As in any trade, people in the field of astrology use a lot of terminologies that are unique to their profession. If you're trying to make sense of astrological predictions, it helps to know the basic terms that are regularly used. Here are three of the most widely employed concepts in astrological predictions.

Signs

12 signs form the core of astrology, and these are related to a set of constellations in the sky that the sun passes through. Known as the zodiac, this set of signs is what people are talking about when they say they're a Libra or an Aries. When the sun passes through a specific constellation, it is said to be in that sign.

Signs play two key roles in astrological predictions. First, a person's fate is influenced by the sign the sun is in at the time they were born. This always is the sign people are talking about when they mention being a Pisces, for example. Second, there is the sign the sun is presently in.

Houses

Other astronomical objects also appear in astrology. These tend to play lesser roles in predictions, but the moon, planets, and stars are also factored into both at-birth profiles and present-day astrology. When talking about these astronomical objects, the term used to describe their presence in a particular area of the sky is "house."

Each house plays a role in ongoing events. When astrological predictions mention something like a career issue being important for you in the near future, it's usually because a planet is in a specific house or about to get there. There are 12 houses, and they work counterclockwise to the zodiac itself.

Phases

In addition to being one of the great wanderers in the sky, the moon goes through phases that are associated with different opportunities and events. The new moon, when the lunar surface is completely dark, is usually associated with new opportunities and enthusiasm. As the phase moves to the crescent moon, things settle down and become more analytical. At the first quarter moon, emotions begin to stir.

The gibbous moon, a three-quarter moon, is another time when things become more analytical. This time, though, things are less optimistic, and caution is in order. The full moon represents clarity, and the transitions from there back to the new moon represent transformation and completion. Just before the new moon is a time to rest and contemplate rather than act.