Sabian Aspect Orbs

by Robert P. Blaschke
Excerpted from Robert's book, Astrology: A Language of Life; Volume II - Sabian Aspect Orbs.

At the heart of insightful and effective astrological interpretation lies aspect delineation. In natal, progressed, transit, synastric, composite, medical, horary or elective chart work, the professional astrologer employs a clinical methodology in his attempt to understand, and thus explain to his client, the geometric nature of planetary relationships. Ideally, the consulting astrologer is able to articulate to the client a cohesive and personally relevant description of the planetary activity he sees forming in the various horoscopes used during the consultation. Yet, who among us has not occasionally had the experience of communicative blockage with our client as we attempted to explain an aspect's meaning to them. The intention of my second volume in the Astrology: A Language of Life series is to introduce to the astrological community a radical new technique for aspect interpretation, one where the orb of exactitude is used to understand the physics behind planetary relationships. My wish is that this technique will help practicing astrologers to further help their clients understand the static or dynamic planetary energies affecting their lives. It is my hope that astrologers will also benefit from this technique through the unification of consciousness that occurs when viewing aspects this way. Multiple Levels of Aspect Delineation The experienced astrologer knows that within any aspect lies an elaborate relationship between any two planets and their signs, house placements and rulerships, angular separation, applying or separating dynamics, waxing or waning phase position, and whether or not retrogradation is involved. Whether selftaught or formally educated in astrology, the student takes his understanding of aspect technique from one step to the next, building a richer and deeper appreciation of the depth of horoscopic work as he goes along. Please allow me to walk you through these levels of aspect complexity. At level one, the astrologer analyzes the nature of the planet-to-planet relationship. Before all else is considered, this alliance between any two heavenly bodies is viewed archetypally. What is the nature of the Moon and Saturn interacting? How would I understand Mercury and Pluto joining forces? What would be the outcome of the Sun and Uranus teaming up together? Thanks to the advanced intellectual and spiritual refinement of our Chaldean predecessors, we know of a system of planetary order of influence that assists us in seeing which planet is receiving the greater effect from the other. This system, known as the Chaldean Order, exquisite in its simplicity, places the heavenly bodies in rank of their real, or apparent, orbital speed. Within this theoretical framework, the slower planet has the greater sway over the faster moving celestial body. Thus, the Moon receives influence from all other planets, Mercury influences the Moon but is affected by all other bodies, and Pluto impresses its power upon all other divine spheres.
The Chaldean Order = a b c ` d e f g h i

Reaching level two, the astrologer investigates the energy of the sign-to-sign relationship. In this domain, the four elements, the three modalities and the specific Zodiacal signs are introduced into the reasoning process. A planet in water correlating with another in earth means what? How does mutability correspond with cardinality? What happens when Libra and Pisces reciprocate? Now, the mind of the astrologer is expanded into both the nature of the planet-to-planet and the energy of the sign-to-sign relationship under consideration. Creative thinking begins at this juncture, as multiple factors have been interjected into the thought process. Arriving at level three, the astrologer studies the contrast between the house placements and rulerships involved in the planetary formula. A twelfth house planet alternating forces with a third house body means what? A fifth house ruler exchanging energy with a ninth house ruler leads us where? A second house planet associating with another in the sixth house defines which areas of life involvement? Here, the adroit astrologer staggers mentally to retain cohesion among the multiplicity of chart factors being examined in the name of a single aspect. Entering level four, the astrologer scrutinizes the dynamics of the specific aspect forming. Do we have planets connecting by square? Are these two heavenly bodies coupling by trine? What does it mean for the Moon and Mars to be linking by quincunx? Some intellectual relief is granted the astrologer at this point in the process, as he can momentarily unify his logic by pondering the geometric relationship alone to the exclusion of the previous three levels of thought. I have observed as a teaching astrologer most of my beginning to intermediate students, when confronted with the puzzling complications of aspect analysis, limiting themselves to just looking at charts for conjunctions, oppositions, trines or squares, without paying much attention to which planets, signs or houses are involved in the picture. I would have to say that this is precisely where the weeding out process of advanced study and practice occurs. Those students who have been gifted at birth with the "Sacred Six" aspects of raw brainpower as defined by Charles E.O. Carter, being the trines and sextiles between the Sun and Mars, Jupiter or Uranus, will usually leave their fellow classmates behind after passing through this analytical wormhole and speeding into the deeper space of horoscopic perception. Landing at level five, the astrologer determines if the specific planetary aspect is applying or separating. How can I understand what Venus attaching to Saturn in a separating conjunction means? How is it different than these two planets affiliating in an applying conjunction? When planets are combining their energies prior to exactitude, are they intensifying? And are they dispersing as they separate after partile? The mind of the astrologer now integrates orb awareness into the ever-expanding planetary picture. As students, we were taught, some of us categorically, that the closer the aspect is to exactitude, the more powerful it is. Is this really true? In my experience as a practicing astrologer, does this theory always hold water? The terrain radically shapeshifts now as the astrologer listens to the client define and describe the actual life experience they have had with a particular aspect, while simultaneously comparing the dialogue to their mental data base of the expected theoretical results such an aspect should produce, all the while engaged in consultancy conversation.

Disembarking at level six, the astrologer examines if the aspect is waxing or waning. Recalling our Chaldean Order, we learn that the slower moving of the two is the phase reference planet and that the faster of the two is the cycle determinant. I have always taught my students to rotate the horoscope so the slower planet is as if it were on the ascendant at the nine-o-clock position. Then, if the faster planet is below the horizon, it is waxing. If above, it is waning. From this vantage point, the astrologer can weigh whether he is observing a faster moving planet between conjunction and opposition in reference to the slower planet, and in a waxing phase, or a more rapidly orbiting body between opposition and conjunction with the more deliberately moving second planet, and in a waning phase. What would it mean to have Jupiter and Neptune blending in a waning trine? How is this different from these two planets uniting in a waxing trine? According to Rudhyar, can the astrologer always say with certainty that planets consolidating their forces in the opening half of the 360 orbital cycle must equate with the process of individualization when waxing? And likewise, must planets mating their energies in the closing half of the orbital cycle always equate with the process of socialization? Now the astrologer has passed the point of no return in karmic aspect analysis. There is undeniably a subtle inference of a new soul experience in the waxing hemicycle, and that of an old soul in the waning. Docking at level seven, the astrologer inspects the two planets to confirm direct or retrograde motion of either or both. Striding deeper into karmic territory now, how shall one interpret a Sun-Mercury conjunction when Mercury is retrograde versus direct. Is there a distinct difference between a Moon-Venus opposition when Venus is direct versus retrograde? Into the astrologer's mind flood ruminations about the repeating life lessons of retrograde personal planets. Is this because of past life experience? Can an individual with direct motion planets in aspect use their energies more successfully early in life, where the individual with retrograde planets in aspect to others must wait until mid-life and beyond to skillfully employ his celestial forces? By now, the beleaguered astrologer, whether blessed with the "Sacred Six" or not, finds his head spinning and smoke coming out his ears. It is time for a time-out. If I continue with this clinical methodology any further, I will not be able to think straight ever again, let alone be able to say anything coherent to the client. But wait! The darkest hour is always just before the dawn. At level eight, we accomplish penetration. The intrepid astrologer turns to the exact orb of the aspect, determining the precise angular separation between the two planets. He then merges this with the corresponding Sabian Symbol by superimposing the 360 of the Zodiac over the horoscope wheel, wherein the conjunction equates with 0 Aries, the opposition with 0 Libra. Now, there is a picture and a symbolic story that completely reveals the physics behind the planetary relationship. The right and left hemispheres of the brain are instantaneously united in an Uranian flash of insight, as the clinical methodology coalesces with the Sabian symbolism, giving the exhilarated astrologer a lucid understanding of the personal meaning within this planetary aspect for his client. Now we know why a full phase, waning opposition with a 3 to 4 separating orb is understood through the Sabian Symbol for the 4th degree of Libra. Now we understand why the gibbous phase, waxing opposition between the same two planets, but with a 1 to 2 applying orb, functions more like the Sabian Symbol for the 29th degree of Virgo. The astrologer has revealed to him why balsamic conjunctions are so vastly different from new phase
3

conjunctions, and why the waning trine with the 2 degree separating orb has a distinctly different flavor than the waxing trine with the 5 degree applying orb. Hallelujah! we have reached the Canaan of aspect delineation! Tables of Aspects to Sabian Symbols Correspondences In Volume II - Sabian Aspect Orbs of my Astrology: A Language of Life series, I have a chapter on each of the major, minor and esoteric aspects, discussing the distinction between their waxing and waning versions, the applying and separating dynamics of each aspect, how retrograde faster moving planets create an exception to this applying/separating physics equation, and the immense importance of the orb of exactitude; and all throughout the book, these theoretical principles of Zodiac geometry and their practical application in client work will be explained through the richness of the 360 clairvoyantly revealed degree meanings given to us as a legacy by Marc Jones and Elsie Wheeler one fine day in 1925. The enormous contribution of Dane Rudhyar cannot go unmentioned, for in the same breath his name should forever be aligned with our modern understanding of 360 cycle theory and the distribution of knowledge about the Sabian Symbols he gave the astrological community through his pioneering work. The following tables will save you the effort required to forge the correspondences between the geometric family of astrological aspects, their specific applying and separating orbs, and their related Sabian Symbols. One must remember, however, that a retrograde planet, even though it convolutes the applying or separating planetary relationship, reverses its phase relationship to the slower moving planet it is in aspect to. I will use my SunMercury conjunction to illustrate this for you. My natal Sun is at 22 Scorpio 44' and my Mercury is retrograde at 21 Scorpio 08'. Therefore, this is a separating conjunction with a 1 36' orb. Typically, one would presume that a separating conjunction would fall into new phase or Aries territory, and specifically equate in the Sabian Aspect Orb technique with 2 Aries. But, as my retrograde Mercury separated from its conjunction with the Sun, it passed back into balsamic phase or Piscean territory, and thus specifically corresponds with 29 Pisces as the relevant Sabian Symbol for this conjunction aspect and its orb of exactitude. The Sabian Symbol for the 29th degree of Pisces is "Light Breaking Into Many Colors as it Passes Through a Prism" and was interpreted by Rudhyar as "The analytical power of the mind necessary for the formulation of life processes in their many aspects." Whereas, the Sabian Symbol for the 2nd degree of Aries is "A Comedian Reveals Human Nature" and was interpreted by Rudhyar as "The capacity to look objectively at oneself and at others." After absorbing me mentally while you have been reading this article, I will leave it to you, my erudite reader, to confirm for yourself which of the two Sabian Symbols more pertains to my Sun-Mercury conjunction. Conjunction (0) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact conjunction = 1st degree of Aries
"A Woman Just Risen From The Sea. A Seal Is Embracing Her"

b) applying orbs: balsamic

0 to 1 = 30 Pisces 1 to 2 = 29 Pisces 2 to 3 = 28 Pisces 3 to 4 = 27 Pisces

4

4 to 5 = 26 Pisces 5 to 6 = 25 Pisces 6 to 7 = 24 Pisces 7 to 8 = 23 Pisces

(reverse for Rx)

c) separating orbs: new

0 to 1 = 1 Aries 1 to 2 = 2 Aries 2 to 3 = 3 Aries 3 to 4 = 4 Aries

4 to 5 = 5 Aries 5 to 6 = 6 Aries 6 to 7 = 7 Aries 7 to 8 = 8 Aries

(reverse for Rx)

Opposition (180) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact opposition = 1st degree of Libra
"In A Collection Of Perfect Specimens Of Many Biological Forms, A Butterfly Displays The Beauty Of Its Wings, Its Body Impaled By A Fine Dart"

b) applying orbs: gibbous (reverse for Rx)

0 to 1 = 30 Virgo 1 to 2 = 29 Virgo 2 to 3 = 28 Virgo 3 to 4 = 27 Virgo

4 to 5 = 26 Virgo 5 to 6 = 25 Virgo 6 to 7 = 24 Virgo 7 to 8 = 23 Virgo 4 to 5 = 5 Libra 5 to 6 = 6 Libra 6 to 7 = 7 Libra 7 to 8 = 8 Libra

c) separating orbs: full

0 to 1 = 1 Libra 1 to 2 = 2 Libra 2 to 3 = 3 Libra 3 to 4 = 4 Libra

(reverse for Rx)

Waxing Trine (120) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing trine = 1st degree of Leo
"Blood Rushes To A Man's Head As His Vital Energies Are Mobilized Under The Spur Of Ambition"

b) applying orbs: first quarter c) separating orbs: first quarter

0 to 1 = 30 Cancer 1 to 2 = 29 Cancer 2 to 3 = 28 Cancer 0 to 1 = 1 Leo 1 to 2 = 2 Leo 2 to 3 = 3 Leo

3 to 4 = 27 Cancer 4 to 5 = 26 Cancer 5 to 6 = 25 Cancer 3 to 4 = 4 Leo 4 to 5 = 5 Leo 5 to 6 = 6 Leo

Waning Trine (120) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning trine = 1st degree of Sagittarius
"Retired Army Veterans Gather To Reawaken Old Memories"

b) applying orbs: disseminating

0 to 1 = 30 Scorpio 1 to 2 = 29 Scorpio 2 to 3 = 28 Scorpio

3 to 4 = 27 Scorpio 4 to 5 = 26 Scorpio 5 to 6 = 25 Scorpio 3 to 4 = 4 Sagittarius 4 to 5 = 5 Sagittarius 5 to 6 = 6 Sagittarius

c) separating orbs: disseminating

0 to 1 = 1 Sagittarius 1 to 2 = 2 Sagittarius 2 to 3 = 3 Sagittarius

Waxing Square (90) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing square = 1st degree of Cancer
"On A Ship The Sailors Lower An Old Flag And Raise A New One"

b) applying orbs:

0 to 1 = 30 Gemini 1 to 2 = 29 Gemini
5

3 to 4 = 27 Gemini 4 to 5 = 26 Gemini

crescent (reverse for Rx) c) separating orbs: 1st quarter

2 to 3 = 28 Gemini 0 to 1 = 1 Cancer 1 to 2 = 2 Cancer 2 to 3 = 3 Cancer

5 to 6 = 25 Gemini 3 to 4 = 4 Cancer 4 to 5 = 5 Cancer 5 to 6 = 6 Cancer

(reverse for Rx)

Waning Square (90) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning square = 1st degree of Capricorn
"An Indian Chief Claims Power From The Assembled Tribe"

b) applying orbs: disseminating

(reverse for Rx)

0 to 1 = 30 Sagittarius 1 to 2 = 29 Sagittarius 2 to 3 = 28 Sagittarius 0 to 1 = 1 Capricorn 1 to 2 = 2 Capricorn to 3 = 3 Capricorn

3 to 4 = 27 Sagittarius 4 to 5 = 26 Sagittarius 5 to 6 = 25 Sagittarius 3 to 4 = 4 Capricorn 4 to 5 = 5 Capricorn 5 to 6 = 6 Capricorn

c) separating orbs: 3rd quarter

(reverse for Rx) 2

Waxing Sextile (60) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing sextile = 1st degree of Gemini
"A Glass-Bottomed Boat Reveals Undersea Wonders"

b) applying orbs: crescent c) separating orbs: crescent

0 to 1 = 30 Taurus 1 to 2 = 29 Taurus 0 to 1 = 1 Gemini 1 to 2 = 2 Gemini

2 to 3 = 28 Taurus 3 to 4 = 27 Taurus 2 to 3 = 3 Gemini 3 to 4 = 4 Gemini

Waning Sextile (60) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning sextile = 1st degree of Aquarius
"An Old Adobe Mission In California"

b) applying orbs: third quarter c) separating orbs: third quarter

0 to 1 = 30 Capricorn 1 to 2 = 29 Capricorn 0 to 1 = 1 Aquarius 1 to 2 = 2 Aquarius

2 to 3 = 28 Capricorn 3 to 4 = 27 Capricorn 2 to 3 = 3 Aquarius 3 to 4 = 4 Aquarius

Waxing Quincunx (150) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing quincunx = 1st degree of Virgo b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs: 0 to 1 = 30 Leo 0 to 1 = 1 Virgo 1 to 2 = 29 Leo 1 to 2 = 2 Virgo gibbous 2 to 3 = 28 Leo 2 to 3 = 3 Virgo
"In A Portrait, The Significant Features Of A Man's Head Are Artistically Emphasized"

Waning Quincunx (150) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning quincunx = 1st degree of Scorpio
"A Crowded Sightseeing Bus On A City Street"

full 2 to 3 = 28 Libra 2 to 3 = 3 Scorpio

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 30 Libra 0 to 1 = 1 Scorpio

1 to 2 = 29 Libra 1 to 2 = 2 Scorpio

Waxing Semisextile (30) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing semisextile = 1st degree of Taurus new
"A Clear Mountain Stream"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 30 Aries 0 to 1 = 1 Taurus

1 to 2 = 29 Aries 1 to 2 = 2 Taurus

Waning Semisextile (30) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning semisextile = 1st degree of Pisces balsamic
"In A Crowded Marketplace Farmers And Middlemen Display A Great Variety Of Products"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 30 Aquarius 0 to 1 = 1 Pisces

1 to 2 = 29 Aquarius 1 to 2 = 2 Pisces

Waxing Semisquare (45) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing semisquare = 16th degree of Taurus
"An Old Teacher Fails To Interest His Pupils In Traditional Knowledge"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 15 Taurus 0 to 1 = 16 Taurus

1 to 2 = 14 Taurus 1 to 2 = 17 Taurus

new

(reverse for Rx)

crescent (reverse for Rx)

Waning Semisquare (45) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning semisquare = 16th degree of Aquarius
"A Big Businessman At His Desk"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 15 Aquarius 0 to 1 = 16 Aquarius

1 to 2 = 14 Aquarius 1 to 2 = 17 Aquarius

3rd quarter balsamic

(reverse for Rx)

(reverse for Rx)

Waxing Sesquiquadrate (135) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing sesquiquadrate = 16th degree of Leo
"The Storm Ended, All Nature Rejoices In Brilliant Sunshine"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 15 Leo 0 to 1 = 16 Leo

1 to 2 = 14 Leo 1 to 2 = 17 Leo

first quarter (reverse for Rx) gibbous

(reverse for Rx)

Waning Sesquiquadrate (135) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning sesquiquadrate = 16th degree of Scorpio
"A Girl's Face Breaking Into A Smile"

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1 = 15 Scorpio 0 to 1 = 16 Scorpio

1 to 2 = 14 Scorpio 1 to 2 = 17 Scorpio

full

(reverse for Rx)

disseminating (reverse for Rx)

Waxing Quintile (72) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing quintile = 13th degree of Gemini
"A Famous Pianist Giving A Concert Performance"

crescent 0 to 1 = 13 Gemini

b) applying orbs:

0 to 1 = 12 Gemini

c) separating orbs:

Waning Quintile (72) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning quintile = 19th degree of Capricorn
"A Five-Year-Old Child Carrying A Bag Filled With Groceries"

third quarter 0 to 1 = 19 Capricorn

b) applying orbs:

0 to 1 = 18 Capricorn

c) separating orbs:

Waxing Septile (51 1/2) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing septile = 22nd degree of Taurus
"White Dove Flying Over Troubled Waters"

crescent

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1/2 = 22 Taurus 0 to 1/2 = 22 Taurus

1/2 1/2

to 1 = 21 Taurus to 1 = 23 Taurus

Waning Septile (51 1/2) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning septile = 9th degree of Aquarius
"A Flag Is Seen Turning Into An Eagle"

third quarter

b) applying orbs: c) separating orbs:

0 to 1/2 = 9 Aquarius 0 to 1/2 = 9 Aquarius

1/2 1/2

to 1 = 8 Aquarius to 1 = 10 Aquarius

Waxing Novile (40) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waxing novile = 11th degree of Taurus
"A Woman Watering Flowers In Her Garden"

new 0 to 1 = 11 Taurus

b) applying orbs:

0 to 1 = 10 Taurus

c) separating orbs:

Waning Novile (40) Aspect Orbs & Relevant Sabian Symbols a) exact waning novile = 21st degree of Aquarius b) applying orbs: 0 to 1 = 20 Aquarius balsamic 0 to 1 = 21 Aquarius
"A Disappointed And Disillusioned Woman Courageously Faces A Seemingly Empty Life""

c) separating orbs:

1999 Robert P. Blaschke

Bibliography Dynamics Of Aspect Analysis Bil Tierney CRCS 1983 Esoteric Astrology Alan Leo L.N. Fowler & Co. Ltd. 1967 The Progressed Horoscope Alan Leo Astrologer's Library 1906 The Sabian Symbols in Astrology Marc Edmund Jones Aurora Press 1993 Astrology, The Divine Science Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas Arcane 1971 The Sabian Symbols as an Oracle Lynda & Richard Hill White Horse Books 1995 The Zodiac and the Soul Charles E.O. Carter Theosophical Publishing House 1928 The Astrological Aspects Charles E.O. Carter Theosophical Publishing House 1930 The Sabian Symbols: A Screen of Prophecy Diana E. Roche Trafford Publishing 1998 The Principles of Astrology Charles E.O. Carter Theosophical Publishing House 1925 Astrology: A Language of Life; Volume I - Progressions Robert P. Blaschke Earthwalk School of Astrology 1998 Astrology: A Language of Life; Volume II - Sabian Aspect Orbs Robert P. Blaschke Earthwalk School of Astrology 2000 An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and Its 360 Symbolic Phases Dane Rudhyar Random House 1973