The Aspects

  The cosmic energies of the planets in the positions of the zodiac in the houses are also affected by how the planets are positioned with respect to each other at any time. Some positions produce arrangements that reinforce these energies in helpful ways, while others bring about disruptive effects. These relations between planetary positions are called Aspects . You have heard about aspects if you have heard about oppositions and squares, or conjunctions and trines. When any two planets are in the same sign of the zodiac, they are in Conjunction. If any two planets are opposite each other in the zodiac, then they are in Opposition . If any two planets are at 90 degree angles (Right Angles) to each other then they are Squared. When any two planes are at 60 degree angles to each other, then they are Sextile, and when they are 120 degrees apart they are Trine.

The effect of an aspect between two planets is strongest when the fastest planet reaches the exact angle of the aspect. However effects can be felt over several degrees (called the Orb ), depending on which planet are involved and on whether it is a major or a minor aspect.

The interpretation of aspects is based impart on how the planets fall into signs with similar or conflicting elements and qualities. For example, the square aspect has planets in the same quality, but conflicting elements (e.g. fire and water) while the trine aspect the planets are in the same element, but stimulated by different qualities.

The aspects are no longer described as good or bad, but rather as harmonious or inharmonious. Harmonious aspects can help matters along. Inharmonious aspects ("badly" aspected planets) introduce stresses, many of which can actually help you if you learn to deal with them. a brief description of the meaning of the major aspects is as follows:

Major Aspects:

Conjunction - (0 degrees)-- EMPHASIS - Neither harmonious or inharmonious, this aspect merges and intensifies the energies of two planets. Inner tension can arise if the planets have conflicting natures. It action is direct and affects you on an outer and obvious level. Orb should be no more that 7 degrees.

A group of three or more planets in conjunction is called a stellium. A stellium creates its own action and greatly emphasizes the sign and house in which it occurs.

Sextile - (60 degrees, two signs apart)-OPPORTUNITY - Harmonious aspect that helps energies flow toward attainment of your goals, provided that you make some conscious effort to achieve the yourself. Action, positive or negative, passive signs are sextile to each other. fire and air or earth and water are sextile. With compatibility, sextiles create an ease in understanding in the gathering of information and in expression. The planets cooperate with each other. Orb should be no more than 5 degrees.

Square - (90 degrees, three signs apart)- Challenge - inharmonious aspect causing tensions and obstacles for you to overcome. It forces you to choose between you conflicting inner needs and urges. The potential of any charts lies in its squares. If you do not understand them, they can be stumbling blocks, but if you handle them wisely they can be stepping stones or building blocks. action and decision are the essence of any square. It is important to note whether the square is cardinal, fixed or mutable. Cardinal = quick, fixed = slow and deliberate and mutable square action is variable depending to a great extent on the influences of others. Orb should be no more than 7 degrees.

A T-square or T-cross involves three planet where two of the planets are in opposition.

A Grand cross or Grand square involves four planet, with two pairs in opposition. Each element is represented. Earth and water, fire and air will be in opposition.

Trine - (120 degrees, four signs apart)- FLOW - Harmonious aspect that brings the two energies into an easy interplay. This can create such beneficial consequences that things become to easy for you and you become lazy. Trines permits easy interaction between two planets, but there us also no compulsion to use the planets advantageously, because there is no stress or tension here. Trines are not always a positive aspect, they may contribute to a tendency to choose the line of least resistance or they may cause indolence. Trines go with the natural flow of things, they indicate natural creativity, talent, the ability to express things easily and pleasures. A trine shows the joy of life and the love of living. Both trine and square aspects are parts of life. Orb should be no more than 7 degrees.

Opposition - (180 degrees, six signs apart)- AWARENESS - Inharmonious aspect creating inner tensions between your planetary urges. it also creates dynamic tensions with others, which you must reconcile if you want to maintain harmonious relationships. Its potential value is to develop perspective and awareness. It shows opposing factor at work which complements each other when reconciled. They present challenges just as squares do but are a different type of challenge. An opposition involves recognizing a lack within yourself and using the polarity of the two sign to meet that lack. Imbalance them becomes balance. Reconciliation of the opposing forces is usually achieved through awareness and understanding. Orb should be no more than 7 degrees.

Quincunx - (150 degrees, 5 signs apart or Inconjunct)- ADJUSTMENT - This aspect is another minor inharmonious one. It suggests a need for adjustment. In this aspect the signs involved are totally unrelated to each other. They share neither the same quality nor the same element, nor are they both active or passive. With nothing in common it is much harder to integrate these forces and this aspect calls for many adjustments. The quincunx demands a change of attitude, a change of habit pattern and a need to adjust to conditions indicated by the planets and houses in question. Often health and/or finances are involved in some way. Orb should be no more than 5 degrees.

Semi-Sextile - (30 degrees, 1 sign apart)- REACTIVE - A minor harmonious aspect. It is considered important to some astrologers in natal astrology. It is similar to sextile but minor, It can also mitigate other inharmonious aspects. Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Novile - (40 degrees) - TESTING - Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Semi-Square - (45 degrees, 1-1/2 signs apart)- IRRITATING - A minor inharmonious aspect. This causes friction and irritation between planets in aspects. This causes mild stress and tension. Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Sesquiquadrate - (135 degrees, 4-1/2 signs apart)-- A little more minor than Semi-Square. This causes irritation and causes aggravation and discord. Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Septile - (51 3/7 degrees) - REPERCUSSIONS - Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Quintile - (72 degrees) - TALENT - Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

(135 degrees 4 1/2 signs) - Abrasive - Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

Biquintile - ( 144 degrees) - HARMONIOUS ON THE MENTAL PLANE. Orb should be no more than 1 degrees.

General Rules and Guidelines

2 Aspects are always figured by counting signs not houses. Otherwise you might overlook a sign that is INTERCEPTED in a house. Just because a sign is not on a cusp does not mean that it is not there. IT is and it has thirty degrees just like any other sign. If the first house cusp is in Cancer and the second house cusp is in Virgo the sign Leo is intercepted in the first house. Each house does not necessarily contain thirty degrees.

3.When a planet is exalted or dignified it can integrate well and can handle all aspects in a more positive manner.

4. Check for out of sign aspects, these occur when a planet is at the very beginning or end of a sign.

5. AN APPLYING aspect is stronger than WANING aspect. For example: Applying: the Moon at 10 Taurus tine Mercury at 16 virgo. Waning: the Moon at 16 Taurus tine Mars at 10 virgo.

In the Applying aspect the Moon is moving toward Mercury and is thus said to be applying; in the waning aspect the Moon has moves past Mercury and is thus said to be waning. The applying aspect shows something you are working toward; the waning aspect show something that has been recently learning. The relative speed of the planets was show in the lesson on planets. The aspecting (Faster) planet is the Doer and the aspected (slower) planet is the receiver of the action.

6. Aspects to the Sun are the root, seed and planet of the character. Basic character is formed by the most exact aspects in the horoscope. Aspect show tendencies, abilities and disability, rather than attainment. In other words the natal chart shows your potential, but your free will dictates how much or how little you do with it.

7. Since Mercury is never more that 29 degrees away from the Sun the only aspect it can form with the Sun is the Conjunction. Since Venus is never more than 46 degree away from the Sun, the only aspects it can form to the sun are the Conjunction, the semi - sextile and the Semi - square.