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A Glossary of Astrological Terms for the letter "U"
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Use this glossary to look up the meanings of words you come across on this website, or in your astrological reading. Just select the first letter of the word you need and click on it in the table below to go straight to that sector.
UUmbra
The dark central zone of the Moon's shadow during a solar eclipse. It is surrounded by the penumbra, the lighter, outer zone of the shadow. In a lunar eclipse, the darker part of the Earth's shadow is called the umbra, and the lighter part the penumbra.
Unaspected Planet
A planet forming no major aspect to any other planet in the chart is considered unaspected. Often displays a lack of integration into the conscious personality and promotes the energy of the sign it occupies.
Undecile
Minor aspect expressing one-eleventh of a circle, when two planets are plus or minus 32° 43' 07" apart (approx. 33°). Said to indicate psychic gifts and technological matters, especially connected with science and computers.
Under the Sun's Beams (Under Beams)
- Within 17 degrees of the Sun. Any planet here is weakened, though more so if combust (within 8 degrees 30 minutes). Not so important in natal astrology. Devore states that the orb of aspect of the Sun by conjunction or opposition is up to 17° and the part "under beams" is the non-combust zone of the aspect, i.e. between 8º30' and 17º00'.
- Traditionally, the way to calculate whether or not a planet is under beams is to add the moieties of the planet and of the Sun together. If the planet lies within that distance from the Sun, but greater than 8°30', it lies under beams. For example, the moiety of the Sun is 8°30' and the moiety of Saturn is 5°00'; if we add these together we get 13°30', so should Saturn be placed within 13°30' of the Sun's position, it would be under beams.
Universal Astrology
One of the three branches of Hellenistic Astrology, dealing with the prediction of the weather, geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, and events affecting entire countries, cities, or populations, such as plagues and wars. See Mundane Astrology.
Universe
In modern times, the entirety of the space-time continuum in which we live, including all matter and energy, space and time, planets, stars, atoms, things, thoughts and beings. Recent discoveries include dark matter and dark energy in this list. Whether alternate dimensions are alternate universes is a moot point.
Unwandering Stars
Fixed Stars.
Urania
In Greek mythology, Urania is the muse of astronomy and astrology. She is able to foretell the future by the position of the stars.
Uranian Planets
Planets postulated to lie beyond the orbit of Neptune. Also known as trans-neptunian planets, these were postulated in 1914 by Alfred Witte (Cupido, Hades, Zeus and Kronos), founder of the Hamburg School, and more were added later by Friedrich Sieggrün (Pluto, Apollon, Admetos, Vulcanus and Poseidon). Only Pluto has so far been discovered by science, in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at the Percival Lowell observatory.
Uranium
Uranium (symbol "U" and atomic number 92), a silvery-grey metallic substance, is the heaviest element found in nature. It is radioactive and used to fuel nuclear reactors. Ruled by Uranus, it is 40 times more common than silver, but decays over time into lead. Lead is ruled by Saturn. Interestingly, Uranus and Saturn are the planets designated by many modern astrologers as co-rulers of the sign Aquarius.
Uranus
Formerly known as Herschel (after its discoverer, Sir William Herschel), this planet, one of the outer trans-personal planets, was not discovered until March 13, 1781. Although not readily visible to the naked eye, there is evidence that ancient astronomers had observed (and named) Uranus, though it was not included in the schema of astrology, perhaps due to its dimness and slow movement. Some modern astrologers hold that it rules Aquarius; others allow it co-rulership with Saturn, though traditional astrologers deny that Uranus has any pretensions to sign-rulership. It stands for unexpected disruptions and sudden catastrophes. Esoterically, it calls forth the genius in the character of the native. More on Uranus.
Uranus Opposition
When Uranus by transit reaches the opposite point to his natal position in a chart. The aspect, occurring at around 40 years of age, might best be described as a sign of the mid-life crisis.
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