The Orion journal.

Long-form guides on sessions, order flow, prop firms and the engineering behind our tools. Written by the people who trade it.
What is a Prop Firm? Funded Trading Explained (2026)
Learn what a prop firm is, how funded trading challenges work, the rules you must follow, and how to spot a legit firm vs a scam. 2026 guide. Read more...
Forex Risk Management: How Much to Risk Per Trade (1% Rule)
How much should you risk per trade? Most disciplined traders risk a fixed 0.5%–2% of account equity per trade — the "1% rule" is the popular middle ground. Risking 1% means a losing trade costs 1% of your balance, so it takes a long, statistically unlikely losing streak to do real damage. It is the single habit that keeps you in the game long enough for an edge to play out. Forex risk management is the part of trading you fully control. You cannot control whether the next trade wins,... Read more...
What Is an Order Block in Forex (and How to Trade It)
Quick answer: An order block is the last opposing candle (or cluster of candles) before a strong, impulsive move that breaks market structure. Smart-money traders see it as the zone where large players filled their orders, so price often returns to it before continuing in the breakout direction. Traders use that return as an entry, with the stop beyond the block. Order blocks are one of the most-used ideas in Smart Money Concepts (SMC) and ICT-style trading. The logic is simple: big institutions cannot fill large positions in one click... Read more...
What is a Candlestick Chart? Beginner Guide to Reading Price
New to charts? Learn what a candlestick chart is, how to read OHLC data, and which patterns actually matter. Clear, no-fluff beginner guide. Read more...
Bid vs Ask Price: What's the Difference?
Confused by two prices on every chart? Learn exactly what bid vs ask means, why the gap exists, and how it affects every trade you place. Read more...
What is Margin in Forex Trading?
Confused about what is margin in forex? Learn how margin works, what free margin means, and how to avoid a margin call. Clear examples included. Read more...
What is a Currency Pair? Base, Quote, and How Pairs Work
New to forex? Learn what a currency pair is, how base and quote currencies work, and the difference between major, minor, and exotic pairs. Read more...
What is Slippage in Trading? Why Your Stop Got Filled Worse
Slippage cost you money and you didn't even notice. Learn what slippage in trading is, why it happens, and how to reduce it on every order. Read more...
What is Spread in Forex? Cost of Every Trade Explained
What is spread in forex and why does it eat your profits? Learn how the bid-ask spread works, fixed vs variable types, and what it means for your strategy. Read more...
What is MetaTrader? MT4 vs MT5 Explained
New to trading platforms? Learn what MetaTrader is, how MT4 and MT5 differ, and which platform suits your trading style. Clear, no-fluff breakdown. Read more...
What is Forex Trading? A Beginner's Complete Guide
New to currency markets? Learn what forex trading is, how pairs work, who the players are, and what actually moves prices — all in plain English. Read more...
What is an Expert Advisor in Forex? Auto-Trading 101
New to automated trading? Learn what an Expert Advisor is, how it works in MT4/MT5, and what to check before buying one. Auto-trading 101. Read more...