Astrological Aspects, page 1

Aspects, page 2

Aspects are the temporary relationships formed by moving planets to each other. Aspects are unique to time and independent of location on the earth. Aspects are divided into MAJOR (or classical) (conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition); and MINOR, which include all the other 30 degree aspects as well as those formed by dividing a circle by 5, 7, 9, 11, etc. Aspects are also divided into "harmonious" and "inharmonious". Then there are aspect patterns, formed when several aspects occur at the same time, such as the T-square. Here are some books on the subject:

Indicates a book on our Top Ten list. If you would like to find more books like it, click on the star.

	CIRCLE BOOKS ASPECT FINDER, $7.00 Includes conjunction (0), semi-sextile (30), novile (40), octile (45), septile (51.4), sextile (60), quintile (72), square (90), trine (120), sesqui-quadrate (135), biquintile (144), quincunx (150), opposition (180). See this life size, in great detail (pdf). AFA, cardstock.

	INSTANTANEOUS ASPECTARIAN - Dorothy Hughes, $6.00 Includes conjunction (0), semi-sextile (30), octile (45), sextile (60), quintile (72), square (90), trine (120), sesqui-quadrate (135), biquintile (144), quincunx (150), opposition (180). See this life size, in great detail (pdf). AFA, cardstock.

	ASPECTS IN ASTROLOGY A guide to understanding planetary relationships in the horoscope - Sue Tompkins, $16.95 Contents: Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part One: The Principles of Aspect Interpretation: 1. The planets; 2. Dividing the circle & calculating aspects; 3. The meaning of aspects; 4. Interpreting aspects in practice; 5. Qualities, elements & signs in aspects; Part Two: A Planetary Cookbook: 6. Sun aspects, 7. Moon aspects, 8. Mercury aspects, 9. Venus aspects, 10. Mars aspects, 11. Jupiter aspects, 12. Saturn aspects, 13. Aspects between the outer planets; Part Three: The Angles: 14. The ascendant - midheaven complex; The ascendant-descendant axis; MC/IC axis; 15. Planets & angles; Data sources & index of charts used in the text; Useful organizations; Bibliography. Comment: This is the classic book from 1989. Initially printed by Element Books in London, it's now printed here in the US. This is a complete survey of aspects between planets, as well as the principles behind aspect interpretation, eg, how the circle is divided, the role of qualities (cardinal, fixed, mutable), elements, signs, orbs, weighing, declination & more. Also aspects to angles. One of the best books on aspects. Destiny Books, 299 pages.

	THE ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS - C.E.O. Carter, $17.00 Contents: Introduction; Aspects of the Sun; Aspects of the Moon; Aspects of Mercury; Aspects of Venus; Aspects of Mars; Aspects of Jupiter; Aspects of Saturn; Aspects of Uranus; Aspects of Neptune. Comment: This is Carter's classic, back in print. Carter classifies aspects as Harmonious, Inharmonious & Conjunction (variable). By "harmonious", he generally means trines & sextiles, by "inharmonious", squares & oppositions, but not always so. Based on the author's extensive observations, which are often fascinating. AFA, 133 pages.

	Astrology a language of life, vol. 2: SABIAN ASPECT ORBS - Robert P. Blaschke, $18.95 Contents: Acknowledgments Foreword, by Lynda Hill Introduction 1. The conjunction 2. The opposition 3. The trine 4. The square 5. The quintile family 6. The sextile 7. The septile family 8. The octile family 9. The novile family 10. The decile family 11. The undecile family (360/11) 12. The inconjuncts 13. Obscure harmonics & other applications Appendices: 1. Table of 360 Sabian Symbols to aspect orb correspondences (Rudhyar's Astrological Mandala, compressed) 2. Lecture, class & workshop tapes by the author 3. Astrology software programs offered for sale 4. Computer chart services 5. Contacting the author Bibliography Index Comment: Here's how to put Sabian symbols in your aspects: Find the number of degrees between two planets in a chart. Convert that number to one of the Sabian Symbols of Marc Edmund Jones, where 1 Aries is the beginning, 30 Pisces (360) is the end. Use the overview format given by Rudhyar in An Astrological Mandala. (See Sabian Symbols.) Presto: A Sabian symbol for the aspect & new insight into the two planets. Example: Sun at 14 Aries, Moon at 29 Scorpio. Degrees of separation: 225. The 225th Sabian: Children Playing Around Five Mounds of Sand. That’s the Sabian aspect orb for the two planets. Not only does every aspect tell a story, but also, every degree of separation is its own unique aspect. This book covers dozens of aspects, both waxing & waning, all from a Sabian point of view. A unique book. Earthwalk School of Astrology, 243 pages.

	DYNAMICS OF ASPECT ANALYSIS - New Perceptions in Astrology - Bil Tierney, $15.95 Contents: Introduction; 1. The Principles Behind Aspects (Conjunction, semi-sextile, semi-square, sextile, square, trine, sesqui-quadrate, quincunx, opposition); 2. Uncommon Aspects (Quintile, septile, novile); 3. Dissociate Aspects; 4. The Grand Trine (Dissociate grand trine, the kite, minor grand trine); 5. The Grand Sextile (Dissociate grand sextile); 6. The Grand Square & Mystic Rectangle (Dissociate grand square, grand square involving angles, the mystic rectangle, the hard rectangle); 7. The T-Square (Dissociate T-square, T-square involving angles, the apex planet, additional considerations); 8. The Yod (Composite yods, apex planets); 9. Unaspected Planets; 10. Retrograde Planets (Keywords for retrograde planets, stationary planets, Mercury retrograde, Venus retrograde, Mars retrograde, Jupiter retrograde, Saturn retrograde, Retrograde higher octave planets); 11. Exploring the Hemispheres; 12. Understanding the Quadrants (Quadrant system of motivational analysis). Comment: A lot of essential, hard-to-find info on aspects, some found no-where else. Unique in its treatment of aspects & aspect patterns (such as the famous T-square), contains an abundance of original information. Includes: Major & minor aspects (including the quintile, septile & novile), unaspected planets, out-of-sign aspects, traditional & lesser known aspect patterns (Kite, Grand Sextile, Mystic Rectangle, Hard Rectangle & Yod), stationary & retrograde planets, the 4 hemispheres & the 4 quadrants, & much more. CRCS, 277 pages, paper.

	ASPECT PATTERNS: What they reveal & how they are triggered - Stephanie Jean Clement, $17.95 Contents: List of illustrations & charts; Acknowledgments; Introduction 1. The psychology of chart patterns 2. The Bundle: Concentrated energy 3. The Locomotive: I know I can 4. The Bowl: Search for self-containment 5. The Bucket: Focus on the handle 6. The Fan: Focus on the bundle 7. The Seesaw: Balancing act 8. The Splash: Ultimate diversity 9. The Splay: Focused diversity 10. Other aspect patterns 11. Practicing pattern identification Conclusion Appendix 1: Pattern assessment guide Appendix 2: Pattern definitions Appendix 3: Aspect pattern index Glossary of pattern terminology Bibliography Index Comment: Chart patterns were invented by Marc Edmund Jones & can be found in his Guide to Horoscope Interpretation, first published in 1941 & still in print. Clement never quite seems to give Jones credit for inventing the system, but this is a quibble. In addition to Jones, Clement often cites Jansky's Planetary Patterns, which has long been out of print. This is a considerable advance on Jones's pioneering work. Clement also picks up on a lot of Jansky's ideas (the Tripod pattern) as well as introducing some innovations of her own, such as "angel wings", an aspect pattern where the energies of the aspect pattern, instead of moving in a circle, bounce back & forth. Clement says that folks like me, with splash charts, rarely amount to much, and I'd have to agree. Not every chart seems to have a clear-cut pattern to it. Clement is undecided about her own. I would say that if Uranus is a more-than-ordinarily sensitive point in her chart, that if, for example, it can be triggered by outer planet transits, then it functions as a handle of one sort or another. Llewellyn, 193 pages.

(Photo from Weiser's 1984 first edition)	UNDERSTANDING ASPECTS: THE INCONJUNCT - Alan Epstein, $12.95 Contents: Acknowledgements; Preface; Part 1: Psychodynamics of the Inconjunct: Basic issues, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, The angles, Ascendant/descendant inconjunct, Midheaven/Imum colei inconjunct; Part 2: Planetary Combinations: (Describes all 65 possible combinations of planets & angles); Part 3: Jimmy Carter's chart: Introduction, Major events, Interpreting the inconjuncts; About the author. Comment: Previously published by Weiser in the 1984 as Psychodynamics of Inconjunctions & out of print for years. Universally acclaimed as the best book ever on the 150 degree inconjunct & the related 30 degree semi-sextile, which the author believes acts like an inconjunct. In the first section, the psychodynamics of each planet as an individual part of an inconjunct is discussed in detail, in the second, delineations of all possible pairs of planets (and angles) in inconjunct aspect are given. Jimmy Carter's chart is interpreted in the third section. Fills a huge gap in astrological aspects. Trines Publishing, 182 pages, paper.

	ASPECTS & PERSONALITY - Karen Hamaker-Zondag, $19.95 Contents: Preface Part 1: About aspects: 1. Kinds of aspects 2. Determining the aspects 3. The psychological influence of the aspects 4. Approaching & departing, inclining & declining aspects 5. Unaspected planets 6. Aspect configurations & the ruling planet 7. Judging the composition of aspects Part 2: Aspect interpretation: 8. A few words on interpretation 9. Aspects of the Sun 10. Aspects of the Moon 11. Aspects of Mercury 12. Aspects of Venus 13. Aspects of Mars 14. Aspects of Jupiter 15 Aspects of Saturn 16. Aspects of Uranus 17. Aspects of Neptune 18. Aspects of Pluto Bibliography About the author Comment: In chapter 3, The Psychological Influence of Aspects, the author takes the Mars - Jupiter square delineation & quotes eight different delineations, from eight different books, all seemingly at odds with each other, yet all delineating the same Mars - Jupiter square. She then analyzes the underlying Mars - Jupiter energies when in square, and then goes back to those same 8 delineations to show how each author viewed the same underlying forces in different ways. She finds a grain of truth in all of them, but notes that many are one-sided. (Conclusion: learn to think for yourself. Another solution: Buy - and study - lots of books.) The chapter on applying & separating, and inclining & declining aspects, critical yet often overlooked conditions, is unique. The cookbook section includes conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, inconjuncts & oppositions, with sextiles & trines grouped together, and squares & oppositions grouped together. She includes aspects to ascendant & midheaven. The delineations themselves tend to be down to earth & practical. Weiser, 303 pages, paper.

	MAJOR & MINOR APPROACHING & DEPARTING ASPECTS - Sakoian & Acker, $9.00 Contents: The interpretative differences of aspects The significance of applying & separating aspects The significance of approaching & departing aspects The aspects: Conjunction Opposition Sextile, approaching & departing Square, approaching & departing Trine, approaching & departing Semi-sextile, approaching & departing Decile aspect, approaching & departing Semi-square, approaching & departing Quintile, approaching & departing Tridecile, approaching & departing Sesquiquadrate, approaching & departing Bi-quintile, approaching & departing Quincunx (inconjunct) approaching & departing Vigintile, approaching & departing Definition of parallel aspects Two kinds of parallels Comment: A brief overview of many different aspects & how the same aspect differs in quality when approaching (faster planet moving into the aspect) or departing (faster planet moving away from the aspect). No planet-to-planet delineations are given (it's a small book), instead, the authors give house to house (or sign to sign) analogies, at least for those aspects based on twelfths of a circle. The ascendant/Aries represents one of the planets in aspect. If an approaching aspect, the meaning is found in houses/signs previous to the ascendant/Aries. If a separating aspect, then in a subsequent houses/sign. So, for example, an applying sextile has an Aquarius/11th house aspect to the Ascendant/Aries. A separating sextile is a 3rd house to ascendant kind of aspect. For the decile (36), quintile (72), tredecile (108) and bi-quintile (144), they use the same house to house analogy, only adding the influence is subtle. For the semi-square (45) and sesquiquadrate (135), there is the house to house, with the addition of "irritable". AFA, paper, 38 pages.

	THAT INCONJUNCT-QUINCUNX, The Not So Minor Aspect - Sakoian & Acker, $6.65 Contents: Introductory material Quincunxes of Sun Quincunxes of Moon Quincunxes of Mercury Quincunxes of Venus Quincunxes of Mars Quincunxes of Jupiter Quincunxes of Saturn Quincunxes of Uranus Quincunxes of Neptune Quincunxes of Pluto Comment: A brief overview of the 150 degree aspect in natal charts. Many astrologers consider this a major aspect in its own right & is the major component in the Yod. In the introduction, the authors write .... the inconjunct is an object lesson in the consequences of incorrect thought, desire and action. One is made aware of what is needed in terms of efficiency, correct conduct & effective attention to tasks in order to solve the situation. (pg. 5) Aspects to the angles, aspects to the nodes, are not included. Copple House Books, small paper, 57 pages.

	DECANATES & DWADS - Stephanie Jean Ennis, $12.00 Contents: Preface 1. Three systems of decanates 2. Delineations using decanates 3. Which decanate system to use? 4. Divisions of decanates 5. Decanates & dwads for twins 6. Decanates & dwads for same birth day Glossary Bibliography Tables: 1. The oriental system of decanates from the Church of Light lessons 2. Air signs as examples of oriental decanate system 3. The Manilius system of decanates 4. The Chaldean system of decanates 5. Decanate keywords using the Chaldean, Manilius & oriental methods for selected individuals Illustrations: 1. Horoscope of Ronald Reagan 2. Horoscope of Christine Sizemore 3. Horoscope of the personality of Jane 4. Horoscope of Marie Curie 5. Horoscope of Cecil Moe 6. Horoscope of Mata Hari 7. Horoscope of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec 8. Horoscope of J.P. Morgan 9. Hindu dwads combined with oriental decanates 10. Aries dwads combined with Manilius decanates 11. Horoscope of U.S. Grant 12. The Chaldean decanate rulers 13. Natal & progressed charts for Jade 14. Natal & progressed charts for Opal 15. Horoscope of Shar 16. Horoscope of Chuck Comment: Decanates are 10 degree chunks of a sign. Dwads are 2 degrees, 30 minutes, each. The three systems of Chaldean, Manilius & Oriental (eg, Church of Light) dwads are contrasted. Dwads are given an overview & their use in twin charts is highlighted. Of twins, the author has this to say, from the Preface: I have spent long periods of time woking with the horoscopes of twins. Because the charts are so similar, yet events & character can be so diverse for each twin, degree divisions are found to be indispensable in determining personality differences, as well as in orienting the types & impacts of various events.... The principle of polarity attracts my attention, perhaps because I have striking oppositions in my natal chart. The idea that one twin can manifest in one way, while the other twin manifests the polar qualities, is fascinating to me. The information gained largely from the study of twin charts has opened a vast area of consideration in the delineation of individual horoscopes, regardless of aspects. (pg. vii) Of the charts in this book, Jane is a sub-personality of Ms Sizemore. Jade & Opel are twins. Shar & Chuck were born on the same day, three years apart. Some interesting stuff in this book. AFA, paper, 59 pages.

	THE QUINDECILE, The Astrology & Psychology of Obsession - Ricki Reeves, $14.95 Contents: List of horoscopes Foreword by Noel Tyl Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1: The pyschology of obsession: 1. The psychological dynamics of obsessive-compulsive behavior 2. Obsession & compulsion as opportunity vs: difficulty Part 2: An astrological overview of the quindecile: 3. The history of the quindecile 4. Technical information about the quindecile: Identifying, understanding the 24th harmonic, orbs 5. Dynamics of analysis of the quindecile Understanding the placement Delineation differences Expression of the quindecile aspect Planet quindecile the angles Planete quindecile Sun & Moon Personal planet quindecile personal planet Outer planet quindecile outer planet Planet quindecile north node Part 3: Astrological analysis of the quindecile: The Jupiter factor Retrograde planets 6. Dynamics of natal interpretation 7. Activation through progression & transit 8. Synastry Part 4: Index of quindecile delineations: Sun Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto North node Bibliography Index Comment: A quindecile is a 165 degree aspect. If your sun is at 1 degree Aries & your moon is at 15 degrees Virgo, they are quindecile. According to the author, this is the aspect of obsession-compulsion. In this book, the psychological dynamics of obsession-compulsion; planetary dynamics by sign, element & triplicity; quindeciles in natals, progressions, transits & synastry; a reference section of interpretations & delineations, numerous chart examples of well-known people. I hate to do this, but the blurb on the back says, Riki Reeves (Michigan) teaches astrology & lectures throughout North America. She has worked in the field of mental health, addictions, and recovery for more than ten years. She is a graduate of Noel Tyl's Master's Program in astrology. This is repeated on pg. iv. What's missing here? Any mention of academic training in the mental health field. I went looking on-line. The only mention of Riki Reeves, as of July 20, 2007, was this web page. On page iii is this note: Who's in charge here? We like to think that we are sensible beings who base our actions on conscious decisions. The fact is, all of us are subject to the occasional irrational impulse, the "wild hair" that surprises us and those around us. Usually, this is not a big problem - in fact, it can act as a safety valve for our creative abilities & a check against unnecessary self-restriction. But it's not so healthy when we find ourselves driven by compulsions & obsessions that seem to take over our lives & consume our attention & energy. How can we discover the origins of these forces? Can we turn them into something constructive? Astrology provides a key to these questions in the quindecile. This newly researched 165 degree aspect of hidden driving forces is thoroughly explored in these pages by an experienced astrologer & mental health professional. Numerous chart examples support the analysis of the quindecile in natal, transit, progressed & synastry horoscopes. A full set of delineations & interpretations lets you quickly add this illuminating factor to your understanding of any chart. When great things are attributed to minor factors, by one who claims to be a "professional", but who, in fact, seems to lack actual credentials, the resulting book may fairly be termed, buyer beware. (Why didn't Llewellyn check this?) Llewellyn, 208 pages.

	ASPECTS: A new approach to understanding the planetary relationships in your chart - Robin Antepara, $16.95 Contents: List of charts; Introduction: Why aspects matter Part 1: Working with hard aspects: 1. The opposition: Fixed (Gandhi), Mutable (Lance Armstrong), Cardinal (Eric Harris) 2. The square: Fixed (Princess Diana), Mutable & Cardinal (Princess Masako of Japan) 3. The conjunctions: Cardinal (Katherine Graham), Mutable (Charles Schultz), Fixed (Martha Stewart) Part 2: Working with soft aspects: 4. The trine: Fire (Martha Stewart), Air (Rush Limbaugh & Jane Fonda), Water (Kurt Cobain), Earth (Katherine Hepburn) 5. The sextile: (John Nash) 6. The fire grand trine: (Marlon Brando) 7. The earth grand trine: (Muhammad Ali) 8. The air grand trine: (Lance Armstrong, The USA) 9. The water grand trine: (Kurt Cobain) Part 3: Other aspects: 10. The inconjunct & the yod: (Henry Miller, Marlon Brando, Martha Stewart) 11. Non-Ptolemaic aspects: The semisquare; The sesquiquadrate; The quintile; The quindecile 12. Techniques of transformation: Defense mechanisms of the psyche, Trining squares, squaring trines, steam control End word Appendix 1: Primer of basic astrology: Planets, signs, rulership-dignities-debilities, aspects, houses Appendix 2: Chart sources Bibliography Comment: Read the table of contents above. Yes, that's really what the new approach is all about. We learn about oppositions from Gandhi's Venus/Mars conjunction in Scorpio, opposite his Jupiter/Pluto conjunction in Taurus. While Venus is the chart ruler, the opposition is not angular. According to the author, this led Gandhi to passive resistance. We learn more from Lance Armstrong's chart, the Paradox of Enlightenment, as Saturn (in the 9th, in Gemini) opposes a Jupiter/Neptune conjunction, in the 3rd in Sagittarius. Finally, Eric Harris's chart gives us Pluto (in Libra in the 11th) opposite a Mercury/Sun/Venus conjunction in the 5th in Aries: The Rage of the Underdog. And that's what Antepara gives us for oppositions. Her treatment for the other aspects is similar. To be fair, there are some 20 charts in the book, more than are given in the table of contents, but still, I wasn't impressed. Llewellyn, 180 pages.

Aspects, page 2

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