Quincunx or Inconjunct? Clearing up a Common Misnomer
A
common confusing thing “is an inconjunct the same as a quincunx?” and “what about the semi-sextile, is it an inconjunct too?”
Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. In ancient times planets had relationships through “beholding“.
There are 3 ways a planet can “behold” each other: Ptolemaic aspect, Antiscia, or Contra-Antiscia.
Some quincunxes (and semi-sextiles) are in the signs of each others antiscia or contra-antiscia; those quincunxes are NOT true inconjuncts because they “behold” each other by reflection across the solstice or equinox axis’s.
Those quincunxes (and semi-sextiles) that do not “behold” each other by antiscia or contra-antiscia are true inconjuncts – possessing no relationship what-so-ever.
“Beholding” by antiscia gives us the qualities of moist or dry.
Looking at antiscia (reflection across the solstice axis) the following are antiscion pairs:
- Gemini & Cancer (air + water = moist)
- Taurus & Leo (earth + fire = dry)
- Aries & Virgo (dry)
- Pisces & Libra (moist)
- Aquarius & Scorpio (moist)
- Capricorn & Sagittarius (dry)
“Beholding” by contra-antiscia gives us a counter-part pair of commanding and obeying.
Commanding signs are the south hemisphere if you put the natural zodiac around the wheel and obeying signs are the north hemisphere.
Looking at the contra-antiscia (reflection across the equinox axis) we get the following pairs:
- Aries & Pisces (north-obeying & south-commanding)
- Taurus & Aquarius (obeying & commanding)
- Gemini & Capricorn (obeying & commanding)
- Cancer & Sagittarius (obeying & commanding)
- Leo & Scorpio (obeying & commanding)
- Virgo & Libra (obeying & commanding)
Extra tidbit:
Notice that the fixed squares are either an antiscion pair or contra-antiscion pair. Squares are also a Ptolemaic aspect. Therefore fixed squares are “doubly beholding.”
The point here is that the true inconjunct has no relationship what-so-ever. If a quincunx or semi-sextile (while not Ptolemaic aspects) behold each other by antiscia or contra-antiscia, then they have a relationship and are therefore not a true inconjunct.
For example:
Pisces is quincunx to Libra & Leo. Pisces – Libra is an antiscion pair; they have a relationship so this is not a true inconjunct. Pisces – Leo is a true inconjunct.
Pisces is semi-sextile to Aquarius & Aries. Aries – Pisces is a contra-antiscion pair; they have a relationship so this is not a true inconjunct. Aries – Taurus is a true inconjunct.
Quincunxes are aspects that require an adjustment, usually a psychological one. Quincunxes that are not beholding are generally more difficult to integrate than those that have that relationship.
Last updated on October 11, 2015 at 7:01 pm. Word Count: 418
