In astrology (in the context of a horoscope), a yod is a specific, planetary alignment formed by two planets being sextile to one another (60° apart), with a third planet being exactly 150° to the other two points, or quincunx (also called inconjunct). In essence, the three points add up as 150°+150°+60°=360° in a traditional, spherical astrological chart. Visually, this alignment forms a pattern, with one point being nearly directly across (150°) from two other points that are 60° apart from each other.[citation needed] The Yod takes its name from the tenth letter of the Hebrew Language,[1] and has been called the "finger of god"[2] or "arrow of fate".[3]
While the sextile is an inherently harmonious astrological aspect,[according to whom?] the quincunx is unrelated to either of the sextile planets. A quincunx is the aspect just shy of an opposition; for example, Gemini is in opposition (180°) to Sagittarius, and Scorpio and Capricorn are located on either side of Sagittarius. Thus, Gemini is said to be “inconjunct”, or quincunx, to Scorpio and Capricorn (150° apart). Conversely, on either side of Gemini lie the signs Taurus and Cancer; thus, Sagittarius is quincunx to Taurus and Cancer. It is not fully 180° (a true opposition within a 360° sphere), but placed just before or after the opposite sign. It shares neither polarity - Yin/assertive or yang/receptive, astrological element - fire, water, air, or earth, or modality - cardinal, fixed, or mutable.
Related to the yod, though much less noticed,[by whom?] is the golden yod. A golden Yod occurs when one planet forms biquintiles (144° aspect) to two others separated by a quintile (72° aspect). Because these aspects are seen[by whom?] as beneficial, the golden yod is seen[by whom?] as reflecting characteristics acquired by the person whose chart contains it.[citation needed] The few astrologers who have studied it regard it as an extremely creatively charged aspect good for artistic skill,[citation needed] especially as quintiles and biquintiles are frequently linked with Neptune.[clarification needed] An example of a golden Yod would be with the Sun at 20° Cancer, Uranus at 8° Taurus and Jupiter at 14° Sagittarius.[clarification needed][citation needed]
