Chart Synthesis ✦ Dawn Bodrogi ✦ The Inner Wheel
We had a crisis in the family this week. My niece Mariana was rushed to the hospital on July 4th and has been hovering between life and death from a sudden and unexpected illness. It looks, right now, as if she will recover — but she is far from safe. If you could spare a good thought or a prayer for her, I would really appreciate it.
As a result, I haven’t been much in a writing mode, and I’ve been reviewing my own life and why I’ve made the choices I’ve made. I came across this post from the early days of this blog, before anyone knew I was here, and I thought it would be good to take a look again at why I began this little adventure.
The Purpose of The Inner Wheel
Why am I doing this? I enjoy writing about astrology and passing on what I know. I love the people I meet through astrology, who are among the most intelligent, perceptive, and compassionate people I have ever known. But the primary reason I created this space is that a lot of astrological information is being distributed these days without the underlying foundation. You can read info about individual aspects — but not a lot about why they have the meaning they do. Without that knowledge, we cannot synthesise information so that it has meaning within the greater context of the chart.
Astrology works because it’s an enclosed system. It is based on numerical sequence and geometric pattern. All learning follows the mutable sequence: Gemini is pure information; Virgo requires we make that information useful; Sagittarius asks for context and universal law; and in Pisces, that wisdom becomes at one with the cosmos.
The Geometry of Meaning
The beauty of astrology is that everything is interrelated. Trines relate to the division of the circle by three, representing the sequence of the elements — this is why they are considered inspirational and creative. Sextiles divide the circle by 60 degrees, possessing the communicative qualities of Gemini. Conjunctions, dividing the circle by one, relate to Aries — they are reckless, headstrong, and unpredictable.
On minor aspects
Any aspect that divides the circle evenly is, in and of itself, a powerful aspect. Quintiles (5) and noviles (9) can manifest powerfully and directly when stimulated — but they seem to be dependent on something outside of themselves (transits or progressions) to make themselves known. They don’t have quite the power of the Ptolemaic aspects because they don’t coincide with the 30-degree divide of the signs.
The black sheep of the bunch remains the semi-square, which divides the circle by 8 and sits at the midpoint of the square. While planets in a square know they are angry with one another about something specific, planets in a semi-square are just angry — a raw, unchanneled irritation. However, semi-squares carry immense power if they occur at the midpoint of an actual square, providing a vehicle for that energy to manifest.
Trines vs. Squares: The Manifestation
Trines represent a transcendent energy, a flow that is easy because it connects signs of the same element. It is a comedy — we don’t have to fret. Squares, however, are a drama. They represent the cross of matter. The warring points in a square see things very differently. Squares are about the blocking of flow until purpose is manifested. Every square is pregnant with something waiting to be born.
A square is conscious, always nagging. We live with them like annoying family members. But when you figure out a square, you end up with something real — something in your hand to work with.
— Dawn Bodrogi
A trine can just bubble in the background, sometimes turning into a flood if over-stimulated. A square pushes us to action — it forces us to resolve the specifics between two planets and two houses.
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Without understanding the why behind an aspect, we cannot synthesise information so that it has meaning within the greater context of the chart.
Hi Dawn:
Of course I am more than happy to pray for your neice and I ask God to send supernatural favor and Divine healing to her right now! I pray for your strength and peace in such a difficult time as well.
Actually I thought a lot about you this week and the advice that you gave me. I am so grateful for your wisdom and your kindness. I reread the posts again and again. I am on a healing quest. I figure since Chiron Aquarius was the connection to my wound and I got hurt deeply by an Aquarian, I should search for understanding in relation to Uranus and Aquarius characteristics to get my healing. Thanks for the info on squares, conjunctions and trines. I hope in time that you will add info on oppositions and quincuxes as well. I’m understanding more and more everyday. I’m connecting the dots.
I will continue to send prayers up for your neice and your family and will return to the Inner Wheel again and again.
Peace and Blessings.
Pearl
Thank you, Pearl.
In case you haven’t read them yet, I have done a piece on oppositions (in synastry, but the principles still apply) and I’ve done the first part of what I intend as a series on the Inconjuncts (quincunxes and semi-sextiles). The more I research, the more I realize how powerful and influential inconjuncts are (particularly in progressions) and I intend to write at least two more pieces about them soon. You can use the search window on the top right of the screen to find the archived articles.
Thanks Dawn. I will read the posts.