Aspects in Depth — Orbs and Combinations

Earlier you learned the five angles (conjunction, sextile, trine, square, opposition). Now let's add three details used in real interpretation. Knowing this takes you from "there's an angle" to reading "how strongly, and with what story, does this angle work."

First, Orb — the more exact the angle, the stronger the force. Even a little off the exact angle still counts as an aspect up to a point, and that allowed range is the orb. Angles involving the Sun or Moon are read wider (8–10°); smaller angles or outer planets are read narrower. The narrower (more exact) the orb, the more clearly that relationship shows up in life.

Second, applying and separating — when two planets are moving closer toward the exact angle, it's called applying; when they've passed the exact angle and are moving apart, it's called separating. Traditionally, an applying angle is sometimes weighed more heavily, since it's force still ripening ahead.

Third, and most important, is the planet combination. The same square isn't always the same square. A "Venus–Saturn square" tells a story of caution and distance creeping into love; a "Mars–Pluto square" tells a story of drive and control colliding hard — completely different. So reading an angle means weaving in Planet A's desire + Planet B's desire + the angle's character together. This is what real aspect interpretation looks like.