Waxing Sextile

greek: ἑξάγωνος (hexagonos) · latin: sextilis

Definition

A sextile (60°) read at the waxing phase of an aspect cycle — the segment in which the faster planet is moving from the conjunction toward the opposition, so the sextile precedes the square rather than following it. Practitioners distinguish a waxing sextile (after conjunction, before square) from a waning sextile (after opposition, before the next conjunction) when interpreting transits and progressions.

In Tradition

Across the tradition the sextile is read as a soft, productive 60° contact carrying a Venusian or constructive note — Crane reports the Hellenistic sources assign it Venus's nature, Martin frames it as 'active, productive and skilful' soft-aspect, and Bonatti rates it 'middling-friendship.' The waxing-versus-waning distinction is a phase-cycle refinement: the waxing sextile carries the forward, building, opportunity-arising flavour of the cycle before the square crystallises a problem.

In Practice

Astrologers identify a waxing sextile by walking the slower planet's angular distance from the most recent conjunction with the faster planet, or in transit work by checking whether the transiting planet is heading toward the natal point's square (waxing) or away from it toward the next conjunction (waning). The waxing sextile is read as an opening — a moment when constructive opportunities present themselves and modest effort yields visible results — but it requires the practitioner to engage; unlike a trine the doors do not open of their own accord. In progressed work the waxing sextile of a slow body is a multi-year flavouring of the period.

Historical Origin

The 60° sextile is one of the four Ptolemaic aspects inherited from the Hellenistic tradition (alongside the square, trine, and opposition). The waxing-versus-waning phase distinction is a later refinement: it formalises in the Rudhyar lineage of cycle astrology — where each aspect of a planetary cycle is read as one phase of an unfolding process — and is carried into modern transit and progression work by practitioners following Rudhyar and Hand.

Etymology

Origin: Latin / English. Meaning: sextile = sixth-part-aspect; waxing = growing toward fullness.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Etymology

Further Reading