Astrological symbols

See also: Astronomical symbols

Symbols used in astrology overlap with those used in astronomy because of the historical overlap between the two subjects. Frequently used symbols include signs of the zodiac and for the classical planets. These have their origin in medieval Byzantine astronomy, but in their current form are a product of the European Renaissance. Other symbols for astrological aspects are used in various astrological traditions.

History and origin

Symbols for the classical planets, zodiac signs, aspects, lots, and the lunar nodes appear in the medieval Byzantine codices in which many ancient horoscopes were preserved. In the original papyri of these Greek horoscopes, there were found a circle with the glyph representing shine() for the Sun and a crescent for the Moon. The written symbols for Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn have been traced to forms found in late Greek papyri. The symbols for Jupiter and Saturn are identified as monograms of the initial letters of the corresponding Greek names, and the symbol for Mercury is a stylized caduceus. A. S. D. Maunder finds antecedents of the planetary symbols in earlier sources, used to represent the gods associated with the classical planets. Bianchini's planisphere, produced in the 2nd century, shows Greek personifications of planetary gods charged with early versions of the planetary symbols: Mercury has a caduceus; Venus has, attached to her necklace, a cord connected to another necklace; Mars, a spear; Jupiter, a staff; Saturn, a scythe; the Sun, a circlet with rays radiating from it; and the Moon, a headdress with a crescent attached. A diagram in Johannes Kamateros' 12th century Compendium of Astrology shows the Sun represented by the circle with a ray, Jupiter by the letter zeta (the initial of Zeus, Jupiter's counterpart in Greek mythology), Mars by a shield crossed by a spear, and the remaining classical planets by symbols resembling the modern ones, without the cross-mark seen in modern versions of the symbols. The modern sun symbol, pictured as a circle with a dot (☉), first appeared in the Renaissance.

Symbols for Uranus and Neptune were created shortly after their discovery. For Uranus, two variant symbols are seen. One symbol, , invented by J. G. Köhler and refined by Bode, was intended to represent the newly discovered metal platinum; since platinum, commonly called white gold, was found by chemists mixed with iron, the symbol for platinum combines the alchemical symbols for iron, ♂, and gold, ☉. Another symbol, , was suggested by Lalande in 1784. In a letter to Herschel, Lalande described it as "un globe surmonté par la première lettre de votre nom" ("a globe surmounted by the first letter of your name"). After Neptune was discovered, the Bureau des Longitudes proposed the name Neptune and the familiar trident for the planet's symbol.

The astrological symbols for the first three objects discovered at the beginning of the 19th century —Ceres, Pallas, and Juno—were also created after their discovery. Firstly, they were listed as planets, and half a century later, renamed as Asteroids. Shortly after Giuseppe Piazzi's discovery of Ceres, a group of astronomers ratified the name, proposed by the discoverer, and chose the sickle as a symbol of the planet. The symbol for Pallas, the spear of Pallas Athena, was invented by Baron Franz Xaver von Zach, and introduced in his Monatliche Correspondenz zur Beförderung der Erd- und Himmels-Kunde. Karl Ludwig Harding, who discovered and named Juno, assigned to it the symbol of a scepter topped with a star.

The modern astrological symbol for Vesta was created by Eleanor Bach, who is credited with pioneering the use of the Big Four asteroids with the publication of her Ephemerides of the Asteroids. Bach's symbol for Vesta is a simplified version of other representations of Vesta's altar. The original form of the symbol for Vesta, , was created by German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. Dr. Olbers, having previously discovered and named one new planet (as the asteroids were then classified), gave Gauss the honor of naming his newest discovery. Gauss decided to name the planet for the goddess Vesta, and also specified that the symbol should be the altar of the goddess with the sacred fire burning on it.

Pluto, like Uranus, has two symbols in use. One symbol, a monogram of the letters PL (which could be interpreted to stand for Pluto or for astronomer Percival Lowell), was announced with the name of the new planet by the discoverers on May 1, 1930. The other symbol, which was popularized in Paul Clancy's astrological publications, is based on the symbol for Mercury, with the circle and arc of Mercury trading positions. This symbol is described by Dane Rudhyar as "suggest[ing] the planetary character of the Pluto mind by the circle, floating above the open cup." Although, this meaning is readily debatable due to Blavatskian origins, rather than a properly traditional understanding, such as may be found in the hermetic sciences.

The symbol for the centaur Chiron, a key with the letter K (for discoverer Charles T. Kowal) was proposed by astrologer Al Morrison, who presented the symbol as "an inspiration shared amongst Al H. Morrison, Joelle K.D. Mahoney, and Marlene Bassoff."

The symbol for retrograde motion is ℞, a capital R with a tail stroke. An R with a tail stroke was used to abbreviate many words beginning with the letter R; in medical prescriptions, it abbreviated the word recipe (from the Latin imperative of recipere "to take"), and in missals, an R with a tail stroke marked the responses.

Meanings of the symbols

Astrological planets

Further information: Planets in astrology

The glyphs of the planets are usually (but not always) broken down into four common elements: A circle denoting spirit, a crescent denoting the mind, a cross denoting practical/physical matter and an arrow denoting action or direction.

Name	Symbol	Image	Symbol represents	Meaning of symbol
Sun	☉		Solar symbol (circled dot)	Divine spirit (circle) surrounding seed of potential
Moon	☽		A crescent moon	Mind or evolving human spirit through receptivity (crescent)
Mercury	☿		Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus	Mind (crescent) poised over divine spirit (circle) and matter (cross)
Venus	♀		Venus's hand mirror.	Divine spirit (circle) over matter (cross)
Earth	♁		Earth; a Solar symbol (sun cross)	Planet Earth — the cardinal directions. C.f. Globus cruciger
Mars	♂		Mars's shield and spear.	Drive (arrow) over divine spirit (circle)
Ceres	⚳		Scythe (handle down), emblematic of Ceres as goddess of the Harvest.	A stylized sickle, a crescent of receptivity resting on a cross of matter.
Jupiter	♃		Jupiter's thunderbolt or eagle	Mind (crescent) rising above the horizon of matter (cross)
Saturn	♄		Saturn's sickle	Matter (cross) taking precedence over mind or human spirit (crescent)
Uranus	♅		H in symbol taken from discoverer's last name, Herschel	The circle of spirit and a dominant cross of matter, in form of an antenna that uses matter as a way to insight.
	⛢		Derived from a combination of the Mars and Sun symbols	Astronomical glyph often used astrologically. Drive over a divine spirit (circle) surrounding seed of potential
Neptune	♆		Neptune's trident	Mind or receptivity (crescent) transcending matter (cross)
Pluto			Modification of Neptune's astrological symbol	Mind (crescent) transcending matter (cross) to reach for divine spirit (circle)
	♇		PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell	Astronomical symbol often used astrologically.

Signs of the zodiac

Further information: Zodiac and Astrological sign

Name	Meaning	Symbol	Image	Symbol Represents
Aries	Ram	♈		Face and horns of ram
Taurus	Bull	♉		Face and horns of bull
Gemini	Twins	♊		Companion
Cancer	Crab	♋		Crab's claws
Leo	Lion	♌		A script form of the Greek letter "lambda", which is the first letter of the Greek word leon, which means "lion"
Virgo	Virgin	♍		Derived from the Greek letters ΠΑΡ, which are the first three letters of the Greek word parthenos, which means "virgin"
Libra	Scale	♎		Scales
Scorpio	Scorpion	♏		Stinger of a scorpion
Sagittarius	Archer	♐		Arrow of the centaur
Capricorn	Sea-goat or mountain goat	♑		Body and head of a goat with the tail of a fish or face and horns of goat.
Aquarius	Waterbearer	♒		Ripples of water.
Pisces	Fish	♓		Two fish tied together yet swimming in opposite directions

Aspects

Further information: Astrological aspects

Name	Symbol	Image	Angle	Explanation
Conjunction	☌		0°	Two or more planets in the same sign A circle with a line implying two objects are in the same place (also, the starting point of an angle)
Semisextile	⚺		30°	One sign apart The intersecting lines from the inner angles of the upper half of a hexagon (see Sextile)
Semi-square			45°	(also known as the "octile" or "semiquartile") The bisecting line of a right angle (see Square)
Sextile	⚹		60°	Two signs apart The intersecting lines from the inner angles of a hexagon
Quintile			72°
Square			90°	(also known as the "quartile")/Three signs apart/Same modality A regular quadrilateral that represents the right angle
Trine			120°	Four signs apart/Same elemental triplicity An equilateral triangle.
Sesquiquadrate	⚼		135°	(also known as the "sesquisquare," "square-and-a-half," and/or "trioctile") The glyph of the Semi-Square under the glyph of the Square, implying the sum of them both
Biquintile			144°
Quincunx	⚻		150°	(also known as the "inconjunct")/Five signs apart The intersecting lines from the inner angles of the lower half of a hexagon (see Sextile)
Opposition	☍		180°	Six signs apart The glyph of the Conjunction plus a circle on top of its line, implying two objects are in front (opposed) of each other.

Lunar phases

Further information: Lunar phase and Lunation type

Name	Symbol	Explanation
New moon	File:New moon symbol.svg	Denotes the new moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 0°-45°.
Crescent moon		Denotes a waxing crescent moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 45°-90°.
First quarter moon		Denotes a first quarter moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 90°-135°.
Gibbous moon		Denotes a waxing gibbous moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 135°-180°.
Full moon		Denotes a full moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 180°-225°.
Disseminating moon		Denotes a waning gibbous moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 225°-270°.
Last quarter moon		Denotes a last quarter moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 270°-315°.
Balsamic moon		Denotes a waning crescent moon or a soli-lunar arc in the range 315°-360°.

Miscellaneous symbols

Name	Symbol	Symbol represents	Explanation
Ascendant		Angle	The ascendant (also known as the "ascensum coeli") is the rising intersection of the ecliptic with the celestial horizon at a particular moment in time; it is used in the construction of a horoscope/natal chart
Midheaven		Angle	The midheaven (also known as the "medium coeli") is the point where the ecliptic crosses the local meridian; it is used in the construction of a horoscope/natal chart
Ascending Node		Lunar node	Not all astrologers use the lunar nodes; however, their usage is very important in Vedic astrology. They are alternately known as the "Dragon's Head" (Rahu, Caput Draconis, or Anabibazon) and the "Dragon's Tail" (Ketu, Cauda Draconis, or Catabibazon). The two nodes together are most commonly referred to simply as the nodal axis, the lunar nodes, or the Moon's nodes.
Descending Node		Lunar node
Black Moon Lilith		Lunar apogee	The traditional Black Moon Lilith is the position of the mean lunar apogee as measured from the geocenter; variants of the Black Moon include replacing the mean orbit with a "true" osculating orbit or with an interpolated orbit; charting the empty focus of the Moon's orbit instead of the apogee; and measuring the desired point's barycentric or topocentric position instead of its geocentric position.
Retrograde motion		Apparent retrograde motion	Symbol represents the apparent retrograde motion of a planet in an astrological chart
Comet		Comet	Different comets often use different symbols, but the use of comets is not widespread in mainstream astrology
2 Pallas		Asteroid	A spear (variant has triangle on top) Alchemical symbol for sulfur (both variants) see also Asteroids in astrology)
10 Hygiea		Asteroid	A serpent coiled around Asclepius' rod
			Two serpents coiled around the rod. (Alternative astrological symbol)
3 Juno		Asteroid	The scepter (of a queen, Juno is the Roman equivalent of Greek Hera) topped with a star
4 Vesta		Asteroid	The fire on the hearth or altar (Roman equivalent of Greek Hestia)
2060 Chiron		Centaur	Stylized body of a centaur (the circle is the horse part, the K-like glyph is the human part)
Lot of fortune		Lot	Glyph for planet Earth rotated 45 degrees.
Eris		Dwarf planet	An Eye of Providence; proposed by astrologer Zane B. Stein
			The Hand of Eris; also used non-astrologically by Discordians
			Apple of Discord
			In use by astrologers in Poland and by the astrology software Urania
			Based on the symbols for Pluto, Mars, and Venus; proposed by Henry Seltzer and used in Time Passages
Makemake		Dwarf planet	Engraved face of the Rapa Nui god Makemake
Haumea		Dwarf planet	Combination of the hawaiian petroglyphs for woman and birthchild, as Haumea was the goddess of them.
Ixion	Ixion	Plutino	It represents the fiery wheel Zeus bound Ixion to (vissible at the top), according tho the Greek mythology, as a conviction in the Tartarus.
Sedna	Sedna	Small body	It consists of the symbols of the inuktitut syllabics for 'sa' and 'n', since in this language Sedna is written as 'Sanna' (ᓴᓐᓇ). Besides, it resembles the shape of a marine animal leaping from the water, in alussion to the myth of Sedna, the sea inuit goddess.
Quaoar	Quaoar	Small body	sharp rock art of the Tongva people, in whose mythology it is present the creator god Quaoar, and the letter Q and a canoe.
Typhon	Typhon	Scattered disk object	Simplified representation of a hurricane, as in Greek mythology Typhon was a divine monster that could create hurricanes with his wings

Unicode encodings

Symbol	Image	Unicode	Glyph
Sun		U+2609	☉
		U+1F71A	🜚
Moon		U+263D	☽
		U+263E	☾
Mercury		U+263F	☿
Venus		U+2640	♀
Earth		U+1F728	🜨
Mars		U+2642	♂
Jupiter		U+2643	♃
Saturn		U+2644	♄
Uranus		U+2645	♅
		U+26E2	⛢
Neptune		U+2646	♆
1 Ceres		U+26B3	⚳
2 Pallas		U+26B4	⚴
3 Juno		U+26B5	⚵
4 Vesta		U+26B6	⚶
10 Hygiea		U+2695	⚕
2060 Chiron		U+26B7	⚷
Eris		not present	--
		not present	--
		≈ U+2641	♁
		≈ U+29EC	⧬
Pluto		U+2647	♇
		not present	--
Aries		U+2648	♈
Taurus		U+2649	♉
Gemini		U+264A	♊
Cancer		U+264B	♋
Leo		U+264C	♌
Virgo		U+264D	♍
Libra		U+264E	♎
Scorpio		U+264F	♏
Sagittarius		U+2650	♐
Capricorn		U+2651	♑
Aquarius		U+2652	♒
Pisces		U+2653	♓
Conjunction		U+260C	☌
Semisextile		U+26BA	⚺
Semi-square		≈ U+2220	∠
Sextile		U+26B9	⚹
Quintile		U+0051	Q
Square		U+25A1	□
Trine		U+25B3	△
Sesquiquadrate		U+26BC	⚼
Biquintile		U+0062 U+0051	bQ
Quincunx		U+26BB	⚻
Opposition		U+260D	☍
New moon	File:New moon symbol.svg	U+1F311	🌑
Crescent moon		U+1F312	🌒
First quarter moon		U+1F313	🌓
Gibbous moon		U+1F314	🌔
Full moon		U+1F315	🌕
Disseminating moon		U+1F316	🌖
Last quarter moon		U+1F317	🌗
Balsamic moon		U+1F318	🌘
Ascendant		not plain text	ASC
Midheaven		not plain text	MC
Ascending node		U+260A	☊
Descending node		U+260B	☋
Black Moon Lilith		U+26B8	⚸
Retrograde motion		≈ U+211E	℞
Lot of fortune		≈ U+2297	⊗
Comet		U+2604	☄

See also

• Alchemical symbols
• Astronomical symbols
• Astrological sign
• Asteroids in astrology
• Aztec calendar
• Behenian fixed star
• Classical elements
• Earthly Branches
• Gender symbols
• Heavenly Stems
• Mayan calendar
• Monas Hieroglyphica
• Nakshatra
• Navagraha
• Sexagenary cycle
• Sri Rama Chakra
• Vedic astrology

External links

• Astrological symbols for asteroids (often different from the astronomical ones)