Aspect Formations

Sometimes, more than one aspect will create a distinct shape in the chart. This is called an aspect formation.

T-Squares

When two planets are in opposition to each other and a third planet squares both of them, they create a t-square.

This is akin to two people engaged in a confrontation, and a third person who is not interested in their initial conflict trying to talk over them both. The addition of the third person, or the planet that squares both planets, changes the topic of conversation. All three, because t-square happen between planets with the same modality, are talking at the same time.

Grand Crosses

When four planets are all in the same modality and different elements, you might get a grand cross. A grand cross has four t-squares involved. Since you need planets in all four elements to have a grand cross, there are three kinds: a cardinal grand cross, a fixed grand cross, and a mutable grand cross.

With a grand cross, four people are about to bump into each other at an intersection. Even if one person tries to get out of one person's way, they will inevitably run into another person. There are also two face to face confrontations, or oppositions involved. Individuals with a grand cross are in constant negotiation with themselves.

Grand Trine

As we mentioned earlier, three planets with the same element and different modalities are in a grand trine.

A grand trine is self supportive. It is a structure a person can rely on all their life. It also shows where a person might be most stubborn and resistant to change.

Kites

If trines represent latent talents and sextiles create opportunity, then a grand trine that is activated, on one end, by a planet that sextiles two of the planets in the grand trine would make a kite.

Since grand trines show a latent talent, a sextile activates all the innate knowledge of the grand trine. A kite formation pours its wisdom through the planet involved in the sextiles, which is the planet that is in a different but compatible element than the rest of the planets in the kite.

Yods

A yod happens when two planets are in sextile and a third planet is inconjunct both of them. Because a yod looks like an arrow, we look at the planet that inconjuncts the other two as where the arrow is pointing.

The energy and opportunity created by the sextile aspect is directed into a place that seems surprising. Neither planets involved in the sextile would have thought that their relationship could activate something so removed from either of their interests. Yod formations create a direction that seems misdirected, accidental, and can feel like fate.