A Dissociate Aspect is a major aspect between planets that are in signs that do not share an element, modality or polarity, yet they are within a reasonable orb to still be in aspect to each other. This is also called an out-of-sign aspect.
Major aspects (a.k.a. Ptolemaic aspects) join planets in signs that have certain features in common: element, modality or polarity. However, when one planet is at the end of its sign and the other planet is at the beginning of its sign, the number of degrees separating them might still be within orb of an aspect, even though they are not in the usual signs.
These are the major aspects (a.k.a. Ptolemaic aspects) with the number of degrees of separation (give or take a few degrees or orb) and what the signs typically share:
However, if the separation between two planets are within orb of forming a major aspect but are not in signs that are aligned with the usual elemental or modal relationship, the aspect is said to be a dissociate aspect or out-of-sign aspect.
| ASPECT | DGR | STANDARD SHARED FEATURES | DISSOCIATE ASPECT WILL SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunction | 0° | Sign + Element + Modality + Polarity | Nothing |
| Semi-Sextile | 30° | Nothing | Sign or Polarity |
| Sextile | 60° | Polarity | Nothing or Modality |
| Square | 90° | Modality | Polarity or Element |
| Trine | 120° | Element | Modality or Nothing |
| Quincunx | 150° | Nothing | Element, or Modality + Polarity |
| Opposition | 180° | Modality + Polarity | Nothing |
Some astrologers totally discount dissociate aspects, considering them nonfunctional. For other astrologers, this kind of aspect is often considered to be weaker (since it doesn't have the elemental or modal support of the signs involved). Even if not considered weaker, a dissociate aspect is certainly more complex since it connects planetary energies without involving the usual signs.
Example: A dissociate aspect would be the Moon at 28° Aries and the Sun at 2° Capricorn. They are only 4° away from being in a trine aspect, but are in signs that do not share the same element which is the basis of the trine aspect. Instead the Moon is in a Fire sign and the Sun is in an Earth sign. These signs share the Cardinal modality, which might normally be a square aspect, but they are not within orb of 90° (square).
Pronounced: diss-SO-see-it.
