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Waxing/waning aspects should be understood in the context of “growth” period (first half) or “shrinking” period (second half) of the whole planetary cycle.
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Applying/separating aspects should be understood in the context of quality of the period leading to (or away from) an exact aspect.
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Waxing/waning quality is of a much broader period (one half of the whole planetary cycle). Applying/separating quality is of much shorter time frame, it lasts only for the duration of the aspect between two planets as defined by the aspect orb.
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An applying aspect is traditionally considered to have a stronger influence than a separating aspect.
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If the faster planet changed its direction — from direct to retrograde, or from retrograde to direct — that changes the quality of the aspect: an applying aspect becomes separating, and conversely, a separating aspect becomes applying. Some aspects, especially those of slower planets, may experience a number of direction changes on their way through the area of an aspect. This obviously doesn’t change the waxing/waning nature of the aspect.
Qualities of applying and separating aspects
Applying and separating aspects are better understood in the context of conjunction between two planets. An analogy with the New Moon — which is the moment of the Sun – Moon conjunction that marks the beginning of a lunar month — gives us some ideas.
An applying conjunction (ie, just before the New Moon) manifest as:
- completion of the previous project or a phase of life
- wrapping up the tasks that constitute a project or entire life
- requires judgement and precision to complete those tasks in best way possible
- preparing for the test of how well the tasks were done
- planting the seeds for the next planetary cycle
An applying conjunction brings some undertones of an hour of judgement and forces of karma. It’s a kind of a high school exam that will take the key learnings of the current planetary cycle and will apply them to the next planetary cycle… that starts with a separating conjunction.
A separating conjunction (ie, just after the New Moon) manifest as:
- freshness of energy coming out of the germinating seed
- celebration of completion
- youthfulness, joy and lightness of new beginning
Separating conjunction often highlights the achievements of past lives and starts to build the new life upon them.
A careful reader would notice that there is a similarity between waxing/waning and applying/separating processes. That is true when we look at the conjunction because a conjunction is the boundary that separates the two periods of waxing and waning processes.
All other aspects — major sextile, square, trine, opposition and numerous minor aspects — can be interpreted using the analogy of the faster planet applying its force and energy upon the slower planet.
An applying aspect is the most important time of all. The faster planet is impressing its energy upon the slower “host” planet. This is the time when the seed for the potential of success or failure are planted.
A separating aspect would exhibit the symbolism of the faster planets departing its slower “teacher” planet propelling the slower planet’s key qualities and forces toward the next aspect within the planetary cycle.
The way the interaction between the two planes will manifest itself depends on the nature of an aspect:
- a square forces manifestation and action
- an opposition is the aspect of polarity that actively seeks resolution
- a sextile is about unfoldment and opportunity
- a trine brings stimulation and resolution of conflict through an intermediary
Carefully observing qualities of a pair of planets just before and right after the aspect will give some further insights into the nature of their interaction.
