Aspects in esoteric astrology (see all aspects)
There is no direct information in Esoteric Astrology about astrological aspects (the angles formed by planets from the polygons each number makes in the circle of the horoscope) so esoteric astrologers must find their own path. However, the numerical and geometric origins of the numbers 1–12 and the angles of the polygons they form (triangle, square, pentagon… etc), together with hints in the book, enable the integration of aspects with esoteric astrology.
Relating the three aspect families to the three crosses can also help assess the “esoteric weighting” of a horoscope, especially if one aspect aspect family predominates e.g. many conjuctions, quintiles and septiles reveals a ‘Cardinal’ emphasis to the relationships between the planets. However, the use of aspects can be regarded as supplementary to the overall emphasis of the chart by cross and ray, so needs to be assessed accordingly. See aspects under the three crosses for more details, but the summary below shows how the full range of 12 aspect families (including the obscure Hendeciles of 11) can be connected with the 3 crosses (the digital root converts 10, 11, 12 to 1, 2, 3):
- Cardinal cross aspects
- synthesis, potentiality
- odd numbered aspects from polygons of 1, 5, 7, 10 sides (10: 1+0 = 1)
- (not divisible by 2 or 3)
- Conjuction, Quintiles, Septiles, Deciles
- what may be, skills and traits that require effort, focus and concentrated will to develop and deploy
- Fixed cross aspects
- intensity, subjectivity
- aspects from polygons of 2, 4, 8, 11 sides (11: 1+1 = 2)
- (divisible by 2, but not 3)
- Opposition, Square, Octiles, Hendeciles
- responses to the impacts of life and contact with others, how we resolve duality and harmonise intensity
- Mutable cross aspects
- activity, actuality
- aspects from polygons of 3, 6, 9, 12 sides (12: 1+2 = 3)
- (divisible by 3)
- Trine, Sextile, Noviles, Dodeciles (semisextile/quincunx)
- givens, built-in traits, fates and personal patterns that we can only learn from by living them through
- Lower numbers: obvious, immediate
- higher numbers: subtle, emergent
Overall, it is up to each esoteric astrologer to include or ignore aspects in their practice, or use them as a connection between the esoteric and orthodox charts. As outlined above, under the 3 crosses and the seven rays, aspects can be harmonised with the primary scheme of esoteric astrology by using the properties of their geometrical and numerical origins.