Semi-Sextile
Keyword:  Unease

We haven't talked much about the semi-sextile so far in class.  A semi-sextile is considered a "soft" aspect and a "minor" aspect.  By "minor" we mean that it doesn't carry a lot of strength in a chart; but it has some force, and so can support other "soft" aspects and can help to balance or reduce some of the energy of the "hard" aspects.  It can, that is, if you listen to what the semi-sextile is trying to tell you.  Both the sextile and the semi-sextile require some effort before the goodness of the "sextile" can be given to you.

Be careful when you use the symbol for a semi-sextile.  It is similar to the inconjunct (or quincunx).  Both are the letter "K" but with the inconjunct (or quincunx), the "K" has fallen forward; but the semi-sextile, the "K" has fallen on its back.  There isn't any meaning to the "K" falling on its back, as far as I know.  If anyone knows why this particular symbol was given to the semi-sextile, I would enjoy knowing it.

A semi-sextile is when two planets are at 30-degree angles to each other.  This is half of the angle of a sextile (which is 60-degrees).  Because the semi-sextile is a weak aspect, no more than a 2 degree orb is used generally.  Some astrologers use as much as a 3-degree orb, but I've never seen this wide of an orb reliable.  So, I limit the orb to no more than 2-degrees with a semi-sextile.  A semi-sextile (abbreviation: SSx) is usually only one Sun Sign apart from the other planet in the aspect.

Because this energy is rather weak, some astrologers don't bother with it at all.  I have to say that I'm tempted to overlook it a lot of the time, too.  Yet, it can give some valuable information to the native if it is really "listened to."

Have you ever had the feeling that you've forgotten to do something, but you can't remember what it is?  Or, perhaps, you are leaving your house to go to work, and you have the sense that you are forgetting to take something with you.  Later, when you get to work, you realize that you forgot to put a report into your briefcase that your boss wants to see right NOW, even though previously he said he wouldn't need it for another two days.

A semi-sextile is a sense of unease.  Something isn't quite right, but you're not sure what it is.  With a semi-sextile, whatever it is you forgot, or can't remember, or can't figure out, or what you can't 'put your finger on,' isn't anything with lasting effects.  But, life would go smoother if you take the time to figure it out beforehand.

And that is the key to a semi-sextile.  With just a little bit of effort, or taking a little bit of time, or putting in a little bit more work on something, or exercising just a little bit more care, you will save yourself some frustration.

A semi-sextile is the niggling little feeling in the back of your mind.  

Some astrologers relate the semi-sextile to a karmic obligation that needs to be met...something small that was left undone that must be done in this lifetime.  If that is true, then the SSx message isn't anything that is strong enough to earn you karmic points if done, or hold you back if it isn't.  Again, just getting it done makes life smoother in the area represented by the placement.

If the semi-sextile doesn't have a karmic duty attached to it, then it certainly has a tendency for something from the past to come back into your life.  Example:  you're on your way to work with the niggling little feeling, but you can't figure it out.  Since you know astrology, you think you should pull over to the curb and try to figure out what is going on.  But, you don't.  Next thing you know, a police car is behind you with its lights on.  This is when you remember that you forgot to pay the parking ticket, and now you're in real trouble because since you didn't pay the ticket, there's a warrant out for your arrest!  

Past things left undone will come back to you...the semi-sextile is just trying to warn you to pay attention to it, so save you a little trouble.

There is no reason to be superstitious and worry every time you get a little feeling that something is wrong, though!  That will drive you nuts!  Just check to see what area of life is represented by the placement of the SSx.  Spend a little bit of effort, and things will work out alright.  Even if you don't take the time, things will still work out alright.

A semi-sextile is just that niggling feeling in the back of  your mind that something isn't quite right.  Listen to it when you can.  

When you have given this "little bit more," the sextile will have done its job and so make the rest of the day, year, or whatever placement it represents, run more smoothly and successfully.

Interesting write up on Semi Sextiles. The police car eg was very apt.

Square
Keyword:  Energy

A square is when two planets are at a 90-degree angle to each other.  A square is considered a "hard" aspect.  As I discussed in the post about "Aspects, Good and Bad" this does not automatically mean that it is "negative" or "bad."  The factors that determine whether or not a square will be difficult will require looking at both planets and the Houses and Sun Signs where the planets are located in the chart.  This will involve whether or not the two planets are in a cardinal, mutable, cadent, angular, etc. House and Sun Sign; and whether or not the planets are in an exalted, detriment, or fall placement (we will talk about his later).

I cannot stress enough that a Square does not automatically mean that something bad will happen.  A Square gives energy.  If the placement is beneficial, then the square will give energy, not catastrophe.  The effects of a square in the natal chart will tend to be more challenging with more struggles when an outer planet (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) makes a square to an inner planet (Sun, Mercury, Asc., Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn).  

Some people, even other astrologers, will say that a square will cause stress, chaos, upheaval, problems, difficulties, struggles, challenges, doom and gloom.  These folks should hide under their beds and wait for the sky to quit falling!  This is not the energy of the square.  A square can certainly produce these things, but "stress" isn't always "bad."  Starting a new job, for example, is "stressful" but it can be something the native has worked for, for many years to achieve.  A square is energy.

Because the square can generate a lot of energy, it is acceptable to use as much as a 7-8 degree orb.  A square is usually 3 Sun Signs apart, so that the same "nature" of the House or Sun Sign placement is doubled, doubling the energy also.  (Such as both planets in an Angular, Suceedant, Cadent, Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable House and Sun Sign.)

In strength, a square has almost as much energy and importance as the conjunction.  A square can produce situations similar to the trine, but with stressful or difficult effects for the native (where the trine doesn't give any stress despite its sometimes extreme situations).

A square will show an internal conflict.  Again, the conflict may not be a "conflict" at all, but differing viewpoints or impulses that are easily managed.  If you have many squares in the chart (and this is relative depending on the chart as a whole), this is a learning lifetime and you're not on vacation from growth and self-knowledge and improvement.  Life will bring you situations that can challenge you, or at least to confront anything that isn't balanced and well integrated in your personality.  When done successfully, the square bestows knowledge, wisdom, confidence, maturity and healing of the soul.

When the energy of a square hasn't been dealt with yet, the native can be depressed and fearful.  Circumstances in the person's life will continue to repeat basic situations until the native is able to successfully integrate the information/knowledge into his/her life.  In this way, a square can be helpful for the native to overcome lifelong difficulties.  A possible example is a woman who was abused as a child.  She is then attracted to spouses who repeat similar kinds of abuse as when she was a child.  When the woman finally realizes that she does not need to accept this abuse, the square will have served its purpose and the difficult circumstances brought by the square will leave her life and bother her no more.  The energy of the square will become inert.  If the energy is activated again, it will be of such a mild nature that the woman will find no distress at all in the transiting square and it would just renew her resolve not to put up with abuse.

When a person is determined to overcome anything in his/her life, the square will give sufficient energy and situations to allow the native to achieve that goal.  Likewise, if there is a goal (perhaps graduating from college or being hired for a certain job, particularly if the task has been difficult or challenging for the native), the square can help and assist the native in achieving these goals.

Because of the energy of a square, they can be more difficult and upsetting when the native is younger, until they learn to deal with the energy effectively.  A bully on the playground can cause enormous difficulties at age 7.  But, encountering a bully at age 30 will just result in the native telling the bully to get lost!

The square will always cause action of some kind, a response, cause a decision to be made, confront an uncomfortable part of the self, deal with a problem in the native's life, etc.  To really be able to interpret the square, however, both planets and both Houses and Sun Signs must be considered.  The sphere of activity or influence can be seen by these things, and to a lesser degree, by the rulership houses of the planets involved especially if there is a third planet that is activating the rulership House and Sun Sign making an aspect to one of the planets in the square.

To determine the effects, again, the placement must be considered and the natures of everything involved in the placement.  For example, a square between mars and saturn can produce a lot of energy, but will not necessarily produce any action.  The saturn will act with equal force with the mars to keep a lid on a pressure-cooker situation, or within the native's personality or psyche until the native is able to resolve this internal pressure.  Continuing the example from above: the woman may feel a great deal of anger represented by Mars, but feel unable to do anything about her abuse (saturn).  However, squares between planets like Jupiter and Venus can guarantee some kind of activity, but there will not be much stress or friction involved.  

The only thing that can really be said comprehensively about the square is that there will be a great deal of energy involved.  Where and how this energy is manifested requires that all factors be considered with this placement.

Opposition
Keyword: Opportunity, Relationships

An opposition is when two planets are at 180 degree angles from each other.  Since the natal chart has 360-degrees, an opposition will cause the two planets to be directly opposite each other on the natal wheel.  This aspect is considered a "hard" aspect, so expect it to create energy.  Usually, as much as 7-9 orb may be used.

Although these two planets are in opposite Sun Signs, they can have the same qualities.  For example: a planet would be in opposition if at 3 degrees Aries and the other planet at 3 degrees Libra, but both Signs are Angular and Cardinal.  Because this happens with an opposition, any opposition can find "common ground" in which to resolve any conflict or difficulty created by an opposition.  Usually, the only real factors that are differing in an opposition will be the element (Air, Fire, Water, Earth) and any differences between the two opposing Houses.  Continuing the example above: Air and Earth, and the differences between only ones own individual ego (1st House) vs. cooperation with others in a partnership (7th House).  

Because an opposition has as much that is the same, or in harmony, as it has that is different, the potential for conflict resolution and eventual harmony is very great.  Yet, this kind of harmony from an opposition will not occur until the differences have been recognized, there is a confrontation, and there is an effort to resolve the parts that are not already together or in harmony.  An opposition will create the opportunity to find harmony.

An opposition can be thought of as two different "polarities."  One is positive and the other is negative.  Again, this is not a value judgment, but a description of behavior.  One may repel while the other tries to attract, for example.  The push-pull can create stress and tension until the opposites are synthesized or integrated.

To give an example:  With mercury oppose Moon, the mind and intellect may be in conflict with the emotions and heart.  A person may be attracted to someone (emotions) that they know is going to be bad for them (intellect).  Once a decision is made not to enter into the relationship, the opposition is resolved.  Or, alternatively, if the decision is made to have the relationship despite the problems, then the effects of the opposition can continue because the situation remains that is causing the opposing emotions and intellect.

An opposition can also mean a climax or a time of testing.  Suppose you started a new business when there was a conjunction or a trine.  When the significators of the new business become in opposition, it will test whether or not the business is a sound one, or that good decisions have been made while the business is operating.  If the business and decision-making have been sound and productive, then the opposition will have no further effect other than the opportunity to review operations, and then finding them sound, there is no further effect from the opposition.  If, however, the business decisions were bad, the company run poorly, then the business can survive through the opposition, but is likely to fail completely and go bankrupt when the next square of significators occur if the problems found are not corrected.  The opposition will give the opportunity to make corrections before there is a total failure.  This energy of the opposition can relate to any field of endeavor, project, or personality trait.  It will always give the opportunity to make adjustments.

Oppositions in the natal chart will show the native areas of life that must be balanced.  For example: a opposition between planets in the 4th House and 10th House may find a native whose close ties to mother or home prevent him/her from fully expressing themselves out in the world, or by bending to be what family wants the native to be, and so has failed to follow their own path in life.  When stress transits activate this natal opposition, the native may find themselves in a personal crisis.  Yet, someone else with the same placement may have early asserted their need to follow their own path, so the transits that activate the opposition may only bring brief conflicts with family over the native's chosen profession, yet the native remains confident and secure in their decision and so is able to successfully defend his/her decisions.

This is often the result of an opposition: relationships.  Because the Houses below the horizon are about "me," and the Houses above the horizon are about "us" and "others," then when two planets are in opposition, it almost always involves a planet that is below the horizon and the other planet that is above the horizon.  Sometimes this can produce the feeling of "me against the world" or "you and me against the world" or "it takes two" to fight/love/etc.   The only times when this will not occur is when a wide orb puts both planets either above or below the horizon.  Yet, one planet or the other will be so close to the cusp of a House that "others vs. me" is still going to be a major theme of the opposition.

Whenever there is an opposition, the thing to first discover is what's really the issue, and how can it be resolved?  When oppositions are approached in this way, they can help to resolve any problems with all kinds of relationships and seemingly incompatible emotions, situations, people.

Thank for explaining the aspects in detail.

Reg