The Ptolomeic aspects - Conjunction, Opposition, Square, Trine and Sextile - have been with us since the dawn of time. In the 20th century, other aspects have been included in our repertoire and we've spent many hours in teasing out the interpretive impact of these newer aspects - think sesqui-quadrate and bi-quintile. This exploratory journey has helped to broaden and deepen our knowledge of the planetary dynamics at work in a nativity.

Once upon a time there were a limited number of aspects used in astrology, which is often referred to as the Ptolemaic aspect set. Astrologers used a limited number of aspects, which are formed by the arc between planets. These arcs divide the circle by 2 [Opposition], 3 [Trine], 4 [Square] and 6 [Sextile] and these particular divisions, plus the Conjunction gave the aspects that have been in use for at least 2000 years. During the 17th century, astrologers began to use aspects formed by dividing the circle by 8 (Semi-square) and 12 (Semi-sextile), perhaps based on the observable lunation cycle and introduced the Semi-sextile and Semi-square. Through the 20th century, astrologers increased the range of aspects to include the quincunx and sesquisquare and attempted to find or assign specific meaning to the new aspects. At this time the concept of aspects relationships became more exploratory. Perhaps astrology has become more complex, or perhaps human experience has become more complex, certainly our desire to understand astrology at more depth has become more accessible in the modern era with computers to do the onerous calculations for us.

Diagramme of Aspects

WAXING (OPENING) AND WANING (CLOSING) ASPECTS

The difference in interpretation of the opening and closing aspect is subtle. The opening (waxing) aspect will tend to be a more 'subjective' - i.e. apply the dynamics in a personal or psychological way. Symbolically there is an orientation towards growth and accumulation of experience. The closing (waning) aspect will tend to manifest at a more social level, i.e. more 'objective'. Symbolically there is an orientation towards distribution and giving out

from experience rooted in the psyche. The Waxing (opening) aspect is like an immature or experimental relationship between the planets, while the closing square is a more 'mature' or defined relationship, having passed the point of challenge when it reached the opposition.

I like to think of the dynamic of opening and closing as if the faster planet has been infused with the energy of the slower one, when they were in conjunction but as it unfolds in its cycle, it gets more distant from the source until it polarizes and is clearly imbued only with its own energy at the opposition. As it waxes, or opens in aspect the dynamics are related to instinctive, evolutionary, subjective and self-developing activities and experiences. The aspect is more spontaneous and reactive. After the opposition, the faster planet 'seeks' to reconnect with the slower planet, bringing its particular energy to bear on that planet. This occurs as it goes through the waning phases of the cycle and moves back to the conjunction. The aspects formed during the waning phases are less singular and become more directed toward some kind of objective understanding and purpose. Social expression replaces personal expression and there is a more cooperative sense of the aspects, even those that are deemed tense. [ii]

In the diagram I have attempted to illustrate how aspects unfold as the faster planet moves away from, and then towards the conjunction with the same slower planet. [iii]

HARMONICS

John Addey introduced the concept of Harmonics in the 1960's and the understanding of this has enlarged our opportunity to define and find the fundamentals of meaning for many of the more obscure aspects. Until Addey's contribution, use of the lesser-known, subtler aspects, was erratic, and largely misunderstood or applied according to a personal projection. The concept of harmonics gives us the opportunity to understand the more subtle aspects based on the scheme of numbers to which it resonates and provides an organized structure from which to understand the aspect. From a harmonic point of view we begin by dividing the horoscope circle by whole numbers. The idea of numbers having specific meaning is not new - it is the basis of traditional esoteric teachings and understanding a bit of numerology will help to give clues as the dynamics of Aspects. [iv] If we divide the circle by 8 we will arrive at aspects we call the semisquare. Two semisquares equal a square, three - a sesquisquare and four - an opposition. So all these aspects have a root aspect in common and unfold through the process of growth in the cycle.

• The 1st Harmonic is the conjunction as it does not divide the chart.
• The 2nd Harmonic is the opposition
• The 3rd harmonic is the trine
• The 4th harmonic is the square
• The 6th Harmonic is the sextile but also contains the 3rd Harmonic
• The 8th Harmonic is the semisquare but also contains the 4th and 2nd harmonics The 12th Harmonic is the semi-sextile but also contains the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 6th and 8th harmonics (and the quincunx)

The Method of Harmonic Aspects produces many more aspects than the traditional methods of astrology. You must be able to assess how much notice should be taken of any aspect in comparison with other aspects. There are fundamental differences between the effects of these aspects and those of other Aspects that have evolved.

I believe there are 2 levels at which aspects operate, overt and subtle. The OVERT or conscious level of experience is illustrated by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 12th Harmonic Aspects. Commonly called the Major & Minor Aspects, these Overt aspects in a natal chart are pointers to the more obvious tendencies of the individual and their consciousness of them. People's behaviour will reflect the characteristic behaviour patterns signified by the aspect in a noticeable way. Whether the individual is aware of them or not, they will be apparent to others. The other level is found as SUBTLE aspects. These are mainly found in the 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, Harmonic Aspect Families.

• The 5th includes the quintile and bi quintile
• The 7th includes the septile and bi septile and if you must the tri septile.
• The 9th includes the Novile, bi novile
• The 10th includes the Decile and the tridecile. Here we have to be a bit circumspect because a bi-decile becomes 72 degrees, which is a quintile! So the 5th harmonic is embodied in the 10th.

These aspects refer to potentials that are capable of developing into overt behaviour patterns or personality characteristics but which are not necessarily accessed unless triggered by the overt aspects, maybe through Transits or Progressions. It can sometimes be that the subtle aspects are stronger than some of the Overt aspects, and manifest more consciously, but generally speaking subtle aspects will affect the individual's behaviour, without them having conscious awareness of their influence. Potentially they can develop into complexes and I encourage research along these lines. No matter how strong a subtle aspect is, its effects are never as obvious as those of any but the weakest Overt aspects. This is because they function largely at the pre-conscious level. This implies that they CAN emerge in consciousness.

There may be others that remain dormant and never emerge and further research into the various harmonics of this is needed. Aspects of the 5th Harmonic (Quintile, Bi-quintile) are the most explicit of these subtle aspects and those to which astrologers have given most attention. Others have an effect [v] but often require depth analysis or esoteric consciousness expansion techniques to unfold any clear awareness of them. For this reason I use the 7th and 9th harmonics (septile and novile) in dream work. Theoretically, it is possible to analyze every horoscope in terms of any harmonic number but the more we pursue the bigger picture, the more the edges become blurred. There are only so many cognitive levels of human experience. In practice, I analyze a chart using the 12th Harmonic, and sometimes the 5th, 7th and 9th if the purpose seems appropriate [vi] the major task for every astrologer is to handle increasing understanding within the context of usefulness.

TECHNIQUE HINTS:

• Every planet is in aspect to every other planet.
• A harmonic aspect is any division of the 360-degree circle, which can be defined by a specific number to arrive at an arc.
• Aspects become stronger as they approach exact. With the use of more Subtle aspects we risk overlapping if the orbs we use are too large. We need to draw the line and use close orbs.
• There are fundamental differences between the effects of the Overt and Subtle Aspects.
• Use the Lunation cycle as a way to get the core meaning of an aspect remembering the subtle difference between waxing and waning.
• Don't overload your chart with aspects that can be better defined by using harmonic charts.
• Look for patterns like T-squares, grand crosses, grand trines, Thor's hammer. Kite etc. that have strong harmonic resonance.
• Be careful not to take an aspect out of context with the rest of the chart.

© Linda Reid 2005 - Discussion on Aspects with Gold Coast Astrological Society.

NOTES & REFERENCES

[i] The point at which the fast planet arrives at the same position as the previous conjunction is the Sidereal cycle, the actual conjunction with the same planet is the synodic cycle.

[ii] For example, when Venus and Saturn are in conjunction Venus becomes permeated with Saturnian qualities. As Venus moves ahead, experiences consistent with Venus and Saturn unfold at a personal level. By the time she reaches the opposition, the separation into two distinct entities is clear. Venus has symbolically worked Saturn out of her system and reached a polarized position of clarity about the two energies. Then Venus continues the cycle and heads towards the conjunction again - 'offering' Venusian qualities to a receptive Saturn until they again homogenize in conjunction. These nuances are subtle but will help in interpreting how a person experiences aspects.

[iii] The theory applies to both the Sidereal and Synodic cycles because we are simply looking at cycles in general.

[iv] This is a separate model to the study of Harmonic charts, many of which are based on the Jyotish chart conversions - the Panchamsa (5th harmonic), Saptamsa (7th harmonic ) and Navamsa (9th Harmonic)

[v] The word "Effect" is not meant to be a precise term, but to indicate the way in which each group of aspects seem to correlate with levels of experience in the human psyche.

[vi] I often erect harmonic charts for particular purposes and avoid the temptation to add more 'aspect lines' to the chart. I do not use any but the solar system planets and points, and Chiron. When it seems appropriate I might bring in Lillith and extra aspects but for general purposes the 12th harmonic is enough.