adise is a concept asteroid, named after the Garden of Eden. J. Lee Lehman asserts
that if this asteroid is well-aspected in a natal chart, the native believes paradise can
be found in this existence. If, however, “the asteroid is poorly aspect, then the person
is less than optimistic that Paradise exists outside of the movies.” Jacob Schwartz gives
Paradise’s astrological significance as “beliefs in perfection.”Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Lehman, J. Lee. The Ultimate Asteroid Book.West Chester, PA: Whitford Press, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.PARALLEL
The orbits of most of the planets in the solar system lie in approximately the same
geometric plane, which is why an astrological chart using only a two-dimensional rep-
resentation rather than one with three dimensions is drawn. There is, nevertheless, a
variation in the tilt or angle of these orbits, so at any given time most of the planets
are either north or south of the celestial equator (the plane described by projecting
Earth’s equator against the background of the stars). This variation is measured in
degrees of declination. Two planets are parallel when they are on the same side of the
celestial equator and have the same degree of declination. Planets with the same dec-
lination are said to have a relationship similar to a conjunction.PARAN(PARANATELLON)
A paran (from the same family of words as parallel) is said to occur when two planets
cross an angle (whether the same or different angles) at the same time. The notion of
parantellon goes back to Ptolemy; it was revived by Robert Hand, who abbreviated its
designation to paran. The concept is infrequently employed in modern astrology,
although contemporary chart-casting programs can usually calculate it.PARSIFAL
Parsifal, asteroid 2,095 (the 2,095th asteroid to be discovered, on September 24,
1960), is approximately 10 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 4.3
years. Parsifal was named after the hero of Chrétien de Troyes’s novel Perceval.J. Lee
Lehman associates this asteroid with the quest for knighthood, as well as with compas-
sion. Jacob Schwartz gives Parsifal’s significance as “compassion learned through suf-
fering; those avoiding the learning inflict suffering on others.”Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Lehman, J. Lee. The Ultimate Asteroid Book.West Chester, PA: Whitford Press, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.Parallel
[514] THEASTROLOGYBOOK