Aspects are geometrical distances between planets or other significant points in a chart. Whenever two planets or other points are aspecting each other they affect the way the other one functions. Aspect can have positive or negative effect, depending on the type of aspect and the nature of planets that are forming the aspect. Based on this, the planets either support or hinder each other.
HOW DO WE MEASURE ASPECTS?
Whenever two planets are aspecting each other, there is a certain geometrical distance between them. There are five major aspects (the so-called Ptolemaic aspects) and many secondary or minor aspects. If the distance between two planets or points matches one of these distances, we say that the planets are aspecting each other or that they are forming an aspect.
If, for example, one of the planets is located at 20° Aries, while the other one is at 20° Libra, this means that the planets are positioned exactly opposite to each other. They are, therefore, forming an exact aspect, in this case an opposition (180° distance).
WHAT ARE ORBS?
Exact aspects between the planets are relatively rare, which is why we also allow for aspects that are not exact to the degree. The allowed deviation from the exactness of an angle is called an orb. For example, the allowed orb for an opposition is 8°. If we look at the previous example, this means that the planets would be forming an opposition even if the first one is at 20° Aries, while the other one is anywhere between 12° and 28° Libra, in other words, 8° over or under the exact aspect. Different orbs are allowed for different types of aspects.
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