Planets are in conjunction when they are 0 degrees apart, plus or minus anywhere from 5 to 8 degrees, depending on the planets involved. Why such large latitude? A conjunction is an intense merging of planetary energies, a unity that sometimes provides a powerhouse for constructive change and/or growth, and sometimes supplies a volatile mix of explosive energy. These energies are provided for your use in forging new avenues for growth as well as giving you powerful tools to effect change in your life.

Sextiles involve planetary angles of 60 degrees, give or take 4 to 5 degrees. They point the way towards identifying the opportunities in your life, and also reveal the best way to develop and apply these opportunities.

Squares are 90 degrees apart, with a latitude of 6 to 7 degrees. They are the engines that drive growth by supplying you with challenges and tests. You run into frustrations and obstacles and find you must adjust your efforts. An internal tension builds because you are at cross-purposes with yourself. Sometimes you see these as burdens to bear, and at other times you see them as confrontations. The choice is yours - either you bemoan your fate or you rise to meet the challenge.

Trines are planets 120 degrees apart, plus or minus 6 to 7 degrees. Trines can be very beneficial by blending planetary energies in a positive way, inspiring ideas and pointing the way toward expansive growth. They are also the best solutions to the challenges posed by both squares and oppositions. Trines can also be not so beneficial by being the path of least resistance. Again, your free will enters into the equation - do you take the easy way out? Or do you make use of these energies to help meet the obstacles posed by the difficult aspects in your chart?

Quincunxes are planetary angles of 150 degrees, with about 1 or 2 degrees on either side. Considered by most astrologers to be minor aspects (of which there are as many as 14 others) I include them because this is, after all, Quincunx Astrology. And why Quincunx Astrology? Well I like the sound of the word quincunx... and secondly, my own personal chart has some strong quincunx patterns in it. Seriously though, quincunxes blend planetary energies by posing dilemmas and forcing the need for revision, which in turn causes a certain amount of tension and friction. Quincunxes show you where you're committed, but sometimes you're not sure about the choices you've made. But it's too late - the river must run its course. So what is called for is a change, a revision in your attitude. Quincunxes show you where you have to accept what is, even if they act as a thorn in your side. You've done all that you can - now you have to play it by ear until you reach a fulfillment in whatever the quincunx points towards. Oftentimes it's not enough to really command your conscious attention, but somewhere in the back of your mind you're still working on it. Their resolutions often point the way to unconventional breakthroughs in perception.

These planets are opposite one another - 180 degrees apart, with a give and take of around 7 to 8 degrees. Next to the conjunction, this is often the most powerful aspect in a chart - opposing energies confront each other and pull you in opposite directions - or so it seems. If you allow yourself to look deeper you find that each end of these planetary aspects are two sides of the same coin, and therein lies the solution to a succesful use of this aspect. You can find a complementary balance that provides opportunities for deeper awareness. A re-evaluation of the energies involved leads to a equilibrium of perspective.