Should we be taking minor aspects into account?

Question

The quincunx, semi-square and so on. I'm just not sure of them, personally. It makes sense to me that they would exist and exhibit some influence, but at the same time I'm just not sure how much influence. I always completely ignore them.

Any astrologers or astrology students out there care to share their opinions and experiences with these aspects?

Thanks..!

Answer 1

I believe that once you have mastered the Major Aspects, it is time to familiarize yourself with a few of the minor aspects. Everyone is different and so how much emphasis is placed upon the Minor Aspects is definitely an individual choice. And I too ignored the minor aspects for years mostly because I didn't even know that an "afflicted" planet meant that it was in a conjunction comprised of two incompatible planets, or that two planets in square aspect or/and two planets in an opposition aspect were also both considered "afflicted." How I worried about those "afflicted planets" because I didn't know how to tell which planets were actually afflicted! This self-taught amateur astrologer worked overtime trying to learn this dang confusing study called astrology. I was a slow learner, not for a lack of trying though! I just needed some direction and many astrology books, well at least back then, were written with the premise that ones Foundation of Astrology was firmly in place. Not so! Not so!



The minor aspect that I use the most is the inconjunct, also called the quincunx which is two planets 150 degrees apart from each other. And also this aspect has a very very small "orb," that + or - a few degrees as most aspects are not "exact." But I only give the quincunx (inconjunct) a one degree orb. I know that is a super-small orb but in this case I believe it is necessary. Ordinarily I am quite generous with orbs, but in this case I feel that tight "squeeze" is necessary in order to even "feel" this particular aspect. As often there is some frustration that you just can't put your finger on it,



An inconjunct, or quincunx (whichever you prefer) causes some frustration and irritates quite well the two planets forming the quincunx. It's kind of like when your back is itching but you just can't seem to reach the exact spot that is itching? Welcome to the world of the quincunx. Irritating. Frustrating. As the two planets have nothing in common. Element or Mode. Aries to Virgo is an example of the quincunx. How well do Aries and Virgo work together? Not so well actually. This is how it goes for the remaining five groupings of the quincunx. Taurus to Libra. Not the worst one as they are both ruled by Venus. Gemini to Scorpio. No similarities there. Cancer to Sagittarius. Again, nope, nothing in common. Leo to Capricorn. Again, nothing. Pisces to Leo. Aquarius to Cancer. Each so different with no similarities to ease that energy.



So this is the minor aspect that often explains some frustrating energy that is downright irritating. Which often makes an impact on an individuals life. Therefore I like to include this aspect, particularly if there only a few major aspects. You have to have some aspects to work with to interpret a natal chart. And the quincunx is the minor aspect that I add the most when interpreting charts.



Hope this is helpful and good luck and bless you too. I wish you well.

Answer 2

It depends on the orb. A semi-square in close proximity can be more powerful than a square with a wider orb....imo. I always take the quincunx into consideration, though, even with a wider orb because it is just so difficult.

Answer 3

like i said before, i don't believe magic numbers and i believe in signs and their different energies. x planet in pisces, y planet in gemini and that not good and that's how they figured the number 90.



ancient astro guy with his ancient protractor figured that 90 degree is the absolute average (or something) between those signs and then said this is square and then said square is not good.



any other logical explanation for 90 degree to be bad ? biblical references maybe? no. then 66 should be very evil too.



so, if it's 90 but connecting two planets in a sextile-like way (beginning of scorpio and ending of capricorn) then i should read it as a sextile. in fact, i shouldn't read it as a sextile, i just should read it as x planet in scorpio, y planet in capricorn so their relationship is "like this".



what's the thought behind the semi-square theory then? adjacent signs are not "so" compatible? problem is semi-squares too work like sextiles, even more frequently than squares.



my cancer sun (13°00') semi-square the leo mars (28°45')

but my libra moon (15°13) also semi-square my leo mars ?



this is bullsh!t and unfreakinneccessary maths. aspects are nothing but lines between signs.



so you don't need semi-square and you just have to know what's the cancer/leo relationship is like, or aquarius/pisces.



and i wouldn't ignore that.



i mean if you believe that each planet there has an effect on you then you also have to believe all planets affects each other.



and then the final outcome is you.



and then, if your sun is cancer and moon is leo... how to ignore that? or how to say that the semi-square they making should have "some minor influence" ?

Answer 4

QuinCunx is kind of like a miniature of a square IMO. They should be taken into consideration. I think everything in the chart has to be take into consideration. What you may consider minor, another will consider major.