Sign InIn astrology, an aspect is defined by the angular distance between two planets. The nature of the aspect depends on the number of degrees separating the two planets.
Aspects are of utmost importance in assessing the natal chart because they help identify the nature of the relationship, whether challenging or harmonious, between the energies conveyed by the planets involved, which creates all the complexity and richness of the personality.
Aspects express themselves more or less strongly according to their importance, or lack of it. Moreover, angles between planets never exactly match the standard definition of aspects. Thus, the exactness of the aspect, referred to as the orb in astrology, must be taken into account. If the orb is tight, meaning that the aspect is almost exact, the aspect is more powerful. If the planets are linked by a wide orb, their influence is less strong. Each aspect is allowed a different orb, and traditionally, some astrological schools assign them slightly different coefficients.
In natal charts, usually accepted orbs are 9 to 10 degrees for oppositions and conjunctions, 7 to 9 degrees for trines and squares, 4 to 6 degrees for sextiles, 2 degrees for quincunxes and sesqui-squares, around 1 degree for semi-sextiles and semi-squares, and often 0.5 to 1 degree for quintiles and their family, such as semi-quintiles and bi-quintiles.
Much smaller orbs are used in forecasting and synastry work because these techniques require aspects to be more exact if they are to be effective.
In our programs, we use 11 aspects: the conjunction, the opposition, the trine, the sextile, the square, the semi-sextile, the semi-square, the sesqui-square, the quincunx, the quintile, and the bi-quintile.
With the search by astrological aspects tool, you can find hundreds of thousands of examples of aspects, available in the charts of the Astrotheme database.
You can also read the interpretation of all planetary aspects, each illustrated with the birth charts of well-known personalities.
Orbs Used on Astrotheme
Orbs used for natal charts
- Conjunction: 10.5
- Opposition: 10.0
- Trine: 8.3
- Square: 7.8
- Sextile: 6.1
- Quincunx: 2.7
- Sesqui-square: 2.5
- Semi-square: 1.5
- Semi-sextile: 1.0
- Quintile: 0.8
- Bi-quintile: 0.8
We do not apply extra weighting to differentiate among personal planets, trans-Saturnian planets, etc. because we think that many visitors are interested in seeing all aspects and that the differences are not significant. A wider orb is given to luminaries, i.e. the Sun and the Moon, and 0.3 degree is added for all aspects. The orb is wider by 18 minutes when the Sun or the Moon is involved, and by 36 minutes for Sun-Moon aspects.
Regarding the fictitious points that are the lunar nodes and Lilith, the orb is limited to 3 degrees on the chart display, whatever the aspect may be.
Orbs used for compatibility charts
- Conjunction: 10.0
- Opposition: 8.0
- Trine: 6.0
- Square: 6.0
- Sextile: 4.5
- Quincunx: 2.0
- Sesqui-square: 1.0
- Semi-square: 1.0
- Semi-sextile: 1.0
- Quintile: 1.0
- Bi-quintile: 1.0
Orbs used for transit charts
- Conjunction: 2.6
- Opposition: 2.5
- Trine: 2.3
- Square: 2.3
- Sextile: 2.3
- Quincunx: 1.5
- Sesqui-square: 1.5
- Semi-square: 1.3
- Semi-sextile: 1.0
- Quintile: 1.0
- Bi-quintile: 1.0
In forecasts based on transits, we take into account major aspects only: conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile. We give an extra orb of 0.1 degree, or 6 minutes, when the Sun or the Moon is involved in the transit, and 12 minutes for a Sun-Moon aspect.
The Main Astrological Aspects
The main aspects are the following:
The Conjunction
As indicated by its name, it is formed when two planets are on the same degree, or when they are very close to each other. The conjunction can have a positive or negative influence, depending on the other aspects it receives. It can also be neutral. It may also depend on the nature of the two planets involved. Its function is to combine and blend the characteristics of the planets' energies.
The Opposition
This aspect connects two planets positioned 180 degrees apart, and thus in two complementary signs. Such planets are said to be in opposition. They are in contradiction with each other and try to gain the upper hand over one another, which makes the native feel psychologically torn between the two poles of the opposition. Traditionally, it is considered a negative aspect because it creates tensions, but it can foster evolution if one strives to master its contrasts. With maturity, it is possible to turn this tension into an asset and a strength by harmoniously blending the characteristics of the two planets so connected.
The Trine
It is formed when two planets are positioned in signs belonging to the same element, and are therefore compatible. Such planets support each other and create a feeling of well-being and ease because they are in harmony with each other. It is an aspect of good luck and psychological comfort. However, it favors self-indulgence and passivity. Indeed, too much ease does not encourage effort.
The Sextile
It is formed when two planets are positioned 60 degrees apart. Like the trine, it is beneficial and is a factor of harmony between the planets involved. However, its effects are more concrete than those of the trine and are expressed more outwardly. In practice, this aspect is considered the aspect of communication par excellence. The planets involved exchange their energies perfectly and actively.
The Square
It is formed when two planets are 90 degrees apart. Like the opposition, it is an aspect of tension, with the planets in constant conflict, and the native strongly feeling their struggle. In order to overcome this, the person must continuously fight against the difficulties created by these energies. The aspect gives strength and the ability to overcome a great many hurdles in life, provided that the person has courage and tenacity. Leaders and people with exceptional destinies often have many squares in their natal chart. Squares prevent them from keeping still and constantly push them to move ahead, create, and evolve, since immobility is difficult to bear when such constant tensions arise. The square is the most interesting aspect, even though it is obviously desirable to also have a few soft aspects, such as sextiles or trines.
Minor Aspects
There are also minor aspects. They are less important than the major aspects, but they help to fine-tune the chart analysis.
They include the semi-sextile, the semi-square, the sesqui-square, the quincunx, the quintile, and the bi-quintile.
The Semi-sextile
The semi-sextile is a 30-degree aspect considered rather harmonious. Actually, it proves quite delicate because two adjacent signs are always very different from each other, as can easily be verified.
The Quintile and Bi-Quintile
The quintile is a very positive aspect which is formed when two planets are 72 degrees apart. It is of a spiritual nature, and when its exactness, or orb, is narrow, preferably less than half a degree, it plays out as powerfully as a sextile or a trine, and with an even stronger impact. The quintile family also includes the semi-quintile, 36 degrees, and the bi-quintile, 144 degrees, which are soft aspects too, although these two aspects are generally used less often.
The Semi-Square and Sesqui-Square
The semi-square, 45 degrees, and the sesqui-square, 135 degrees, are minor aspects of tension like the square, and as such, they push the person to move forward and evolve, but in a less intense way than the square.
The Quincunx or Inconjunct
Lastly, there is the quincunx, sometimes named inconjunct, where planets are 150 degrees apart. It is a very interesting aspect which takes its nature from both the trine and the square. It unites two energies of different elements and modalities, blends their characteristics, and offers their assets to the native, provided that the native accepts the required effort and that the planets involved are not of opposite natures, and preferably are complementary, such as Mars and Venus, Mercury and Uranus, the Sun and the Moon, etc.
Aspects in Chart Comparisons or Synastry
In our compatibility reports, for example, we use all the aspects mentioned here, i.e. eleven astrological aspects, all of which are processed in the final assessment of the couple's compatibility indexes and planetary dominants. An important point should be noted:
Tensions play out differently in a natal chart than in a compatibility analysis between two charts.
Thus, in synastry work, i.e. the relationship between two persons, oppositions are considered complementarities in most cases when the planets involved are not of a contrary nature, such as Mars-Saturn, Moon-Mars, or Venus-Saturn, for instance.
A set of harmonious and dissonant planetary pairs is thus created and used to calculate compatibility indexes.
Regarding squares and sesqui-squares, it is obvious that tensions exist, and like any tension, they manifest at first as attraction. Over time, these tensions become difficult for both partners to deal with.
Finally, the quincunx or inconjunct, 150 degrees between two objects, is a very interesting aspect, which derives from both the nature of the trine and the square. It combines two energies that can mix their characteristics and bring their assets to the person, provided that this person agrees to make the necessary effort, and also that the planets involved are of non-contradictory and complementary natures, such as Mars and Venus, Mercury and Uranus, the Sun and the Moon, etc. In this case, the aspect becomes slightly positive, only in synastry, depending on the pair of objects involved.
For example, a Saturn-Moon or Mars-Moon inconjunct will remain negative, as an interaspect of tension, but two Ascendants or two Suns in inconjunct may be considered beneficial, with weighting and caution. Astrotheme compatibility reports handle all these cases, and depending on the pair of objects involved, the inconjunct is interpreted as an aspect of conciliation or tension. This is normal and intentional.
Regarding multiple aspects, it is obvious that the most delicate challenge is to properly deal with harmonious conjunctions which are also connected with tensions. The couple tends to get closer and idealize everything, but a form of incomprehension may settle in almost fatalistically and drive the partners apart despite themselves, because of unexplained misunderstandings which the tension leaves them no time to clarify.
Unaspected Planets
There is a fairly rare case: a planet that makes no aspect to any other planet. It is referred to as an unaspected planet. Aspects to angles must not be taken into account for this notion. Astrologers do not totally agree among themselves regarding the type of relevant aspects to be considered. Purists accept only the five major aspects, namely conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile, whereas proponents of a looser rule take into account nine aspects, namely the five major aspects, but also the semi-sextile, the quincunx, the sesqui-square, and the semi-square. Others fall between these positions and use seven aspects, excluding the sesqui-square and the semi-square. Usually, the quintile and the bi-quintile are left out because they are too minor.
How is an unaspected planet interpreted? Most astrologers agree that a planet left to its own devices and having no link with the rest of the natal chart is an unbridled energy which has no outlet or diversion mechanism and can manifest in all its purity and strength, especially when it receives a major transit, like a wild horse reacting only to instinct. Being unaspected does not constitute a personality facet strictly speaking, but it may be the cause of significant differences in the planet's expression compared with its regular nature. For instance, a person with an unaspected Venus, one of the rarest cases, with only 1.5% of people concerned since the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are never very far from one another, may be abnormally affectionate, smiling, adorable, and seductive, in fits and starts. Someone with an unaspected Mars may at times turn into a quarrelsome or short-tempered warrior, or an overly active entrepreneur, whenever Mars is hit by an important transit, and so forth for the ten planets of the natal chart. This configuration helps explain a few unusual behaviors which elude the classical analysis of the natal chart.
A general remark: the nature of the planet indicates whether the fact of being unaspected is most likely to be a danger or an asset. It is usually considered that an unaspected Mars, Saturn, or Pluto is rather a danger when it starts to come into play. On the contrary, Jupiter and Venus are regarded as assets. Concerning Uranus and Neptune, they can yield the best as well as the worst, depending on the rest of the chart. As for the Sun, the Moon, and Mercury, the fact that they are unaspected is deemed rather positive, even though there is a danger of pride with the Sun, of laziness or passivity with the Moon, and of mental dispersion or nervousness with Mercury.
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