Astrology 101 refresher: Aspects are the angles that planets form as they travel through the cosmos, and each angle affects us in different ways, and in different areas of our lives, depending on their position. You often hear about the major aspects such as square, trine, and sextile. But, there’s another that’s not as buzzy—yet worth noting—called a quincunx in astrology.

For example, let’s say someone’s Jupiter in Pisces is quincunx to their Mars in Leo in their natal chart. These two signs (Pisces and Leo) have different languages and outlooks on life, says Lumi Pelinku, an astrologer and spiritual advisor. Mars in Leo (afire sign) drives things forward without thinking twice, while Jupiter in Pisces (a water sign) looks at things from a soul level and values empathy over showmanship. “To synthesize these two aspects, you will have to seek a sense of grounding by seeing the strengths of the other in order to get the work done,” Pelinku says.

“To synthesize these two aspects, you will have to seek a sense of grounding by seeing the strengths of the other in order to get the work done.”—Lumi Pelinku, astrologer

Some people don’t have any quincunx in their charts, while others may have multiple. Discovering that you do, however, can be a huge relief for some people, as it provides an understanding and can help explain why you experience challenges in certain areas, says Dana DeFranco, an astrologer, and co-host of the Allegedly Astrology podcast.

What is a quincunx in astrology?

A quincunx in astrology, also referred to as an inconjunct, occurs when two planets are 150 degrees apart—or, zodiac signs that are five signs apart. The easiest way to find which signs are quincunx to each other is to locate your opposite zodiac sign and then look to the two signs that are adjacent to that opposite sign. For example, Aries’ opposite sign on the zodiac wheel is Libra. So whatever planets are in Aries in your birth chart can be quincunx to whichever planets are in Virgo (the sign before Libra) or Scorpio (the sign after Libra).

“Quincunx have nothing in common, like two irreconcilable notions.”—Dana DeFranco, astrologer

Here’s what makes inconjuncts challenging aspects: “Quincunx have nothing in common, like two irreconcilable notions,” says DeFranco. “These two planets don’t have a relationship to each other, but they have to exist within the same person. It’s like being able to hold two incompatible truths as true.” As you can imagine, this creates inner tension. And the challenge, says Pelinku, is in finding how two planets residing in different signs can work together when their energies are completely different.

Here’s a breakdown of zodiac signs that are quincunx to each other

• Aries: Virgo, Scorpio
• Taurus: Libra, Sagittarius
• Gemini: Scorpio, Capricorn
• Cancer: Sagitarrius, Aquarius
• Leo: Capricorn, Pisces
• Virgo: Aquarius, Aries
• Libra: Pisces, Taurus
• Scorpio: Aries, Gemini
• Sagittarius: Taurus, Cancer
• Capricorn: Gemini, Leo
• Aquarius: Cancer, Virgo
• Pisces: Leo, Libra

How to find quincunx in your birth chart

Because quincunx aspects are a more advanced angle, to find out if you have any in your natal chart, booking a sesh with a trusted astrologer would be the easiest thing. They’ll help you pinpoint what the quincunxes are and provide some guidance on how to integrate the two differing energies.

But if you want to do a mini DIY astrology reading, DeFranco recommends pulling up your natal chart on Astrograph or the Time Passages app (both free!). Then look for the word “inconjunct” under aspects in your birth chart, and read a bit of what any particular quincunx means for you.

How to interpret quincunx in astrology

When it comes to interpreting quincunx in your natal chart, it’s all about determining the relationship between the planets and zodiac signs in which the quincunx appears. “[A quincunx] indicates areas in life where one might need to make compromises and find a balance between contrasting energies,” says Letao Wang, an astrologer and spiritual counselor. Depending on what planetary energies are at play, a quincunx could call out incompatibility and where in your life adaptation and adjustment are needed, says Wang.

For example, Wang describes the correlation between a quincunx between Libra—which encompasses social relationships—and Pisces, the sign concerned about emotional depth. If this appears in your chart, “You may experience challenges in balancing social obligations with personal emotional needs,” explains Wang. “This aspect requires you to navigate the push and pull of these energies—finding harmony between your outer social self and your inner emotional world.”

A similar compromise can be made regarding the other quincunx point between Taurus and Libra. As the sign related to security and self-value, Taurus is about sticking within the confines of its solitude, while Libra’s initiatory energy is about seizing opportunities and connections with others.

Why are quincunxes important?

As many other elements of astrology—think, modalities and the literal elements—can give you insight into your disposition and tendencies, knowing your quincunx points can also raise your self-awareness and your sense of adaptability, says Wang, adding that “by recognizing the areas of tension in our lives, we learn to navigate complexities within ourselves and our relationships with others.”

Not to mention, the point of this aspect is understanding how to harmonize certain energies that aren’t necessarily directly influencing your personality. You may be proud of being a freedom-loving Sagittarius, for example, where you’re constantly expanding and learning, but your quincunx points (Taurus and Cancer) can illuminate the importance of integrating a home base. “This insight can lead to personal growth, helping individuals embrace and balance differing aspects of their personality, ultimately fostering deeper connections with those around them,” says Wang.

Quincunx astrology and relationships

While quincunx can exist within our individual natal charts, another way to look at them is in our relationships with other people. For instance, let’s say your sun sign is Aries and your significant other’s sun sign is Virgo or Scorpio, both of which are quincunx to Aries. Wang explains that both partners may struggle to reconcile each other’s differences—on the one hand, “the Aries may feel stifled by what they perceive as Virgo’s excessive criticism, while the Virgo may feel overwhelmed by Aries’ impulsiveness,” Wang says.

This doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed to fail—but far from it. Pelinku says it simply means, like in any relationship, understanding each other and having open communication is very important, and without it, you could miss the mark in fulfilling each other’s needs.

Plus, Lumi adds, the quincunx relationships, whether romantic or otherwise, can actually be very expansive. The differences between them can foster a greater understanding of each other and growth on a soul level.

How to navigate quincunx energies

DeFranco’s biggest piece of advice for navigating the conundrum that is a quincunx is to lean into creativity. Integrating and finding a way to live with the different energies in your natal chart is challenging and requires you to develop clever ways to “solve” the issue, she says. Though it’s not something you can ever fully reconcile, so she also recommends finding humor in it, which helps make things feel lighter.

For quincunx in relationships, Pelinku says the best way to empower each other is to learn about each other. “You have to really open your heart and be very collaborative and understanding of the other’s perspective,” she says. “Try not to wrap yourself up into the drama of the situation or what you’re going through. You have to, in a way, disconnect and see the story of the other to become much more harmonious with them.”