What Are Aspects?
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| aspect lines |
An aspect is a term that refers to the relationships between planets or how two planets (or points) interact with one another. They are formed between points and planets in a chart according to the distance between them. While there are many types of aspects, this article will focus on only five of them. They are conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions.
Identifying Aspects
Aspects are divided into two types. They are hard, or difficult aspects, and soft, or easy aspects. Hard aspects are represented on most charts with red lines while easy ones are represented by blue lines. In addition to the red and blue lines, you will often see a green dotted line. These lines represent minor aspects such as quincunx and semisextiles. (see image at top left).
The red and blue aspect lines help you to quickly recognize aspects between planets. Depending on the program you are using to generate your charts, there is also usually an aspect grid detailing the aspects between planets in a chart. If you are unsure if two planets form an aspect, you can double check the aspect grid (see image below under Orbs)
Trines and Sextiles are soft, while conjunctions, oppositions, and squares are hard. Soft aspects typically occur quickly and easily with little effort. Hard aspects bring challenges that help push us past our own personal boundaries and give us the impetus to achieve our goals.
Understanding Aspects
- Conjunctions- A conjunction occurs when two planets are 0 degrees apart (i.e. in the same degree). For this reason, two planets that are in conjunction will be in the same sign and elements. The keyword for conjunction is blends, that is, the energies of the planets are fused together and it may be difficult to tell them apart.
- Sextiles- A sextile occurs when two planets are 60 degrees, or 2 signs apart. Planets that are sextile are usually in supportive elements (fire with air; earth with water). The keyword for sextiles are coaxes, and this type of aspect is thought to bring opportunities.
- Squares- A square occurs when two planets are 90 degrees, or 3 signs apart. Planets that are square are usually in opposite elements (fire and water; earth and air). They keyword for squares is strains. When two planets are square each other, tensions form.
- Trines- A trine occurs when two planets are 120 degrees, or 4 signs apart. Planets that are trine one another are usually in the same elements. The keyword for trines is supports.
- Oppositions- An opposition occurs when two planets are 180 degrees or 6 signs apart. Planets that are in opposition to on another are usually in support elements (fire with air; earth witih water). They keyword for oppositions is divides. When two planets are in opposition their energies are divided. You may feel that someone is doing something to you or something is happening to you and you can't do anything about it.
A Note About Orbs
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| Aspect Grid |
Aspects can be applying (approaching exact), exact, or separating (moving away from exact). These are often noted on Aspect Grids as A, E, and S. An aspect builds strength when it is applying, strongest at exact, and weakens as they separate. For example, if you look at the aspect grid above, you'll see that Mercury is Conjunct Pluto (applying), meaning it is getting stronger.
The Orb of an aspect is a term that refers to the degree of exactness. For example, two planets can be 123 degrees apart and still be considered trine. If these planets are getting closer the aspect is applying; if they are moving apart, it is separating.
Astrologers disagree on what they consider to be the orb of any given aspect. As you study and practice you will figure out what works best for you. Personally, I use an orb of 8 degrees in Natal Charts and 2 degrees in Transit Charts.
Interpreting Aspects: A Step-By-Step Guide
Your first consideration when it comes to interpreting an aspect is to determine the meaning of the aspect being formed itself. For example, squares often introduce tension to a situation and represent obstacles to be overcome or opportunities for growth.
The next thing you'll want to contemplate is the meaning of the two planets which are forming the aspect. This might be easier if you make a list of the keywords of the planets concerned and place them side by side. For example. let's look at Mars Square Jupiter
Mars Jupiter
Action Expansion
Aggression Optimism
Passion Growth
Energy Success
Drive Generous
Will Power Luck
Looking over these keywords you might surmise that the combined meaning of these planets could mean bold and aggressive speculation or passionately optimistic. This aspect could point to someone taking a huge risk desite overwhelming odds against him or her.
Next you will want to look at the signs that each planet occupies and this will color how the energy of the planet expresses itself. Again, you might want to use your keywords to better understand the meaning of the aspect. Let us extend our previous example and suppose that Mars is in Gemini and Jupiter is in Virgo (4 signs apart). A square between Gemini and Virgo can point to distracted thoughts disrupting your health or routine.
Then you will look at the houses occupied by the planets. Again, let us suppose that Mars is in the 5th house and Jupiter is in the 9th house. A square between the 5th house and the 9th house can be an indication of creativity and pleasure conflicting with your higher ideals.
Finally we will put all that we have surmised together and form a cohesive interpretation of the aspects
- bold and aggressive speculation
- distracted thoughts disrupting health or routine
- creativity and pleasure conflict with higher ideals.
Interpretation # 1
You may be feeling somewhat distracted now and unable to focus on the details of any matter leading you to stray from your usual routine. This can have a negative affect of your physical or mental health. You have more energy now and need to have some type of creative outlet. You may be used to playing it safe, but now you are more likely to throw caution to the wind and take big chances despite that odds being against you.
Another way would be to write out the aspect and then list all your keywords out in order like so...
Mars in Gemini and the 5th House Square Jupiter in Virgo and the 9th House
Mars Gemini 5th House Jupiter Virgo 9th House
Action Versatile Creativity Expansion helpful higher mind
Aggression Adaptable Pleasure Optimism humble ethics
Passion Curious Hobbies Growth detailed foreign
Energy Restless Talent Success critical philosophy
Drive Indecisive Generous practical
Will Power Talkative Luck worrier
You can then string together your keywords to create a sentence such as
Restless (gemini) action (mars) in the area of creativity and pleasure (5th house) conflicts (square) with practical (virgo) expansion (Jupiter) of the higher mind (9th house)
Interpretation # 2
For the short period that Mars is squaring Jupiter, you may experience a sense of restlessness and indecisiveness along with an abundance of energy. You are driven to start many creative tasks or projects and yet accomplish little to nothing because you jump from one project or idea to another and fail to complete anything. Such restlessness and inattention to details creates a certain tension in any efforts to grow and expand the higher mind in any type of practical or useful way. In short you are allowing your passions to override your better senses and so fail to find any satifaction from your efforts.
The interpretation of aspects is an art and a science in and of itself which often confuses the student of astrology. However, once you collect your keywords and learn to disect them in an organized manner all it takes is a little practice to master the art of interpreting them.
Carolina Dean
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