posted August 07, 2006 10:31 AM
Orbs are less significant in aspect configurations than they are in isolated aspects. What matters more is the quality of those aspects that define that particular configuration. For example, in a grand trine, it's actually more important that the points all fall in the same elements, even if some of the orbs are wide. Elemental harmony is what defines a grand trine -if the orbs are tight, it just makes it easier to see in the chart. Technically speaking, you could have agrand trine that has tight orbs,yet one point falls outside the element - in which case this particular configuartion, although appearing to look like a grand trine in the chart, would not act like a grand trine, because it lacks the elemental harmony that defines a grand trine. Having said that, I would suggest not going too wild with orbs. As a standard, stay within 10 degree, and consider anything over a 12 degree orb as probably too far out. Exception may arise, like if you have other minor yet significant bodies, like goddess asteriods or Chiron (nodes and other calculated point don't count, unless they're conjunct a body) that make a closer aspect than just the major planet in the same sign.
Also, if one of the points in the configuration is the Sun, moon or a singleton, you definitely need to allow for a wider orb - at least 10 degrees. Conjunctions at one point in the configuration too can extend orbs.
Another thing is that many astrologers who have worked with aspect configuration have noted is that a configuration doesn't need to be tight in orb to be powerful. The important thing is that it's complete. An air gradn trtine most have all three air signs; a cardinal grand croos needs all cardinal signs, and so forth. In fact, tight orbs don't really make much of difference in configurations in terms of how powerful they can be. It appears that by working as a whole, a configuration can compensate for looser orbs in ways that isolated aspects cannot.
For your gf pesoanlly: Her earth grand trine would include both planets in Cap. They would be working in a conjunction (you might wish to investigate and see if any minor asteriods fall in between them - that would definitely color that conjunction and might it tighter overall). This would be an example of an conjunction widening the orbs of the configuration overall. Plus there's both of her luminaries, and they get wider orbs too. The overall unity of the three earth signs working together would compensate of any moderate looseness of orbs as well. You shouldn't worry about house cusps - aspect configurations are rarely impeded by those.
Technically she does not have a fire grand trine, because the ASC doesn't count. You need a body there, something that emits energy, and angles are calculated points, not bodies. if she had an goddess asteriod there, or some other significant asteriod, made more prominant by being in conjunction tot he ASC, tehn yes, she would have a grand trine. But with the ASC alone, no.
Likewise to complete a grand trine in synastry, you would need to have an planet in Leo within a relatively acceptable orb of her Aries and Sag placements. ANd as you suspected, her ASC alone cannot complete a grand trine in your chart.
Lindaland
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posted August 07, 2006 02:55 AM
