Applying Aspect

From Astrowiki-en

An aspect which is still in the process of forming, also referred to as application. It means that the faster of two planets (or other feature such as the Ascendant or Midheaven) is approaching the point where an exact aspect will be formed with the slower moving one. The opposite is a separating aspect, an aspect which has passed the point at which it was exact. In this case the planets are moving away from aspect. The applying aspect is considered to be stronger because the energies are converging and the climax is still approaching.

Because of this, transits – and naturally other methods such as directions and progressions – are granted a larger orb when in the applicative phase. The effects of a transit can be observed several degrees before an exact aspect is formed, whereas after the transit planet has passed this point the effects may wane rather quickly.