"Indirect Aspects"

[Avshalom Binyamin]

I have a few assumptions. Are they correct?

(i) In a recent thread, Arena pointed out that my Jupiter-Saturn conjunction (5°56') can be considered strengthened by them both straddling my MC more closely (when my chart is relocated to Portland). There seemed to be a general principle implied, that when two planets each closely aspect a third thing, their relationship can be considered stronger.

(ii) It seems that integrating different aspects of the personality is learning how to express them with awareness.

(iii) Non-foreground planets means

So, that leads me to a couple questions:

(1) For non-foreground planets, is it useful to look at aspects to foregound planets to figure out how to express that energy?

(2) For non-foreground planets, is it useful to look at the "indirect aspects" (i.e., the other aspects of a planet aspected by a non-foreground planet) to find ways of expression?

Specific examples:

(A) I have a Venus-Pluto octile (2°2'), and Pluto has a conjunction with the Sun (5°48') and a sextile with Neptune (1°10'), is it useful to look at Venus-Sun and Venus-Neptune aspects as a way of understanding how Venus energy might more easily be expressed?

(B) I have non-foregound Sun conjunct foreground Moon (3°34') and sextile Neptune (4°38'). Does that mean that I should look to those aspects to figure out how to express my identity?

[Jim Eshelman]

(i) In a recent thread, Arena pointed out that my Jupiter-Saturn conjunction (5°56') can be considered strengthened by them both straddling my MC more closely (when my chart is relocated to Portland). There seemed to be a general principle implied, that when two planets each closely aspect a third thing, their relationship can be considered stronger.

This is called "translation of light." It's an old term and concept. I don't know that this is what Arena meant, but it's what you just described. The idea of translation of light is that if A aspects B, and B aspects C, then you can expect an effect as if A aspects C.

I'm not a fan. In fact, something that has always been apparent in mundane astrology (where timings are right and measurements can be razor-sharp) is that this is quite explicitly NOT happening. The whole nature of an event can turn on whether A and C are in aspect and, if they aren't rigorously in aspect, the effect isn't there. - I consider translation of light a fiction.

OTOH, this may not have been what Arena was talking about. I think it probably wasn't. Also BTW the strongest aspect-like Jupiter/Saturn effect in your chart for Portland is that, with Saturn 4°04' before MC and Jupiter 4°02' after MC, the Jupiter/Saturn midpoint is only 0°01' from your Portland MC!

(iii) Non-foreground planets means

Incomplete sentence?

(1) For non-foreground planets, is it useful to look at aspects to foregound planets to figure out how to express that energy?

I used to think that was how it always flowed: Follow the "water pressure" from least foreground to most foreground to distinguish "Mars working through Venus" from "Venus working through Mars," or whatever. I'm long "over" thinking it that rigorous, but it's often the way things work out - just because you are more likely acting out and expressing the foreground planets, OTOH it can take other forms, e.g., it's quite common just to have the non-foreground planet as a modifier of the foreground planet.

(2) For non-foreground planets, is it useful to look at the "indirect aspects" (i.e., the other aspects of a planet aspected by a non-foreground planet) to find ways of expression?

As mentioned above, I think translation of light is a fiction.

(A) I have a Venus-Pluto octile (2°2'), and Pluto has a conjunction with the Sun (5°48') and a sextile with Neptune (1°10'), is it useful to look at Venus-Sun and Venus-Neptune aspects as a way of understanding how Venus energy might more easily be expressed?

I would say no.

(B) I have non-foregound Sun conjunct foreground Moon (3°34') and sextile Neptune (4°38'). Does that mean that I should look to those aspects to figure out how to express my identity?

Your middleground Sun should have no trouble expressing, though you don't "lead" with it. But yes, your core identity, in the seed of the seed that your ego is built around and that marks direction and unfolding / self-expression into the world, is going to be shown by Sun's placement in Virgo, the solar intensity of the New Moon, and at least a little bit by the wide Neptune aspect.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

OTOH, this may not have been what Arena was talking about.

Right, I'm not sure what specifically Arena meant, but was using it as a jumping off point for a possibly unrelated idea.

(iii) Non-foreground planets means

Incomplete sentence?[/quote]
Oops.

(iii) Non-foreground planets mean that energy is harder to express.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yes.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

Radness, thank you!