Sesquisquare, Sesquiquadrate & Trioctile - Progressive Imbalances

Many astrologers consider this aspect as a minor aspect, maybe because it is not well understood. However, when the angle is nearly perfectly 135° wide, others will consider it as important as any other major aspect, especially in birth chart. This aspect reveals an immanent energy pushing towards a lack of balance, slowly but surely. It is a refusal of the status quo, an increase of entropy.

It is automatically constrained into dynamic motion by trines and conjunctions. Sextiles and semi-sextiles indicate the possibility to achieve the same, but it requires a decision and commitment from the bearer of this aspect. On the downside, this energy will be aggravated into out of control situations by squares and oppositions. The presence of quincunx suggests unawareness. In this case, this energy can operate unconsciously.

For example, you have Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter in your chart. This suggests a tendency to have grandiose projects, but little desire to pay attention to details. You rely on your luck too much. This is a recipe for disaster on the long term. But, if Saturn is trine your Sun or Jupiter, it will compensate for this issue. This combination suggests strong leadership skills for long-term projects.

Or, say you have Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus in your birth chart. You are one of a kind and you won't fit any mold. That's perfectly fine, you are an independent and original being, experiencing unique emotions continuously. However, if Venus is square your Moon or Uranus, then this suggest high internal turmoil damaging all your relationships. You have a very hard time keeping your uniqueness and sensitivity under your control.

Related aspects: square, semi-square, t-square and grand cross
Other minor & rare aspects: grand trine, quincunx & inconjunct, quintile & biquintile, semi-sextile and yod

Squares - Energy Amplification, Cross Purposes, Pulverizing

Squares have the worst reputation in astrology and are often only described as a source of stress and challenge, but they are not.

Squares amplify existing energies in order to create the maximum impact. They wake up sleeping beauties and volcanoes. It's the energy found in Apollo rocket engines which sent them into orbit. It is also the kind of energy building up in traffic jams and nuclear reactors. They can trigger chain reactions. It is the friction when you scratch a match. It's the fulmination when you are victim of a situation you don't have under your control.

On the positive side, squares can provide the energy required to finalize details or to galvanize situations. They can give a project or an artistic endeavor its final form, its final structure. It can also help starting them. Squares can fill a relationship with passion and activity, transforming boredom into fun and adventure.

In a birth chart or in synastry, they suggest some unchannelled and chaotic energy that will always be there. It needs your attention to be organized, evacuated or consumed using efficient, useful and non-destructive solutions. Square issues do not go away if you don't take care of them. Either they accumulate into tensions and blow everything away, or they slowly destroy everything on their path.

Square energies are nearly always manageable (even if it can require a lot of efforts and dedication). They rarely go completely out of control, unless they combine with other stressing aspects such as semi-squares, quincunxes or belong to Grand Crosses.

Related aspects: sesquisquares, semi-squares, t-squares and grand crosses
Other major aspects: conjunction, opposition, sextile and trine

Semi-Squares - Refusal Of Integration & Unity

Semi-squares suggest a refusal of integration or unity. The astral items involved in this aspect are like magnets repelling each other when they get too close. They are not to be confused with squares which demultiply energies, or t-square which suggest strong personality traits.

The semi-square energy is similar to a refusal to connect or to come to a conclusion. It can be a refusal to go with the flow. It may lead to eternal procrastination and can irritate others. On the positive side, they contribute to neverending story, which can be a good thing in synastry.

Semi-squares are neutralized by conjunctions or perseverance. They aggravate quincunx and opposition energies but facilitate the liberation of squares and sesquiquadrate energies. They get trines energy into motion, like light through a prism creates a rainbow.

Related aspects: square, sesquisquare, t-square and grand cross
Other minor and rare aspects: grand trine, quincunx & inconjunct, quintile & biquintile, semi-sextile and yod

Semi-Sextiles - Serendipity & Time Is On Your Side

Semi-sextiles indicate energies working slowly together for gentle growth or for restoring life, but these are not strong enough to repair broken structures. Think about life and plants coming back after a volcano has erupted. It's the energy of nature slowly covering every piece of land if you give it time. Semi-sextiles are the gentle slope getting the ball rolling.

Semi-sextiles slowly bring back life in relationships, after disputes for example. Semi-sextiles are time on your side. It is the opposite of Murphy's Law, if things can go right, they are likely to go right if nothing disturbs the process. Semi-sextiles take care of the details for you.

Contrary to sextiles, semi-sextiles operate automatically. In fact, you need to explicitly opt-out of what semi-sextiles perform for you if you don't want it to happen (whatever the reason). Besides, whereas you are clearly aware of your options with sextiles, what semi-sextiles achieve can easy escape your attention, but not to the extent of operating unconsciously.

In synastry, semi-sextiles are a strong indication that chemistry will operate between involved energies. It is a big plus for the success of lasting relationships. Semi-sextiles also rule serendipity.

Related aspects: trine, grand trine and sextile
Other minor & rare aspects: grand-cross, quincunx & inconjunct, quintile & biquintile, semi-square, sesquisquare, t-square and yod

Sextiles - Opportunities & Interventions While Being In Control

A sextile happens when two astral items have an angle of 60° using a tolerance of 4° to 5°.

Sextiles are opportunities, but not hidden opportunities. It is not about luck, you are in control. They are talents you know you can count on. If you want to benefit from these, you have to decide to take action or to commit to something like an objective, a project or a relationship. Benefiting from sextile requires some effort from you, but the road is clear and with little obstacles. You just need to opt-in. You are in control and in a position to use your influence. You can slow things down or accelerate them, start or stop them.

Sextiles indicate complementary energies. They can fix or repair situations. You can use them to modify any existing structure. You can create bonds and bridges, or destroy them. They provide possible paths to open up to others, or to exit unsatisfying relationships. They are also about synchronizing and respecting each other's rhythm. Sextiles rule your investments.

In extreme situations, involving connected draining or aggravating aspects, sextiles may suggest total indecision leading to paralysis or too many options to consider leading to status quo.

Related aspects: trines, grand trines, semi-sextiles, quincunx and yods
Other major aspects: conjunction, opposition, square and trine

Oppositions - Duality, Imbalances & Contrast

The essence of oppositions is a lack of balance between distinct entities. It is about subjective opinions, confronting others or sometimes confronting the man in the mirror and his illusions. It is about projections, Mexican stand-offs and head-on confrontations.

In extreme situations, it suggests a total absence of empathy or a total incapacity to put oneself's in another's shoes. It's a refusal to understand the other's position or argument. The emotions are so high they prevent any kind of listening.

Opposition energies never completely blend, but it does not mean they can't work together. Think about dancing in couples, it can be very harmonious. It is about finding middle-ground and compromises to restore harmony. Oppositions reveal differences through contrast. They can trigger debates. They also remind us we are distinct from others and that we have to learn to accept differences.

In birth charts or synastry, oppositions can suggest an incapacity to solve some personal issues and a hope that someone else will take care of these (a savior), while in reality, we should take our responsibilities for these and own them. Some manipulators can jump in and take advantage of these situations. Sometimes, it is just a matter of learning how to deal with our issues, rather than a lack of will to resolve them. External intervention and support can help.

Oppositions can also suggest refusing to face reality as it is. It is about wishful thinking and illusions. Although we may try to escape it, reality always wins in the end. In this respect, oppositions want us to open our eyes and to become mature. It points toward make or break situations and split roads. Should I stay or should I go? Which way to go? It is your responsibility to make a choice.

Oppositions can trigger perpetual motions. Once we overcome our imbalances, we reach a new level of inner peace with ourselves and in our relationships.

Other major aspects: conjunction, sextile, square and trine

Conjunctions - Unity, Bonding & Lack Of Boundaries

Conjunctions are about unity. The energies combine (i.e., add up) and move forward together in the same direction, to achieve the same objective. It's about working side-by-side. Like trines, conjunctions establish links and help create bonds. They bring people together.

Conjunctions also remove boundaries, which can be stressful for independent or introvert minds. You don't always want to join groups or be forced to. They can blur situations and sometime bring confusion. The limits are not clear anymore. Some energies don't blend well together too, thus conjunctions may create or increase an existing stress between them.

The interpretation of conjunctions in birth charts, transits and synastry is more or less the same, with the exception that in synastry, when Jupiter, Uranus or Lilith are involved, this may be push things beyond acceptable limits or create boundless situations.

Other major aspects: opposition, sextile, square and trine

Trines - Harmonious Energies, Organic Growth & Over-Tolerance

The essence of trines is organic growth and being (as opposed to doing). It is the natural blending of two energies harmonizing situations and smoothing tensions. They establish natural inbound and outbound connections and bridges between unconnected energies or situations. They dissolve obstacles and facilitate natural developments.

The most beneficial aspect of trine is that they are natural structures. You can benefit from them right away, no need to spend time and energy to build them. Just connect the plugs properly and they will take care of the rest. It's high return on small investment. They are the path of least resistance for any type of energy. They often lead to inner peace and balance. If you have a talent, trines will expand it without you asking. It comes easily and naturally, sometimes unconsciously. Trines are fantastic lubricants and catalyzers. People having many trines are often great listeners and soul healers. Their actions are so soft and sweet that you don't feel any hurt or need to resist. They can disentangle the most complex situations with infinite patience. They are not in a rush.

On the downside, trines don't create energy, but rather rely on existing ones. Think about multiplication versus addition. Zero times whatever equals zero. 0.5 times 0.5 is 0.25, but 0.5 plus 0.5 is 1. Multiplication does not always create a bigger result than the sum of the operands. Trines need a minimum threshold of energy in order to bring their best. If that threshold is not met, trines suggest a lack of motion and initiative. It's easy-peasy and sometimes right down lazy people. They don't need to make much effort and do face little confrontation. Therefore, they often don't build a carapace. Some can be totally incapable of maintaining a sustainable effort or to face strong and lasting adversity. They are much more comfortable and operational when life comes to them. They don't know how to "go and get it". They are terrible hunters.

Although trines have the best reputation amongst all aspects, they bear no boundaries or ends. You could end up being far too accepting or tolerant with unacceptable attitudes and beliefs, for far too long. If you don't have a strong ego to compensate, too many trines means a risk of dissolving into others, or into religion or spirituality, or anything that bears an infinite dimension. You could just lose and open up yourself too easily.

Relevant aspects: grand trines, sextiles and semi-sextiles
Other major aspects: conjunction, opposition, sextile, square and trine

Quincunx Or Inconjunct - Seclusion Of Energies

A quincunx (or inconjunct) happens when two celestial bodies have an angle of 150° using an orb of 2°.

Paradoxically, this aspect connecting two astral items indicates an absence of connexion between their energies. It is like oil and water, they don't mix. It's about not connecting the dots, an incapacity to understand or see what might be obvious to others. It's disconnection. In a personal chart, it should be interpreted as seclusion, Jupiter operates independently from Venus, for example. It's one hand does not talk to the other.

In synastry, both parties notice each other for sure, but their respective energies don't know how to connect. The chemistry does not take off. If they don't have other favorable aspects between them, partners may wonder why the relationship does not work, why it does not come naturally. There is a permanent lack of understanding.

Unfortunately, it is not a situation which can be resolved with adjustments. There is a fundamental impossibility to find commons grounds (unlike for oppositions). The solution is to agree to disagree. Tolerance and concessions help too. You need to accept the situation as it is: imperfect. Don't try to solve it, work around it. Learn to live with it, if possible. If that is not possible, then have no regrets, it was not meant to be.

If the astral items are involved in conjunctions too, then there may be possibilities to create agreements through negotiations and discussions. For personal charts, meeting someone who has the same astral items in Trine will tell you where and how you are not connecting the dots. It's your antidote. You may experience ha-a moments.

Quincunx teams with semi-square to achieve their deeds. They also aggravate oppositions and can push squares into total meltdown experiences. However, quincunx aspects are not always negative. Say you have Moon trine Neptune, you escape into spiritual experiences and your emotions flourish inside your imagination naturally. You are not well connected to reality. But, if your Moon or Neptune is quincunx Venus (for example), your friends or your partner will help you set boundaries between what's real and unreal in order to restore balance.

Related aspects: sextiles and yods
Other minor & rare aspects: grand-cross, grand trine, quintile & biquintile, semi-sextile, semi-square, sesquisquare and t-square

Lilith - Gender Equality, Defamation, Sex-Appeal & Obsessions

Lilith has a bad reputation, but is it deserved? There are two sides to the story. Some say a man refused her sexual solicitation, which led her to take revenge. Others suggest she refused the sexual solicitation of that man who decided to defame her using reverse accusation. This got her to feel enraged with a desire to take revenge. It is said she took their children away. Was it to protect them or have control on that man? Or both?

On one side, Lilith is our feminine instinct. It is gender equality, emancipation of women, sexual freedom and feminism. It is about living the life we want, following our own rules, but not as a rebel against society. It is about having an independent spirit. It is also rage against unfair treatment and false accusations. Lilith rules discredit and exile.

One the other side, Lilith covers our deepest desires and sex appeal. It's the ideal man or woman we wish to encounter; the one fulfilling all our desires, dreams and expectations (nymphs). She rules irresistible attractions and the taboos we would have to break to dare engaging in such relationships. It is obsession, seduction and magnetism. It is our relationship to freewill and to the absolute, our refusal to give up.

Lilith reveals a lot about how we are being considered (i.e., status) in our relationships and how we consider others. It also deals with abuse related to the satisfaction of our and other's desires.

About the different kinds of Lilith

Lilith in astrology is also known as the dark moon or black moon. From an astronomical point of view, the black moon is closer to the earth than the dark moon, but it does make a difference in astrology since they are aligned. The position of Lilith depends on the pseudo-elliptic path of the moon. If an ellipse is used to compute its position, one talks about mean Lilith, but if the exact moon path is used, one talks about the true Lilith. Some claim that dark moon Lilith would be a second moon to the earth, but it has never been observed.

There is also an asteroid called Lilith floating somewhere between Mars and Jupiter, in the asteroid belt. It is (most often) in a completely different sky position than traditional Lilith. It is important to clarify which Lilith you are referring to in astrology for readings and interpretation.

Some people talk about black astrology (which is not to be confused with black moon astrology, which the same as Lilith-related astrology). It is not related to Lilith itself or any of its other name. Lilith is also depicted as a dark goddess in both the Hebraic and Sumerian mythology. We refuse this prejudice when considering the role she plays in astrology.

Related topics: Lilith in zodiac signs, Lilith in the house, about libido and purity with Vesta, about non-animal sex with the 5th house, animal sex with the 8th house.
Other unconvential celestial bodies: Ceres - Juno - Pallas Athena - Pholus

Vesta - Sexuality, Devotion & Purity

Vesta is researching inner volume and value through purity. It is the virgin goddess needing spiritual retreats to recover from stress. Its energy is about purification, like a candle can purify the atmosphere. An eternal flame. It is about preserving what is sacred.

Vesta also rules sex that is not porn, animal or perceived as filthy. On the up side, it can be healing sex or tantric sex, or the conviction some prostitutes have that they are doing good by taking care of society. It is sex as a gift, not sex to connect or sex for the sole purpose of seeking pleasure. On the down side, Vesta can be about sexual repression, excessive puritanism, promiscuity and intimacy issues. 'I am not pure enough' leading to an incapacity to commit or to open our intimacy to someone.

It's about how we deal with the build up of our libido (our instinctual biological drive) and how we channel that energy. Do we avoid relationships by sublimating this energy into spirituality or religion? Or by conforming with social and religious norms? Are we considering taking religious vows? Is it 'no sex before marriage'? Do we become fanatics of purity, destroying anything impure? Or, are we giving ourselves too easily? Are we giving ourselves fully hoping to get some return or attachment? Are we secretly trading our value? Are we transgressing the limits of our personal integrity? Did we learn to set our limits and boundaries before committing to anyone? Is having an ego the barrier preventing true and pure connections?

When positively aspected, Vesta delivers the energy of Zen, organization and simplification. Vesta is soothing. She enables mental clarity, focus, dedication, devotion, leading to perfection. She organizes sacred rituals and provides ultimate care, like a devoted priestess would. She creates and maintains the sacred space in temples. Vesta knows when to maintain healthy intimate distances and when to open up to another. She rules virgins and prostitutes.

Related topics: about sex-appeal with Lilith, about non-animal sex with the 5th house, animal sex with the 8th house.
Unconvential celestial bodies: Ceres - Juno - Lilith - Pallas Athena - Pholus

Knowing Your Birth Time And Location Or Not

When computing an astrological birth chart, one may or may not know their birth time and birth location. If this information is available, then, one's ascending sign and moon position can be computed accurately.

Ascendant (or Rising Sign)

The ascendant is the eastern rising zodiac sign at the birth location, at birth time. Since the earth takes 24 hours to rotate on itself and since there are 12 zodiac signs, the rising sign changes about every two hours. Hence, you need the birth time and birth location to compute one's ascendant. 10 AM in Paris is not 10 AM in Delhi.

If one cannot compute the Ascendant's position, one cannot compute the Imum Coeli, Descendant and Midheaven positions.

Moon

The moon rotates around the earth in 28 days. Therefore, it moves about 12.8° (=360°/28) in the sky per day, which is nearly half the size of a house (30°). If one does not know their birth time and birth place, it is not possible to compute the position of the moon accurately. This means that aspects involving the moon cannot be computed accurately too. Orbs are usually at most 10° wide.

Since other astral items move much more slowly in the sky, not knowing one's birth time and location is not a real issue. The lack of accuracy is too small to worry about it.