Sign-Based Aspects
Sign-based aspects show the relationship between two planets based on the arrangement of the signs within the zodiac wheel. The zodiac wheel is organized by polarity, modality, and element. Whether an aspect is easy or difficult largely depends on whether the two signs involved share these qualities or do not share these qualities.
The polarity shows the speed and direction of a sign. Feminine signs are slow-moving and internally-directed. Masculine signs are fast-moving and externally-directed.
The element shows the overall focus of a sign. Fire signs are focused on taking inspired action, air signs are focused on creating mental connections, water signs are foused on forming emotional bonds and earth signs are focused on existing within physical reality.
The modality shows the way of taking action. Cardinal signs initiate, fixed signs continue and stabilize, and mutable sign transition from one state to another.
Conjunction
Same Polarity
Same Element
Same Modality
The conjunction is considered a unity of two planets. From a sign-based perspective this happens because both planets involved in the conjunction must achieve their missions through the exact same energy, the energy of the zodiac sign they are placed in.
Here all three categories match. The planets must move at the same speed and into the same direction (polarity), they have the overall focus in mind (element) and they act in the same manner (modality).
But not every conjunction is the same. There are two factors that show how easy or challenging a conjunction is: 1, the overall nature of the involved planets (benefic or malefic) as well as 2, the support of these planets based on the sign they are in (rulership).
Example: A conjunction between Jupiter and Venus in Pisces, two well placed benefics, will be easier than Mars and Saturn in Cancer, two badly placed malefics.
Opposition
Same Polarity
Different Element
Same Modality
A opposition either happens between two masculine or two feminine signs. In case of the masculine signs it happens between a fire and air sign and in case of the feminine signs it happens between a water and earth sign. These are complementary opposites.
The opposition causes friction because the signs involved don’t share the same overall focus (element), but holds opportunity for comple-tion because they share the same overall speed and direction (polarity) and their manner of action (modality) is the same.
The air signs’ quality to mentally conceptualize complements the fire signs’ need for action. Fire wants to act and air figures out how to do it. Air has an idea and fire puts it into action.
The water signs’ quality to connect emotionally complements the earth signs need to engage with the physical environment. Water filles out earth with emotional meaning. Earth provides the container of emotional experiences.
Trine
Same Polarity
Same Element
Different Modality
Trines happen between two sign with the same focus (element) as well as the same speed and general direction (polarity). They do not share the same manner of taking action (modality). Because their mannerisms are different but their ultimate goal is the same they work well together and can help each other out. Like team partners with different skillsets ont he same project.
The overall focus depends on the element but is the same for both planets involved in the trine. Taking action for fire, making mental connections for air, forming emotional bonds for water, and existing in physical matter for earth.
The modality is different, but this is what makes the planets work well together, they can help each other out when the other’s way of action doesn’t work. Here the planet in the cardinal sign helps to initiate the project, the planet in the fixed sign helps stabilize the project, and the planet in the mutable sign helps to transition between one project and the next.
Square
Different Polarity
Different Element
Same Modality
Squares happen betwee two signs with the same manner (modality) but differing focus (element) as well as speed and general direction (polarity). This makes it difficult for the planets to work with each other, because their overall goal is different and they have blind spots in terms of how to bring their goal about because they act in the same way. Like two people with the same skillset working on different projects.
The manner of action depends on the modality, but is the same for both planets involved in the square. They start things if cardinal, continue and stabilize things if fixed or switch from one state to another if mutable.
The focus is different and the polarity is different too. This isn’t like the opposition, where the focus is complementary because the polarity is the same. A fast-moving and outward-directed fire or air sign is in conflict with a slow-moving and inward-directed water or earth sign.
Fire’s need to take quick, passionate action or air’s need to make mental conenctions and think things through are compromised by water’s need to listen to their emotions or earth’s need to slow down and experience the environment.
Sextile
Same Polarity
Different Element
Different Modality
Sextiles happen between two signs with the same speed and general direction (polarity) but differing manner of action (modality) and a differing but complementary focus (element). Like two friends with supporting skillsets helping each other in their goals because they in some way overlap.
With the sextile the manner of action (modaltiy) between two planets isn’t the same but supportive. There is something interesting to say about the order, which is switched up when compared to the trine. Following the same element through zodiacial order, a cardinal sign is followed by a fixed sign is followed by a mutable sign. For example, Aries is followed by Leo is followed by Sagittarius.
For the sextile this is different: Cardinal Aries is followed by mutable Gemini is followed by fixed Leo. Here, Gemini is in sextile to Aries as well as Leo. Possibly, the extra effort required from the sextile stems from the fact that the projects order is switched up.
The focus is different but complementary. Air and fire are in sextile, and water and earth are in sextile. This is similar to the opposition, except that the sextile is easier to handle because the signs involved have supporting skillsets rather than being fixed in the same manner of action.
Aversion
Different Polarity
Different Element
Different Modality
A sign is in aversion to another sign when it is adjacent to said sign or adjacent to that signs opposing sign. The minor aspects of the semi-sextile and the quincunx are based on it.
Signs in aversion share nothing in common with each other, they do not see eye to eye, in fact, they do not see each other at all. They do not move at the same speed or toward the same direction (modality), they do not work toward the same focus or goal (element) and they do have different manners of taking action (modality). Planets in aversion are doing separate things from each other, often things that work against each other and hinder the others process in some way.
The signs in aversion that are adjacent to a sign, like Pisces, Aries, and Taurus, follow the zodiacal order and highlight the process in which each zodiac sign improves in some way upon its preceeding sign.
Aries improves Pisces by focusing on the individual self rather than the whole, shifting from the swaying emotions of mutable water to the impulsive need for action of cardinal fire. Aries is improved by Taurus by shifting from impulsive and willful action of cardinal fire to the slow and steady existence within ones physical surroundings shown by fixed earth.