SECTIONS

Aspects: Fixed—intensity

Consciousness: emotional intensification, aiming to resolve inner conflict, typically arriving after an initial surge of self-awareness has waned. The distinction between self and other, soul and personality, is related to the Fixed cross and Ray 2.

Our responses to the impacts of life and contacts with others, how we contain conflict and harmonise intensity

Fixed cross subjectivity

Opposition: 2 ⇧

Self and self-complement

As a representation of Ray 2, the Opposition is the root of consciousness itself, which cannot be experienced if there is only a ‘self’ and no ‘other’, or an ‘inner’ with no awareness of any ‘outer’.

if there were no symbolic diameter separating ‘I’ from ‘Other,’ there could be no ‘I’ and no ‘Other’ because everything would be One, and One would not be conscious of itself or anything else. (Rudhyar & Rael, “Astrological Aspects”)

In a personal sense, the Opposition involves coming to terms with “the other”, which appears as a complementary the self, but can highlight unresolved qualities we see as “out there” or which we project onto others; or the contrast between inner and outer worlds or circumstances. Can indicate objectified and unresolved polarities, but resolved, this becomes a spectrum with two poles at either end, along which we learn to travel, according to the signs and planets involved. The sectors or the chart involved will be an important indicator of the two poles by highlighting both ‘sides’ of the picture.

There is a crucial esoteric process known as “the freedom of the two” that involves blending opposite signs. See the sign opposite the sun.

Square: 4 ⇧

Opportunity to balance and harmonise

The square in esoteric astrology also borrows something from the 4th ray of “harmony through conflict”. It can be seen as a kind of creative tension—if you are poised between cross-currents and can mediate between the planets involved and their rays constructively, new forms can be built or new ways of handling situations are learnt. The square corresponds to the “Fixed cross” qualities of a chart. By staying dynamically neutral to both sides, the 4th ray harmoniser pays something of a price internally while maintaining balance by “containing conflicts”. This involves the difficult process of keeping the channels of communication open between conflicting people or elements in life. The reward comes when dialogue opens up and agreement—or at least tolerance—emerges. This is the mark of the mediator—a key 4th ray quality. In Chapter 3 of Astrological Aspects Rudhyar and Rael mention a “conscious, mental awakening” as a process of the square—a meaning that echoes the essence of the Fixed Cross.

The diagonal of a square is an irrational number that cannot settle into a repeating decimal pattern; this symbolises the ability to sustain creative tension without the urge to resolve it. The art of mediation requires the mediator to support neither side, instead facilitating a relationship between the two. The essence, esoterically, is that the square represents the internal emotional state required to contain the tension of conflict while (for example) resisting too early a resolution, or keeping two opposing elements from destructive conflict. This allows resolution to emerge, including the acceptance of compromise—a process that applies to personal inner conflicts as well as to social tensions. The successful result expands awareness to create a solid platform for a more harmonious relationship between the cross-currents. This is why “creative tension” is a productive process.

The Grand Cross and the T-Square

These configurations bring the focus of development to that covered by the specific cross in question—see the three crosses. There is a passage in Esoteric Astrology that explains the shift in the Earth’s etheric web from squares to triangles by bisecting the square esoterically, thus forming two triangles which can then form a Star of Life (EA 479). Although this is nothing to do with aspects, it could apply by analogy to these two configurations as a new way to regard the triangular relationships contained within them.

Octiles: 8 ⇧

Creative tension

(see diagram: ‘Bioctile’ = Square)

Esoterically, Alice Bailey links the number 8 to the “Christ principle” (EA 37) or the inner self, once having transcended the purely personal to become focussed on the development of humanity. There is a more interiorised feeling than is found with the Square, and in a more personal sense, the doubled ‘4’ suggests a sense of manageable restlessness that can be internal (45°) or between internal and external factors (135°) that requires mediation in order to harmonise (Ray 4) the two points. This suggests something we may avoid or postpone, but that can be constructive once faced and handled. If the octile (semi-square) is between planets in square with each other, this offers an obvious point of mediation between the two—not an easy one, but again, if faced—one that will build resilience and an expansion of consciousness that contains all the points of the triangular pattern.

Finger of the World

This triangular aspect, recognised in orthodox astrology, is formed between three planets: two in square aspect at 90°, each Trioctile (sesquiquadrate: 135°) and “pointing” to a third planet (see the Octile diagram above). This can be a challenge, as the focussed apex planet being pointed to is effectively “shot by both sides” and locked in place by the two Trioctiles, causing stress, restlessness, indecision or even fear. However, once there is resolution to understand the configuration or even act in spite of it, the configuration can provide solid strength and a level-headed approach to future seemingly irresolvable situations, inner or outer. It then becomes incorporated as a productive skill; the resulting resilience enables us to face similar situations more decisively and with less vacillation. Hard-earned strength.

Hendeciles: 11 (2) ⇧

The place between

Because it is near the sexile, only with a very narrow orb the 32.72° (32°44’) is angle of the first Hendecile recognised in orthodox astrology (albeit by the incorrect geometrical name Undecile—hence the ‘U’ symbol, instead of ‘H’). The remaining Hendeciles from the eleven-sided polygon—even though they’re not as close to other aspects—are usually ignored. This is understandable given the complexity of finding five more aspects even with software—but they have meaning in harmonic astrology (and 11 is also seen as a “master number” in conventional numerology). The doubled number 1 adds to 2, suggesting either unity in duality or a binary combined as one—Ray1 and Ray2 conjoined. Hendeciles originate in a prime number (and 1+1 = 2, the only even prime) and are numerically a union of odd and even (1+10, 2+9, 3+8…). However, one or two unconnected Hendeciles may not have much meaning, but if there are many in a chart, the Fixed Cross experience will be enhanced.

The angles of the 11-sided hendecagon occupy positions in spaces between all the other aspects, some close to more familiar aspects. If there are more than 3–4, or where a symmetrical hendecile pattern of three or more points appears, they may have an influence in relation to the planets and signs involved. They suggest an ability to integrate or internalise dualisms—a kind of mediation, able to contain potentially disparate views and perspectives (in the traditional Second Ray sense). Perhaps they can indicate a secure place beyond opposing views or otherwise disparate elements of the self. If the tension between these elements becomes hard to bear, their unresolved conflicts might become trapped between inescapable obligation, causing those uncomfortable “positions in little-used places” to take the form of excess or escape into internalised idealistic fantasy. The psychological challenge would be to connect otherwise unrelated points in the chart in order to channel the urge to into something more constructive or as-yet unreachable, by creating an inner bridge between what has been disconnected.

Eleven is mentioned in a few places in Esoteric Astrology, this quote connecting the 11th house and sign being one of the most useful:

Humanity is today participating in the preparatory tests for [the collective second] initiation … eleven is the number of the Initiate … today it is the eleventh house which is so dominant… Aquarius, the eleventh sign, is the sign of universal relationships, interplay and consciousness. (EA 542, emphasis added)

In David Hamblin’s Harmonic Charts he mentions a deep internal longing to bring [the connected planets] together: they form part of [an individual’s] deep-seated internal fantasy about [themselves] (p261) while Martin Seymour-Smith in The New Astrologer (p125) quotes from Astrologer’s Guide to the Harmonics (James and Ruth Williamsen) that undecimal aspects (as he mis-names them) describe a person’s ability to integrate diversities and dualisms, adding that they can act in a manner very similar to the genuinely hard aspects, also claiming that they indicate excess if not handled well. (adapted from Michael Rideout, personal email, with extracts from the alt.astrology newsgroup).

Aspect Patterns and the Triangles

In an esoteric interpretation of aspect patterns that involve three or more planets, it is always important to check if the signs and/or planets appear in any of the Triangles of Esoteric Astrology.