Relative Aspect Strength

Most modern authors either ignore the question of relative strength or obscure the answer and most of them rate major aspects much stronger than minor aspects.

Noonan points out that the traditional astrology of Ptolemy made a careful distinction between the relative strengths of the major aspects and ranked them in order of decreasing strength as follows: 00, 1800, 900, 1200, 600.

Morinus rates 1800 stronger than 900, and 1200 stronger than 600, for the simple reason that each is double the other.

Carter ranks them in decreasing strength as follows: 00, 1800, 900, 1200, 600/450/1350, 300/1500/720, but suggests a rational approach that there should be three classes in decreasing strength as follows: 00/900/1800, 300/600/1200/1500, 450/1350.

Koch ranks them in decreasing strength as follows: 00, 1800, 1200, 900, 600, 720, 450, 300, 1440, 1350, 1500, 150/750/1050/1650.

Firebrace ranks them in decreasing strength as follows: 00/1800, 900/1200, 600, 300/1500/450/1350.

Weingarten ranks them in decreasing strength as follows: 00, 1800, 900, 450/1350, 600/1200, 300/1500.

In summary Recent Advances in Natal Astrology states “There is no rigidly defined universally accepted system of categorizing aspects. The majority opinion is clearly that major aspects are stronger then minor aspects. Nevertheless there is considerable dispute and a conspicuous lack of objective evidence.” Therefore, the choice of aspects for practical astrological work is still considerably subjective.

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