An aspect is a geometric configuration between two planets or points in a birth chart that denotes a relationship or connection between the two. Aspects describe the nature of the relationship between two placements and how that effects that planet's ability to express its mission within the birth chart.

Understanding the nature of aspects and how planets are interacting with one another in the birth chart can lead us into understanding the complexities and nuances underlying our birth chart, as well as help us see connectivity amongst certain placements, and thus, through certain areas of our lives. In turn, understanding aspects within our birth chart can help us understand our gifts, talents, challenges, and our innate potential.

Optics and the Doctrine of Configuration:

aspects as planets witnessing one another

In Hellenistic texts by Antiochus and Porphyry the word epimarturia, meaning ‘to bear witness’, is used to refer to the concept of configuration. The idea of the planets bearing witness implies that through their configurations the planets are able to make testament of something to be true, or having made a statement to see or know something. Most terminology used in Hellenistic texts carry visual connotations and serves to suggest the ability (or inability) for planets to see each other.

The ability for planets to see each other comes from specific geometric alignments they make to one another as they journey through the zodiac. This philosophy underlying the doctrine of configurations finds its roots in early ancient Greek theories of optics. It way believed that the planets emitted ‘rays’ that allowed them to bear witness to other planets. Additionally, there seems to have been some Stoic and Platonic theory incorporated into the astrological doctrine that states there should be some sort of affinity or sympathy between the observer and the observed in order to “be seen,” which connects to the underlying rationale of configurations occurring between signs that have specific common qualities.

While this theory of optics as the underlying basis for planetary configurations has largely fallen from favor in contemporary astrology, even the word ‘aspect’ comes from the Latin, aspectus, which means “a seeing, looking at, a look, sight.”

Types of Aspects

Traditionally only five aspects were used, called the Ptolemaic aspects, and any other configuration was considered to be “in aversion” and those planets were simply not configured to one another or could not see each other.

While modern astrology has incorporated many other minor aspects, the Ptolemaic aspects are still considered to be the primary aspects or the most important aspects. Each of the ptolemaic aspects creates one side of a geometric shape within the chart, which is also reflected in their names.

The type of aspect being made describes the nature of the relationship between the two planets. Some aspects are considered “hard,” and put planets in conflict with one another, while others are considered “easy” and the planets “get along,” so-to-speak.

Hard aspects tend to speak towards challenges we are presented with in ourselves and our lives, but can indicate great potential and gifts when we overcome the obstacles they present. Easy aspects tend to speak towards innate gifts, abilities, or talents that flow naturally from us. However, while easy aspects may indicate this, they also tend to be things we come to rely on or take for granted.