Minor Aspects: Finer Detail

Beyond the five major aspects there are minor ones, created by dividing the 360° circle in other ways. They have a lighter effect and use narrower orbs (about 2° by default in the app), so they are off at first. You can turn them on in the chart options whenever you want extra detail.

The common minor aspects

• Semisextile (30°): two planets in neighboring signs. A small aspect of mild mutual support: their elements and styles differ, yet they gradually learn from each other.
• Semisquare (45°): a mild friction, like a miniature square. It often shows up as small irritations that keep you from sitting still.
• Sesquiquadrate (135°): tense in a similar way, but often felt as a nudge that keeps prodding you into action.
• Quincunx (150°): the two planets sit in signs that share nothing at all. It feels like two matters that always need tweaking to fit together.
• Quintile (72°) and biquintile (144°): linked with creativity and personal skill. They tend to be found in people with a distinctive talent or an unusual way of thinking.

Schools differ on whether the 30° and 150° aspects are easy or hard. Natalora puts the 30° aspect in the "Harmonious" group and the 150° aspect in the "Challenging" group, which is one convention among several.

How much weight should they get?

Minor aspects should rarely be the star of a reading. Look at the major aspects and planet positions first, then treat the minor ones as added color, especially when they are very exact or involve the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant.

If you switch every minor aspect on at once, the table can become crowded and hard to read. Try enabling them one type at a time, and notice which ones help you understand yourself better.