`` As if - the explanation of Emergence

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Aspects


You do something to me - Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me, from the album Stanley Road


Index


What an Aspect is


Aspects occur whenever planets are in relationship to one another, which is actually all the time, it is just that, when in certain places, a particular planet may be more or less active, and may be more or less in tune - cooperative - with another planet. These connections were all called conjunctions in the old days - a coming together - but nowadays each kind has a specific title, and a specific quality. They also function in a number of different ways, but the bottom line is that there has to be some sameness for the connection to function and when it does, some kind of change usually occurs, causing the emergence of a new state of affairs.That said, where there are differences there can still be consequences.


The crucial concept to grasp is that each planet is a transmutation of type, of element, that can happen at anytime life and will bring about the necessary circumstances; for instance whenever we remember something that did happen, then we are doing Uranus. But, when two planets come together, they act together, with consequences that are more than either acting individually. Coming together just means that they are the same in some way that time and location means that they will be called on in the same moment, or in the same sequence of events. The most obvious coming together is what we now call the conjunction, but even planets separated by half the Zodiac may still share some connection, and it is the aspects that describe those connections.


The underlying sameness may be due to being the same planet, being in the same place, or connecting in other ways that although not identical can be seen as sharing some connecting similarity. For instance, the two planets may produce the same kind of element, or feed on the same kind of element, or be complementary in that one feeds the other. The other thing is that inactive planets cannot do anything unless fed by an active planet, i.e. a planet that is not in its source element cannot function unless aided by another. Bear in mind that elements occur at many different levels, and so relate to many sizes of groups, from individuals to all of humanity, and from individuals to their deepest concentration. The point is that planets may technically be in aspect, but may also be inactive.


Aspects were traditionally recognised as similarities of degree, while the potency of a planet was attributed to many kinds of arcane dignity, or otherwise. While it was undoubtedly natural for the ancients to dream up reasons to account for times of inactivity, the Mandala Zodiac enables us to see the underlying truth of why this really was the case. That insight enables us to largely do away with the concept of orbs - the allowable degree of inaccuracy of aspects - replacing it with the quanta of sectors.


Aspects may occur between planets in a single chart, or between the planets of one chart and another chart, such as when considering transits that are planets of one moment, against the planets of some other moment. Also, aspects may be combined to form larger patterns, so we have a stellium - 3 or more planets in conjunction, a grand trine - three planets in trine, a grand square - four planets in square, a T-square - 3 planets in square and opposition. Then there are patterns such as the Yod - two inconjuncts and a sextile. Probably we ought to recognise that there could be a pentagram of bi-quintiles, a hexagram of interlocking grand trines, and anything else that has multiple planets firing on all cylinders at the same time. For an example of something like this see Lizzie Borden's transits on the day of the axe murders (go to page)


The other manner in which planets connect is through Leibniz' Law - simply by producing an elemental connection of sameness or difference, that is internal or external, and which may be connected via the input or the output of either planet. This is an elemental way of restating the astrological tradition of dignities, an ancient way of considering the power of planets as if they existed in a medieval feudal system of lordships, honoured guests, enemies and homeless peasants. This kind of connection is that of planets inhabiting certain signs, or parts of signs, that may be better or worse suited to those planets.


The various aspects should, in my opinion, be seen as markers of peaks in kinds of connection between the meanings represened by each planet. That is, a conjunction, trine, and sextile, are each about similarity, while the opposition, square, semisextile, and inconjunct are more about difference. Any aspect may be more, or less, precise, i.e. in tune, and so more, or less, effective. Also, in my opinion, each aspect functions in both an abstract manner, i.e. of pure meaning, and in a mundane manner, i.e. manifesting as something in the real world. The traditional view of Astrology tends to reflect the real more, because it is based on observation, along with some rather dodgy theory. Mandala Astrology, I claim, is more precise about the abstract meanings of things, because it is based on complete and consistent theory.


Orb of Aspect


Traditional aspects are measured by degree, and allow a certain orb of difference from exactness, usually up to 8 degrees either side of being exact [although personally I prefer to limit the orb to just one or two degrees]. The thing is, we really need to know when to consider that a planet is acting in concord with another planet, and that depends on a lot of things, such as which signs or sectors the planets occupy, and in what way the planets interact according to their natures. Also, how fast are the planets moving, because a slow planet will take much lomger to perform a transit of a particular point, so what it does may be close by degree, but distant in terms of time.


Mundane Aspects


Sometimes you will see two planets in close proximity by degree, but in the wrong sign or sector to form an elementally accurate aspect. Traditionally such cases have been calld mundane aspects, because although the element will be wrong for the accepted nature of the aspect, the house position will make the aspect function in accordance with its worldly meaning, i.e. in a manifest worldly way. Under this consideration, the planets interact well or badly because of the walks of life that they influence, and the natural real relationships that exist between those walks of life, rather than by the abstract, spiritual, connection of meaning that exists between signs.


Conjunction - 0 or 360 degrees


A conjunction occurs when two or more planets are in the same place, this means that they act together, directly affecting the same area of life. However, it sould be noted that just as different planets will be more, or less, capable in specific positions, so they will also vary in their ability to connect to planets in other locations. The point is that when they do act, they act together in time and arena, even when elementally incompatible.


Some conjunctions involve planets that form a special bond, a pair where one feeds the other and vice versa. This creates a vicious circle [virtuous if you like], that amplifies the effect of the planet. The pairs are:
The Sun - Uranus
The Moon - Mercury
The Earth - Saturn
Venus - Neptune
Mars - Chiron
Jupiter - Pluto
These special connections within these pairs, is also noticeable in all the other aspects, but especially so the conjunction which is the strongest aspect.


It should really be noted that all aspects in some sense limit the freedom of any one planet to be itself, by shackling it to another planet. However, such pairings are generally regarded as talents, although sometimes these manifest as curses rather than as blessings. There is no doubt that pairings are less run of the mill than the alternative, and can be seen exemplified in many of the good and the great, as well as the bad, and some downright scoundrels. Many astrologers are excited to find that they have many planets in one sign, and call this a stellium, although I would piss on their bonfire by urging some restraint, limiting orbs to only a few degrees, unless talking about events of national importance.


Opposition - 180 degrees


Aspects of opposition are always involving otherness, but the key thing is that while some otherness resides in the differences within the individual, the otherness of the opposition is always to some extent the otherness of other individuals. This is because each end of the opposition must lie in a different hemisphere of the chart. That said, the opposition may still refer to the self as being other, depending on the implied direction - it is always something of a two-way street.


Oppositions are significantly different when they form between fixed signs, in contrast to cardinal and mutable signs. Looking at Pink Floyd as an example, it is easy to see that the fixed opposition has a compatibility that leads to stability, while the inherent incompatibilities of the others provokes difficulties, even for supposedly adaptable mutable signs.


Trine - 120 degrees


The trine is an aspect of sameness. Not the identical sameness of the conjunction, but the similarity of things that come from different kinds of causes, but produce the same kind of result. This makes the trine, like the other easy aspects, something that happens without too much effort, without too much of a struggle. The counter to this is that the trine is also representative of things that are difficult to avoid. The kind of planets involved will usually indicate how pleasant, or not, the aspect will be. Trines are about twice as likely to involve otherness as they are to involve sameness.


Square - 90 degrees


The square is an aspect of difference. But unlike the opposition which always involves otherness, half the time the square is within the self, so is something where we trip ourselves up. That said, he square is not always bad. I have lots of squares in my birthchart, and I consider them to be representative of walks of life that tend to conflict or interfere with one another, but that can be balanced with a little awareness. This alludes to the nature of the Angles in Astrology, where there can be a conflict of interest between self, home, others, and career. The demands of each of these walks of life often do not support one another. Overall, the square is a connection of not connecting, things aren't seen eye to eye, so dealing with square aspects takes quite some skill and effort.


Sextile - 60 degrees


The sextile is the aspect of open causes and effects, and it is worth noting that the sextile is the complement of the trine. That is, ever difference is an opposition, and every opposition may be divided as two squares, or as a trine and a sextile. Or subtly different a sextile and a trine.


Semisextile - 30 degrees


Not a traditional aspect, and therefore sometimes called a minor aspect, the semisextile is, in my opinion just as important as other aspects, but has a secretive nature. That is, things happen with the semisextile, but they usually tend to go unnoticed, and then it is only the consequences that make anything come to light, and even then the causes often remain hidden. When the semisextile is after the event, it relates to the hidden consequences, those things that you'd rather keep secret, or private, or simply don't acknowledge.


Quincunx - 150 degrees


The Quincunx, or Inconjunct, is not a traditional aspect in Astrology, but it is an aspect, because everything is an aspect. The Quincunx is like the semisextile in that it is about as different as can be, but also like the opposition, i.e. it applies to otherness.


Applying - decreasing degrees


Aspects that are coming into being were traditionally seen as becoming stronger, and were called applying. However, while there can be good reasons for why an aspect starts to be as soon as the planet makes ingress into a sign [or sector in Mandala Astrology], closeness of degree is really a mark of timing significance, and the term applying properly means beforehand.


Departing - increasing degrees


As with applying aspects, aspects may be seen as departing, i.e. being after the event, usually meaning a later degree of the Zodiac, and later in time. In this regard I like to describe the aspect as a whole as departing, when it is in any manner after some other thing. Everything is after some things and before other things, so is both a cause and an effect, but in general that which is earlier in the Zodiac is causal to that which is later, hence is applying, while that which is later is departing. Of course, some planets move more quickly, and so will tend to be seen as the active partner, the one that is applying or departing, but we can most clearly see this when we consider transits, where one set of planets is stationary, and all the aspects come from moving planets. Then there is a lifecycle to each aspect, where it applies, becomes exact, and then departs, but there is also a lifecycle to all the aspects, such that they run from conjunction, through departing sextile, square, and trine to opposition, and then through applying trine, square and sextile. It matters not what term you use, but there is a difference between these versions of each sextile, square, and trine. If you prefer different terms for this, then just accept that you use a different dialect.


Adjacent - close degrees


When two planets are near one another, but not in the same sector, maybe not even the same sign [when it would have been called a mundane conjunction], they may still be active at some level, then the timing of any transits activating those planets will be staggered, such that one occurs a bit before the other. Then the same event is split into two stages, and so I like to call the aspect adjacent, rather than conjunct. It is a kind of conjunction, but one that has that two-part quality.


Special cases


Just as the Earth, Moon, and Sun, present special cases in as much as they can never turn retrograde, and so cannot bypass the self; Mercury and Venus present a special case in terms of aspects, because they can never be very far from the Sun. This reflects the importance of the awareness of self that that comes from the Sun [transforming Air to Fire], and that for Mercury [questioning what information is missing from the self - Air], and for Venus [desiring the awareness that is missing from the self], the goal is always aimed to augment one's own awareness [own spirit], so it makes no sense to have aspects to the Sun of square, trines, and oppositions. It is a different case with Mars, because Mars is all about difference, and so can entail otherness.


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(External Website) An explanation of the nature of Signs


(External Website) An explanation of the nature of Planets


(External Website) An explanation of the nature of Houses


(External Website) Back to Astrology



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