Conjunction: meaning and how to read it

A conjunction is the closest contact two planets or points can make: they sit at the same place in the zodiac, 0° apart, and act as one. The two energies blend, strengthen each other and are hard to use separately. A conjunction has no built-in flavour of its own, so what it feels like depends entirely on which planets join. The one thing to remember is that a conjunction merges two things into a single drive, and you read it by reading both planets together.

In modern psychological astrology a conjunction is read as a merged function. Two parts of the personality that would normally take turns, such as wanting and feeling, or thinking and speaking, fire together. You tend to experience them as one voice, which gives focus and force but little distance: it can be hard to see where one stops and the other starts. Because it is so concentrated, a conjunction often becomes a defining theme, something you are known for.

Which way it goes depends on the planets. A friendly pair works with a single purpose, while a pair that normally disagree can seem to pull two ways from the same spot. The sign and house give the setting: the same pair feels different in a fast sign than in a slow one, and in the house of work than in the house of home. With no angle between the planets to create friction or ease, the aspect gives little feedback, so it is often clearest when someone else points out the pattern.

• The two energies reinforce each other and give you a clear focus.
• You tend to act on this theme with conviction and little hesitation.
• The combined function can become a recognised strength.
• Starting something new often draws on this pairing.

• It is hard to see the two planets separately, so blind spots can form.
• A strong theme can dominate and leave other parts of the chart quiet.
• A pair that normally clash can pull in two directions from one spot.
• Intensity may feel like pressure when the setting does not suit it.

Find two planets sitting at nearly the same degree. Natalora counts a conjunction up to 8° apart, or up to 10° when the Sun or Moon is one of them; the closer the pair, the stronger the merge. Read the two planets together first, then the sign and house they share, then any other aspects each one makes. Note whether the pair is still closing in (applying) or has already passed exact (separating), because an applying conjunction often feels as if it is building.