By John Yale

• Sun
• Moon
• Ascendant
• Midheaven
• Lunar Nodal axis
• Vesta
• Vertex

On a bi-wheel you should notice many of these 7 vitals aspecting each other 4th Harmonically otherwise it is probably not that strong of a relationship. Using tight orbs, say no more than 4 degrees you should be getting 3 to 5 aspects at least. Most often you should be noticing an average orb of about 2 degrees.

Here is a list of vital configurations to look out for (I use the = sign to include any 4th Harmonic aspect):

• Sun=Sun
• Sun=Moon
• Sun=Asc/Dsc
• Sun=MC
• Sun=Nodes
• Sun= Vesta
• Sun=Vx
• Moon=Moon
• Moon=Asc/Dsc
• Moon=MC
• Moon=Nodes
• Moon=Vesta
• Moon=Vx
• Asc/Dsc=Asc/Dsc
• Asc/Dsc=MC
• Asc/Dsc=Nodes
• Asc/Dsc=Vesta
• Asc/Dsc=Vx
• MC=MC
• MC=Nodes
• MC=Vesta
• MC=Vx
• Nodes=Nodes
• Nodes=Vesta
• Nodes=Vx
• Vesta=Vesta
• Vesta=Vx
• Vx=Vx

I always look at the Davison chart alongside the standard bi-wheel. I have often noticed that when one chart seems to be void of something that should be there, the other will have it. There is a reason why I use Davisons and not Composite midpoint charts. First of all, both are based on the mathematical midpoint theory. Composite midpoint takes the midpoint of each nativities respective planets. The thing to remember about Composite charts is that they never really existed, it is a made up chart and pays no respect to time. You may notice sometimes that Mercury will be more than 2 signs away from the Sun, or that Venus will be opposed the Sun, while in reality this is not possible. So a composite chart is highly hypothetical and imaginative rather than realistic and time-respective. The Davison chart is an actual midpoint in time and space between two births. If person A is born May 1st and person B is born May 3rd then the Davison chart will be calculated for May 2nd. It also takes into account the year, the exact time of day, and the latitude/longitude of each nativity. The result is a time that actually existed. When you have an actual date, time, year and location you can then progress the chart forwards just like any other chart, because it is real. In my experience Davisons offer high-tuned precision, not only for its native accuracy but also for timing techniques.

So when looking at the Davison you should also notice these vital configurations listed above. It may seem somewhat limited in comparison to the biwheel because you only have one planet per chart. There is only one Sun in a Davison therefore the Sun cannot be making any aspect to itself. However, there are some more dynamics that need to be added to the analysis as a stand-alone chart.

We need to look out for planets or points that are configured with the Aries Point, for example. The Aries Point includes 28-29 degrees of Mutable signs as well as 00-02 degrees of Cardinal signs. In the Tropical zodiac, 00 Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn represent the change in seasons, new beginnings, important time markers. Many astrologers have described the Aries Point as a crises point because it marks an end and a beginning. In my experience planets configured with the Aries Point (AP) stand out in a great way and they often do represent some type of crises initiator because they are so powerful and demanding of change. They beg for action.

We also need to look out for planets that are unaspected. By unaspected I mean those which are not making any classical Ptolemaic aspect (conjunction, opposition, trine, square, sextile) to another planet. When I say planet I only mean the Sun out to Pluto. So if the Sun makes absolutely no Ptolemaic aspect to another planet but does makes a conjunction to the Ascendant and a square to the MC, it is still considered to be unaspected or without Ptolemaic aspect (WPA). Planets that are unaspected beg to be recognized, they seek a link with the rest of the chart, screaming and yelling if they have to. They are also, in a sense, wandering, or lost. Unaspected points or planets, in my experience, stand out much in the same way that a planet conjunct the Aries Point does.

So when we look at Davison charts be sure to keep an eye out for the vital points and planets that are either configured with the AP or are WPA if there are such planets then they are considered to be vital components for a strong relationship.

• Sun=AP
• Sun WPA
• Moon=Ap
• Moon WPA
• Asc/Dsc=AP
• Asc/Dsc WPA
• MC=AP
• MC WPA
• Nodes=AP
• Nodes WPA
• Vesta=AP
• Vesta WPA
• Vertex=AP
• Vertex WPA

This approach has been developed through my own research, much of which has been dedicated to researching Vesta. I was probably inspired to research Vesta in terms of synastry because it conjoins my Lunar Nodal axis as well as my MC/IC axis but mainly because I once read someone’s thoughts that if we really want astrology to move forward with respect and accomplished research than we ought to devote a lot of time, focus and energy into as little as possible. I for one, think it is absurd if one thinks they can accomplish the meanings of certain asteroids by researching 100 at a time. I’ve chosen to stick with Vesta, and hopefully way down the line, I will be able to prove its astrological significance as well as its meaning that I already believe to know a little of.

I have attempted to make this article, my approach to the basics of working synastry (that which allows for relationships to be created in the first place) as simple as possible and I have not included absolutely everything. The Sun/Moon midpoint is often a highly sensitive point in relationships. I also highly advocate the use of the 8th Harmonic, a derivative of the 4th, including the half-square and the multiples of 45 degrees semisquares (45) and sesquiquadrates (135) are considered minor hard aspects. While I have only included what I consider to be the vital components of astrologically working relationships it is important to know that there are other planets out there, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto and each and everyone one of them plays a very important role in the nature of the relationship, especially those which are 4th or 8th Harmonically aspecting a vital point or planet, some of which you can read about in my blog, Vesta Brief.