Astrological Aspects — The Angles Planets Exchange
Once you know which sign and house each planet sits in on your birth chart, the next question is how the planets speak to one another. The angle two planets form in the sky is called an aspect, and depending on that angle their energies may flow smoothly or strain against each other. Learn the aspects, and the chart begins to look not like scattered stars but like a web of interwoven relationships.
What Is an Aspect
An aspect is the angle two planets form between them on the circle of the sky at the moment of birth. When that angle comes near a particular value, the two planets are said to influence one another. Broadly, aspects divide into the harmonious angles that flow gently and the angles that create stimulation and tension. An aspect is considered valid even when it is not exact, so long as it falls within a certain range — and that allowed range is called the orb.
The Harmonious Angles — Trine and Sextile
The trine is an angle of one hundred twenty degrees, regarded as the smoothest and most blessed of the aspects. The energies of the two planets, elements of the same nature, mingle naturally, so it reads as a place where talent flows without effort. The sextile, at sixty degrees, is gentler still than the trine and carries the energy of opportunity and cooperation. These two angles often mirror innate strengths and abilities that come out with ease.
The Angles of Tension — Square and Opposition
The square is an angle of ninety degrees where two planets collide, symbolizing conflict and the spur of challenge and growth. The opposition, at one hundred eighty degrees, faces head-on, so the forces on either side stand taut against each other and demand balance. These angles of tension can feel uncomfortable, yet they can also be the driving force that moves a person and tempers them. It is not rare for a difficult aspect to lead, in the end, to a person's greatest achievement.
The Conjunction — Two Forces Standing Overlapped
The conjunction is an angle of zero degrees, where two planets stand overlapped in nearly the same spot. Here the energies of the two planets fuse into one and amplify powerfully — among planets that harmonize this becomes great strength, among planets of differing natures it becomes a complex tension. So the conjunction is neither harmony nor tension in itself; its grain turns on which planets have met. It is also the place that stands out most sharply in a chart.
Reading a Chart Through Aspects
Learn the aspects and a birth chart comes alive as a conversation among planets. The harmonious angles tell of innate talent and smooth flow; the tense angles point to the tasks to be worked through and the places of growth. In astrological compatibility too, which aspect two people's Suns or Moons form becomes a clue for reading the grain of their relationship. When harmony and tension are seen together, a fuller, three-dimensional picture of a person and a bond emerges.
Aspects are the language of angles that planets exchange, and it is the weave of harmony and tension that shapes a person's grain. If you are curious about the flow of your own sign and your compatibility with another, see it for yourself through horoscope readings and compatibility.