Aspect series - Intro
What is an astrological aspect?
It all comes down to geometry. The zodiac spreads along a circle, encompassing 360°. Each planet - be it in a natal chart or transit - sits at a specific degree of that circle. Aspects show us how these planets (and points) in the given chart interact. The distance between them (in degrees) defines the kind of dynamic they have with each other. The aspect is the angle these planetary bodies have between them.
Let’s break it down through an example.
The first degree of neighbouring fixed signs are exactly 90° apart, since they divide the circle into 4 equal sections. If drawn, it is a square inside the circle, and thus the aspect’s name: square.
Let’s focus on the Sun and the Moon. They are both in early degrees of fixed signs, so they form a square.
But because the Sun is at 7° Scorpio and the Moon is at 10° Aquarius, whis square is with an orb of 3°. An orb is the the distance in degrees of an aspect from being exact. Therefore, the square between Venus and Moon in this chart, is more exact, closer.
The closer an aspect to be exact, the stronger it is, the more influence it has. According to Cafeastrology, the closeness of the orb also defines how conscious the aspect is: closer aspects are more unconscious, while wider aspects are more noticable for the chart holder. This is a pattern I also observed myself.
How aspects are grouped?
There are major aspects that divide the circle into whole, rounded number of degrees (like 90°), giving us a well-known geometric shape (like the square). Minor aspects are derived from major aspects, or they don’t quite cut the 360° into exact divisions. Both major and minor aspects are divided into harmonious and challenging aspects.
Harmonious major aspects:
sextile ⚹
trine △
Challenging major aspects:
square □
opposition ☍
The conjunction ☌ is a major aspect that can be both harmonious and challenging.
Minor aspects are: quincunx (inconjunct), semi-sextile, quintile, biquintile, septile, semi-square, novile
[Each aspect will have it’s own post in the following weeks, so stay tuned! ⭐]