Posts: 116
From:
Registered: Jun 2008

posted November 09, 2008 12:59 PM         

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What does it mean when the terms applying or separating aspects is used and how can you tell which is which in a chart?

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Sun: Scorpio
Moon: Capricorn
Ascendant: Libra

Venus in Sagittarius
Mars in Sagittarius

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Posts: 96
From: Denver, CO, USA
Registered: Jun 2008

posted November 09, 2008 01:06 PM         

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Applying = faster planet moving towards the slower planet (i.e. Sun 23 degrees conjunct Pluto 24 degrees).

Separating= when the faster planet has already passed the slower planet (i.e. Pluto 24 degrees conjunct Sun 25 degrees).

Applying aspects are considered stronger than separating aspects.

You can tell which is which by going to the natal chart in the extended chart selection of astro.com

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Posts: 116
From:
Registered: Jun 2008

posted November 09, 2008 01:35 PM         

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Thanks for the reply. Does the same explaination apply in synastry?

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Posts: 501
From: ca, usa
Registered: Jan 2008

posted November 09, 2008 04:28 PM         

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yesss it does. but also remember that sun conj pluto within minutes (i.e. very close) is still pretty powerful even when separating...

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Posts: 1301
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2006

posted November 09, 2008 05:10 PM         

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keep in mind it is especially powerful when two planets are applying and the planet that is ahead is retrograde. This represents planets "coming together" (moving towards one another) and therefore is dubbed much more potent.

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Posts: 116
From:
Registered: Jun 2008

posted November 10, 2008 12:20 PM         

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Would there be a time when a separating aspect could be looked at as being positive?

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Posts: 1032
From: Leeds
Registered: May 2008

posted November 10, 2008 04:18 PM         

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Yes, both can be positive, just depends on the aspect which the moving planet is making.

Take a Semi-sexile aspect (30 degrees)
After the conjunction (0 degrees) it is the strongest one.
The applying ssx 30 degrees before the planet is stronger than the seperating ssx 30 degrees after the planet. But both aspects are good due to it being a semi sextile. The applying one is better than the seperating one. Both are still good though.

For a transit, the best time to "get on" something is just after the applying square.
It is seperating from a square, but starts appying to conjunct the planet just short of 90 degrees away. Sextile, ssx, and then conjunction.

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