It’s a strange thing, the semi-sextile. It doesn’t get any respect. The sad step-child of the aspect family, ignored by his mightier siblings, the semi-sextile cries out for attention, but no one sees him. Those who dabble in astrology are mostly blind to him, and even professional astrologers give him short shrift, if they notice him at all. If he is noticed, he’s often dismissed with a puzzled look and a shrug of the shoulders. “It’s only a semi-sextile,” we tell ourselves. “What harm can it do?” And we set our attention on more important things. Big mistake.
The semi-sextile is the nice, polite kid no one notices, until one day we start wondering who has been putting soap in the cat food and dropping Aunt Bessie’s jewelry down the toilet. Even then, his bigger, stroppier brothers, the quincunx and the square, get the blame, and all the while, while everyone’s back is turned, the semi-sextile grows up in the shadows and thinks up more clever and nefarious means to disrupt the flow. And he gets away with it. This is how Bond villains are created. The next thing you know, he’s threatening to take over the world (or at least, two planets in your chart).
But if we go back to numbers theory, we see that the semi-sextile carries a great power. It’s represented by a sacred number, 12, the very basis of our zodiac. The limitless circle divided by 12 gives us our zodiacal frame, representing a completion of manifest experience–the journey out from 0 Aries and back again. And if you think of the zodiac in conceptual terms, each 30 degree mark is one small, very different step forward on the journey. And this is much the way the semi-sextile operates. It knows where it’s going, but it doesn’t tell you until you’re there. You’re just along for the, usually surprising, experience. Underneath, the semi-sextile carries the transcendence of the three (12 = 1 + 2). But we can transcend the conflict inherent in the two planets only if we recognize the semi-sextile in the first place.
Unlike the trine, which is the true representative of the three (circle divided 3 times, 120 degrees each), and which is about effortlessly transcending the conflict between spirit and matter, (between the 1 and the 2) to allow energy to flow, the 12 represents the end of the material journey and is ultimately concerned with the higher pattern of intent that is beyond matter. It represents the Watcher in all of us, the one that knows the plan, the one that has a good idea of the way things turn out. The semi-sextile is preparing us to leave material reality, and our purposeful intentions, behind, and urges us to “Let go and let god.” Planets in semi-sextile are working together, but only when we sleep, only when we’re looking in the other direction, only when things don’t work out according to our small, matter-bound plans. (This includes our charts themselves, which are defined by matter.) I once heard someone say that the shortest prayer in the world is “F*** it.” That’s the prayer of the semi-sextile. The semi-sextile is where we are when we are forced to let go. That’s the sacrificial element of it, the Neptune/Pisces of it.
This is all related to the separating side of the semi-sextile, which is Piscean in nature. But what of the applying, Taurus side? Because we don’t know where they’re coming from, semi-sextiles can take us to some unexpected places. This is the tension between the impulse of Aries and the acquisitive Taurus, which very much wants to know what it has and where it’s headed. The Taurus semi-sextile is the struggle to hold on in conflict with the need to move on; it also represents the struggle to make manifest what is heretofore only promise and intuition. This is the manifesting ability of the inconjuncts, the ability to create out of conscious and unconscious intention. The difference between the two is that with the quincunxes, we may acknowledge the tensions between the two planets, and with the semi-sextiles, we often do not. Semi-sextiles can sometimes run roughshod over us, and we may hardly know what is happening.
I’ve mentioned the way the inconjuncts create magic in secondary progressions. They are just as potent a guide in the natal chart, if we know what to look for. A planet inconjunct both ends of the Nodes, in particular, represents a potent energy which must be acknowledged, refined and used to expand the life and the conscious awareness–the planet is on a soul-mission, and cannot and will not be ignored. Because the aspect is an inconjunct, there is no guarantee of success. We need to become our own Watchers, to be aware that there is a greater plan for us that is somewhat out of our control, in order to use the energy properly.
When the semi-sextile is to the South Node, it can represent gifts which must be used in this life. Albert Einstein had Uranus in the third semi-sextile the second house South Node; Queen Elizabeth has a first house Mars aspecting her Capricorn South Node; David Frost, the British broadcaster, has a 10th house Mercury semi-sextile the South Node. It can also indicate problems that will eventually be made manifest in order to alter conscious awareness. Both Michael Hutchence, lead singer of INXS, and Montgomery Clift had Chiron semi-sextile the South Node. Both 
committed suicide, Hutchence quickly, just past his nodal return, and Clift slowly, through drink and drugs. (Hutchence had a second house Chiron to a third house Pisces South Node, Clift had an eighth house Chiron to a ninth house Taurus South Node.) The semi-sextile seems particularly potent when either end is involved with Taurus or Pisces, as they are here. It’s as though the issues are exaggerated and seem less resolvable. (Much the same happens when Virgo or Scorpio is involved with a quincunx.) Chiron is particularly strong when involved in an inconjunct–it’s as though the irresolvable pains of Chiron are magnified ten-fold. But it isn’t always gloom and doom. Some of us can’t come to terms with the pain of our thwarted intentions, but many more of us do. Woody Allen has Chiron in the 10th inconjunct his 11th house South Node in Cancer. Although his public reputation has been tarnished (Chiron/10th) via his behaviour in family life (Cancer SN), he still maintains a successful creative output (NN in 5th) and has one of the longest running and productive careers in film. Often, with planets inconjunct the Nodes, the quincunx end represents the conscious struggle and the semi-sextile end is the thing that pops out and surprises us. When Oprah Winfrey (like Woody Allen, with Cancer SN in 11 and Cap NN in 5) started making a career for herself, I doubt that she realized her career would take off if she shared her personal pain with others (Pluto in 12 semi-sextile the 11th SN). Oprah also has Chiron conjunct the North Node, emphasizing the healing element of her personal expression.
The theme of both inconjuncts is patience. We must have the patience to know that a path will reveal itself, and the strength to face the destruction of the ego’s intentions. We must sit still and wait for the patterns of the universe to reveal our next step, and trust that the fog of our own internal clutter will lift, and we will be guided forward, little by little.
Please read Part Two of The Tale of the Inconjuncts before reading this piece. You can find it here.
Dawn,
Your sensitivity , insight, and breadth of knowledge is such a pleasure to read. My understanding of, and appreciation for, astrology expands with every article you publish; which for this Sagittarius ascendant is a great gift indeed!
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom,
Lauren
Thank you for your kind words, Lauren. Much appreciated.
If any of you get tired of looking at my white-on-black site, and want to see something beautiful and colourful, take a look at Lauren’s astrology site, laurenlesko.com. Be sure to scroll down to see the artwork.
Hello again, Dawn.
Just wanted to say again that this post, and the two preceding it, are so lucid, strong, and informative. I love your writing and if you ever teach a basics course, I’d love to participate. So glad I found your site.
Ellen
Thanks, Ellen.
If you’d like to study with me, I teach classes on a one to one basis. We can start wherever you need to start. The lessons are very flexible, and are catered to what you need to know. If you’re interested, email me at alcuin9@gmail.com.
It’s nice to read a more positive article on the inconjunct angle. I was wondering how you felt about the inconjunct in synastry. I’ve met a lovely lady whose friendship has had a big impact on my life, she’s an Aries and I’m a Scorpio. It’s been a SLOW process getting closer but gradually we are getting there. It seems to be making both of us happy, but there has been frustration/confusion along the way. I feel like it is headed somewhere but don’t know where. Your article has given me some hope.
I read another interesting article on the inconjunct here:
http://people.tribe.net/3fb9b2ee-4374-4233-a647-e2e356091626/blog/5f437d8a-4779-4401-a6a7-3eec4231ffff
This article seems to imply that it’s almost impossible to ever reach a satisfactory outcome with the inconjunct, it’s like a ‘mirage’. Do you have any thoughts on this article, as both yours and this one seem to apply to my friendship with this lovely Aries lady.
Hi Farley,
I doubt that the frustration/confusion between you and your Aries lady is because your Suns are in quincunx. Contrary to popular belief, Sun incompatibility barely factors in synastry, and both your signs are ruled by Mars, which smooths the way a bit. I’m sure there are stronger influences that are responsible. Certainly, with inconjuncts, things take time to warm up. You have very different ways of being in the world, and many times you will just have to accept one another without really understanding one another’s method or motives.
Personally, I haven’t seen the ‘mirage’ or ‘false dawn’ effect that is talked about in the article. When planets are inconjunct, they have a hard time communicating and/or working together. Whether this is significant or not depends on the charts, and other factors in them.
Hi, I wanted to know what your thoughts are on a semisextile b/t Chiron in aries and the North Node in Pisces on cusp of 4th house.
Semi-sextiles are difficult to interpret without looking at the rest of the chart. But with the focus on the NN in Pisces and conjunct the IC, it’s necessary to garner your sense of being grounded in the universal, rather than the personal. You need to understand that we belong to a universal family as much as to a personal one. It’s necessary to forgive, and let go. With Chiron semi-sextile, there will be painful and limiting incidents that occur in life, which seem unconnected to the general NN theme, and which cause a great deal of tension in NN development. It depends on which side of the angle Chiron is on. Eventually, one may be able to connect the transpersonal, yet painful Chiron incidents with the understanding of how and where to move forward, but it may take a great deal of time before this is understood.
Thanks for replying…I have had what could be called mental/emotional limitations which have taken some time to try and overcome.fear of others (social anxiety)…but not painful in a physical way at least not that I am aware of. and yes I do feel like I have a lot more to understand and feel the need to learn how to let go and forgive in order to move on in my development spiritually..my birth data is 05/12/70 8:35pm in Upper Marlboro, MD
I have been researching the different aspects in my chart but had a hard time finding anything on the Chiron/NN semisextile or even consistent info on semis 🙂 Glad I found your site!
Hi, I really loved reading your series on the inconjuncts- fantastic analogies, and it really puts it into perspective. I have Jupiter 11th House ( retrograde , 25 degrees Gemini) quincunx Mars 6th house ( 28 degrees Capricorn). I wondered how that worked. I work very hard and have loads of energy, but I think I overdo things sometimes, so I find I need to rest and relax ( but find it hard to do so) but it is actually finding that balance, or adjustment. Maybe, as you said, it’s about showing the two sides : the hard worker and the person who relaxes and takes things easy. I loved your thoughts on the semi-sextile. There isn’t an awful lot about semi-sextiles, as i understand they are not Ptolemaic/Classic , but derive from Copernicus. Some see them as weaker versions of the sextiles ( therefore one has to work at them, as opportunity signifiers) others say they are like hard aspects /like a square, which present challenges to overcome and therefore succeed in integrating them as part of the personality. I recently discovered that I have a semi-sextile venus and saturn ( venus , 7th house, in Aquarius, 9 degrees, saturn 8th house, in Pisces, 11 th degrees). My north node is in the 11th house: gemini 4 degrees ( trining my venus, by the way!) . Anyway, I always wondered how the semi-sextile worked in my chart, here….. :). I have been working on the idea , too, that semi-sextiles are like good neighbours, ours, in that they normally wouldn’t seek each other to live next to each other, but learn to respect one another too, and looking out for one another too. I’ve come to the conclusion that my venus semi -sextile saturn is therefore beneficial, but one that I would have to work with, or use the resources I have already to create success ( since it’s not a trine) . I had also thought, there was a sort of mutual reception : Aquarius’ traditional ruler being Saturn, placed in Pisces, and Venus exalted in Pisces, placed in Aquarius. Would that make sense? And having Mars nearby in Capricorn? I certainly see this semi-sextile as both delightful eccentric and electrical, yet magical, spiritual and tender. Positive energies, I think. Venus-saturn contacts ( hard or soft) are supposed to be great for the arts and artists, in terms of working to accomplish beauty and craftsmanship. I am involved in dancing ( performance and teaching) and writing , so that’s good to know! I had no idea about my semi-sextile, before, it perhaps makes sense in terms of what I am doing or how I think with arts/art creation and accomplishments. Thanks once more, for those insights, as they have definitely helped me 🙂 . Do write more……..
Any keywords for Planets inconjunct the nodes.?
I recently bumped upon the following lines by Kahlil Gibran:
‘The pain you feel is the cracking of the shell that surrounds your understanding ‘
How synchronous..
Felt like Jupiter Quincunx NN to me… 😐
What about the house ruled by the planet that incunjunct’s the node?
Houses describe an area of experience. The house will describe not only the types of experiences which will be the arena for the struggle for integration, but will also be the beneficiary of the struggle.
hi dawn and thank you for insights on semi sextiles- much appriciated!!!
question: in synastry how would 2 moon in semi sextile work out in love?…..each moon is conjunct (by 7 degrees) the other persons saturn (4th and second house)
thanks!!
Ms. Bodrogi.
Wonderful post on semi-sextiles. I was digging ferociously around in the internet looking for some clarification on semi-sextile. There is not much information out there.
Today is a very special day to me. Actually, mind-blasting. I have been studying my birth chart almost daily for many years. However, only after so long, today I noticed that I have an aspect between Mars and Sun. Guess what? That aspect is a semi-sextile.
It was just magic when I read what you wrote about semi-sextiles: “The theme of both inconjuncts is patience. We must have the patience to know that a path will reveal itself.” I have been in need of this level of revelation my whole life.
My Mars (Virgo 0°41’23”) and my Sun (Virgo 29°54′ 2″). What is it trying to show me?
Thank you very much in advance for any help you can provide.
An inconjunct within a sign will be easier to align. Your Virgo Sun has a wisdom that your Virgo Mars doesn’t have. It may have something to do with discrimination and balance, around making correct choices. Your Sun has more experience of Virgo than your Mars does, so you must pay attention when your Mars is highlighted by transit or progression. Why are you choosing what you are choosing? Where are you putting your energies? Is your Mars in alignment with the Sun, or working against it?
Sorry,
I forgot to say: Mars is in the Cusp 5th-6th (Virgo 4°36’36”) House and Sun is in the Cusp 6th-7th house (3°23’11”).
Hello I have moon semi sextile Venus 0.35
And after reading this I just now realized that I had been exceeding learning my semi sextile unconsciously for two years , I always had a hidden attraction to fashion, charmbeauty etc but in reality I always displayed terrible le dressingusta and coordination and charm.. until one day I sat down and said the next time I go to the store and buy clothes I will trusthe my intuition. . From that day on I have a reputation for being sharply dressed , overwhelming charming and smooth, ( the deep voice helps with the last part
I always feel the aspect of my Sun to another person’s Sun. So I wouldn’t ignore Sun-Sun-synastry. Of course there is an exact novile between my Sun and my Uranus, so I could be more aware of aspects there.
I have the inconjuncts to the lunar nodes in my natal. My Saturn forms a quinkunx to my North Node and a semi-sextile to my South Node. These inconjuncts are exact by forty minutes of angle. But Saturn manifests in my life much more by his squares to my ascendent and descendant. There is a sextile between my North Node and my ascendant. Saturn does indeed have a big influence, because my life is the opposite of fun.
The truly ignored aspect is the undecile. I only figured out that most of those, who don’t completely ignore it, are only ventilating rubbish about it.
Hello!! I agree about the importance of the minor aspects and I was thinking that opposition should not be considered as stressful aspect.. If we think than water- earth are compatible as well as fire- air then we consider opposition such a bad aspect? I have no square in my natal but full of inconjunct and semisextiles.. Scorpio moon 0 degrees opposition Taurus mars.. Exact inconjunct Gemini Venus exactl semisextile Taurus mars! Bad??
The opposition is initially stressful as it strives for balance, but ultimately a dialogue is created that is productive. The quincunx and semi-sextile are certainly stressful in a very modern sense.
Hey Dawn this was such an awesome read,
Thank you.
I’ve just a question, my current partner has no contacts to my venus or mars.
However there is a semi-sextile from her 25 virgo sun, to my 27-28-29 leo venus, sun, mars.
Does that have any significance? I read what you wrote about how sun contacts are not that significance in Synastry.
Thank you for your blog and your time 🙂
There are many reasons two people are attracted to one another. It isn’t all to do with Venus/Mars. In fact, it has very little to do with Venus/Mars. Usually the angles or angle rulers are stimulated in some way, especially by the Sun or Moon, or there is a Moon/Nodes connection. Moon/Mars is also powerful. Venus or Mars with the outer planets. Venus/Mars is over rated.
(Reposted because of the incorrect grammar)
Great article, and much insight. Thank you!
I’m gaining a better understanding into my hiatus from relationships, and the excruciating pain through them.
You mentioned that Pisces/Taurus through the semi-sextile and Virgo/Scorpio through the inconjunct were particularly challenging. As well that Chiron in the mix can exacerbate the pain tenfold.
My Black Moon Lilith/Juno/Pallas conjunction in 8th/AQU is inconjunct Pluto/Uranus/IC conjunction in VIR, and semi-sextile Chiron/Pt. of Fortune/Ceres/MC in PISC.
The MC/IC axis is very sensitive, so not particularly looking forward to Jupiter & the North Node about to cross it. But it could be worse; in fact, it has been!
Just to clarify that it isn’t Pisces/Taurus or Virgo/Scorpio that have problems with one another, it’s because their semi-sextile is the Aries point.
I have Mercury in 24 Libra semi-sextile Pluto in 26 Scorpio. My Moon in Gemini 20 quincunxes Uranus 22 and Neptune 20 in Capricorn.
hello and thank you for your not only inspirational but informative view on the minor aspects in the birthchart the semisextile and quintile go very much unnoticed most astrolgers dont realize that even the smallest aspects do indeed matter.
I was wondering if you could tell me about my venus semisextile pluto, plutos in scorpio is my third house and venus in sadge is in my 4th house. I was wondering how the two would play out? i have always felt my relationships had some sort of unspoken intensity that i coulld never quite figure out in my chart
There is/was an intensity about your early environment (perhaps regarding finances, or values, Venusian things) that may keep you disruptive and keep you from settling down in your later adult life. Scorpio wants to control, Sag wants to wander. You may not recognize those qualities in yourself or the way you approach relationships.
Thanks for the great article.
I have several semi-sextiles. Pisces Sun-Aries Venus, Pisces Moon – Aries Mars,
Venus- Chiron (Taurus).
Thus these must play important part in my life.
I only can understand, Moon-Mars aspect, it can probably manifest to my struggle to have orgasm with a man.
For the Criron – Venus I’ve read that it participates in Cinderella configuration and very positive if your partner adds trine or Inconjunct from benefiters to one of the ends.
And what do you think?
Can you tell me anything about Virgo Ascendant semi sextile a Leo Sun in Synastry? It’s an orb of only 0°06, so it’s seems significant. I have gotten the impression AS and Sun harmonious aspects contribute to physical attraction, but what would a semisextile mean for attraction? Thank you in advance if anyone gets a chance to answer. I have had no luck finding any info on semisextiles to the AS in synastry at all 😊
Hi what are your thoughts on moon semi sextile moon in synastry? The signs being in virgo and libra. Also do you see the sun to moon aspects as more important in synastry or is moon to moon just as important?
Thank you!