This article was co-authored by Angel Eyedealism and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Angel Eyedealism is an Astrologer and Performance Artist based in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. With nearly three decades of astrology experience, Angel specializes in relocation astrology and astrocartography. Eyedealism has been featured in numerous media outlets such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Refinery29, NBC, MTV, Showtime, and Bravo. Angel aims to help others through a straightforward, kind, and humorous astrological lens, utilizing her entertainment and singing skills for performance art astrology readings.
This article has been viewed 11,366 times.
You’ve gotten your birth chart and are super excited to see how you’re written in the stars…but what are those lines and shapes in the middle of your chart? Those are called aspects. In astrology, soft and hard aspects tell you how you’ll react to certain opportunities or challenges. If you’re curious about hard aspects, keep reading because we’ve got all the details on what they mean and how they can affect your chart.
Steps
What are the hard aspects?
-
1A square aspect is a hard aspect. This aspect occurs when two planets are 90° apart, or three signs apart, and represents a mental or physical tug-of-war. The building tension from a square angle causes you to take action in one way or another, driving you toward negotiation, balance, and harmony. If you feel like you’re constantly at war with yourself, it may be because of a square aspect.
- For example, a square aspect between the Moon and Mercury represents the inability to express emotions. The Moon symbolizes your emotions, while Mercury is the planet of communication. A square aspect connecting these planets may make it difficult for you to say what you need emotionally.[2]
- Finding a balance for both planets can be difficult, but not impossible as the square aspect challenges you to find harmony in the least likely of places.
-
2An opposition is a hard aspect. This aspect happens when two planets are 180° apart, or six signs apart, and on the opposite side of each other in your chart, giving off a natural polarity. Think of opposition as opposite. If the planets in opposition are naturally opposites or incompatible, chances are they’ll cause tension in you physically and mentally. This can cause conflicting emotions and personality traits.
- For example, if Mars is in opposition with Saturn, this could be a sign that you’re hardworking but hold yourself back. Mars is fast-paced and impatient, whereas Saturn is cautious and careful. These qualities oppose each other, but you can learn to balance their energies by making calculated decisions and taking advantage of opportunities quickly.
- These zodiac signs are natural opposites: Aries and Libra, Taurus and Scorpio, Gemini and Sagittarius, Cancer and Capricorn, Leo and Aquarius, Virgo and Pisces[3]