When two planets are 60 degrees apart in a natal chart, they form a sextile aspect. It is considered a harmonious and supportive aspect, but not as strong as a trine.
Sextiles are associated with new beginnings, inspiration, and creative expression. They also indicate easy communication and understanding between two people.
Aspects
Astrology involves five major aspects (conjunction, trine, sextile, square, and opposition). Understanding what these aspects mean can help you build a foundation for leveling up your understanding of astrology.
Aspects are the way that planets interact with each other in the sky. These interactions can be smooth or abrasive. A smooth aspect means that the planets understand each other's energy and are on the same page.
This kind of communication can be a good thing, says Miami-based astrologer Valerie Mesa. It can even make relationships more harmonious and friendly.
In astrology, the term “sextile” refers to an angle of 60 degrees between two planets in your natal chart. It is a positive harmony that brings ease and new pathways of growth to an area of your life. It's not as powerful as a trine but it still offers a chance at success, and helpful people are often involved in your journey with this aspect.
Another positive aspect is the semi-sextile, also known as a duodecile. This happens when two planets are linked at 30 degrees in neighboring signs. This type of connection isn't as strong as a sextile, but it can be beneficial if you make an effort to integrate it into your daily life.
Similarly, the semi-square is a negative aspect that can be annoying but not as bad as a square. It may cause irritation and delay achievement, but it's a dynamic aspect that requires you to put in extra work to achieve your goals.
These aspects can also come up in synastry, especially if you have a lot of them between your birth chart and your partner's. This can be a fun part of your relationship, but it can be tough to get right.
As with all aspects, the sextile is influenced by the elements. Earth signs form sextiles with Fire signs, Air signs with Water signs, and so on. This means that the planets occupy complementary elements, making them easy to relate to and easy to empower.
This aspect creates a soft, supportive flow of energy that can encourage and inspire growth, but it's important to take action and use this opportunity as best you can. You can find your dream job, start a business, or start a new relationship with sextile aspects, but it's up to you to take advantage of this heavenly gift!
Compatibility
A sextile is an angle formed between planets that are 60 degrees apart from each other. This astrological aspect is considered harmonious and easy to work with, and usually brings good vibes to your relationship.
Sextiles can also be called lesser trines, and they’re considered a more subtle way to connect two zodiac signs. They’re not as strong as trines, but they can bring the same friendly energy.
The elements of fire and air are often present between sextiles, so they’re great for cooperation, says Astrology.com’s Sarah Greene. She adds that it’s a good idea to get outside and enjoy nature on this day, especially when the sextile is happening at sunrise or sunset.
In fact, it’s always a good idea to do something active on a sextile, as it helps you to relax and take a break from your daily routine. It’s also an opportunity to have some fun, which is the best thing you can do for yourself!
Venus and Mars are the planets of love, so when they form a sextile or conjunction in a chart, you’re likely to feel a real connection between the two of you. The combination of these two planets can lead to an intense bond, or a gentle friendship that will ultimately become a loving and passionate romance.
A sextile will bring harmony and a sense of well-being to your relationship, but it’s not always as easy to work with as a trine. It’s also not as action-oriented, so you should expect to make some decisions that may feel like a bit of a slow burner.
Another sextile, however, will bring some awe-inspiring romance and fireworks to your relationship. A Venus sextile with Mars in Libra, for instance, will indicate an instant spark between you both.
The sextile will not only show you how much you love each other, but it’ll also reveal your common interests and personality traits. For example, Gemini and Libra are both people who adore adventure, so it’s likely that you’ll have a lot of fun exploring together.
On the other hand, if your sextile is in opposition, it can mean that you have some major friction between you both. This is because sextiles are formed between zodiac signs that are in the same yin/yang polarity (masculine and feminine) but that aren’t in the same element or modality (cardinal, fixed, mutable).
Synastry
Synastry is the astrological method of examining the relationship between two people by comparing their birth charts. It involves calculating the relative positions of the celestial bodies on each chart and then evaluating their interactions. This can create harmony or disharmony depending on the planets and luminaries involved.
Luminaries are the planets and other celestial bodies that rule certain aspects of life. The most significant of these include Venus, Mars and Mercury. These planets determine how you love and express your sexuality, and they are also associated with communication.
They are also important in determining whether you would find a partner appealing. For instance, if Venus and Mars are in synastry together it indicates strong attraction and passionate love.
On the other hand, if these same planets are conjunct in a synastry chart, it can indicate a romantic partnership that will lead to marriage. They will be compatible and have a shared interest in each other’s well-being.
However, there are many other factors in synastry that can contribute to a good or bad relationship. Some of these include the nodes (astronomical points that point to your destinies), planets and luminaries.
While the nodes don’t usually get as much attention as some of the other planets and luminaries, they can have a big impact on a relationship. The North Node can give a person the feeling of being “twin flames,” or partners who share a similar purpose in life.
The South Node, on the other hand, can represent a past-life connection between two parties. This connection can have a dramatic effect on the way the parties feel about each other, causing immediate attraction or less often revulsion.
If the Moon conjuncts the South Node in a synastry chart, it is often interpreted as an instant connection between the two parties. This could be a past-life bond, or a connection that is more suited to a friendship.
Regardless of the type of aspect, all aspects carry some amount of weight in a synastry chart. Some of these aspects are more powerful than others, but all of them can help us understand the dynamics of a relationship.
Transits
Transits are snapshots of where the planets are in real-time at a particular time. They are based on the planets' movements from a geocentric perspective, as seen from Earth. The effects of these transits are usually felt for a short period of time. However, if the transit passes over a degree of the zodiac three times in a row, it is considered to be significant and should be analyzed in terms of how it affects the person.
When the natal planets are over the same zodiac point as transiting ones, their energy wakes up and there is a reaction. In a sense, it is like the natal planets are sitting on the couch, while the transiting ones burst into the room and stir things up!
If the natal planets are “aspecting” the transiting ones, there is a similar effect. For instance, if Mars and Venus are square to each other, they will not see eye-to-eye, which can cause frustrations and conflict.
In astrology, aspects also include squares and trines. A square is a major aspect and can be very difficult to navigate.
A trine is a less serious aspect and can be a positive influence on a person's life. A trine often indicates success, as the two planets work together in harmony to achieve an objective.
The opposite of a trine is an opposition, which is a negative aspect that can be very challenging to navigate. When the natal planets are opposed to each other, there is a lot of tension and strife.
Another aspect is a sextile, which occurs when the natal planets are 60 degrees apart in their signs. Stardust says that a sextile is a “friendly and flirty” aspect, and it often brings good news.
A sextile can be a positive influence on relationships and financial situations. It can bring new ideas and ways to be creative, especially when a person has Venus or Jupiter in sextile with the other planets.
Sextiles often occur during periods of retrograde motion, and they can return once or twice during that phase. Those who are sensitive to subtle energies may be able to feel the effects of these aspects long before they become exact.
