posted May 19, 2005 06:36 PM              

The Conjunction: Planets and points that form a conjunction are energies that are united. They are blended; therefore, they act together. The closer they are to conjunction, the more subjective these combined energies are. They don't stand alone, and they have a difficult time truly acknowledging each other as distinct or separate. In effect, conjunctions can be a blind spot. When the Sun is in close conjunction to Neptune, for example, others may note the distinction, but it can be hard for the native to distinguish between their sense of individuality and their spiritual, evasive, or roundabout nature. The native may just assume, naturally, that others are much the same way.

The Sextile: The sextile is often read quite like a trine, although there is a distinction between the two aspects. Sextiles, like trines, point to some talent and ease. However, sextiles have a little more "oomph" to them. While trines come so naturally to people that they might have to be reminded of their own talents or tendencies, sextiles are a little more overt to the native. These are the talents that people appreciate in themselves. They may be more inclined to use these talents or to work on them. Sextiles are communicative and relationship-friendly aspects.

The Square: This aspect creates tension between the planets and points involved. Tension is necessary in order to stimulate action, but too much tension translates to stress. The planets involved in a square are acting at cross purposes. With squares, we may overdo and run into countless obstacles before we "get it right". However, squares force us out of complacency and get the ball rolling. Squares are often more difficult when we are young, as these aspects force us to grow and learn our lessons.

The Trine: Planets in trine support each other. Trines, by nature, are accepting. They allow us to accept others, ourselves, and situations. The talents that trines offer a native are so natural that they are almost unconscious. Often enough, natives don't truly appreciate the talents these trines offer them, and they may not try to develop them. However, these talents are second nature and completely natural. So, for example, if a man has Venus trine Neptune, he may be poetic, romantic, or artistic, and he may easily accept his romantic partner for who he/she is. Another man with Venus square Neptune may have similar qualities, and may possess a strong desire to accept his partner blindly, but doing so is not as natural as the first man. He has to work on it, and might come up against difficult situations in which he feels duped or abused by his partners as a result of that acceptance.

The Opposition: "It takes two" is the expression, and the opposition is created by dividing the circle by 2. Therein lies the key to the meaning of this aspect: relationship. People with oppositions seek out others, as if to mirror their own internal struggles. They learn about themselves through interactions with others. Very often, oppositions cause us to swing from one side to the other and we feel torn. Oppositions represent a state of divided loyalties. Inner discontent, uncertainty, and insecurity can be a result. While a square is urgent and courageous, an opposition is unsure and wavering. When we use our oppositions correctly, we are more willing to consider the other side and we can be adept negotiators.

Difference between sextiles and trines: Both aspects show us planet "buddies" who get along. But the trine buddies may take each other for granted even though they derive pleasure from each other, while the sextile buddies actively cooperate with each other, fully appreciating their friendship.

Difference between oppositions and squares: Squares create the kind of tension that demands action. Oppositions also create tension, but natives generally seek out others in relationships in order to work out that tension! Note that planets in opposition generally occur with compatible sign elements, while squares generally occur between signs that are considered incompatible by element.

Predominant aspects in a chart: conjunctions - focused people, derive their motivation from within; with not enough oppositions, hard to see the other side, easy to lose perspective. sextiles - communicative, creative, expressive. squares - crisis-oriented people, action-oriented, motivated, willing to tackle obstacles, don't blindly accept things, energetic, strength of character and will. trines - unchallenged, talented, accepting, comfortable, complacent. oppositions - contradictory, seek balance in their lives usually through relationships, insightful, they look for meaning in life, inclined to project qualities onto others, unfocused, greater capacity for objectivity, seek growth through relationships.

posted May 30, 2005 10:52 PM              

It is a matter of personal opinion and experience in deciding whether or not two planets can be considered within the orb of a specific aspect. The following is a quick (and the most widely used) guide for orbs and aspects.

Aspect..........Degrees........... Orb

Conjunction ............0................10
Semi-Sextile .........30 ...............2
Sextile ...................60 ...............6
Square ..................90 ................8
Trine ....................120 ................8
Quincunx .............150 ................2
Opposition ..........180 .............10

posted May 30, 2005 10:59 PM              

Along with the Signs and Houses of the Zodiac, the Aspects are key to our interpretation of a chart. Aspects address the angular relationship between planets and points in the Zodiac. To keep it simple, assume that the circle of the Zodiac is divided into twelve equal pie-shaped slices (which it is, in fact, for the Signs). Since a circle is 360 degrees, each slice of pie (or Sign) is 30 degrees. Using the Earth as the center of the horoscope, we can make the following statement: If Jupiter is at 1 degree Aries, and Mars is at 1 degree Cancer, these planets are 90 degrees apart. Therefore, the planets make a mathematical square angle to one another -- we call this a square for our purposes. Taking this a step further, if Mercury is at 1 degree Libra in the above horoscope, it will find itself 180 degrees away from Jupiter, or in a direct opposition Aspect to that Planet.

The major Aspects are conjunctions (at 0 degrees, or planets which are right next to each other), sextiles (60 degrees apart), squares (a 90 degree separation), trines (120 degrees in distance) and oppositions (180 degrees apart). Squares and oppositions are also known as hard Aspects. The energy from these Aspects generally represents challenges to be overcome or a balance that needs to be found. Sextiles and trines are considered soft Aspects. Their energy is generally harmonious and beneficial. The energy resulting from a conjunction can be either positive or negative, depending on the planets involved and other Aspects and factors in the horoscope.

A Stellium is not an Aspect, per se; however, it is made up of Aspects -- Conjunctions -- and is therefore integrally related to the general study of Aspects. Minor Aspects that are often considered when viewing a horoscope are semi-sextiles (a 30 degree separation between planets) and quincunxes (a 150 degree distance). Other minor Aspects are addressed only if their angle is very precise.

Speaking of precision, Aspects between planets are usually not at the exact angular distances listed above. In order to calculate Aspects, Astrologers adhere to an orb of influence, or a set number of degrees within which a specific aspect is effective. For example, two planets which are 86 degrees apart may well form a square to each other, even though they are not at a precise 90 degree square angle. It's safe to say, however, that the closer the planets are to each other, the stronger the aspect's energy. Most Astrologers are comfortable using an orb of 8 degrees for major Aspects, or 8 degrees on either side of the angle (Aspects) being referenced (again, for a square, this would mean an orb beginning at 82 degrees and ending at 98 degrees). For minor Aspects, an orb of between 1 and 3 degrees is considered reasonable.

posted June 01, 2005 05:12 AM              

About configurations like grand trine, mystic rectangle etc.. if one of the points is the Asc with no planets conjuncting it, is it still considered a major configuration. Or are they only formed with planets? I'd have a mystic rectangle but it's with my Asc..

And, about aspects again.. would a really close sextile have a bigger impact than a large conjuncion?

posted June 02, 2005 07:44 PM              

Well, I am thinking that the Asc, even with no planets conj. it, could be considered in part of a major configuration. The reason I say that is because, years ago I went to a really brilliant astrologer (he was a student of Isabel Hickey's, if that rings a bell) who mentioned that I almost had a grand Trine, between my Sun, Moon and Asc. But my Asc. is out of orb. Back then, I didnt know what that meant but I remember him mentioning that. This seems like it might be one of those things that astrologers disagree on. Maybe lala can weigh in on this because I really dont want to say for sure.

And IMO a really close sextile would indeed have a bigger impact than a wide conjunction. Remember, the closer the orb (no matter what kind of aspect - the major ones. square, oppo, trine, sextile...) the more intense the energy.

posted June 04, 2005 11:20 AM              

I only thought about the aspect thing recently. I never realised a sextile can actually have more impact than a conjunction, when you look at degrees.. I find that interesting - specially because I have a few close sextiles.

posted June 04, 2005 02:40 PM              

quote:

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What about, say a person has Pluto conjunct their Asc within a 6,7 deg orb. Another person has Pluto sextile their Asc at 0'0001 lol deg.. would the second person be more likely to display Plutonian traits?

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Good question. And I would have to say that the rest of the chart would have to be taken into account. One may have many planets aspecting that Pluto, which would make it more ....'visible' in that person's life. And about the wide conj. to the ASC or the tight sextile. I'm thinking that the conjuntion may play a stronger role, especially if Pluto was in that person's first house as opposed to their 12th. First house being the house of Self, that person may feel Pluto stronger (and more personally) and display it's traits more than the person with the sextile. But then you'd want to look at the chart as a whole and see what is going on with Scorpio, the 8th house and how that person's Pluto is aspected. The most important thing I've learned is to look at the chart as a whole. Not seperately, by each aspect. That can be the toughest part, putting it all together but it is very important.

That's my take. Hope it helps.

posted June 07, 2005 09:02 AM              

It does help, thank you.. Putting it all together is the hardest thing lol. I'm gona practice more on that thread once my exams are outta the way. I did do Mutable's friends interp in "astrology" hee hee so I am kinda practicing.. actually if you're not too busy and if you feel like it could you have a look and see if I did ok?

No worries if you don't have the time

posted October 17, 2005 06:20 PM              

Hey Stargazer! Great question. I'll quote a bit from the article I posted at the beginning of this string. (dont know if you missed it. )

quote:

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(From "Lack of aspects in a chart": )
oppositions- subjective, dont need partners to mirror themselves, self-contented, not as concerned about growing through relationships or broadening their own perspective, self-reliant.

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Hope that helps a bit.