ASTROLOGICAL APPLYING AND SEPARATING DEGREES

As a logical thinking Gemini, there is a reason why I think it is wisely important to understand the difference between an 'applying' aspect and a 'separating"' aspect. Put simply, the 'applying' aspect is intuitive and the 'separating' aspect is relieved and refreshed. BAM! That's pretty much it. An aspect is when two planets work in harmony or discord with one another through a conjunction, opposition, square, trine, sextile, quincunx, semi-square, semi-sextile, etc.

The problem with aspects is ignoring the prodrome. In healthcare a prodrome is an early symptom (or set of symptoms) that might indicate the beginning of an illness before more specific symptoms occur. A prodrome is our bodies intuitive physical sensor telling us that something is about to occur. You don't just wake up with the flu. You get that little feeling that an illness is about to occur and if you ignore it, continuing on without addressing it, you will indeed get sick. An 'applying' aspect works just like that and the 'separating' aspect is the relieved feeling that things are better. Now folks, if you have been coming to my website long enough then you know what I always say . . .

If I wrote your Expansive Natal Chart go to the section called, "Chart Points," which is the section after, "The Houses." When you look in the "Chart Points" section, this is where I write about any planets you have aspecting one another. An aspect is when two planets work in harmony or discord with one another through a conjunction, opposition, square, trine, sextile, quincunx, semi-square, semi-sextile, etc. The first planet I address in your Expansive Natal Chart is the Moon. If you have any planets aspecting the Moon, they would be listed under "Aspects of the Moon". It might saying something like . . . SQUARE MERCURY Orb 2°22" Applying . . . or it might say, SQUARE VENUS Orb 0°24" Separating. Notice how one of your aspects might say 'Separating' and another might say 'Applying' with a certain orb, degree and minutes.

The faster of any two planets in an aspect is the active force making the aspect (the one stirring up the commotion) whether it is in an applying aspects or a separating aspects. In an applying aspect, the faster planet moves toward the slower moving planet and in the separating aspect the faster planet moves away from (separates from) the slower moving planet. In the case of the Moon example above, the Moon is the fastest moving planet of all the planets because it moves every 2 to 2-1/2 days. It's rockin' at a pretty quick clip. Venus and Mercury in the example above are fairly faster moving planets but they aren't as quick as the Moon. The faster moving planet is always learning lessons from and being shaped and molded by the slower planet, and never vice-versa.

As another example, take the case of Venus opposing Neptune, since Venus is closer to the Sun and is therefore faster in its orbit than Neptune (because it's an outer planet, way out there), Venus is the one learning the lessons from and being shaped by Neptune.

The planets from slowest to fastest are in this order from teacher to student: Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon.

In an applying aspect, the degrees of two planets are coming closer together to become more exact. When they become exact, that means they would be exactly in the same degree. As the two planets come closer together, you feel it. You would be feeling the energy, the prodrome, the intuitive hit that something is on the verge of happening. Depending on the planets involved, you might have a sense of excitement, impending doom, sexual energy or financial excess where you start spending or saving as a response to the energy. 'Applying' aspects that are coming closer together are considered to be much stronger (I say more intuitive) than a 'separating' aspect. 'Applying' aspects will get a rise out of you. This could be a rise such as an emotional fit, becoming more creative, preparedness, etc., because your intuition in response to the 'applying' aspect is tuning in to the energy.

In a separating aspect, this means the orb of the aspect (square, trine, opposition, etc.,) between two planets increases as time rolls along. In other words, the degrees are getting further apart and not coming closer together and relief is in sight. A 'separating' aspects is said to be weaker than an applying aspect and now you can see why because the exciteable or intense period is easing up, which leaves you with the experience to be remembered the next time an 'applying' aspect rolls in, your intuition should tuning in the minute you sense the prodrome. A 'separating' aspect should leave you feeling relieved or refreshed.

Now remember, you can always use the Glossary of Terms button on this site to learn more Astrological Lingo.

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