Aspect orb degrees determine the functional relationship between planets
Today, I’d like to share some thoughts with you about the qualities of aspect orbs allowances. I will give examples of three charts of well known people, one who is deceased, and two who are still living.
I will be focusing on a few aspects in each person’s chart, but not full readings, to show how the orb qualities influence the aspects. They are subtle, yet magnify the aspects. I decided to go more deeply into the last person’s chart, only because of my personal, historical if you will, antipathy towards him, and his actions in the world. I wanted to discover, and share his humanity, as it is in his fairly present state of working towards fulfilling his evolutionary aims, in this life .
The influences of planetary aspects are generally determined by the degree of exactness of the aspect, whether the aspect is loose, or tight, thus signifying the intensity of its influence.
Like aspects themselves, the significance of orb allowances is based on the archetypal qualities of numbers, which are spiritual realities. I will say that spiritual beings are behind them. Archetypal realities are their manifestations
of being.
About 80 years ago, Marc Edmund Jones wrote lessons about the significance of planetary aspect orbs, in his Pythagorean Number, and in other writings connected to his work with Sabian Symbols.
To determine the quality of an aspect, the degree of inexactness indicates the relative individual freedom one has to the dynamic functions of the aspect itself.
So, the wider the orb, the potential for individual freedom in relation to the planetary aspect is greater.
The tighter the orb, the archetype of the aspect manifests in a person’s soul life more unconsciously, instinctively, or compulsively, thus operating as an integral element of the personality.
Looser orbs operate on levels more accessible to wakeful consciousness. With such aspects, individuals can potentially express the soul qualities of the relationship between the aspected planets in a more personally determined way.
The degree of the orb determines the functional relationship of an aspect between planets through the archetypal quality of number. Seeing that numbers are qualities, the value of an orb is always the next highest degree, as soon as it has moved beyond the exact degree, for example; an orb of 3º 01´ is considered to be a 4º orb.
The 0º01´- 1º orb manifests in an unconsciously automatic, and impersonal manner.
The 1º01´- 2º orb begins the deviation from the essential expression of the aspect. The numerical quality of 2 carries the essence of the opposition within it, this manifests the process of objectivity towards conscious awareness.
The 2º 1´- 3º orb has the essential quality of the trine, carrying the impulse of expansion, cooperation, and flow of awareness and operation between the aspected planets.
The 3º1´- 4º orb has the quality of the square. It manifests constructively, towards establishing and actualizing the self through the aspected planets.
4º1´- 5º orb manifests the quality of the quintile, giving an individually creative expression to the aspect.
5º1´- 6º orb is imbued with the nature of the sextile, manifesting as a productive expression of practicality, according to the aspect, and planets aspected.
6º1´- 7º orb has the essential quality of the septile, manifesting a possibility of a cooperative relationship between self and the world. The manner of expression of the planets, and their aspect will show up as unique, or unusual, even unpredictable
.
7º1´- 8º orb has the essential character of the semisquare, and indicates a reactive impulse to objectively manifest the planetary relationship in an individualized manner.
8º1´- 9º orb has the nature of the novile, indicating the planetary aspect may manifest itself, after a period of gestation, as a part of self actualization and realization of purpose.
9º1´- 10º orb is an expression of completion, or perfection of expression,
of the planetary aspect.
These qualities effect applying and separating aspects in different ways.
Generally speaking, applying aspects indicate an increasing momentum towards a culmination of activity, defined by the planets and their aspect.
Separating aspects indicate a condition, in which the intensity generated during the culmination is released in a significantly defined manner.
This 1st example is the chart of
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Oct. 13, 1989
11:50 AM EDT +4:00
New York, New York
Tropical
Porphyry
To start, let’s focus on the Uranus/Saturn/Neptune configuration in the first house, found in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s natal chart.
Uranus is at 1º Capricorn 48´, Saturn – 8º Capricorn 08´, Neptune – 12º Capricorn 44´.
Saturn is separating from Uranus with a 7º orb, and applying to Neptune with a 1º orb.
Looking at the Saturn/Uranus conjunction in Capricorn, which is at the beginning of Saturn’s waxing relationship to Uranus. It is separating from Uranus with a 7º orb: This shows that AOC has the Uranian impulse to go beyond defined structures to bring in new structures with creative practicality. Her views are social in nature, and enthused with ideals of equality and justice. Alexandria pushes to give a Saturnian focus and definition to her practical visions for the future. She is not afraid to rock the boat as she acquires security and identity, not only for herself, but for all. The 7º orb, carrying the essence of the septile, manifests in her impulses in congress that point to the possibility of a cooperative relationship between the people and how society can operate. Her manner is unique, if not unusual in the milieu she has connected herself to, and comes across to many as unpredictable, surprising, or challenging.
Saturn is also in a waning relationship with Neptune, in a closely applying 1º orb of being conjunct. AOC’s Saturnian self-assured individualized focus on differentiating what is important from what is not, gives service to the Neptunian dissolution of old forms and values and replacing them with more inclusive values and systems. In this activity of a tight waning conjunction, she brings energy and momentum to the manifesting of her ideals, in a very impersonal, yet orderly and significant way. She is an example of serving/surrendering (septile quality) her Saturnian elements of personal identity, focus of attention, and powers of discernment, to Neptunian universal values and collective needs, culminating to fulfill her personal destiny (septile).
Example 2:
Marilyn Monroe
Norma Jean Mortenson
June 1, 1926
9:30 am
Los Angeles, CA
Tropical
Porphyry
I will start with the T-square of Saturn in Scorpio squaring Moon conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius, in opposition to Neptune in Leo.
The T-square does indeed point out the absence of her father (Saturn retrograde square Neptune) and her mother’s schizophrenia (Moon/Jupiter opposition to Neptune).
Marilyn’s Mars/Uranus/Pisces, & Eris, and Hades in Aries, in the 8th house; all point to her experiences of sexual abuse, her later use of sexual energy, and being boxed into an image of sexuality.
(Neptune squared by Saturn, and
inconjunct with Mars, which is trining Saturn), provides a picture of her early life set up for a life of challenges, and possibilities for transforming karma.
The Moon is waning to Jupiter, and is applying to its conjunction to Jupiter with a 7º orb.
Her ability to adapt, develop, and mature (Moon) within her definition of self is united with her sense of preservation, increase, and compensation of self, which came through her individual social awareness and assimilation of social experiences (Jupiter). Marilyn had the urge to be a self-sustained individual while participating in the social realm, which her Aquarian sacrifice of individuality to being a social entity was pressured and challenged to the degree she embraced, and tried to think and act beyond the mainstream collective social attitudes of the day.
The septile quality of the 7º orb between Moon and Jupiter indicates her unique, even unpredictable manner of expanding out into the world, helping others, and attracting some unique people into her life.
The Moon is applying with a 2º orb to its opposition to Neptune
Jupiter separating with a 4º orb from its opposition to Neptune.
Marilyn’s self awareness and how she projected herself was through adaptability, and her expansive emotional expressions, which led her to developing objectivity, actualizing her goals, and having confrontations with others. To the degree she thought or felt she was a failure, the failure was realized, and led to a disintegration of purpose and sense of self.
Her increasing reliance on drugs undermined any strength she developed. These dynamics were magnified by the Moon’s 2º orb to the opposition. Jupiter’s role in this waning opposition to Neptune can be seen in her expanding developments of new forms, born out of her imagination of realizing possibilities, into the social sphere. This opposition was expressed through the karmic crises she came up against in her relationships. Jupiter’s 4º orb to its opposition to Neptune accentuated this relationship as a constructive impulse towards the establishment of herself, and her thoughts and her inclusive and spiritual values.
Moon is in the last degrees of waning square, and Jupiter is in waxing square to Saturn. The Moon is applying with a 2º orb to its square to Saturn, and Jupiter is separating with a 5º orb to its square to Saturn.
Saturn is the release, or trigger point in Marilyn’s T-square. This is an expression of her evolutionary need to transform (Scorpio) her definition of personal identity (Saturn) and how she focuses on and actualizes herself, and what she projects out into the world, on a daily basis (Moon). Her instinctual-feeling responses were an avenue for her to relate to the world, and adapt to people. The waning square manifested as a development of new forms in her actions. As she released what she developed as an individual to start a new cycle, she encountered restrictions and limitations. Her retrograde Saturn indicates her weak definitions and defenses against the outer world, even though she had inner strength and endurance. The Moon’s 2º orb to its square to Saturn brings the confrontational intensity of the opposition she faced as she instinctively put herself out into the world.
The manners in which Marilyn expanded herself through her activity in the social realm (Jupiter) indicates her intention to maintain her sovereignty, and uniqueness in society, especially in regards to her relationships. This intention was to compensate, and increase her sense of individuality, and keep her identity intact and maintained, in spite of her weak inner defenses.
Her process of establishing a sound basis of self for action (waxing square to Saturn) is magnified by Jupiter’s 5º orb to its square to Saturn. This orb carries the nature of the quintile, manifesting towards individualistic creativity and selfhood. This was to counterbalance the challenge of Saturn retrograde: weakened personal identity and inner security.
Saturn is in waxing square to Neptune. Saturn is applying to its square to Neptune with a 1º orb, bringing an impersonal/unconscious expression to this aspect, making its effects more instinctual by nature.
The crisis in establishing an ego building activity (waxing square to Neptune) worked positively in Marilyn in how she broke with old values, and stood for newer, more universal values, as evidenced by how she stood up and supported her friend, Ella Fitzgerald, in the face of racial prejudice. Her spiritual openness was apparent when Marilyn was introduced to Rudolf Steiner’s writings and lectures by her favorite drama teacher, Michael Chekhov. A few years before her death, in 1964, Marilyn met Dame Edith Sitwell, who was researching for an article on Hollywood. The two spent their time mainly talking about Rudolf Steiner, and his autobiography, which Marilyn was reading at the time.
The negative expression manifested in Neptune’s corrosive, diffusive effects on the sense of self, and way of projecting upon the world (Neptune in the 1st house), which degenerated into drug use, undermined her need and ability to establish a secure identity. Her struggling endeavor to establish strength of self, was often overshadowed by an otherworldly, almost elfin demeanor.
Example 3: George W. Bush Jr.
July 6, 1946
7:26 am
North Haven, CT
Tropical Porphyry
Let’s focus on George W’s Moon, and a few of its aspects:
Neptune 6º Libra conjunct Moon 17º conjunct Jupiter 18º 3rd house, Moon/Jupiter sextile Lunar South Node 21º Sagittarius, 5th house, Moon/Jupiter sextile Pluto 11ºLeo, and sextile Venus 22º Leo, 1st house, Moon/Chiron 16º square Sun 14º Cancer, 12th house, Moon trine Lunar North Node 21º Gemini/Uranus 20º 11th house.
I’m going to start with his Moon sextile Pluto, and his Moon square Saturn aspects.
In this life, George is starting a new cycle regarding his self discovery. The experiences of consequences of living a life of unchecked compulsivity, and facing limitations and restrictions lead him to instinctually act, which then leads him to self-discovery (Leo Pluto 1st house).
He’s also ending a cycle regarding his feeling and instinctual responses, in relation to how he adapts, develops and matures within what he has defined as self (Libra Moon/Cancer Saturn). This is magnified through the Moon’s waxing sextile to Pluto, which manifests in the experience of contrast and comparison between his instinctual impulsive nature, and the limitations which led him to sobriety, and the limitations that he faced as a president, all guiding him to start understanding his own emotional dynamics. The orb is before the exact sextile showing that this soul-need is intensified, because it is relatively new and unresolved. The 6º orb magnifies the essential nature of the sextile itself, in relation to the learning through contrast and comparisons, so that he can, at some point, act spontaneously in a productive manner – out of intuition, instead of compulsion.
The Moon is also in a waning conjunction to Jupiter with a 2º orb, ending a cycle of emotional, and egoic activities in order to establish a larger frame of reference. This 2º orb carries the essence of the opposition within it, indicating the process of objectivity towards conscious awareness. George W’s instinctual feeling responses, and the ways he nourishes and protects himself is being given over to how he expands and compensates, in order to assimilate into the social life as a larger frame of reference,
so that he can develop a meaningful sense of self and of others.
Jupiter is also in a waxing sextile aspect to Pluto, with an 8º orb, which gives it the essential character of the semisquare, manifesting as a reactive impulse to objectively manifest the relationship between the two planets in an individualized manner. In George’s case, he would reject other points of view because of his own emotional needs. He held his own rigid and fixed beliefs, and took on those he felt, and thought he was expected to uphold, as exemplified by his repeated statements, “Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” You are with us, or you’re with the enemy.”
The mental constructs and internal dynamics that are behind this kind of non- individuated statement is also indicated by the Moon/Jupiter waning sextile to the lunar South Node, but functional changes towards individuation appear later in life. The waning sextile works towards productive use of new forms of consciousness.
That which was positively developed throughout his life, and that which he stopped resisting, allowed him to make transitions from the past to the future. The Moon’s applying 4º orb manifests the constructive-ness of the sextile, towards establishing and actualizing past life habits, and the new habits towards individualization that he has developed in this life. His opening up to his feeling life led him to start painting, which surprised everyone, including his family. Jupiter’s applying 2º orb adds the impulses of expansion, success, and opportunity, through the essence of the opposition within it.
This manifests the raising of his emotional sensitivities, and his imagination to conscious awareness, and out into the world. With discipline, he developed his painting skills, and expressing more of his feeling nature.
At this point, we will look at his Moon conjunct Neptune, but waxing and separating by 9º.
This orb has the nature of the novile, indicating the planetary aspect may manifest itself, after a period of gestation, the beginning of a new cycle of activity, and the release of a new set of potential, as a part of self actualization and realization of purpose.
As Neptune dissolves hardened structures of identity, George has been opening up to build a more individuated sense of self, and in his immediate feeling life. And in his later years through the means of his relatively new inspiration towards artistic expression. Because the moon is so early in its separation from Neptune, it has been a struggle to be free from the past. The vision of his own individuality was quite nebulous and elusive, also evidenced by his 12th house Sun and Saturn in Cancer, influencing his impulse for autonomy to the use alcohol and cocaine.
Three weeks after his 40th birthday, he realized that his binge drinking had taken hold of his life, and was jeopardizing his relationships, career, and health. He acknowledged this in an interview, saying, “I realized that alcohol was beginning to crowd out my energies, and could crowd, eventually, my affection for other people.” He continued, “When you’re drinking, it can be an incredibly selfish act.” His decision was also inspired by what he describes as an intense, reawakening Christian faith.
This crossroad brought out the pressures and dynamics that had shaped his life. Much of these revolved around his father. His relationship with him was competitive, opportunistic, and as a shadow. He identified strongly with his father, yet regarded him as an impossible example to keep up with.
When he took up painting, his father had died, but George W. still identified with his political accomplishments, especially those that he felt that his father would have approved of. He signs his paintings, “43”, and refers to his father as “41”, the numbers of which presidency his father and he held.
His Moon is in conjunction with Jupiter, applying with a 1º orb. This manifests in his impulsive manner in which he actualized his sense of purpose, through the ways he maintained his security as an individual, which have changed over the course of his life.
Moon/Jupiter waning sextile Lunar South Node 21º Sagittarius, 5th house
With 4º and 2º orbs respectively, shows George W’s feeling sense- of-self and his particular exuberance, which indicates his transitioning between his past and future, leading to a more individuated way of being. The 4º orb has the quality of the square, manifesting constructively, towards establishing and actualizing the self through the natal Moon and South Node. Jupiter’s 2º orb carries the essence of the opposition within it, bringing the process of objectivity towards conscious awareness. He isn’t truly a “black sheep” in his family, but his impulsive emotional character set himself apart to the degree that he felt to be one.
Moon/Jupiter sextile Pluto 11ºLeo, and sextile Venus 22º Leo
Moon -waxing 6º to Pluto, waxing 5º to Venus
Jupiter – 8º by waning Venus, 8º waxing to Pluto
With his Leo Pluto in the 1st house, an evolutionary cycle has ended, and a new one has begun for George W. This beginning of a new cycle gives him the instinctual feeling that he has a special destiny to fulfill in this life. Much of what has been pointed out previously, corroborates and further brings out this instinctual, impulsive nature.
Both Moon and Jupiter are in a waxing sextile, and both separating from the square aspect, to Pluto. The Moon indicates the dynamics, on a feeling level, of his sense of self, is to compare and contrast with his experiences of the past, and from his environment, in order to realize his uniqueness as an individual. In this regard, his life is to understand what experiences and skills is needed to foster his new evolutionary purpose. The 6º orb imbues the essential nature of the sextile itself, which amplifies the sextile’s constructive practical application of his understanding and experience leading to the assertion of his individuality, and the productive use of a new form of consciousness, given evidence in his later life, especially after his presidency, and the death of both parents.
Jupiter’s 8º orb, has the essential character of the semisquare bringing a reactive impulse to objectively expand his understanding of his identity in the context of what he experiences as being natural, and to what he understands as universal laws, and reveres as his religious foundation.
The Moon is also in waxing sextile aspect to Venus, with a 5º orb. His instinctive sense of self, and how he maintains himself as an individual is imbued with the quality of the quintile giving an individually creative expression to his instinctive development and spontaneity.
Venus is in a waning sextile to Jupiter. The new creative identity arising from relating to himself and others, finding productive purpose to transition from his past to his future.
The 8º orb has the essential character of the semisquare indicating a reactivity to objectively manifest his sense of aesthetics, his self esteem, and what he finds to be of worth, through trial and error, as he expands into society, in an individualized manner.
Jupiter in waxing sextile to Pluto, with a 8º orb shows his urge to be a self-sustaining entity within the social realm. He achieved this through comparing and contrasting his experiences with what he faced in the world. He needs to have time to himself, away from others and his environment to discover what is unique and individual about himself. To the degree he found distance from his perceived expectations of his father, and his various social roles, he understood what methods and skills to use for a new evolutionary direction. He metamorphosed from a, `you’re either with us, or against us´, mentality, as a consensus mouthpiece, to expressing himself more genuinely, independently, and somewhat vulnerably through his painting, after he had surrendered to a higher spiritual power, as he experienced it.
June 3, 2021
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