Download Aspects - Pat Collins Astrology

Aspects
Aspects are the energetic relationships between planets and angles. They answer the question, “How do
these planets work with each other?” They are based on the relationship between elements and modes.
To understand aspects, always start first with an understanding of elements and modes.
Aspects are generally divided between stressful and harmonious aspects, but this categorization can be
affected by other factors, like the planets and signs involved.
Resources:
These two books should be in every astrology student’s bookcase.
The best book to read about this is Stephen Arroyo’s, Astrology, Psychology, and the Four Elements: An
Energy Approach to Astrology and Its Use in the Counseling Arts.
The best aspect “cookbook” is Robert Pelletier’s, Planets in Aspect: Understand Your Inner Dynamics.
The Primary Aspects





Conjunctions (determined by sign/planet)
Oppositions (stressful)
Squares (stressful)
Trines (flowing)
Sextiles (flowing)
Elements
Elements form trine relationships to each other because they operate from the same essential energy.




Air to Air (Mental, Communicative, Relating)
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Fire to Fire (Dynamic, Seeking, Consuming, Spirited)
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Water to Water (Emotional, Fluid, Intuitive)
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Earth to Earth (Practical, Grounded, Methodical)
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Elements form sextiles (complementary and supportive aspects) to each other:


Air to Fire
Earth to Water
© Pat Collins 2012
Page 1
Modes
Modes form squares and oppositions to signs of the same modes. The conflict because they essentially
want to fill the same space:



Cardinal to Cardinal (want to be first)
Fixed to Fixed (want to hold ground)
Mutable to Mutable (want to get out of the way)
Table of Basic Aspects
Aspect
Operation
Element/Mode Relationship
Conjunctions
Neutral – depends on planets/signs
Planets operate in the same element and
mode
Oppositions
Stressful
Same mode, complementary element
Squares
Stressful
Same mode, incompatible elements
Trines
Flowing
Different mode, same element
Sextiles
Flowing – complementary, supportive Different mode, complementary elements
Key Concepts
Term
Description
Out of sign
When an aspect is formed between two planets that are at the end or beginning of their
signs, where one planet is in one element and the other is in another.
Orb
The distance between two planets in aspect; the area of influence. The maximum orb is
determined by the speed and strength of the planets involved. Sun and Moon get maximum
orbs (about 10 degrees), where aspects between other bodies might only be give 6-8
degrees.
Applying
/Separating
aspects
The faster moving planet is the planet that determines whether an aspect is applying or
separating. An applying aspect means that the faster moving planet has formed an
opposition to the slower planet and is moving toward the slower moving planet. A
separating aspect means that the faster moving planet has already formed a conjunction
with the planet and is moving away from it.
Unaspected
planet
When one planet has no aspects to other planets in a chart – it stands outside of the action.
May manifest as either the “observer” to the action, or disassociated from the action, or
both. Also pay attention that aspects between two or more planets that don’t integrate into
the rest of the action in some way, for example there is no link between two sets of aspect
figures.
Aspect
Figures
When two or more aspects together form a unified structure. Examples of aspect figures
are grand trines (3 trines linked to each other to form a triangle) or t-square ( two or more
planets in opposition, with one planet squared to both ends of the opposition).
© Pat Collins 2012
Page 2
Aspect
Patterns
Patterns created by intersecting aspect figures. Examples include the Kite, Grand Cross,
Pythagorean Triangle, Bucket, Splash, etc. These patterns offer important clues to the way a
person operates. Require an intuitive response from the astrologer that is refined over
time.
© Pat Collins 2012
Page 3