Article of the Month: The Quincunx by Richard Swatton
Inconjunct = Incomplete
by Richard Swatton
Although the ‘inconjunct’ or ‘quincunx’ (an aspect of 150°) has been recognised since Ptolemy’s time, when trying to articulate its precise nature – especially in relation to natal astrology – many astrologers’ minds seem to go blank. In answer to the question ‘what does it mean?’, we usually hear vague mutterings about it being a minor aspect having to do with ‘adjustment’ or being related to the onerous ‘Finger of God’ (other terms being ‘Finger of Fate’ or simply ‘Yod’ which means ‘divine hand’). Correct as far as they go, but sadly short of giving satisfaction, the flimsiness of these answers only leads to more questions. What do we have to adjust and why? And what has God got to do with it?
Enquiring further into the complexities of this aspect as well as exploring these questions in detail (although not dealing with the Yod configuration directly), I hope to explain why it may be more accurate to refer to a quincunx as an aspect of ‘incompleteness’.
Of all the Ptolemaic aspects derived from the zodiac, the quincunx/inconjunct is the only one which cannot be divided equally into the whole. The angle creates a division of the circle which leaves unequal section: two quincunxes amount to 300 degrees leaving a surplus of 60, a sextile. All the other aspects (semi-sextile, sextile, square, trine, opposition) divide the circle evenly. In symbolic terms this means that the quincunx disturbs the notion of perfection we project on the symbol of the circle and our image of God.
The word ‘quincunx’ is derived from the Latin words ‘quinque’ meaning ‘five’ and ‘unica’ meaning ‘twelfth part of a whole’, and it therefore literally means five-twelfths of a circle (5 x 30° = 150°). Ptolemy also called it ‘dis-junct’ (dis = apart or against, junet = together) suggesting the meaning ‘against coming together’. The more commonly used ‘in-conjunct’ means something similar: ‘without joining’, ‘not joined’ or ‘inside unity’. At its most fundamental the quincunx symbolises the undermining of wholeness and thus, incompleteness.
Being past the trine and not quite an opposition, the quincunx is a midpoint or synthesis point between those two aspects –a sort of compromise between the energy pattern of mutuality and agreement (trine) and outright disagreement (opposition). Whichever phrase we prefer, it does not alter the fact that the prevailing theme is dis-unity, and although this is not necessarily a bad thing it is probably the reason behind its traditional description as a negative or inharmonious aspect.
Another often used (and useful) phrase I have heard relating to the quincunx is ‘out of joint’. For me it conjures up the picture of a dislocated limb. Imagine a leg, arm or knuckle joint not sitting in its rightful place: its adjustment is vital for it to work properly. Now consider a limb coming out of joint every so often and having to be corrected each time it does. Although – in whatever guise the aspect manifests (psychologically, physically, environmentally, etc.) – the quincunx is not necessarily as painful as this dislocation metaphor suggests. My main point here is that it creates the need to correct something inside or outside us which otherwise causes too much dis-ruption. Of course, once the correction has been made and relief is obtained, this will often ‘put out’ another part of ourselves which was previously supported by the mis-aligned part: one adjustment invariably leads to another and so on. So, the quincunx has two sides. In one sense it is highly supportive (that part of it which comes from the trine) and anything but ‘negative’ because it draws attention to an area of our lives (a habit pattern, attitude or behavioural mannerism, etc.) which is in need of ‘straightening out’. In its other mode, symbolised by its striving to\wards the opposition, the quincunx will always be out of alignment and will therefore constantly demand active and conscientious attention.
To use another analogy, the quincunx can be likened to someone who will never give you a straight answer. Although the answers may be useful, even of great benefit, you are never quite sure of them because they are always non-committal. Sometimes direct opposition or challenge is just what is needed in order to clarify your own position or viewpoint (which is basically what oppositions are about). To never have an out-and-out disagreement can become infuriating because you are always adjusting the ground from which you argue. The other person both agrees and disagrees rather than going one way or the other. Alan Leo’s comment about the quincunx being ‘of the nature of Mercury’ supports this idea. Furthermore he goes on to say that sometimes the natures of the planets involved can be greatly neutralised because of the ‘sitting on the fence’ quality of the energy produced by this aspect. While I disagree with part of this statement (I cannot see how planets become ‘neutralised’ because of their relationship with each other), I do agree with his general description of the aspect in its causing indecisiveness.
In practice experience has shown me that when the quincunx appears, psychologically we see an attitude which is constantly saying ‘no matter what I do I just can’t get it right’, as if the planetary energies on each end of the aspect cannot synchronise. Physiologically, it appears usually in the form of a physical/postural defect or mis-alignment.
For example: Lord Byron was born with a club foot; his birth chart shows a Moon/Uranus conjunction in Cancer qcx Saturn/Venus in Aquarius. Saturn rules hearing and the inner ear where balance is regulated. Venus = aesthetic balance via its association with Libra. The Aquarius placement, which governs the region of the ankles, gives an astrological portrait of imbalance clearly shown by the quincunx. Beethoven’s chart reveals Pluto (loss) qcx Saturn (hearing) in the 6th house – symbolising his struggle to adjust to deafness. Toulouse-Lautrec had Mercury in Sagittarius (the thigh) qcx Pluto/Node in Taurus as well as Jupiter in Sagittarius qcx the Notth Node and Sun qcx Uranus. David Niven (who suffered from a speech defect) has a Mercury/Venus conjunction (a potential for ‘elegant speech’) qcx Neptune (blurring or slurring). Winston Churchill (who had a lisp), had Venus in Sagittarius in the third house qcx Pluto in Taurus (the voice) and Jupiter in Libra qcx Pluto forming a Yod. Peter Falk (‘Colombo’) has a glass eye – his chart shows Jupiter qcx Neptune (the planetary ruler of glass eyes through the rulership of glass and aqueous humour). Sammy Davis Jr was involved in a car accident resulting in postural correction treatment and the loss of an eye. His chart shows a Sun (sight)/Mercury conjunction qcx Pluto (loss, death) and Uranus qcx Neptune.
While the quincunx aspect does not appear to delineate major personality features it does indicate those planets through which we will experience major modifications in relation to what was thought to be the perfect or ideal in life. Each person in the above list, for good or ill, had to make adjustments in their attitudes, physical movement and/or posture because of various ‘out of kilter’ conditions.
Now let’s examine a Mars/Sun quincunx as an illustration of how to analyse the aspect in relation to specific planets. In explaining particular aspects I have always found it useful to follow a basic three-step procedure. First of all we should be able to define what basic ‘needs’ (Tyl) or ‘energy drives’ are symbolised by the individual planets involved. Secondly, we need to ask ourselves what kind of dynamic is produced when these planets are brought into relationship. Thirdly, we need to understand the tension pattern (aspect) through which the particular dynamic process (activated between the planets) is going to be realised.
The Sun, through its sign and house placement, symbolises those qualities and activities we need to become most conscious of who we are as individuals. The Sun is the power from which we derive our life’s meaning, the primary force within us which will do most (through its sign, house and aspect relations) to develop our innate and unique selves. In psychological astrology the Sun symbolises the driving force behind the process of ego development, which in turn becomes the need to build and develop an individual identity, a sense of autonomy and power (in psychological language referred to as the archetype of the ‘inner father’). Mars is an extension of the Sun, his right hand, the hand which holds the sword of power in readiness to fight for survival. His energy is concerned with activity, doing, muscular release, or as Tyl simply calls it, the planet of ‘applied energy’. In other words it applies what the Sun has given to it. Mars also symbolises the aggressive and sexual drives, our competitiveness and willingness to fight. Through its sign, house and aspects it shows how we are best able to activate and motivate our energies. If we call the Sun the Commander-in-Chief, Mars is the soldier who puts his orders into action.
When in aspect, we could say that between them the Sun and Mars symbolise the psyche’s need to assert itself or even fight to stay alive so that the underlying purpose of the ‘self’ can be fulfilled and made conscious. Put succinctly, they are the primary drives through which we achieve what Mallow called, ‘self actualisation’ (Sun/Mars). So, when in quincunx we know that these energic drives will be experienced as ‘not quite seeing eye to eye’; the actions taken to fulfil a particular goal (the chief’s instructions) will often appear to be ‘out of sync’ with what is actually necessary to fulfil it. The impulse to fulfil our destiny through action (Mars) is destined in one way or another to be either ahead of or behind the primary motive (Sun). Certainly we can expect to see a strong will to live and achieve (with Sun/Mars aspects generally), but constant adjustments between whatever is desired and the way you go about obtaining it have to be managed.
The paradox of this particular aspect therefore is that on the one hand we have a planetary combination which psychologically and behaviourally must ‘get to the point as soon as possible’, but being a quincunx it is destined to be delayed. The goals in life which the Sun/Mars energy aims for are not going to be obtained directly by hitting the target but by missing it! Although space does not permit a lot of discussion, this also brings in the quincunx’s mysterious connection with fate and ‘fortunate accidents’, otherwise called ‘serendipity’. And before you are tempted to think that any efforts made by the person with Sun/Mars quincunxes arc useless or wasted, this certainly is not what I am trying to convey. The efforts made are vitally necessary for they fulfil the Sun/Mars energy: it’s just that the ultimate targets aimed for are hit more by mis-direction than accuracy.
The image of an amateur golfer comes to mind. Although they may always ‘hook’ the ball because their muscles (Mars) are not in coordination with the (Sun) brain and eye (and never will be), provided they know how to adjust themselves correctly, they can still hit the green and have a good game. In other words, provided they make a deliberate and conscious effort to fulfil the relationship promised by both planets involved in the aspect, integration of their combined dynamic is eminently possible. In practical terms what this actually means is making a special effort to concentrate on the particular planetary forces involved and deliberately altering your behaviour accordingly. If Mars is in quincunx with Uranus, for example, and you are always unconsciously ‘jumping ahead’ because of an inner urge to respond to things immediately (and thereby often getting into arguments, car accidents, tantrums, panic attacks, seizures, etc.). Quite deliberately, if you want to stop these automatic habits, why not try taking a breath and mentally count to ten before you hit, panic or argue, or equally learn to drive at thirty miles an hour instead of eighty, or discipline yourself not to immediately break into a conversation when you have something to say. Then again, if you feel anxiety coming on why not train yourself to use the Gurdjieffan method of shouting the word ‘stop’ (internally or externally), thereby freezing everything in that moment and gaining some time (control) in order to consciously choose what to do. While you are not changing the aspect itself, you are altering its manifestation in your behaviour.
Like all aspects, the planet or planets on either end of it can be so unconscious, especially with inner-outer planet connections, that you are not in a position to reflect on it with any distance. In this situation it ends to manifest ‘accidentally’ or chaotically, out of the control of ego consciousness and therefore either split from the identity as a whole but continuing to be activated in a dispassionate manner, or experienced as coming from the outside, through psychological displacement. In severe cases, where the need for completeness, wholeness and balance is taken over by atavistic or similar primeval impulses (rather than rational ones), the quincunx can be profoundly disturbing. As in the natural phenomenon of earthquakes (the charts of which show the strong presence of quincunxes), where although the effect on the lives of those on the surface can literally be devastating, the earth is simply adjusting or making corrections to massive internal pressure. For example: the chart of the Iranian earthquake of 1962 (2 September at 19:20 GMT) reveals Sun conjunct Pluto qcx Saturn in Aquarius and Mars qcx Saturn and the 7th house cusp, Neptune qcx Ascendant with Mercury qcx Jupiter (10,000 fatalities). The Tokyo earthquake (1 September 1923) shows Uranus qcx Neptune in Leo and Saturn in Libra with Saturn qcx Moon.
When translating this phenomenon of ‘naturalistic correction’ to the psychological plane of humanity it can also lead to disaster. In this instance the quincunx behaves as a kind of psychological ‘fault line’ along which runs the psychic tremor of either individual or collective readjustment. When something in the ‘group mind’ takes over or uses the individual mind without the modification of civility or ethics then collective psychoses can simply run amok. For example Himmler – Moon in Aries qcx Mercury in Scorpio in the Eighth House; Goebbels – Moon in Scorpio qcx Pluto in Gemini; Goering – Mars in Aries qcx Uranus, Moon qcx Jupiter; Hitler – Mars conjunct Venus in Taurus qcx Uranus in Libra, Moon–Jupiter qcx Pluto–Neptune, Saturn qcx North Node; Stalin – Saturn in Aries qcx Uranus in the Eighth House.
Another example in this regard is ‘Vlad the Impaler’ (Dracula), the religiously demented Christian crusader and torturer of the 15th century. As Tyl has explained in his splendid rectification of Dracula’s horoscope, Vlad was primed to release savagery and cruelty from childhood onwards. In an attempt to convey sincerity to his enemy, Murad II, Vlad Dracul (Dracula’s father) made a perilous bargain wherein he willingly gave his son over as a hostage to Sultan Murad II to do with as he liked should the deal not be honoured (which it was not, only a short time afterwards). Imprisoned in fear within the castle walls of Christianity’s sworn enemy between the ages of ten to sixteen, Dracula knew not from one day to the next whether he would live or die. His Moon–Saturn conjunction – which for anyone would indicate some kind of ‘starvation of love’, deprivation of maternal bonding, lack of emotional security, food, warmth, shelter etc. – being in Capricorn in the Third House, must surely have frozen into a psychologically disturbed complex or mental/emotional pattern which would enable him to protect himself (his homeland and beliefs – the Moon rules the Ninth House), through the creation of invulnerable defences (Saturn). Being in quincunx to Neptune in Leo in the Tenth, the planet which would help him correct the Moon–Saturn, he conceived himself to be a ‘shining knight of God’, set to redeem himself, his homeland and indeed the entire Christian world from all enemies of the divine (Murad et al.). Through a reign of error and unbelievable acts of butchery against all those he felt threatened the sanctity of his vision and purpose (Sun in Sagittarius, Moon rules the Ninth and Venus qcx Pluto in the Ninth), Dracula had forever imprinted the horror of his saviour-like agony (Neptune) upon the parchment of history. His god-like image (Pluto in the Ninth and Moon conjunct Saturn) was indeed a cruel and savage beast.
Now, apart from the awkwardness of the relationship between planets produced by the ‘angle of distress’ (a horary expression), it will also and often bring together the incompatible elements (attitudes) and modalities (styles of expression) of the signs. At worst this leads to ‘accidents’, illness and all manner of imperfections which cause ‘distress’. At best, there is the potential for arbitration between seemingly impossible incongruencies. While there will never be total agreement (unlike the trine and opposition – for even oppositions can agree to disagree), there is always the potential in the quincunx for rearrangement and negotiation. While we can’t look at each sign dynamic in detail here, for the sake of completeness I will list them all with brief key-phrase interpretations.
Fire–Earth
1 Aries/Virgo: Over estimation of ideas and practical possibilities leading to ineffective or indecisive action. Or, reconciles impulsiveness and patience.
2 Leo/Capricorn: An indulgent sense of rightness leading to stubbornness, absolutism or tyranny. Or, good in a crisis, reliable and decisive.
3 Sagittarius/Taurus: ‘A limping man’. Visions and fantasies for a better future are blocked by the fear of change. Confused messages; fanaticism; ‘tripping over oneself’. Or, an entrepreneur, sensualist, intuitive speculator. Brings together creative imagination with objective goals.
Fire–Water
4 Aries/Scorpio: Stubbornness. A sense of conviction supported by emotional desire. Or, paranoia, aggressive outbursts brought on by morbid fears of isolation and the like.
5 Leo/Pisces: Confusion or guilt concerning personal motives or objectives. Always looking for a romantic encounter. Or, artistic determination, a desire to ‘see through’ the artistic vision, no matter what the cost. Can lead to a grand gesture of compassion or martyrdom.
6 Sagittarius/Cancer: An over-enthusiastic desire to achieve emotional rapport. Excitement is sometimes over-bearing. Excess. ‘Up and then down’, many mood swings. Or, prolonged belts of creative achievement. Inspiration leads to the impulse to manifest desires.
Air–Water
7 Gemini/Scorpio: Imagined fears may prevent anything getting done. The ‘nail biter’. Emotional hurt relieved by excessive talking. Excellent intuition: feels the undertone or ‘unspoken script’.
8 Libra/Pisces: Over-helping can lead to resentment. Guilt leads to over concern for the welfare of others. Or, the formation of a community for the benefit of all – a group, society or organisation.
9 Aquarius/Cancer: Feelings tend to prevent seeing things objectively or vice versa. Cool in a crisis. Detached, extremely stubborn. Immovable once the mind is made up.
Air–Earth
10 Gemini/Capricorn: Ideas are combined with the need to demonstrate their viability. The problem of reconciling mental and physical planes. Criticism can be taken as an attack on one’s self. Or, over-worry about personal status. Can feel that others are judging one’s performance.
11 Libra/Taurus: The problem of balancing the beautiful–sensual with the vulgar, balancing the artistic and perfect with the pleasurable; the question of what is right versus what feels better. Back problems.
12 Aquarius/Virgo: Perfectionism. Detachment can lead to intellectual snobbery or tyranny. Or extreme patience, an ability to work long and hard. The problem of reconciling the world as it is with the world as ‘it should be’.
In conclusion, after all is said and done, the basic nature of the quincunx is that it confronts us with the fact of our own incompleteness. It always lays some subtle or obvious sense of dissatisfaction thereby forcing us to adjust something or make some sort of compromise. Equally, it can confront us with a disappointment about a relationship or unfulfilled expectation, or even a sense of failure when your body or mind gives way at a crucial moment. Though the goal of the psyche is completeness and wholeness, as Jung and so many other ‘wisemen’ have said, the pervasive feeling symbolised by the quincunx of never quite making it paradoxically drives the wheel which moves us towards completion. In spiritual terms the inconjunct with its undermining nature, teaches us that not only do we have to allow fate and indeterminateness into our life, but that incompatible elements do exist and that not everything will come right in line with our own outlook on life. We need incompleteness to make us strive towards wholeness; being ‘out of kilter’, unbalanced or ‘out of joint’ is not necessarily ‘bad’ or negative, it actually helps us to remember that fact of our imperfection as well as keeping our hearts and minds open to unfathomable grace of serendipity, the very hand of God.