Dictionary term
Nadir
Direct answer
Nadir is another name for the Imum Coeli, the lowest point of the chart. It is associated with roots, home, privacy, family memory, and inner foundation.
Nadir is the lower chart angle connected with inner life, home, roots, and ancestral ground.
Nadir is the lower chart angle connected with inner life, home, roots, and ancestral ground.
A structural orientation; exact placements depend on the chart or technique being discussed.Quick reference
- Use when
- Use Nadir when explaining the bottom of the chart, fourth-house themes, privacy, family roots, deep emotional security, or the opposite point from the Midheaven.
- Do not use it for
- Do not overdramatize the Nadir as trauma.
- In astrology
- The Nadir is read through sign, ruler, planets near the IC, fourth-house topics, and transits to the lower angle.
- Reference category
- Astrology
- Related terms
- Ascendant, Birth Chart, House Ruler, Chart Ruler
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The story behind Nadir
Nadir is astronomical language adapted into chart interpretation for the point opposite the Midheaven.
Nadir in spiritual tradition
Spiritually, Nadir can symbolize the hidden altar of home, memory, and interior repair.
Why Nadir matters
Nadir matters because it names the hidden root system of the chart. It helps a reading ask what supports the visible life and what private ground needs care.
Nadir at work: an example
A Nadir in Taurus may seek peace through land, steadiness, food, beauty, touch, or a dependable home rhythm.
Sources and editorial method
This concise reference separates established definitions from historical, symbolic, or interpretive claims. Entries without external references are presented as editorial summaries rather than primary-source scholarship.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astrology
- Also appears in
- Astrology
- Aliases
- Imum Coeli, IC
- Last updated
- 2026-07-15
Find your chart foundation
Nadir in a book is one thing; Nadir in your own birth chart is your life. The Oracle casts your real chart and tells you what it means for your love, your work, and your year ahead, in conversation, free.
Speak with the OracleHow Nadir lives in your own chart across your year, in love, in work, in timing, is written in the Cosmic Codex: the whole year, once. Open the Cosmic Codex
Related terms
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Common questions
What is Nadir?
Nadir is another name for the Imum Coeli, the lowest point of the chart. It is associated with roots, home, privacy, family memory, and inner foundation.
How is Nadir used in astrology?
Use Nadir when explaining the bottom of the chart, fourth-house themes, privacy, family roots, deep emotional security, or the opposite point from the Midheaven.
What should I avoid when interpreting Nadir?
Do not overdramatize the Nadir as trauma. It can also describe nourishment, privacy, and belonging.
