The Little Discussed Logic behind Superior and Inferior Aspects

 

   The aspect cycle is an important concept within all astrological systems.  Astrology is ultimately the study of cycles, and the beginning of every cycle is given the most attention, as the exact conditions of that beginning point, (or natal point if you will) carries its energy throughout the remainder of the cycle.  In general, the outer planet tends to bring its energy in towards the faster inner planet.  There is a shock at the moment of conjunction, and the faster moving planet must then travel through the aspect series up to the Opposition, where the message, or change carried with it must come to full fruition.  At this time the faster moving planet can make the most use of this evolution, to disseminate through the rest of the chart, and bring back what has been learned to inform the next conjunction  

   Within traditional forms of astrology, there is a belief that the aspect series is formed into superior, and inferior aspects.  The planet further along the Zodiac is considered inferior to the planet at an earlier degree.  The Superior planet will tend to have the upper hand in assessing the effects of the aspects it makes to the inferior planet.

  This is used in delineating natal charts, transits, or any other astrological function you can think of.  What is less rarely discussed, (if ever), is the practical reason behind this.  It is generally just stated bluntly that the earlier degree has the upper hand, and left at that.  In reality, understanding the natural flow of the cycle between two planets explains why this is so.  When a smaller, faster planet reaches a conjunction to a planet further out and slower, it takes on the message of that planet.  Like a young child, it is under the control of the parent.  from the conjunction onwards towards the opposition, the slower planet has the upper hand, the child is subservient to the parent.  At the opposition, this faster planet has attained a form of culmination with the message of the conjunction (like a Full Moon, reaching its opposition from the Sun).  At this point the faster planet has either successfully, or with some calamity, (or perhaps both!) manifested the energy gained from the outer planet, and will now begin to evolve it on its own terms apart from the will of the parent planet.

   From the opposition back to conjunction, the faster moving planet now has the upper hand, manifesting its own agenda developed wtih what it learned from the slower (or older as is shown through the mythological lineage of the planets, Mars being the son of Jupiter, being the son of Saturn being the son of Uranus...)  This is the true meaning behind the Superior and Inferior aspect cycle.  Make of that what you will and see how it affects your own interpretation of any given chart.