☊ The Dragon’s Head, or ascending node, and
☋ The Dragon’s Tail, or descending node, are the two points in which the eclipses happen.
Planets that denote the Seven Days of the Week.
- Dies Solis—Sunday.
- Dies Lunæ—Monday.
- Dies Martis—Tuesday.
- Dies Mercurii—Wednesday.
- Dies Jovis—Thursday.
- Dies Veneris—Friday.
- Dies Saturni—Saturday.
Many signs and symbols have been invented by pseudo-astronomers to impose upon the credulity of the ignorant; among which are signs to give notice on what day it is proper to let blood, to bathe and to cup, to sow and to plant, to take physic, to have one’s hair cut, to cut one’s nails, to wean children, and many other absurdities; as well as symbols that serve to indicate hail, thunder, lightning, or any occult phenomena.
ECCLESIASTICAL SIGNS.
℟ Response, used in prayer-books.
℣ Versicle, used in prayer-books to denote the part recited by the priest.
✠ or ✝ A sign of the cross employed by Roman Catholic ecclesiastical dignitaries before their signatures. In Roman Catholic prayer-books, it also denotes the place where the priest is to make the sign of the cross.