Calculate the separation
An aspect starts with the shortest angular separation between two ecliptic longitudes. If one planet is at 350° and another at 10°, they are 20° apart across the zodiac boundary, not 340° apart. The sign names alone cannot give this precision.
Recognize the major angles
The five major aspects are conjunction at 0°, sextile at 60°, square at 90°, trine at 120°, and opposition at 180°. Their familiar meanings are interpretive conventions. Begin by verifying the actual angle before attaching a symbolic description.
Inspect the orb
An orb expresses how far the measured separation lies from the exact aspect. A separation of 92° is a square with a 2° orb if the chosen method permits it. Different astrologers and tools use different limits, so a missing aspect may reflect a narrower cutoff.
Read the planets together
The same angle has different symbolic content depending on the planets. Mercury–Saturn may invite questions about communication and structure; Venus–Mars about attraction and assertion. Read the relationship between the two functions rather than memorizing a universal outcome for the angle.
Distinguish motion from position
An applying aspect moves toward exactness; a separating aspect moves away. You need information about both planets’ motion to establish this, especially near stations. A static angle table should not claim to show applying or separating unless it calculates the change.
Prioritize without fatalism
Start with close aspects and repeated themes, then consider the wider chart. A challenging label does not predict harm, and an easy label does not guarantee success. Turn interpretations into questions about choices and circumstances rather than declarations of fate.
This guide describes symbolic conventions and traditions. Astrological interpretations are not scientifically established predictions about personality or events. Our sources and editorial approach.