Aspects indicate where planets have combined to form a distinct psychological pattern; they reflect Jung’s notion of the ‘complex’ as a knot of highly-charged but unconscious feelings and beliefs. Aspects show our predisposition towards certain patterns of behaviour, rooted in both personality and family history.
Where three or more planets combine to form an aspect pattern, a multi-layered complex emerges which powerfully shapes our character and motivations, as well as providing the raw material for skill, talent and achievement. Jung said about complexes that they ‘have us’ as much as we ‘have them’ – similarly, aspect patterns are deeply embedded, operating at least in part from below our conscious awareness.
We will look first at what it might mean to have an aspect pattern at all, and then explore a selection of recognised patterns: the T-square and the Grand Cross (based on hard aspects), the Grand Trine and Kite (based on soft aspects) and the Yod and Finger of the World (which involve so-called minor aspects, but which can be considered ‘hard’ in nature). There will also be time to discuss briefly some of the less frequently found patterns, such as the Mystic Rectangle and the Hard Rectangle.
This video is taken from a live online webinar given for the Mercury Internet School of Psychological Astrology (MISPA) by Carole Taylor in 2022. Duration: 2 hours 39 minutes