Aspects
When we use aspects, we look at how one sign relates to another sign. This is why aspects are so important in synastry readings, which is the comparison of one chart between another to map out a relationship.
When we look at aspects, we need to remember that the zodiac wheel is made up of four elements and three modalities.
Out of the elements, fire and air are considered compatible. When there’s a fire, more air is produced. Air also feeds fire.
Earth and water are considered compatible. Water softens earth to give it shape and earth gives water some form.
Hard Aspects and Soft Aspects
Hards aspects produce challenge and change. Soft aspects produce support and stasis.
When a planet makes a hard aspect to another planet, they are in the same modality but different elements. This means that they are trying to happen at the same time but must negotiate their differences.
When a planet makes a soft aspect to another planet, they are in the same element or compatible elements and in different modalities. This means that they are similar in terms of process and happening consecutively.
Conjunction
Signs are that in conjunction are in the same sign. They are located 0 degrees away from each other.
Imagine standing side to side with someone, maybe trying to squeeze into the same seat. You are looking at the same things, thinking about the same things, and going to the same places. You are literally on the same page. You might compete for space and one of you might have to move to give each other a little breathing room. This is the relationship planets in the same sign have with each other.
Squares
All signs that are square will have the same modality but an incompatible element. They are located 90 degrees away from each other.
Imagine two people walking at an intersection at a 90 degree angle. If one of them doesn't stop or get out of the way, they will bump into each other. This is the relationship that planets squaring each other have. One or both of them must change to make room for both of them.
Trines
Because all signs that are trine each other have the same element but a different modality, they happen consecutively. Signs that are trine are located 120 degrees away from each other.
Look at how brick walls are constructed. There are always two bricks with a third stacked on top of the space between. This is the relationship that signs trine to each other have. If you have three planets in each of the three signs of an element, then you might have a grand trine. This is the most stable aspect formation in astrology. Since trined planets are different modalities, they also happen one after another and don’t compete for time.
Oppositions
What happens when two signs have the same modality but are in compatible elements? They would be 180 degrees away from each other, or opposite each other.
Stand with a friend face to face, eye to eye. You and your friend might be on the same page but are looking at different things. You are able to see other your friend's shoulder and vice versa. Only taken together, do these two viewpoints form a total perspective. You might be arguing or talking about something but, chances are, you are talking about the same thing. There is little room for distraction. This is the relationship that oppositional signs have with each other. Confrontations like these, like squares, are also situations that call for negotiation but the signs involved are interested in the same thing.
Sextiles
Sextiled signs have different modalities and are in compatible elements. If one is in fire, the other is in air. In one is in water, the other is in earth. They are located 60 degrees away from each other.
Sextiles are like meetings between people who are different enough to seem interesting to each other and similar enough to not challenge each other. Imagine a game between people whose movements are synchronized enough to play with each other and not get in each other’s way. When signs are sextile, they're playing with each other. Sextiles create opportunities. Since they are in compatible elements are like to interact with each other, they encourage the signs involved by creating more of each sign. Sextiles make things happen.
Inconjunct
Take a look at one sign, any sign. This sign will make known aspects to every other sign in the zodiac wheel except those directly adjacent to itself and those adjacent to the sign that it opposes. These signs are inconjunct to that first sign and are either 150 degrees away or 30 degrees away. Inconjunct aspects show signs that are incompatible in element and different in modality.
Since the planets involved have no common basis with which to relate to each other, it is harder for them to see each other coming. Though they might interact with each other, neither of them are able to articulate what their exact relationship is.
