Beginning Aspects - Page 2

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Page 2

Jun 4, 1999

Opposition-

The Opposition is a 180° aspect with an orb of about 8° in either direction (Six signs away). In an opposition, the planets are literally opposite on another. The opposition is traditionally considered to be a "negative" or "hard" aspect. When you have two planets in opposition to one another, it shows a challenge for you to express both symbols easily. Sometimes people will choose one planet in an opposition to express and project the other symbol onto those around them. However, the opposition is important to show your capacity in learning lessons in life, and can show what you can strive to be. As a matter of fact, the complete lack of oppositions in a natal chart can show that the person has a hard time handling conflicting emotions. For example, if Mercury is at 12° Virgo then Venus could be between 4°-20° Pisces and so that they are in opposition to one another.

Trine-

The Trine is an aspect of 120° with an orb of about 5-6° in either direction (four signs away). The Trine is so named as the aspect looks like one side of a triangle. This is traditionally considered to be a "positive" or "harmonious" aspect. Planets in a trine aspect to one another show talents or easy areas of life. The Trine will show what seems to come to us naturally and what we really don't have to work for. Sometimes, when you find a chart that has a preponderance of Trine aspects, the person will not be challenged to learn more and become lazy or chronically bored.

Square-

The Square us an aspect of 90°, with an orb of about 5-6° in either direction (three signs away). The Square gets its name for its 90° angle. This is traditionally seen as a "negative" or "hard" aspect. It is generally associated with a challenge. Planets that are square to one another have a "stiff" relationship to one another. The symbols of the signs that the planets are in when in the Square aspect generally do not go together "well." However, the square keeps us learning and striving to be better. I find that, unlike the problems of an opposition, where one of the planets is often denied a place in the personality, we are usually conscious of the challenges with our Squares. If we didn't have Squares in the chart, we could no doubt become shiftless with nothing to strive for or to challenge us to improve. When we master problems related to the planets, signs, or houses that are involved in a Square, we tend to feel a great sense of accomplishment.

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