Aspect

Anciently termed Familiarities or Configurations (q.v.). Certain angular relationships between the rays which reach the Earth from two celestial bodies, or between one ray and a given point: such as — the horizon; the degree that was on the horizon at a given moment, or that represents the position of a planet at a given moment; the point on which an Eclipse or other celestial phenomenon occurred; the places of the Moon’s Nodes; or the cusps of the Houses, particularly the First and Tenth.

Many factors enter into the delineation of the effect of an aspect: such as — the nature of the aspect; the character of the planets involved, their latitude, character and rate of motion; their strength by virtue of their sign position; the measure of harmony that exists between the signs in which are posited, and between the signs they rule; and sundry other considerations. Various terms are employed to describe these factors. Generally speaking, the term Aspect is applicable to any blending of rays that results in their interactivity.

The body which has the faster mean motion is said to aspect the slower. As speed in orbit is relative to the size of the orbit, the inner planet aspects the one farthest removed from the Sun. Thus Venus aspects Saturn, not vice versa. There are exceptions, but only when other factors are involved. Transiting Saturn cannot pass over Venus, but Saturn can pass over the degree which Venus occupied on some former occasion, at which time its influence was sufficiently augmented to create a sensitive degree — a Venus sensitivity.

Thus when Saturn transits this degree, you receive a Saturn impulse through a Venus expectancy. This illustrates the two principal types of aspects: (a) mutual aspects — those which occurred between two moving bodies on some specified date; and (b) directional, progressed or transitory aspects — between a moving body, and a fixed point, usually the degree a planet occupied on a specified day of birth, when it became a sensitive point in a life pattern of daily expectancy and receptivity.

The planet which “burned” its mark into your pattern, has moved away — but the expectancy and receptivity lingers on.Forming, is said of the conditions of motion which are bringing two bodies within each other’s sphere of influence, whereby an exact aspect will result. After the aspect has become exact, the receding motion is termed Separating. Also, the faster planet may be spoken of as Applying to or Separating from an aspect or a contact with the other.

When sufficiently within each other’s Orbs of influence to be deemed operative – within half the sum of their two orbs – it is a wide or platic aspect, which culminates in an exact or partile aspect. An aspect computed forward in the order of signs, or counter-clockwise on the map, is a sinister or left-hand aspect; in the reverse direction, a dexter or right-hand aspect. There is lack of agreement as to which are the stronger, but ancient texts favor the dexter aspects
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There follows a condensed interpretation of the aspects: According to the ancient philosophers two systems of force arc in operation, whereby Nature is maintained in a state of balance, and life enabled to manifest itself in physical form: These are the positive and the negative, the inflow and the outflow, the centrifugal and the centripetal, construction as opposed to destruction, expansion versus contraction.

The result is a continual cycle of birth, maturity, decay and dissolution. Since these forces are equal, each complements the other. All organic structures are builded of cells which in their simplest form are hexagonic spheroids, similar to those of the honeycomb.

Therefore, the hexagon is the primary structural pattern of beneficence. When light enters at the external angle of 60°, and the internal angle of 120°, it necessarily illuminates all parts of the structure in equal lines of influence. The light that pours in at either of these angles, imparts exhilarating and harmonious vibrations which stimulate its continuous growth.

Opposed to this is the process of crystallization, recognized in magnetism and electricity, wherein the two forces operate at right angles to each other – a geometrical relationship that is destructive to organic form. As a result, side by side through Nature two mutually antagonistic forces exist, which, despite their antipathy to each other, work together toward the ordered disposition of the whole: one based upon the quadrature, the other upon the hexagon – the square and the trine.

Astrology postulates: that the quadrate relationship between energy sources is destructive to form, through releasing the energy that is locked up in the various structures Nature has built; and that the trine aspects constitute the constructive side of Nature, whereby organic forms are created, nourished and perpetuated, to be released when subsequent destructive configurations are encountered.

Ancient astrologers who looked upon the Zodiac as representing the soul of Nature, divided it into four parts, making the beginning point of each part the apex of an equilateral triangle. Thus it obtained the twelve signs of the Zodiac and their corresponding Houses.

To establish a relationship between the physical body and these two systems of partitioning a sphere, one considers first that portion of the heavens which, like the physical body born into this world, is at that moment emerging from darkness into light; the eastern horizon – otherwise known as the Ascendant, the cusp of the First House; or as anciently termed, the Horoscope.
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Names have been given to these Aspects, as follows:
Conjunction [0] 0°, Prominence; (-10° to 6°)
Semi-sextile [1] 30°, Growth; (28° to 31°)
Semi-square [1 1/2] 45°, Friction; (42° to 49°)
Sextile [2] 60°, Opportunity; {56° to 63°)
Square [3] 90°, Obstacle; (84° to 94°)
Trine [4] 120°, Luck; (113° to 125°)
Sesiquadrate [4 1/2] 135°, Agitation; (132° to 137°)
Quincunx [5] 150°, Expansion; (148° to 151°)
Opposition [6] 180°, Separation (170° to 186°)

DeVore, Nicholas. Encyclopedia of Astrology. New York: Philosophical Library, 1947.