Basic Overview of Aspects
When you begin studying Astrology, it can be very tempting to rely on the cookbook interpretations. Which is completely understandable; Astrology is very complex and it can be a lot to take in at first. But if you want to study astrology or just understand it at any deeper level, you really have to start with the basics. I tried to keep this pretty surface level and not go too in depth, because it can be kind of confusing and overwhelming at first.
Conjunctions☌
(0 degrees) In the most basic sense a conjunction is the blending of planetary energies. For better or for worse the planets involved are going to act together. Because there is so much energy involved when to planets join so closely, conjunctions are considered to be powerful and intense aspects. Conjunctions aren’t considered to be inherently easy or hard, their nature really depends on the planets involved. I love how Debbie Kempton-Smith described conjunctions as being “like locking two strangers up in a stalled elevator for a lifetime. Some planets get along on top of each other and others don’t”. It sounds funny but that’s not a bad way to approach them; Venus and Jupiter are obviously going to get along much better than Mars and Saturn.
Conjunctions between a personal planet and an outer planet can be seen as difficult. Personal planets concern everyday life, and the outer planets are a bit more abstract for lack of a better word, so when they conjoin it can create a person who feels very concerned with things that don’t really concern their day to day. That can ultimately be good or bad of course, but it’s still not the easiest thing. As for how the conjunction will act, it can be helpful to look for which planet in the conjunction is better placed. For example, a textbook interpretation of Mercury conjunct Mars would be that the native is tactless and talks quickly. If the conjunction is placed in Aries where Mars is in its rulership, then sure, the native may talk quickly and have a bit of a problem being tactful. But if the conjunction takes place in Taurus, where Mars is in detriment, the native may be a bit more patient and tactful, but they’ll still be able to stand up for themselves and hold their own in a debate.
Squares ◻︎
(90 degrees) “A square is a hard aspect can create difficulties and tensions because it lacks the means to combine planets harmoniously - to begin with, anyway. But a square also gives the strength to tackle the problems it causes.” (Karen Hamaker-Zondag) Squares create a fight between the planets involved. They’re considered a hard aspect, there’s a lot of tension because the signs involved have nothing in common, but there’s also a lot of energy and strength in them. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen two people with nothing in common have to work on a project together, but that’s what a square is like. So a few things can happen with them; one planet can try to repress the other, but the other planet is still going to be there seething and waiting for it’s chance jump out. Or, this aspect can cause the planets involved to overcompensate or exaggerate, but if you go too far with it life will throw something at you to put you in your place. Something I find interesting about squares is that they can cause you to be paranoid or self-conscious about whatever area of life they apply to. I think that paranoia can either be caused by repression or a tendency to overcompensate, or it can cause you to repress or overcompensate. Either way, paranoia, repression, and overcompensation go along with squares.
Squares aren’t wholly bad, and it’s necessary to have some of the friction provided by them in a chart to have the will or push to succeed. It’s helpful to have them aspect a Trine, because it can give the push needed to make something of a natural talent. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the saying “light a fire under your ass” but that’s what a square will do.
Example: Someone with Sun square Jupiter can be generous and magnanimous, but if they’re overcompensating they may be a bit much.
Oppositions ☍
(180 degrees) Oppositions are a bit harder for me; I don’t have any so I don’t have a good feel for them. That being said, they are complex, tense, and tentative. Someone with many oppositions in their chart may have a kind of contradictory personality unless they’re more developed, in which case they’d be open minded in the way that they can look at an issue from different perspectives. But like I said before, on their own they’re complex. The two planets involved can’t function simultaneously. Sometimes the native gets stuck on one end of the opposition and seeks or attracts people to balance them out.
Unlike with squares, signs that are in opposition (Aries-Libra, Taurus-Scorpio, etc) have common themes. It’s possible to reconcile oppositions, you just can’t force it; lean into it and let each planet act as it is.
Example: Someone with Venus opposite Jupiter might come off as overly passionate and assertive in some types of relationships (like friendships), but then be willing to bend over backwards in other types of relationships (like romantic). The same would go for their interactions with people, they’d either be aggressive or congenial. If and when they learn to lean into their contradictions they’ll come off as someone who is strong and passionate, but also loving and gentle.
Trines △
(120 degrees) Trines are harmonious and easy, everyone loves trines. They’re said to be lucky, and to bestow talents and gifts that are indicated by the planets involved. The planets blend together harmoniously and have no problem working together. Unless it’s an out-of-sign aspect, planets in a trine are in the same element, which is part of the reason they get along well. If you happen to be looking at a child’s chart, look for their trines. They point towards natural abilities that should be nurtured (don’t force anything, they just give an idea).
Trines are also known to cause laziness and a lack of motivation. They lack tension, which is mostly a good thing, but a lack of tension also causes a lack of incentive. Llewellyn George used this quote to describe them, “We more often count our woes than our blessings” which is very fitting. Talents and abilities from trines come naturally, so they can sometimes be taken for granted. I’m sure we all know a person who has some incredible natural talent, say for music, but has no interest in pursuing it. That would be a trine that is just laying latent. It’s ideal to have a harsh aspect, especially a square, aspecting a trine because the tension can help with developing and making something of that talent.
Example: Someone with Moon trine Mercury tend to be good at expressing themselves, especially with words. While someone with this aspect is likely good at writing and it’ll show, it doesn’t mean that they’ll like writing enough to develop their ability, or they may just be too lazy to put the work into it. Having some sort of square involved here may get them motivated enough to actually develop their ability further and maybe do something with it.
Sextile ✳︎
(60 Degrees) Sextiles are one of the Ptolemaic aspects, but they are considered weak by some astrologers. I’d still include them in the Major Aspects, but I’d also keep orbs tighter with them. Sextiles are harmonious, but they’re weaker than a trine. I’m going to quote Llewellyn George again here, “with trines, one rests on one’s laurels, but with sextiles, one either uses one’s laurels or doesn’t get any benefit from them”. Sextiles give some degree of talent as well, but with even more effort required. Someone with some sort of sextile-related talent may be unable to see it themselves, but other people see it in them.
Example: If someone has Moon sextile Mercury rather than trine, they can be better at writing if they choose to put some effort into developing their ability. So it won’t come as naturally as it would with a trine, but with a bit of effort they’ll get there.
