Demystifying Astrology: “How can you tell if your aspects are good ones?”
Astrology for beginners – See all beginner posts
Traditionally, trines and sextiles are considered, “good”, squares and oppositions, “bad” or at the very least, “challenging”. Conjunctions are judged on a case by case basis.
For example, a conjunctions to Jupiter or Venus (considered benefices) are “good”, conjunctions to Saturn or Mars (considered malefic), “bad”.
You have to start somewhere and this is a likely place to start but I would not take this information too literally because the idea there are “no bad aspects” in astrology is actually more than a sign of our politically correct times.
As I have said many times, all energy is neutral until directed and this should never be forgotten. You just don’t know what someone is going to do with the energy until you observe what they do with their energy.
I am a good example of this. I have a criminal mind which would be a negative thing if I did not use it to empower people on a daily basis.
As for an example of an easy aspect or a gift gone to waste, a person may be born with natural athletic ability but this does not mean they will beat the less gifted individual who applies themselves and trains.
Can you think of an example of this in your life? Have you squandered a talent or worked hard to overcome a deficit? Add the astrology if you can
Astrology for beginners – See all beginner posts
25 Responses to “Demystifying Astrology: “How can you tell if your aspects are good ones?””
“When I apply myself (like in academics) I excel beyond belief but it is so hard for me to get the motivation to do it.”
I have a grand trine also and that could have been me talking! On the other hand, I have challenging aspects in my chart, too.
so beneficial plus malefic = middle? like venus conjunct mars? my brother has venus conjunct mars conjunct pluto in gemini? who wins??
I have a mean old bad ass T-square in my chart (moon square sun/mercury opposite saturn square moon). On top of that, it is a fixed T-square (Taurus, Scorp, Leo). I have always been extremely driven to do projects, and self motivated to do all these projects to final completion. For example, so many people never finish their dissertation, (so that means they go through life ABD meaning ‘All But Dissertation’) and I totally understand why, the fuckin thing is a nightmare and I wanted to quit it quite a few times. Just throw up my hands and give up.
I thank my fixed T-square for everything I complete, and that has been quite a bit (so far!).
i should be painting somewhere. i have a ton of things aspecting my venus (trines and oppositions) though one is saturn… i figure, hopefully, that means i can move around my blocks and do it, for real, for serious, one of these years…
the problem is, it hurts. feels like i’m ripping my soul out and putting it on canvas, and i can’t put a price on it, so how could i make a living at it? (uh, yeah, there’s pluto and neptune trining my venus)
i have saturn conjunct pallas and i rather like what that does to my saturnian energy.
I have always found Saturn to be the most helpful planet in my chart when it comes to PERSEVERANCE so you should be cool, wyrd..if it feels like ripping your soul out than you are probably a hell of a great artist! I vote, let it rip! 
ha, grand trine central here (two in my chart, one air and one fire). luckily i have saturn in virgo square sun to ground me or i would NEVER lift a finger to do anything.
Midara, me too! I have an air Grand Trine (sun in aqua, moon in gemini, pluto in libra- also have venus trine jupiter and saturn) and though I know that when I apply myself I do amazingly well, no matter what it is I am doing, getting me motivated… well that’s another story :X If don’t find something challenging I have no desire to even try and well, many things in my life are not challenging for me…
Even good aspects can be bad, I guess (especially when they make things too easy for you)
I have a T-square. Uranus square Neptune, Moon opposite Uranus square Neptune in fixed signs (Leo, Aq, Scorp). I also have a nasty opposition, Pluto/Venus in Leo/Aq. Can you say stubborn? The way the Pluto/Venus plays out is whenever I’m mutually attracted to a guy I start worrying about when he’s going to want to have sex and if it will be kinky (before we even go out for coffee!). To make matters more interesting my 7th house Sun is in mutable Pisces. I probably set this up to force the issue of sexual relationships but the Pluto opposite Venus and Moon in Aq makes me want to bail out before things get too intense.
I’ve squandered artistic talent – something that used to drive me and keep me sane. I’ve started to keep a visual journal, in the hopes that I can get back into a regular practice.
Jupiter trine Neptune and Midheaven.
Mars in Pisces, square Moon/Venus/Nodes.
My intuition is also on the up and up again, thank goodness. I wasn’t trusting it for a while, when I was so out of it, and stopped trusting it completely last August, when Saturn squared my Neptune (although a couple of things that I felt then, ended up coming to pass).
My mother has told me in the past, that she trusted my intuition over her own ~ that’s why I’m mentioning it here. I’ve started taking notes again, and watching to see what happens – if anything. I’m not sure what aspects to add for this, though…
Earth grand trine here, with tons of squandered work ethic.
Mars trine Uranus…. I think I’ve squandered a lot of energy. I make up for it in spurts by doing crazy things pedal to the metal…. like finishing my dissertation (heya Loonsounds) in six months while having a newborn attached to me at all times (Sun square Saturn). Sometimes I wish I could maintain that level of output, but it seems to be hot or cold with me.
I have two personal-to-outer planet conjunctions which I will remain mum on for the present. I’m working on using them for their higher purpose all the time.
I am human and therefore I am learning. On the one hand it seems I have a so called Royal chart [Royal pain in the Ass?], so things come easily to me a lot of the time. On the other hand I have some difficult squares and Saturn comes along every seven or so years and stirs things up and reminds me to pay closer attention.[And Pluto is saying are you paying close f*ing attention?] Elsa reminded me that I will always work, and most of the time I don’t mind that, but I want to be lazy sometimes. When I am in the mood, which is a good deal of the time, I can accomplish a lot. The current Saturn Uranus opposition is compelling me to rebel against a self imposed slave driving status. Does this make any sense?
ps great comment wyrdling!
thanks 
Ha, ha, I have Venus in Taurus in the fifth.. and I never get laid. That’s what I would call a waste.
I blame it on too many planets in the seventh (Sun, Mars, Mercury), which makes it all too important, and Pluto/uranus square Sun, which turns everything into a power struggle.
*Shrugs*
Hmmm…I have Jupiter and Saturn. Sometimes wonder if that adds up to an “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” situation. Usually I feel like I could use the Jupiter to my advantage more, because I get the lucky breaks but that darn Saturn makes me so very reserved and responsible when I actually do take them that, it hardly feels like a lucky break anymore!
Typo alert – in the above post, “conjunct my Sun…Jupiter and Saturn conjunct my Sun.”
Venus&Mars opposed Pluto–I have worked SUPER hard to overcome my obsessional and obsessional and obsessional love/desire nature. That was brutally hard.
i think i have, elsa. all this time i thought all i cud do is be weird and do good in academe. later that i discover i can write and paint too. what’s interesting is that, all those anxieties and insecurities are gone when i started venturing into the art world.
on the nega side, i always found myself being bullied and pry into office politics. i guess its because of pluto, saturn and mars in libra. i also experience so much physical weakness and struggle growing up. my body is weak. what i did to help myself is that i studied and practice yoga.
I have moon opposition venus… I definitely a wham bam thank u man kinda girl… I don’t open up my feelings very easily mainly b/c I can be so fickle I don’t want to waste time explaining my every move.
On the other hand I find myself trying to avoid confrontation so much that I can do back flips on a tight rope… and for that I’m working hard to learn to not be fearful and speak what I feel is right in my heart. Being on here has helped to start that process =)
Have you squandered a talent or worked hard to overcome a deficit?
Venus square ascendant: ugly duckling syndrome. I can’t stand conventional beauty standards, and tossing them out has been more rewarding than trying to conform to them.
Moon conjunct Mars: lots of impulsive restless energy, anger issues. Once I found creative and physical outlets, it got easier because I realized how forceful I can be. Being in touch with my feelings has made me more productive overall.
Venus trine Neptune: beware of inertia. I don’t like my creative projects to feel like a chore. Once the ball is rolling its very easy. Momentum is key, having a structure that works, and getting rid of distractions…
Mercury trine Chiron: I’ve been told by several ppl I would have a good bedside manner as a doctor. I’m very interested in energy healing. This is in my ‘someday’ file
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I secretly fear (says my unaspected Saturn) that my whole life is a story of wasted talent. I have all these utterly amazing and supportive aspects in my chart, and I’m not really all that great. I mean, when I apply myself (like in academics) I excel beyond belief but it is so hard for me to get the motivation to do it. Grand Trine in action, people!