What are aspects?

When the angle as viewed from Earth that separates the location of one body of matter in
space from another (or from the Ascendant, Midheaven or Nodes of the Moon) is close to one
of various significant angles in degrees longitude, then the energies of the two factors
concerned will interact at their point of intersection (i.e. the Earth). The effects of the
interaction will correspond to the combination of the general natures and functions of the two
factors concerned, as modified by the nature of the particular type of angle linking them.
These effects will be strongly reflected in the qualities of any person born on the earth at that
moment in time.

The various different significant types of angle are collectively known as 'aspects', and when
one factor is connected to another by an angle of one of these types it is said to be in aspect
to the other.

Aspect types
When the two factors are in exactly the same part of the zodiac, that is to say, separated
from each other by an angle of 0º, they are said to be in conjunction with or conjunct
each other. This is the most powerful of all the aspect types in its effects.

The other aspects by longitude all result from dividing the 360º circle of the ecliptic by prime
numbers or multiplied combinations of those, beginning with the smallest (2). The most
important numbers of circle division to create aspects are 2 and 3. In fact, these were the
only ones used until the late 17th Century, when an astrologer called Johann Kepler
introduced the quintile and septile series of aspects corresponding to the division of the
circle by the factors 5 and 7 respectively. Even more obscure prime numbers such as 11 and
13 are occasionally used by astrologers trying to extract the last droplets of detail from a
birth chart, but are insignificant for the most part.

Thus, the division of the 360º ecliptic by 2 produces an angle of 180º, known as an
opposition; division by 3 produces 120º, called a trine; division by 2*2 (4) produces 90º,
called a square, division by 2*3 (6) produces 60º, termed a sextile, division by 3*3 (9)
produces 40º, called a novile, division by 2*2*2 (8) produces 45º, called a semisquare,
and division by 2*2*3 (12) produces 30º, called a semisextile.

When the division of 360º by any particular prime number or combination of prime numbers
is complete, the resulting angle is known as the base aspect of its 'series', and it is
generally given a name that reflects the circle division factor(s) used to make it (hence three
= trine, six = sextile, eight = semisquare, etc.).

The remaining aspects of the base aspect's series, if any, are found simply by repeatedly
adding it to itself until 180º is reached or exceeded. At each stage of addition, where the
angle that results equals that of an aspect already derived from the division of the 360º circle
by a lower number, it is passed over since it has already been named; but where it is found to
be unique to the base aspect under consideration it is assigned a name that reflects the whole
number multiplier which has been applied to the base aspect to reach it.

In the case of the semisextile (30º), which is the base aspect formed by the division of the
circle by 12, the addition process produces the following results: 30º * 2 = 60º - already
exists (360º / 6); 30º * 3 = 90º - already exists (360º / 4); 30º * 4 = 120º - already exists
(360º / 3); 30º * 5 = 150º - unique to the semisextile series, so it is given a name that
reflects its multiplier, 5: the quincunx. 30º * 6 = 180º - already exists (360º * 2). Any angle
greater than 180º is really one smaller than 180º by a circuitous route, so the addition
process always stops at 180º.
Aspect Type Influences:
The conjunction (1) blends the two energies into a self-contained unit driven to act out its
urges behaviourally without compromise or adjustment to external influences.

The effects of the other aspect types correspond broadly with the balance of the prime
numbers by which the circle was divided to create the base aspect from which each particular
aspect type was formed, regardless of the multiplier (if any). The prime number 2
(opposition, square, semisquare, squisquare series) challenges the individual to action against
resistance, causing struggle, conflict and impact; while the number 3 (trine) causes easy flow
and harmony in the inner consciousness, but inclines towards passivity.

The sextile (2,3) gives eagerness for communication and new learning experiences, energizes
the mind to apply intelligence and inventiveness in expressing the principles indicated,
promotes objective observation and reasoning faculties, and stimulates self-exertion for
benefit from the opportunities of external situations.

The novile series (3*3) is thought to describe the individual's inner ideal; self-identification
with a purpose and function related to a global or universal scheme; spiritual initiation or
emergence into the realm to which the planets in aspect refer; subjective growth through
sacrifice; the nurturing of energies striving to reach fruition; and even the potential marriage
partner.

The semi-sextile (2,2,3) promotes the attraction of both practical, material resources and
more abstract, intangible ones, but lacks sufficient energy and force to stimulate us to
dynamically utilize these potential resources, demanding personal exertion and determination
to this end. The interplay of two signs of different element and mode requires adjustment and
causes tension. The (similar) quincunx pinpoints how we (unconsciously) unproductively drain
our forces.

The quintile series (5) is associated with the use and abuse of authority; and a tendency to be
very one-pointed and intensely driven in a specialized field of activity. It gives the mind
uncommon insight and understanding, and the creative power to mould materials or thoughts
into forms that are true to the idea they are meant to express. It is prominent in the charts of
criminals and their victims, social revolutionaries, dictators, writers, inspired artists and
composers, and scientists.

The septile series (7) is linked to the ability to see the whole formative idea or principle
behind a subject which to the average mind is perceived only in disparate parts; and to the
capacity to receive consciousness-expanding inspiration and to apply this to the fusion of form
and matter. It is prevalent in the charts of people in society exercising priestly functions, and
in creative artists. It causes self-sacrifice through acts compelled by a collective or fated
need.

The influence of aspects also has some connection with the houses they would naturally link
to from the 1st house - thus, an opposition is a 7th house aspect, while a trine is a 9th or 5th
house aspect.

Aspect Patterns
In addition to being considered separately as modifying influences on individual planets and
points in the birth chart, aspects can be viewed as parts of configurations comprised of
multiple interconnected aspects, called aspect patterns. Many of these descriptions lean on
Bil Tierney's assessment of their influences. All are applicable to the luminaries and planets
but not the angles, nodes or minor celestial bodies, which do not qualify for inclusion in
aspect patterns.

The grand trine consists of three planets trining each other. It inclines the individual to an
easy and optimistic manner, with abundant self-confidence, faith and inspiration and a feeling
of being protected, but a danger of stagnating and lacking the drive to get moving if there are
not enough counterbalancing hard aspects or malefic planets tied in (it is statistically under-
represented in famous people), and a tendency to avoid confronting difficulties.

The kite consists of a grand trine one of whose three planets is in opposition to a fourth,
which sextiles the other two. This fourth planet serves as an avenue for the expression of the
grand trine's creative potential in the outer world; and the configuration thus is conducive to
greater success.

The grand sextile consists of six planets evenly spaced around the zodiac forming two grand
trines, three oppositions and six sextiles. This configuration increases charisma, and connects
the individual to his or her environment, with an inclination to direct the varied opportunities
and talents conferred by the trines constructively at aims in the outer world, often a social
cause, but a danger of wasting them through lack of disciplined application.

The grand square or grand cross consists of two oppositions squaring each other, thus
forming four squares. This inclines to a lack of inner harmony which seems to be reflected in
limiting conditions and relationship difficulties in outer life. However, its awkward power can
be motivating, and social awareness strong.

The grand quintile consists of five planets spaced roughly 72º apart from each other around
the zodiac, thus each in quintile aspect to one neighbour on either side. It intensifies the drive
to specialised achievement along creative lines.

The T-square consists of one planet (known as the 'apex planet' or 'focal planet') in
square aspect to one neighbour on each side, with these two neighbours being in mutual
opposition aspect. It is common in successful people. The energy of the apex planet
characteristically is experienced as difficult for the individual to integrate with the functions of
the two planets in opposition, continually and overtly generating tension, conflict, insecurity
or blockage in their mutual association that ultimately manifests in relationship problems but
will be felt especially in the area of life described by the sign and house placement of the apex
planet. It has been suggested that the point opposite the apex planet, known as the empty
leg, will offer clues to the resolution of this conflict by its sign and house placement, though
in any solution the apex planet's nature must be fully taken into account. The incompleteness
of the configuration compared with the static grand square inclines it to energise the
individual more to endeavour to overcome its conflicts.

The yod consists of one planet in sextile aspect to another, and both of these in quincunx
aspect to a third, which is ideally the slowest-moving of the three, and is in any case known
as the apex planet or focus planet and describes the motivation for the outer manifestation
of the tensions caused by the quincunxes. These quincunxes exert pressures on the individual
whose ultimate value is an intuitive confrontation with what impedes him or her from optimal
functioning. Often a seemingly 'fated' crisis will bring on a dramatic change in outlook and
direction, following which the freshly acquired consciousness may be invested in the
application of the sextile to constructive social change or in personal change in the areas of
life governed by the house occupied by the focal planet and reorientation in the areas
governed by the house placement of its opposite point, which is known as the reaction
degree.

The boomerang or closed yod consists of one planet throwing semisextile aspects to one
planet on each side and an opposition to a fourth, which throws quincunxes to the second and
third, these being in mutual sextile aspect. It is thus in effect a yod with a planet on the
reaction degree, known as the reaction planet, which is thought to generate tensional
conflict inhibiting the individual's handling of the apex planet's principles until it (the reaction
planet) is applied to positive self-enlightenment on self-transformative possibilities.

The mystic rectangle consists of two oppositions, each of the ends of both of which is linked
by sextile aspect to one end of the other and by trine aspect to its other end. It favours
harmonious and effective resolution of the conflicts inherent in the oppositions, and adds
insight to relationships. It was named by Dane Rudhyar, who suggested that the oppositions
carry the potential for illumination, while the sextiles can promote the application of this
awareness to inspired ends, aided by theh trines.
The hard rectangle consists of two oppositions, each of the ends of both of which throws a
semisquare to one end of the other and a sesquisquare to its other end. The impetus to a
conscious drive for reconciliation of the conflicts inherent in the oppositions is prodded at non-
overtly by subtle additional conflicts thrown in by the semisquares and sesquisquares.

The stellium is strictly not an aspect pattern but a conglomeration of five or more planets in
one sign, several of which will typically be in mutual conjunction orb (or all if using whole sign
aspects). It intensifies the focus on the sign tenanted by them and converges the energies of
all planets involved in an overpowering manner, lending a 'driven', narrow-focused,
empassioned charisma to the individual, whose nature will be moulded by the general
character of the particular planets involved and expressed through the sign filter in the areas
of life indicated by their house placement.

Harmonic Charts:
For any circle division factor, n, by which the 360º ecliptic is divided, the resultant base
aspect, dº, of n's series is sometimes known as the base aspect of the nth harmonic.

Harmonic charts are figures spreading out the first dº of the ecliptic over an entire 360º
drawn circle, so that there are nº arc of the figure assigned to every 1º arc of the ecliptic;
then looping round over the same circle for each successive dº, so completing n revolutions of
the drawn circle in representing all 360º of the ecliptic.

On this basis, aspects formed from multiples (including 1) of the base aspect, dº, of the circle
division factor n appear on the figure as conjunctions, and are therefore known as nth
harmonic conjunctions. Similarly, aspects formed from multiples of (dº/2) form nth harmonic
oppositions; aspects formed from multiples of (dº/3) form nth harmonic trines; aspects
formed from multiples of (dº/4) form nth harmonic squares; and aspects formed from
multiples of (dº/6) form nth harmonic sextiles.

The beauty of the harmonic chart as a device is in its clear visual representation of nth
harmonic aspects in the nativity which otherwise would not be readily apparent in the natal
figure. It serves as a tool for focusing on the role of a particular harmonic in the life of the
subject. Astrologers most often study the fifth, seventh and ninth harmonics. But Uranian
astrologers particularly favour the fourth harmonic, and call the fourth harmonic chart the
90º dial.

Table of aspects

Name: the usual name for the aspect type

Angle: the angle between the two factors concerned at which the aspect is exact

Division: the prime number(s) by which the 360º circle was divided to form the base aspect

Multiplier: the number by which the base aspect's angle was multiplied to form the aspect
concerned

Orb: the maximum recommended orb of allowance within which the aspect will be effective

Range: the near and far limits for angles within which the aspect will take effect.
Name:.....................Angle:....Division:...Multiplier:...Orb:........Range:.....
Conjunction.................0º..........1............1.........9º..........0-9º......
Sextisextile...............10º.......2,2,3,3.........1.........0.2º......9.8-10.2º...
Semisquisquare.............11.25º...2,2,2,2,2........1.........0.25º......11-11.5º...
Squisextile................15º.......2,2,2,3.........1.........0.5º.....14.5-15.5º...
Vigintile..................18º........2,2,5..........1.........0.2º.....17.8-18.2º...
Seminovile.................20º........2,3,3..........1.........0.4º.....19.6-20.4º...
Squisquare.................22.5º.....2,2,2,2.........1.........0.8º.....21.7-23.3º...
Quintitrine(1).............24º.........3,5...........1.........0.2º.....23.8-24.2º...
Semiseptile................25.7º.......2,7...........1.........0.3º.....25.4-26.0º...
Tredecile..................27.7º.......13............1.........0.2º.....27.5-27.9º...
Semisextile................30º........2,2,3..........1.........1.5º.....28.5-31.5º...
Undecile...................32.75º......11............1.........0.35º....32.4-33.1º...
Trisemisquisquare..........33.75º...2,2,2,2,2........3.........0.25º....33.5-34º.....
Decile(2)..................36º.........2,5...........1.........0.6º.....35.4-36.6º...
Novile(3)..................40º.........3,3...........1.........1º.........39-41º.....
Semisquare.................45º........2,2,2..........1.........2.2º.....42.8-47.2º...
Biquintitrine..............48º.........3,5...........2.........0.2º.....47.8-48.2º...
Quinsextisextile...........50º.......2,2,3,3.........5.........0.2º.....49.8-50.2º...
Septile....................51.4º........7............1.........0.9º.....50.5-52.3º...
Trivigintile...............54º........2,2,5..........3.........0.2º.....53.8-54.2º...
Bitredecile................55.4º.......13............2.........0.2º.....55.2-55.6º...
Quinsemisquisquare.........56.25º...2,2,2,2,2........5.........0.25º......56-56.5º...
Sextile....................60º.........2,3...........1.........3º.........57-63º.....
Biundecile.................65.45º......11............2.........0.35º....65.1-65.8º...
Trisquisquare..............67.5º.....2,2,2,2.........3.........0.8º.....66.7-68.3º...
Septsextisextile...........70º.......2,2,3,3.........7.........0.2º.....69.8-70.2º...
Quintile...................72º..........5............1.........1.8º.....70.2-73.8º...
Quinsquisextile............75º.......2,2,2,3.........5.........0.5º.....74.5-75.5º...
Trisemiseptile.............77.1º.......2,7...........3.........0.3º.....76.8-77.4º...
Septsemisquisquare.........78.75º...2,2,2,2,2........7.........0.25º....78.5-79º.....
Binovile...................80º.........3,3...........2.........1º.........79-81º.....
Tritredecile...............83.1º.......13............3.........0.2º.....82.9-83.3º...
Square.....................90º.........2,2...........1.........6º.......84.0-96.0º...
Quadquintitrine............96º.........3,5...........4.........0.2º.....95.8-96.2º...
Triundecile................98.2º.......11............3.........0.35º...97.85-98.55º..
Quinseminovile............100º........2,3,3..........5.........0.4º.....99.6-100.4º..
Novsemisquisquare.........101.25º...2,2,2,2,2........9.........0.25º.....101-101.5º..
Biseptile.................102.9º........7............2.........0.9º......102-103.8º..
Septsquisextile...........105º.......2,2,2,3.........7.........0.5º....104.5-105.5º..
Tridecile(4)..............108º.........2,5...........3.........0.6º....107.4-108.6º..
Undecasextisextile........110º.......2,2,3,3........11.........0.2º....109.8-110.2º..
Quadtredecile.............110.75º......13............4.........0.2º...110.55-110.95º.
Quinsquisquare............112.5º.....2,2,2,2.........5.........0.8º....111.7-113.3º..
Trine.....................120º..........3............1.........4.5º....115.5-124.5º..
Undecasemisquisquare......123.75º...2,2,2,2,2.......11.........0.25º...123.5-124º....
Septvigintile.............126º........2,2,5..........7.........0.2º....125.8-126.2º..
Quinsemiseptile...........128.6º.......2,7...........5.........0.3º....128.3-128.9º..
Tredecasextisextile.......130º.......2,2,3,3........13.........0.2º....129.8-130.2º..
Quadundecile..............130.9º.......11............4.........0.35º .130.55-131.25º.
Sesquisquare(5)...........135º........2,2,2..........3.........2.2º....132.8-137.2º..
Quintredecile.............138.45º......13............5.........0.2º...138.25-138.65º.
Septseminovile............140º........2,3,3..........7.........0.4º....139.6-140.4º..
Biquintile................144º..........5............2.........1.8º....142.2-145.8º..
Tredecasemisquisquare.....146.25º...2,2,2,2,2.......13.........0.25º.....146-146.5º..
Quincunx..................150º........2,2,3..........5.........1.5º....148.5-151.5º..
Triseptile................154.3º........7............3.........0.9º....153.4-155.2º..
Septsquisquare............157.5º.....2,2,2,2.........7.........0.8º....156.7-158.3º..
Quadrinovile..............160º.........3,3...........4.........1º........159-161º....
Novvigintile..............162º........2,2,5..........9.........0.2º....161.8-162.2º..
Quinundecile..............163.65º......11............5.........0.35º...163.3-164º....
Undecasquisextile.........165º.......2,2,2,3........11.........0.5º....164.5-165.5º..
Setredecile...............166.15º......13............6.........0.2º...165.95-166.15º.
Quindecasemisquisquare....167.75º...2,2,2,2,2.......15.........0.25º...167.5-168º....
Septquintitrine...........168º.........3,5...........7.........0.2º....167.8-168.2º..
Septdecasextisextile......170º.......2,2,3,3........17.........0.2º....169.8-170.2º..
Opposition................180º..........2............1.........9º........171-180º....

(1) or quindecile (2) or decagon / semiquintile; (3) or nonagon; (4) or sesquiquintile / tredecile; (5) or sesquiquadrate.

Note: there may occasionally be some overlap between the range of aspects formed from the division of the circle by
different prime numbers. An aspect falling within an 'overlap' range combines in its interpretation the prime number
properties of both aspect series present.
Orbs of proximity
Because angular connections between factors at the time of birth produce an effect on the
person born when they are simply close to corresponding to the exact angle of one of the
significant aspect types, a system of orbs of allowance is applied to the different types of
aspect, indicating how nearly the angular relationships between two factors have to match the
exact angle of the aspect type concerned to qualify as forming the aspect. For instance, a
sextile has to be accurate only to within 3º either side of 60º to produce a significant effect,
so any angle from 57º to 63º between two chart factors qualifies as a sextile. The allowable
orb of the sextile aspect in general is thus specified as being 3º.

Historically, orbs allowed were larger or smaller relative to the average importance of the two
luminaries or planets being connected; but in the late 19th Century an astrologer called Alan
Leo introduced the concept that orbs should be more or less consistent between any pair of
factors for a given aspect type, and most astrologers since have followed his view. This said,
some will still allow greater orbs for aspects to the luminaries or the ruling planet (usually
meaning the planet considered by astrologers to have the closest natural affinity with the
particular Ascendant sign in the individual's birth chart), and it is generally acknowledged that
orbs for aspects to minor bodies such as the asteroids, centaurs and fixed stars should be
much reduced.

The conjunction and opposition have been shown to work with broadly equivalent orbs since
they are both in effect aspects relating to the division of the circle into two. Beyond this,
however, the orbs of allowance for a given aspect decline in line with the circle division factors
used to create the base aspect, subject to a variation in slope of orb decline according to the
relative obscurity of the aspect's circle division factors (with '2' being more significant than 3,
5, 7, 11 and 13 in turn); and a shallower decline for all aspects that form multiples of thirty
degrees and therefore correspond to the natural zodiac.

Applying vs. Separating Aspects

Many astrologers distinguish between the effects of applying aspects, where the faster-
moving factor was getting closer to achieving the exact aspect with the slower-moving one,
and will have reached it after the moment of birth; and separating ones, where the exact
aspect had already happened before birth and the faster-moving factor was therefore moving
further away from the slower one. Astrologers mostly believe that applying aspects are
stronger in their effects than separating ones, and some even allow them larger orbs
accordingly; however, one prominent astrologer in the late 19th century took the opposite
view. The process whereby a faster-moving planet comes within orb of an aspect to a slower-
moving planet or stationary point in the figure and approaches the exact aspect over time is
called its application to the slower-moving planet or point.

Dexter vs. Sinister Aspects

A further distinction in perspective is drawn between dexter or lower aspects: those from a
specified planet to a point less than 180º after it in the zodiac (anticlockwise from it in the
figure), and sinister or upper aspects: those from a specified planet to a point less than
180º before it in the zodiac (clockwise from it in the figure).

Working out what aspects are in a natal figure:

1. Either use a free chart calculation service such as the ones at astro.com and
astrology.com, or use the manual calculation procedure detailed in the Calculation article, to
determine the positions by signs, degrees (º) and minutes (') of the celestial bodies and
angles in the birth chart whose aspects you want to look up. If you use an automated service,
you should see your sign placements clearly listed beneath the natal figure itself - you can
ignore the diagram of the figure; and the signs to which the shorthand astrological 'glyphs'
or symbols correspond are labelled. You don't need to use the glyphs yourself; the words will
do fine. Write down all the sign, degree and minute placements on a piece of paper in a list.

2. For the sake of convenience when it comes to calculating the angular separation between
all your factors, convert the minutes of degrees into the nearest complete decimal point of a
degree: for 0-5 minutes, add 0.0; for 6-11 minutes, 0.1; for 12-17 minutes, add 0.2; for 18-
23 minutes, add 0.3; for 24-29 minutes, add 0.4; for 30-35 minutes, add 0.5; for 36-41
minutes, add 0.6; for 42-47 minutes, add 0.7; for 48-53 minutes, add 0.8; for 54-59
minutes, add 0.9. For example, if you have the Sun at 19º46' of Scorpio, convert it into 19.7º
Scorpio.

3. Follow the step-by-step instructions under 'Calculating the Aspects' in the Calculation
article.

You will be asked to make a note for each aspect you discover of the orb of proximity that
you are having to allow. The closer to the centre of the allowed range for the aspect type, the
stronger the effects of the aspect will be. In the example in the article, 84.6º is 5.4º away
from the exact angle of the square, 90º, so you would write down '5.4º' by 'Sun square
Moon'. You can see that this is about three quarters of the distance towards the outer limit
(7º) of the allowable orb for a square, so the aspect will not apply at maximum strength but
will still be significant, squares being among the strongest aspects in any case.

4. Continue until you have worked out all the aspects in the figure and their orbs of proximity.

Choosing which interpretations to read:

The aspect types covered in separate pages for each pair of chart factors in the Astro
Interpretations reference section are the conjunction; sextile and trine; square and
opposition; and quincunx. The sextile and trine are grouped together, as are the square
and opposition, because some authors have written one delineation to cover all 'soft' or
'harmonious' aspects and one for all 'hard' or 'inharmonious' aspects; but you will also find
separate interpretations for the square and opposition and for the trine and sextile by other
authors, and should read whichever one of those corresponds to the nature of the aspect you
are looking up most closely. For aspect types not specifically covered by the interpretations, I
would suggest the following approximations:

For the quintile, biquintile (5), and the septile, biseptile and treseptile (7), consider the
entry for the trine, modified in the light of the characteristics supposed of the prime numbers
5 or 7.

For the decile and tredecile, consider the entry for the sextile, modified in the light of the
characteristics supposed of the prime number 5. 2*5 is closest to 2*3.

For the semisextile, consider the entry for the quincunx, for which it is the base aspect,
modified with reference to the meaning of the semisextile.

For the semisquare, sesquisquare, squisquare, tresquisquare, quinsquisquare and

septsquisquare, read the entry for the square, but presume a less forceful, more niggling
conflict, based on the multiple instances of the prime number 2 in which their base aspects
are sourced.

For the novile, binovile and quadnovile, consider the entry for the trine, modified in the
light of the characteristics supposed of the novile series (3,3).

Affliction
A planet or point receiving from any planet an aspect derived from the division of the figure
by the prime number 2 or combinations thereof (particularly the square, semisquare and
sesquiquadrate but also the opposition), or receiving from a malefic planet (Mars, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune or Pluto) a conjunction or parallel, is said to be afflicted.

Unaspected Planets
Where a planet forms no major (Ptolemaic) aspect to any other planet within a reasonably
strict orb, it is considered unaspected, and characteristically seems poorly integrated into
the conscious personality, self-contained, and solitary in action. It may appear often to act as
a law unto itself in the particular area indicated by its house placement, unmoderated by the
rest of the individual's nature. Sometimes, unpredictably, it will shoot off into a crescendo of
autonomic activity. Then at other times it may disappear from view completely. Its behaviour
is thus erratic and can seem uncontrolled by either the individual's conscious will or any social
conditioning. Additional emphasis will be lent to the sign it occupies in the life of the
individual.

Declination, Parallels and Contraparallels:

In addition to being measurable by signs and degrees longitude around the celestial
ecliptic or zodiac, the positions of the celestial bodies relative to the earth can be expressed
in terms of their declination by degrees north or south of the celestial equator. Maximum
northward declination is reached around 0º Cancer, and maximum southward declination is
reached around 0º Capricorn.

If all the planets revolved around the Sun along exactly the same plane as the Earth and as
each other, it would be simple to deduce declination from longitude. In practice, there are
some variations in the plane of orbit within the band of space we know as the ecliptic which
all the planets broadly follow. As a result, the declination of a planet at any given longitude
will vary slightly at different times and for different planets, and it is ultimately necessary to
look up declination data in a complete ephemeris which lists it in addition to longitude data.

The final major aspect type is measured by declination, not longitude, and is called the
parallel of declination. It is found where two planets in the same celestial hemisphere (on
the same side of the celestial equator, which traces a line from 0º Aries to 0º Libra) as each
other share the same declination to within a one degree orb. In such circumstance, the effects
are varied depending on the planets' mutual relation by longitude:

(1) If the planets are on the same side as each other of an imaginary line through the
celestial sphere connecting the tropics (0º Cancer to 0º Capricorn), then in most cases they
will also be mutually conjunct, and then the parallel of declination is dwarfed in effect by and
becomes assimilated into the conjunction. In rare cases where despite the parallel being in
orb they are out of conjunction orb (which will only occur at latitudes close to one of the
tropics, where for a given change in longitude declination changes much more gradually than
it does at its maximum rate of change over the equator), then the presence of the parallel will
draw them together almost as though they were in weak conjunction orb.

(2) If the planets are on the opposite side from each other of the line through the celestial
sphere connecting the tropics, then they are situated at each other's solstice points and said
to be related by antiscia. This provides the strongest classical condition for considering the
presence of a parallel in chart interpretation, and is considered similar in effect to a
conjunction. Planets related by antiscia are said to behold each other (the defining classical
stamp of qualification for being in aspect, which is also granted to conjunctions, sextiles,
squares, trines and oppositions) and to be in signs of equal power.

Another aspect derived from declination is the contraparallel. This occurs when two planets
in the opposite celestial hemisphere from each other share an equivalent degree of
declination, albeit one northward and the other southward declination to the same value,
again within a one degree orb. Again, the effects are slightly variable depending on the
planets' mutual relation by longitude:

(1) If they are on opposite sides of the line through the tropics, then in most cases they will
also be in mutual opposition aspect, and the contraparallel is dwarfed by this and can be
disregarded. Rarely, and only at latitudes close to the opposing tropics, they will then be out
of opposition orb but in contraparallel orb, and then the contraparallel may be felt as a very
weak opposition.

(2) If the planets are on the same side as each other of the line through the tropics, they will
form a contraparallel without any chance of an accompanying opposition by longitude. They
will then be said to be related by contra-antiscia. This fulfils the strongest classical condition
for considering the presence of a contraparallel in chart interpretation; and is considered
similar in effect to an opposition, balancing the factors in mutual contraparallel aspect with
some tension. Planets related by contra-antiscia qualify as beholding each other, but are
said to be commanding and obeying, with the one in the northern hemisphere
commanding, and the one in the southern hemisphere obeying.

Antiscia are distinguished from parallels in being measured by longitude not declination;
only some planets in parallel are related by antiscion too; and most but not all planets in
close antiscion aspect are parallel. Likewise, only some planets in contra-parallel aspect are
related by contra-antiscia; and most but not all planets in close contra-antiscion aspect are
contra-parallel. Planets parallel or contra-parallel qualify for antiscial / contra-antiscial relation
by whole sign relationship, with no regard for orb. A rare antiscion or contra-antiscion
aspect between planets out of parallel or contra-parallel orb, however, will need to be exact to
within 1-2º longitude to be felt much, and then will resemble a weak-orbed conjunction or
opposition.

Quincunx vs. Inconjunct:

The term 'inconjunct' has sometimes been loosely used by modern astrological textbooks to
refer to the quincunx. This is incorrect, since the classical meaning of 'inconjunct' is 'not in
mutual aspect'. Since conventionally semisextiles and quincunxes were not considered true
aspects at all, planets in mutual quincunx or semisextile aspect by modern astrological
thinking would have been regarded as 'inconjunct' in the past, unless they also beheld each
other (as defined above) by virtue of being in mutual antiscion or contra-antiscion relation, in
which case they would not be inconjunct. The term 'inconjunct' thus applies to the relation
between planets in mutual quincunx or semisextile aspect only when they are not in antiscion
or contra-antiscion relation by whole sign.

Aspects in Ancient Astrology

In ancient astrological practice, aspects are measured primarily by whole sign distance, and
without regard at all to any degree-precise measurements, orbs of allowance, or harmonic
circle division factors, such as are used by moderns. There is some recognition of the added
power of exact aspects where the two factors concerned shared the same whole degree value,
these aspects being called partile. Dissociate aspects (those between two points that are in
a particular type of aspect as measured by degrees but not as counted by signs) are
completely unrecognised, however. Only whole-sign conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines
and oppositions (collectively known sometimes as Ptolemaic aspects since they were the
only established aspect types noted by Ptolemy) are counted. Planets in whole-sign
conjunction are known as 'with' each other; those in other types of mutual whole-sign aspect
'behold', 'witness' or 'throw rays at' each other.

Similarly, in predictive astrology, transits of a particular aspect type to a specified point in the
birth chart are considered to be active from the moment the transiting planet ingresses a
particular sign that is naturally in this type of aspect to the sign in which the natal point is
found, and to retain this activity until the transiting planet exits this same sign. Yet, they are
considered strongest when the transiting planet is in the same whole-number degree as the
planet being aspected.
A connection is drawn between the character of each type of aspect and the character of the
particular planet serving as the domicile ruler of the pair of signs naturally related by this
aspect to the domiciles of the Moon and Sun (namely Cancer and Leo). Thus, Mercury being
considered a neutral planet, domiciled in the pair of signs in semi-sextile aspect to the
domiciles of the Lights, the semi-sextile is considered of neutral character (in fact, not
regarded as being an aspect at all); Venus being considered the 'lesser benefic', domiciled in
the pair of signs in sextile aspect to the domiciles of the Lights, the sextile is considered of
mildly benefic character; Mars being considered the 'lesser malefic', domiciled in the pair of
signs in square aspect to the domiciles of the luminaries, the square is considered of mildly
malefic character; Jupiter being considered the 'greater malefic', domiciled in the pair of signs
in trine aspect to the domiciles of the Sun and Moon, the trine is considered of strongly
benefic character; and Saturn being considered the greater malefic, domiciled in the pair of
signs in opposition to Leo and Cancer (although also quincunx them), the opposition is
considered of strongly malefic character.

However, in some traditions the general character of the planets in aspect was often
considered more important as a determinant of benefic or malefic influence than the aspect
type. Thus, an inharmonious aspect from a benefic would still be considered mildly benefic,
while a harmonious aspect from a malefic would be considered malefic.

Aspects were not anciently considered as mutual connections between two functions of life, so
much as unidirectional influences acting upon a particular planetary significator governing
an area of an individual's life under consideration. The general (benefic or malefic) nature of
the planet throwing an aspect to this significator, combined with the aspect type, determines
its positive or negative influence upon the principles of life governed by the significator.

Planets related through their sign tenancies by semisextile or quincunx, unless mitigated by
one of the criteria of familiarity, as discussed below, are variously termed in aversion,
unconnected or alienated (equivalent to the term more used today 'inconjunct').

Aversion by whole sign from the position of the lord of a house to that of the house itself
(using whole-sign houses) debilitates the house.

The mitigating condition of familiarity occurs when (1) the signs are in antiscion or contra-
antiscion relationship, or (2) the signs share the same domicile ruler.

According to Joseph Crane, the ancients often distinguished between the planets in aspect to
each other with regard to which of them was located ahead of the other by the shortest
connecting path around the zodiac. A planet in Gemini would be ahead of one in Capricorn,
while one in Sagittarius would be ahead of one in Libra. The planet behind 'looks ahead' to
the one ahead, initiating the contact by scrutinising the one ahead; in turn, the planet ahead
'throws rays back' at the one behind, conveying a reaction (moulded by its general nature)
to the manner in which it has been 'looked at' back to the one behind. The planet behind and
looking ahead is generally regarded as superior in position, particularly where a square is
involved.

Aspects in mediaeval astrology

By mediaeval times, whole sign aspects had been superseded in practice by an early system
of aspect orb allowances. These are set according to the moiety of (i.e. half) the sum of the
standard orbs accorded as a general rule to each particular luminary or planet involved in the
aspect. The standard orbs are in theory loosely based on the visible arc radius of light around
each planet. The following table shows the planetary orbs assigned by Al-Biruni.

Planet...|.Orb..|
Sun......|.15º..|
Moon.....|.12º..|
Mercury..|..7º..|
Venus....|..7º..|
Mars.....|..8º..|
Jupiter..|..9º..|
Saturn...|..9º..|

These assignations notably exclude the angles and Arabian Parts, which as points rather than
celestial bodies are considered to have no orb; and so the orb of an aspect from a planet to
an angle or Part is the moiety of the standard orb for the planet. Since Uranus, Neptune,
Pluto and the asteroids are not visible from Earth, Joseph Crane infers that they too would
have no orb by the mediaeval logic of orbs.

Applying and separating aspects are accorded more particular significances in mediaeval
astrology than in modern astrology. Each planet is particularly strongly associated with the
next planet (in time) with which it will form an exact aspect by application, and is said to be
joining this planet. This aspect is given priority over all others as a conditioning influence on
the applying planet as a significator. Various associated rules include the following:

1) A planet joining or being joined by the lord of the Ascendant is considered harmoniously
integrated as a significator.

2) The planet being joined by the Moon is considered dignified as a significator; and it is also
thought to be harmoniously connected with the planet being separated from (i.e. most
recently aspected) by the Moon, since the Moon is held to transfer the light of the separated
planet to the one being joined.

3) Two planets not in mutual aspect but both joining a third are connected by what is known
as collection of light by the third planet.

The phenomenon whereby a planet apparently being joined by the significator under
consideration (since the significator is the closest planet applying to it) is on course to join a
third planet currently ahead of it before the significator reaches it is called abscission of
light. When a planet apparently joining a slower-moving planet moves into retrograde motion
before reaching it, it is said to 'refrain' from perfecting the aspect. These are examples of
frustrations.