S:

Second ("): a unit of angular measure dividing a minute of arc into 60 equal parts, and the apparent diameter of a dime as seen from 2.3 miles away. Since there are 60 angular minutes (symbol ' ) in one degree, and 60 angular seconds (symbol ") in one angular minute, there are therefore 3600 seconds in one degree. As seen from the Earth, Saturn and Uranus have angular diameters of 20" and 3" respectively. The closest star in the sky, Alpha Centauri, and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, both have angular diameters of 0.007".

Semisextile: an aspect of 30°, or 1/12th of the circle. It unites signs with no natural relationship or connection. The semisextile indicates discord, necessity for adjustment, and/or a forced choice between two inharmonious conditions. Some astrologers attribute Second house qualities of resources and values to it; orb 1.5° - 2°.

Semisquare: the 45° aspect, or 1/8th of the circle. It denotes tension, or a planetary function in the service of collective forces; orb 2° - 2.5°.

Separating: said of an aspect whose orb increases as time goes on. A separating aspect is said to be weaker than an applying aspect.

Septile: an aspect of 1/7th = 51.43°, 2/7th (biseptile = 102.86°) or 3/7th (triseptile = 154.29°) of the circle. The septile aspect indicates one’s receptivity to inspiration, sacred and religious matters, creativity and children; orb 1.5°.

Sesquiquadrate: a 135° aspect the semisquare or 8th harmonic family; 3/8th or 5/8th of the circle; crisis, resistance to challenge; orb 2° - 2.5°.

Sextile: a 60° aspect; or 1/6th of the circle, denoting opportunity. Unlike the trine, the sextile needs a little push from the individual’s will to activate the natural harmony of this aspect; orb 4° - 5°.

Sidereal: "of the stars;" said of astrologers who believe that the constellations rather than the signs are interpretively significant. Tropical astrologers believe the signs to be 12 equal divisions of the interval between successive vernal equinoxes, and that these 12 stages in the Earth’s light and dark cycle, not the constellations from which they derived their names, are interpretively significant.

Sign: the type of energy a planet has at its disposal, or needs, for proper functioning. Signs qualify or color the energy of the planet(s) in them, and may show how the individual has used or misused that planetary function in past lives. Wise past use shows up as dignified planets or compatible sign placement. Past misuse may be indicated by planets in detriment or fall, incompatible sign placement, or difficult aspects.

Astronomically, a sign is any of 12 equal divisions in the ecliptic, beginning when the Earth’s equatorial plane intersects the Sun marking the beginning of (northern hemispheric) spring, and at a point where a line drawn at that moment from the center of the Earth through the center of the Sun intersects the ecliptic. Since this definition contains a "when," the signs are not fixed in space as are the zodiacal constellations.

Astrologically speaking, a sign is any of the 12 stages in the seasonal light and dark cycle, beginning about March 21st with the Vernal Equinox, which defines 0° of Aries. During the first sign, Aries, light gains ascendancy over dark as day becomes longer than night. Around 0 A.D., not only was the Sun at 0° of the sign Aries (as it always is when the Vernal Equinox occurs), but it was also at the beginning of the constellation (fixed group of stars) Aries. Due to the precession of the equinoxes, however, the signs have moved out of synch with the constellations bearing their names. The signs may have picked up the attributes (and hence the names) of the constellations with which they were coincident between about 2000 B.C. and the birth of Christ. Tropical astrologers regard the signs as interpretively significant. Sidereal astrologers regard the constellations as interpretively significant.

Soft (Aspect): the trine and sextile (not semi-sextile); denotes stability; not conducive to change.

Solar wind: a stream of electrically charged particles emitted by the Sun. Flowing continuously outward at a million miles an hour, it causes comets’ tails to always point away from the Sun, disturbs the paths of spacecraft, and causes radio interference, the aurora borealis, and power line surges here on Earth. As it expands out into space, the solar wind creates a magnetic bubble of hot plasma around the Sun called the heliosphere. It defines the limit of the Sun’s influence and, together with the Oort cloud, the limit of our solar system.

Spectral type: All matter in the universe radiates energy in the form of changing electric and magnetic fields, wavelength being one of the properties of this EM (electromagnetic) radiation. The total radiation emitted by a body can be separated into its component wavelengths, by passing it either through a prism or through a set of microscopic, parallel lines ruled very closely together on transparent material known as a "diffraction grating." The entire collection of wavelengths that a body radiates - and their dispersion into constituent wavelengths as well - is called that body’s "spectrum." For more on spectra, click here.

Square: the 90° aspect, or 1/4 of the circle; obstacles and dynamic inner tension leading to conflict and change. Planets in square work at cross-purposes and resist, test and limit each other. Their energies are released when the aspect is resolved. It’s harder to be aware of or objectify the source of the tension with the square than with the opposition. Planets in square are usually Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable; orb 6.5° - 7.5°.

Station: the point at which a planet changes its apparent direction from direct to retrograde, or vice-versa. A station is the strongest point of energy release in a planet’s cycle.

Stellium: at least four planets in the same sign, or within a 10° orb if in different signs. The occupied house and/or sign contains a tremendous intensity and complexity of energies represented by the planets involved.

Strong: said of a dignified, exalted, well-aspected or angular planet; or, of an aspect (even a minor one) that is close to exact.

Succedent: said of the houses following the angular houses, namely the second, fifth, eighth and eleventh houses. Planets in succedent houses are thought to be associated with the one’s emotional and desire nature.