Get to Know Astrology Aspects

Astrology has something called aspects, which occur when two planets or bodies are at certain distances from one another in the Zodiac. There are 360 degrees in the entire Zodiac, 30 degrees per sign (12 x 30 = 360), and certain distances by degree are certain aspects. Aspects are split up between major and minor.

The conjunction is a major aspect and occurs when two bodies are 0 degrees apart, so they are in about the same spot in the Zodiac. Conjunctions are seen as neither good nor bad, and rather amplify the energy of the bodies involved in the conjunction. 

The main keywords for conjunctions are NEUTRAL and AMPLIFY.

Two of the Major aspects are the sextile and the trine. The sextile occurs when two bodies are 60 degrees apart, so they are about two whole Zodiac signs apart. The trine occurs when two bodies are 120 degrees apart, so they are about four whole Zodiac signs apart. Both sextiles and trines are considered beneficial aspects, and sextiles require some effort while trines are effortless.

Sextiles are BENEFICIAL WORK, and trine are EFFORTLESS BENEFITS.

Two of the major aspects are the square and the opposition. The square occurs when two bodies are 90 degrees apart, so they are about three whole Zodiac signs apart. The opposition occurs when two bodies are 180 degrees apart, which is about six whole Zodiac signs, and they're in the exact opposite spots. Both Squares and oppositions are considered challenging aspects, with squares being internal friction and oppositions being external friction.

Squares are INTERNAL FRICTION, and oppositions are EXTERNAL FRICTION.

The main two minor aspects are the semisextile and quincunx. While they are technically considered minor aspects, they're more like in between major and minor, so they tend to be used more than the other minor aspects.

The semisextile occurs when two bodies are 30 degrees apart, so they are about one whole Zodiac sign apart. The quincunx (also called the inconjunct) occurs when two bodies are 150 degrees apart, so they are about five whole Zodiac signs apart. Semisextiles are considered beneficial, but require a lot more work than sextiles and trines, otherwise they can go away without much fanfare. Quincunxes are considered challenging, and require much more flexibility than squares and oppositions, and can be a little more unpredictable.

Semisextiles are BENEFICIAL STRONG EFFORT, and quincunxes are ERRATIC FRICTION.

In the birth chart:

Conjunctions in the natal chart have a wide orb of up to 10 degrees, so the two bodies can be as much as 10 degrees apart and considered conjunct. This is for the planets; asteroids only get about a 2 degree orb, and it can also be small for non-bodies.

Your natal chart is a snapshot of the location in the Zodiac of the planets and other bodies at the exact moment you were born and from the location you were born at. The natal chart reflects your personality and all parts of your life.

Planets or bodies that are conjunct in the natal chart have direct influence on one another. With the planets, they can take on the energy of the other planet, each planet can take on traits of the sign the other planet naturally rules.

This can be especially evident with your natal Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars conjunct your natal Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto. The Sun and Moon are the luminaries, ruling your true self (Sun) and emotional self (Moon), while Mercury, Venus, and Mars are the personal planets, ruling your mind (Mercury), relationships (Venus), and how you take action (Mars).

Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto dominate when conjunct your natal Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have very strong energy, and the others don't really stand a chance against them. They can seem more like the sign ruled by Saturn (Capricorn), Uranus (Aquarius), Neptune (Pisces), or Pluto (Scorpio). And if they're already in that sign, it's extra-extra strong!

You generally need to work on whatever issues are associated with that conjunction, since it tends to be indicative of some sort of early life trauma or baggage. Once you work through the issues, you can utilize the energy in a productive way.

Sextiles and trines in the natal chart are usually given the smallest orbs of influence, and many keep the two bodies to no more than 4-6 degrees from forming an exact sextile or trine. This is because these are easy aspects, and they don't have as much strong energy as the challenging ones.

Your natal chart is a snapshot of the location in the Zodiac of the planets and other bodies at the exact moment you were born and from the location you were born at. The natal chart reflects your personality and all parts of your life.

Planets or bodies that are sextile or trine in the natal chart work well together in harmony. They provide assistance to one another, and you can use them to your advantage. This requires some effort on the part of sextiles, so it's not automatica with them. It can be automatic with trines, however trines are easier to be lazy with, and you end up missing out on the positive energy, squandering it.

Trines put the bodies in Zodiac signs of the same element, and they naturally jive very well because of this. If you have planets in all 3 signs of an element, this is a Grand Trine. This can be a point of natural talent and ease for you, but again, it can be easily squandered, so you have to make sure you're using it. The signs of the elements are:

Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Squares and oppositions in the natal chart can be given an 8-10 degrees orb of influence, so they're usually on the larger side for orbs. This is because they are challenging aspects and have a lot more energy, which makes them stronger.

Your natal chart is a snapshot of the location in the Zodiac of the planets and other bodies at the exact moment you were born and from the location you were born at. The natal chart reflects your personality and all parts of your life.

Planets or bodies that are square or opposite in the natal chart can be at odds with each other. One may try to overtake the other, and don't play with each other very well. They often show areas where you have work to do on yourself, lessons to learn in life, and where you have to be smarter. The work can be internal with squares, while oppositions may feel out of your control and require more flexibility.

Oppositions can ping pong between each other, so balancing their energies is often needed. Squares become internalized, and you usually have to work on issues that are more deeply embedded.

Semisextiles and quincunxes in the natal chart are usually given small orbs of influence because they are technically minor aspects. They're generally given no more than 4-6 degrees, and many will only use 2-4 degrees. 

Your natal chart is a snapshot of the location in the Zodiac of the planets and other bodies at the exact moment you were born and from the location you were born at. The natal chart reflects your personality and all parts of your life.

Planets or bodies that are semisextile in the natal chart offer an opportunity for benefit, but this does require a lot of effort. This can show areas where you have to put in hard work and be smart, but it can pay off in the end.

Planets or bodies that are quincunx in the natal chart can struggle to have any understanding with each other. Giving each room in their own way without letting it become erratic is important to manifest.

In Transit:

The transit, or moving, planets and other bodies can conjunct one another, and when they do, this brings their energy together in a way that is available to all of us. This tends to be very strong, and we can put it to use or experience developments in the world at large.

We tend to pay close attention to conjunctions between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto since they move slowly and don't conjunct very often. This year (2024), we had Jupiter conjunct Uranus in April with both in Taurus, and next year (2025), we'll have Saturn conjunct Neptune with both in Aries.

When Jupiter conjuncts Saturn, this is called the Great Conjunction, and it occurs roughly every 20 years. This signals the start of a whole new cycle, a new generation, a new phase. They occur in the same element of signs (fire, earth, air, water) for a period of time, and when they change signs, this is called the Great Mutation. This occurs roughly every 200 years.

Ww just experienced the Great Mutation in December 2020 when transit Jupiter and Saturn conjuncted in Aquarius. This set us down a whole new era (that's really getting kicked up with transit Pluto in Aquarius now too).

We also tend to pay close attention to when the transit Sun and Moon conjunct. This is the New Moon, which occurs roughly every month, and can act as a trigger for new beginnings, new ventures, and new developments.

The transit, or moving, planets and other bodies can sextile or trine one another, and when they do, this helps them work together in a way that is available to all of us. This is beneficial for the world at large, and it can be easier for us to use their energy as a whole.

The beneficial energy between them is something we can all use, and on an individual level, it's usually something that plays out involving the areas of life ruled by the houses in your natal chart the two transit bodies are located while making the sextile or trine. Whatever those two houses rule can work well together, have a positive influence on one another, and you can see beneficial developments impacting both.

Whenever the slower planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto) are sextile or trine each other, this can show good things happening in the world at large. We can work well together, and can create positive developments in situations.

The transit, or moving, planets and other bodies can square or oppose one another, and when they do, this means they're not working so hot together. They can be at odds with each other, and this means we all have issues that we're having to confront at once. This can indicate challenges in the world at large, and we can be more prone to conflict.

This can play out for you personally with the areas of life ruled by the houses in your natal chart the two transit bodies are located while making the square or opposition. Whatever those two houses rule can struggle with one another, and may require more effort from you.

Whenever the slower planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto) are square or opposite each other, this can show difficulties in the world, and we can feel restricted, have hard lessons, see unexpected developments, feel things dissolving, or fight over power and control.

The transit, or moving, planets and other bodies can semisextile or tquincunx one another, and when they do, this can give us an opportunity to benefit from hard work with the semisextile, or we may experience unpredictable challenges with the quincunx.

We can all experience this individually with the areas of life ruled by the houses in your natal chart the two transit bodies are located while making the semisextile or quincunx. Whatever those two houses rule can offer an opportunity for hard work that pays off with the semisextile, or they may have unexpected issues with each other with the quincunx.

Whenever the slower planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto) are semisextile or quincunx each other, this can impact the world as a whole. We can work hard with the semisextile at something collectively, or we may collectively experience erratic energy with the quincunx.

Transit Aspects to Natal Planets:

The transit planets can make aspects to your natal planets and bodies, and when they are in the exact same spot, they are conjunct. This brings the energy of the transit planet or body to whatever is ruled by the natal planet or body.

We tend to feel transit planets or bodies conjunct our natal Sun or Moon pretty strongly. Because the Sun rules the self, any transit body conjunct it can have a strong impact on our personality, outlook, and approach to life, and what we're most focused on at the moment might be ruled by the transit body. We may seem a little more like the transit body naturally.

Because the Moon rules the emotional self, any transit body conjunct it can have a strong impact on our emotions, the way we express ourselves emotionally, what we're emotionally focused on, and whatever the transit body rules can be more important for our emotional stability and security. 

Transit planets and bodies conjunct natal Mercury impact our ideas, expression, and outlook; conjunct natal Venus, impact our relationships and connections; conjunct natal Mars, impact what we're taking initiative with and how; conjunct natal Ceres, impact our resources and support; conjunct natal Jupiter, impact our opportunities and experiences; conjunct natal Saturn, impact our goals, direction, and lessons; conjunct natal Uranus, impact changes we're making and our dreams; conjunct natal Neptune, impact our intuitive and creativity; conjunct natal Pluto, impact our personal power and control; and conjunct natal Chiron, impact our healing and wounds.

The transit planets can make aspects to your natal planets and bodies, and when they are 60 degrees away, they are sextile, and when they are 120 degrees away, they are trine. This brings beneficial energy from the transit planet to whatever is ruled by the natal planet or body.

Sextiles and trines by the transit planets or bodies to our natal Sun or Moon can bring good moods and opportunity. With the Sun ruling the self, we can take the initiative and really feel at ease with the transit planet, and with the Moon ruling emotions, this can be a source of emotional stability and security.

Transit planets and bodies sextile or trine natal Mercury impact our ideas, expression, and outlook; sextile or trine natal Venus, impact our relationships and connections; sextile or trine natal Mars, impact what we're taking initiative with and how; sextile or trine natal Ceres, impact our resources and support; sextile or trine natal Jupiter, impact our opportunities and experiences; sextile or trine natal Saturn, impact our goals, direction, and lessons; sextile or trine natal Uranus, impact changes we're making and our dreams; sextile or trine natal Neptune, impact our intuitive and creativity; sextile or trine natal Pluto, impact our personal power and control; and sextile or trine natal Chiron, impact our healing and wounds.

The transit planets can make aspects to your natal planets and bodies, and when they are 90 degrees away, they are square, and when they are 180 degrees away, they are opposite. This brings challenging energy from the transit planet to whatever is ruled by the natal planet or body.

Squares and oppositions by the transit planets or bodies to our natal Sun or Moon can bring frustrations, emotional upset, and personal challenges. With the Sun ruling the self, we can struggle with control with the transit planet, and with the Moon ruling emotions, this can be a source of emotional insecurity

Transit planets and bodies square or opposite natal Mercury impact our ideas, expression, and outlook; square or opposite natal Venus, impact our relationships and connections; square or opposite natal Mars, impact what we're taking initiative with and how; square or opposite natal Ceres, impact our resources and support; square or opposite natal Jupiter, impact our opportunities and experiences; square or opposite natal Saturn, impact our goals, direction, and lessons; square or opposite natal Uranus, impact changes we're making and our dreams; square or opposite natal Neptune, impact our intuitive and creativity; square or opposite natal Pluto, impact our personal power and control; and square or opposite natal Chiron, impact our healing and wounds.

The transit planets can make aspects to your natal planets and bodies, and when they are 30 degrees away, they are semisextile, and when they are 150 degrees away, they are quincunx. This brings beneficial energy for work with the semisextile, or unpredictable challenges with the quincunx, from the transit planet to whatever is ruled by the natal planet or body.

Semisextiles by the transit planets or bodies to our natal Sun or Moon can provide opportunities to work hard and explore new projects, but we have to put in the effort, otherwise it can pass us by without noticing it. Quincunxes by the transit planets or bodies to our natal Sun or Moon can bring some unexpected developments, erratic energy, and we have to be quick to adjust.

Transit planets and bodies semisextile or quincunx natal Mercury impact our ideas, expression, and outlook; semisextile or quincunx natal Venus, impact our relationships and connections; semisextile or quincunx natal Mars, impact what we're taking initiative with and how; semisextile or quincunx natal Ceres, impact our resources and support; semisextile or quincunx natal Jupiter, impact our opportunities and experiences; semisextile or quincunx natal Saturn, impact our goals, direction, and lessons; semisextile or quincunx natal Uranus, impact changes we're making and our dreams; semisextile or quincunx natal Neptune, impact our intuitive and creativity; semisextile or quincunx natal Pluto, impact our personal power and control; and semisextile or quincunx natal Chiron, impact our healing and wounds.