當一顆行星逐漸遠離另一顆行星所在的位置時，便使用「分離」（separating）一詞。相反地，「結合」（union）則是指一顆行星正朝向另一顆行星，或另一顆行星所發出的光束移動。
例如，假設月亮位於天蠍座20度，土星位於天蠍座10度，而木星位於天蠍座25度。在這種情況下，很明顯可以看出月亮正在與土星分離，並朝向與木星形成相位的位置移動。
現在，假設月亮位於天蠍座20度，土星位於水瓶座10度，而木星位於獅子座25度。在這種情況下，月亮正在與土星於10度所形成的四分相分離。在那個位置上，土星曾經向月亮投射一道光束。
相反地，月亮正朝向天蠍座25度的位置移動，以形成入相（applying）。當月亮抵達該位置時，木星便會從前述的獅子座向月亮投射一道光束。
The term separating is used whenever a planet is being carried away from the place in which another planet is sitting. Conversely, a “union” refers to a planet that is traveling into another planet or the beam of another planet. For example, suppose the moon is at 20 Scorpio, Saturn is at 10 Scorpio, and Jupiter is at 25 Scorpio. It is clear in this case that the moon is separating from Saturn and is moving towards an aspect to Jupiter. And now suppose the moon is at 20 degrees of Scorpio, Saturn is at 10 degrees of Aquarius, and Jupiter is at 25 degrees of Leo. In this case, the moon is separating from the square to Saturn at 10 degrees, at which point Saturn was casting a ray onto the moon. The moon, conversely, is applying to 25 degrees of Scorpio, at which point Jupiter will cast a ray onto the moon from its aforementioned sign of Leo.