Synastry Aspects (Trine, Sextile, etc)

When I see the aspects between two charts, I found two distinctive ways of interpreting the aspects (conjunction, trine, sextile, etc). One theory looks simply at the sign and the other is to use the degree (how many degree is apart, etc). What is your take on it..I am just curious.

**one theory is to look at the sign:

The conjunction is when 2 planets or points are in the same sign. The sextile is when they are 2 signs apart (for instance, Leo and Libra). The square is when they are 3 signs apart (for instance Leo and Scorpio) and the trine is 4 signs apart (for instance Leo and Sagittarius) and the opposition is 6 signs apart (for instance Leo and Aquarius). The semi-sextile is one sign apart (for instance Leo and Virgo) and the quincunx is 5 signs apart (for instance Leo and Capricorn). These last two are also called aversions by the ancients. It is important to note that the Greeks did not use orbs. This was a later innovation by the Arabs which got translated into the medieval tradition. The only way in which the degree is to be considered is in judging how strong an influence it is on the relationship.


**the one that uses degree:

The conjunction is formed when two planets are at approximately the same degree of the same sign. Sextiles occur when two planets are approximately 60 degrees. Squares occur when two planets are approximately 90 degrees. A trine occurs when two planets are approximately 120 degrees.


Did I confuse you yet?😉 I am curious because depending on which way you interpret two charts, the compatibility shows very different.

I guess my question was how do we define those aspects - some use degree while other use the sign...it makes such a difference on interpreting the compatibility