Sextiles and Trines
What are they? How are they different from each other? How might we experience a trine or a sextile? Which is "better"?
What are they?
Sextiles and trines are both considered easy or beneficial aspects in astrology. People really love when they see them in a chart because they suggest good flow and a lack of impediments.
A trine is the aspect between two planets that are 120° (or 4 signs) apart. Trines happen between planets that are the same element (fire, water, earth or air) which means they already have a similar vibe even if they go about things in a different ways. For instance, an Aries approach will be very different from a Sagittarius approach, or a Leo approach, but they’re all going to be passionate.
A sextile is what we call the relationship between two planets that are 60° (or two signs) apart. Instead of the planets being of the same element, they’re in compatible elements – like fire with air (both can be free-spirited) or earth with water (both like stability). They aren’t exactly the same vibe, but they can help each other out once they find their common ground.
How are they different?
A trine is the really easy flow aspect, indicating a really comfortable dialogue – a back and forth with “yes and” which is so welcome after hearing “no” or “but” for a while. A trine in your natal chart can indicate a gift, which can be wonderful but it can also be something you can totally take for granted and never do anything with because it requires nothing from you. When a transiting planet makes a trine to a natal planet, it can create a beneficial circumstance you can easily take pleasure in or advantage of, like a wide open doorway directly in the path you’re already on.
A sextile in a natal chart can also indicate gifts but you usually need to do a little work to benefit from them. There’s maybe a type of enthusiastic challenge between the planets involved, a “yes but” kind of conversation. A transiting planet that creates a sextile is more of an opportunity than a gift. Think of it like a door that’s unlocked but still shut and maybe it’s not the door that’s directly in front of you but the one on your left or right. That means you can’t just walk through it, you have to make a choice, turn the knob, maybe even jiggle it a little, but it’ll open once you do your part.
How might we experience a trine or a sextile?
With a trine, someone may call you up and offer you a job out of the blue. With a sextile, you could meet someone who has a job to offer but until you bring up that you’re looking for a job, you might just have a friendly chat about the weather.
I was re-watching Schitt’s Creek the other day and it made me think of how these aspects can work for people. On his way to take a driving test David anxiously explains to his sister, Alexis, that things don’t always come easily to everyone else the way they do for her. She just doesn’t get it, and casually tells David not everyone cares or overthinks about things the way he does. When he is taking the exam and confirms his proctor doesn’t really care about the test, he’s able to relax and he passes. This type of thing happens again and again in the show. Alexis gets endless opportunities she isn’t even sure she wants and that makes deciding what she actually wants kind of hard. Meanwhile David has to put in some real work, but he ends up with his dream store (ahem, apothecary), and a loving partner. Sounds like Alexis is all trines, and David’s got sextiles.
Which is “better”?
A trine sort of just happens with little to no effort, and a sextile needs some attention and a little work to turn its potential into a reality. Both aspects can bring rewards – one requires you to take steps to achieve it, the other drops in your lap and can be overlooked. Which of those sounds better to you probably depends on your natal planets, but the rewards are possible either way.