Opposition Aspect (~180°): Mirrors, Polarity, Balance
All Aspects • Conjunction • Sextile • Square • TrineAn opposition stretches two planets across the chart like a tightrope. The energy is you vs. you: two valid needs pulling in different directions until you learn to hold both. Read the planets first, then add sign polarity and the axis of life via houses. The work is integration, not choosing a winner.
What an Opposition Signifies
Oppositions are mirrors. One planet carries traits you claim; the other often shows up as “the world,” “your partner,” or “that thing that keeps happening to me.” It’s easy to project one side and over-identify with the other. The upgrade is to negotiate. When you give both planets clear roles, the tug-of-war becomes a span: tension you can walk across to get somewhere real. In natal charts, oppositions track life-long balancing acts—career vs. home, autonomy vs. closeness, faith vs. facts—that mature beautifully once you stop trying to delete one side.
Examples: Sun opposite Moon (identity vs. needs) asks for a daily rhythm that honors both visibility and rest. Venus opposite Mars (bonding vs. pursuit) wants clear signals and pacing. Mercury opposite Neptune (facts vs. myth) thrives with checklists, deadlines, and a partner who proofreads the dream.
Orbs, Exactness, and Strength
Typical orbs
- Sun/Moon: ~8–10°
- Other planets: ~4–7°
- Outer planets: ~2–4° reads cleaner
- Tighter = louder. Exact = headline.
Applying vs. separating
- Applying: growing polarization; set rules now.
- Separating: integrate; debrief and adjust the deal.
Common Opposition Axes (what you’re balancing)
How to Read an Opposition (integrate, don’t amputate)
- Name the planets. What pair of needs is in dialogue? (Venus bonds; Mars pursues; Saturn sets limits.)
- Add sign + house axis. The signs set tone; the houses show where the negotiation lives.
- Check orb & motion. Applying = rising tension → schedule a conversation or constraint. Separating = debrief and adjust.
- Write a pact. One rule for each planet so they take turns and both win.
Need placements? Run your chart: https://skygram.ai/birth-chart.
Opposition Quick Links
Use the pattern /aspects/planet1-opposition-planet2. High-signal pairs:
| Pair | Link | What to balance |
|---|---|---|
| Sun & Moon | sun-opposition-moon | Visibility vs. rest; purpose vs. comfort |
| Venus & Mars | venus-opposition-mars | Bonding vs. chase; pacing & clear signals |
| Mercury & Neptune | mercury-opposition-neptune | Facts vs. vision; checklists for dreams |
| Jupiter & Saturn | jupiter-opposition-saturn | Expansion vs. constraints; timelines & budgets |
| Mars & Uranus | mars-opposition-uranus | Impulse vs. change; safety for bold moves |
| Moon & Pluto | moon-opposition-pluto | Security vs. intensity; honest boundaries |
Explore all planets: https://skygram.ai/planets
Opposition in Synastry (You + Them)
Oppositions in relationships are classic “we’re different—but it works” signatures. Attraction is strong because each person holds what the other needs to learn. The catch is polarization: one plays one role, the other compensates, and both get stuck. The fix is explicit trading—my turn/your turn—and naming the shared goal. If your Venus opposes their Mars, you agree on pace and signals. If their Saturn opposes your Jupiter, you set a plan where optimism has structure and structure has heart.
Opposition as a Transit (Sky → You)
Transit oppositions bring feedback. What you’ve built meets its counterweight: the market, a partner, a boss, a boundary, a truth. Inner-planet oppositions are quick check-ins. Outer-planet oppositions are seasons when life asks for mature balance—less absolutism, more calibration. Think in three beats: applying (listen), exact (adjust), separating (stabilize).
Inner planets
Outer planets
Make it practical
- Locate the house axis; write a two-sided plan
- Invite feedback; set one rule per planet
- Expect three passes (retrogrades); iterate
FAQ
Are oppositions “bad”?
No. They’re clarifying. They teach collaboration, boundaries, and pacing. Most long-term wins require opposition skills.
Do out-of-sign oppositions count?
Yes—if the degrees make ~180°. Mixed signs shift the tone; read both elements/modes and check planetary rulerships.
Is “Sun opposite Sun” possible?
Not in natal (one Sun). In synastry, yes—your Sun can oppose theirs; it’s strong awareness and complementarity that needs pacing.
Explore More
- Aspect hubs: All Aspects · Conjunction · Sextile · Square · Trine
- Planets index: https://skygram.ai/planets
- Signs index: https://skygram.ai/signs
- Houses index: https://skygram.ai/houses
- Birth chart: https://skygram.ai/birth-chart
- Compatibility hub: https://skygram.ai/compatibility