Baby Astrologers

For all those who are brand new to astrology, I wanted to take a moment to help you figure out where to start. Learning to read a chart can be very overwhelming at first. There is a lot to it. In fact, there is no way for me to teach you to do it with one post. The purpose of this post is to give you a rough understanding of the parts of the chart so you know most of the terms we will be discussing and will be able to ask more detailed questions. 

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First of all, let me say that there are a lot of differing opinions. Also understand that there are several different types of astrology. I chose to learn Western or Tropical astrology. Within Western astrology there are those that practice traditional or Hellenistic astrology, and those who practice modern astrology. There is also Vedic or Sidereal astrology which uses the Sidereal zodiac. Same signs, slightly different location. Each system is just as valid and accurate as the other, when used properly. There is also Chinese astrology which is completely different than the other two and very interesting as well. 

As if this wasn't enough, there are also many different systems for calculating the "houses" in a chart. I will explain what houses are, further on in this post. I typically use the Placidus house system, which is the default setting on astro.com.

In addition, there are also different branches of astrology that use charts in different ways. There is electional astrology, which helps you find the best time to do something or start something. There is horary astrology that uses the chart at the moment a question is asked and uses the planet positions to answer the question. There is also mundane astrology, which is where we look at the charts of nations and predict world events. There are probably many more I'm not thinking of, like Uranian astrology, medical astrology etc...

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To start, you should go to astro.com to create your birth chart. Click on "Horoscopes" at the top of the page and then scroll down to "Extended Chart Selection" or "Natal Chart, Ascendant". Enter your birth info and save the image of your birth chart for future reference. You will need your place of birth, birth date and birth time. 

If you do not know your birth time, that's totally ok, but you will be missing out on a significant amount of information so you should try to obtain this if possible. You can try checking your birth certificate or ask your parents if they remember. Even an approximate birth time is better than nothing, but keep in mind that the ascendant and houses will be inaccurate unless you have the exact birth time. So please let astrologers know if your chart has an approximate birth time when asking for a reading. Luckily there are some astrologers who offer a service called Chart Rectification, where they can use certain techniques to discover your accurate birth time. 

Note: If you do not know your birth time, pay close attention to any planets on the edge of two signs. If it is a faster moving body, like the moon, it could be in either sign depending on the time of day. In this case, you should read descriptions for both placements and see which one you relate to the most. 

Ok so now you have your birth chart. This shows the placement of each planet in our solar system, along with the Sun and Moon, at the moment of your birth. I will include a graphic in the comments below, to help you determine which symbol represents each planet. 

The Sun and planets move through the sky along a strip called the "Ecliptic". Ancient astrologers divided this ecliptic into twelve segments and named each one after a constellation that was found there. There are other constellations that touch or intersect the ecliptic, such as Ophiuchus. These constellations are not considered in astrology because it is not the constellations that are as significant as much as the position of the planets in our sky. The zodiac were merely used so that one could easily discuss a section of the sky and the other person would know what area they were referring to.

If you know your birth time, the ascendant or AC (also known as the rising sign) will be on your left. The descendant or DC is on your right. This is the horizon at the moment of your birth. The planets and signs rise at the ascendant and set at the descendant. You will also see the Midheaven or MC at the top of the chart and the IC or Imum Coeli at the bottom. The MC represents the highest point in the sky and the IC represents the point opposite it, the lowest point in the sky. 

These are the "angles" and they are very important. The ascendant is how we greet the world. It describes how we approach life and also shows our perspective or outlook on life. It has been described as the mask that we wear, the image we present, that stands between our inner self and the environment. It may match up with our inner persona quite well, or it may present a false image. While the ascendant shows how we tend to act initially, the descendant shows how we tend to react or respond to others. Interactions with others bring out this side of ourselves, sometimes referred to as our shadow side. It can also tell us a little bit about the type of relationship we will tend to be involved in or characteristics of the people we tend to attract or become attracted to.

The Midheaven is what we aspire to. It can be seen as an indication of how we seek to impress others and also how we go about getting ourselves to the position we would like to be in life. If we picture the MC as the top of a tree that we try to climb to, to acheive our goals, the IC would be it's roots. It's where we come from, our history and ancestors. It can describe the emotional quality of our childhood. It's our foundation and the place we retreat to at the end of the day, our home. Traditionally, it is seen to represent the end of things, death. It is also worth noting that the MC/IC axis is seen to represent the parents, although there is much disagreement about which represents which parent.

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Speaking of planets, lets take a closer look at them. The planets represent our psychological drives, urges and motivations. The drive of each planet is then expressed through the lens of the sign in which it is placed. The house it is placed in shows us what area of our life this urge or drive is being expressed. We will get to signs and houses in a moment. Much of this information came from several books by Stephen Arroyo, especially his Chart Interpretation Handbook.

Each planet has a positive and negative way of being expressed. We should seek to express the positive and creative energies of each planet and let go of the more negative and self destructive tendencies. Our ability to do so can be easier for some than for others.

The Personal Planets: The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars are considered personal planets that tell us about the basic human drives of an individual. They have the fastest movement through our sky.

Sun- The Sun represents our vitality, our sense of individuality and our creativity. The Sun shows how we like to be recognized and how we express ourselves. It is also associated with our father figure or authority figure. The sun rules the sign LEO. When the sun’s influence is being expressed positively, the person is creative and radiant, warm and generous. When expressed negatively, one will be prideful and arrogant, with a need to feel special.

Moon- The Moon represents our instincts, our emotions, how we react, our self image, our imagination and our adaptability. It shows how we can achieve emotional security and tranquility. It is also often associated with the mother, family in general and our past. The moon rules the sign CANCER. When the moon is being expressed positively, the individual is responsive to others, displays an inner contentment and is highly adaptable. When expressed negatively, a person will be oversensitive, and insecure.

Mercury- Mercury represents our rational mind, our style of communication, our memory, and our learning ability. It shows our urge to express ourself through writing or speech. It’s our need to learn and connect with others. It is also associated with siblings, short journeys, versatility and duality. Mercury rules the signs GEMINI and VIRGO. When Mercury is being expressed positively, the individual uses their skills and intelligence for creativity. Reason is used to serve higher ideals. They will be objective and can come to agreements with others through understanding and clear communication. When expressed negatively, a person will use their intelligence for amoral purposes. They will be strongly opinionated and prone to one-sided communication.

Venus- Venus represents the way we express our affection, our values, what we find beautiful and our social skills. It shows our urge to feel comfort and harmony with another person. Our urge for pleasure as well. It is also associated with art, money (in modern astrology), and our sensuality. Venus rules the signs TAURUS and LIBRA. When Venus is being expressed positively, the individual is loving and generous. When expressed negatively, there is a tendency for self indulgence and greediness. This is someone who is emotionally demanding and may withhold affection.

Mars- Mars represents our aggression, desire, our drive, courage, passion and our stamina. It shows our urge to assert ourselves, to act decisively. It’s our need to achieve that which we desire. It is also associated with sports or other competitions, war, independence and our sex drive. Mars rules ARIES and SCORPIO. When Mars is expressed positively, a person will exhibit courage and initiative. When expressed negatively, they will be impatient, forceful and willful. They may be violent and threatening to get what they want.

The Transpersonal Planets: Also called the social planets, Jupiter and Saturn represent a transition from the inner, personal planets to the outer, more other-worldly, impersonal planets. They represent opposing influences we must learn to balance to function in society, the urge to expand and the urge to withdraw.

Jupiter- Jupiter represents an urge to connect with something greater than ourselves. It shows our need for faith, trust, and our self confidence. It is associated with good fortune, religion, philosophy, travel, optimism and extravagance. Jupiter rules the signs SAGITTARIUS and PISCES. When Jupiter is expressed positively, an individual displays faith in a higher power, optimism, open-mindedness and open to their own need for self improvement. When expressed negatively, a person will be over-confident, lazy, and irresponsible. They may be unreliable because they promise more than they can fulfill.

Saturn- Saturn represents our fears, self discipline, responsibilities and our ambition. It shows our urge to protect our boundaries, create structure in our lives and gain safety and security through tangible achievements. Saturn is associated with self sufficiency, limitations, karma, delays, old age, tests, obligations, and the father figure. Saturn rules the signs CAPRICORN and AQUARIUS. When Saturn is expressed positively, a person will have proper self discipline, accepting of responsibilities, patient, organized and reliable. When it is expressed negatively, the individual will be rigid in their thinking, cold, defensive, inhibited, fearful and negative. 

The Generational Planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto move slowly and take many years to move through a sign. They show a common theme or attitude found in a generation.

Uranus- Uranus represents unpredictable change, intuition, individualism, freedom, rebelliousness, and inventiveness. It shows our urge to be different and to break from traditions. It is also associated with social reform, electricity, and a need for change and excitement. Uranus co-rules the sign AQUARIUS. When Uranus is expressed positively, a person will be truthful, original, and will respect the freedom of others. If expressed negatively, they will be restless, impatient and will need constant excitement and change. They may be prone to extremism.

Neptune- Neptune represents our psychic and mystical capacity, our inspiration, dreams and delusions. It shows our urge to escape the limitations of ourself and the material world. It’s our desire for transcendent freedom and a feeling of unification with the universe. Neptune is associated with drugs, alcohol, deception and fog. It co-rules the sign PISCES. When Neptune is expressed positively, one will be spiritual, compassionate and living an ideal. When expressed negatively, an individual will display self destructive, escapist tendencies. They will evade responsibilities, refuse to self analyze or commit to anything.

Pluto- Pluto represents death and rebirth. It shows our urge to transform and eliminate that which is hindering our growth. Pluto co-rules the sign SCORPIO. When Pluto is expressed positively, an individual will have the courage to face their deepest desires and urges in order to transform themselves into someone stronger and wiser. When expressed negatively, a person will tend to manipulate others to get what they want. They will use any means to avoid facing their inner self. They will have a lust for power. 

Please understand that these descriptions are just brief summaries and there can be much more said about each of them. I just wanted to give some basic key words associated with them. They came from a modern source so the descriptions do not include all the traditional associations. I will probably do updates to this post and add traditional key words at some point. I will also include graphics that have some key words for the planets in the comments.

There are numerous asteroids, fixed stars and other points you may hear about. I recommend focusing on the main planets until you understand how to read a chart. Then you can explore these other objects. You don't want to overwhelm yourself right away. It's also best to leave extra objects off your chart when asking for help in the group. Many astrologers will not even look at a chart that contains too many extras.  

I also wanted to quickly explain two traditional terms you may hear, "benefic" and "malefic". Benefic planets are generally associated with good fortune and pleasant experiences. The benefic planets are Venus and Jupiter. Malefic planets tend to be associated with uncomfortable or difficult experiences. The malefic planets are Mars and Saturn. (Personal opinion: I believe if the ancients had known about the 3 outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, they would have probably labeled them as malefic as well.) Most modern astrologers reject these terms and point out the positive and negative sides of all planets.  

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Now it's time to talk about the Zodiac! You will see symbols divided into twelve sections in the outer circle of the chart. They are the zodiac signs and I will include graphics in the comments to help you learn which sign is represented by each symbol.  

Each sign has an element and a modality. The elements are: 

Fire- an abundance of fire energy in a chart tends to signify a person who is enthusiastic, direct, honest, outgoing, impatient, impulsive, confident, courageous

Earth- an abundance of earth energy tends to signify someone who is practical, patient, disciplined, persistent, cautious, dependable, conventional

Air- an abundance of air energy tends to signify someone who is social, communicative, curious, detached, objective, rational

Water- an abundance of water energy tends to signify someone who is emotional, sensitive, intuitive, compassionate, private, perceptive

The modalities are: 

Cardinal- these signs mark the start of each season, and as such they are considered natural leaders or initiators.

Fixed- these signs mark the height of each season and are considered persistent, they finish what the cardinal signs begin

Mutable- these signs mark the changing of seasons and are considered variable, flexible and adaptable

The Signs: (Source: Parker's Astrology)

Aries- 

Fire/Cardinal, The Ram, Ruled by Mars

Keywords- assertive, pioneering, competitive, confident, impatient, impulsive, direct, passionate, driven, energetic

People with strong Aries influence:

- Respond quickly 

- Achievement is vital in career or hobby 

- Can lose interest quickly 

- Need plenty of exercise or an active lifestyle

Taurus- 

Earth/Fixed, The Bull, Ruled by Venus

Keywords- earthy, stable, dependable, stubborn, patient, possessive, affectionate, self indulgent, persistent, decisive, 

People with strong Taurus influence:

- Loves luxury, comfort, romance

- Great need for financial and personal security

- May view their partner as their possession

- Venus ruled means they crave peace and harmony

- Does not tend to enjoy taking risks 

Gemini- 

Air/Mutable, The Twins, Ruled by Mercury

Keywords- changeable, talkative, dual, lively, intellectual, adaptable, youthful, inquisitive, restless, inconsistent, witty

People with strong Gemini influence:

- Love to communicate

- Tend to know a little about many subjects

- Need variety, may start many projects but finish few

- Need lively, intellectual partners with shared interests

Cancer- 

Water/Cardinal, The Crab, Ruled by the Moon

Keywords- protective, traditional, nostalgic, nurturing, moody, intuitive, loyal, tenacious, imaginative, sentimental

People with strong Cancer influence:

- Can be difficult to get to know

- Can appear cool and withdrawn on the outside, sensitive and emotional on the inside

- Fiercely protective of loved ones

- Tendency to worry too much

- Love careers involving the past, cooking or caring for others

Leo- 

Fire/ Fixed, The Lion, Ruled by the Sun

Keywords- warm, radiant, generous, dramatic, encouraging, flamboyant, creative, dominating, intolerant, patronizing

People with strong Leo influence:

- Natural born leaders

- May assume they know what's best for others and have a hard time respecting other's opinions

- Need to have a creative outlet

- Like to feel in control, tend to be quite organized

Virgo- 

Earth/Mutable, The Virgin, Ruled by Mercury

Keywords- efficient, functional, analytical, conscientious, helpful, modest, meticulous, reliable, overcritical, diligent, hard working, perfectionist

People with strong Virgo influence:

- Excellent and persuasive communicators

- Possess abundant nervous energy

- Get bogged down by details

- Self conscious, difficulty accepting compliments

- Tendency to nag or criticize others

Libra- 

Air/Cardinal, The Scales, Ruled by Venus

Keywords- social, peaceful, fair, harmonious, graceful, diplomatic, indecisive, charming, laid back, flirtatious, self indulgent, idealistic

People with strong Libra influence:

- Concerned with having balance and harmony around them

- Tend to dislike being alone

- Avoid difficult decisions if possible

- Take people at face value

- Need appreciation or may become resentful

Scorpio- 

Water/Fixed, The Scorpion, Ruled traditionally by Mars, Pluto co-rules

Keywords- intense, secretive, ambitious, obsessive, reluctant, deep, forceful, private, passionate, magnetic, obstinate, suspicious

People with strong Scorpio influence: 

- Great at getting to the root of any problem

- Have a deep reserve of emotional, mental and physical energy that needs to be channeled in healthy ways

- Difficulty trusting others

- May struggle with jealousy

- Tend to withdraw and become quiet when upset, bottles up emotions

Sagittarius- 

Fire/Mutable, The Archer, Ruled by Jupiter

Keywords- expansive, friendly, blunt, honest, philosophical, optimistic, restless, jovial, careless, tactless, irresponsible, freedom-loving

People with strong Sagittarius influence: 

- Love challenges, both mental and physical

- Tendency to take risks

- Like excitement, new experiences, new people

- Similar to Gemini, may be easily bored, jump from task to task without completing them

- Good at seeing the big picture, but may ignore important details

Capricorn- 

Earth/Cardinal, The Sea Goat, Ruled by Saturn

Keywords- cautious, materialistic, determined, disciplined, self-sufficient, responsible, ambitious, patient, reserved, pessimistic (although I prefer "realistic"), conventional, 

People with strong Capricorn influence:

- Want to be seen as someone who does "the right thing"

- Offbeat sense of humor

- Can be overly serious and negative

- May have self confidence issues

- They plan ahead and are very determined about meeting their goals

Aquarius- 

Air/Fixed, The Water Bearer, Ruled traditionally by Saturn, Uranus co-rules

Keywords- revolutionary, idealistic, inquisitive, unpredictable, innovative, eccentric, original, independent, contrary, detached, friendly, humanitarian

People with strong Aquarius influence:

- Can be very stubborn, rebellious

- Tend to be optimistic, hopeful

- Very independent, may find relationships difficult

- Friendly to the point of being too trusting, especially in childhood

Pisces- 

Water/Mutable, The Fish, Ruled traditionally by Jupiter, Neptune co-rules

Keywords- imaginative, artistic, responsive, dependent, believing, compassionate, sympathetic, escapist, idealistic, vague, impressionable

People with strong Pisces influence:

- May be a bit unrealistic, self-deceptive

- Tend to take the path of least resistance

- Very imaginative which, when used creatively, can achieve great results

- Very compassionate and caring, may have "rose colored glasses" about their partner

- May lie to protect other's feelings

There are many more words and phrases that can be used to describe the signs. We did a whole post about this one time. I can tag you in it if you are curious. Also remember that you are not just one sign, so if your sun is in Capricorn and you are shouting at your screen "Hey, I'm not materialistic! This is nonsense!" Take a deep breath, and remember that you are more than just one sign and you do not necessarily embody every word that has ever been associated with your sun sign or any other placement. Maybe you could make a post here in the group along the lines of "What do you associate with the sign _________?"

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Next we will move on to the houses. As you look at your chart, you will notice it is broken up into 12 inner sections (if you do not have a birth time, you will not see these sections). These represent 12 areas of life. Traditional astrology and modern astrology differ somewhat on some house descriptions, so I will try to include a bit of both. My source for traditional key words is The Houses: Temples of the Sky, by Deborah Houlding. For modern key words, I used several different sources but I highly recommend The Twelve Houses, By Howard Sasportas.

The 1st House: 

Traditional: Life, formation of character, appearance, the early years, education, fortunes of children, prayers of parents, body, spirit, soul, length of life, vitality, capacity of the intellect

Planet said to be "in it's joy" in this house: Mercury, "because it represents the head, and he the tongue, fancy and memory: when he is well dignified and posited in this house, he produces good orators."

Modern: Emerging from the womb, the way we perceive the world, how we relate to the world, appearance, behavior, health, manners

Rulers: Aries and Mars

The 2nd House: 

Traditional: The 2nd, 6th, 8th and 12th houses are generally considered "weak" because they are linked to the ascendant by aspects (we will look at aspects last) that are too weak and ineffective. The ascendant is the source of light and therefore, these are "dark" areas that lack vital energy, according to ancient astrologers. I can go into this more in another post. There is a lot more to say. Key words: Unfortunate, livelihood, profit, inheritance, business, gain, possessions, assistants, profession of children, wealth, poverty, moveable goods. Represents the throat and neck in medical astrology.

Modern: Our worth and abilities, values, what we would like to gain, possessions, money, resources, what gives us a sense of substance, value, worth, safety and security. This could be material things or inherent capabilities that need to be developed. It also shows our attitude towards the material world. Rulers: Taurus and Venus. 

The 3rd House: 

Traditional: The goddess, immediate environment, neighbors, fortune and fates of siblings, brothers, sisters, wealth, messages, royalty, slaves, short journeys, jewels, friends, letters, rumors, reports

Planet said to be "in it's joy" in this house: The moon, because it is our closest neighbor and because it was associated with communication before Mercury and Hermes. An example is the ancient Egyptian moon god Thoth, who was called the "god of scribes" and had the stylus for his symbol. 

Modern: Our rational mind, how we gather, analyze and classify facts, our mental style and ability, and our attitude towards knowledge. As in ancient times, it is still associated with the immediate environment, communication, siblings, aunts and uncles, neighbors, cousins, and the early schooling experience. 

Rulers: Gemini and Mercury.

The 4th House: 

Traditional: The underworld, the transition between death and rebirth, rest and renewal, home, parents, "the beginning and ending of things", earth and it's resources, minerals, ore, oil, graves, buried treasure, wealth from hidden sources, drowning, our past, ancestry, family property and land. Some have associated this house with Saturn, but Saturn is more commonly associated with the 12th house.

Modern: Our family, their influence on us, atmosphere of our childhood home and the home we create as adults, how we end something, and the second half of our lives. Most modern astrologers tend to associate this house with the mother. But Liz Greene and some others have noticed through their many years of experience that the 10th house better represents their client's relationship with their mothers, while the 4th represents their father. Howard Sasportas thinks we should consider the 10th to represent the parent that shapes us the most, the one we spent the most time with, while the 4th represents the more "hidden" parent. 

Ruler: Cancer and the moon

Note: Planets in this house can show the way the child perceives the parent, not necessarily how they actually are as a person.

5th House: 

Traditional: The House of Good Fortune, fertility, pregnancy, children, pleasure, clothes, friends, gifts, food, drink, diplomats, love, taverns, recreation and sports, and the wealth of the father. Although this house is now linked to Leo, traditionally Leo was a sterile or barren sign, not suitable for the house of fertility. 

Planet said to be "in it's joy" in this house: Venus, as it is linked to pleasure, and love.

Modern: Our creativity, desire to be recognized, how we pursue our hobbies and interests, sports, gambling, risk taking, romance, sexual expression, fertility and children, our attitude towards having children and towards children in general. It's also our "inner child", that loves to play and enjoy life. 

Ruler: Leo and the sun

6th House:

Modern: Daily chores, the nature of our job, our attitude towards work, co workers, how we serve others, our relationship to those who serve us, pets, and health. Planets here can tell us something about a person's health or may show an interest or even obsession with keeping healthy. Many healers have an emphasis on the 6th house. 

Ruler: Virgo and Mercury

7th House:

Modern: Marriage, any relationship with mutual commitment, business partnerships, the partners we attract, what we are attracted to, the types of relationships we enter, open enemies and legal matters. This house is also said to represent qualities in ourselves that are unconscious. Liz Greene calls this our "inner partner", things we have suppressed and hidden from ourselves. We may find these traits mirrored back to us by our partners, which can be uncomfortable. Or it may be exciting, and makes us feel "completed" by them. 

Ruler: Libra and Venus 

8th House: 

Modern: Other people's values or money, inheritance, that which is shared with another, sex, intimacy, death and regeneration. People with many planets in this house may end up in careers handling other's money such as banking, accounting, or stockbroking. It also shows our degree of fascination with what is hidden or mysterious, and our attitude towards death or major transformational events in our life.

Ruler: Scorpio and Mars/Pluto

9th House: 

Modern: Philosophy, religion, our search for meaning and purpose, the "higher mind" or "abstract mind", how we view religion, traveling (especially long journeys), cultures we are drawn to, journeys of the mind, higher education, intuition, foresight, and our "in laws". It also represents our relationship to the collective, society, and it's laws. 

Ruler: Sagittarius and Jupiter

10th House: 

Modern: One's position in the world, our contribution to society, attitude towards authority, reputation, ambition, our approach to our career, how we wish to be seen, how we hope to attain achievement, honor and recognition. Planets here can describe our profession, but the whole chart needs to be taken into consideration for an accurate judgement. It can also describe the mother (or father, refer to my paragraph on the 4th house).

Ruler: Capricorn and Saturn

11th House: 

Modern: The type of groups or friends we gravitate towards, how we make friends, how we feel about being a part of something larger, brotherhoods or sisterhoods, networks, movements, support systems, social consciousness, humanitarian work, how we feel and behave in a group setting, and our hopes and wishes.

Ruler: Aquarius and Saturn/Uranus

12th House: 

Modern: Selfless service, devotion to a higher ideal, dreams, secrets, unconsciousness, dissolution of the individual ego, merging with something greater than the self, self destructive behaviors, hidden enemies, obscure boundaries between the self and others. It rules jails, hospitals, institutions and asylums or anywhere that is removed from society such as a remote monastery. In some cases, the sign and planets here can symbolize something unconscious that was "passed on" to the child from the mother in the womb. This can affect the way the child perceives the world, even though there is no conscious reason why. It is also known as the house of self undoing, ways that we undermine ourselves.

Ruler: Pisces and Jupiter/Neptune

I need to add a bit about empty houses here. There is a graphic that is commonly passed around astrology groups that states that a house without planets indicates problems in the area of life represented by the house. This is NOT true! If you happen to have issues in this area of life it is through pure coincidence. You see, each house has a ruling planet. You look at the sign that is on the "cusp" or beginning of that house. For example, you want to know about your relationships. You can start by looking to your 7th house. In this example, the cusp is in Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars. So even if there are no planets in this house, you would look at your natal Mars when considering your love life. Read on for some information on how to assess the quality of a planet. 

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Now I would like to go back to the planets and signs for a moment and talk about some traditional terms you may here: domicile, detriment, exaltation and "in the fall". Ancient astrologers considered a number of factors to determine the "strength" of a planet. I will not be getting into all of them but if you are curious, here are some terms to research: depositors, reception, sect, triplicity, bounds, and decans. My main source for this information is Ancient Astrology In Theory and Practice, by Demetra George.

Domicile: When a planet is in it's domicile sign, it is home. This is the sign of it's rulership, which I described for each of the planets above. A planet that is in it's domicile sign is more effective. It can easily access the resources it needs to express itself in a way that it is most "comfortable". There is an affinity between the nature of the planet and the nature of the sign. There is actually a whole set of reasons used to determine the ruler ships but I won't get into that here. Would make a great post! Ask about the "Thema Mundi" sometime. 

Detriment: A planet is in the sign of it's detriment when it is in the sign opposite it's domicile. This planet is seen as being weakened in this sign. Medieval astrologers described such planets as being in exile. One of the worst punishments in ancient times was to be banished from one's country into a land where the person did not know anyone, didn't understand the language and did not have any rights as a citizen. If you can imagine the behavior of someone in such a situation, that is how you can think of a planet in this sign. Not only does it not have sufficient resources, but the ones it does have are less optimal or unsuitable for the tasks or goals represented by the planet. Someone with planets in detriment will have to work harder or get less positive, consistent, and stable results from their efforts in regards to that planetary function. And also the topics of the house that planet is located in. There are other factors that can improve the outcomes of these planets, but this is the baseline from which a planet in detriment begins. 

Exaltation: A planet in the sign of it's exaltation is like an honored guest in someone else's home. "It receives the power of elevation to great heights of good fortune where it can receive honor, glory, recognition and respect." The exalted planet is said to indicate an idealized form of that planet's potential. It has additional strength and energy here. The exalted signs of the planets are:

Sun- Aries (especially at 19 degrees)

Moon- Taurus (especially at 3 degrees)

Mercury- Virgo (especially at 15 degrees)

Venus- Pisces (especially at 27 degrees)

Mars- Capricorn (especially at 28 degrees)

Jupiter- Cancer (especially at 15 degrees)

Saturn- Libra (especially at 19 degrees)

In the Fall: When a planet is placed in the sign opposite it's exaltation, it is considered depressed, or in it's fall. "A person with a planet in the fall may find themselves in situations where they feel weak or marginalized due to a lack of authority and respect." It can indicate worry and hardship concerning all that the planet represents. It can indicate situations that lead to a feeling of powerlessness in this area or misfortune. Again though, this is just the baseline for this planet position and there are other factors that can help.

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Last but not least, let's talk about aspects! I will just be focusing on the main aspects which are the conjunction, opposition, square, sextile and trine. Aspects describe the angular relationships between planets or points along the ecliptic. Analyzing aspects between planets can give us highly significant information about an individual. Planets represent our psychological drives, our innate urges. Aspects let us see how these parts of ourselves work together. Some aspects are considered "soft" or harmonious aspects, those that do not create much tension or difficulty. While others are referred to as "hard" or challenging aspects. They create challenges but also create motivation and energy. My source for most of this information was Aspects in Astrology, by Sue Tompkins.

Conjunction: Traditionally, any two planets located in the same zodiac sign were considered to be conjunct. Most modern methods however, consider a conjunction to be two planets that are within 8° to 10°, even if they are in separate signs. Different astrologers will use different distances, known as "orbs". Non planetary objects such as asteroids or points such as the North Node, are generally given smaller orbs to be considered "conjunct". 

This aspect shows a merging or blending of energies between the two planets or points. It is difficult to differentiate between the two. They act together. The closer to exactly 0° apart that they are, the more powerful this influence will be. This shows a focused energy in one area of a chart and will draw the attention of an astrologer right away. Conjunctions are neither “hard” nor “soft” aspects, although some tend see them as soft more often than not. The difficulty shown by this aspect depends on the planets involved and how well they blend together. To better understand this, refer to what each planet represents. 

When there is a conjunction of three or more planets (some say 4), it is called a "stellium". A stellium magnifies the influence of each conjunction and shows a focal point in the chart, an area of great importance in the individual’s life. 

Opposition: Just as it sounds, planets in this aspect are opposite each other in a chart, or approximately 180° apart. This aspect is all about polarity. It is considered a "hard" aspect. Other terms used to describe aspects like this are disharmonious or dynamic. Each set of opposing signs want opposite (but somewhat related) things. We can not react in opposite ways at the same time. The trick with oppositions in a chart is to learn to balance both energies. Often we behave more like one planet in the opposition before eventually learning to behave in the opposite way. Until we learn to embrace both sides of the polarity within us, we will encounter difficulties where the energy of the ignored planet intrudes into our lives in some way. In a chart produced on astro.com, you will see oppositions as the longer red line between planets. Squares are shorter red lines.

Square: This is a "hard" or "challenging" aspect, similar to the opposition, formed when two planets are approximately 90 degrees apart. Unlike the opposition however, square signs are in antagonistic elements to each other (Fire or Air <--> Earth or Water). This causes tension as the two signs want different things. Squares in the birth chart tend to bring uncertainty in the areas represented by each of the planets and possibly fear as well. But it is through meeting obstacles that we achieve growth and these aspects become easier to deal with as one gets older. In fact, some astrologers believe that those without squares take longer to mature! Squares are seen in astro.com charts as shorter red lines.

Trine: Two planets form a trine aspect when they are approximately 120 degrees apart. This aspect is generally regarded as a very easy, beneficial aspect. It shows that the two planets flow well together because they are in signs of the same element. These planets generally do not hinder each other's expression in any way and tend to actually reinforce or support each other. It is important to remember that while easiness and lack of tension is enjoyable, it is not usually productive of growth. So while trines are seen as a good thing, too many trines can indicate laziness or passivity. There are also instances where two planet's energies do not mesh as well, even in a positive aspect. So while these two drives or urges are in sync, the resulting behavior is not always one that is desirable to others. In an astro.com chart, trines will be seen as the longer blue lines. Sextiles are shorter blue lines. 

Sextile: Two planets form a sextile when they are approximately 60 degrees apart. Sextiles act similarly to trines but unlike trines, which involves two planets in signs of the same element, sextiles involve two planets in compatible elements (Fire<-->Air, Earth<-->Water). The sextile is considered an "easy" aspect, like a trine, but it is not as passive as a trine. Since we are dealing with two different elements, there is some degree of stimulation here. Planets in a sextile show us something we have an aptitude for, an opportunity to succeed at something, but it will not come as easily as a trine. It will take some effort but this effort will be greatly rewarded. In astro.com charts, a sextile will be seen as a short blue line.

Okay so now you know what the planets, signs, houses and aspects represent. You also know a little bit about determining the strength of a planet. Now what? Now you must start the long process of learning how to tie all these pieces together to get the big picture. Invest in good books if you can, but if not, the internet can be a helpful resource if you know where to look. Start with one placement in your chart and research all you can or ask the group for additional info. For example I would begin by researching: "Sun in Capricorn". Then I would move on to "Sun in the 4th house natal". I add "natal" at the end because I don't want to get results for different types of charts, such as synastry or composite. Then I would move on to the next planet and research its sign and house. Eventually I would move on to aspects between planets and learn all I can about those! Eventually the big picture will start to come together. 

Oh! I also encourage you to look into your North and South Nodes of the moon, once you have a good understanding of the basics. Chiron too!