← Encyclopedia of Astrology · lesson 97/235
Sextile
A sextile is two planets 60° apart — a sixth of the circle, the sixth harmonic. It normally joins signs two apart, which belong to compatible elements: fire with air (Aries and Gemini, Leo and Libra), earth with water (Taurus and Cancer, Virgo and Scorpio). The two signs are of the same polarity but not the same element, so they get on without being identical. Ptolemy counted it among the harmonious aspects, a gentler cousin of the trine.
Its character is opportunity. Where a trine simply flows, a sextile opens a door and waits: the two planets can work well together, but only when the person makes the connection — learns the skill, makes the call, puts two ideas side by side. It invites, helps, and favours communication, friendships and practical cooperation.
Orb
Most astrologers give the sextile a little less room than the trine and square: often 4–6°, a degree or two more with the Sun or Moon. Traditional authors worked from each planet's own orb. In the charts here the allowance comes from the two bodies — 8° for the Sun and Moon, 7° for the Ascendant and Midheaven, 6° for the other planets and the nodes, 2.5° for asteroids — taking the tighter of the pair, so a wide sextile here deserves a lighter touch than a wide trine. Its strength is how tight it is against that allowance, 1 at exact and 0 at the edge. See orb.
Ease or tension
The sextile counts as ease in the ease and tension chart, at a lighter weight than the trine. It inclines toward help and openings rather than strong events.
In a chart
Ask what the two planets could do together if the link were used: a sextile between Venus and Saturn might show a talent for patient, lasting craft; between Mercury and Mars, a knack for quick, decisive speech. Sextiles often describe skills a person develops rather than gifts they are born using.
In transit
A transiting sextile tends to bring a modest opening — an introduction, a useful idea, a chance to make progress — that is easy to let pass. It is a good moment to act on purpose.
Kinds and conditions
- Applying sextiles are building; separating ones are fading.
- An out-of-sign sextile — 29° Aries to 1° Cancer, say — joins signs of incompatible elements and loses much of its easy quality.
- Exact sextiles are the strongest.