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Planetary Orbs Simplified

In Astrology the way the planets in any given chart interact and communicate with each another is by their aspect or relationship to one another. There are a variety of aspects or ways of communication currently being used, from the basic Ptolemy aspects (classical ones) to multiple divisions and harmonics of the 360 degree zodiac wheel used by astrologers of today. The difficulty has always been to know when a planet is truly in aspect with another. The aspects by definition are exact angular relationships between the planets (conjunction is no angle or 0 degrees apart, opposition is 180 degrees, square is 90 degrees and so forth). However what about when the planet is approaching or separating from this aspect or angle, what are the limits to it being in aspect with another planet? From this dilemma we have developed what we call orbs. With orbs we mean how far before the exact aspect or how far after the exact aspect can be used to denote a planet in aspect or communication with another. For years there has be continual discussion of this topic. Some give the orbs a wide berth while others are much more particular about them leading to the use of very narrow orbs but most of the time it is a matter of personal taste and usage.

Orbs of aspects are about the degrees of exactness or at which point is there an influence or not. When something is exact it is right on the money. When it is slightly before or slightly after it is naturally not considered to be exact. Though we can see that an exact aspect, meaning there is no orb or distance on either side between the planets specified, would have the strongest influence or impact and any distance on either side of the aspect (applying or separating) would not be as strong or influential. An easier way to understand the influence of aspects whether they are applying (approaching), exact (conjunction) or separating (leaving) is to have an analogy. If we are sitting right next to a table with a tissue lying on it and were to blow on it we would definitely see a response and usually a noticeable one at that. If we moved back and stood a foot from the table and blow on the tissue we will notice that the impact of our breath is somewhat diminished. The further we move back from the table with the tissue on it the less impact our breath has on the movement of the tissue. We can carry this analogy over to the concept and understanding of aspects and their orbs.

So will two planets approaching a conjunction (0 degrees apart) influence one another? Of course they will but the influence will not be as great when they are 8 degrees away as it will be when they are only 1 degree away. Then naturally once they have made their conjunction the influence will slowly diminish as they move away from their exact conjunction. We are using the conjunction as the example but the same is true of every aspect we look.

Another major issue when dealing with aspects and their orbs of course is the nature of the planets involved in the aspect. What does the planets involved stand for or represent? How strong are the planets simply by nature (archetypal energy) and by their location in sign and house in the chart? These additional things will also influence the workings of the aspects and their orbs.

So now the question comes; how many degrees of orb should we allow for the aspects and are all aspects the same? Again this is a personal choice usually decided after many years of interpreting aspects and the planets interactions. Some astrologers give a wider orb of influence for the Sun and Moon than the other planets. Some give wider orbs for specific aspects (major aspects) and smaller or tighter orbs for more minor aspects. It really is an individual choice but just know that the tighter the orb to more powerful the influence will be. Personal tighter orbs seem to be more helpful in making better and more exact predictions of events in a chart. Though it is up to each person to establish what works for them the best. In the Vedic system of Astrology many feel that a planet is in aspect simply by the sign of the zodiac and not at the degree placement of the planet.