of the Nodes and other points in the orbit, of conjunctions, of the lunar ingresses, and
similar details.