Aspect Patterns

Aspect patterns involve three or more planets in different ways.

T-square

A configuration of aspects formed when two points of a horoscope are in opposition to each other and in quadrature to a third planet.

F.Sakoian and L.Acker find in the T-square the character of Saturn, and consider that this configuration gives certain obstacles and the necessity of overcoming them, and also a strong, vigorous, ambitious aspiration to act, indicative of its Saturnian character.

Pressure and an appreciation of conflict are necessary here for resolving a planet in quadrature. When the energy of T-square moves a mature person, it frequently leads to significant achievements. The T-square is a push to success, and many well-known people have it in their natal charts. In interpretation it is necessary to take into account the cross of qualities in which the T-square occurs. Sakoian and Acker remark that the T-square indicates immediate crisis situations, and this quality is strongly accented in cardinal signs or angular houses.

M.March and J.McEvers state that in a T-square the opposition is connected with attitudes and the square with actions; as a whole, it is a dynamic configuration from which the native derives driving strength. If the T-square is in cardinal signs the person is dynamic, quick and starts to act instantly, even if the situation is extremely dangerous, and is inclined to interfere with other people’s affairs. When the T-square is in fixed signs the native operates slowly, but is resolute; as a preliminary, he will always find out all the possible problems before starting to act. A mutable T-square usually indicates a person opposed to people and ideas; obstacles here can be indecision and wavering.

In M.Kozyritskoj and M.Levina’s view the T-square is perceived by associates of the native as forceful, clumsy aggressiveness. This configuration occupies a semicircle of the horoscope, and the native feels an emptiness in other hemisphere, and intuitively tries “to fill the void” in order to counterbalance the figure. There is a problem of self-assurance.

According to some astrologers, great attention should be given in the analysis to the zone diametrically opposing the planet with the two square aspects. Subconscious promptings are focused into this area as the native’s discontent with destiny grows. In daily life it is necessary to monitor closely transits through this area – during these periods there are often fateful life events.

If the person is not sidetracked by self-assurance issues, he or she can solve very complicated problems, such is the power of the acquired T-square. In the half of the chart where the strong-willed pressure is required, the energy for uncommon success is possible in those areas, for example, politics.

Grand Trine

A configuration of aspects formed by three trines, whose planet pairs connect together three points of a horoscope.

It is a harmonious and very stable configuration. To the person with a Grand Trine as the fundamental configuration in the radix chart (and if the required abilities are in evidence), the vicissitudes of life are frequently not terrible, and external conditions help him to move ahead in life more successfully and faster than others, and moreover, with ease.

However, as M.Kozyritskaja and M.Levin observe, this is true only in the first phase of life; during the period from 24 to 30 years old there are inner pressures connected with the necessity for development and the embodiment of initial abilities and opportunities. The negative side of this configuration is that it is so stable that the person seldom ventures beyond the habitual.

The stability of the Grand Trine turns on its static character – the unwillingness to develop. A native is able to harmonize with external situations, or even find them easy, not having considered or resolved the problems involved. In charts of great people the Grand Trine is extremely seldom a leading configuration. But, as F.Sakoian and L.Acker remark, if a Grand Trine has Mars and Saturn, the problem connected to inertia and absence of motives for dynamic action does not enter. These researchers underline that to harness the potential of a Grand Trine it is necessary to be guided and to use it in creative self-expression and efforts directed on spiritual self-improvement, otherwise it will stay idle.

When analyzing a Grand Trine in a specific horoscope it is necessary to pay special attention to what signs contain the given configuration (usually they are signs of one element) – this will indicate the likely manifestation of the Grand Trine.

If one of the three points of a Grand Trine is in opposition to a planet, it gives the Grand Trine an opportunity to manifest more brightly. In such configurations the most important point of the Grand Trine is the point which has the opposition aspect; and the point opposing it reveals unrealized aspirations, the fateful area of a horoscope. See also the Kite.

Yod

This is a quincunx-sextile-quincunx. It features a crisis of – and a need for – perspective, in which the energies of the two sextiled planets find difficulty integrating with that of the apex, quincunxed planet. This dichotomy is not directly a conflict, rather a bewilderingly dualistic, seemingly irresolvable and compromising situation. This is an ‘appointment with power’ in which consciousness and its capacity for seeing are tested. It is a secret to be decoded, an intense dilemma, or a visitation from the Unknown. This is where intentions refuse to gel with realities: the solution is available as soon as clarity and insight dawn – there’s a hidden secret underneath which needs dredging up. Allowing things to happen rather than seeking to steer them is what is called for here: yet, underneath, there is a new kind of adepthood which brings in a new form of control without holding on, if we can see it.

The yod can be accentuated when an opposition is thrown in, with two semisextile aspects too. The opposition forces the issue, and the apex planet then becomes very critical: what it represents needs to be consciously worked, owned and integrated.

Grand Square

A configuration of intense aspects, formed by four squares. A special case of the Grand Square is the Grand Cross.

Grand Square – the most intense quadrangular configuration. It encloses the person in a framework of severe constraints, which are perceived as pressing. The Grand Square gives a lot of energy which demands to be used, internal dynamism, insistence, force. Those with a Grand Square in the natal chart crystallize much very early. These are very dynamic people, but they manifest inflexibly in relating to the world. This is shown most rigidly in a Grand Square with two internal oppositions (see the Grand Cross).

A more moderate form is the Grand Square without an internal cross. In this case there are no rigid tensions between the poles, there is less dynamism, and more flexibility. In general, it is not necessary to consider the Grand Square as a destructive configuration; on the contrary, it is a very stable pattern producing results through effort.

Grand Cross

A configuration of intense aspects, formed by four points of a horoscope which occur as pairs of oppositions connected by squares.

P.Globa cites the Grand Cross as the most clearly operating configuration which symbolically corresponds to the element of Fire.

M.Kozyritskaja and M.Levin state that from childhood the owner of a natal chart with a Grand Cross tries to find himself in different fields of activity, but in all activities he is inflexible, inclined to impose his designs on the world, and perceives little of the world’s reaction to his actions. Such people are very confident in their correctness and do not turn aside, but concede only under great pressure, and then only for a while.

M.March and J.McEvers reckon that when the Grand Cross is present in the radix the person is capable of surprising efforts and vigorous activity. The direction of these efforts and actions depends on the cross of qualities and houses in which the points of the Grand Cross are located. The cardinal cross always indicates speed of action, the fixed cross strongly pronounced resoluteness when acting, while the mutable cross in many respects depends on the actions and reactions of other people.

F.Sakoian and L.Acker remark that any attempt to solve a problem associated with one planet of the Grand Cross burdens the other planets connected in the configuration with problems. The native is thus compelled to hasten from one crisis situation to another, unable to concentrate on any one situation for long enough to truly find a constructive resolution. If all the points of a Grand Cross are in one cross of qualities or cross of houses qualities, the problems of this cross will dominate the life of the native. Working with the planet of a Grand Cross which has the greatest number of harmonious aspects to planets not involved in the Grand Cross will enable the person to redirect energy for easier advancement.

A.Podvodnyj states that it is better to treat the Grand Cross as a balance of oppositions, not concentrating efforts on one particular planet or horoscope house as a specific objective, but carefully tracing a rhythm of destiny like balancing on the crest of a wave. People with a Grand Cross in the natal horoscope have protection, but too high to conjecture a direct attribution.

Kite

The configuration of aspects formed when three points of a horoscope form a Grand Trine, and two of them are in sextile to a fourth point (Grand Trine with Bisextile).

M.Kozyritskaja and M.Levin state that a Kite gives internal stability, flexibility, and successful realization of abilities. To these are added the aspiration to transform surroundings, early accomplishment, activity, and aggressiveness. The Kite is a big driving force: it combines the abilities and stability of the Grand Trine with the skill inherent in the Bisextile to reap results. At the point of opposition of the “spine” – the tips of the two Kite-making triangles – the native receives additional stability in moving thru life. Possibly there could be constant external problems which require attention, or simply inner discontent.

M.March and J.McEvers reckon that the biggest problem of the Kite is that the configuration comprises three different aspects, and can lead to excessive concentration on part of a horoscope and, correspondingly, to adverse utilization of other opportunities which are contained within the horoscope.

Star of David

A configuration of aspects formed when two Grand Trines are present in a horoscope, connected with each other by sextiles. In the ideal case they form a hexagon. As this configuration is very seldom formed, a number of astrologists consider that a Star of David occurs even with two unconnected Grand Trines.

P.Globa states that the Star of David shows a native protected in all he does, but one who does not avoid internal reorganizations; he or she will change in form to adapt, but the inner essence remains constant: “as he was in the cradle, such will be and in the grave”. If Lilith does not enter the Hexagon, and Selena enters it, the given configuration will be all-mighty.

M.March and J. McEvers remark that the Hexagon configuration offers natives exclusive opportunities, and a brilliant ability to communicate with other people. The danger of a Star of David consists in expenditure of energy, because of the increased many-sided, various interests and the numerous opportunities. Intense (hard) aspects can help with this difficulty.

Wreath, Pentagram

A configuration of aspects formed by five points of a horoscope, uniformly connected by five quintiles, and by biquintiles. Figures of this pattern in the natal chart look like a pentagram. In a fifth harmonic chart all five points of a Pentagram are in conjunction.

P.Globa states that the Pentagram is the strongest configuration operating manifestly and constantly corresponding to the element of Fire. The Pentagram is connected to natural processes of creative regeneration – in the native there is a prerogative to search constantly, there are constantly new events in his life, and he can rectify his life. At worst the Pentagram gives constantly gleaming conditions, which are boring to the person; all innovations seem familiar and monotonous; adventurism and dissoluteness; indulgence which does not encounter resistance.

Envelope

A configuration of aspects formed by four points of a horoscope: each point is in quintile to one point, in sesqui-quintile (tredecile) to another, and in opposition to the third.

P.Globa states that the action of an Envelope is similar to a synthetic rectangle, but at another level. For the native there is a smooth transition from struggle, a choice, break to clearing. There are opportunities for searching freely, demonstrating personal initiative, and innovating. Struggle passes smoothly into freedom.

Trapeze, Cradle

A configuration of aspects formed when four points of a horoscope are uniformly connected by three sextiles, with the first and last points in opposition.

P.Globa states that a native having a Trapeze in the radix can gain energy only from within a context of struggle. The native can take from life only what they have gained, i.e. as long as life contains no disorder, restriction, or active engagement, he cannot forge something new. In human life this is more important than the force of creation – but without refusing something, without choosing, the native cannot construct the best future. The person can step aside from the struggle, but this is just a delay, like being in a comfortable prison. The Trapeze does not give in a life of protection, and you will not gain from it. At worst a constructed building can fail, if a person has chosen a situation of protection without having prepared and cleared away the foundations.

Likewise also in character, firmness can collapse, and calmness and stability can be replaced by hysterical erraticness. When the opposition which is in the Trapeze is also included in a T-square, a seemingly strong basis can collapse with a crash.

J.Negus reckons the Trapeze is basically a harmonious configuration demanding some balance. The Trapeze indicates aid from the outside which at critical moments appears in the right place at the right time.

Mystic Rectangle

Also called simply a ‘rectangle’, two opposition aspects are woven together with two trine and two sextile aspects. This can make for a time of enormous questions, yet it also brings potential solutions and openings which arise either by default or by apparent good luck. The flowing aspects take much of the tension out of the opposition aspects. There is much to work out, but it looks as if great things are possible. Abilities and assets search for a cause to be engaged in. Dilemmas can have difficulty being resolved in the usual ways, but they seem to work themselves out anyway in other ways. Letting go is the main way through: the state of mind is often the obstacle, when in fact there is an open road ahead. Here there can be exceptional skills which overcome immense obstacles, through synthesizing apparently different elements into an original and appropriate package. The rectangle brings marked results.

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