Yods 101: When Destiny Comes Knocking

A tangible guide to interpreting one of the rarest configurations in astrology

Hi witchy kids!

This post is an introduction to decoding the practical and spiritual implications of arriving in this lifetime with a yod… one of the most rare configurations in a birth chart. We’ll cover:

• what a yod represents from a soulful perspective

• how to locate and calculate it

• the meaning of inconjunct / quincunx

• destiny potential of all ten planets as the focal point of a yod

• integration karma of all ten planets as the base of a yod

• house significance of all three points

It can be karmically vast to interpret, and reveals the stylistic variations between astrologers. What makes astrology prolific is the compounded data analysis of pattern recognition, by observing countless people and placements. These are my findings and what speaks to my clients — but as always, use what resonates and think critically about what doesn’t.

Etymology snapshot

“Yod" in Hebrew can be interpreted to mean a ‘divine point of energy’. Astrologers liken this to being pointed at for a specific reason. Also known to mean "arm" or "hand," to suggest reaching towards heaven. The word is written many ways: yodh, also spelled jodh, yod, or jod, and is the tenth letter of the Semitic abjads, including Phoenician yōd 𐤉, Hebrew yud י‎, Aramaic yod 𐡉, Syriac yōḏ ܝ, and Arabic yāʾ ي.‎

Joan Kellogg of the American Federation of Astrology is credited with popularizing the term "Yod" in astrology. She wrote “The Yod: Its Esoteric Meaning” in 2000.

What makes up an astrological yod?

A yod requires the formation of an isosceles triangle where a 60° sextile between two planets is the base of two 150° angles which point to the same focal point, activated as the third point. A yod is not something you might have. Either you do, or you don’t. The math is clear, while the interpretation is open. Important rules of thumb:

• You cannot have a yod without a sextile at the base.

• Lone quincunxes do not amount to a yod outside this specific formula.

• You can have multiple inconjunct angles that do not connect to form a yod.

• Most importantly, all three points in a yod must be within 3° of another, numerically. A yod is precise and a perfect example of how astrology is just sacred geometry.

What is a quincunx?

Yods use a lesser known aspect, the quincunx, making it’s interpretation both singular and ambiguous (we don’t really use quincunxes in everyday readings or horoscopes).

This is a minor aspect connecting planets that are 150° degree apart. Also referred to as planets being “inconjunct,” meaning lacking conjunction. The word comes from the Latin word inconjunctus, which means unconnected.

On astro.com charts, it’s drawn as a dotted green line.

Just 30° shy of an opposition, these are planets spaced five signs apart, which means a sign is inconjunct to the signs neighboring their opposite sign. For example, Taurus and Scorpio are opposites, while Libra and Sagittarius are on either side of Scorpio… Making Libra and Sagittarius inconjunct to Taurus. On the flipside, that makes Aries and Gemini inconjunct to Scorpio, as they are on either side of Scorpio’s opposite, Taurus.

What does it look like, when all the pieces fit together?

Does the chart below have a yod? I’ll put the answer under the image.

Yes, it does! This chart has a yod activating Mars in Aries at 11 degrees, inconjunct Mercury at 11 degrees Virgo, sextile both the Moon and Pluto in Scorpio; I’d interpret for both as the third point, but note Pluto is closer to Mars and Mercury at 10 degrees. 9, 10, 11 are all within three degrees of each other, making this mathematically in range and energetically charged.

In this example, they have a destiny around being the initiator (Mars in Aries as the focal point) — by using their astute observations and mental prowess to be of service (Mercury in Virgo) in a transformative way (Moon & Pluto in Scorpio). This could manifest as learning to act on their preferences and desires. To listen to their inner voice that craves more meaning in their work, greater emotional fulfillment, and to help others while doing so. It will take the courage of Aries to put themselves out there, but there is no satisfaction quite like mastering your own growth edge!

You can have multiple quincunxes and not have a yod.

Below is a chart with two quincuxes; Venus to Jupiter, and Sun to Saturn. It is not a yod, because they do not point to the same planet, nor are they connected by a sextile at the base.

What does a quincunx represent on its own, as an aspect?

More of us are likely to have lone quincuxes that don’t connect to a yod. These are not destiny lines. They are a reminder that not all sides of our chart naturally work together. Some astrologers describe these lone quincuxes as conflict. I don’t quite see it that way.

It’s like two people in a friend group who don’t seem to get each other. There is no clear attachment, nor any outright animosity; they just don’t click. At first glance, it’s as if they have nothing in common. They may occupy the same space, but they never directly interact.

Unlike opposites, (two friends that are polar mirrors of each other) or trines, (the friends who effortlessly get along) or squares, (the rivals in the group always bumping heads) — two planets in quincunx have an impersonal, alien, borderline apathetic relationship.

For example, Mercury inconjunct Mars might make someone act without thinking a situation through all the way; their thought process and actions aren’t on the same page (without conscious effort, i.e., karmic work). They might catch themselves wondering, “why did I do that?” or, “I didn’t mean it that way!”

Leaning on the friend group metaphor once more, all sides of you would benefit if those two placements attempted to form more of a relationship! That could be considered the karma of inconjunct planets; to learn how to acknowledge each other’s existence in a productive way.

Getting inconjunct planets to see eye to eye can feel like an itch you can’t scratch. If you have a dotted green line (inconjunct aspect) it’s good to ask: “How can I create a relationship between parts of myself that are otherwise blind to one another?” That is the mystery of a single green line in your chart.

Remember: all charts have a unique destiny!

I’ve seen students get disappointed when they find out they don’t have a yod or major configuration. This is just a disclaimer that one chart is not more special or important than another. Your karma in this lifetime is a deeply personal experience, and contains exactly what you need and are meant to focus on at a higher level.

Below are my personal interpretations of each planet as a focal point and base activator.

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