Astrology Dictionary T Page 3

Time

Time is an essential consideration in astrological calculations and especially important for natal chart preparation. Knowing the exact time of birth helps make analysis of planetary positions, signs, houses and aspects much easier. Without using our standard time zones as guides Astrologers would not be able to set a starting point for their work. The actual time a person is born will also determine their official date of birth. This is because if they arrive at one minute to midnight they will have one birth date, but if the time is exactly on the stroke of twelve o'clock they will have entered the next day's date allocation.

Topocentric

Topocentric is the name for a predictive astrological house system developed by Polich and Page in the 1960's. This method is able to calculate the cusps of houses at different latitudes as it views the Earth from its surface area on a plane of 4 angles. The Topocentric approach centers is interpretations from a geographic point on Earth relating to the place a person was born or a significant event occurred. By projecting known points onto a chart the Topocentric coordinates provide positions, aspects, retrogrades, dignities, rulers, sign placements and many other Astrology interpreters found in traditional natal or event-orientated readings.

Transit

The term Transit is used in Astrology to describe the ongoing motion and positioning of the celestial bodies in our Solar System. A person's natal chart is simply a planetary transit depiction of their moment of birth. The word Transit is a translation of the Latin transitus meaning the act or fact of passing through. When 2 planets are close in declination the resulting influence of the transit is believed to be greater. As transit can refer to motion across or through then they are calculated for zodiac signs and houses. In some situations a transit is considered as having little or no effect and so if known as a mute.

Trans-Neptunian Objects

In 1930 the Planet Pluto was discovered and initially named as a Trans-Neptunian Object, as it is 'beyond' Neptune for Astrology purposes. In 2005 the largest TNO Eris was identified and instantly gained an astrological following even though it has a slow orbit period of over 500 years. Uranian Astrology in particular utilizes the existence of transneptunian or hypothetical planets and uses them in its methods. The Astrologer Witte introduced the TNO's Kronos, Zeus, Hades and Cupido while his colleague Sieggrun expanded the list in 1924 with the discovery of Ademetos, Apollon, Vulkanus and Poseidon. Many more TNO's have now been designated as minor or dwarf planets.

Trine

A Trine in Astrology is a 120 degree major aspect that is considered favorable and thought to be representative of a person's natural abilities. The Trine's influence is reliant on the celestial bodies involved in the aspect and the particular houses it may fall into. Astrologically the Trine aspect is allowed a orb of up to 8 degrees. These aspects are regarded as very harmonious as they allow the planets to unite and compliment and enrich one another. One especially benefic Trine is the Grand Trine pattern where 3 planets each lie in a different sign having the same triplicity of Air, Water, Fire or Earth.

Triplicity

The 12 zodiac signs in Astrology are grouped into 4 triplicities each ruled by designated day and night planetary rulers. The triplicity Fire includes the signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius and they are ruled by the Sun in day and Jupiter at night. The triplicity Earth incorporates the signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn with their day ruler the planet Venus and night ruler the Moon. The Air triplicity has the astrological signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius where Saturn rules the day and Mercury governs the night time. The Water triplicity group encompasses Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces thought to be ruled by Venus daily and Mars nightly.

Tropic and Tropical

Tropic refers to the line of latitude that lies North or South of the equator at the furthest point of the Sun's path. Tropic is the location where the Sun pauses before reversing into the declination seen at the Summer and Winter solstices. The Tropical zodiac is based around the Sun's motion and is not calculated on fixed positions like the in sidereal Astrology. The Tropical zodiac is moveable and has its starting position located in the 1st degree of Aries. In these positional circumstances the tropical signs are those of Cancer and Capricorn. The mobile Tropical zodiac from its vernal point then moves by precession in relation to the static zodiacal order.