If you rely solely on the lines drawn by charting software or are still counting with your fingers to determine the aspects between planets and points, then you are probably missing out on some very important astrological information. Most astrologers know the “good and the bad” associated with aspects: sextiles and trines are “good”; squares and oppositions are “bad”. But aspects are so much more than this. They have an additional layers of information that can take you beyond “goodness” and “badness”, beyond numbers of degrees with moral assignments. We can easily get past this one dimensional view of aspects; get past the numbers, and get to a method that allows us to immediately draw out deeper more nuanced information. We do this—for the most part—by ignoring degree numbers and focusing on the signs instead.
The best way to determine an aspect is to focus on the signs.
The best way to determine aspects is to initially focus less on the degrees and more on the signs. Later when we dig deeper into the chart, the specific degree can tell us more, but for now we want to establish the relationship between planets and points. And the signs can tell us everything we need to know about this relationship. To do this we simply need to look at two basic qualities of a sign: its triplicity and its quadruplicity.
Triplicity
Triplicity is a group of three signs belonging to the same element. There are four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. This results in the following grouping:
The fire group contains these signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
The earth group contains the signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
The air group contains the signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
The water group contains the signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Note: Fire, earth, air, water is the progression of the signs around the chart.
Quadruplicity
Quadruplicity is a grouping of four signs belonging to the same modality (mode). There are three modes: movable, fixed, and mutable (or common).
The movable group contains the signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
The fixed group contains the signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
The mutable group contains the signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Triplicities and quadruplicities are ancient tenets of astrology. They appear in the earliest astrological texts, and while we could easily deep dive into the rationale behind the elements, their assignments, and so much more, we will instead stay on track and point out the most useful peculiarities of both triplicity and quadruplicity:
Signs of the same triplicity are trine to one another
Again, the triplicities are a grouping of signs with the same element (fire, earth, air, water). The aspectual relationship between each of the signs within each group is a trine. If you remember the previous discussion on aspects, then you know that a trine is composed of five signs. The image below shows this relationship.
The fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are trine to one another. The earth signs are (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are trine to one another. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius (air signs) are trine to one another. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces (water signs) are trine to one another.
By knowing the relationship between signs and elements, you can very quickly ascertain that planets in the same element are trine to one another, no counting and no aspect lines required.
Signs of the same quadruplicity are square to one another
As described above, quadruplicities are groups of signs that have the same mode (movable, fixed, and mutable). The aspectual relationship between each of the signs within each group is a square, and by extension the opposition. If you remember the previous discussion on aspects, then you know that a square aspect is composed of four signs and an opposition is composed of seven signs (signs that are opposite one another)
The image below shows this relationship.
By knowing the relationship between signs and modes, you can very quickly ascertain that planets in the same mode are square to one another—no counting and no aspect lines required.
Signs with affinities are sextile to one another
Sextiles are a little different. By remembering that sextiles are composed of three signs, we note that as we move around the chart, every other sign is a sextile. And while this works, it brings us back to counting signs. Instead, I use the triplicities and the concept that each element has an affinity for one of the other elements. That is, fire and air have an affinity for one another, and earth and water have an affinity for one another. So, remembering that the elemental sequence around the chart is: fire, earth, air, water, we simply note fire to air, earth to water, air to fire; water to earth (and so on) are sextiles. A planet in an earth sign is sextile to the nearest water sign in front and behind it. The same is true for water to earth, fire to air, air to fire signs.
So what’s the point to all of this?
So why do this; what’s the point to it, especially if you have charting software that will lay aspect lines across your chart? Here’s why: By engaging with the chart at the elemental and modal levels, you tie that engagement to root-level astrological information. Reading aspects in this manner allows you to link and import the elemental and modal meanings into an aspect—rather than seeing an aspect only as a number with a moral assignment. Elements and modes are foundational to what we know about angles and signs, and while that is a discussion for another time, take time now to contemplate on why this is so. Why are signs of the same mode aligned with the most difficult aspects? Why are signs of the same element in favorable aspect? What is up with elemental affinity? The elemental and modal assignments are not accidental.
Using Triplicities and Quadruplicities to Find Aspects Quickly
Here’s how you can use triplicities and quadruplicities to determine aspects.
Memorize and learn the triplicity and quadruplicity groupings.
It’s not especially difficult, but if this is new to you, it will take a little time. The good news is there are lots of graphics and cheat sheets available to assist you. (I’ll add some links to this page on a later revision)Turn off the aspect lines on your chart.
Just do it. You will be amazed at how your chart becomes more visually accessible.Take your time and make it a habit.
You’ll be surprised by how quickly this comes together and how quickly you will be able to identify aspects, especially if you work with quadrant house systems.
