Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
By Michael Erlewine
Michael@Erlewine.net
The Waxing Trine
Suggestion: First read the previous
article "Full-Phase Aspects - An
Introduction.
How did I find out about Phase Charts?
Well, a good number of years ago I
became increasingly dissatisfied with
traditional aspect interpretation and for
several reasons. For one, I found in the
orient that there was more attention paid
to the phase of the Moon and that the
waxing phase was clearly delineated
differently than the waning phases. They
routinely do this and base their whole
spiritual practice calendars around the
fact of full-phase analysis, at least
between the Sun and the Moon. Since I
respect the Tibetan Buddhists and their
history very much, this really gave me
pause for thought. And I began to think
it through.
The Heart Center Astrological
Library
Second, since I am the curator of a very
large astrological library, I decided to
thoroughly look through the library for
references to full-phase aspects in the
literature. This took, as you might
imagine, some time to do.
What I found in the Western literature
was: not much. There were a few
pioneers in this area of research, but
even they did not seem to follow their
own conclusions. Those who did use
full-phase aspects include Grant Lewi,
whose book “Astrology for the Millions”
is on my desert-island list of astrology
books, perhaps even at the top of the
list. L. Edward Johndro also routinely
used the full-phase interpretations.
Others also recommended these
aspects, in particular Dane Rudhyar, but
while he described them and pointed out
their potential value, in a great many of
his books he didn‟t use them. I did
speak to his former wife Leyla Rudhar
and she affirmed that Rudhyar was an
advocate of full-phase aspects, but
again I did not see the follow-thru in
actual use that I found in someone like
Johndro. It may be that this view came
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

late in Rudhyar‟s life; I can‟t say. What I On that note, I did see significant
can say is that astrologers with this view contributions from the Ebertin/Witte
are few and far between in the literature. approach (Cosmbiology) and in that of
John Addey (Harmonic Analysis). And
Next, I turned my attention to the study
these two newer approaches are, of
of cycles, which of course have all these
course, related closely. Aside from this,
same phases we are discussing. All
there is not much in the literature.
cycles are identical when it comes to
evaluating synodic periods of two I went over the concept of phase angles
bodies, one faster than the other. I again and again until it was second
looked through the literature and even nature and gradually forced myself to
spoke with Richard Mogey (the former turn away and work through this
head of the “Foundation for the Study of material on my own, to just think it
Cycles”) and he admitted that there through. And what I found is worth
really was not much written about the relating here. While what follows may
phase structure of cycles although there seem somewhat heretical, I assure you
is a huge amount of literature on the it is not. If you will take the time to study
various cycles themselves. this concept on your own and to think it
through by using worked examples such
And I found this to be the case.
as your own chart, you will see a
Although we could fill a small library with
somewhat new approach to aspects
papers and books on various cycles and
emerge. Here are some of the main
their lengths, you would be hard to find
conclusions:
even one or two pages on what we are
discussing here – the structure of the The Sixteen Major Aspects
waxing and waning parts of cycles. I We took a brief look at groups of
found this to be amazing indeed. aspects earlier on. Now let‟s walk
I then did what is always for me the through the cycle from Conjunction to
hardest thing to do, which is to turn Conjunction, and say something more
away from the books and turn inward to about each aspect. I will try to point out
my own mind and begin to examine where I found information that is
these ideas afresh on their merits. I also different from the traditional
went through an enormous number of interpretations.
charts and began constructing various
computer programs to help me in this
research. And this approach proved to
be more fruitful than what went before.
Of course, it was easy to see that most
of what is written about aspect cycles
and their meaning has just been handed
down from generation to generation
through history, with nothing significant
added. This is not to suggest that what
has been handed down has no value. Of
course it does, but here I am speaking
about expanding on what is traditional.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
The Conjunction
The Conjunction – 0-degrees
The Conjunction point seems to remain
constant through all time and in all of the
astrology I have studied, East and West.
This is the starting point which, like the
New Moon, is the most inward or
collapsed point in the cycle. This is the
beginning or starting point of the synodic
cycle and all of the traditional concepts
of insemination, seed impulse, resonant
tone, etc. stand. This definition is quite
traditional. I found nothing really new
here. The Conjunction corresponds to
the Midnight point, the 10th House, and
the zodiac sign Capricorn – the most
inward point possible, where everything
ends and all things begin.
The Opposition
The Opposition – 180-degrees
On the other end of the cycle, the
Opposition, my view did change
somewhat. In the Western tradition
(certainly in the literature I have access
to) we easily fall into the habit of
considering the Opposition as one of the
“Hard” aspects, literally as “opposing” us
in some way or another. In other words,
when we discover the Oppositions in a
chart, there is the same kind of little
cringe similar to that we have when we
find Squares.
Although Oppositions get somewhat
better treatment than Squares in the
literature, that treatment is not a whole
lot better. Or to put it more plainly: there
is some lip service to the effect that
Oppositions are helpful, but when you
get right down to most of the written
interpretations, they are treated just like
Squares and considered as „bad‟ or
unwanted aspects. This is all there in
black and white for any of you to read.
Check your books.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
What I came to understand about the
Opposition is more akin to the view that
the Tibetan Buddhist hold when they
look at the cycle of the Moon. In that
tradition, it is the Opposition (i.e. the Full
Moon) that is the most sacred. This is
the time when Buddha was born, the
time when he was enlightened, the time
he passed away, and so on. There is no
question that in the Eastern literature
the Opposition is the fulcrum, the turning
point or key point in the whole cycle. Of
course, in any cycle or circle all points
are required, but some are more
prominent and the Opposition is the
most prominent of all the degrees in the
synodic cycle, at least in Asia.
This approach, plus a lot of looking at
charts, eclipses, and plain old deep
thought led me away from my habit of
somehow not welcoming Oppositions
and toward a different view of this
aspect and that is:
It is only through Oppositions that life
unfolds or manifests. The Opposition in
every cycle is, like the fullness of the
Moon, when the bloom or incarnation is
most full. Thus the Opposition would
correspond to the zodiac sign Cancer (in
the tarot: The Chariot), to Noon Time
when everything is manifest, and with
the Fourth House, our physical home.
This is the point of greatest
manifestation or living – the experience
itself.
Through my work with this aspect, the
word “Experience” came to best signify
what the Opposition is all about. If the
Conjunction is the seed impulse, the
Midnight point, the Tenth House, and
the zodiac sign Capricorn, then the
Opposition represents the living end of
things, when we are most in-the-body or
incarnate and just feeling it all,
“Experiencing.”
Moreover, the opposition or 180-degree
point in any synodic cycle follows the
above interpretation and the Opposition
is the main body or the experience itself,
that is: the result of the seed and all the
growth to that point. A cycle is born,
grows to an Opposition, and then begins
to physically or experientially decline
and fade back to where it came from,
hopefully garnering or providing some
knowledge as a result, which knowledge
becomes the seed for the next cycle that
begins at the coming Conjunction, and
so on.
The Waxing Hemisphere
It is the waxing or growing hemisphere
that takes the tone or impulse (which is
at first seminal but lacking physical
form) and through its ringing resonance
begins to build (successfully or
unsuccessfully) a form perfectly
designed to fit its message and results
in the living end of life, the Opposition.
Rudhyar‟s book “The Lunation Cycle”
echoes this view.
The Waning Hemisphere
And it is the waning or declining
hemisphere that takes the experience
achieved at the Opposition and follows it
through its inevitable demise, extracting
whatever is of value, while all the time
assisting in the de-construction of the
experience, and ending with the very
essence or seed of that experience.
In this respect, both Eastern and
Western astrology have a good handle
on the waxing and waning hemispheres.
I found little to add to the descriptions of
these cyclic elements that have been
handed down to us over the centuries.
There is general agreement here.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

The Square Aspects The Waxing Square – 90-degree

Aspect
With the Square aspect, I ran into my
first real problems. The reputation of the The Waxing Square is similar to the
Square or “Hard” aspect just did not jibe Ascendant (or the sign Aries) in that it is
with what my research showed. here that the first signs of actual
Tradition finds the Square aspect manifestation can be seen. Think of an
difficult and to be avoided, certainly not idea or plan that has been put into play
welcomed in the chart. Sure, there is but has as yet not shown any sign of
some lip service to how valuable becoming real or visible in this world. At
Squares are, but all too often the same the Waxing Square point in any cycle,
author slips into bad-mouthing squares there is usually something tangible that
further on when it comes to their appears and can be seen, something
interpretation. What did I find that differs that will remain actual and visible much
from this? like when it snows there is a point where
the ground will hold the snow and
I found that the “bad boy” reputation of
instead of vanishing and melting, it
the Square in reality more acurately
holds and accumulates. This is the
belongs to the Semi-Square family,
turning point from inward to outward.
which I will get to a little later in this
That is how I view the Waxing Square,
article. As for the Square aspect, it did
as a turning point, not a problem point.
not add up in my study to what the
tradition suggests. Instead, Squares
have come to signify what I call “Turning
Points” in time, pivot points upon which
some major opportunity for change
hangs. And there are, of course, two
square points and they are very different
from one another.

The Waning Square

The Waning Square – 270-degree
Aspect
The Waning Square is just the opposite
and in that regard is similar to the
Descendant (or the sign Libra). This is
the point where the outer manifestation
The waxing Square
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

(whatever it is) that reached fullness at the course they were directed to take,
the Opposition no longer has control be that constructive or not.
physically, but gives up and declines Further, there are some major
very rapidly from this point in the cycle interpretive differences between the four
onward. This is a turning point from energy points, the Waxing Sextile or
outward, to inward. Everything from this Trine and the Waning Sextile or Trine.
point forward in inner directed and inner There is room here to go over them very
controlled. Instead of something arising briefly, but these differences are
into view as in the Waxing Square, here important to consider.
there is an active deconstruction, a
taking apart of what is, and a looking
and going inward – taking and learning
what we can from a situation. That is a
very brief discussion of Squares.
The Sextiles and Trines
With the Sextile and Trine aspects, our
Western tradition pretty much has it right
and I don‟t have too much to add. These
aspects have been termed “Good” or
beneficial and tend to be as welcomed
as the Square aspect is shunned.
I term these aspects (the two Sextiles
and two Trines) as “energy points,” as
aspects where energetic material is
somehow pumped into the system and
the increased activity from this sudden The Waxing Sextile
influx of energy creates or changes the
situation by expanding the space The Waxing Sextile – 60-degree
surrounding it. Think of it as that the Aspect
increased energy creates an aura, The Waxing Sextile or 60-degree point
creates room or space surrounding the is where the cycle picks up momentum
situation that allows work to be done as it rises toward the 90-degree of
more quickly or done at all. When Square point of first manifestation. It is
Sextile/Trine energy is available, there is this energy point that provides the room
room for work and the expanded space or space (breadth) to stomach whatever
lets whatever is already in motion move obstacles remain to actualizing the
forward and progress, for good or ill. experience, and like the Twelfth House
The Buddhist say that the Buddha‟s and Pisces, it is here that the strength of
presence turns the wheel of the dharma. patience and forbearance is available to
Not to be irreverent, but here I am accept whatever has to be accepted in
suggesting that the energy of Sextiles order for things to move forward to
and Trines creates an aura or manifestation.
atmosphere in which work happens,
things are freed up, and situations take
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
The Waxing Trine
The Waxing Trine – 120-degree
Aspect
The Waxing Trine or 120-dgree point is
the real building-block point of the cycle,
where the increased energy allows great
progress in manifestation to take place,
and whatever physical construct is
happening to take form and quickly at
that. This is a power point for
manifestation, after which something
very definitely exists and has been
done, at the Opposition.
The Waning Trine
The Waning Trine – 240-degree
Aspect
The Waning Trine or 240-degree aspect
represents another energy opportunity,
but here we are on the waning side of
the cycle, so we are not investing
energy in building things, but just the
reverse, using energy for deconstructing
– taking things apart, but carefully.
Something has to be “made” of the
experience, but here we are speaking of
what can be understood or drawn out-
from the experience at the Opposition.
We are beginning to draw some
conclusions here, although very
preliminary ones. This corresponds to
the Sixth House and Virgo, so we are
definitely ”leaving the body” of the
experience, and at the same time trying
to salvage and preserve all that we can.
We can see and understand that the
experience will discorporate, and we
begin to not fight that thought, but to
cooperate in the salvage operation.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

Square aspects have received down

through history. Again, there are four of
them, the Waxing Semi-Square or 45-
degree angle, the Waxing Sesqui-
Quadrate or 135-degree angle, the
Waning Sesqui-Quadrate or 225-degree
angle, and the Waning Semi-Square or
315-degree angle.
It is interesting to note that in the
Tibetan astrology, these four 45-degree
points on the circle are known as the
“Tomb Signs.” These Semi-Square
aspects do seem to actually represent
real challenges or obstacles along the
aspect cycle and I have done enough
exploration to confirm this, at least for
myself. Yet, like any of the other mirror-
The Waning Sextile
aspects, each one presents a slightly
The Waning Sextile – 300-degree different problem and each one has a
Aspect slightly different approach that is
The energy of the Waning Sextile or recommended for working with them, as
300-degrees aspect, like the Eighth follows:
House and the zodiac sign Scorpio is all
about clearly separating the wheat from
the chaff, actively criticizing and
removing that which must be removed
and leaving that which stands up to this
test and deserves to remain. There is no
question about the future of the body of
the experience, which is going downhill
fast. Instead, all eyes are upon
preserving what we can from that
experience – the seed essence.
I hope you can see that these four
energy points, the two Sextiles and the
two Trines are very different from one
another in interpretation and that these
differences in interpretation add a great
deal to our working knowledge of the
Waxing Semi-Square
aspects meaning.
The Waxing Semi-Square 45-degree
The Semi-Squares
Aspect
Now these little buggers really are a
The Waxing Semi-Square generally
handful and, as mentioned earlier,
brings one or more obstacles to the fore,
actually deserve the reputation that the
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

stalling or at least slowing down Trine point and marks the end of that
whatever plan or impulse is in the energy and construction and the
process of working its way toward beginning of the final finishing of
manifestation. They can very much whatever the project represents. The
present a challenge and it is important push is over at the Trine and the
to know how to meet this challenge. obstacle or challenge appearing here
should not itself be challenged. It is
There is a time to push against an
more like a highway sign that says
obstacle and a time to know when to
“Road Curves Ahead.” At the Opposition
back off and let the obstacle pass in its
the straight line we have been following
own time. The 45-degree aspects
curves and starts to cycle or return. The
represents the former, that is: It is
135-degree aspect is that warning. We
generally suggested to challenge the
should not push at this point, but instead
challenge, so to speak, and to gently
allow it to remain as it is, taking it as a
push on through whatever obstacle
sign that our big push is over for this
threatens to stall out the momentum.
cycle and instead turn to finishing up
So, we confront the Waxing Semi-
whatever we have put in motion thus far.
Square and gently move on through. We
don‟t give up or back off.

The Waning Sesquiquadrate

The Waxing Sesquiquadrate
The Waxing Sesqui-Quadrate or 135-
degree Aspect
The 135-degree or Waxing Sesqui-
Quadrate is another story. It is not
advised to push forward at this aspect,
but rather it is best to back off, and to
cease and desist. I will explain why. This
aspect follows the energetic Waxing
The Waning Sesqui-Quadrate or 225-
dgree Aspect
The 225-degree or Waning Sesqui-
Quadrate resembles that first 45-degree
Waxing Semi-Square in that here we
can push or challenge it, and benefit
from that move. The Waning Sesqui-
Quadrate represents, physically the end
of whatever experience of vehicle
manifested at the Opposition. This
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
aspect is the point of official breakdown
of the experience, after which it is all
downhill physically, and our thoughts
had best be in retrieving and salvaging
whatever we can from the experience.
Obstacles or challenges that appear
here are natural and it is best to push on
through and actively confront and
remove them. But there has been a
complete flip at this point, from pushing
outward and building, to pushing inward
and beginning to take things apart. The
experience of the Opposition is starting
to break up.
Waning Semi-Square
The Waning Semi-Square or 315-
degree Aspect
The 315-degree or Waning Semi-
Square is the last aspect in this series
and represents a challenge in
understanding or assimilating, figuring
out what it all means – this entire
experience to date. This particular
aspect does not respond well to
confrontation or challenge, that is:
pushing or opposing it not
recommended. Instead, what is
recommended is to relax and be very
passive, as in: letting this blockage pass
on its own accord. The need here is for
flexibility and accommodation. This is
key.
The Semi-Sextile and Inconjunct
Series
I must admit that I find this series of
aspects somewhat puzzling and don‟t
feel confident that I properly understand
them as well as I believe I do the other
aspects we have discussed. It may be
for one of you to finish this piece of
research and clarify their nature. With
that said, let me share what I have
learned.
I sometimes call these the “Transition
Aspect,” but it sounds too much like the
“Turning Point Aspects” of the
Conjunction, Squares, and Opposition,
so I call these four aspects the “Four
Pauses.” What I really mean to say by
this is that these aspects almost
represent lulls or vacancies in time.
Perhaps “Time Out” aspects would be a
better term, for things at these points
are in flux, but not in high energy or
high-profile flux. These are aspects for
the time before and the time after larger
aspect events. That is about the best I
can put this concept into words. These
aspects are pauses where we allow
ourselves to adjust our attitude and
assume a new attitude. These can be
confusing times, because we are neither
here nor there, but somewhere in-
between.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology
Waxing SemiSextile
The Waxing Semi-Sextile or 30-
degree Aspect
The Waxing Semi-Sextile or 30-degree
aspect follows the impulse or
Conjunction point and precedes the first
challenge or 45-degree aspects. It
appears to be a time of coming together
or forming, putting whatever idea is
emerging from the tone or impulse of
the Conjunction into some kind of
formulated plan. A plan forms. This
aspect corresponds to Aquarius in signs
and the Eleventh House, so the concept
of some general plan makes sense. We
are waiting for a plan to form, just as
after a New Moon, there are a few days
until we can let go of an older approach
and get used to taking up a new
approach – a pause.
Waxing Inconjunct
The Waxing Inconjunct or 150-degree
Aspect
The Waxing Inconjunct (sometimes
called the Quincunx) or 150-degree
aspect follows the push of the Waxing
Trine and the challenge or slowdown of
the Waxing Sesqui-Quadrate, so I tend
to refer to this aspect as the “Finishing
Aspect,” an aspect that completes or
puts the finishing touch on the
experience that will soon culminate at
the Opposition. It corresponds to the
sign Gemini and the Third House, and
this would mark the point (at the
Opposition) where the arteries end and
the veins begin. This aspect does not
have the drama of the aspect that
precedes or that follows it, so it is some
kind of lull in the action department,
which is not to say there is nothing
happening here, for there is. The
finishing touch is being added, whatever
that might me. It is not a time of push,
but more of glide.
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

would fit right into this. Again, I welcome

comments and suggestions particularly
on this last series of aspects.

Waxing Inconjunct
The Waning Inconjunct or 210-degree
Aspect
The Waning Inconjunct (sometimes Waxing Semi-Sextile
called the Quincunx) or 210 degree The Waning Semi-Sextile or 330-
aspect follows the experience of the degree Aspect
Opposition and precedes the challenge
Here we have the last aspect in the
of the Waning Sesqui-Quadrate aspect.
series, kind of finishing things up,
Again, this is a quieter aspect, a lull in
drawing conclusions to the whole cycle,
whatever is taking place. I like to think of
and reducing whatever has been
this aspect as the one in which the
salvaged from the experience back at
awakening or awareness of what took
the Opposition to its seed essence. In
place at the Opposition begins to dawn.
correspondences, this would be the
When we are in the middle of an
zodiac sign Sagittarius, the Ninth House
experience and living it, we have not yet
of religion, from the Latin „religare‟, to
had time to reflect on it because it has
bind, thus the things that last or endure.
not stopped happening enough to allow
This is what has endured and what will
reflection.
become the seed-essence for the new
The Waning Inconjuct is when the first impulse or tone to come at the
glimmer of awareness occurs that tells Conjunction.
us we have been through something,
but is not strong enough yet for us to
really grasp the enormity of whatever
that might be. Keep in mind that this
aspect corresponds to the zodiac sign
Leo and to the Fifth house, so
suggesting that ownership or awareness
of the experience may be dawning
 Full-Phase Aspects in Astrology

does not cycle, anything that does not

return, we would have no knowledge of.
It is only by the endless return of things,
of cycles, the endless positing and re-
positing, what we call “endurance” that
we know anything at all. That which has
no return, we not only never see again,
but we have never seen it at all in the
first place. It “is” not for us.
I have studied these cycles in all their
phases because they tell the story of our
lives and in that sense are very sacred
to us. It is enlightening to learn more
about each phase in the cycle. Here we
are looking at the synodic cycle of two
bodies, but we are surrounded by only
The Sixteen Standard Aspects cycles on every side. As mentioned
The Complete Aspect Cycle above: that which does not cycle does
not appear to us and we do not know it.
Well, there you have it, a brief analysis
of the major aspects as they occur For those interested in these techniques
around the circle or cycle and end up at in greater detail, please see my book
a new Conjunction, a new beginning. "Full-Phase Aspects," available on
The seed essence of the previous cycle, Amazon.com.
whatever we can agree happens in the
course of a cycle, is the result of the
whole experience at the Opposition.
This seed or essence, whatever remains
from everything that went before, helps
to create the tone or impulse at the
Conjunction, the start of a new cycle.
And on it goes, literally forever.
Here we are examining the aspects that
form between two bodies in a synodic
cycle, but the general form of any cycle,
and the phases involved, are identical.
Whether it is the cycle of our breath, a
heartbeat, or the seeming endless cycle
of our Sun around the Center of the
Galaxy, the phases remain essentially
the same. There is an in-breath and an
out-breath, a rising to a fullness and a
collapsing to a seed point. In fact, it is
something to consider that anything that