L

Lady

Obsolete term for planetary ruler, when the planet concerned is feminine, namely Moon or Venus. See Lord.

Lagna

In Vedic astrology, a term for ascendant or first house.

Lahiri Ayanamsa

Most widely used Ayanamsa (22°27'37.7"). There is disagreement among authorities on the precise arc of this ayanamsa.

Lame (degrees)

Deficient degrees, held to cause lameness or other deformities and disabilities. See Azimene

Latitude (Celestial)

Measurement of distance of any planet or star north or south of the ecliptic. The Sun never has any latitude, as it is always moving in the ecliptic.

Latitude (Terrestrial)

Degree of distance of any place north or south of the Earth's equator.

Leo

This regal sign is the fifth sign of the zodiac. Fixed and Fiery. Ruled by the Sun. Leo's symbol is the lion. More about Leo.

Lesser Benefic (Lesser Fortune)

Venus. Jupiter is the Greater Benefic (Greater Fortune).

Libation

A ritual serving of wine, olive oil, or (in India) ghee poured out as a sacrificial offering to a deity, spirit or ancestors. The libation ceremony was widespread in ancient religions, but is still performed today in many cultures. Not to be confused with Libration (q.v.).

Libra

The seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra is the sign most concerned with relationships. Cardinal and Airy. Ruled by Venus. The exaltation of Saturn. Libra's symbol is the scales, or balance. More about Libra.

Libration

Slow oscillation of the Moon that allows us to observe a part of the Moon's surface, which is normally concealed from the viewer on Earth. Not to be confused with Libation (q.v.).

Life-ruler

See Ruling Planet.

Light (degrees)

Certain degrees traditionally believed to cause a fair complexion when on the ascendant. Light degrees are also believed to diminish deformity. See Dark and Smoky degrees.

Lights

Sun and Moon.

Like-engirdling

Positive aspectual relationship between signs ruled by the same planet, ie Virgo & Gemini, both ruled by Mercury; Libra & Taurus, ruled by Venus; Scorpio & Aries, ruled by Mars; Capricorn & Aquarius, ruled by Saturn. Leo & Cancer fit into this schema and are considered to have the same ruler, even though ruled respectively by the Sun and Moon. In addition to the geometric equilibrium, possibly this idea came through the two being both Luminaries.

Lilith

1. In mythology, Lilith was the first wife of Adam, formed like him from the Earth, rather than from his rib, like Eve. She is said to have refused to obey him, fleeing in order to enjoy her own independent life. She is seen as a promiscuous demon succubus and destroyer of children. Feminists sometimes hold her out as an archetype of the independent, self-ruling woman, but this is drawing a long bow.
2. The "Black Moon", an energy vortex in the Sun-Moon-Earth system. It is the second focus of the Earth/Moon orbit, the first being located inside the body of the Earth.
3. There is also reputed to be a "Dark Moon" Lilith, a real but rarely visible satellite of the Earth, one quarter the size of Luna, with an orbital period of 119 days, some 10 days in each sign.
4. An asteroid Lilith (1181) is supposed to affect us in relation to issues of suppressed rage, resentment, sexual manipulation and self-exile.
5. Lilith, the Dark Goddess, is a Hebrew name for Caput Algol, the Demon Star.

Lilly

William Lilly (1602-1681), a leading authority on traditional astrology.

Logarithms

Tables by which when a planet's motion is known its position at a given time may be readily calculated.

Long Ascension

Signs of long ascension take longer to ascend (rise over the eastern horizon) than signs of short ascension.

In the northern hemisphere, these are:

Cancer Leo Virgo

Libra Scorpio Sagittarius

Long and short ascension are reversed in the southern hemisphere. See Short Ascension.

Longitude (Celestial)

Measurement along the ecliptic in signs and degrees from the point of the vernal equinox (0° Aries). The longitude of a star or planet in the 126th degree of the zodiac is 6° Leo. See Right Ascension.

Longitude (Terrestrial)

Distance in degrees, minutes and seconds of any place east or west of Greenwich, England. Also measured in hours, minutes and seconds.

Lord

Older term for planetary ruler, when the planet concerned is masculine, namely Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Mercury can also be a "Lord" (but not a "Lady"), even though convertible. Some modern astrologers use the term "lord" (lower case) for any planetary ruler, even when feminine (Moon; Venus), as the rise of feminism has denigrated gender-specific terms, as in actor, aviator, benefactor etc, which have valid but now quaint feminine suffixes (actress; aviatrix; benefactrix, etc). Oddly enough we now have to say female actor, female benefactor, female aviator etc if we wish to make our communications clear on the gender concerned. This is due to the influence of prestigious, strictly masculine words like doctor and professor, even though we do say female doctor when necessary, and female professor (if we dare!). Lord and Lady also suggest a class hierarchy now sniffed at in our egalitarian times. See Rulership.

Lots

Calculated points in the horoscope, also known as Parts. (see Part of Fortune).

Luminaries

Lights. The Sun and the Moon.

Luna

The Moon. More about the Moon.

Lunar Eclipse

Eclipse of the Moon. At a Full Moon, when Earth, Sun and Moon are aligned and the Earth is located precisely between the Sun and the Moon, the Earth's shadow covers the face of the Moon, blocking its light. More about Eclipses.

Lunar Low Cycle

A term devised by Sue Hopper that we use in daily forecasts to describe the emotional state generated by the Moon when it transits the sign just before your Sun sign. This is the solar twelfth house, an inward-looking part of the monthly cycle when people usually feel quieter and more reflective. It lasts for two and a half days or so, and is released when the Moon enters your Sun sign, marking your "personal New Moon" of the month.

Lunar Mansions

27 traditional sectors (nakshatras) of the zodiac, where the Moon spends her time on a day by day basis. Each mansion, of 13° 20' duration, has a specific influence, especially if Moon, Sun, Ascendant, or Ruling Planet are placed there. This system is mainly used today in Indian (Vedic) astrology. There are also ancient Chinese, Arabic and Renaissance systems, using 28 lunar mansions of 12° 51' 26" of arc.

Lunar Month

See Lunation.

Lunar Node

See Nodes

Lunar Return

Time of the month when the transiting Moon is conjunct natal Moon.

Lunar Return (Progressed)

A very significant time in life when the progressed Moon reaches the conjunction with natal Moon for the first time at around age 27, marking the first part of the difficult transition from the phase of Youth to the phase of Maturity associated with the Saturn Return. The second Lunar Return occurs around age 54 and the third around age 81. See Saturn Return.

Lunar Standstill

Approximately every eighteen and a half years, the Moon reaches a major turning point, analogous to the Solar Solstices. The most northerly of the monthly moonrises allow the 18.61 year standstill cycle to be perceived by naked eye astronomers. Over 9.3 years these northerly moonrises shift from rising south of the summer solstice sunrise location to north of the summer solstice sunrise location. Each end of this 18.61 year journey is called a Lunar Standstill. During this phase the Moon does not set when viewed from high latitudes at the June and December solstices. It is considered extremely powerful and is marked by many ancient stone circles.

Lunation

A lunar period, measured from one place in the zodiac until the Moon's return thereto, usually referring to the period from one New Moon to the next (averaging 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes). The time taken by the Moon from one conjunction with the Sun until the next, 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds, is called a Synodical Lunation. Lunation is also loosely used to describe different aspects of the Moon to the Sun, thus accounting for her phases. The New Moon is also often called a Lunation and a chart made for the moment the Moon conjoins the Sun is called a Lunation Chart.