UNDERSTANDING THE ASPECTS

Before we look at the aspects, an important area to consider is the strength of a planet in a particular sign, and whether a planet is "personalized". The Sun and Moon are always personalized, as too is the planet that rules the sign of the Ascendant, [chart ruler]; the planet that rules the sign occupied by the Sun, [the Sun or solar ruler]; and the planet that rules the sign occupied by the Moon, [the Moon or lunar ruler]. Therefore with an Aquarius Sun; a Sagittarian Moon, and a Cancerian rising, not only are the Sun and Moon personalized, but also are Uranus, as the ruler of Aquarius; Jupiter, as the ruler of Sagittarius, and the Moon again, as the ruler of Cancer. All these planets will take prominence in the chart, as will planets in the signs, or houses that they rule, [or formerly ruled].

Each planet will work better in the sign it rules, or formerly ruled, as well as the sign in which it is exalted. The sign of detriment, and the sign of fall are where the planet works less well, but only marginally so. The following is a table to show which sign a particular planet rules; is exalted in; is in fall, and the sign of detriment.

PLANET RULES EXALTED DETRIMENT FALL

----------- --------- -------------- ------------------ -------

SUN LEO ARIES AQUARIUS LIBRA

MOON CANCER TAURUS CAPRICORN SCORPIO

MERCURY GEMINI VIRGO SAGITTARIUS PISCES

VIRGO

VENUS TAURUS PISCES ARIES VIRGO

LIBRA

MARS ARIES CAPRICORN LIBRA CANCER

SCORPIO*

JUPITER SAGITTARIUS CANCER GEMINI CAPRICORN

PISCES*

SATURN CAPRICORN LIBRA CANCER ARIES

AQUARIUS*

URANUS AQUARIUS SCORPIO LEO TAURUS

NEPTUNE PISCES LEO VIRGO AQUARIUS

PLUTO SCORPIO VIRGO TAURUS PISCES

* Indicates former ruler.

THE ASPECTS

The aspects fall into three categories. The first are a series of aspects that are little known, and little used. They are created by; dividing the circle by five, giving the quintile series of 72 degrees, which MAY indicate an ability to be creative, but in a very single minded pursuit, obviously this can be productive, and beneficial, or destructive, depending on planets. The septile series is found by dividing the circle by seven, giving an aspect around 51/52 degrees; this aspect is said to indicate the ability to find solitude, meditation, as well as aloofness, remote and the ability to be in another world. The novile series is created by dividing the circle by nine, giving an aspect angle of 40 degrees. Like seven, nine is a number of spiritual completion, and fulfilment. This series may indicate rebirth, [spiritual]. This aspect may indicate an individual’s inner "ideal". These aspects are seldom used, and there is little information available to quantify the above statements.

The second series of aspects are the one’s most commonly found in a natal chart. They are:-

THE CONJUNCTION. This found when planets are within eight degrees, approx. of each other. The difference in degrees between planets is known as the ORB, and can be extended if a planet is personalized, or is in a powerful sign. The planets involved in a conjunction are "urged" to blend together, and operate as a single unit. This aspect can be either beneficial, or detrimental, depending on the planets involved; also a planet, involved in a conjunction, but in a weak sign, may be swallowed up by a far more influential planet.

Due to planetary movements, every few years, the planets throw up major conjunctions. For example in 1988, Saturn; Uranus and Neptune were all in Capricorn, someone born under a new moon, and in late December/early January would have the Sun and the Moon to add to the conjunction. Mars moved into Capricorn during late February.

THE SEMI-SEXTILE is a minor aspect created by planets within 30 degrees of each other, with an orb of around three degrees. It generally indicates that energy of the planets in question are a minor irritant; the energy is insufficient to force us to deal with the aspect, but it will be like a small thorn in the finger. Not bad enough for major surgery, but sooner or later, will need to be dealt with.

THE SEMI-SQUARE is another minor aspect of around 45 degrees, with an orb of around three degrees. This aspect is half of the square, and is seen as being more detrimental than the semi-sextile. The semi-square is generally seen as a "nuisance" aspect, that may be hard to change. The semi-square is linked with irritability, and strain caused through internal friction; when the subject makes the most of this aspect, the semi-square can provide stamina, purposefulness, and persistence.

THE SEXTILE is a major aspect created by planets that are around 60 degrees apart, with an orb of about six degrees. This is a positive aspect, that unites elements that are compatible; Earth and Water; Air and Fire. The sextile tends to urge us to develop ourselves. For example a sextile between an air sign and a fire sign will encourage the subject to direct their thoughts, or think before acting.

The sextile between earth and water helps one to temper ones emotions with some earthy common-sense, whilst softening the harder aspect of the earth signs. This is a positive aspect, which encourages us, rather than forces us, though there is a another side to the sextile!!! [See section on major aspects, "The Yod"

THE SQUARE is a detrimental aspect created when planets are within 90 degrees of each other, with an orb of around eight degrees. It unites incompatible energies of water or earth with fire or air. Planets involved in a square tend to block each other, rather than encourage, even when the planets involved are both beneficial. There is a degree of stress created by the square, but this is not something that we can ignore. At some point within our development, we will have to understand, and accept the energies of the square; and use the stress of the square as character building.

THE TRINE is the most positive of aspects, created by planets within 120 degrees of each other, with an orb of eight degrees. This aspect unites energies from the same element; air/air; water/water etc. The trine is such a natural blend, that it requires little effort from us to benefit from the energy; and whilst trines are nice things to have, especially as we develop, they can make us lazy, and too willing to take things for granted. The trine is said to be relaxing, peaceful, and create harmonious reception, and whilst this is a good thing, one can have too much of a good thing.

THE SESQUI-SQUARE or SESQUARE. Is formed by planets 135 degrees apart, and is a minor aspect, with an orb of two/three degrees. This aspect may encourage one to act irrationally, or irresponsibly towards others, and is more forceful and dynamic than the semi-square. The tension created by this aspect tends to encourage us to over-react to situations, that are out of our control. This aspect will encourage us to be calmer, more patient, as the tendency to over-dramatise issues will lead toward misjudgements.

THE INCONJUNCT or QUINCUNX. Although seen by some to be a minor aspect; I feel this aspect creates as much tension, though in a different way as the square, and as such I tend to extend the orb on inconjuncts to six degrees, [the equivalent of the sextile]. The angle between planets in an inconjunct aspect is 150 degrees. The inconjunct is a "nagging" problem, that indicates that we, as individuals, must re-assess the energies created by the planets that are in inconjunct aspect to each other, as these energies are constantly working against each other. The inconjunct, will cause us to drain the energy of the individual planets, in an entirely un-productive way; sooner or later we need to understand, and re-appraise how we utilise that energy. Like the square, the inconjunct is most beneficial when we understand how to use the aspect, and whilst the inconjunct does not create the energy of the square, it is an aspect that deserves respect, and will need addressing at some point.

THE OPPOSITION is another detrimental aspect, that unites compatible energies. The opposition is found in signs that are polar opposites; and polar opposites draw energy from each other. When we have planets in opposition, we tend to emphasize one or the other. Quite often this stress created by an opposition is found in our relationships; emotional, business or friendships. This is however, the easiest of the detrimental aspects to understand, as there is a third party involved, and until we come to terms with the opposition, we may find that we experience stress around the area of our friends. This is unlike the square, which creates the stress internally, within us; the stress of an opposition is external. Too many oppositions in a chart, the subject may feel pulled in so many different directions, that they lack any direction.

If planets are near the beginning, or end of a sign, they may form an aspect that is disassociated. This formed, for example, if Mars, on 28 degrees of Gemini, is 126 degrees away from the Moon. The aspect is within orb for a trine, however, the Moon will be at 4 degrees of Scorpio. When planets are in disassociate aspect, the principles of the aspect remain, though the subject may find utilizing the energy harder, in the case of the positive trines and sextiles, and less stressful in the case of the squares, inconjuncts and oppositions.

The third series of aspects are in a league of their own. These are the aspect created by a series of other aspects, uniting to form one "biggie".

THE GRAND TRINE is formed by planets that form three trines; example Mars in Gemini, trine Venus in Aquarius, and trine Jupiter in Libra; whilst Venus also trines Jupiter, forming an equilateral triangle in the natal chart. Thus a grand trine contains three trines. The keyword for a grand trine is "TOO"; for whilst this aspect can be the doorway for promoting idealism, and vision; and has the potential for raising the confidence and self assurance; it can make us too lazy; for whilst we reap the benefits created by the grand trine, we may tend too over-rely on that aspect, and not work at the others. The grand trine does not encourage growth through our ability to face up to, and grow through challenges; and this aspect does not encourage the motivation to deal with set-backs and obstructions.

THE KITE is a variation on the grand trine, except that one of the signs is intercepted by a fourth planet; which forms two sextiles with two planets of the grand trine, and an opposition with the third; therefore a kite is made up of three trines; two sextiles and an opposition. A kite is more dynamic than the grand trine, as the appearance of the fourth planet, creating two sextiles, which will demand positive action, and an opposition, which demands that we deal with the stress within our relationship with others, and forces one to be less self-contained. The kite, therefore is often found in the charts of those that experience success, in the area of life indicated by the house occupied by the fourth planet.

THE T-SQUARE is formed when two, or more planets oppose each other, whilst both planets also form squares with a third, creating a right-angled triangle in the chart. The planet at the right-angle is said to be the apex planet. This is a most stressful aspect, and unfortunately quite common. As previously said, the opposition causes stress about how we handle our relationship with others; whilst the square causes friction within ourselves as we try to unite two different energies pulling against each other; therefore with a T-square, we seem unable to deal with the stress created by the opposition, because we need to deal with the stress created by the squares first, and yet the easy route is to deal with the opposition, because the energies are compatible. The energy of a T-square demands that at sometime we WILL have to deal with the aspect. The sign and house position of the apex planet denotes the area of greatest stress. The sign and house position of the empty leg, opposite the apex planet, seems to play an important role in directing the subject into how best work out the dilemma of the T-square, by using the basic energy, and drive of the apex planet. This aspect is very energizing and self motivating, though it will cause a psychological struggle.

THE GRAND SQUARE is created by two oppositions, forming a cross in the centre of the chart; therefore the two oppositions also create four squares, and also four T-squares, however, unlike the T-square, there is no empty leg with this aspect, and the whole aspect is self-contained. As there is no empty leg to create the necessary impetus to use the grand square, this aspect, although quite rare, is very restrictive, and creates internal disharmonies, and tensions, with little scope for change. The grand square is usually formed in the three qualities, Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable.

THE YOD, or FINGER OF FATE. This aspect, whilst rare, is more common than the grand square. It is formed when two planets, in sextile to each other, both form inconjuncts with a third. The pattern created is not unlike an isosceles triangle. The planet forming the two inconjunctions is the apex planet. This aspect, therefore is created by a sextile, and two inconjuncts. A yod is most restrictive, causing much stress, until the yod is ready to be activated. Like the T-square, the apex of the yod is the focal planet, and the energies of that planet, are the ones under the greatest stress. Again, like a T-square, trying to construct a life, before coming to terms with a yod is like trying to swim against the tide. Regardless of the energy you put in, you get nowhere. A yod and a T-square are both usually activated by a planetary returns, usually the Uranus half-return, or Uranus opposition, when, psychologically we seem in a better position to understand how we are meant to be. The greatest stress of a yod is found at the sign and house of the apex planet, whereas the greatest benefit, once activated is to be found at a midpoint of the base, [a semi-sextile to the base planets]; any planet that occupies this area, and conjuncts the mid-point comes into focus, and the benefits of the yod will be seen through the energies of this planet .

A TEMPORARY YOD is formed when a chart contains a sextile, and a planet in transit forms inconjuncts to both base planets. This is really only effective when the apex planet is the one in transit, and is one of the three outer planets; Uranus; Neptune or Pluto; this is because they are so slow, and often in retrograde motion, they might be within orb for several months, which will usually result in a very stressful period for the subject.

Other, major aspects, though extremely rare, include the GRAND SEXTILE; six planets, all in sextile to one and other, forming six sextiles and two grand trines. This aspect is usually beneficial, as the sextiles will encourage the trines to work. The MYSTIC RECTANGLE is formed by planets that sextile another planet, whilst opposing a third; repeated. For example, Mars on 10 degrees of Libra, sextile Uranus on 10 degrees of Sagittarius. Mars opposes Venus on 10 degrees of Aries, whilst Uranus opposes Saturn at 10 degrees of Gemini. Saturn trines Mars, and Uranus trines Venus, whilst Venus sextiles Saturn, therefore you have two sextiles, two trines and two oppositions. This aspect is super rare, and is potentially most stressful, as like the grand square, it is closed. There is much conflict contained within the two oppositions, and the trines will not encourage a resolution, it is left to the sextiles to help the subject use the energy created beneficially.

Within all of the above, a planet can be substituted by an angle, [ascendant or midheaven, possibly even the descendant]. It can also be beneficial, especially if one is trying to unlock a psychological profile to see if the Moon’s Nodes are instrumental in forming a major aspect.