Aspects are astrological bedrock. But like so much else in the system we've inherited, there is a need to find new language for them. What are the words that speak truly and effectively to humans in an age of psychology, quantum mechanics, and revolution in almost every category of experience? Surely it goes beyond "Saturn squares your Venus so you will be unlucky in love."

Aspects are one way that we weave the chart together. In this meeting, we concentrate on deepening our skills in understanding them. These critical geometric relationships help us remember that, while you have many planets, you have only one head between your ears. In this intensive, our guiding principle is that all aspects are about integration.

With this idea in view, we will attempt to replace the outdated notion of "good" and "bad" aspects with a more sophisticated perspective. So-called "bad" aspects are still about two planetary energies trying to come together to serve some larger purpose. The only difference between them and the "good" ones is that the integrative process is harder. With the easier aspects, the integrative process does often flow more easily - but it might also lack motivation or impetus.

Here, Steven focuses on the most energetic and critical aspects - the so-called Ptolemaic or Major ones: the conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition. But we will also spend some time exploring the fascinating and underrated quincunx as well as the magical, creative quintiles and bi-quintiles. We will complete our picture with a look at the sesquiquadrate and semi-square, which are so central to lunar phase theory, but generally otherwise ignored.

Includes theory as well as time with the sorting hat.