An aspect grid in astrology is a chart that shows the relationships, or aspects, between points in an astrological chart. Using the grid, you can see which types of aspects exist between any of the planets and major features within the chart, or amongst multiple charts.
Read on to learn everything you need to know to master the art of reading the aspect grid!
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Reading an aspect grid is as simple as following a column and row.
- An aspect grid can be used for one chart or comparing multiple charts at once.
- Numbers and letters in the grid also offer vital information about the aspects.
What does an aspect grid look like?
Just like people, the planets and points in our chart have relationships and interact.
The type of relationship is determined by the angles they make to each other, the aspects, with some feeling easy and friendly and others conflict-filled and challenging.
Aspects are often drawn as lines in the center of a chart, but those can be difficult to interpret.
Easily find out what kinds of relationships planets have by reading an aspect grid.
An aspect grid can look like this:
This is called a half grid and is the style of aspect grid that you can find at astro.com.
But, they can also look like this:
This is a full grid is the type of aspect grid used in the Astro Gold app.
Both styles show the same information from the same chart, they just display it in slightly different ways.
How do I read an aspect grid?
Aspect grids can seem pretty overwhelming at first with so many glyphs, columns, and rows.
But, once you get the hang of it, it’s simple and offers a lot of information about the angles in the natal chart.
The first aspect grid we are going to look at shows aspects made in a natal chart, or single wheel, only.
Natal chart aspect grid
First, let’s look at a half grid.
To find which planets are in aspect, which aspect it is, and the orb, you simply find the rectangle where the planet on the right intersects with the planet on the left.
Let’s make this easier to understand with a list of steps and an example!
(Not sure what all of the symbols mean? There are tables showing what the symbols mean at the end of this article, click here to go there.)
- Choose a planet that you want to check for aspects.
Let’s say you wanted to find out if Mercury aspects any other planets. - On the right side of the grid, find the glyph for that planet.
Find the glyph for Mercury ☿ on the right side. - Follow that column down. Any glyphs in that column are aspects.
Notice that Mercury aspects many planets as there are many glyphs in its column. - Follow one of the rows with a glyph all of the way to the right to see what planet is involved in the aspect.
Follow the first ☍ (opposition) you encounter in Mercury’s column all of the way to the right and see that Mercury is in opposition to Jupiter ♃.
*The only “tricky” thing with an aspect grid to note is that you need to also check for aspects the opposite way, starting with the planet on the left side of the grid, following its row to the right until you see an aspect, and then following that column up to see which planet aspects it.
Notice in the example grid above how if you’d looked for a Jupiter/Mercury aspect by starting with Jupiter at the top of the grid, you wouldn’t have found it.
→So just check in both directions.
Reading a full grid is just as simple!
This time, the grid is square-shaped. All of the planets are listed across the top of the table and down the left side. But, it is read much in the same way.
Choose a planet or placement across the top of the grid.
Follow its column down until you reach a box with an aspect glyph in it and then follow that row to the left until you see which planet it aspects.
Just like with the half-grid, you have to check in both directions (starting from the top and also starting from the side) to find all of the aspects.
BiWheel aspect grid
In astrology, sometimes you are comparing two charts to each other, such as when using transits or doing a synastry (two chart) reading.
An aspect grid can show you how the placements in two different charts relate to each other, as well.
And, once you have the hang of how to read the aspect grid for your natal chart, reading one for two charts is pretty similar!
Above is the natal and transiting planet aspect grid from astro.com.
You can see that it has “nat” next to the planets on the top of the grid, short for “natal,” and “tr” next to the planets along the left side, short for “transits.”
To read an aspect grid for a biwheel, follow the same steps as you would for a single chart.
Find your natal planet at the top and follow it down until you reach the row of the transiting planet.
Where they intersect shows the aspect.
What do the numbers mean in the aspect grid?
You may have noticed more information in the boxes of the aspect grid than simply the symbols for the aspects.
This is vital information that can help you weed through which aspects may be ones to pay closer attention to and which ones you can overlook at this time.
In the example above, you can see that the Sun and Venus are conjunct ☌.
But, the numbers and letter next to it fill in much more detail for us.
The numbers represent the degrees and minutes of the current orb, meaning how close the aspect is to forming the perfect angle.
Smaller numbers mean that the aspect is closer to creating a perfect angle, and the larger the number, the further the aspect is from making a precise angle.
Smaller numbers mean that the aspect is closer to creating a perfect angle, and the larger the number, the further the aspect is from making a precise angle.
So looking at our example again below, you can see the Sun and Venus have an orb of 7 degrees and 29 minutes. And since it’s a conjunction, that means that they are 7 degrees and 29 minutes apart from one another.
And, you can also see in the aspect grid boxes that there are “a’s” and “s’s” next to the orbs.
The “a’s” show that the planets or placements are moving closer toward making that perfect aspect angle and the “s’s” symbolize that they are moving away from the precise angle of aspect.
The “a’s” show that the planets or placements are moving closer toward making that perfect aspect angle and the “s’s” symbolize that they are moving away from the precise angle of aspect.
What do all of the glyphs mean?
In an aspect grid, there are so many glyphs and symbols, it can be overwhelming Here are tables to refer to that will help you keep it all straight!
Planets, Nodes, and Important Angles
| Symbol | Important Point |
| ☉ | Sun |
| ☽ | Moon |
| ☿ | Mercury |
| ♀ | Venus |
| ♂ | Mars |
| ♃ | Jupiter |
| ♄ | Saturn |
| ♅ | Uranus |
| ♆ | Neptune |
| ♇ | Pluto |
| ⚷ | Chiron |
| ☊ | North Node |
| ☋ | South Node |
| AC | Ascendant |
| MC | Midheaven |
Aspects
| Symbol | Aspect |
| ☍ | Opposition |
| ⚻ | Quincunx |
| ⚼ | Sesquiquadrate |
| ⚺ | Semi-Sextile |
| ∠ | Semi-Square |
| □ | Square |
| ☌ | Conjunction |
| bQ | Biquintile |
| Q | Quintile |
| ⚹ | Sextile |
| △ | Trine |
How do I find my astrological aspects?
The easiest way to find your astrological aspects is to use the aspect grid. This table shows you which type of aspect is being made, its current orb, and if the aspect is moving closer to the perfect angle or away from it.
What are aspect lines?
Aspect lines in an astrological chart show special relationships between planets or placements and describe the style of interaction between them. The aspect lines are often drawn in different colors to represent challenging (hard) or supportive (soft) aspects.
How do you interpret aspects?
An aspect describes a type of relationship between two points or planets in a chart. To interpret an aspect, note the function of each planet or placement involved and how each is shaped by its sign and house. Then, imagine how those two may be affected by a supportive (soft) relationship, or a challenging (hard) one.
What do square aspects mean?
A square aspect in astrology represents a 90° angle between two planets or placements. This is a hard aspect, meaning it’s challenging. The two points involved do not want to cooperate with each other and this aspect can lead to conflict.
Other articles you may enjoy:
Hard Aspects in Astrology
Conjunctions in Astrology
