Home > Terms > English (EN) > Square

Major aspect of 90 degrees, considered malefic (unfavourable). The square (quadrate, or one quarter of the zodiacal circumference) signals stress and tension, but can also be dynamic insofar as the native is impelled to find a solution to the problem indicated by the planets and their positions in the chart. So squares can be beneficial in some cases. An example of a square would be a planet at 15° Aries (Masculine Fire) aspecting another planet or point at 15° Cancer (Feminine Water). The square aspect in modern astrology is given an orb of 6°–8°, but the closer the orb is to being exact (partile), the more powerful the effect. The Sun and Moon are often allowed more orb. Classical astrology uses the moieties of the planets to determine orb and allows for signs to be in aspect, so any planet in Aries would be considered square to any planet in Cancer or in Capricorn, for example, as these signs are quadrate. This called a platic aspect, as opposed to partile. There is some discussion in astrological circles as to whether the opposition or the square is the most damaging, because the square always counters masculine to feminine signs: Fire (Masc.) vs Water (Fem.); Earth (Fem.) vs Air (Masc.) etc, while the opposition counters signs of the same polarity in differing elements (Fire vs Air, or Earth vs Water). Alan Leo holds that the square is the most dangerous, but most traditional authorities hold that the opposition is the worst. More on Aspects, and Planets.