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What Is a Yod?
A Yod is made up of at least three natal planets and/or points (the Ascendent, Descendent, MC or IC). Two planets (or a planet and point) form a sextile—or a 60-degree angle—with each other, and they are the base of the Yod. Both of these planets/points then form an inconjunct (or Quincunx, a 150-degree angle) to a third planet/point (the apex, or focal point, of the Yod). In your chart, it will look like an elongated triangle, and the inconjuncts are often portrayed as dotted lines. Yods are rare configurations; if you have one, you’re dealing with some unusually powerful energy.
A sextile is easy, flowing energy. So the base is harmonious. But the inconjuncts to the apex are not harmonious; an inconjunct demands adjustment between incompatible energies. So the potential of the base is focused on the apex through a tense stream of energy that demands release. This is what makes Yods so difficult. When relationship planets/houses are involved, you may find that your partnerships have a “fated” quality. At the same time, these partnerships place impossible demands or choices on you. Let’s look at some examples.
Example 1: Learning Unusual Ways to Express Identity Within a Relationship
But these two planets form an inconjunct to the cusp of her First House (Ascendent) in rebel Aquarius. And Mars is conjunct her Ascendent. All that loving sacrifice is funneled into her drive (Mars) to be independent. Not a comfortable fit. She found herself in relationships with men (Mars) who demanded that things go their way, or no way at all (Aquarius). They were attracted to her because she’s unique, but over time she got the message that she wasn’t quite good enough (Virgo) for them. The more she tried to meet their standards (Virgo) and give them what they needed (Cancer), the more they pulled back (Aquarius). But if Greta pulled away, she was accused of being cold (Aquarius).
It took Greta many years (and many relationships) to come to terms with her Yod. Yods can be quite slippery, so their potential can be difficult to get a handle on. But it’s a fact that each Yod points to a specific task that must be explored. That task is usually symbolized by the focal point. In Greta’s case, she had to learn unusual ways (Aquarius) to express her identity (Mars) in a relationship. This involved a series of relationships in which, through trial and error, she learned to love and give the way she wanted to. She stopped reacting to her partners’ demands.
Eventually she met and married a man who loved and respected her differences. They maintained separate residences on the same street so they could be close, but not too close. Greta was able to love and nurture her partner while maintaining her independence. Venus is also the ruler of her Fourth House of home and family (house cusp in Taurus); she was able to manifest a stable home life (Taurus), her way (Mars in Aquarius).
Example 2: The Journey to Understand the Purpose of Your Yod
Here’s another example: Bill’s Leo Moon is in his Eleventh House (friends and groups) sextile Gemini Venus in his Ninth House (foreigners) Gemini. These planets form an inconjunct with his Fourth House (home and family) Mars/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn (Mars also rules his Seventh House of partnerships). So we have Bill’s need to stand out (Leo) in the group (Eleventh House) supported by his attraction to women (Venus) who are bright, curious (Gemini) and very different from him (Ninth House).
But all this attention-grabbing social energy is beamed down onto his rigid family life (Saturn). Bill comes from a conservative, old-world family that wants him to marry someone just like them. Bill is young (20 years old) and he wants to honor them because he is intensely loyal to his family. So he’s torn when he falls in love with Helena, a foreign exchange student. She is from a completely different culture than Bill. Her Sun also falls right on his Venus, so she activates his Yod. He feels like she is “The One.” Bill has decided that he wants to marry her, but his family will never approve. As a matter of fact, they’ll disown him if he doesn’t break up with her—an impossible choice for Bill.
What will he do? Cave to family pressure and stew in resentment for the next 30 years? Or break away from his family and stew in guilt for the next 30 years? The outcome is unsure because Bill hasn’t yet learned how to handle his Yod. His task is to initiate (Mars) a solid foundation for himself (Fourth House in Capricorn) that still gives him room to express his individuality (Leo). But he must maintain that sense of pride (Leo) in his actions (Mars) while exploring different relationships (Ninth House Venus). And he must somehow do this through his partnerships (Mars is ruler of his Seventh House). Because the ruler of his Seventh House is sitting next to his Fourth House Saturn, he can’t just run away from his family obligations. Family and partnerships must be united, but in a new (Mars) way. Bill’s Yod marks him as the trailblazer in the family.
Exploring the Potential of Your Yod
I haven’t presented a nice, neat conclusion to Bill’s scenario because Yods don’t work this way (especially during the first half of your life). This doesn’t mean that if you’re under 40 and have a Yod, you’re guaranteed to have relationship failures. But it takes most people years of searching before they understand the purpose of their Yod.
Know that if you have a Yod that involves relationship planets or houses, you will probably get involved in a number of difficult partnerships. They are all designed to further your understanding of the potential in your Yod. Many of the partners whom you get involved with will probably have one or more planets that activate your Yod. You’ll have to get creative, and approach relationships differently. But the clue about your task lies in the focal point. No matter what you do, you’ll have to honor this task. You won’t be able to conform to other’s expectations—not your partner’s, your family’s, or society’s. The good news is, the Yod is there for a reason. And you will continually run into relationships that activate it, so you’ll have multiple chances to explore its potential.
Further reading: The Yod Book: Including a Complete Discussion of Unaspected Planets
Do you have a natal Yod complicating your relationships? Tell us about it in comments below.
Related Posts: A Case Study of Deception
About Nadia Gilchrist
wow this article kind of made a lot of sense to me even though i’m not good with all the inconjunct, sextiles, ect, but i truly relate to the “not good enough” feeling for the Mars (aries) men in the past, well, at least the two. The first love, i felt very balanced, very even, but the timing was all wrong – way too young, barely 15 years old to be honest. Lasted most of our teen years. If we had been older, wiser, our relationship may have lasted and endured. That could be my neptunian delusion but ah who cares? I love that I can dream and try and make those dreams come true. I relate very much to the “Virgo” wanting to be perfect for them, serving and serving. And very much to the cancerian and aquarius (the need for home, security and the push pull of ‘if i turn away i would be looked upon as a cold person”)
I needed my family’s approval, they mean a lot to me and there was no way I wanted to break family ties, but at the same time, I wanted to love who I wanted to love. It fed my soul and there was no way I was going to bow down to my family’s rules and feel resentment for the rest of my life, even if they mean well for me. Love was my motivating force (strong venus). This sounded very much like Romeo and Juliet actually. Do or die.
How it turned out, i was actually the only one in my family to marry someone of foreign, different religion, different culture but they accepted it. Very weirdly so, they accepted it. Im very happy it turned out like it did. But, it was not easy and there was a lot of suffering. And i wanted to start out very very young; it’s as if, my soul said to me, hey as soon as you hit puberty, it’s time to work it. No fear! or…to some people, really dumb.
Anyway, great article again, Nadia!
52 year old Scorpio woman here, with a Yod that one astrologer labeled a ‘creative Yod’. The base is Venus in Sag in the 12th with Moon in Aquarius in the 2nd. The focal point is Mars in Cancer in the 7th. Relationships make me so insane that I eventually just became a hermit where I can at least enjoy relating with myself. Help!! What is the task my Yod is highlighting??
Of course I would have three yods. NOT COOL. Venus is at the apex of one and is involved in all three. 4th house Venus in Sagg at the apex, inconjunct 11th house Saturn in Cancer, inconjunct retro 9th house Mars in Taurus with a sextile to Saturn. I think I need to lie down now.
Hahahahahha!!! Wow, explains sooooooo much. Mercury/Neptune in Scorpio sextile Vesta/Pluto/Juno in the 7th with the apex being, of all things, Eris. Just too funny people, I swear that just 10 minutes ago I said out loud “I feel so left out”. I have lost count of how many times I have been banned and outcast by others. Thanks Nadia, awesome stuff!!
@curious757
Thank you.
@Melissa
Initiating (Mars) nurturing (Cancer) relationships while keeping your independence (Moon in Aquarius/Venus in Sag) in mind. Mars in the 7th House suggests an active partner, so you want that, but avoid needy. You can’t do needy with your individuated (Aquarius) security needs (2nd House). 12th House Venus in Sag suggests developing faith (Sag) in the kind of relationship (Venus) you want. The 12th House does have an isolation component to it, so sometimes it’s easier to withdraw (even when you’re in a relationship). Lots of alone time needed, even with a partner.
@fireopal09
WOW!
So Venus in Sag in the 4th is key…relationships that free you from family/past issues. Also…faith in relationships (another commenter here had a yod with Venus in Sag as well…Melissa). Note the somewhat rigid/suffocating security issues of Taurus/Cancer. Your Venus in Sag is trying to find an alternative to that, but you have to go through your family to do it.
@Mandy
You’re welcome. With Goddess of Discord at the apex, I would explore the potential for you to show others the truth. A groundbreaker.
Thank you Nadia! Well, this explains why my love fantasy has always been that my partner and I share a duplex, with each of us living in our separate halves. Sounds like I need to keep the faith that such an arrangement is actually possible. Appreciate your insight.
Exactly Nadia – this is the reason they ban me! (after I have refused to shrink to make them feel comfortable in my presence). Thanks for the encouragement, the timing is (of course) PERFECT!!!
“First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you.” (General Executive Board Report and Proceedings [of The] Biennial Convention, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, 1914. Sometimes attributed to Gandhi.)
Sending lots of Love, Love and more Love your way dear Sister!
lovely article! i have two and they’re both relating to relationship, and both activated at the moment. jupiter in 12th gemini (having return as of yesterday!) sextile eris 11th aries and the apex is juno in 6th scorpio. desire to be big, generous, rebellious, unconventional, individualistic quite at odds with the merging committed partnership juno in scorp represents! the other is lilith in 12th gem sextile vesta in 3rd leo and the apex is eros! in 7th cap (hello pluto!). same deal. independence and keeping the self big and sacred very easy, once again the desire to merge in stable partnership very very difficult. i’m figuring it out… slowly. painfully slowly.
Rising sign is 27 degrees Gemini; Sun 12 degrees Scorpio; Moon 11 degrees Cancer; Mercury 21 degrees Scorpio; Venus16 degrees Sagittarius; Mars 15 degrees Scorpio; Jupiter 20 degrees Virgo; Saturn 10 degrees Cancer;Uranis 12 degrees Gemini; Neptune 05 degrees Libra; Pluto 10 degrees Leo; N. Node 20 degrees Cancer.
I had my Natal chart done years ago but right at this moment I can’t find it! I know I have a lot of trines, sextiles, conjuncts, and squares. My chart looks like a plate of spagetti all on one side4 of the plate. So, my question is what’s in store for me?
Wow thats a really interesting article, it makes a lot of sense to me. I have 3 yods:
Neptune in capricorn (8th house) sextile Pluto in scorpio (6th house) inconjunct Mars in gemini (1st house).
Mars sextile Jupiter (leo in the 3rd house) inconjunct Neptune.
Chiron in cancer (3rd house) sextile Mercury in virgo (5th house) inconjunct MC in aquarius.
I have the same planets (mars and neptune) being both apex of 2 different yods in wich both planets are involved… what do I need to learn?? Sometimes I don’t know if I’m too cold or give too much in relationships, or I feel I give myself away and people tell me I’m ice cold :S
@maria
Also, Juno in the 6th involves working with the partner on day to day things…building a successful relationship. Co-worker relationships also factor into this one.
@Nancy
If you’d like me to interpet your chart, it will have to be done via consultation.
Thanks
@Pau
When trying to figure out the lessons of your Yods, it helps to start with the apex planets. They will give you the overall “goal”. Just break it down by house and sign.
Mars in 1st House Gemini= expressing your identity through communication and initiating correct choices
Neptune in 8th House Capricorn= merging with another by dissolving boundaries
MC in Aquarius = future goals/public status which break certain rules
HI Nadia! I left this comment over at your blog post directing people here but then figured it might be better to put it on the post itself:
My sun sign is Aries, and I have a natal yod with:
Venus (Aries/5h) at the apex
Moon (Virgo/10h)
Ascendant (Scorpio).
I’m 26, and have had nothing but a series of disastrous relationships that have all seemed to implode before they got off the ground. (Frequently this is because I travel a lot and was getting ready to leave the city/country in question when I met someone great, but not always.) I’ve tried to stay put a little longer and be more open to meeting people, but nothing seems to work.
I’ve just never had a good relationship or been even close to being in love, and I’m starting to feel like I should just quit while I’m ahead. My friendships, work, home life and hobbies tend to bring me a lot of joy, and it almost seems perverse to keep ruining my ability to appreciate all that good stuff with bad relationships :-/ Is there anything I can do in particular to work with these aspects, or should I just put things on hold until I’m a little older?
yeah – I totally don’t get it, but my yod apex is Chiron (3 degrees away from my Vertex) in Taurus 6th House.
Helping others better than I help myself, in matters of value and self-worth for a living, and how valuable their time and energy actually is… in an even more fated fashion…?
Pluto in Libra 11th, and my Neptune/AC in Sagittarius are the arms.
But I can’t wrap my head around what it all means…
Every Romance and Love Affair of mine have felt fated. One had his Venus exact conjunct my Chiron, and his Sun conjunct my Vertex (activating my Yod).
I have tried to connect to people that I may not have any past life ties to – I desire the openess, weightlessness, and experience of fresh, New Love… but nothing beats that feeling of meeting The Beloved again… even if it is “just me” feeling that feeling… my certainty makes for a mysterious and evocative Love interest.
O, and I just turned 33.
But in every Love Connection, I value them, try to help them see what I see; their worth, help them manifest their dreams, and make sure they are on path with their passions.
But everyone feels unworthy, and behaves self-destructively, or worse – lives in fear.
Or reality.
I can never tell if I’m the crazy one… or if I’m frighteningly sane.
Thanks for the food for thought. My Love is always in service: Virgo Venus, 11th House, 29 degrees.
Wow. I’m beginning to understand why every single one of my relationships have failed or never got off the ground. Sun in Cancer/7th sextile Jupiter in Taurus/5th, both inconjunct Saturn/Uranus in Sag/12th.
Hi Nadia:
My oh my! This starts to explain a lot about my lifetime of relationship problems.
I am a Scorpio rising Leo Moon Cap with 3 Yods!!! This article really triggered me. Would sincerely appreciate any help with my analysis. (long read)
Yod #1
TOO SEXUALLY POWERFUL
BASE = Pars of Fortuna in Aries 5h sextile North Node in Gemini 8h –
I am passionate and aggressive but very generous with my partner; I am focused, intuitive and very energetic in initiating new and creative activities with my partner (this is self expression); I’ve been hurt many many times before emotionally in sexual relationships and have learned in the course of regenerating after emotional injury, which is painful but I have the potential to move on quickly (mars conjunct venus in aquarius), normally into another troubled union.
APEX = Asc in Scorpio
I am sensitive, perceptive, private, intense, powerful and alluring, but my ability to help others with their challenges does not bode well in the long run in most relationships because there is a sense of resentment eventually, except in my current lover, who drew me in on his tale of woe. I have a very lusty nature singed with jealousy. I’ve found my balance to these dark forces in deep feeling intense sexual relationships which I open up and experience vulnerability. It’s not the best approach as an afterthought, but it has personally balanced me. Still learning to release pent up emotions.
Yod #2
SUNSHINE CAN SAVE THE WORLD BUT CAN’T SAVE HERSELF FROM LONELINESS
BASE = Sun in Capricorn 3h sextile Chiron in Pisces 5h -
My current lover had encouraged me to be open and sharing and it has done wonders for me because it has led me to healing insecurity issues of a man’s commitment to me and his true feelings for me. The reason I’ve chosen to continue our emotional union is because with Pisces I’ve let go of the confusion and have accepted how he feels for me because intuitively I can feel it, I believe him when he tells me and I experience his love for me. Another thing I’m learning from this union is to stop saving people, which is how I ended up in this relationship. I’m now experiencing the lesson of saving myself first . . . it is, however, playing out in a very peculiar and unconventional way as I’m following my intuition completely, despite how controversial the whole mess is. I’ve learned to heal in baby steps.
APEX = Moon in Leo 10h –
I am truly a confident, up-beat, positive, radiant, ambitious, organized, generous, warm-hearted, candid, self-reliant dramatic and prideful woman wrapped up nicely with a pink bow! But quite often I avoid negative circumstance, including media, because I am triggered so deeply (even subconsciously) and I need to avoid this stuff to keep balanced, happy and creative. I hate feeling left out, ignored, laughed at or ridiculed which is precisely the pain I feel in most break ups. What I hate more is feeling loneliness, even though I’m pretty good at keeping busy and enjoy solitude when I want/need it.
Yod #3
I’M NOT REALLY TOUGH AS NAILS – I NEED YOU
BASE = Mercury in Capricorn sextile Ascendant in Scorpio –
Sometimes I am too private, serious and too careful a thinker. I am an achiever who walks my talks and I speak with authority. I’ve learned to soften all of this in relationships. I am relying on my intuition more often.
APEX = North Node in Gemini 8h -
“Nervous Nelly” describes me well. I’ve learned to stop assuming and to actually listen to people, especially in relationships. I tend to be overly self reliant and I’ve learned to heal this. I’m learning to loosen my grip on people and circumstances in order to allow the growth I need to overcome all of this problematic stuff in my relationship for the four decades of my life.
A LOVE-TALE OF WOE
My current painful relationship: My lover (Cancer rising, Virgo moon Pisces) lived with me during his separation from his Scorpio Rising-Capricorn moon Virgo spouse. It was a very good relationship experience for both of us as we each grew. Once he approaches on divorce as she claimed she wanted, Mrs. decided she wanted to break us up and seduced him back into their problematic marriage. He and I are no longer intimate but emotionally involved as he is on the fence (of course). My unconventional decision is to continue this union until he decides (unless my heart is wooed by another before that time). Problem is, we are very much in love with each still. I will not let go, and of course, neither will he.
Can someone help me with my Yod… even if it’s just helping me figure out the apex.
Sun/Neptune in Sag 6th house, Sun rules 3rd, Neptune rules 10th
sextile Pluto in Libra 5th house, ruling 6th house
apex Moon in Taurus 11th house, ruling 2nd
I also have a boomerang too… Uranus opposite Moon, Uranus in Scorpio 5th house ruler of 9th house!
Everytime I start looking at it I just get more confused… lol..
Thanks!
I came across this article on Yods the same night I was rummaging through old journal entries — serendipity at its finest.
I have similar placements as Tara and Rebecca and I really enjoy how Tenny22 sets up their analysis! Helps me to understand further what I’m looking at when my eyes start to go cross-eyed in my own chart.
YOD #1
Base: 4H Pluto 19°rx Libra sextile 6H Neptune 22°rx Sagittarius
Apex: 11H Sun 21° Taurus
“Guiding Handle”: 5H Uranus 23°rx Scorpio
An old, old entry seems to fit how I view this particular Yod —
‘I keep drifting, hoping to find a place among others where I will be able to stay. I haven’t found that yet. I end up having connections in just about every corner of the world but no place to set down and just stay. I think that goes, not just with the friends, but with everything else.. the girls, the real family, school, work… I stay put for a brief moment but I start getting that feeling that I got to go. I need to move on. Lately, the feeling has been much greater than I have felt previously. It’s affecting my dreams because I can see changes coming.. it’s different themes but the core message is always the same… “time to move on”. ~Nov 2008~ ‘
I was just starting my first Saturn Return when I wrote this.. Saturn being 2° inside my 4th House (IC being 18° Virgo) whereas Pluto sits 3° away from the end of 4th House.
YOD #2
Base: 11H Mercury 18° Taurus sextile MC 18° Pisces
Apex: 4H Pluto 19°rx Libra
I don’t know too much about how this one plays out in my life as I just discovered this particular aspect a few days ago.
I’m still learning with aspects.. but nonetheless, the pain I’ve felt over the years over the push-pull of finding a community doesn’t weigh so heavily as it once did now that I’ve come to realize the possibilities within a natal chart.
Do asteroids count in yods? I mean the four major ones ie chiron, vesta juno etc.
Uranus Conjunction AS Orb 1°26′
Moon Conjunction Uranus Orb 1°55′
Moon Conjunction AS Orb 3°21′
Mars Conjunction Pluto Orb 3°35′
Sun Conjunction MC Orb 5°30′
Sun Conjunction Mercury Orb 8°03′
Sun Square Moon Orb 2°18′
Mercury Square AS Orb 2°22′
Mercury Square Uranus Orb 3°48′
Sun Square Uranus Orb 4°14′
Jupiter Square Neptune Orb 4°41′
Sun Square AS Orb 5°40′
Moon Square Mercury Orb 5°44′
Saturn Square Neptune Orb 5°59′
Moon Square MC Orb 7°49′
Mercury Trine Neptune Orb 2°06′
Sun Trine Neptune Orb 5°57′
Neptune Sextile Pluto Orb 0°16′
Mercury Sextile Pluto Orb 1°49′
Moon Sextile Saturn Orb 2°21′
Sun Sextile Mars Orb 2°38′
Mars Sextile Neptune Orb 3°18′
Saturn Sextile Uranus Orb 4°17′
Jupiter Sextile AS Orb 4°58′
Venus Sextile Jupiter Orb 4°58′
Mercury Sextile Mars Orb 5°25′
Saturn Sextile AS Orb 5°43′
Sun Sextile Pluto Orb 6°13′
Sun SemiSquare Venus Orb 0°37′
Moon SesquiQuadrate Venus Orb 1°41′
Sun SemiSextile Saturn Orb 0°02′