Aspects or geometry of astral energy

Aspects or geometry of astral energy: As part of the series of articles in our ABC astrology section dedicated to learning a little more about the craft, it is time to delve into the “aspects” or the geometry of the natural energy exchanges between the zodiac and the planets.

By understanding the language of intercommunication of these “aspects”, Pandora’s box is opened that announces the trends and probabilities of a certain moment, and allows us to discover a universe of astral relationships that are there to suggest extraordinary development opportunities.

The aspects and energy of life in ABC astrology

Once you know the signs of the zodiac, the zodiacal matter and spirit, the planets with their dignities and weaknesses, and the astrological houses, it is helpful to know how the planets are related in their permanent and constant journey through the zodiac. The angular relationships, phases, or respective situations of two or more stars in relation to the houses of the Birth Chart are called “aspects” and generally these also include the Ascendant and the Midheaven in the birth chart.

The Astral Chart is a flat representation of the celestial sphere, seen from Earth at a given moment, and a useful visual aid that facilitates the understanding of a rather complex and dynamic interrelationship.

Aspects in a chart are sometimes drawn as a series of lines connecting planets and signs. Although there is a quite powerful energetic relationship between the stars, it is the geometric connection with the human being, which gives meaning to its qualities and its relationship with the signs of the zodiac facilitates its interpretation.

For better or worse: the meaning of the zodiac angles 

Aspects are measured in degrees of longitude around the ecliptic. To find and understand them in an astrological chart, the 360º degrees of the circumference are divided into different numbers. There is also a certain amount of margin in this connection known as an orb and it varies depending on the aspect.

These angular relationships can be divided into  5 major and 3 minor and have harmonic (easy), inharmonic or dynamic (difficult), and neutral qualities, however, the study of astrology requires that you keep a very open mind as to what is involved. understand by easy or difficult.

While it is true that harmonic aspects can describe the ease of exchange and inharmonic aspects can be experienced as stressful, one cannot move forward in life without the creative tension of difficult aspects. All growing beings need challenges.

5 Major aspects

1. Conjunction 0º (with an orb of +/- 10º)

It represents the wheel divided by one, that is, the conjunction is formed when two planets are in the same degree of longitude and therefore occupy the same place in the zodiac with a distance between them of 0º. The conjunction is perhaps the most powerful aspect and can be seen as analogous to the meaning of the New Moon, which occurs each month when the Sun and Moon come together.

In conjunction, there is a fusion of two, they act together in the sky to activate the being deep within. There is a quality of great intimacy in the relationship of the planets in conjunction, and therefore the functions they represent in the psyche act as one. The sign and house in which the position occurs will have great importance as well. There may be more than two planets involved in the conjunction, as well as any aspect and it may be considered harmonic.

2. Opposition 180º (with an orb of +/- 10º)

The opposition divides the circumference in two. This is when the planets aspect 180 degrees apart and are on opposite sides of the zodiac. Within the 12 signs of the zodiac, there are 6 pairs of oppositions: Aries-Libra, Taurus-Scorpio, Gemini-Sagittarius, Cancer-Capricorn, Leo-Aquarius and Virgo-Pisces.

At the time of the Full Moon, there is an opposition between the Sun and the Moon. Opposition brings the capacity for objective knowledge. Planets involved in an opposition aspect tend to mirror each other to mirror each other. There is a strong polarity inherent in this aspect, a strong magnetism of attracting and repelling, the planets are as distant as they can be and must engage and work with each other, even though they appear different. This aspect has a lot to do with relationships.

Although you could consider it as an inharmonious aspect, you must be willing to move forward by working in alliance with the opposition.

3. Trine or Trine 120º (with an orb of +/- 8º)

The trine or trine divides 360 degrees by three. Planets in trine have a distance or aspect of 120° from each other and are usually in signs of the same element. The signs of fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), and water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), are in trine to each other.

The nature of the trine is harmonic because there is an inherent flowing exchange that is easy to understand when considering that the element is (usually) the same.

Planets in the same element (or 120°) work well together, there is a resonant quality when planets are trine. If you draw lines between them on a board, you see a perfect triangle, an image long associated with harmony and receptivity.

Trines between planets can indicate gifts, natural talents, sympathy, and support among the functions that the planets are engaging.

4. 90º square (with an orb of +/- 8º)

The square occurs when the circle of the zodiac is divided into 4, forming a 90° aspect. Square planets are usually in different elements, so there is an inherent aspect of tension. Friction or tension is felt at the location in the birth chart, it tends to be internal and its energy is contained within the psyche.

Planets in the square aspect represent the energies of dynamic points that operate within people or situations that must find their release. There is a need to face the problems symbolized by the planets in the square aspect, their presence forces one to face the challenges within oneself and at the same time, gives the strength to overcome apparent difficulties.

The squares of the horoscope show the areas of tension or struggle in life and therefore show the tools necessary to evolve.

The planets in square aspect are in the same modality, that is, the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), and the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces), therefore they are in square to each other. If the lines are drawn on the graph joining the signs of the same modality, the shape of a perfect square is shown between them.

5. Sextile 60º (with an orb of +/- 6º)

The sextile is formed by dividing the circumference by 6, giving an aspect of 60°. The sextile aspect relates to the signs of complementary elements: earth and water, and fire and air. The zodiac signs that have this angle to each other are Capricorn-Pisces, Leo-Gemini, Aquarius-Aries, etc.

Signs or planets that are united by a sextile aspect have a promising relationship with each other, and the aspect indicates a favorable interaction that should be fully taken advantage of, which tends to run smoothly, without raising awareness. If lines are drawn joining all the sextiles on the circumference, hexagons are formed between them.

3 Minor aspects

6. Quincunx 150º (with an orb of +/- 2º)

Some of the aspects considered minor and that are commonly less used by astrologers are the quincunx or in conjunction (a very interesting angle because it connects two planets that are in signs that have nothing in common) a neutral connection that occurs at a distance of five signs 150º between both stars and that occurs halfway between the 120º trine and the 180º opposition. Some keywords that describe it are: redirecting, challenging, and requiring adjustments.

The Quincunx, for the Mayan culture, according to what was published by Lino Ramirez (Tizaa) “symbolizes the “harmonic encounter” or the “balance” between the spiritual and material aspects of the world, and also between the intuitive and the rational .” It is an arrangement similar to the figure of a five on dice or a pyramid, with four points that form a rectangle or square and another point in the center, and indicates the need to have to “adjust” to two strangers.

7. Semi-square, inharmonic contact of 45º (with an orb of +/- 4º)

8. Semi-sextile harmonic aspect of 30º  (with an orb of +/-2º)

With experience and increased self-awareness, people naturally get in touch with the more instinctive energetic “aspects” of their personality, and astrology helps better understand these dynamics.