Aspects: is the square really that bad?

An aspect is the angular distance between two planets. It shows how two energies are talking to each other.

• Conjunction (0°): fused together, you can't tell them apart.
• Trine (120°): it flows, a natural talent. It's so easy you barely notice its value.
• Sextile (60°): an opportunity that works if you actually use it.
• Square (90°): friction and drive. Most of your growth happens here.
• Opposition (180°): back-and-forth and mirroring. Finding the middle ground is lifelong work.

A chart with no squares isn't relaxed, it's unmotivated. The charts of highly productive people are usually full of squares.

Aspects and orbs

An aspect is the angular distance between two planets — how two energies talk to each other. The orb is how far the angle strays from exact. The tighter the orb the louder the aspect: 0 to 2 degrees speaks out loud in your life, 6 to 8 degrees is background music.

The major aspects

• Conjunction (0°): fused, impossible to separate.
• Trine (120°): flow and natural talent; so easy you barely value it.
• Sextile (60°): an opportunity that works if you use it.
• Square (90°): friction and drive. Most growth happens here.
• Opposition (180°): swinging and mirroring; the middle ground is lifelong work.

Minor aspects

• Semi-square (45°) and sesquiquadrate (135°): fine tensions that produce restlessness.
• Quincunx (150°): two areas that don't understand each other and need constant adjusting.
• Semi-sextile (30°): weak but supportive contact.

Applying versus separating

If the faster planet is approaching the slower one the aspect is applying: it hasn't happened yet, it's coming. Moving away, it's separating: the matter has been lived and its effect is fading. This distinction is the basis of dating any transit.

A chart with no squares isn't relaxed, it's unmotivated. Highly productive people usually have plenty.

Every chart in the Charts section lists its major aspects with orbs, so you can see which are tight and which are wide.