As the planets move in their orbits around the Sun, they form various angular relationships with one another. These are called aspects. The major aspects result from dividing the circle by numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4, resulting in aspects such as the conjunction (0 degrees), opposition (180 degrees), trine (120 degrees), square (90 degrees), for example. The nature or energy of each aspect reflects the nature of the number by which it divides the circle, which is its 'harmonic'. These are identical with numerology, so a basic understanding of the meanings of numbers will give an easy grasp of the aspect patterns of charts. When two planets form an aspect with one another, their energies and natures interact, and work in harmony or discord with each other, according to the nature of their harmonic relationship.

Exact aspects and aspects' orbs:

Aspects between planets approach, become exact, and separate. When an aspect is exact, it has its greatest impact. Yet, the effect of an aspect can be felt for some time before and after the moment when it is exact. The range within which an aspect is operative is called its "orb of influence", or simply its orb. These follow the laws of harmonics, based upon the number by which the aspect divides the circle (called its 'harmonic number'). The principle is quite simple, the harmonic number is divided into the number 12, and the result is the orb of that aspect. The underlying theory is that planets have to be in roughly the same wave phase [i.e. crest or trough] to be interactive.

Orbs are not to be rigidly followed, the strength of a given body should be considered as well. For example, orbs are typically extended for the Sun and Moon, and also at times for planets which carry special weight because of being the Ascendant ruler, most elevated, part of a major aspect pattern or in some other way emphasized. Also, planets which are not within orb of a conjunction but are both conjunct a third planet are considered to be conjunct by 'translation of light'. Orbs might be reduced when applied to outer planets or asteroids not in any major aspect pattern. The rules regarding orbs are best used as guidelines and applied intuitively rather than dogmatically. Aspects to the Sun and Moon (the lights) are most important, followed by the planetary aspects involving the Ascendant ruler, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Aspects to Chiron are next in importance, followed by asteroids and sensitive points. If your natal chart has an accurate birth time, then aspects to the chart angles (ascendant, midheaven, descendant and nadir) are also important.

Aspect analysis is necessarily a very intuitive process, because your birth chart is as unique as your palm, your fingerprints or your DNA. General rules can serve as guidelines only. But the Harmonic Keys to the Numbers should provide many insights to the prominent energies and issues implied in your pattern. In some charts a major pattern such as a grand trine, grand cross, T-square or some such will stand out, and give you a starting point. If that is the case, remember not to overlook the other aspects and interactions, as they will have much to tell you.

If you see no major patterns, then look at your aspect grid or aspect lines, focusing first on aspects to the Sun, Moon, Ascendant and Ascendant ruler. Look for closed patterns of aspects, such as triangles, squares, rectangles etc. Whenever aspects form a closed pattern, they operate similarly to a closed circuit in electricity. The energy flows and re-circulates throughout the pattern. The aspects involved become much more dynamic and therefore should be given more weight or significance in your analysis.

Some energy patterns are more subtle, and don't 'jump out at you' the first time you look at the pattern, but upon reading the paragraphs that apply, you will begin to get a picture or pick up a theme, a recurring message. Let this lead you into further insights as the text will hopefully trigger some realizations within you.

To write a paragraph for every possible aspect for each planetary combination would be voluminous. Many good astrology books include aspectarians using ten bodies and five or six aspects. The material is extensive, but manageable and useful. However, I find it unacceptable to limit my discussion to ten bodies and five aspects, as I can no more leave out Chiron and the asteroids than I would leave out Mercury or Jupiter. And some of the aspects traditionally considered to be 'minor', I regard as essential. These are the septile [seventh harmonic], the quintile [fifth harmonic] and the quincunx, which is 5/12 of the circle, or 150 degrees. Five and seven are primary numbers, and I regard their harmonics as equally essential as all the others traditionally included in aspectarians.

I include below a more complete aspectarian, using fifteen bodies and eight aspects. You may wish to use other asteroids, bodies or elements in your charts at some point. If you are comfortable with the basic 'formula' for aspect analysis, it will be easy to apply it to anything in the chart.

The formula is simple. It will become easier the more you use it. The principles, issues or energies represented by the planetary bodies interact dynamically when they are in aspect to each other, and the nature of the interaction is described by the harmonic of the aspect. For an example, suppose your Sun and Moon are in a sextile aspect. What does that mean?

Every planet, sign or factor in a chart has many possible meanings. Let's take the most basic level of interpretation of the Sun and Moon and say they represent your father and mother. They are aspected to each other, so they interact. The closer the aspect, the more powerful the interaction. What is the nature of the interaction? It is sixth harmonic, a sextile. It is supportive, flowing, easy, and harmonious. To take our analysis to the next step, what other things would be indicated by Sun sextile Moon? Sun is your purpose and goal, Moon is your emotional need for closeness and security. The sextile says they interact in harmony and mutual support. This will apply to all the various factors represented by the energies of the Sun and Moon.

Now let us say Jupiter is in a square aspect with the Sun in this same chart, and in a quincunx aspect with the Moon. This brings up a point that should be kept in mind at all times in looking at aspects, that the nature of the planets involved is more important than the aspect. This is a good example, because Sun and Moon are in a 'soft' supportive aspect, with Jupiter in a 'difficult' aspect to each, but the nature of Jupiter is so 'fortunate', that it is considered helpful regardless of the nature of the aspect. In a square with the Sun it might bring crises, or turning points where one is impelled to make a change which turns out to be very beneficial. In a quincunx with the Moon, the native may experience a need to adapt [quincunx] habitual feeling patterns [Moon] for the sake of adjusting to a new opportunity or life change [Jupiter], but which again will prove to be fortunate.

Another example will be helpful. Say you have Saturn in a square aspect with Mercury. Starting again at the simplest level, Saturn is limitation, Mercury is learning and communicating, square is a felt dilemma or difficulty. This person finds learning language, reading and writing very difficult, (S)he may be a slow [Saturn] learner [Mercury], and find it is hard work all the way. As time [Saturn] passes and a certain level of skill or mastery is achieved, it becomes easier, and once learned, this person never forgets what (s)he struggled so hard for. This is the basic process of transmuting difficult aspects into strengths. Now supposing Venus is in a supportive aspect with both planets, it is trine to Mercury and semi-sextile to Saturn. This person will learn more easily through using some creative art form, or through being motivated and reassured by a loving and gentle teacher, both of those being possible manifestations of the energy of Venus.

What if your Sun and Moon are not in any specified aspect to each other? It can mean there is little connection or interaction between your mother and father, or between your purpose in life and your emotional needs, or between your need for recognition and your wish to be safe and comfortable. Or all of the above. Because these are such important indicators in the chart, let's say we want to further analyze their relationship. Let's suppose the angular relationship between them is 127 degrees. You can do a numerological thing with it, reduce it to one digit, which would be a one, which would mean the underlying issue is identity. You can find the midpoint between them and analyze its house and sign placement. And you can search for something in the chart, any body, point or pattern that aspects them both, directly or indirectly. By indirectly I mean, is part of a pattern that includes both. This can reveal some connecting dynamic between the unaspected bodies. By applying that energy, you can bring the issues involved into some level of interaction.

Virtually every chart has 'hard' or challenging aspects. They reflect some dilemma or conflict within us. They demand attention and require us to work at self-awareness and integration. Understanding your energy pattern, or harmonic signature, provides keys to integration and resolution of the conflicting elements or the basic dilemma.

For example, many people experience a dilemma of freedom versus commitment, independence versus compromise, individuality versus the need for acceptance. There are many such needs within us that seem to be mutually exclusive, or require choices that deny some other inner need. I'll touch on some of the astrological possibilities of some examples below. The way out of such inner conflict is to first identify where and how in your chart the conflict shows [look primarily to squares and quincunxes], and then to find something that makes a 'soft' aspect [trine or sextile] to either or both of the planets in the hard aspect. Then apply its nature and gifts to the area of conflict. This mediating planet is in the position of 'arbitrator'.

A careful look at the aspect lines or the aspect grid will almost surely reveal an example of a connecting harmonious aspect. But if not, then find the midpoint of the planets in hard aspect, and identify the basic function or direction suggested by it, and try to apply its lesson to your dilemma. Look also at the degree opposing the midpoint, in other words the more distant midpoint of the aspecting bodies. If there are planets or sensitive points at either midpoint, their nature will be a key to the resolution of your difficulty.

A grand trine pattern is formed by three planets positioned approximately 120 degrees apart around the circle. This is an aspect of ease and flow, conceptual and interpretive ability; of service, and sensitivity to the senses rather than sensuality. It denotes the ability to feel compassion. Can be apathetic and indifferent to responsibilities if there are not enough challenging aspects in the pattern.

A minor grand trine is a trine with a planet at the midpoint, making a sextile to each end of the trine. It is an easy flow and natural ability, much as the grand trine. It may be of lesser strength, depending upon which planets are involved and their overall 'weight' in the chart. So the sun, moon or chart ruler [ruler of the ascendant] would make it much more powerful and significant.

The mystic trine is another quite similar pattern, where a trine is divided by a planet making a quintile to one planet of the trine and a septile to the other. This is an exceptionally fortunate pattern, because the natural ease of the trine is enhanced with the remarkable creativity and talent of the quintile, and charged with the sense of destiny or divine purpose implied by the septile. There is an indication of great potential for creativity, growth and accomplishment within this pattern.

The grand cross, four planets positioned 90 degrees apart around the circle, is a rare and powerful pattern. It is the most rooted and stable of patterns, giving great sensual, practical, and psychic intuition. Potentially a stable structure around which the universe revolves. It can be a source of strength and stability, but also may tend to be self-defeating because of the urge to go in several directions at once, thereby going nowhere.

The wedge is two planets opposed, with another forming a 60/120 degree aspect to the opposition. A pattern of mental work and service, given more to sensitivity than sensuality. Receptivity and awareness of others and of one's surroundings is indicated. Willing to serve, verbal and social.

The yod is formed by two [or more] planets in sextile [60 degrees] to each other, each forming a quincunx [150 degrees] to a third planet. It is sometimes called the 'Finger of Fate', or the 'Finger of God', and its meaning has to do with destiny. It creates a continuous need for adjustment with relation to the planet that is in quincunx to the other two, or to which the 'finger' is pointing.

A T-square is two planets in opposition, with a third at right angles to both. A powerful pattern on the physical, sensual, and psychic levels. Indicates the ability to sense, intuit, and know things. A strong incarnation, rooted in the practical and the social. May experience cycles of crisis involving the "squared" planet.

A grand sextile is a pattern which includes six connected sextiles, in other words, forms a symmetrical hexagon. This is a very auspicious pattern, a life of great ease and opportunity, but there is danger of a lack of motivation due to not enough challenge in the life. Potentially very creative, there is virtually nothing this person can't manifest with ease. Extremely gifted.

Mystic rectangle is four planets set 60/120/60/120 apart. A classic pattern pointing to verbal and mental abilities. Sensitive and service-oriented. Sometimes indicates mental syndromes visible to others but hard for the person with the pattern to solve.

Harmonic charts are a unique and ingenious method of exploring the energy patterns within a chart called aspects. They are somewhat esoteric and blend astrology with numerology. They reveal at a glance many things that would be difficult or nearly impossible to see otherwise in the natal chart.

An example:
You have your birth chart, and you've had it 'interpreted' either by a computer-generated report or by a person conversant with the language, or both. You may remember some of the highlights such as moon sign and ascendant, and even perhaps some major aspect patterns, such as a grand trine, yod or T-square. You have been bothered by the fact that you have three consecutive empty houses, say 5, 6 and 7: creativity, work and relationship. You know those elements are not absent in your life, but your chart seems to have little to say on those subjects, beyond what can be discovered through looking at the planetary rulers of those houses. You feel that is somehow too sparse or indirect, and want more information. Harmonic charts provide an almost magical way to discover the more 'hidden' messages that elaborate and expand on those themes.

In this case, we would do an H5 chart to look at creativity, self expression and 5th house matters; an H6 to examine work and other 6th house issues, and an H7 for relationship and partnership (H9 is also quite revealing on that subject). Harmonic charts are in fact a more reliable source for looking at those energy patterns unless the birth time is exact. An inaccurate time will distort the house placements, but harmonic charts arise from the aspects inherent in the chart and are less dependent on an accurate birth time (only to the extent that the ascendant and midheaven play into the aspect patterns). If an accurate birth time is not available, a natal solar chart (with sun conjunct ascendant) and harmonic charts will provide a wealth of information, and may also offer clues for rectification, which is an indirect way of estimating the birth time when it is unknown.

Moon Aspects

Mercury Aspects

Venus Aspects

Mars Aspects

Jupiter Aspects

Saturn Aspects

Uranus Aspects

Neptune Aspects

Pluto Aspects

Chiron Aspects

Ceres Aspects

Pallas Athene Aspects

Juno Aspects

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