Aspects Overview

Aspects. An aspect is the angular relationship between two planets, measured by the number of degrees between them around the zodiac. Aspects describe how the planets talk to each other. Two planets in aspect blend their energies, and the kind of aspect tells you whether that exchange feels easy and flowing or tense and demanding. A chart is more than a set of separate placements. The aspects are the wiring that connects them into a whole. The major aspects come from dividing the circle by simple numbers. The conjunction joins planets at the same degree, the sextile sets them sixty degrees apart, the square ninety, the trine one hundred and twenty, and the opposition one hundred and eighty. Harmonious aspects, the sextile and trine, tend to bring ease and talent. Hard aspects, the square and opposition, bring friction that drives growth. The conjunction can go either way depending on the planets involved. Aspects are allowed a small margin called an orb, so two planets do not need to be at the exact degree to count. The closer the angle, the stronger the aspect. The tightest aspects in a chart often describe its most important themes. This section is organized into three parts. The major aspects are the five strongest connections. The minor aspects are subtler relationships that add detail. The aspect shapes are the larger figures that several planets form together, such as the Grand Trine and the T-Square. Each part has its own overview and entries.