Aspect Definitions

An astrological aspect is an angle between two planets. The word aspect comes from the Latin aspicere, and means look. An aspect connects two or more planets, so they must deal with each other whether or not they like it.

Aspects transfer information, acting like a communication network between the planets. An aspect can nurture, diminish, modify or increase the function of the planet concerned, depending on the quality of the aspect and its angle.

Interpreting planetary aspects is essential for reading a horoscope to form a picture of a person’s character. However, individual aspects should not be considered in isolation, and they usually provide disconnected, even contradictory information.

If taken seriously, some negative judgmental interpretations may inhibit personal development. Each aspect only relates to a small part of your life, and it is critical to consider all aspects holistically, especially by looking at Aspect Patterns.

Aspect Interpretations

Major Aspects

Based on empirical results over thousands of years, major aspects in astrology are based on 30 degrees (30°) intervals measured around the zodiac:

Degree °	Aspect	Glyph	Quality	Color
0	Conjunction	☌	Sun/Moon	Orange
30	Semi-Sextile	⚺	Mercury	Green
60	Sextile	⚹	Venus	Blue
90	Square	□	Mars	Red
120	Trine	△	Jupiter	Blue
150	Quincunx	⚻	Saturn	Green
180	Opposite	☍	Saturn	Red

☌ Conjunction

A conjunction occurs when two or more planets lie together. The quality of a conjunction depends on the planets or points involved, and it corresponds to a combination of different components that are hard to differentiate. This often causes a mainly embryonic state and indicates latent talent that must first be developed.

The conjunct planets can barely react to each other or be active with each other. For this, they need external help. If a conjunct stands alone in a horoscope (no aspects to other planets), the latent energy can lie dormant for a lifetime. But such a conjunction can develop if both planets align with the same fixed stars.

Angle: 0°.
Color: Orange.
Planetary Quality: Sun/Moon.
Keywords: Consolidation, connection, germination.

⚺ Semi-Sextile

A semi-sextile aspect indicates a need to experience, learn, discuss, read, and be informed about new things. It brings the information necessary to think objectively and neutrally. It helps you think in small steps, adding one piece of information to another until the collected perceptions make sense. It works by providing information, communicating, and reacting to external stimuli. It is easily influenced and often changes its opinion. Objectivity and indifference merge in the process.

The semi-sextile represents an experimental stage. It is a neutral attempt to test out a situation and determine what the environment is like. If all goes well, growth can continue. Everything that happens provides information and is temporary. Everything is possible, and much remains indefinite and brings no results and nothing conclusive. But a lot can still happen and happen quite differently. This aspect aids perception and helps find what is possible.

Angle: 30°.
Color: Green.
Planetary Quality: Mercury.
Keywords: Cognition, communication, informing.

⚹ Sextile

A sextile aspect corresponds to the Venus qualities of harmony-seeking and willingness to compromise. It is accepting, adaptable and able to attract and assimilate substance. There is usually a passive defense against losing a state of harmony and often a fear of conflict.

The sextile wants to enjoy beauty, survive, and reproduce and is receptive to every impression. Problems are possible with a sextile, but they are subtle problems that are not easy to detect. The sextile tries to avoid conflict but cannot easily tolerate hardship.

Angle: 60°.
Color: Blue
Planetary Quality: Venus.
Keywords: Striving for harmony, growth, assimilation.

□ Square

The nature of a square aspect is energetic, fiery and dynamic. There is usually a deployment of strength or energy supply, which nearly always causes an increased readiness for action and motivation. There is a lot of strength available for assertion and defense. But the square also generates conflict, friction, crises, stress and sometimes also a tendency to aggression.

Squares give the strength to struggle through difficulties and achieve things. Energy is transformed, resulting in achievement. The square is an achievement aspect; the planets involved are achievement tools. People with primarily red aspects are usually very hard-working, and problems only arise when they don’t know when to stop. Red aspects prepare people for effort, while blue aspects tempt them into pleasure.

Red aspects give energy, strength, motivation and readiness for action that makes performance and achievement possible. They trigger energetic processes in us and our environment, which can cause significant inner changes that provoke external resistance.

But red aspects give the courage and self-assertion to cope with them, overcome resistance, reduce inhibitions and fears, unblock deadlocks, and take on conflicts. It is only when things get us down, and we can’t do what should be done that internal and external conflicts arise.

Angle: 90°.
Color: Red.
Planetary Quality: Mars.
Keywords: Friction, stress, deployment of energy.

△ Trine

A trine aspect has a relaxed and harmonious effect. It is a material aspect that tends toward abundance, luxury and enjoyment and gives sensual pleasure. A trine represents talent but sometimes also perfectionism or obsessive behavior.

Too much abundance and partying can lead to a hangover. The delight goes, and nothing satisfies. Such over-saturation often leads to a mental crisis. People with many trines like convenience don’t want to make an effort and can be proud, arrogant and self-satisfied. They may not want to face reality and refuse to admit mistakes. Too many trines can make people ill, resigned and mentally weak. So this aspect carries no guarantee of good luck.

A trine represents

Angle: 120°.
Color: Blue.
Planetary Quality: Jupiter.
Keywords: Perfection, abundance, fruition.

⚻ Quincunx

A quincunx is an aspect of karmic imbalance that can affect health. It causes insecurities on the one hand and the other, the urge to achieve an imagined future goal. Sometimes it is also called the “longing aspect” or inconjunct. It often brings crises, uncertainty, and eventually the challenge of restricting oneself to a single goal, which aids decision-making. It is called “the large thinking step.” According to the planets or points involved, it causes a “Faustian struggle” with the truth.

The quincunx is associated with hoping and longing. You anticipate better times, wish for good and beautiful things, and imagine them as tangible. This is projecting thinking power, an imaginative ability to make things happen.

On the understanding level, thinking ahead that wanders far afield, planning ahead or striving for knowledge that is not yet there but that you are working toward. The quincunx means long deliberation, the prolonged thinking process that could lead to a better outcome. But this process often causes insecurity and crises of indecision.

Angle: 150°.
Color: Green.
Planetary Quality: Saturn.
Keywords: Longing, decision, development of informed opinion.

☍ Opposition

An opposition aspect is formed when two or more planets or points lie opposite in the zodiac. The planetary principles involved often contradict each other, experienced as inner tension and often an energy blockage, stress, or postural rigidity. An opposition also generates inner strength and endurance, particularly relating to the axis subject. Sometimes there is an increased tendency for repression, in which lateral aspects are compensated.

The opposition represents hardship, coldness, standstill and crystallization. But it still offers a form of protection. A strong, impenetrable cover, providing defense, blockage and immunity. It is a waiting stage and preparing for a new cycle, so patience is essential.

Angle: 180°.
Color: Red.
Planetary Quality: Saturn.
Keywords: Pressure, tension, repression.

Aspect Orbs

The word orb comes from the Latin orbis and means radius. An aspect orb is a radius of influence of a few degrees on both sides of the aspect angle, within which the aspect is still effective. This varies according to the astrological importance of the planet and the aspect concerned.

The table below shows the suggested aspect orbs developed by Bruno Huber. ^[1] It was tested over 30 years at the Astrological Psychology Institute. More than a thousand active astrological consultants all over the world put the aspects of horoscopes to the test almost daily in personal consultation with their clients.