aspect patterns in astrology

every chart has aspects, and those aspects can fall into a pattern. probably the most well-known is the grand trine. the element or modality in which the pattern falls is also important for the meaning, so i’ll explain the 4 most important patterns (imo) (and a bonus one :P) with elements and modality explanation and how it’s formed.

i also made a key at the bottom of the post if you don’t know the meaning of elements, modality, polarity, or if you don’t know the signs of fixed, fire, feminine etc.

if you don’t know if you have any patterns in your chart, you can simply find it onhttps://astro-charts.com/, fill in your info and scroll down a bit (it should under the normal aspects), if you don’t have any aspect pattern, you won’t see this section (you might also have a pattern i won’t explain, such as a stellium).

i also recommend to google the patterns, since it’s kinda hard to explain on paper what they look like.

grand trine

the grand trine is formed when 3 planets make a trine between 3 different signs (≈ 120º), usually in the same element.

the grand trine is a very powerful pattern because the trines strengthen each other. even tho the grand trine encourages talent and expression, a thing that is overlooked a lot is that there is a lack of tension, which can make the person have increased self-awareness, especially if there is a lack of square and oppositions in general.

fire grand trines: this makes you a proud and enthusiastic person, you are creative and like to express yourself. but be careful, because this pattern can make you have a god complex (because the grand trine is the strongest in the element of fire), which can be damaging to others.

earth grand trines: you have a good sense of stability and security of yourself and others and you hold a lot of power. people with a grand trine in earth signs tend to be organized and are creatively resourceful.

air grand trines: you are very curious and idealistic and you have a broad view on life. you’re also very intellectual and easy going. people with a grand trine in air signs also tend to have a lot of friends.

water grand trines: this pattern makes you highly intuitive and very creative. you are empathic and understand others quite easily. you have broad imagination, and also this grand trine can make you idealistic and a dreamer.

grand square/T-square

since the grand square and T-square are really alike and share many things, i decided to combined to two.

the grand square, also known as grand cross, forms when a planet squares (≈ 90º) two planets (in different signs) and also opposites (≈ 180º) a third planet. so that it forms 4 squares with 2 oppositions, making a big cross and square.

the T-square does the same, except it misses one of the squares, which also means it doesn’t have the second opposition. it’s called a T-square because people say it forms a T, but i personally don’t really see that, so i’d rather describe it as a triangle with 2 squares and an opposition (i’m sorry if this description is chaotic, it’s kind hard to explain, so I recommend to look it up (just google ‘T-square astrology’) or check if you have a T-square on astro-charts).

what they have in common is that they both have oppositions and squares, which can be very challenging. the other thing that makes them alike is that the planets (usually) fall in the same modality. having a grand cross or T-square makes you in general very goal orientated and you are willing to work hard to achieve your dreams. it could also make you want to have power and control.

cardinal grand cross or T-square: with the cardinal energy in this pattern, you want to achieve your goals all at the same time, which makes you ambitious but also blinded by what you want to achieve. these people are natural leaders and like having power. this pattern can also make you disoriented, because your ideals can be quite contradictory.

fixed grand cross or T-square: this can be a very hard pattern, due to the lack of flexibility, you want to be secure in everything you do. even tho it can be hard for others, this pattern also makes you very strong, determined and high self-worth (this pattern gives me so much royal vibes ngl). you like your comfort, but in order to move forward, you have to learn to go with the flow sometimes.

mutual grand cross or T-square: a grand cross/T-square in this modality makes you a person that’s very focused on healing, reasoning, teaching and integrating. with your thoughts and emotions. unlike the fixed pattern, you have a strong desire to just go with the flow, but make sure you don’t wander around your ideas and that you stay focused on your goal. this pattern can also make you very spiritual and interested in witchy things.

mystic rectangle

this kinda rare rectangle forms with 2 sextiles (≈ 60º), 2 trines (≈ 120 º) and 2 oppositions (≈ 180º) forming a rectangle with each other. this is a quite mild and harmonious pattern, because it balanced with either feminine or masculine energy. as long there’s not too much energy focused on only one of the planets, it should make you a very mindful person. if the balance is off, you can become self-contained and crave and hold too much power. a wedge is a half rectangle (so 1 sextile, 1 trine, 1 opposition) and is quite common unlike the rectangle. it’s also definitely not as powerful, but you can still share the same traits that a rectangle has.

masculine rectangle: you’re probably quite extroverted and like to explore the world. you express your energy outwards and like to entertain others. your actions are powerful and strong and you like adventures.

feminine rectangle: great change that you’re an introvert. you like to explore your own mind and express your energy inwards. your mind is vivid and powerful. if there’s strong mercury influences, it can also make you quite smart.

yod(bonus)

the yod, also known as the finger of god, forms with a planet that makes two quincunxes with different signs (≈ 150 º) and a sextile (≈ 60 º) between those signs. it doesn’t hold a certain energy through an element, modality or polarity like the others, so that’s why it’s a bonus. In general, the yod is a very very challenging pattern, but with lots of learning and growing it’ll make you very spiritual and aware (like god or smth :P). there will be a certain ongoing theme in your life, which is usually a difficult theme, it will take time, skill and practise to grow out of this certain theme. Look at the planets (and houses!!!) involved in the yod to know where you should put your focus on in life in order to overgrow the difficulty.

key

element:

fire signs —> aries, leo, sagittarius

earth signs —> taurus, virgo, capricorn

air signs —> gemini, libra, aquarius

water signs —> cancer, scorpio, pisces

modality:

cardinal signs —> aries, cancer, libra, capricorn

fixed signs —> taurus, leo, scorpio, aquarius

mutual signs —> gemini, virgo, sagittarius, pisces

polarity:

masculine signs —> fire and air signs

feminine signs —> earth and water signs

BASELINE #9 CHART PATTERNS PT. 1 TRIANGLES

You look at a chart and you start seeing a bunch of random ass triangles everywhere: these are chart patterns. The best way to think about these triangles - red or blue or both - is that they’re about developing some sense of cooperation and harmonybetween three (or more) particular planets.Red triangles do this through balancing, baby blue triangles do this through organizing, big blue triangles do this through building awareness.

Before you get in your feelings about not having a big-ass chart pattern: every chart has a theme,andevery planet has a relationship with every other planet. If you don’t have a fucking triangle in your chart, you still have a theme and your planets are still working together - they just decided a triangle definitely wasn’t what you needed to make it happen for yourself. Don’t stress.

(1) BIG ASS RED TRIANGLE

Some old man told you once that a Red Triangle was bad and a Blue Triangle was good. Then some younger old man tried to flip the script and told you that the Red Triangle was actually good and the Blue Triangle was actually bad. Leave all this worthless information in the past, people.

There is literally no difference between a dealt with Big Red Triangle and a dealt with Big Blue Triangle - they’re both all about producing harmony, cooperation and meaning between three areas of your life - the only difference is in the dealing.

How do I deal with a Red Triangle then? Good question. Red Triangles are pushing you to find the balance and connection between two opposite feelings/ motivations/ viewpoints. You gotta get your polarized life together and recognize that opposites are actually complements, and when they work together your life becomes ridiculous harmonious. To make it happen: you gottameet in the middle. The balance point of the Red Triangle gives you insight into how the opposites can work together and what quality needs to be developed so you can find some balance and enjoy your life. Once you start using the balance point planet to facilitate a working relationship between the two opposing planets, it’s on. They support each other. Your life is dope.

(2) BIG ASS RED SQUARE

The big-ass Square is like a Red Triangle on drugs. This placement always, always shows up when someone is coming into their own - when you’ve gotta decide who you want to be.

Initially, this shit can feel overwhelming - like you’ve got too many options and desires and you don’t know what the fuck to choose and what if your life is gonna turn into some depressing ass Bell Jar shit and now your figs are starting to rot and you still haven’t picked one. Okay. Relax. None of that has to happen. The key to this pattern is to not become paralyzed with indecision. You gotta balance your desires so you can make a damn choice and keep it pushing. Any choice is better than no choice.

Having a big-ass Square in your chart is like getting your PhD in Balance. You’ve gotta put all your effort into understanding your competing desires and not allow one to totally overtake the others - they’ve all gotta cooperate and each one has to find its right place and expression in your life. When you’ve found a way for your shit to come together, this pattern gives you a ridiculously strong foundation andanext level sense of self-acceptance. Inner-harmony at its best.

(3) BIG ASS BLUE TRIANGLE

Big Blue Triangle. Same shit, different way. Like the Red Triangle, this mf-er is highlighting a relationship between three planets that need to find a way to cooperate. Unlike the Red Triangle, balancing isn’t the key to success. The key is building awareness.

These three babies are stuck in a feedback loop - for better or for worse. We’re talking like, birds of a feather flock together type shit. And either those birds fly high and your life soars with next level understanding, or they lose their fucking shit and your life starts to look like a Alfred Hitchcock sequel.

Blue Triangle planets are already down for each other and honestly they don’t care about you - you’ve gotta find a way to cooperate with them and then take control of their dank energy!! The key to success here is to develop some awareness around how these three planets operate and what pattern they’re always playing out. When you build some serious awareness around your actions and life experiences, then you can take charge and control the flow of your life instead of being sucked into it and thrown around like a bitch. After you’ve done the work to expand your awareness, no patterned behavior is gonna get by you - you’ll be able to direct the course of your life in a really rare way.

(4) THIN ASS BLUE TRIANGLE

Little baby is like a hybrid between Thick Red and Thick Blue. Yes - the connection is there; no - they’re not so locked in that you don’t have a say in what goes down; so - to unlock the potential in a Little Blue Triangle you gotta find the most effective way to organize and structure these energies/ areas of your life. A little stability goes a long way.

Baby blue always involves two things: (1) changing values and (2) adapting to these changing values through reorganizing your life. This pattern wants to inspire serious change. You gotta be open to shifts in your perspective, willing to let go of worn out feelings and values, and down to reorganize and restructure your life so it can reflect the newer, healthier shit you’re about. This pattern can be a lot of fun if you stop being a rigid ass bitch. As you work with this shit, you’ll realize you have the potential to manage your feelings, thoughts, and relationships like nobody’s business.

(5) KITE LOOKING THING

Put most of this shit together and you get a Kite. Kite patterns are an opportunity to take on serious responsibility through being accountable for yourself and maturing into a fully functioning human who can cooperate with others. I know you’re sitting there like, “wtf shouldn’t everyone be doing this?” Yes. But some people need a little bit more of a push to make it happen, yo. And the Kite is gonna give it to ya.

This is more than an “I bought a house” level of responsibility though - we’re talking like, taking straight up responsibility for yourself and undergoing a total identity overhaul. It’s helpful when you see a Kite to look at your chart (and yourself) as a Before and After package: the chart is gonna show who you are before you decide to take your life and your emotional wellbeing seriously, and it’s gonna show who you have the potential to become after. But. It’s up to you to decide when to make that move and go through those changes. If you step up to the fucking plate and work with the Kite, you can enjoy the benefits of all the triangle patterns: balance, increased awareness, and a stable, organized life.

Last but not least. The true point of all these particulars is: the particulars aren’t really that important - it’s the processes these placements trigger and the qualities they push you to develop that matter:

BIG RED getting in touch with and respecting your own feelings

BIG BLUE understanding conditioned behaviors and developing self-compassion

LITTLE BLUE learning how to manage your feelings and organize your life successfully

Peace, bitches. Happy charting.

XO BULLSHIT FREE ASTROLOGY