Summery Joy
Well-known member
The Yod of God
Yeah, yeah. I know that it’s either called the “Yod” or “The Finger of God”. I just like the way it rhymes. Actually, The Finger of God is how I like to call this configuration because it was that name that drew me so much to studying it in the first place. Well, that and the fact that I have one focused on the Moon in the 12th house. Scary, huh? Especially with The Finger of God famous as a neurotic configuration.
Actually, researching this configuration almost gave me neurosis on its own. For some reason not too many astrologers give it the attention they give to other configurations like the Grand Trine or the T-Square. But it was worth every minute spent diving into books and googling up every keyword I could think of. It’s been so enlightening that I’d like to share it with you all. The advanced astrologists will have to forgive me for all the basic information in here. This article is mainly addressed to beginners.
The word “yod” is actually the name of the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It’s also a Hebrew word that means “hand”. With that finding and the fact that the tenth letter of any alphabet is associated with Jesus in traditional Christianity, it wasn’t too difficult to understand how the yod got its other name. In fact, the yod does point to a place that needs special focus in the chart, it’s almost like God trying to bring your attention to it.
The yod is special because, unlike other configurations, it is formed of very different aspects. There’s a sextile, two quincunxes and a midpoint axis whose ends may form a conjunction and/or an opposition (depending on how you like to use midpoints). See, a yod is formed when two planets, lets call them A and B, form a sextile. A third planet, that we will obviously call C, is positioned exactly opposite to the short distance midpoint between A and B (or in the exact spot of the long distance midpoint of A and B. Take your pick). This placement of C will put in two different quincunxes, one with A and the other with B. Drawing lines connecting all three points, A, B and C, will give you the shape of an isosceles triangle.
Now that we’re done describing the shape of the yod, it’s time to study its effect on the flow of energies between the planets. To do that, we need to study each component (aspect) in its simplest form. Let’s start with the easy one, the sextile. The sextile here is the base of our triangle. We all know that a sextile is a harmonious aspect. Basic astrology books describe its effect as that of a trine, only less. A sextile is harmonious because the planets involved are usually of the same duality, masculine or feminine. This helps the two planets get along and relate easily to one another. Also, they are of different triplicities (quality), which eliminates the conflict over roles or power.
While still on those two planets, it’s appropriate that we study their midpoints. A midpoint between two planets is what it is between any two objects. It is the spot exactly in the middle of the distance between the two points involved. The problem with midpoints in a horoscope, however, is that the two points are not placed on a straight line so that the distance could be measured like a segment. Instead, they are placed in on the circumference of a circle. When you place two objects on a circle, you get two results. One, the distance between them is bent, not straight. So we measure it using a protractor, not a ruler. Two, the planets are bound to be closer from one side than from the other. That is, we get a short distance between the planets involved on one side of the circle and long distance on the other, even if it is by a few minutes. When the midpoints on both distances are calculated, they turn out to be the exact polar opposite of one another (duh!). Connecting them would form the midpoint axis.
Midpoints are not as difficult to understand as they may first appear to be. They are simply what they arein every area in life. A midpoint is that place in the middle, a point where negotiation is easier than other points, a place where compromise is possible for both parties. I wish I could tell you that the energy flow is smoother on the short distance midpoint than that in the long distance midpoint, but I really don’t know that for sure. More research is due on my part, but my Gemini Ascendant is guessing that each point has its pros and cons. The bottom-line is that midpoints are where energies meet somehow. And since we are talking about energies that are already in harmony (two planets in a sextile, remember?), the midpoints involved here are points were those two planet almost unite.
OK. Done with the base of the isosceles, let’s move on to that lonely planet at the pointy end of it. We’ve already established that that planet is in conjunction with the long distance midpoint of the sextile and in opposition to the short distance midpoint. This means that it’s in a quincunx with each of the base planets. This alone is a difficult aspect. Why? Well, think about it this way. A quincunx is an angle of 150 degrees. It’s a semi-sextile too wide to be a trine and a semi-sextile too tight to be an opposition. So, it just happens to be in the middle, sometimes very harmonious and sometimes very stressful. You might say that a conjunction is the same way, but it really isn’t. In a conjunction, the harmonious and stressful energies are blended so that the natal can actually know what to expect. In a quincunx, it’s almost impossible to forecast the next outcome. See, the two planets in a quincunx are usually located in two completely different signs in terms of duality and triplicity. They don’t know what to expect of one another because they behave very differently. Each is a foreigner to the other. So they’re either really hospitable or really hostile. This relationship has a neurotic potential.
Now let’s go back to the ABC isosceles and study it as a whole. A and B are very harmonious and generally agree with one another. C is on the axis in which they most agree. And it just happens that A and B agree to behave unexpectedly to C. You know what this means? A and B can either be very nice to C or team up and beat the **** out of it. C will always be struggling with the AB team until the natal can find a way to reconcile the differences and develop an easier flow of energy that is not too neurotic for C and not too insulting for A and B.
If you have a yod in your chart, identify the planets, signs and houses involved. The energies of the base planets modified by the signs they’re in will be constantly poking the energy of the third planet which will take it in a way described by its sign placement. The house placement of the base planets will be the source of the problem while that of the third planet will be the area that gets most affected by it. The bright side of the a yod (and here’s where the name “Finger of God” resonates strongly again) is that although it gives much trouble growing up, if the natal manages to reconcile the differences he/she will be able to offer an enormous amount of help and support to other people who have any kind of problems in the areas described by the houses involved in his/her yod. It’s as if God or nature or whatever source of life you believe in is telling you to get over things because you have a message to deliver, a life purpose to fulfill.
I’ll use an example from my own chart. Like everyone born in the second half of the twentieth century, I have a sextile between Pluto and Neptune. But my natal Pluto is at 17th degrees Libra in the 5th house and my natal Neptune 17th degree Sagittarius in the 7th house. Not everyone born under this sextile has it so exact. Anyway, the base of the triangle here is indecisive and full of illusions and works mostly in the areas of romance, love and relationships. My natal moon is in Taurus in the ill-reputed 12th house. Granted it’s at the 22nd degree, but I figure an orb of 5 degrees is tight enough to consider the yod. As you can see, the intense/delusional love and romance issues mostly affected my psychological wellbeing. And with the Moon being the focus of the energy, it hasn’t been easy. And since it was a Taurus Moon, it wouldn’t let anyone know about it. Instead, it got the security it needed by not getting involved with anyone at all. I also have Uranus opposite the moon on the short distance midpoint of Pluto and Neptune making things even wilder and crazier, but that’s another story. The point is, after I finally managed to reconcile my energies and figured out how to balance them, I’ve discovered that I’m very gifted in helping people with their relationships and any psychological problems. I have always been actually, but I’ve only recently noticed how good I am and how people feel comfortable seeking me for help. I’m even considering changing my career and become a counselor, but let’s wait till the Saturn return first
.
I’m almost done here, but before I wrap it up, I’d like to point out that even if you don’t have a yod in your natal chart, you have a potential one if you have a natal sextile. A yod can be formed by a transiting planet falling on the long distance midpoint of the planets forming your natal sextile. This means that there will be recurring times where the house placement of the transiting planet gets some negative attention; each time will differ a tad, though, depending on the transiting planet itself. Outer planets will form long lasting yods. Inner planets will only stay there for so long then move right along. Figure out how to deal with this negative attention. By time, those temporary yods won’t be much trouble, but will rather be times of self-examination and development. After that, you will be the best advice giver in the areas involved in your own yod.
Hope I’ve been helpful.
Yeah, yeah. I know that it’s either called the “Yod” or “The Finger of God”. I just like the way it rhymes. Actually, The Finger of God is how I like to call this configuration because it was that name that drew me so much to studying it in the first place. Well, that and the fact that I have one focused on the Moon in the 12th house. Scary, huh? Especially with The Finger of God famous as a neurotic configuration.
Actually, researching this configuration almost gave me neurosis on its own. For some reason not too many astrologers give it the attention they give to other configurations like the Grand Trine or the T-Square. But it was worth every minute spent diving into books and googling up every keyword I could think of. It’s been so enlightening that I’d like to share it with you all. The advanced astrologists will have to forgive me for all the basic information in here. This article is mainly addressed to beginners.
The word “yod” is actually the name of the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It’s also a Hebrew word that means “hand”. With that finding and the fact that the tenth letter of any alphabet is associated with Jesus in traditional Christianity, it wasn’t too difficult to understand how the yod got its other name. In fact, the yod does point to a place that needs special focus in the chart, it’s almost like God trying to bring your attention to it.
The yod is special because, unlike other configurations, it is formed of very different aspects. There’s a sextile, two quincunxes and a midpoint axis whose ends may form a conjunction and/or an opposition (depending on how you like to use midpoints). See, a yod is formed when two planets, lets call them A and B, form a sextile. A third planet, that we will obviously call C, is positioned exactly opposite to the short distance midpoint between A and B (or in the exact spot of the long distance midpoint of A and B. Take your pick). This placement of C will put in two different quincunxes, one with A and the other with B. Drawing lines connecting all three points, A, B and C, will give you the shape of an isosceles triangle.
Now that we’re done describing the shape of the yod, it’s time to study its effect on the flow of energies between the planets. To do that, we need to study each component (aspect) in its simplest form. Let’s start with the easy one, the sextile. The sextile here is the base of our triangle. We all know that a sextile is a harmonious aspect. Basic astrology books describe its effect as that of a trine, only less. A sextile is harmonious because the planets involved are usually of the same duality, masculine or feminine. This helps the two planets get along and relate easily to one another. Also, they are of different triplicities (quality), which eliminates the conflict over roles or power.
While still on those two planets, it’s appropriate that we study their midpoints. A midpoint between two planets is what it is between any two objects. It is the spot exactly in the middle of the distance between the two points involved. The problem with midpoints in a horoscope, however, is that the two points are not placed on a straight line so that the distance could be measured like a segment. Instead, they are placed in on the circumference of a circle. When you place two objects on a circle, you get two results. One, the distance between them is bent, not straight. So we measure it using a protractor, not a ruler. Two, the planets are bound to be closer from one side than from the other. That is, we get a short distance between the planets involved on one side of the circle and long distance on the other, even if it is by a few minutes. When the midpoints on both distances are calculated, they turn out to be the exact polar opposite of one another (duh!). Connecting them would form the midpoint axis.
Midpoints are not as difficult to understand as they may first appear to be. They are simply what they arein every area in life. A midpoint is that place in the middle, a point where negotiation is easier than other points, a place where compromise is possible for both parties. I wish I could tell you that the energy flow is smoother on the short distance midpoint than that in the long distance midpoint, but I really don’t know that for sure. More research is due on my part, but my Gemini Ascendant is guessing that each point has its pros and cons. The bottom-line is that midpoints are where energies meet somehow. And since we are talking about energies that are already in harmony (two planets in a sextile, remember?), the midpoints involved here are points were those two planet almost unite.
OK. Done with the base of the isosceles, let’s move on to that lonely planet at the pointy end of it. We’ve already established that that planet is in conjunction with the long distance midpoint of the sextile and in opposition to the short distance midpoint. This means that it’s in a quincunx with each of the base planets. This alone is a difficult aspect. Why? Well, think about it this way. A quincunx is an angle of 150 degrees. It’s a semi-sextile too wide to be a trine and a semi-sextile too tight to be an opposition. So, it just happens to be in the middle, sometimes very harmonious and sometimes very stressful. You might say that a conjunction is the same way, but it really isn’t. In a conjunction, the harmonious and stressful energies are blended so that the natal can actually know what to expect. In a quincunx, it’s almost impossible to forecast the next outcome. See, the two planets in a quincunx are usually located in two completely different signs in terms of duality and triplicity. They don’t know what to expect of one another because they behave very differently. Each is a foreigner to the other. So they’re either really hospitable or really hostile. This relationship has a neurotic potential.
Now let’s go back to the ABC isosceles and study it as a whole. A and B are very harmonious and generally agree with one another. C is on the axis in which they most agree. And it just happens that A and B agree to behave unexpectedly to C. You know what this means? A and B can either be very nice to C or team up and beat the **** out of it. C will always be struggling with the AB team until the natal can find a way to reconcile the differences and develop an easier flow of energy that is not too neurotic for C and not too insulting for A and B.
If you have a yod in your chart, identify the planets, signs and houses involved. The energies of the base planets modified by the signs they’re in will be constantly poking the energy of the third planet which will take it in a way described by its sign placement. The house placement of the base planets will be the source of the problem while that of the third planet will be the area that gets most affected by it. The bright side of the a yod (and here’s where the name “Finger of God” resonates strongly again) is that although it gives much trouble growing up, if the natal manages to reconcile the differences he/she will be able to offer an enormous amount of help and support to other people who have any kind of problems in the areas described by the houses involved in his/her yod. It’s as if God or nature or whatever source of life you believe in is telling you to get over things because you have a message to deliver, a life purpose to fulfill.
I’ll use an example from my own chart. Like everyone born in the second half of the twentieth century, I have a sextile between Pluto and Neptune. But my natal Pluto is at 17th degrees Libra in the 5th house and my natal Neptune 17th degree Sagittarius in the 7th house. Not everyone born under this sextile has it so exact. Anyway, the base of the triangle here is indecisive and full of illusions and works mostly in the areas of romance, love and relationships. My natal moon is in Taurus in the ill-reputed 12th house. Granted it’s at the 22nd degree, but I figure an orb of 5 degrees is tight enough to consider the yod. As you can see, the intense/delusional love and romance issues mostly affected my psychological wellbeing. And with the Moon being the focus of the energy, it hasn’t been easy. And since it was a Taurus Moon, it wouldn’t let anyone know about it. Instead, it got the security it needed by not getting involved with anyone at all. I also have Uranus opposite the moon on the short distance midpoint of Pluto and Neptune making things even wilder and crazier, but that’s another story. The point is, after I finally managed to reconcile my energies and figured out how to balance them, I’ve discovered that I’m very gifted in helping people with their relationships and any psychological problems. I have always been actually, but I’ve only recently noticed how good I am and how people feel comfortable seeking me for help. I’m even considering changing my career and become a counselor, but let’s wait till the Saturn return first
.I’m almost done here, but before I wrap it up, I’d like to point out that even if you don’t have a yod in your natal chart, you have a potential one if you have a natal sextile. A yod can be formed by a transiting planet falling on the long distance midpoint of the planets forming your natal sextile. This means that there will be recurring times where the house placement of the transiting planet gets some negative attention; each time will differ a tad, though, depending on the transiting planet itself. Outer planets will form long lasting yods. Inner planets will only stay there for so long then move right along. Figure out how to deal with this negative attention. By time, those temporary yods won’t be much trouble, but will rather be times of self-examination and development. After that, you will be the best advice giver in the areas involved in your own yod.
Hope I’ve been helpful.
