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As people become more interested in astrology, astrological generalizations are all too common. Specific astrology signs have certain characteristics, and this can lead many to form judgments based on sign placement. However, this is not accurate in-depth astrology. Sign placements provide a general overview of the planetary energy, but they do not account for aspects that play a significant part in the expression of planetary energies. It is for this reason that you can have two people who are an Aries sun, but they both express their Aries energy in different ways. To determine why there is a difference in expression, it is important to understand astrological aspects.
What are Aspects in Astrology?
In astrology, an aspect is an angle that planets make to each other. The major astrological aspects include trine, sextile, conjunction, opposition, and square. Each of these aspects describes how planets interact with each other energetically. The following is an overview of the major astrological aspects.
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The trine and sextile aspects are considered beneficial or “easy-going” energy patterns. Trine energy shows that the planetary energy works in alignment without much effort. Sextile energy is also beneficial but does require that the individual take the opportunity to use the energies in a beneficial manner.
The conjunction, opposition, and the square are considered the more challenging energy patterns. Conjunctions are intense because the energies are the same which can sometimes result in a blind spot where the individual doesn’t have any outer influence to direct them away from the extremes of particular sign energy. Oppositions reveal energy where an individual faces pushback from an outside force in order to address and/or resolve, if possible, said energies. The square is considered to be the most challenging aspect because it shows a constant unease between planetary energies. The person will know that this is something wrong and because of this, they will have opportunities to encounter and address the tense energies.
An applied example of aspects in astrology is the Moon in Cancer square Saturn in Libra. The planetary bodies, the moon and Saturn, are forming a tense energetic angle to each other. This square energy influences how the Moon in Cancer and Saturn in Libra energies are expressed.
It is important to note that while some aspects are considered to be more beneficial or challenging, all aspects have their benefits and shortcomings. Too much trine and sextiles can make people lazy and unmotivated while too many squares, oppositions, and conjunctions can make some people feel they are fighting an uphill battle. The key is acknowledging the aspects in order to maximize energetic potentials.
Why Aspects Matter
Aspects matter in astrology because they offer a deeper understanding of energy patterns, and they allow us to better understand ourselves and others. People are still unique…even if they are born with similar astrological sign placements because the energy between the planets at the time of birth varies for everyone.
The natal chart energies are just as unique as fingerprints. While there are commonalities among people of are specific signs, this is just icing on the cake. To truly understand who a person is astrologically, it is important to understand how an individual personally experiences the energy of a sign placement. Not all Leo suns experience being a Leo in the same way. The aspects from the sun to other planets offer a more in-depth understanding of how that one particular Leo sun carries and expresses their natal planetary energies.
Putting Aspects to Work
Here is a practical example using the Moon in Cancer square Saturn in Libra placement mentioned previously. Typically, the moon in Cancer energy is home and family-centered. The mother or maternal side of the family is a great influence, and there is often a strong desire to nurture and be nurtured. Having a place to call “home” is also important.
Now, let’s say we have a person with Moon in Cancer with a square from Saturn. The tense square aspect from a serious planet such as Saturn will apply Saturn energy to the moon’s expression. Saturn energy can be serious, responsible, authoritative, and in some cases burdensome. When speaking to a person with a moon in Cancer with a square from Saturn, you may find that perhaps the family unit wasn’t as nurturing as desired. Perhaps this person has obstacles related to being abandoned by family, feeling unloved, and even feeling that they have had to assume the responsibility as the parent because the mother figure was not able to do so.
Thus, the square aspect shows that there are tense energies experienced as it relates to Moon and Saturn energy. So, a person with this particular aspect may not have the traditional positive nurturing, family-oriented experience represented by the Moon in Cancer placement.
Overall, understanding aspects is important to know how energies are experienced personally and collectively because there is more than meets the eye with a sign placement. The aspects genuinely reveal how a person experiences the energies of their natal astrological sign placements. So, the next time you meet someone, and they seem atypical of their zodiac sign, you are seeing the power and importance of astrological aspects at play
