Learning Basic Astrology M-N

Malefics

Planets generating difficult circumstances: Mars, Saturn, Uranus. The Sun is classed as a malefic in Indian (Vedic) astrology. The jury is still out on Pluto, but he is most likely malefic.

Mansions

See Lunar Mansions.

Mars

The planet of action! This masculine planet rules Aries and Scorpio and is exalted in Capricorn. More about Mars.

Masculine & Feminine Planets

Pluto, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Sun are masculine. Neptune, Venus and Moon are feminine. Mercury is convertible; masculine when with masculine planets and feminine when with feminine. When unaspected its sex is determined by its sign. These terms in astrology do not simply relate to gender, for masculine and feminine also express these other polarities:

active/passive

positive/negative

dry/moist

hot/cold

light/dark

Masculine & Feminine Signs

Masculine Signs

Aries

Sagittarius

Gemini

Libra

Aquarius

Feminine Signs

Taurus

Virgo

Capricorn

Cancer

Scorpio

Pisces

Matutine

Stars or planets rising before the Sun in the morning. See Vespertine.

MC

See mid-heaven.

Mean or Average Daily Motion of Planets

The normal rate of travel of a planet through the zodiac.

Mean Time

True Local Time

Medium Coeli (MC)

Mid-heaven, or meridien. The Southern point of the chart.

Mercury

A fast moving planet never more than 28° from the Sun. This planet, neither masculine, nor feminine but convertible, rules Gemini and Virgo and is exalted in Virgo. More about Mercury.

Meridien

A great circle projected onto the celestial sphere, which encompasses the north and south points on the horizon and the zenith, which is directly above the observer.

Meridien Distance

Measurement along the celestial equator between any point and the upper or lower meridien. A portion of the semi-arc, usually expressed in degrees of time.

Metonic Cycle

The 19 year cycle wherein the conjunctions of the Sun and Moon begin to appear progressively in the zodiac in the same places as in the previous cycle. Discovered by Meton of Athens. This is the cycle whereby the solar and lunar calendars can be approximately synchronised.

Mid-heaven

Cusp of tenth house. Meridien, or MC. The point of the chart at which the meridien intercepts the ecliptic.

Midnight Mark

Mean local time at birthplace when it is midnight at Greenwich, England.

Midpoint

The exact midpoint between two planets as measured in degrees and minutes of arc around the chart.

Moon

The Earth's satellite. The Moon is classed as a planet ("wanderer") in astrology and represents matters to do with women, the mother, the public, the emotions and so on. A feminine planet, she rules Cancer and is exalted in Taurus. Several other planets have recently been determined by astronomers to have moons, but these are not generally considered in astrology. More about the Moon.

Moon's Nodes

See Nodes

Movable Signs

See Cardinal Signs

Mundane Astrology

Deals with Ingresses, Lunations, Eclipses, Great Conjunctions or Comets as indicators of conditions affecting nations, states, or communities.

Mundane Parallel

Equal distance of two planets from any angle.

Mutable Signs

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces.

Mutual Disposition

See Dispositor.

Mutual Reception

See Reception.

Mystic Rectangle

A configuration formed by at least four planets, comprising two trines and two sextile aspects with oppositions forming from all four corners of the configuration.

Nadir

Cusp of fourth house, Lower Meridien, Imum Coeli (IC).

Natal Chart

Horoscope drawn for the Nativity. Birth Chart.

Nakshatras

Lunar Mansions.

Nativity

Moment of first breath. Also the Natal Chart.

Neomenium

The change of the Moon to New Moon, especially that which occurs closest to the Vernal Ingress.

Neptune

One of the outer, trans-personal planets. Rules Pisces with Jupiter, Exalted in Cancer. More about Neptune.

Neutral Planets

Mercury and Neptune. These two tend to be benefic when well aspected to the benefics and unfavourable when forming any aspect to the malefics.

Ninth House

The ninth chart segment, governing higher learning, religious education, long distance travel, lawyers, legal affairs and publishing.

Nocturnal Arc

The distance in space or time taken by a planet passing through the night.

Nodes

The point in the zodiac where a planet passes from southern into northern lattitude is called the North Node and vice versa. The motion of the Moon's Node is retrograde, about 3' per day (see Dragon's Head). The north node is called the ascending, the south the descending node. Neither the Sun nor the Earth have nodes.