I practice Western Traditional Astrology which is based on tens of thousands of years of observation of the night sky. Humans have looked as we do now, with brains the same as we have now, for about 200,00 years–and 7 of the 10 planets can be seen with the naked eye. That is a lot of observation of planetary movement over time.
There is a joke in astrology: if you put 5 astrologers in a room you end up with 6 sets of orbs. Which is to say, astrologers disagree about the geometry: a right angle, or a Square in astrology, is always 90 degrees in math, but in the human experience of feeling the impact of 2 planets forming a 90 degree angle, some astrologers say the impact can be felt at 80 degrees, or 100 degrees, not just 90–the question of how much wiggle room to use in the angular relationships between planets is a valid one. If an astrologer uses very wide orbs, then predictions are less accurate; likewise if orbs are too narrow, predictions are also less accurate. Some are strict in their orbs, others are loose. Some consider asteroids as important as planets. Some ignore oppositions and emphasize biquintiles. Some consider an aspect relevant if it is mathematically within orb; others won’t consider it an aspect at all if the signs aren’t also in aspect to each other, in addition to the math.
My teacher told me to keep it simple–there’s a lot to be gained this way. Readings are more accurate.
I use Placidus Houses for my chart wheels; I use the 10 planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and the large asteroid Chiron; I use the asteroids Juno, Ceres, Vesta and Pallas and I give them some consideration, but nothing like the planets. The North and South Node of the Moon are a significant axis in the chart and any planets either natally or by transit aspecting these points are very important and where we can learn about past lives. I’m very interested in planets that fall on the major chart angles. The progressed moon, any progressed personal planet changing signs, progressed house cusps aspecting natal planets and any change in the progressed Ascendant or Midheaven are likewise important factors.
Often there’s a pattern of reinforcing themes I see when synthesizing the birth chart, the progressed chart and the chart of the current moment the client is experiencing; when I see this pattern, I emphasize it to my client. I also use the solar return chart for an annual sense of the different themes my client is facing.
I read aspects as conjunctions, squares, oppositions, trines, sextiles and inconjuncts. There are other minor aspects, but I do not use them; again, to keep it simple.
I consider the inconjunct, or quincunx, a significant aspect; it’s a minor aspect because the orbs have to be narrow for it to be in effect, but it’s major in it’s influence. The inconjunct is an irritating aspect and if you have one in your chart by birth, it can explain the experience of feeling perpetually sideswiped in certain areas of life. I just mention the Yod because unlike more common patterns like the T-Square, it’s misunderstood and I feel often not read correctly if it’s even read at all; and yet if you have a Yod in your chart you probably will recognize it when the way the energy is commonly expressed is explained to you.
These are just some of the considerations I use, when reading star charts and making predictions.
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