Aspects, Patterns, and Transits

Question 1

What is an aspect?

Answer 1

Relationships between planets based on the angles they form between each other in the natal and transit charts. The energies of the planets are impacted by their aspected relationships.

Question 2

How do aspects impact us?

Answer 2

When planets interact with each other, they produce energies and influences that affect our lives and personalities. They help interpret character and delineate events.

Question 3

What is a conjunction?

Answer 3

When two planets are in the same sign, usually 0 to 10 degrees away from each other. When two planets form a conjunction, their combined energies are blended and they act together. The conjunction can be a harmonious or challenging aspect depending on the planets involved. Its quality depends greatly on the planets involved, as well as on how close the aspect is.

Question 4

What is an opposition?

Answer 4

When two or more planets are on opposite sides of the zodiac wheel,180 degrees from each other (six signs apart). Although the opposition is generally regarded as “disharmonious”, it can have motivating and energizing effect. It creates tension between the planets but often with positive results.

Question 5

What is a square?

Answer 5

When two planets form a right angle, 90 degrees from each other (3 signs apart). It is regarded as a disharmonious aspect. The energies of planets involved block each other. The two forces are trying to move in completely different directions are trying to reconcile with each other. The signs forming the square will always be masculine-feminine.

Question 6

What are the five major aspects in astrology?

Answer 6

Conjunction (0°), sextile (60°), square (90°), trine (120°), and opposition (180°).

Question 7

What is a sextile?

Answer 7

When two signs are 60 degrees apart (two signs apart), so when two planets are in favorable elements: like air with fire or earth with water. This is a friendly aspect that allows all planet energies to get along but it is the weakest of all the aspects.

Question 8

What is a trine?

Answer 8

When two planets are about 120 degrees away from each other (4 signs apart). This is a very lucky aspect, bringing a period of luck, harmony, positive changes, and good vibes.

A good way to know if two planets are in trine is if they are in the same element (water, earth, air, fire).

Question 9

What is a hard aspect and what are the primary major hard aspects?

Answer 9

A hard aspect is when two planets interact in two different signs that don’t get along. A hard aspect can bring challenges and obstacles that you’ll need to overcome.

Squares and oppositions are considered hard aspects. (A conjunction is a neutral aspect that represents the strongest planetary expression.)

Question 10

What are the five main minor aspects in astrology?

Answer 10

Semi-sextile (30°), semi-square (45°), sesqui-quadrate (135°), inconjunct/quincunx (150°), and quintile (72°).

Minor aspects tend to occur less frequently but their influence can be just as strong as major aspects.

Question 11

What is a quincunx?

Answer 11

A minor aspect that consists of two planets located 150 degrees apart. This means that the zodiac signs where the two planets are placed have nothing in common. They are different by modality, element, and polarity, so there is absolutely no common ground. Also called inconjunct.

This is perhaps the most challenging aspect, the planets are at odds with each other. It is characterized by constant irritation and friction between two planetary energies.

Question 12

What is a soft aspect and what are the primary major soft aspects?

Answer 12

Soft aspects are specific angles between planets or placements on an astrological chart that suggest the two may work well together. The two points may support or excite one another or cooperate well.

The two major soft aspects are trines and sextiles. (A conjunction is a neutral aspect that represents the strongest planetary expression.)

Question 13

What is a semisquare?

Answer 13

A minor aspect that consists of two planets located 45 degrees apart, forming half a square.

This aspect can cause stress and friction, just like in the case of the square, but less intense.
It is often linked to sudden and unforeseeable changes and external events.

Question 14

What is a sesquiquadrate?

Answer 14

A minor aspect that consists of two planets located 135 degrees apart, forming one and a half squares.

This is tense relationship between the planets that indicates frustration. It is a very dynamic, intense configuration to have in the birth chart. It forces you to take action and work on utilizing the planetary energies in a positive way. It tends to repeat itself until you learn its lessons.

Question 15

What is a semi-sextile?

Answer 15

A minor aspect that consists of two planets located 30 degrees apart in neighboring signs, bringing subtle friction.

Question 16

What is an orb?

Answer 16

The term used to describe how exact an aspect is. The smaller the orb, the more significant the aspect is, with orbs of less than 1° being the most potent aspect influences.

For example, if two planets are exactly 180 degrees apart, we would say that is an exact opposition, or an orb of 0 degrees. If, however, the planets are 184 degrees apart, we would call it an opposition with an orb of 4 degrees.

Most astrologers use an allowable orb of only 6° for the major aspects, and 2° or 3° for the minor aspects. However, the allowable orb is increased to 10° (or 8°) if it includes the Sun or Moon.

Question 17

What is a quintile?

Answer 17

A minor aspect that consists of two planets located 72 degrees apart. It indicates a harmonious flow of energy in the birth chart.

The quintile in astrology is one of the talent aspects. It is linked with creativity, the ability to see things from a unique perspective.

Question 18

What is a transit?

Answer 18

Transit is a term to describe the current movement and location of planets and their relation to where planets are located in our birth chart.

Our natal placements show the specific placement of planets at the time we were born. As the planets are always moving, when a planet in motion meets one of the natal positions of the planets when we were born, it creates a ‘transit’.

Question 19

What are transits primarily used for?

Answer 19

Predictive astrology/forecasting

Question 20

How do transits affect us?

Answer 20

The relationship between natal planets and transit planets create energies that influence our everyday life. Transits are always happening but some last longer and can have a bigger impact, such as the outer planets.

Question 21

What is a planetary return?

Answer 21

When a transiting planet returns to the same point in the sky that it occupied at the moment of a person’s birth. The planet has completed a full cycle around the zodiac. It signifies that a new cycle in the person’s life is beginning.

Question 22

What are the seven rays that a planet emits?

Answer 22

One opposition
Two squares
Two trines
Two sextiles

Planets always emits these rays and hit an entire sign, but if they land on another planet, it forms an aspect.

Question 23

What is an applying aspect?

Answer 23

In an aspect, the faster planet either applies or separates from the slower moving planet. An applying aspect occurs when a faster planet is moving towards a slower planet and the orb is getting smaller. An aspect it stronger when applying because it hasn’t reached its full potential.

Tend to be major life themes that repeat throughout life.

Question 24

What is a separating aspect?

Answer 24

In an aspect, the faster planet either applies or separates from the slower moving planet. A separating aspect occurs when a faster planet is pulling away from a slower planet and the orb is getting larger. An aspect is weaker when separating because the energy is fading.

Separating aspects tend to manifest more strongly earlier in our life.

Question 25

What is an aversion?

Answer 25

The four remaining signs that a planet’s rays do not hit to form an aspect. The planets do not directly communicate with one another. This is what forms an semi-sextile (30°) inconjunction or quincunx (150°) (anti-aspects).

Question 26

What is a waxing aspect?

Answer 26

-When two planets are moving farther apart (begins at the conjunction and then ends at the opposition).

-Indicates that energy is building, growing, and developing.

-Distance between the planets (in a counter-clockwise direction) is less than 180°

If the angular separation from the slower moving planet to the faster (in a counter-clockwise direction) is less than 180°, then the faster planet is waxing. In this case, it is the slowest planet which sets the main goal of the aspect and that tells us what the fastest must assimilate to, to grow and develop.

Question 27

What is a waning aspect?

Answer 27

-When two planets are moving closer together (begin at opposition and ends at conjunction).

-energy is dissipating, integrating, and being used for some purpose.
-Distance between the planets (in a counter-clockwise direction) is more than 180°

If the angular separation from the slower moving planet to the faster (in a counter-clockwise direction) is more than 180°, then the faster planet is waning. It is the faster planet that sets the main goal of the aspect and that tells us what the slowest must assimilate to, to grow and develop.