Yod, Yod, Yod…..what the fuck is a Yod in astrology? 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.
**Side note –click this if you would like for me to do any kind of chart reading for you 🙂
**If you are more of a watcher than a reader, here is a video on this same topic

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 (60°) one another with the two sextile planets quincunx/inconjunct (150°) 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° 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 incorporate the apex planetary energies between not only one other planet + the apex 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 midpoint 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 considering what in the chart creates a Yod, the focus probably should be on planets. I say “probably should be” because there are cases where I will consider something to be a Yod when it traditionally wouldn’t be considered one. For instance, let’s say there is something that looks like a Yod happening with the Midheaven in Aries, Mars in Aquarius and Mercury in Virgo. Traditionally this wouldn’t be considered a Yod but I would count it since Mars is the planetary ruler of the Midheaven in Aries. Another mention should be made that with the traditional definition of a Yod the apex planet is always the fastest moving planet. While I do think the Yod probably has more punch when the Apex planet is the fastest moving planet, I still think it should be looked at as something that may function in a Yod-like way.