Glossary
E
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z

Earth Signs—These are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (all feminine signs). Earth represents stability, responsibility, and practicality. In a natural wheel, they occupy the Second, Sixth and Tenth Houses.
East Point—The poiint where the eastern horizon intersects the path of the Sun. The east point plays a prominent role in how a person projects themselves to others.
Easy Aspects—A harmonious aspect such as conjunct, trine or sextile.
Eclipse Seasons—Two times about every six months, when solar and lunar eclipses can happen.
Eclipse, Annular—See Eclipse, Solar.
Eclipse, Lunar—An eclipse where the Earth's shadow passes over the Moon. Often instead of seeing a dark shadow, we see a red shadow, due to the Sun's light passing through the Earth's atmosphere.
Eclipse, Partial—When only part of the Sun or Moon is shadowed over.
Eclipse, Solar—An eclipse where the Sun is behind the Moon and that Moon's shadow tracks across the Earth's Surface.
Eclipse, Total—When the Sun or Moon are completely overshadowed. A good time for new beginnings.
Ecliptic—The apparent path of the Sun around the Earth. This path is at an angle of 23.45° to the equator.
Electional Astrology—The branch of astrology that deals with selecting the best time to initiate any given activity or project.
Elements—The division of the zodiac into Fire, Earth, Air, and Water signs. Signs of the same element share similar characteristics. Also known as triplicity.
Elevated Planet—A planet is said to be elevated with it is high in a chart, above the horizon. The most elevated planets are those closest to the midheaven or Tenth House cusp.
Empty House—Referring to a house with no occupying planets.
Ending Houses—See Terminal Houses.
Ephemeris—An almanac listing the zodiacal positions of the planets and other astronomical data.
Equal House System—Method of house division that divides the horoscope into twelve equal 30° sections. In this system, the MC does not coincide with the cusp of the Tenth House.
Equator—The circle around the Earth's middle that is equal distance from both poles, marking the angle of the Earth's rotation.
Equinoctial—Another name for the tropical or cardinal signs.
Equinox—Day of equal day and night. These occur twice a year and mark the beginning of spring (vernal) and autumn (autumnal). 21 March marks the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere. It also marks the Sun in 0° Aries. 21 September marks the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere and marks the Sun in 0° Libra.
Essential Dignities and Debilities—Dignities are favourable positions, phases or aspects assumed by a planet. Debilities are the opposite.
The five essential dignities are: rulership (when a planet occupies the house that it rules, ie, is the ruler of); exaltation (when a planet is in a sign that is seen as beneficial to its energy); term, or bound (thought to delimit, or mark the end of things in life); face, or decanate (used to determine physical appearance, using a division of each sign into three faces with rulers based on the Chaldean order); trigon, or triplicity (combining signs and sects).
The debilities are: detriment (being in the physically opposite sign to that which it rules); fall (being in the physically opposite sign in which the planet is exalted); exaltation (the opposite of fall); rulership (the opposite of detriment); essential dignity (dignity by position); accidental dignity (dignity by aspect).
Exaltation—Some signs match the energy of certain planets so well that, when the planets enter the sign, they are said to be in exaltation (the opposite is fall). These are Aries (the Sun); Taurus (the Moon); Gemini (North Node); Cancer (Jupiter, Neptune); Leo (none); Virgo (Mercury); Libra (Saturn); Scorpio (Uranus); Sagitarrius (South Node); Capricorn (Mars); Aquarius (Mercury); Pisces (Venus). For example, when the Moon is in Taurus, Taurus is said to be in exaltation.See Essential Dignities and Debilities.