Are You (Yod) like This Pattern?
Do you spend your life reeling between the tug of fate vs. free will? It’s you living the yod, or the Finger of God
Have you always felt like an odd one out?
Or like life has something in it for you? Life isn’t without rhyme or reason. Some of us become well-acquainted with the role of fate in our free will.
We spot its hand. But it can be hard to explain to others.
That’s how it can feel like living with yod energy.
What’s A Yod?
A yod is a rare pattern. Two planets in sextile (60 degrees) to each other. It promises ease.
Both planets form a 150-degree quincunx (or inconjunct) angle to a third planet. Here it promises instability instead.
These three points in the chart form an isoceles triangle.
The name “yod” comes from the tenth Hebrew letter. It’s significant in kabbalistic and mystical circles regarding the name of God, his omnipresence, and our humility.
What Does a Yod Mean?
Not all astrologers agree on how to interpret the yod. Some dismiss the Yod as “bogus”, merely a midpoint structure (not among the main patterns).
As with all configurations, you hear debate about orbs and whether to include only planets or other points in the chart like the Ascendant.
The enigmatic yod wasn’t part of my learning when I first starting giving readings twenty years ago.
But once I included this aspect, it became one of my favourite patterns. I look out for it because it offers deep clues for a person trying to figure out life. Its impact is that obvious.
Free will vs. Fate. The yod forces questions around free will, fate, or both. The energy feels difficult because you have to integrate energies represented by the zodiac signs.
Focus. You need to focus to find release — or accomplishment — through the energies, themes, issues. This is shown by the focal point.
Transformation. A yod is linked to spirituality and life’s twists and turns. Thus it’s also called the “finger of God” or “finger of fate.”
You can see how this energy can feel challenging. But also how it holds great potential for raising awareness and evolution.
What’s the Effect of A Yod?
A yod reflect many difficult circumstances and relationships in life that seem to show a repeating theme. It’s like Groundhog Day. But the fun is no longer there.
Life can feel as if we are learning a lesson over and over to perfect something.
Often the yod creates a personality who is similarly “difficult”. You might be a tireless worker or “stubborn” to deal with. You don’t fit in.
You’re well aware that there’s a clock is ticking. Compared to most, even in your younger years, you know time on Earth is finite. You’ve destiny here on earth.
In a sense we all do. But people with yod(s) in their chart feel this in everyday life.
Why Does the Yod Produce Genius?
If you’re born under a yod, life is guaranteed to not be business as usual for you. Life’s twists and turns will find you. Even if you try to live under a rock. (I’ve seen this interesting manifestation. They literally tried to get away from it all.)
You are forced to make fateful decisions that switch your direction in an instance.
It’s not an easy feat. The zodiac signs involved have different elements, modalities, and polarity. It’s as different as difference can go.
Yet, it produces much agility as you gain experience in life. Like playing the drums for various bands at the same time. You can show strokes of genius. Life can seem to turn out of left field.
This brings us to another name for the yod — the “finger of projection”.
How Do You Know If You Are Living a Yod Pattern?
A person with a yod will struggle with this frazzling and neurotic energy, especially earlier in life.
Another way to know you’ve significant yod energy is when life throws you WTH moments on the regular.
That’s why I went with the gold pineapple on the beach to head this piece. I don’t mean to trivialise the yod with an absurd picture. Rather, I needed a picture for both the surreal and spectacular, mundane and magical, the unusual and destiny that go with the yod.
What looks like WTH becomes serendipity. You’re called to make decisions that swerve your life one way or the next.
The line between free will and fateful decisions is thin.
I tend to agree with the belief that a yod shows how a soul has been working on a particular task or mission over many lifetimes.
Channeling your energy through the focal point can help stabilise life. Allowing you to accomplish your goals with greater flow.
You Flow Best with a Yod by Doing This
Astrologically, the sextile planets show your skills and talents. The quincunxes show your struggles. Focus on your mission or task through the apex planet.
But you absolutely do not need to know astrology to live life well. Neither do you mean to comb your chart to find max potential, health, wealth, etc.
But I’ll say this. Astrology is a useful looking glass.
Have you come across this quote?
It’s the easiest way to describe how your energy drive reality.
Emotions drive action
Action drive behaviour
Behaviour drive personality
Personality drive moods
Moods influence action and reaction
Action influence relationships
Relationships produce outcomes
People with Yods in Their Natal Chart—Two Quick Examples of The Yod
Finding a flow with the yod requires flexibility, transformation, and relentless focus. Regardless of the signs involved.
Cristiano Ronaldo suffered relentless bullying when he was young. The power struggles have continued through his career. Yet, he’s risen through recurring ashes to become one of the most powerful football players of his generation. The yod in his chart points to transformative Pluto in Scorpio.
Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, known as the “father of flow”. But his life was far from one of ease as he grew up during war. The yod needs a release through Saturn, the planet of struggle and limits. In Aquarius, close to the North Node. He felt compelled to crack the code contributing to human knowledge.
Do you have a yod aspect in your chart?
Read more about how people do their yods— I’ve linked my articles below. They’re on Medium. But I’ll write more about them on Substack if you’re interested.
Just pop a note in the comments. I’m here to flow better with you.
As above, so below,
Mel, i.e,
What I’m Learning from “Hanoi Jane”
What next, after protest, advocacy, revolution, freedom fightingThe Sobering Truth about Csíkszentmihályi’s Flow Theory
Flow is more about control and consciousness than you might thinkThis Woman Confronted a King
Protests are childish, said no warrior ever.Why Was David Letterman So Popular?
Boomer traits gave me an insight into the talk show legendCristiano Ronaldo Went from Bullied to Billionaire
One of the world’s greatest footballers has a lesson for Millennials a.k.a. the Pluto in Scorpio Generation
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