Planetary Aspects

When we view the planets from Earth, they all rotate at different speeds around the Sun.

Aspects are the various geometric angles, measured in degrees, minutes and seconds that are formed between planets, or some other point in the horoscope, as they move through the 360 degrees.

Put simply, the horoscope circle is 360 degrees, and if we divide it into 12 sections (the Signs) they equal 30 degrees each. We put Earth in the centre of the circle, and then we can see in the natal chart (a snapshot of the position of the planets at the time of birth) the relative positions of the planets to each other at that time.

Transits refer to the current planetary positions, and these also make aspects to the natal planets. For example, at age 14 Saturn will be opposing it's natal position in the chart. Depending on the speed of the planet's motion, you can calculate the aspects as it moves around a chart, for example it takes a month for the moon and 29 years for Saturn to complete a circuit of the entire chart.

There are some aspects that are traditionally considered major. They are called "classical" or "Ptolemaic" after the Greek astrologer Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus). These are:

Conjunction                 0 degrees - next to each other

Sextile                          60 degrees apart

Square                          90 degrees apart

Trine                              120 degrees apart

Quincunx (Inconjunct)   150 degrees apart

Opposition                     180 degrees apart

The aspects indicate the energies between the planets and houses, and traditionally the "easy" aspects of Sextile and Trine indicate a more harmonious or beneficial energy and the "hard" aspects of the Square and Opposition considered to represent challenges and balance needed to be found. A Conjunction is a very dynamic aspect and can be considered either positive or negative depending on the planets involved.

However, aspects, like planets are merely representations of energy and it is what we do with it that is either beneficial or not as we all have free will.

Aspects are given an Orb of influence, and there are various differing opinions amongst astrologers as to the exact degree, ranging from 10 – 6 degrees for major aspects. It’s a matter of finding what you are comfortable with, but it would be safe to say that the closer the planets are to each other, the stronger the aspect's energy, as they "apply" and "separate".

Minor Aspects that are often used are semi-sextiles (30 degree separation between planets) and quincunxes (a 150 degree separation). Other minor Aspects are considered if their angles are very close.

It is important to remember that Signs, not houses, are used in determining aspects, as depending on what House system is used, a house may be more or less than 30 degrees.