The Meaning of Aspects

in Prediction

 

In previous essays I’ve discussed progressions and a complete protocol for using progressions and transits in classical astrology. Remember this is what this author calls 4th stage astrology. One of 5th Stage Astrology Psychological Astrology’s main purposes is to limit the amount of measurements and get directly into discussion with the client about his/her needs as shown by the astrological chart.

This is not the case with Classical Astrology which is substantially more event oriented. In this case the astrologer wishes to obtain data to share with the client about the directions that external events may impinge on them and on what the client’s reactions could be to such circumstances. This difference is enormously important.

Thus, Classical Astrology needs lots of measurements to provide enough information on event type issues. However, my own astrology is not strictly classicly event oriented. I am interested in exploring with a client what the broad frames of likely action would be and how they might impinge on the client. For example, how they might be likely to deal with changes that impact them by the events that may be ahead. Once again, the distinction here is that psychological astrology takes it one step further and explores how the person might actually feel about the circumstances, and need relationships that exist between people and their circumstances. This is masterfully described by Noel Tyl in his latest volume: ASTROLOGY OF INTIMACY, SEXUALITY, AND RELATIONSHIP.

In this missive, I am speaking about the HIDDEN relationship of various aspects(conjunction, inconjunction etc.) to house structure, and thus establishing a basic meaning for the aspect when used classical astrological prediction(secondary progressions and transits, mostly). Remember, what I am explaining here has no current analog in 5th stage psychological astrology. You may wish to explore that yourself. Since I firmly believe that ASTROLOGY IS ASTROLOGY, I cannot only believe that it remains discoverable for the earnest student.

In using secondary progressions, their effectiveness is strictly dependent on having the progressed planet be aspecting an angular cusp, a planet in an angular house, or the ruler of the Ascendant. Unless one of these three exists, the circumstance that is being looked at will affect others people or people in his/her circle of friends, but not so much of the individual himself. And also, s/he will not be aware of its impact on these others until later for a succeedent house and MUCH, MUCH later for a cadent house.

The basic meaning of an aspect is always based on the distance from the first cusp no matter what kind of chart it actually occurs in.

I posit two kinds of aspects: the capacitor aspects and the expender aspects. The first appears to provide only a status quo, a continuance of what is. But they are far more than that. Everything that exists, exists as a yin/yang process. Whenever you see the capacitor aspects, look at them not as boring, but as those which are storing energy in the chart for the expender aspects. A chart with only trines and sextiles will leave a person with an enormous well of stored energy, but no place to put them. “He was all dressed up but had no place to go.”

The Expender aspects are those where energy is exspended in action. These are more exciting because you can see things happening. However, a chart with mostly expender aspects will be the chart of a worn out person who is unable to develop enough energy to keep a sustained project going. “He had so many places to go, that he let his wardrobe go completely to hell.”

THE ZODIACAL CAPACITOR ASPECTS

THE CONJUNCTION:

The conjunction is the most personal of the aspects as it matches the first house. A progressed planet that functions in a conjunction to the ascendant, the ruler of the ascendant, or a planet in the first house is a guarantee of activity of a first house nature.

THE SEMI-SEXTILE

The semi-sextile is clearly a minor aspect, and stimulates minor events. Often we call it “given 1/2 of a chance.” Since it measures to the asc from both the 2nd and the 12th houses it will impact a slight more favorable set of circumstances that are more likely to involve issues that are financial interest or show getting help from others, or on the 12th house side a slight greater chance of preparing self-protection of interests.

THE SEXTILE

The sextile is commonly considered an aspect that gives a chance. This is obviously more impactive than the semi-sextile, which only gives “half of a chance.” Its measurement to the 3rd house suggests a chance positive impact with issues relating to travel, communicating, friends, relatives, and on the 11th house side, unforeseen circumstances that give a positive direction as well as a positive movement toward ones hopes and wishes.

Having the progression or transit in a sextile to an Rx planet has that tendency to keep returning to it, and perhaps not accepting opportunity’s knock the first time, only to discover that opportunity has left and gone to ask someone else. It has a kind of VOC planetary feel, and if the Moon in the chart was in fact VOC, then it would be the second of Ivy’s three rules for finding stuff in charts.

THE TRINE:

The trine measures to the 5th and 9th cusps, so that the little effort gain is more likely to be associated with speculations, and children, as a well as religion, rituals, long journeys, dreams and publishing. An aspect at the same time in another direction that is a square will mitigate the benefits.


THE PARALLEL

A parallel should be considered as strong as a conjunction. If both planets are in they same hemisphere the strength will be maintained, but if they are in opposite hemispheres, one cannot consider this to be a long term stability.

The semi-sextile, sextile, trine, conjunction, and parallel are often considered keepers of the status quo and not considered changers of events. Because they don’t bring a requirement of forced action they can be considered BORING, but they have a purpose, and sometimes maintenance and little more of the same is important. These four are the capacitors of the zodiac. You must build up energy before you can expend it. So remember that these status quo aspects are allowing you to build up the energy necessary to deal with the changes brought about by the more active aspects.


THE ZODIACAL ENERGY EXPENDING ASPECTS

THE SQUARE

The square measures to the 4th and 10th cusps. As these square the first house the action of the square, a forcing of action, tend to affect the first house and its issues. More often than not, squares in the chart are likely to affect issues of the 4th and 10th houses first, even of the square is to a planet in another house. With the fourth and 10th houses on an axis from each other, things that happen in the home affect things that happen in the career, and vice versa. If the Progressing or transiting planet aspects a planet other than Venus or Jupiter, one needs to be aware of the potential for worry, illness, or something that combines the two.


THE SESQUARE(135 DEGREES)

This is the other half of a semi-square, and puts it in the middle of the 5th and the 9th houses. Generally its affect, in addition to the planet the progressed planet is aspecting to, is an unfavorable situation involving loss in anything that has a measure of speculation to it(or in other words a kind of bad luck) as well as not a obviously positive circumstance for publishing, educational or religious issues.

THE INCONJUNCT

This aspect measures to the 6th and 8th houses. As such the impact is likely to have some involvement with things unraveling or changes involving money that other people own or want from you. It also has the characteristic of sneaking up on you, and forcing a reorganization of what you thought things were going for. The Inconjunct ins clearly the planet of the Murphy’s law of: “things always cost more and take more time that you figured they would.”

THE OPPOSITION

The opposition measures to the 7th cusp. Oppositions generally have the flavor of circumstances where other people are involved in a contract where the rights are equal. And of course, just like the natal, predictive chart with an opposition leaves one without a direct action required. Look to the created square in the appropriate house for the action that is necessary for the opposition.

ERIC

Copyright©Eric J. Uberseder, 2002