Glossary
C
Cassiel (Archangel) - The Archangel Cassiel is regarded as the Angel of solitude, temperance, and discipline. In the esoteric traditions, including those of Henry Cornelius Agrippa (Three Books of Occult Philosophy), Cassiel is associated with the energies of Saturn, which include themes of time, limitation, structure, and karmic responsibility.
Cassiel is known as the "Angel of Tears and Solitude,"He governs over time, patience, and the lessons learned through trials and perseverance.
Cassiel is often seen as a guide for those who seek wisdom through introspection or who are enduring hardship.
Cassiel in Magic and Invocation
In ceremonial magic and planetary workings, Cassiel is invoked to:
Gain wisdom through solitude or meditation.
Overcome obstacles or endure difficult times with patience.
Establish boundaries or bring structure to chaotic situations.
Seek guidance on karmic lessons or matters tied to destiny.
D
Degree - Degrees on an astrology wheel refer to the 360° circle that represents the zodiac, divided into 12 equal sections of 30° each for the 12 zodiac signs. These degrees are used to pinpoint the exact positions of planets, luminaries, and other astrological points within a sign at any given moment.
The degrees are angular distances between planets in the sky as seen from Earth. When it comes to the difference in distance between planets, degrees represent the apparent separation between them from our perspective.
E
Ecliptic - The ecliptic represents the apparent path of the Sun through the celestial sphere over the course of a year. The ecliptic is divided into 12 equal segments of 30 degrees each, which correspond to the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
F
Fixed Stars - Fixed Stars are Celestial Bodies that appear to remain stationary relative to each other in the night sky, in contrast to Planets which visibly move. They include all the Constellations and Stars visible to the naked eye with the exception of the Planets.
L
Luminary - A luminary refers to any Heavenly object or Celestial Body that emits or reflects light, primarily the Sun, Moon, and Stars. These luminaries are significant sources of illumination and play crucial roles in our understanding of the universe and its rhythms.
P
Planet - The word "planet" originates from the Ancient Greek term πλανήτης (planetos), meaning "wanderer" or "wandering star". This term was used to describe celestial bodies that appeared to move across the sky, such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well as the Sun and Moon.
Ancient Greek astronomers observed that certain unique Celestial Bodies, unlike Fixed Stars, appeared to move across the sky in irregular patterns. These wandering objects were classified as "Planetos" due to their apparent motion.
This concept of wandering stars laid the foundation for distinguishing planets from fixed stars.
R
Retrograde - When a planet is in retrograde, it appears to move backward in the sky from Earth's perspective due to differences in orbital speeds.
S
Star - The term refers to a celestial body appearing as a luminous point in the sky.
The word "star" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂stḗr, meaning "star". This root influenced various languages, such as Latin "stella," Greek "aster," and Sanskrit "tār". In English, "star" comes from Old English "steorra," derived from Proto-Germanic *sternô.
Different languages interpret the word "star" primarily as a celestial body or to describe luminous points in the sky. For example:
Latin: "stella" means both star and light, emphasizing the star's radiant quality.
Greek: "aster" is derived from a root meaning "glittering light," highlighting the star's shimmering appearance.
Sanskrit: "tar" is related to the concept of "crossing over," possibly referring to the light that traverses vast distances.
Japanese: "hoshi" (星) represents both the celestial body and its emanating light.
Arabic: "نـَجْم" (najm) conveys the idea of a luminous celestial object.
Catalan: "celístia" is a literary term specifically referring to starlight or starshine, combining the concepts of sky and light into a single word.
Chinese: "星星" (xīngxing) visually represents the twinkling nature of stars, reflecting their light-emitting quality.
T
Transit - The term for the movement of planets through the zodiac signs is called a "transit" in Astrology. They refer to the ongoing journey of celestial bodies across the Zodiac. Each planet moves at a different rate through the zodiac. For example, the Moon transits through all 12 signs in about 2.5 days, while Saturn takes approximately 29.5 years to complete its journey. Planets can appear to move backward through the zodiac from Earth's perspective, which is called retrograde motion..
Tzadkiel (Archangel) - Archangel Tzadkiel, is renowned for his role as the Angel of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Tzadkiel is associated with the planet Jupiter and embodies its expansive, beneficent qualities.
Planetary Governor:
Tzadkiel channels Jupiter’s energies of abundance, spiritual growth, and moral integrity. He presides over the angelic choir of Chasmalim (“Brilliant Ones”), who mediate Jupiter’s expansive blessings to the earthly realm.
Divine Mercy and Justice:
As the Angel who stayed Abraham’s hand in Judaic tradition, Tzadkiel represents divine compassion overriding harsh judgment. He aids practitioners in resolving conflicts, attaining fairness, and cultivating forgiveness.Guardian of Sacred Secrets:
Agrippa stresses that Tzadkiel’s mysteries, like all divine truths, must be guarded from the profane. Only the “wise and dignified” may wield his power, lest it be desecrated
Z
Zodiac - The Zodiacs are the Constellations that the Sun passes through along the belt of the ecliptic. It includes 12 Constellations which help divide the Sky into 12 sections that can show us which season we are in. Each section is called a Zodiac Sign, named after the Constellation the Sun passes while in that section. These Zodiac Signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.