posted April 19, 2010 07:03 AM         

( ~ http://alcuin9.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/breathing-refined-air-the-esoteric-aspects/ ~ )

Breathing Refined Air: The Esoteric Aspects

Before we get going on the minor aspects, let’s put things into perspective.

These aspects were introduced by Johannes Kepler in the 16th century—along with all the non-ptolemaic aspects defined by harmonics. These aspects evolve from the number by which we divide the circle. Did everyone run out and start using these aspects, seeing how effective they were? No. We’ve only got to grips with the quincunx in recent times (post 20th century), and most people still have no clue what to do with a semi-sextile (both introduced by Kepler).

Do you consider a semi-square a major aspect? I do. I’ve seen it do powerful things, particularly in progression. Watch out if you have a planet at the midpoint of a square—that planet will make your square implode by creating two semi-squares from inside it. It’s as if the square swallowed a stick of dynamite, like in the cartoons. Do people pay attention to the semi-square? Not much. At their peril. I use sesquiquadrates, too. They behave like a square, only more nervous, and are more likely to get set off at random, sometimes ‘behaving,’ sometimes not. Unlike the square, which eventually brings solutions through practical experience, the semi-squares and sesquidradrates often point to issues, problems and energies that are irresolvable, and that we must learn to live with and cope with. Where the cousins of the four are concerned, we may never find rest.

If we’re not using aspects in the natal chart, and not using them to figure out what’s going on within an entity, it’s virtually impossible to figure out what this aspect will do between two charts. Research on these aspects is ongoing. The only baseline we have is that everything—and I mean everything—in astrology is built on number. (This article will make more sense to you if you read my piece on why the aspects behave the way they do; scroll to the middle). So we have to go back to number, and personal observation, to tell us what these aspects are about. Aspects to personal planets have more tangible effects. The further out the planets involved, the less likely these aspects manifest in real terms.

These aspects essentially deal with energies that manifest beyond physical reality—depending on your philosophy, you could say that they effect us on different energetic planes and on different levels of consciousness. They can, occasionally, filter down to this mundane plane of existence, but their work is essentially done on a higher, more refined level. (Meditators seem to be able to access these energies more easily in real terms.) By effecting our thought, they alter our way of being, and so affect our world. On the whole, I haven’t seen any of the aspects we’re discussing today manifest in a negative way—each one seems to bestow its own type of gift. We run into problems only when there is an overabundance of them.

Quintiles: Dividing the Circle by Five

When we divide the circle by the number five, we get an aspect of 72 degrees. The meaning of five is complex. In sequence, it’s the first number to step out of the materialistic ‘box’ of the four. It’s the first number to transcend the four, which creates material reality. The five is represented by the pentagram, which shows a ‘four’ transcended by a fifth point above it. This fifth point acts as a funnel through which concentrated higher energies can flow down into manifest reality. The five is considered creative and is associated with the Sun (Leo). It is made up of the energy of duality (the 2) transcended by the 3. Natally, quintiles indicate gifts—the two planets can use their qualities in a beneficial, creative manner. Quintiles may show unusual talents or abilities that seem complete and god-sent—abilities that we don’t have to struggle to perfect.

In synastry, between charts, quintiles can produce an almost other-worldly understanding of the way the individual planets are operating. If my Saturn is quintile your Venus, you will have an innate compassion for my Saturn issues, and I will instinctively know how to support your Venus. However, relationships dominated by quintiles often possess an other-worldly quality of their own, as if they don’t rely on the common things of this life to survive. Loves that continue long after the affair is over are often quintile loves.

Septiles: Dividing the Circle by Seven

The septile family, dividing the circle unevenly at about 51 degrees, are a curious lot. They have to do with Higher Mind (the 3) entering the manifest reality of the four. In essence, they are about higher guidance and contact with the divine mind. Where the septiles are concerned, we have the ability to see beyond the mundane. They are less compassionate and more observant than the quintile series.

The septiles give us the ability to know what is the right move at any given time. We have an instinct for truth where the two planets are concerned, and have a hard time telling ourselves anything that isn’t absolutely honest. In this way, septiles can be a bit ruthless. Septiles are where we know better, and we can’t turn away. Sometimes, it seems that septiles can manifest as a ‘get out of jail free card’—but this only happens when we are jailed unjustly by other elements.

Septiles between charts behave somewhat like high-powered lamps pointed at the planets. Those two planets will relate in a truthful way, and we won’t be able to hide from one another.

Noviles: Dividing the Circle by Nine

Noviles (forty degrees) divide the circle by 9, and represent initiation. Where noviles are concerned, we will experience each planet in a new way, and it will be a revelation. The number 9 represents completion, and preparation for the new beginning which will begin again at the 1. Noviles often take us by surprise, and push us further up the ladder of our conscious evolution whether we like it or not. Noviles are about wisdom, and the responsibility of using that wisdom. When a novile in a chart is activated by a transit, it’s like being shang-haied into a cult of knowledge. When noviles are dominant, life can change in surprising and unexpected ways, but never without added responsibility.

When noviles are active between charts, we push one another forward. If there are a number of them between charts, they can be either stimulating or annoying, depending on how much we like to be nagged in spiritual terms. Noviles between charts can make us feel as if the other person is always expecting more from us. With noviles dominant, we can feel as if we have a purpose together, and may find it easier to share our individual growth processes.

Of the three aspects, I find that noviles and quintiles are more tangible than septiles. And, although I despise hierarchies, I have to admit that I’ve seen them manifest more readily in those who are definitely seekers, and on some path of awareness. It’s as if we need to expand and refine our own consciousness, via the more straightforward aspects, before these energies are able to show themselves in our lives.
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link for the text " why the aspects behave the way they do "

posted April 19, 2010 10:39 AM         

I heart quintiles and noviles. I have a few quintiles natally:

Moon-Venus
Venus-Diana
Sun-Chiron
Sun-Eris
Uranus-Pholus
Jupiter-ASC (probably the best aspect to my ASC that I have!)

Plus a few quintiles between minor asteroids.

My natal noviles:

Moon-Pallas
Moon-Vesta
Saturn-Chiron

posted April 19, 2010 10:40 AM         

Kepler and Music of the Spheres

The New Aspects

Kepler's new aspects were based upon harmonic theory and grounded in empirical observation of astrological effects. From his long-term study of weather conditions correlated with planetary angles and from detailed analysis of his collection of 800 birth charts, Kepler concluded that when planets formed angles equivalent to particular harmonic ratios a resonance was set up, both in the archetypal 'Earth-soul' and in the souls of individuals born under those configurations. [11] He considered this 'celestial imprint' more important than the traditional emphasis on signs and houses: "in the vital power of the human being that is ignited at birth there glows that remembered image..." The geometric-harmonic imprint constitutes "the music that impels the listener to dance" as the movements of the planets, by transit and direction, echo and re-echo the natal theme. In addition to the Ptolemaic aspects, Kepler proposed the quintile (72°), bi-quintile (144°) and sesqui-quadrate (135°). Extending the analogy of the musical scale, the quintile is equivalent to an interval of a major third (4:5), the sesqui-quadrate to a minor sixth (5:8) and the bi-quintile to a major sixth (3:5).

Kepler realised that many more aspect configurations are possible, but rejected them on aesthetic grounds. The Ptolemaic aspects and his three new ones gave a pleasing correspondence with the consonances of the musical scale, other aspect ratios produced only discord. The mathematical principles of musical harmony are directly related to geometry — which Goethe described as 'frozen music'. Kepler rejected aspects based upon geometric figures like the 7-sided septagon and 9-sided nonagon because they cannot be constructed with straight-edge and compasses — the only instruments permissible in classical geometry. He regarded such figures as 'unknowable' and declared that "God did not employ the septagon and other figures of this species to embellish the world."[12]

The new aspects were soon adopted by astrologers, though perhaps not in quite the spirit that Kepler would have wished. William Lilly wrote Christian Astrology in 1647, less than 20 years after Kepler's death. In the section on the 'Effects of Directions', Lilly gives instructions for finding not only the quintile, bi-quintile and sesqui-quadrate, but also the semi-sextile (30°), semi-quintile (36°), semi-quadrate (45°) and sesqui-quintile (108°). His lengthy analysis of the directions in the chart of 'an English merchant' gives some early examples of the new aspects in practical interpretation.[13] The direction of the Midheaven to sesqui-quadrate Mars, for instance, "may endanger, in some small measure, our Native's repute with false aspersions". The Ascendant to quintile Mercury suggests that he "should now have rectified his books of accounts and receive much benefit from Mercurial men". The quintile-based aspects emerge as 'mildly beneficial' in their effects; the quadrate-based as 'slightly harmful' — which became the standard textbook interpretation of the 'minor aspects' from Lilly's time to the present.

More in line with Kepler's radical approach are the teachings of the 20th century Hamburg School which originated in l913 when the amateur astrologer Alfred Witte (1878-1941) was invited to give a talk to the Hamburg Kepler Circle.[14] Witte's system of 'planetary pictures', based upon midpoint combinations, was developed by Rheinhold Ebertin (1901-88), author of the indispensable Combination of Stellar Influences. The spirit of Kepler can also be glimpsed in harmonic astrology as developed by John Addey (1920—82), though with the interesting distinction that where Kepler looked to musical scales and harmonies, Addey's harmonic wave-forms are more suggestive of rhythm and tempo.

Though rarely articulated, the concept of universal harmony flows like an underground current through the philosophy of astrology down the ages. In this sense Johannes Kepler, the first 'modern' astrologer, belongs to a broader tradition which links such apparently diverse thinkers as Pythagoras and Ptolemy, Robert Fludd and John Addey, Gurdjieff and Rudolph Steiner. No-one can claim a monopoly on truth. Every astrologer, regardless of style or technique, is attuned to their own unique variation on the 'song of the angels', the all-pervading music of the spheres.

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/kepler.html

5th hamonic aspects consist of the following:
Quintile 1/5
Biquintile 2/5

7th harmonic aspects consist of the following:
Septile 1/7
Biseptile 2/7
Triseptile 3/7

9th harmonic aspects consist of the following:
Novile 1/9
Binovile 2/9
Trinovile 3/9 is same as trine,but a narrower orb
Quadranovile 4/9

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Raymond

Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement