In lesson No. 12 you completed the setting up of the horoscope for August 10, 1912, 4:00 P.M., New York City. We will now consider the subject of the aspects between the planets in this horoscope.

   When two planets are a certain number of degrees apart, they are said to be in aspect to each other. Planets which are in aspect are very much stronger than otherwise, and the influences of the two planets blend so that each has an effect upon the affairs ruled by the other.

  Planets are in aspect to each other provided:

  1st. That their distance apart in signs falls within any one of the classifications in the following table.

0 signs apart-Conjunction
2 or 10 signs apart-Sextile
3 or 9 signs apart-Square
4 or 8 signs apart-Trine
6 signs apart-Opposition
Same degree of declination, either North or South,-Parallel (P).

  2nd. That they are also within orb of each other.

   The nature of an orb is as follows: Each planet has invisible vehicles, which constitute an aura about it so that its influence is felt for some distance beyond its circumference. This distance is spoken of as its orb.

The size of the orb which is usually allowed in the case of the seven planets in aspects between themselves is 6 degrees. In aspects between the Sun and Moon 8 degrees are allowed, and the same for aspects between the Sun or Moon and any one of the seven planets.

   Now to apply the above information, we will examine several of the planets in the above mentioned horoscope to find whether they are in aspect to one another or not. You will notice in the accompanying cut of the horoscope that in the outer circle we have placed figures which correspond to the numbers of the signs: that is, Aries is sign No. 1; Taurus is sign No.2; Gemini is sign No. 3, etc. In order to apply the first rule mentioned above, namely, to find whether the distance in signs between any two planets falls in one of the classifications in the Table of Aspects, we subtract the numbers of the two signs containing the two planets in question. For instance, Jupiter is in Sagittarius, the 9th sign, and Uranus is in Aquarius, the 11th sign. Subtracting 9 from 11 gives us 2, and looking at our Table of Aspects we find that two signs apart constitutes the sextile aspect. Now we still have to apply the second rule to ascertain whether these two planets are within orb in order to finally determine whether or not there is an actual sextile aspect between them. The degrees and minutes of the position of Uranus are 0-49, and those of Jupiter are 5-38. Subtracting these two set of figures we find the difference to be 4 degrees and 49 minutes. As this is less than the 6 degrees noted above as the permissible orb, we see that both conditions noted in the above rules have been complied with, and therefore Jupiter is sextile aspect to Uranus.

   We will also examine Saturn and Uranus in the above horoscope to find out whether they are in aspect to each other. Saturn is in Gemini, the 3rd sign, and Uranus is in Aquarius, the 11th sign. Subtracting 3 from 11 we obtain 8 as the distance in signs between these two planets. Looking at our Table of Aspects we note that this corresponds to the trine. Subtracting 0-49, the number of the degrees and minutes of the position of Uranus, from 2-55, that of Saturn, we obtain 2 degrees and 6 minutes as the difference between the two. As this is less than 6 degrees, these two planets are within orb, and therefore Saturn is trine to Uranus.

   To make sure that the principle of aspecting is understood, we will take another example, namely, that of the Moon and Mars. The Moon is in Cancer, the 4th sign, and Mars is in Virgo, the 6th sign. Subtracting 4 from 6 gives us two signs apart, and by referring to the Table of Aspects we see that this is a sextile aspect provided that these two planets are within orb. The degrees and minutes of Mars are 15-27, and those of the Moon are 19-55. Subtracting these gives us 4-28, which being less than 8 degrees, the allowable orb of the Moon, shows that Mars and the Moon are within or and therefore sextile to each other.

   In determining the aspects between planets it will be noted that the houses have nothing to do with the matter whatever. Neither does it make any difference whether one or both of the two planets is in an intercepted sign, such as Cancer and Capricorn in the above horoscope. All we have to do is to subtract the sign numbers and then determine whether the planets are within orb.

   If we should wish to ascertain whether Neptune is in aspect to Jupiter, we subtract 4, the number of Cancer in which Neptune is placed, from 9, the number of Sagittarius in which Jupiter is located, and obtain 5 as a result. Looking in our Table of Aspects we find that 5 signs apart do not constitute an aspect. Therefore there is no aspect between Neptune and Jupiter.

   Following the above method we find the following aspects in addition to the ones noted above: Mercury square Jupiter; Mercury square Saturn.

   The square is an aspect of 90 degrees, but as we allow an orb of 6 degrees (8 degrees for Sun or Moon) on either side of the 90 degrees, planets could be in square aspect to each other anywhere from 84 degrees to 96 degrees apart. In a like manner, the sextile could occur anywhere from 54 degrees to 66 degrees apart; or likewise, the trine aspect from 114 degrees to 126 degrees apart.

   In addition, planets in the last 6 degrees of any sign must be compared with all planets in the first 6 degrees of other signs, because they may be in aspect to each other without coming directly under the preceding rules. For instance, consider Venus and Saturn in the above horoscope. Venus is in the last 6 degrees of Leo, and Saturn is in the first 6 degrees of Gemini. The method is as follows: Add 6 degrees to the position of the planet which is in the last 6 degrees of its sign. Adding 6 degrees to 27-43 Leo, the position of Venus, gives us 3-43 Virgo. Now if the resulting degrees and minutes of Venus equal or exceed those of Saturn and also if the number of signs between Gemini and the new position of Venus, viz. Virgo, falls within one of the classifications in the Table of Aspects, the two planets are in aspect to each other. Applying these tests we find that Venus is square to Saturn. We find also that Uranus is nearly in opposition to Neptune (6 degrees 24'). When one of the planets under consideration is in the Sun or Moon, use 8 degrees instead of 6 wherever 6 occurs above, on account of the orb of the Sun and Moon being 8 degrees. Other examples (not in this horoscope) of cases like the above are as follows: Mars in 24-30 Aries is in conjunction with Venus in 0-30 Taurus; Mercury in 26-0 Taurus is sextile Jupiter in 2-0 Leo; Saturn in 27-0 Gemini is square the Moon in 5-0 Libra; Neptune in 28-0 Cancer is trine the Sun in 6-0 Sagittarius; Venus in 28-30 Leo is in opposition to Mercury in 4-30 Pisces.

   There yet remain the Parallels. Two planets are parallel to each other when they are in the same degree of declination, either north or south; that is, they may both be north declination, both south declination, or one north and one south. The orb of a parallel is 1-1/2 degrees. The method of obtaining the parallels will be given farther on in this lesson.

   We will now examine the nature of the various aspects. The sextile and the trine are regarded as benefic or favorable aspects. They represent faculties which we have built up in past lives, and which enable us to do things easily in this life. Therefore they bring us a certain measure of success. They also represent destiny of a favorable character which has been created by us in past lives and which is now ready for our reaping. The square and the opposition represents lessons which we have not learned in previous lives for some reason or other, and faculties which are still in a partially developed state. Therefore the chief lesson which we have to learn in the present life comes through the square and the opposition. These aspects also represent destiny of an adverse character which we have created for ourselves in past lives by ill-advised or destructive action of some sort, and therefore this destiny is ready for our reaping in the present life. The conjunction sometimes falls in one class and sometimes in the other, depending upon the nature of the planets which are in conjunction. If the natures of the two planets harmonize with each other, the conjunction is benefic, but if the natures of the two planets do not harmonize, the conjunction is adverse in character. However, the detrimental effects of an adverse conjunction are much mitigated and may be very largely removed provided good aspects are brought to it from other planets in the chart.

   Conjunctions in the "variable" column are sometimes benefic and sometimes adverse. For further information regarding them see Simplified Scientific Astrology, pages 98-99.

  Benefic: Sun conjunct Venus, Jupiter; Venus conjunct Mercury, Moon, Jupiter; Mercury conjunct Moon, Jupiter, Neptune; Moon conjunct Jupiter, Neptune.

  Adverse: Sun conjunct Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; Venus conjunct Saturn; Saturn conjunct Mars; Mars conjunct Uranus, Neptune.

  Variable: Sun conjunct Mercury, Moon, Mars; Venus conjunct Mars, Uranus, Neptune; Mercury conjunct Saturn, Mars, Uranus; Moon conjunct Saturn, Mars, Uranus; Saturn conjunct Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune; Jupiter conjunct Mars, Uranus, Neptune; Uranus conjunct Neptune.

  The parallels do not have so pronounced an effect as the other aspects except in the matter of health, upon which they have considerable influence. In some cases the parallel is considered to have the same effect as the conjunction, in others the same as the opposition, and in still others the same as the trine.

   It should be carefully noted at this point that there is no evil in any planetary vibrations. The only bad effects that can come from them is the result of our misuse of them or our inability to control them. Any planet emits the same vibrations at all times. The square and the opposition between two planets, however, tend to incite to excess in the use of their vibrations, and therefore to carry activities that come under their influence to such an extreme that they become evil. When one resists this tendency, however, he rules his stars and therefore avoids the evil effects. The planets do nothing at all except to energize that which we have within our own auras. The planets of themselves bring us neither good fortune or bad fortune. They merely stimulate us to create for ourselves good or bad fortune in accordance with the character which we have created for ourselves in the past. Adverse aspects bring temptations which will persist until we have learned to overcome them. Adverse aspects, however, bring us a great deal of valuable experience and enable us to develop spiritual muscle. A horoscope which contains only benefic aspects makes the life insipid because everything comes so easily that one is deprived of incentive to action and therefore fails to get zest out of life. A most hopeful factor in the situation is that adverse aspects may be transmuted into good ones by overcoming the evil tendencies which they produce. If we succeed in doing this,we will have a better horoscope in our next life because we have earned it. Thus do we progress in Evolution.

   Planets are said to be "dignified" in or to "rule" certain signs where the nature of the planet and that of the sign agree. When placed in the opposite sign, however, they are in their "detriment", because somewhat out of harmony with their surroundings and therefore weaker than in other signs.

   Planets are said to be "exalted" in certain signs because they are powerful there. When occupying the opposite signs, however, they are in their "fall," hence not as strong.

   Students should not get the idea from the above that the detriments and falls of the planets invalidate or destroy their influence. A planet is a driving force no matter in what sign it is located, and that force will operate regardless of all other considerations. Planets that are in the signs of their detriment and fall are a little handicapped in their activities, and therefore cannot get quite as good results as in more favorable signs, but they will always assert themselves to some degree wherever they are placed. The following table shows the rulerships, exaltations, detriments, and falls of all the planets.

Table of Planetary Powers

   Planets in the angles of the horoscope, namely, the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses, are said to be angular, and there exert a greater influence for either good or ill than when located in the other houses. The 1st house and the 10th are the most powerful. Planets in the 1st house, particularly if they are in the sign on the Ascendant, have a very strong influence upon the personality and therefore a corresponding effect upon the activities and destiny of the life. A planet in the Midheaven, that is, the 10th house, has a strong influence upon one's position in life and general standing in the community. This is also true if it is in the 9th house rather close to the cusp of the 10th.

   Ruler of the Horoscope: The nominal ruler of the horoscope as a whole is the ruler of the sign on the Ascendant. In the present horoscope Sagittarius is on the Ascendant, and therefore Jupiter is the nominal ruler. In cases where the ruler of the Ascendant is weak by position and aspect, some other planet which is strong in these respects may be the real ruler and exert a greater influence than the nominal ruler.

  House Rulers: The ruler of the house is the planet which rules the sign on its cusp. When a house contains one or more planets, the affairs of that house are largely judged by those planets, and the ruler of the house has only a secondary influence. When a house has no planets in it, its affairs are judged by the ruler of the house together with its positions and aspects.

  Quadruplicities and Triplicities: The signs are divided into two general groups, namely, the quadruplicities and the triplicities. The general qualities of the signs in these groups are as follows:

  Quadruplicities: Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn-Initiative, activity; Fixed Signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius-Stability; Common Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces-Flexibility.

  Triplicities: Fiery Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius-Impulse, spiritual power; Earthy Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn-Materialism; Airy Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius-Intellectuality; Watery Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces-Emotion, psychic qualities.

   Planets in Cardinal Signs form the following aspects: conjunction, when in same sign; square, when 90 degrees (3 signs) apart; opposition, when 180 degrees (6 signs) apart. Likewise, planets in remaining Quadruplicities (Fixed and Common) form similar aspects when within orb.

   Planets in Triplicities (fire, earth, air and water signs) form trine aspects when within orbs allowed. Sextile aspects are formed when planets are in alternate signs (60 degrees or two signs apart) and in orb.

   Planets in first 6 or last 6 degrees of any signs must always be considered separately as well as by classifications.

Minor Elements
Dragon's Head and Dragon's Tail

   The Dragon's Head has an influence similar to that of the Sun in Aries, and is Jupiterian in effect. The Dragon's Tail has an influence similar to that of Saturn though weaker. The only aspect which is considered in the case of the Dragon's Head and Tail is the conjunction, and an orb of only 3 degrees is allowed. The position of the Dragon's Head is copied from the Ephemeris without calculation, the Dragon's Tail being directly opposite.

  Planets in intercepted signs (such as Cancer or Capricorn in our horoscope) do not exert their full influence in the early part of life as a rule. Their possibilities are latent. But when by progression they have moved out of the intercepted area their influence becomes fully active.

  Retrograde planets, that is, planets which are apparently moving backward in the signs (this movement is only apparent, not real) are not as clear-cut in their action as planets which are direct, that is, those which are moving forward in the signs.

  Aspects to the Ascendant, which represents the body, have an influence upon the health. Aspects to the Midheaven (M.C.) indicate the nature of one's opportunities for spiritual advancement. But since the exact time of birth is rarely known, and since a small error in this makes several degrees difference in the Ascendant or Midheaven, predictions made from aspects to these points are likely to be unreliable.

   Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn; 1st, 13th and 26th degrees.

  Fixed Signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius; 9th and 21st degrees.

  Common Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces; 4th and 17th degrees.

   When a planet is within an orb of 3 degrees of any of these points, it will be found to exercise a much stronger influence in the life than otherwise. (See pages 81 and 101 Simplified Scientific Astrology.)

  Note: The Minor Elements described above are all of secondary importance.

   All the information which we have worked out above regarding the aspects, dignities, exaltations, angles, triplicities, quadruplicities, and rulerships is now to be collected and placed in a diagram or index. One page seventeen is a cut which shows this index made out for the horoscope under consideration. From it we see that Neptune and the Moon are in cardinal signs; the Sun, Venus and Uranus are in fixed signs; Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter are in common signs. Also, the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter are in fiery signs; Mars and Mercury are in earthy signs; Saturn and Uranus are in airy signs; Neptune and the Moon are in watery signs.

   We also note that Jupiter, Uranus, the Moon, the Sun, and Mercury are dignified; Neptune and Mercury are exalted; Uranus, Neptune, and the Moon are angular; and Jupiter is the ruler of the horoscope.

   It now remains to determine the parallels and insert them in the index.

   In order to do this, we take our Ephemeris for Aug. 10, 1912, and copy out the declinations for the noon positions placing them in the column marked "Decl," as shown in the Index (see Chapter VII, Simplified Scientific Astrology). No calculation is required for the planets except in the case of the fast-moving Moon (see hereafter).

Index:

   The declination of the planets should be copied directly from the Ephemeris for the day having noon nearest G.M.T. with the exception of the fast-moving Moon. Its declination should be calculated by the logarithmic method as follows:

   To find the declination of the Part of Fortune, Ascendant, or Midheaven, first take the longitude as shown in the chart. Then find the date (same year preferred) that the Sun was in the same degree (or nearest that degree) and sign. Note the date and see the declination of the Sun on that date. That represents the declination of the point in question. For example, in the chart we are considering, we find the Ascendant in Sagittarius 28:20 degrees. We take our Ephemeris for 1912 and find that the Sun was in 28:16 of Sagittarius on December 20th. Now in the column of declination of planets, on December 20th, we see the Sun's declination is 23:26. This represents the declination of the Ascendant.

   The orb allowed for the Parallels is 1-1/2 degrees. In order to determine whether a certain planet is parallel to any other planet we first subtract the two declinations; if the result is 1-1/2 degrees or less, these two planets are parallel to each other. In the present case we note that the Sun's declination is 15:37. Comparing this with all of the other declinations, we find that there is no case in which the difference is less than 1-1/2 degrees; therefore the Sun has no parallels. In the case of Mercury, whose declination is 6:40, the difference is 1-23, which is less than -1/2 degrees; therefore Mercury is parallel to Mars. Similarly, we find the following parallels: Jupiter parallel (P) Uranus; Jupiter parallel Neptune; Uranus parallel Neptune.

   These parallels have been inserted in the index under the heading of "Aspects," on the right hand side of the diagram.

Junior Astrology Lesson Information Sources:
Rosicrucian Fellowship Course Curricula	Online Astrology Library	Information for Astrology Course	Read the Cosmo!
Order Astrology Course Materials & Books	Preliminary Philosophy Course Lesson No. 1	Our Courses: Information & Enrollment	Index of Natal & Medical Astrology
Cosmo Index		Pictorial Study Guide

  [Note: If you prefer to work offline, you are welcome to e-mail your answers and/or comments to us. Please be sure to include your e-mail address, full name, course name and lesson number in your e-mail to us.]

  1]  We would like you to take the horoscope for September 15, 1912, 2:00 A.M., New York City, begun in lesson 5, and complete it. Then work out the aspects and other properties and make a complete index for that horoscope exactly after the pattern which has been illustrated above for the horoscope of August 10, 1912. (see Simplified Scientific Astrology, page 89). See the horoscope blank below which you may use for this purpose.

• Click here to view Horoscope Data Sheet - Part 1.
  
  
• Click here to view Horoscope Data Sheet - Part 2.

Note: Please do not fail to read and reread the pages in which you find the answers to these questions. After carefully studying the subject matter, strive to condense your answer as much as possible, taking into consideration the principal points.