The square occurs when two planets are 90° apart (three signs apart). It is considered a hard aspect, joining planets of incompatible elements — fire with water, earth with air. The square represents tension, friction, and the demand for resolution. It is the aspect of challenge.
The square is traditionally considered a malefic aspect, but not a purely negative one. The tension it creates is productive if channeled properly: it forces action, forces growth, forces the development of skills that would otherwise remain latent. The key to the square is that it cannot be ignored — it demands to be worked with.
When interpreting a square, consider:
- The planets involved — what energies are in conflict?
- The signs involved — the elements indicate the nature of the conflict: fire-water is emotional intensity, earth-air is practical vs. theoretical, etc.
- The houses involved — in which areas of life does the conflict express itself?
- The resolution — what positive expression is possible if the tension is worked with rather than resisted?