Yod, Yod, Yod…..what the fuck is a Yod? I see this question (though maybe not asked this exact same way, hahaha) posted quite frequently on different forums and even by my own clients. People are always wondering (and with good reason!) what the fuck the Yod in their chart means for them. They’ve been popping up in my own client’s charts more recently, and I figured this was the time to actually do a post on them.

The Yod (also known as The Finger of God) is an aspect, like the one mentioned in the chart above, where you have two planets sextile one another with the two sextile planets quincunx/inconjunct (150 degrees) from the same planet (or the apex of the Yod). The sextile planets are in harmony, operating on the same wavelength, while both of those planets are putting stress on the apex of the Yod through the quincunx aspects. While the sextile is harmonious, usually until the Yod is worked through the sextile may operate at the lower end vibrationally (i.e.: exhibiting the least desirable traits of the sextile in question) due to the quincunx stress.

To understand what a Yod is, I suppose you need to first understand what a quincunx aspect is. The 150 degree aspect means that you’re (more than likely) dealing with two different sign energies that don’t understand one another. One sign is usually better expressed and understood, while the other one is completely left out. In the case of the Yod, it’s usually the apex planet that is left out (since there will be a harmony felt between the two sextile planets while neglecting the Yod). There is a lack of being able to fuse the apex planetary energies not only from one planet, but from two! This will definitely be felt by the apex planet through the sign and house in which it falls, begging to be worked through (and begging not to feel so “separate” from these other planets in the chart). It’s less constant tension like in the case of the square aspect, and more of a constant nagging or longing. It also may feel that you don’t fully have control over anything going on here (thus the Finger of God name comes into play). So, the apex of the Yod needs to feel together with these other two planets, and with the rest of the chart. Depending on what the apex planet is, and where it falls, and all that good stuff will help to shine a light on WHAT that actually is. If Mars is the apex of the Yod, you’re looking at energy dealing with your drive and impulse. If Venus is the apex, you’re looking at energy dealing with love (how you love and need to be loved, along with your values). And that apex planet really is a gift of sorts….energy that your soul really wanted to master this time around and use to your benefit.

How exactly you work through Yod’s has a lot to do with understanding the apex planet. Really get to know it and how it functions. Understand how you might be leaving it out/how to incorporate it better in your life. Different transits also play a role in understanding the Yod better. Transits to the different parts of the Yod (specifically the apex) are important, especially transits that are in conjunction and opposition to the planets that make up the Yod. A major sort of transit by conjunction that will light up the Yod are outer planet transits to the mid-point between the two sextile planets in this aspect. This midpoint is opposite the apex planet. While the outer planet conjunctions to this mid-point aren’t really that comfortable for the person to go through, they usually do allow for tremendous growth through the challenge. If one should go through this, it may really feel like life has hit a sort of “crisis” point….and this crisis point is wanting that apex planet to be integrated and used properly.

Since these aspects aren’t super, super common, I have always felt that they have karmic implications to them (especially due to the lack of control or even fated quality about them). How exactly that would come about would depend on what that planet is, the motion of the planet, and everything else going on in the chart.

**I’d also like to make mention that really, when looking at Yod’s, you really want to focus on PLANETS, and not things Chiron, which is in the example of a Yod in the picture above. I used this particular chart because I had the permission to use it, and it gives you a visual of what a Yod actually looks like. The Yod aspect should be pretty tight (like the one in the example), though you could open up the orb slightly. I really like to see them all within 3 degrees in this particular aspect (but that’s just a personal preference).

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4 Responses

  1. Do you think mods made of planets are stronger than mathematical points (north node) and asteroids (Chiron)? Im interested to ask why you use this type of yod in your article?

    • Hey 🙂
      I used this type of Yod because I had permission to use this particular client’s chart (and I wanted to show a picture of WHAT they actually look like). I think I mention this under the picture, but really you’d want to look for more planetary involvement (rather than hypothetical point involvement).

  2. I discovered within the last month that even transiting planets forming a Yod to a natal planet are important indicators of misunderstood or neglected energies, even if the natal chart was lacking any to begin with. Thanks for explaining this aspect to the world.

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