LECTURE 2 - BASIC FORMATIONS

These basic aspects, CONJUNCT, OPPOSITION, SQUARE, INCONJUNCT, TRINE, and SEXTILE will often form a group that is known as a FORMATION. These are powerful combinations of energy that can and do influence one’s nature a great deal throughout one’s life. The basic natal horoscope with all the combined aspects represents sort of a schematic drawing of how you are ‘wired.’ You might say it’s like a ‘User’s Manual,’ of your personality. And, yes, some models are more ‘User Friendly,’ than others. Don’t fret, it’s not all that bad, I have often called my horoscope the “Horriblescope.” It all depends on how you chose to use the energies available to one.


STELLIUM – This is a formation of four or more planets that are CONJUNCT, being within 8 degrees of one another in the same sign. It represents a powerful package of energy. When positive planets are involved it can represent genius, a specific talent, and a strong sense of purpose. A positive example of such a person with a Stellium would be the legendary baseball player Hank Aaron, holder of the record for the most career home runs for over 30 years. If negative planets are involved, and negative choices are made, it can indicate an infamous person such as Sam ‘Momo’ Giancanna, the Chicago Mafia boss of the 1950’-60’s era.


T–SQUARE (Also known as T- Bar) – This formation is made by three or more planets. At least two of the planets will be in OPPOSITION (180 degrees apart with an 8 degree orb allowance) to one another. A third or group of planets will then be SQUARE (90 degrees with an 8 degree orb allowance) to the opposing planets. It looks like a “T,” thus it’s name. About 40% of the population has a T-SQUARE somewhere in their natal horoscope. It defines many of our basic conflicts in life that we must learn to live with and work out in our personal lives. It can also indicate our talents and where we’re motivated to develop ourselves. Some notable examples would be Marlon Brando, Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammed Ali, Ronald Reagan, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Jefferson, Aristotle Onassis, and me, and perhaps you, just to name a few. You can work it out and be famous too. It all depends on the choices and efforts that one makes in life.


THE GRAND TRINE – This occurs when three, or groups of planets, are all TRINE to each other (within the 8 degree orb allowance). One planet is TRINE to a second planet and then that planet TRINES to a third, and the third planet TRINES back to the first planet. It looks like a big equal triangle in the chart, thus its name. It can be a very lucky aspect providing many opportunities and benefits in life, or it can go the other way and be too easy and often indicates laziness and just sliding by on one’s ‘good looks,’ or maybe like being born to wealth and social status with little struggle or personal efforts having to made in life, one living in a comfortable circle and not really going anywhere. An example of both the lucky and unlucky nature of a GRAND TRINE would be in the horoscope of the legendary film actress and sex symbol icon Marilyn Monroe.


THE GRAND SEXTILE – This is the same in principle as a GRAND TRINE, just smaller and lighter in effect and it is formed by six sextiles all connected in sequence. This often indicates a multi talented person who’s energies are scattered and they simply can’t make up their minds or make a strong commitment to any one thing, a ‘jack of all trades, and master of none,’ type.


THE GRAND CROSS – This can be a tough one. It is formed by at least four planets, two oppositions that are at right angles to each other, or four planets squaring each other in turn. One square to planet two, that square to three, and that square to the fourth, and the fourth square back the first. It looks like a big ‘+’ or cross, thus its name. It can literally be ‘one’s cross to bare,’ in life. These people often feel pulled in four directions at once. Some are often medically and psychologically diagnosed as ‘Bi-polar,’ and can suffer from radical mood swings. Relief can often be found by turning inward and finding a center within oneself and from there choosing more constructive and often creative outlets. Purposeful activities can help them rise above the stressful mundane events of their lives and into more constructive endeavors. In this formation there are tremendous energies available to them if they can just learn to focus it through activities represented by the various planets involved.


THE YOD, or FINGER OF GOD - This is a very strong destiny influence. This looks like a small triangle, or a pointer, or arrow head shape. At the base, two or more planets are in SEXTILE (60 degrees). Both of those planets then INCONJUNCT (150 degrees) to a third planet or group. The sharp point is the focal point, or point of destiny. One is drawn to the potential destiny that is represented by this planet. At some point in the person’s life there can often be a crisis and a turning point in the person’s life which then takes them into another direction for better or worse depending on the choices made.

[click charts for detail view]

Illustrations:







Rulership is a big part of astrology. Everything in life falls under the ‘rulership,’ of various planets, signs, houses, and aspects. I have found that the easiest way to present the complexity of an aspect is with simple ‘keywords.’ By simply dropping various simple keywords onto the aspects of various planet positions, one can understand the basic gist of the influence. There is an excellent basic dictionary of astrology rulership keywords that I use almost daily, THE RULERSHIP BOOK, by Rex E. Bills. When I put words into parenthesis in my writing they are from his book and other standard astrology reference books that I shall list in the bibliography.


Some of the charts that I will present are what I term basic ‘Solar Charts.’ These are cast when the time of birth is unknown and one uses Noon as a birth time. This will give a basic location of the planets and the aspects that they form because the various planets do not move more than 1-2 degrees per day. The Moon moves 12 degrees per day, therefore that location can of 6 degrees plus or minus. Mercury can move 2 degrees per day so there isn’t much error there. The remainder move 1 degree or less per day.


If the birth time and location is known then a very accurate chart with the Ascendant and House locations can be drawn using complicated mathematics, which today can be performed by a computer program in a couple of nano seconds. There are many free programs available on various astrology web sites, which I will list in the bibliography. For simplicity, and to appeal to broader audience, I will use mostly the simple format of keywords and aspects. This simple format will still reveal a surprising amount of information about the subject person’s chart and life.


Now you have some basic tools in your astrology toolbox with which we can begin to take apart and analyze some basic natal charts Astrology is a very complex science that you can study for years if you get really interested in it. However, with these basics you will be able to follow along with the examples that I present in my writings.