Aspects

Aspects in Astrology

There are many different types of Astrology aspects in a Birth or Natal Chart and their movement plays a part in their delineation.

There are applying aspects (planets moving together to form an aspect), separating aspects (planets moving away from one another) and stationary aspects (planets that have been in retrograde motion and are now motionless before they turn direct or move forward). Today we are going to review the applying and separating aspects in the Natal Chart.

All planets, whether retrograde or direct in the birth chart, will either be forming an aspect with another planet or separating from aspect to another planet. The closer to being the exact degree of the aspect the planets or angles are making, the stronger their influence will be in our lives. There are some planets that at different points in time make no aspects, although this is rare. If they are not making major aspects (sextile, trine, conjunction, inconjunct, square or opposition) they are very powerful in the natal chart. We will be discussing this at a later date as well.

Many Astrologers believe that a separating aspect deals with past events, or if you like, finished business. These aspects show the energies of things that have already been dealt with and will eventually fade over time. Some Astrologers theorize that the acknowledgement and correction took place before birth and that we have already made adjustments to whatever lesson the two planets involve were teaching through their energies. The degrees that separate the planets describe how powerful the aspect is or was in the chart. The closer the degrees between the two planets (direct aspect) the more powerful the lesson. It is also theorized that perhaps this close aspect was one of the last lessons or events that was set in motion in a previous lifetime.

Astrologers understand this significance and will define its intensity and help delineate the meaning of any particular influence in the Birth Chart. When planets are applying, it is understood that the faster moving planet is moving towards the slower moving planet and suggested unfinished business that will have to be rectified during the course of this lifetime. Once again the closer the aspect, the more apparent and pressing the energies of the planets involved. We have come into this life to learn, to address the apparent issues indicated and come to terms with whatever the planets’ and aspects’ energies are suggesting.

The applying aspects become stronger as time passes. They will intensify and push us in directions that will assist in learning whatever the energies suggest. These conditions are dealt with after birth. As a result, applying aspects are suggestive of future endeavours that should be dealt with. Transiting planets (the current movement of the planets compared to the natal position of the planets) that touch on these planetary links can intensify the birth condition and push us towards resolution.

This is not to say that all aspects between planets are challenging; far from it. You have to approach the planets involved and decipher how well they work together and what aspects are involved before making a judgement call on how the energies will affect you. It should also be understood that a tight square or opposition in the birth chart has been set in motion in this life for us to overcome and could therefore be considered challenging but these challenging aspects are advantageous in the long run and force us to make adjustments that in turn enhance development. Without challenging conditions in the birth chart (and there are charts that are very easy flowing with many trines and sextiles) the life lessons offer little towards growth and achievement in life. It is the challenging aspects that motivate us forward and challenge us to push for resolution.

Remember the tighter the aspect the more significant its influence in our lives. When deciphering a chart it is very important to take this into consideration. For example a conjunction between Mars and Pluto is a very strong aspect, but if they are separating from one another and are out by 8 degrees, an aspect of let’s say Venus conjunct the Sun, (which is a much softer aspect) which is applying and only out by 23 minutes, will have a far greater influence than the aspect between Mars and Pluto.