W

Waning Moon

The Moon moving from Full Moon to New Moon, i.e. from her opposition to the Sun until she reaches the conjunction. The bright, visible body of the Moon slowly diminishes during the waning phase. See Moon Phases.

Watchers

The Royal Stars of Persia were Fixed Stars of particular significance, first declared as Watchers, or Guardians of the World, by ancient Persian astrologers at around 3000 BC, when they stood at the four angles of the Heavens. These stars were also assigned angelic status by the Hebrews. There are four Royal Stars:

• Aldebaran, the Archangel Michael, Watcher of the East, ruler of the Vernal Equinox
• Regulus, the Archangel Raphael, Watcher of the North, ruler of the Summer Solstice
• Antares, the Archangel Oriel, Watcher of the West, ruler of the Autumnal Equinox
• Fomalhaut, the Archangel Gabriel, Watcher of the South, ruler of the Winter Solstice.

Regulus is usually considered the "most royal", although Aldebaran has his proponents. More on Fixed Stars.

Water-Bearer

The emblem for the sign Aquarius. Aquarius, however, is not a Water Sign, it is an Air Sign. More about Aquarius.

Water Element

One of the four astrological elements. A feminine element, it stands for emotion, feeling, matters to do with intuition and so on. The other elements are: Fire, Air and Earth.

Water Signs

Cancer (cardinal), Scorpio (fixed), Pisces (mutable)

Watery Triplicity

The Water Signs: Cancer; Scorpio; Pisces. These signs are cold and moist by nature and phlegmatic by temperament.

Wave

A rhythmic energetic pattern that does not have mass as generally understood, but is rather an oscillation in or of a medium. The wave is the basis of all sources of radiation, such as sound waves and electromagnetic waves, Hertzian waves, infrared and ultra-violet rays, visible radiations, etc. According to the latest interpretations of quantum phenomena, waves are the ultimate basic structure of matter, energy, space and time.

Wave Structure of Matter

Theoretical development from Quantum Mechanics that permits an understanding of the vibratory structure of the universe defining a "particle" of matter as an appearance rather than a genuine phenomenon. WSM defines Space as the medium in which waves, or rhythmic energetic patterns, are transmitted and interact with each other, moving inwards and outwards at the quantum level, producing phenomena that our senses interpret as matter and energy. Space is thus not empty, but the matrix and substance of everything.

Waxing Moon

The Moon moving from New Moon to Full Moon, i.e. from her conjunction with the Sun until she reaches the opposition. The bright, visible body of the Moon slowly expands during the waxing phase. See Moon Phases.

Whole Sign Houses

Ancient system of house division where a house is considered co-extensive with its sign. Similar to Equal House system, but differs in that the first house begins with the first degree of its ruling sign, rather than the rising degree. The mid-heaven and ascending degree are not counted as house cusps, but rather sensitive points. Used today mainly in India, but as Hellenistic astrology is better understood, it is becoming more popular in the West.

WSM

Wave Structure of Matter.