with planets we get to move, interact, as well as affect & create effect in life.

Interactions & aspects

Planets, like people, have personalities and agendas. When any two planets meet up or open lines of communication, all sorts of results are possible—great fun, arguments, productivity, whimsy… the list goes on. Dive into the world of planets to learn more about our universal archetypes and how they interact with one another.

In a chart, when planets are a certain amount of degrees apart, they have communicative channels, able to interact. These are called ‘aspects’. While there are many types of interactions, or ‘aspects’, I tend to focus on the major aspects: conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions.

Below is my quick shorthand interpretation for the major interactions, or aspects. My particular lens taps into the arc of a journey between two planets as they move through different aspects, from conjunct to sextile, to square, to trine, to opposition, back to trine, square, and sextile, before returning to conjunct.

the major aspects

conjunction

When two planets meet up at the same degree of the zodiac (give or take 10°), there is a pressure that happens in holding responsibility for what they’ve manifested since their last meeting. There is a solid ability to hold pressure around the themes of these planets in the chart. There is also effort to get on the same page and create a combined agenda going forward—a seed planted. This aspect brings foresight and the ability to set long-term goals and intentions related to the combined power of what the planets can manifest.
sextile

This aspect happens when two planets are 60° (give or take 10°) away from one another. I like to call this the Nepo aspect, in some ways similar to nepotism, or mathematically similar to Lagrange points, in that there is an ease found by the faster planet of the interaction. It can sort of ride the coattails of the slower, more powerful planet. There is an affinity based on the signs the planets are traversing, where (typically) both planets will be in either yin or yang signs, but of a different element (like yang fire and yang air). A kinship support is found. The separating sextile feels like the spiritual guide to me while the approaching sextile feels more like powerful real world support.
square

Like the turn of a season, the square aspect shows a quarter turn (90°, give or take 10°) between the seeding at the two planets’ conjunction. There are two kinds of squares. The first is a separating square when the faster planet has moved a quarter turn from the slower planet, adding torque to take action. The other square is approaching, a quarter turn away from re-engaging a meetup, adding torque to discover the resonance and power of the planets’ original intention. The square is read as a challenging aspect, where cross purposes need to be worked out. Even thought there is challenge in the interaction, the challenge results in initiative and action-taking.
trine

Typically a trine will take place when two planets are in different signs, but signs of the same element. For example, planets in Capricorn and Virgo, both being earth signs, have a natural affinity. Each element contains three signs of the zodiac, each 120° from each other. In connecting the dots, they create a triangle. When two plants come into a 120° aspect (give or take 10°), there is harmonious communication. Where the sextile is also positive, that aspect is closer and a little more like a support. The trine is more like finding complementary skills that are helpful going both ways between the planets. In my own lens, the separating trine is like feeling chosen for something and finding allies, while the approaching trine feels more like finding a purpose and gift.
opposition

When two planets are directly across from one another in the zodiac, 180° (give or take 10°) they are at their halfway point between meetups. Opposing signs are part of an axis of energy, that if not balanced can become pathological. The challenge with an opposition is to integrate an opposing energy in order to create more balance and harmony. For example, say one planet is in Capricorn and the other in the opposite sign of Cancer. Without considering Cancer’s depth that creates foundational stability, Capricorn can’t aspire and reach high in a secure way. Oppositely, without Capricorn’s ability to hold position in the world and accumulate worldly resource, Cancer struggles to feel secure in its outer world. The challenge here is to see that both planets want security. Giving space for both approaches creates the best whole sense of security. There is a move from seeing something as other or an opponent to finding cooperation and balance.

enlightening life

solar aspects

Sun & Earth

Always exactly opposite the Sun, the only aspects that happen are through transits to the natal chart.
Conjunct: By transit, this would indicate a half-birthday and a time of seeking grounding in your yearly cycle.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your flourishing.
Separating Square: A push to assert your reality.
Trine: Spirit and growth collaborate well.
Opposition: This is the natural state of the Sun/Earth relationship, always working to align our spirit and soul.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your reality in the outer world.
sun & moon

We also get moon phases based on the Sol/Luna relationship.
Conjunct: Solidifying creative needs, creative atmosphere, or deep enlightenment with presence and awareness. NEW MOON
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your needs. WAXING AND WANING CRESCENT MOONS
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative needs. FIRST QUARTER MOON
Trine: Energy and needs collaborate well. WAXING AND WANING GIBBOUS MOONS
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of securing a creative atmosphere. FULL MOON
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative needs in the outer world. LAST QUARTER MOON
Sun & Mercury

Inferior Conjunction: Solidifying creative idea, vital connections, or an enlightened mind with presence and awareness.
Superior Conjunction: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to support an outer objective of stabilizing an enlightened mind.
As an inner planet, we never see Mercury more than 28° from the Sun. There are also two kinds of conjunctions. Inferior is when Mercury is between Earth and the Sun. Superior is when the Sun is between Earth and Mercury. In transit, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions can take place with natal planets.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your mind.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative ideas or want for vibrant connection.
Trine: Energy and mind collaborate well.
Opposition: Same as Superior Conjunction.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative ideas or vibrant connections in the outer world.
Sun & Venus

Inferior Conjunction: Solidifying enlightened values, a vibrant worth, or harmonious energy with presence and awareness.
Superior Conjunction: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to support an outer objective of securing enlightened beauty.
As an inner planet, we never see Venus more than 47° from the Sun. There are also two kinds of conjunctions. Inferior is when Venus is between Earth and the Sun. Superior is when the Sun is between Earth and Venus. In transit, sextiles, square, trines, and oppositions can take place with natal planets.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your values.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative beauty and vibrant worth.
Trine: Energy and values collaborate well.
Opposition: Same as Superior Conjunction.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative beauty or vibrant values in the outer world.
sun & Mars

Conjunct: Solidifying creative passion and energetic clarity with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your passion.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative direction.
Trine: Energy and passion collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in vibrant passion.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative direction in the outer world.
sun & ceres

Conjunct: Solidifying creative processes and energetic skill with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your maturity.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative projects.
Trine: Energy and productivity collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of stability in vibrant flourishing.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative systems in the outer world.
sun & Jupiter

Conjunct: Solidifying creative beliefs and energetic vision with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your beliefs.
Separating Square: A push to assert your vibrant philosophies.
Trine: Energy and beliefs collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in creative vision.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative vision in the outer world.
Sun & Saturn

Conjunct: Solidifying creative focus and energetic planning with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your aspirations.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative authority.
Trine: Energy and dedication collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of vibrant responsibility that’s soulful.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative mastery in the outer world.
sun & Uranus

Conjunct: Solidifying creative originality and enlightened liberation with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your freedom.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative rebelliousness.
Trine: Energy and openness collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of enriching vibrant collaboration.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative future vision in the outer world.
sun & Neptune

Conjunct: Solidifying creative dreams and enlightened composition with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your art.
Separating Square: A push to assert your creative dreams.
Trine: Energy and compassion collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of vibrant composition that’s soulful.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your creative dreams in the outer world.
sun & Pluto

Conjunct: Solidifying creative power and enlightened transformation with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your power.
Separating Square: A push to assert creative transformation.
Trine: Energy and psyche collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of soulfully vibrant power.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your enlightened potency in the outer world.
Sun & Ascendant

Planet to ascendant aspects are a little different than planet to planet. This is more of an orientation aspect.
Conjunct: Personifying creative direction and vibrant centering with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Vitality arises to support your life direction.
Separating Square: A push to master your creative impulses.
Trine: Energy and personality collaborate well.
Opposition: Tension in developing a receptive and cooperative nature around creative passion.
Approaching Square: A push to deepen your creative passion.

grounding life

earth aspects

earth & moon

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible needs and grounded security with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your needs.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your needs.
Trine: Reality and needs collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible needs.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible needs in the outer world.
Earth & Mercury

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible ideas and grounded connections with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your mind.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your ideas.
Trine: Reality and mind collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible ideas.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your grounded ideas in the outer world.
Earth & Venus

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible values and grounded beauty with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your longings.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your values.
Trine: Reality and pleasure collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible values.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible wants in the outer world.
Earth & Mars

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible passion and grounded assertiveness with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your direction.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your desires.
Trine: Reality and impulses collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible action.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible passion in the outer world.
Earth & Ceres

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible processes and grounded skills with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your projects.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your skills.
Trine: Reality and skillfulness collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible skillfulness.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible skills in the outer world.
Earth & Jupiter

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible beliefs and grounded perspectives with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your vision.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your philosophies.
Trine: Reality and vision collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible boundary-pushing.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible vision in the outer world.
Earth & Saturn

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible goals and grounded mastery with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your aspirations.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your goals.
Trine: Reality and aspirations collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible aspirations.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible authority in the outer world.
earth & Uranus

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible originality and grounded uniqueness with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your innovations.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your originality.
Trine: Reality and originality collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible uniqueness.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible innovations in the outer world.
Earth & Neptune

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible dreams and grounded compassion with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your fantasies.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your dreams.
Trine: Reality and dreams collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible dreams.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible art in the outer world.
earth & Pluto

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible sharing and grounded power with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your power.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your transformation.
Trine: Reality and transformation collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible power.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible power in the outer world.
Earth & Ascendant

Conjunct: Solidifying tangible direction and grounded personality with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Grounding arises to support your life direction.
Separating Square: A push to assert the reality of your agenda.
Trine: Reality and agenda collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in tangible agenda.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your tangible agenda in the outer world.

deepening life

lunar aspects

moon & Mercury

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of mind and nourished communications with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your ideas.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your mind
Trine: Soul and mind collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in intellectual imagination.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your intellectual needs in the outer world.
moon & Venus

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of values and nourished beauty with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your self-worth.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your love.
Trine: Soul and pleasure collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in harmonized imagination.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your valuble needs in the outer world.
Moon & Mars

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of passion and nourished assertiveness with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your passions.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your life direction.
Trine: Soul and agenda collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished order.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your ordered needs in the outer world.
moon & ceres

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of skill and nourished processes with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your work.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your skillfulness.
Trine: Soul and maturity collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished maturity.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your purposeful needs in the outer world.
Moon & Jupiter

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of beliefs and nourished perspectives with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your visions.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your perspectives.
Trine: Soul and boundary-pushing collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished aims.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your visionary needs in the outer world.
Moon & Saturn

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of focus and nourished responsibility with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your goals.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your aspirations.
Trine: Soul and authrity collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in authoritative intuition.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your aspirational needs in the outer world.
Moon & Uranus

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of originality and nourished uniqueness with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your innovations.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your innovations.
Trine: Soul and originality collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished progress.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your humane needs in the outer world.
sun & Neptune

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of magic and nourished dreams with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your composing.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your fantasies.
Trine: Soul and compassion collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished transcending.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your spiritual needs in the outer world.
Moon & Pluto

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of power and nourished transformation with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your transformation.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your potency.
Trine: Soul and power collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in nourished transformation.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your transformative needs in the outer world.
moon & ascendant

Conjunct: Solidifying depth of life direction and emotional assertiveness with presence and awareness.
Sextile: Depth arises to support your agenda.
Separating Square: A push to assert the depth of your personality.
Trine: Soul and personality collaborate well.
Opposition: Finding tenderness in developing your inner world to balance and support an outer objective of depth in a nourished Self.
Approaching Square: A push to harmonize your personal needs in the outer world.