Astrology reference
Aspects & Patterns
An aspect is a conversation between two planets. The angle determines whether they cooperate, argue, or refuse to speak.
Conjunction
0° · orb 8°
Two bodies occupy the same degree and lose the ability to act separately. Intensity without perspective: whichever planet is stronger colours the other permanently.
- ◇Neither harmonious nor tense — it amplifies
- ◇Strongest when within 3°
- ◇Work: separate the two voices consciously
Sextile
60° · orb 5°
A cooperative angle between compatible elements. Opportunity that requires you to reach for it — sextiles never activate themselves.
- ◇Harmonious but passive
- ◇Fire–Air or Earth–Water pairs
- ◇Work: initiate; the door is unlocked, not open
Square
90° · orb 6°
Friction between signs of the same modality. The most productive difficulty in astrology: squares build skill precisely because they refuse to resolve comfortably.
- ◇Tense and action-producing
- ◇Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable clashes
- ◇Work: choose the harder half deliberately
Trine
120° · orb 7°
Same-element ease. Talent that arrives without effort and is therefore easy to waste. Trines describe what you can do half-asleep.
- ◇Harmonious and effortless
- ◇Risk: complacency
- ◇Work: apply the gift somewhere it costs you
Opposition
180° · orb 7°
Two ends of a single axis. Usually projected onto other people until you learn to hold both sides yourself.
- ◇Tense and relational
- ◇Awareness through contrast
- ◇Work: alternate rather than choose
Quincunx
150° · orb 3°
Signs sharing neither element nor modality. A persistent low-grade misfit that demands continual adjustment rather than resolution.
- ◇Also called the inconjunct
- ◇Often shows in health and habit
- ◇Work: small recalibrations, endlessly
Semi-sextile
30° · orb 2°
Neighbouring signs with nothing in common. A quiet awkwardness that becomes useful once both energies are given separate hours in the day.
- ◇Minor aspect
- ◇Feels like mild irritation
- ◇Work: sequence them, do not blend
Grand Trine
Three trines, one element
A closed triangle of ease in a single element. Self-sufficient to the point of stagnation; the gift circulates internally unless something outside disturbs it.
- ◇Fire: confidence · Earth: competence
- ◇Air: ideas · Water: empathy
- ◇Work: seek external friction on purpose
T-Square
Opposition plus two squares
The engine of a chart. Enormous drive focused on the empty degree opposite the apex planet — the place where the pattern finally resolves.
- ◇Most common major configuration
- ◇Apex planet carries the pressure
- ◇Work: develop the empty leg
Yod
Two quincunxes, one sextile
The Finger of Fate. Two cooperating planets both awkwardly aimed at a third, producing a compulsion that only makes sense in retrospect.
- ◇Rare and fate-flavoured
- ◇Apex demands repeated adjustment
- ◇Work: accept the odd vocation it points to
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