Conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions are the five major astrological aspects. We’ll go through what each of these terms means later, but an aspect is a relationship between the positions of two planets in regard to one another (i.e., Sun conjunct Venus).
“Each relationship of an aspect talks to a particular themesome that feel a little bit more tension, which can provide some opportunity for growth, and then other aspects can have a little bit more ease, which may offer some complementing energy,” astrologer and author of Queer Cosmos Colin Bedell tells mbg.
We can see these aspects in our own charts, but the planets in the sky are always forming aspects and influencing the energy of the day. When considering astrological compatibility between two persons, aspects are equally essential.
“The benefit of understanding aspects, even if only a little, is that you may be able to have compassion for your squares, oppositions, and conjunctions (and the impact they have on your life),” explains astrologer Kayse Budd, M.D., adding, “With knowledge, you can attempt to make peace with the way you are.” You can use awareness to emphasize your strengths while also working through your faults.”
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the five primary aspects of a chart and what they mean:
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How do you locate a planet’s features?
- It’s referred to as the 7th house aspect.
- Square
- It occurs when planets are in the 4th and 10th houses from one another.
- Sextile
- It occurs when planets are in the 3rd and 11th houses from one another.
- Trine
- It’s what we refer to as the 5th and 9th house aspects.
- Quincunx
- It occurs when planets are in the 6th and 8th houses from one another.
What are the positive aspects of astrology?
Trines, which are created by a 120-degree angle in the chart, are typically seen to be the best and most auspicious of all, bringing luck, harmony, tremendous synchronicity, and the opportunity for positive changes. “Understanding the elements is the simplest approach to comprehend a trine. When planets in the same element (fire, earth, air, and water) aspect each other, it is called a trine “Stardust has something to say. When planets function in the same element’s signs, they naturally understand each other’s motivations, making their energy easier to deal with.
“Trines are great qualities that lead to a positive result,” Stardust continues. “The only concern is that they can be a touch sluggish when it comes to attaining their objectives.” The easy-as-Sunday-morning, positive-vibes-only flow of a trine can cause our energies to become a little too relaxed, so the biggest mistake we can make with a trine is simply not taking enough initiative because we’re too busy basking in the warmth of the good vibes. Don’t let these auspicious cosmic moments slide through your fingers! Trines are meant to be taken advantage of, not slept on.
What is the best way to interpret an aspect grid?
On the left, you’ll see a box containing each planet’s name, as well as the particular degree, minute, and second of arc.
You also have the aspect grid, which starts with the Sun and ends with the AC & MC. These steps (which remind me of Chichen Itza’s stepped pyramid) allow you to see how many planets are in aspect with each other at a glance.
On the right, there’s a 43-square grid that shows which planets are in each element and mode.
- The planets in the Fire, Air, Earth, and Water signs correspond to the rows with F, A, E, and W on the left.
- Planets in Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs are detailed in the columns with C, F, and M along the top.
You can add specific columns and rows to determine the strongest or weakest features and modes, as explained in this improved radio episode. This can reveal more about how the native interacts with their surroundings, how they deal with conflict, and what drives them. Depending on its personal effect, each planet and angle has a different form of planetary weighing or strength. This, like everything else in astrology, is open to interpretation, and you can give a planet more points (as I did with Saturn in Johnny’s instance) if you think it deserves it.
It is for this reason (among others) that I have come to the conclusion that Astrology is not a science, but rather an art or skill that can be interpreted.
The type of effect over the planetary’conversation’ is indicated by the color of the aspect:
- The color red denotes significant difficulties (conjunction, opposition and square)
- Major soft characteristics are indicated in blue (trine, sextile)
- Some of the more typically noticed minor characteristics are highlighted in green (semi-sextile and quincunx)
- The rest of the minor elements are detailed in black (Semi-square, Bi-quintile, Quintile, Sesquiquadrate)
The Sun is in a difficult aspect to Chiron in Johnny Depp’s case. It makes a modest aspect to the Midheaven and is in gentle aspect to Jupiter and Saturn (MC).
The numbers and letters indicate the distance between the planets in degrees and whether the aspect is Applying or Separating.
At first inspection, I see that the Sun is trined to Saturn with a 5 degree orb, implying that the trine will be a perfect 120 aspect in 5 degrees.
It is always written that the faster moving planet is applying to or separating from the slower moving planet it is aspecting, thus knowing which planets move faster and which planets move slower is helpful.
What are the aspects of the 7th house?
According to astrologer Corina Crysler, “the 7th house regulates relationships and how we partner with individuals.” “The 7th house is recognized as the home of marriage and committed or contractual partnering, as opposed to the 5th house, which is known as the house of sex, pleasure, and what we desire in another person. It can also reveal what we require in our relationships, as well as the patterns we continue to have.”
In astrology, the 7th house can refer to romantic relationships, business partnerships, and artistic collaborations.
To be clear, while the 7th house in astrology is frequently associated with sexual relationships, it may also provide insight into commercial partnerships and creative collaborations. “The 7th house can reveal us who we chose to connect with and what we could perceive in others that reflects what we see in ourselves,” Crysler explains. “We can use the features of this home to illustrate how we connect with others and how these interactions affect our own lives.”
But before we go into the details of the 7th house in astrology, a refresher on astrological houses and how they correspond to planets and signs is in order: Understand planets as forces that reside in houses, signs as the personalities that the planets wear on a daily basis, and houses as the locations where the attributes of those signs manifest. Consult your birth chart to find out where your houses are located (or use an online generator like this one).
What are the different aspects of the Sun?
The Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mercury have an aspect of 14 on the 3rd and 10th, 12 on the 5th and 9th, 34 on the 4th and 8th, and full on the 7th. In practice, astrologers appear to overlook minor details.
What is Jupiter’s house aspect?
Because planets generally only aspect the 7th house from their position, Jupiter has two special aspects, namely the 5th and 9th houses.
In astrology, what is a difficult aspect?
Aspects describing planets separated by an even number of signs are called “soft,” while those describing planets separated by an odd number of signs are called “hard,” according to the Astrotwins. These categories can help us figure out which parts are more likely to be a challenge than an opportunity.
Is Trine a positive feature?
The word “trine” usually refers to “threefold” or “triple.” It is defined as “the favorable astrological aspect of two celestial bodies 120 degrees apart” in astrology. “Trine” refers to flow in the chart, with planets in a harmonious angle of support.