tomasorban:

eighthousesun:

I had an old posts on aspects that quite honestly I hate now that I look back on it, so I’m making a new one. 

Firstly, aspects are made when two planets or points are a certain amount of degrees away from each other. As in, the aspect itself is not a physical thing, but a measurement of an angle between planets that shows a dynamic between them. Aspects don’t have to be exact and rarely they are, they can actually be a few degrees off which is called an orb. Chart calculators such as those on astro.com automatically have their aspect orb set up to 10˚ but you can change the settings to be exact or even up to 15˚. But most astrologers use no more than 10˚ and often times they will use a maximum orb lower than that. The smaller the orb, the stronger the aspect. But that’s not the only way you can tell how strong an aspect is. Aspects are also categorized into separating and applying aspects. Separating aspects in the natal chart are aspects that have been exact just before you were born, and applying aspects are ones that became exact after you were born. It is extremely rare that someone would be born with an aspect completely exact (as in 0˚00′). And of course with applying and separating aspects, the faster moving planet is the deciding factor as to if it’s applying or separating, also make sure to check if this planet is in retrograde to make sure of the status of this aspect. Applying aspects are generally considered to be stronger than separating aspects in the natal chart. Especially because they can be exact in your progressed chart. 

Of course there are many kind of aspects, some stronger than others. The stronger aspects are major aspects, they include the conjunction, opposition, trine, and square. Arguably conjunctions are the strongest and oppositions are a close second, although trines and squares are still both quite strong in the chart. 

So, starting with conjunctions these aspects are exact when two planets are 0˚ away from each other. This aspect helps join or fuse the qualities of the two planets or points together. They make a bond between the two planets. Conjunctions are generally thought of as a neutral aspect, and it can either have a more disharmonious or harmonious effect on someone depending on a) what planets are involved and b) how much the person has developed the aspect. Conjunctions are widely regarded as the strongest aspect and thus more astrologers are likely to use a larger orb with it. If your only conjunctions have a really wide orb then you may find that oppositions feel stronger to you. 

On that note, oppositions, while being considered a strong aspect alongside conjunctions are quite different that the former aspect. Instead of bonding the two planetary energies, this aspect puts them against each other. There is a push and pull between them but they’re still strongly connected. Oppositions are just that, two planets opposite each other in the chart as in it is exact with two planets 180˚ away from one another. This aspect is generally considered disharmonious, and one of the most disharmonious aspects. But with enough development of an opposition it is possibly to use this push and pull to get the planetary energies to work together. 

Next, there are trines. Trines are formed when two planets are 120˚ away from each other. Not as strong as the conjunction or opposition but still quite strong. These two planet’s energies work together to enrich each other. This aspect can been seen as some sort of “cosmic gift” placed in the chart. A lot of trines can indicate a lot of positive karma. This aspect is usually easy and helpful for someone without needing any development, but can also cause apathy and laziness in a person if it has too much presence because of it’s calm nature. But overall it is seen as a very harmonious aspect, and arguably the most harmonious aspect.  

Finally, the last of the major aspects is the square. And as each angle in a square is 90˚, this aspect is exact when two planets are 90˚ away from each other. This has about the same strength as a trine. This aspect has a lot of tension and is often very disharmonious, and can cause conflict due to mutually exclusive desires and needs from the uncooperative planets. These as[pects can cause a lot of pressure but it can be worked with and at it’s best it can be very motivational for a person and can help with growth. A lot of squares can indicate having a lot of negative karma. 

Besides the major aspects, there are also minor aspects. But before I get to those there are two aspects which astrologers disagree on if they are major or minor. Thus I think of them in their own in-between category. These two aspects are the sextile and the quincunx or inconjunct.  

The sextile is when two planets are 60˚ away form each other. This is a very harmonious aspect and the two planets help to inspire each other. This aspect creates motivation and excitement. But it’s also a halved and thus weaker version of a trine, as in this gift is less present than that of the trine. And it does contain a slight bit of square-like tension which can especially be seen in the aspect pattern of a yod (will be discussed later). This aspect may aslo show some area of talent in a person’s life, but they may miss some opportunities with this due to lack of pressure to. 

Then there is the quincunx, also known as the inconjunct. This aspect if exact when two points are 150˚ away from each other. This aspect is generally seen as neutral. This is because it is an aspect that holds a lot of potential but is hard to release. It is difficult to release since the two planets are often in signs of both differing and inharmonious elements and modalities which makes this potential hard to adjust to. This difficulty to adjust to can cause some tension, and there is also no promise that the potential of this aspect will be tapped into, but it can be very rewarding if it is. 

Now, for the minor aspects. These aspects generally don’t stand alone to show something in the natal chart but rather stand to support something that is already shown otherwise in the natal chart and are thus very useful to interpreting a chart accurately. But these aspects generally include a much smaller orb and often must be exact or less than a 1˚ or 2˚ orb in my opinion. Minor aspects include quintile, bi-quintile, semi-sextile, semi-square, sesqui-square, semi-quintile, nonile, septile, and to even less importance than those semi-octile, squile, squine. tri-decile, and quindecile. 

Quintiles are a harmonious aspect with an angle of 72˚. Quintiles can help indicate talent in the chart, as well as aspiration and ambition in certain areas. These often assist in showing talents already seen in the chart but these help pick out the talents that will be most worked at, and often these are more focused on artistic talents. 

Bi-quintiles are also harmonious aspects such as a quintile and as the name states they are double the angle of a quintile so 144˚. These aspects mostly help to serve quintiles, but with even more of a focus on the arts. It can also help one become more aware of their quintiles. 

Semi-sextiles are half of a sextile so 30˚ and is somewhat harmonious. It shows a potential that is hard to reach due to the complete difference in the signs of the two planets. This creates somewhat of a positive connection between two planets that otherwise would be difficult interacting with one another due to being in neighboring signs. 

Semi-squares are just half of a square aka 45˚ and is seen as somewhat disharmonious. This aspect causes unapparent tension that can thus be hard to address and work on. This are tensions most people would rather ignore, maybe something you’d address momentarily but never reach a long-term solution for. 

Sesqui-squares or otherwise known as sesquiquadrates are a square and a half so 135˚ and are somewhat disharmonious. Just like the square this causes conflicts and some tension, and possibly more apparent than the semi-square but even easier to suppress. This aspect if also very stubborn and indicates an issue that is very hard to work on. 

Semi-quintiles or a decile is 1/10 of the circle of the natal chart as in a 36˚ angle. This is very similar to but much weaker than a quintile. But it also includes a bit of tension, although this is really hard to address both the talents and tension of this aspect and is most definitely just supporting something already shown in the chart. 

Noniles or also known as noviles have a 40˚ angle. This aspect is somewhat harmonious and help make an idea, or make an already thought of idea in the natal chart a reality. It can also indicate a beginning of a new phase. One can barely notice this though and it requires a great deal of sensitivity and observation in order to.

Septiles have an angle of 51˚26′ and are a harmonious aspect. This can help show spirituality or religion in the chart. Many of these can help show what someone experiences and feels on a deeper level. It can also help show wisdom gained. 

Semi-octiles are exact with an angle of 22.5˚ and is slightly harmonious. Not much else is known about this aspect and it has very little meaning in the horoscope. 

Squiles have an angle of 75˚  and there isn’t much information on the specific of this aspect, but it is good to look at it in progressions to see if it seems to support anything else shown. 

Squines have an angle of 105˚  and just like the Squile there is little to no information on it, but it is useful for progressions. 

Tri-deciles are three times a decile as in 108˚ and is harmonious. It has a unique energies that complements any gifts shown in the chart. It symbolizes a divine motherly energy. And it can help show something that needs to be fulfilled. 

Quindeciles have a 165˚ angle and are disharmonious. It can help support where in the chart one can become obsessive over something to the point of irrationality. It can show compulsivity and some sort of separation from reality. 

Aspects can form aspect pattern. These have their own meaning and can be very important in the chart. Aspect patterns include a grand trine, grand cross, grand sextile, T-square, mystic rectangle, yod, and kite. Not everyone has an aspect pattern, and some are more common than other. 

Grand trines are created when three planets are trine each other to form the shape of an equilateral triangle. This is a very harmonious aspect pattern and can increase the influence of the trines, as well as usually gives the person some sort of gift or talent. Nicknamed the “triangle of grace” quite appropriately. But, like the trine this aspect pattern can lead to some apathy or lack of motivation or care. This has a calming feeling to it but it’s talents may not be used if ignored due to lethargy. 

Grand sextiles are formed when six planets are around the chart in sextile to one another which creates the shape of a hexagram. It is a very harmonious aspect pattern. This may also look like two grand trines upside down from each other. This is a rare aspect pattern and it strengthens the sextiles to make them more like a major aspect. Unlike a grand trine this pattern helps motivate and invited productivity. 

T-squares are formed when two planets are opposite each other and square a third planet, this is a disharmonious aspect pattern. I’ve found this to be a very common aspect pattern, but many of them in one chart can indicate a lot of karma. The tension of the opposition in addition to the tension of the squares is all channeled through the squared planet. This is very intense and is nearly impossible to ignore. But T-squares, if worked with, can offer a lot of growth and help make you a stronger, better person. 

A grand cross also called a grand square is created when four planets are square each other giving the shape of a square. Another way ot think of it is two T-squares forming a whole square. This can be disharmonious due to challenges and the stubborn nature it can cause. If these challenges are overcome, however, it can really help with stability. Often times these challenges may be triggered by transits.

Mystic rectangles are formed when two pairs planets form an opposition to each other and then each pair on each side also forms a sextile, creating the image of a rectangle. This is a harmonious aspect pattern and helps one figure out and deal with their oppositions. It helps the sextiles and trine work together to channel their harmonious energy through the oppositions. 

Yods are formed when two planets are sextile each other and then both quincunx a third. This is a rare and disharmonious aspect pattern. It creates a desire to do something powerful or important (thus nicknames the “finger of god”) but it often doesn’t lead the person in the right direction to do so. This aspect pattern intensifies the quincunx and makes it act more like a major aspect. Yods can be thought of as channeling the worst of the sextile through the apex. This is a very stressful aspect to have and is very hard to ignore. 

Finally, kites are formed when a grand trine has a fourth planet opposite one of the ends and sextile the other two. This is harmonious but like the grand trine can cause a lack of motivation. Although there is a great ease in the flow of energy between these planets. This aspect pattern helps encourage constructive ways of expressing the grand trine.

There are a few other things related to aspects that I might as well note…

Such as it being very favorable when a planet is conjunct the sun within 0′17˚ and it strengthens it, this is called cazimi. On the other hand a conjunction to the sun can be seen as combust if in the same sign and within 8° 30’ which can weaken it. Beyond combustion, yet within 17˚ of the sun is considered under the sun’s beams which still weakens a planet but not to the same extent as a combustion. 

Aspects can occur outside of the signs they were suppose to, for example if a planet is near the end of one sign and another planet near the beginning of another they could form a trine but not in the same element. This is called dissociate aspect. 

There are also parallels and contraparallels. This is working with the declinations of planets. Parallels are when two planets are of the same declination and the interpretation of this is considered similar to a conjunction, although probably not as strong. A contraparallel is when two planets have the same degrees of declination but are on opposite hemispheres. This is interpreted similarly to an opposition but is less potent in the chart.