Aspects

Aspects are geometric relationships between planets, or where the planets lie in relation to each other. To Magi Astrologers, the aspects are the tools of our trade.

Aspects in the Longitudes

The longitudes of the geocentric and heliocentric charts are very similar. The planets' movements are simplified to circles and the aspects in this dimension are when the planets are at specific angles to one another. There are three main types to consider here and they are based on dividing the circle into five, seven and twelve equal parts.

The conjunction is common to all of these and is when one planet is very close to another or 0° apart. It is included in the discussion of each of the different division types for completeness. We allow a certain margin around the exact degree of an aspect, called an orb, which we'll discuss later.

Dividing the circle into five equal parts (Figure 1) gives us segments of 72° and we consider three aspects here (Table 1).

Figure 1. Division of a circle into five equal parts.

Table 1. Aspects when dividing the longitude circle into five equal parts

Name	Symbol	Angle of Separation	Notes
Conjunction		0°	Can be positive of negative depending on the planet involved
Quintile		72°	Chaotic and unpredictable
Biquintile		144°	Chaotic and unpredictable

Dividing the circle into seven equal parts (Figure 2) gives us segments of 51.429° and we consider four aspects here (Table 2).

Figure 2. Division of a circle into seven equal parts.

Table 2. Aspects when dividing the longitude circle into seven equal parts

Name	Symbol	Angle of Separation	Notes
Conjunction		0°	Can be positive of negative depending on the planet involved
Zodiac7one (septile)	S	51.429°	Neutral; depends on the planets involved
Zodiac7two (biseptile)	S2	102.857°	Neutral; depends on the planets involved
Zodiac7three (triseptile)	S3	154.286°	Neutral; depends on the planets involved

Dividing the circle into twelve equal parts (Figure 2) gives us segments of 30° and we consider seven aspects here (Table 3). This is the most familiar and common way of division and gives us the twelve signs of the Zodiac and the houses.

Figure 3. Division of a circle into twelve equal parts.

Table 3. Aspects when dividing the longitude circle into twelve equal parts

Name	Symbol	Angle of Separation	Notes
Conjunction		0°	Can be positive or negative depending on the planet involved
Semi-sextile		30°	Helpful
Sextile		60°	Helpful
Square		90°	Turbulent and difficult
Trine		120°	Enhancement; very helpful
Quincunx		150°	Complicated; negative for Saturnian-type planets, can also be too powerful and difficult to handle for other planets if too close to exact
Opposition		180°	Turbulent and difficult

Let's first look at the aspect in the declinations/latitudes before looking at some examples.

Aspects in the Declinations/Latitudes

The declinations and latitudes exist in the geocentric and heliocentric perspectives respectively. They are similar in that they are a measurement of the movement of the planets when the Solar System is view from the side. The planets have an up-down movement. Another way of expressing it is that the planets oscillate from a maximum to a minimum. Figure 4 shows this osculation as a sine wave; movement from a maximum northerly position to a minimum southerly one.

This movement is most familiar to us as the Sun's apparent position changes during the year creating the seasons. When the Sun is at its most northerly it is summer in the Northern hemisphere and winter in the Southern, and vice versa when the Sun is at its most southerly position. These extreme positions represent the solstices which occur in June and December. The equinoxes are when the Sun crosses the Equator in March and September.

The Sun never moves greater than 23.44° North or South, but some of the other planets do (e.g. Mercury).

When two planets are the same declinations (e.g. both 10° North) then we say that they are in parallel to each other. When they are on opposite sides (e.g. one is 10° North and the other 10° South) then they are contra-parallel.

These are the two aspects that occur in the declinations. In the latitudes the same aspects are called parallel and contra-latitude.

Figure 4. Graph of the declinations of the Sun over one year. Negative values are when the Sun is South of the Equator, and positive values are when it is North.

Degree Orbs

We allow a certain margin around each aspect so that two planets don't have to be exactly in aspect. These margins are called orbs and are as follows: