It is essential for the astrological student to have a clear and profound understanding of the geometric relationships between the planets. The configuration of these aspect patterns reveal a great deal about the karma of the planetary energies in your horoscope. “As Above, So Below”—The Law of Correspondance—is the cosmic principle underlining the entire concept of astrological science. The essentail nature of what appears as planetary karma in a chart reveals itself directly as the forms of your daily life experiences! Our job is to develop the objective awareness, the intuitive perception, and the knowledge that allow us to apply astrology, and especially esoteric astrology, to the practicalities and challenges of the world in which we live. Quite the task! But it is through our orientation to the evolution of consciousness that love, light, and power grow within us.

We can say that the soul-centered approach to the delineation of the natal chart views planets in square, opposition, and inconjunction as indicative of inhibited or concretized karmic patterns. Such planetary energy fields are in need of reorientation and/or balance in order for further creative development to take place. Let us say for example, that the Moon were in opposition to Mars in a person’s chart. This tells me that the individual cannot connect to the courage, cohesion, and focus of the personal ego without feeling exposed, vunerable, and open to attack. Somehow it is unsafe for her to project her needs or when these needs are projected, it is with an intensity that creates imbalance in the environment. This is a person who has a very difficult time creating a matrix of protective energy around her sense of “self in action”. So she over-reacts emotionally hoping that the strength of her projected emotional energy will not only satisfy the immediate desire, but also serve as some sort of protection, some sort of shield.

Remember that in Moon/Mars aspects we are dealing directly with the solar plexus chakra as well as our basic survival instincts. The karma in this case has to do with reorienting one’s attachment to certain issues of fear and rejection that were part of her relationship with her biological mother (also indicted by this Moon/Mars opposition). The soul-centered astrologer would offer spiritual and meditation exercises that would help to reorient the client’s devotion (Mars as ruler of the Sixth Ray) away from “mommy” to a closer connection with The Mother. The Fourth Ray quality of the Moon is inherently involved with transmutation and transformation, reorientation usually applying to the past, to one’s biological karma, and to the personality in general.

When planets are in trine or sextile, their energy (including the particular facets of the Rays they embody), are harmoniously linked. A fluid and creative stream of energetic contact has been established. Thus a trine between Jupiter and the Sun (both Second Ray bodies), is a clear indication of an abundance of the energy of Love/Wisdom that may be freely distributed and experienced in the present incarnation. The soul-centered astrologer can tell that no matter what else may appear in this person’s life, the theme of an inclusive urge to love and heal will predominate the present incarnation. This theme will of course, only be present if the individual is working from the level of the soul. If this is not the case and the individual is living out his life purely in terms of the lower self, then the personality-centered meaning of this trine would apply: The individual may be kind and benevolent enough but would tend to be very focused on the exaggerated sense of his personal self-importance. Thus instead of being an agent for inclusivity, the Sun/Jupiter aspect would work for the prupose of separation.

The conjunction is a so-called “variable aspect”. An understanding of the planets and their relationship to the signs will reveal the degree of harmony or disharmony indicated by any given conjunction of planets. For example, a conjunction of Mars and Uranus produces tension and rash behavior. From an esoteric level, the indications are that the urge to generate and manifest is too powerful for the surrounding life circumstances (especially if connected to eithe the Midheaven, the Ascendant or the ruler of the Ascendant). This conjunction may therefore lead to complications in one’s social contacts in general and in one’s sexual expression in particular. These two planets would yield a much better blending of their energies when in an aspect less intense than the conjunction, such as the sextile. The student should use his or her comprehension of traditional planetary significators as a guide, but make sure to integrate your understanding of the Rays within this context. You will then be able to obtain a soul-centered interpretation of any conjunction in question.

At this point, it might be valuable for us to discuss briefly and concisely the nature of each of the planets when in aspect with another:

The Sun should always be looked upon as the vehicle for the expression of the “equipment” one brings in to the present incarnation. It carries the energy of the Second Ray and thus the potential for the conscious expression of the Life Force of the Solar Logos. The awakening to the nature of true solar power (which is Love/Wisdom) will come through the sign that the Sun is in in the natal chart. The Ray(s) of that sign will describe for us a great deal about the destiny of that individual’s consciousness in the current lifetime. The Sun in Scorpio, for example, tells us that the Fourth Ray of Harmony Through Conflict will be the pathway of the life’s lessons. Thus no matter what else the individual will do or however else she may behave, she will have to undergo some major conflicts of transformation. Death must be part of the Sun’s life during this incarnation. Where, how, and with whom these deaths will take place are revealed by the house position of the Sun and the aspects to the other planets. In general, we can say that Solar aspects generate greater consciousness of the other planetary energies with which it is connected.

The Moon is our link to the past. It is the indicator of our biological karma and describes not only our connection with our immediate genetic family but also our relationship to our racial and national karma as well. The Moon takes us back to “Adam and Eve”! The Moon brings in the energy of the Fourth Ray and the struggle between the form side of our nature and our Life Essence. Thus, the Moon represents those patterns of self-expression that have been anchored in many previous incarnations. Just in terms of the physical body, we may have the hair coloring of our great-great grandmother and the shape of the eyes of her great-great grandmother. In terms of the emotional body, if we are Italian for example, we can see in the literature of Dante’s time elements of our feeling nature which we still embody. In the course of our lives, the Moon (and all of its mighty influence) must come under the direction of the soul. The greater the infusion of the soul’s life into our lunar consciousness, the less we feel like a member of our particular biological family and the more we experience ourselves as members of the Human Family. Aspects with the Moon show where this biological karmic influence is at its strongest and what experiences are required in the present incarnation for its transmutation and release.

Vulcan, planet of the First Ray and hence a vehicle for the Will-To-Be. Vulcan is always involved in the destruction of outworn “tools” which are no longer needed by the personality in the process of “soul infusion”. The aspects of Vulcan break down patterns and thought-forms, desires and attachments to desires, so that the soul may further externalize its purpose and work.

Mercury, when in aspect with other planets also brings in the energy of the Fourth Ray but more as a harmonizing influence. Mercury’s energy on the soul level seeks to relate pairs of opposites so that greater opportunities for creativity may exist. Duality is replaced by harmonious interaction and integration overcomes separation. As the esoteric ruler of Aries, Mercury in aspect functions to communicate Divine Ideas into the human mind.

Earth in its aspects to the rest of the horoscope reveals the conditions surrounding our ability to fulfill our earthly dharma, i.e. our karmic responsibility to our planet. Earth brings forth the energy of the Third Ray and thus serves to add the cohesive focus of Active Intelligence into our daily life.

Venus evokes the Fifth Ray which is most closely connected to science, technology and the lower or rational mind. Venus is herself a blending and harmonizing agent and always gives the potential for greater personal evolution. She is a force for the development of the higher, more spiritual qualities of any planet with which she is in aspect. Difficult aspects involving Venus in the horoscope are always resolved through right human relationships. This often means that one’s personal values have to be transformed and expanded into vehicles that bring benefits into the lives of society.

Mars requires us to battle through the lower desire nature and our urge towards separatism. When bringing forth the Sixth Ray upon the plane of soul intent, Mars allows us to focus our desires to devotion to the Divine Plan for humanity. Difficult aspects with Mars point to a need to find the correct battleground so that we do not abuse our life energies by fighting the wrong conflicts from a perspective of selfishness. Easy aspects with Mars show victories already achieved and the ability to use the increased awareness which comes as a result from these struggles.

Jupiter in aspect denotes the presence of pure Second Ray energy. Its contacts with the other planets work to blend and fuse love and wisdom, heart and mind, male and female. When viewed from the level of the soul, sextiles, trines, and most conjunctions with Jupiter spiritualize the creative potential of the other planet. Expansion occurs not so much in the size of one’s achievements but in their quality. Difficult aspects with Jupiter point to exclusivity in one’s religious or philosophical creed and the expansion of the personal over the transpersonal. In this incarnation, the individual will have to repolarize his or her beliefs in this respect.

Saturn’s aspects work primarily on the mental plane. The ringed planet works to structure thought-forms so that the individual’s mind may be a vehicle for the right use of will. Saturn is often called “The Lord of Karma.” Thus its position by house, oppositions, squares and most of its conjunctions point to where we have established barriers and boundaries to the incoming energies of the Higher Self. It also points to places of non-regenerating energetic habit patterns or, put more simply—where we get stuck in our lives again and again and again! Trines and sextile with Saturn show where we have built proper bridges between the soul and the personality.

Uranus planetary significator of the Seventh Ray is very much involved in coordination the production of new archetypes of manifestation into the outer world. Its aspects from the soul level show where we contribute to these efforts. Thus a Uranus trine Venus aspect in the horoscope of a person firmly on the Path, will be used to unite people of many differing backgrounds and ideologies into a common bond of harmonious activity. Please keep in mind that the activity of the soul is always group oriented and geared for collective evolution.

Neptune when functioning in on the soul level is a very highly developed spiritual influence. It brings into manifestation the illumination of the indwelling Principle of Love. Its aspects serve to dissolve any impediments to the higher purpose of Love Incarnate. Its difficult aspects eventuate into the pain and suffering caused through attachment to emotional glamours and illusions. Its trines and sextiles bring an every widening, healing inclusivity to the planets its may touch. In addition to Mars, Neptune brings in the energy of the Sixth Ray of Religion and Devotion. When active in the horoscope of a soul-centered individual, it allows her to know that all religions are essentially one. Devotion then is focused on the unity of humanity and world goodwill.

Pluto is a powerful First Ray influence that destroys patterns of personality expression that inhibit the greater use of creative will power. Its particular alchemy allows it to redeem and regenerate what has been annihilated into a manifestation of greater spiritual potential. This is symbolized to us in Christian theology by the process of crucifixion and resurrection. Its positive aspects point to hidden treasure houses—vast reserves of energetic substance that can be used by the soul for the evolutionary purposes of Divine Will. Its difficult aspects show where repeated acts of destruction take place so that a major karmic lesson is learned. Pluto square to the Moon for example tells us that emotional abuse has taken place in the karmic history of the individual concerned. Such harm has to cease but that is not enough! Pluto demands the regeneration of this pattern to a place where successful self-nurturing becomes possible. This pattern of destruction/resurrection/regeneration will then permit an individual with this aspect to bring healing nourishment to others.