Aspects tell you the type of relationship two planets have with each other. They are attempting to work together, but depending on the type of aspect and which planets are involved, it may be easy or a bit challenging. The reason i say “easy” or “challenging” is because there’s no such thing as a completely “good” or “bad” aspect. Labeling aspects as simply good and/or bad implies aspects aren’t dynamic and complex, which is NOT true.
There are so many ways a single aspect can manifest. A harmonious aspect can cause just as much, if not more damage than a hard aspect, and a hard one can provide more skills, wisdom, and vital personal development than a harmonious one would. It all depends on the planets involved, and of course, the person the chart belongs to.
You’ll probably see the aspects sorted out like this:
-Trines and sextile are harmonious aspects
-Squares, inconjunctions and oppositions are challenging aspects
-Conjunctions can go either way, or are neutral
This is an easy way to look at it, but remember that it’s not always that simple.
There are a lot of different types of aspects (I’ll get into the more common ones after this), and a lot of ways to interpret them. The main two categories of aspects are the major and minor aspects. Here are the major ones:
CONJUNCTION (0°)
Since the two bodies would be so close to each other, the energies of these planets/bodies would merge. A conjunction is a blending of energies. The two bodies would be practically inseparable, so if you get one body’s expression, you’ll always get the other’s expression with it. This aspect can be especially frustrating if the native hasn’t learned to balance out the expressions of both bodies. It can feel like you instinctively act in ways that you don’t mean to, but it comes out whether you want it to or not. You may not even be aware that it’s not the normal thing to do, because to you they’re one and the same.
SEXTILE (60°)
This aspect is normally considered harmonious. In this aspect, the two bodies are supporting each others’ form of expression, and they can even be motivating each other, feeding each other enthusiasm. However, there IS a line they can cross. Imagine two friends daring each other to do risky things that could end up badly. If they two are encouraging each other to continue doing what they’re doing, they can become blind to the damage they’re causing. This is how the aspect can manifest poorly. They work well together, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll only do good things together.
SQUARE (90°)
This aspect is usually considered to be challenging. The two bodies in this aspect are attempting to work together, but they each have their preferred way of handling things, so they can’t agree on which method to take. The disagreement between these two can cause them to interfere or block each other from doing what they want to do. Having different approaches doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to work together. It’s possible to integrate the two, but it takes trial and error, frustration and adjustment. the hard work poured into overcoming the tension of this aspect can become an important personal achievement.
TRINE (120°)
This aspect is generally considered harmonious. The two bodies in this aspect agree with and support each other. The ease in this aspect usually points to natural talents, or things you just don’t usually have trouble with. On the other hand, the harmony between the two bodies in this aspect can also show laziness and stagnancy. Since they’re not faced with the need for stimulation, they can end up being unprepared for anything or anyone that challenges them or requires them to grow out of their comfort zone.
OPPOSITION (180°)
This aspect is usually considered challenging, but I think it can go either way. The two bodies in this aspect having opposing methods of expression, BUT their differences can easily compliment each other. They can frustrate each other if they’re unwilling to consider anything beyond their own point of view. The key to the oppositions is finding the similarities between the two extremes instead of acting on one extreme or the other. When they realize that they each can learn something from each other, they highlight the best in each other’s individuality.
The minor aspects usually aren’t given much special attention, but they still do have meaning! the major aspects show more critical exchanges of energy, the minor ones add more detail. Here are the main minor aspects:
QUINCUNX/INCONJUNCT (150°)
This aspect is normally considered minor, but it’s probably the most well known minor one. In this aspect, the two bodies don’t share any quality (sect, mode, element), so there’s a bit of an awkward relationship between the two. The two bodies want to coexist and support each other, but they have trouble understanding each other. Their different styles can be frustrating, but their differences encourage each other to adapt in order to be able to work together a little more easily.
QUINTILE (72°)
This is a very creative aspect. The two bodies work together to create inspiring ideas and otherworldly experiences. It could highlight some sort of unique talent or a different approach to a certain form of expression.
BIQUINTILE (144°)
This aspect still has the sort of inspiration that the quintile brings, but it’s more evident to the people around you. People with significant biquintiles have that magnetic draw, something about them that makes you want to listen to them.
SEMI-SEXTILE (30°)
Contrary to what you’d expect, a semi-sextile is NOT very similar to a sextile! While a sextile has complimentary qualities, two bodies in a semi-sextile have seemingly contradictory styles of expression. They may not be necessarily working against each other, they just don’t seem to work together very easily. Think of how each sign has sort of an opposite quality from the sign before it. This is the nature of the semi-sextile. It’s not as tense of an aspect as a square or an opposition, but the discord is still there.
SEMI-SQUARE (45°)
Two bodies in this aspect seem to never be content with each other. There’s some sort of disagreement between the two bodies, but it’s very rarely spoken or acted on, so it may go for a while without being relieved or let go. this aspect requires growth.
SESQUIQUADRATE (135°)
Two bodies in this aspect have a similar tension to the semi-square, but it’s likely that the source of the tension is coming from something or someone aside from yourself. This aspect requires patience and maturity.