Aspectarian. A chronological list of all aspects formed during a specified period. Most
astrology magazines acrry an Aspectarian for the concurrent month; and one for the year is now
usually appended to the Ephemeris.
Asterism. A constellation. Sometimes misleadingly applied to a zodiacal Sign, but can be
applied to the three signs of the same alement, considered collectively.
Asteroids. v. Solar System.
Astral Body. In occult terminology a replica of the physical body, but more subtle and tenuous.
It penetrates every nerve, fibre and cell of the physical organism and is constantly in a
supersensitive state of oscillation and pulsation. The psychic faculty within the astral body is
impressionable to extra-sensory vibrations. The astrological concept is that of a magnetic field
wherein the individual does most of his thinking, and from which he draws impressions by way
of interpreting changes in the field due to cosmic radiation.
Astral Light. In occult terminology, the invisible region that surrounds the Earth, perceived by
those who are psychically developed. Within its realm is recorded every condition, event or
circumstance - past, present and future. It is called the "great terrestrial crucible," in which
everything is resolved and perpetuated. The psychically gifted behold there, in panoramic detail,
the histories of nations and individuals, and are able to reveal coming events by what they see
mirrored on the astral screen. It has been spoken of as the Mercury of Nature.
Astral projection. In occult terminology, the partial or complete separation of the astral body
from the physical body, and visiting another locality, near or far. This occurs in sleep - though,
as a general rule, one does not recall the experience on waking. The adept can command his
astral body to go any place he desires in order to make observations and investigations, and
acquire essential information. Some dreams are the result of such travel episodes.
Astrolabe. A mechanical device, predecessor to the sextant, whereby mariners determined the
time of day by the Sun, of the night by the stars, and the height and depth of mountains and
valleys. The astrolabe of Christopher Columbus was on display at the Philadelphia
Sesquicentennial. The oldest known example, called "The Mathematical Jewel," is of Persian
origin. It was made by Ahmad and Mahud, sons of Ibraham (q.v.) the Astrologer of Isfahan, and
is in the Lewis Evans collection in the Old Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, England. The
invention is attributed by some to Hipparchus (q.v.) but others credit it to the Arabs, some 400
years prior.