Also have you seen this one here? I thought the author was bringing up quite some very valid points, that you do not read very often elsewhere.
"THE ART OF SYNASTRY IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
Last October's newsletter focused on this same astrological discipline: relationship analysis. Astrologer's refer to this discipline as "synastry." Synastry is the branch of astrology that examines what occurs when the planetary symbolism in two charts interact. In this release of the newsletter, I will expand on the concepts developed in the newsletter last October. If you are a new subscriber and did not receive that release, it is accessible on-line.
In the October '98 release of this newsletter, I outlined and described the three steps necessary to conducting a thorough relationship analysis. Those three steps are: 1) Evaluate and understand the relationship needs evidence in the charts of each individual. 2) Conduct a synastric analysis of the two charts 3) Evaluate the chart that represents the entity that is the couple (called the Composite Chart). In this column, we will explore the second step even more deeply by looking at those elements of relationship analysis not commonly addressed in astrology books.
JUDGING ATTRACTION
Pick up any book on astrological compatibility, and you'll learn about all those planetary linkages (aspects) between two charts that are noted for indicating phenomena such as, "love at first sight" (A's Venus aspects B's Uranus), "sexual sizzle" (A's Mars aspects B's Venus) and "animal magnetism" (A's Pluto aspects B's Sun, Venus or Mars), to name but a few. However, rarely do the books differentiate between indications of superficial (merely physical) and temporary attraction versus an enduring attraction.
Yet, I think most of the time we would prefer an enduring attraction to one that sustains only a short term rendezvous! While there are never any guarantees when human free will is involved, there is specific astrological symbology that does assist in identifying the potential for an attraction that will be sustained even through challenging times.
There's another weakness in a synastry analysis that only takes into consideration the linkages between the planets in A's chart with those of the planets in B's chart. What happens when an analysis reveals that you and your partner don't have very many of those planetary linkages that the books state indicate attraction? How do you interpret the meaning of that lack? Especially if you experience a good deal of mutual attraction with your partner, but an analysis of the synastry doesn't account for such. Hmmm. Perplexing, isn't it? Just as perplexing is when the books state the chemistry should be there, but you don't experience it.
While an examination of planetary linkages between two charts is certainly a very important part of a synastric analysis, of equal importance is the consideration of the interplay between the ascendant or descendant in one chart to the planets in the other's chart. Any judgment derived from a comparison based on planets alone, without consideration for the ascendant and descendant is inadequate. (The ascendant, or rising sign, is the sign and degree of the zodiac which was on the horizon at the moment you were born and at the location where you were born. It is the sign on the first house of the horoscope and represents your self. The descendant is the sign and degree of the 7th house cusp of your natal chart -and is always the sign opposite your ascendant. The descendant or 7th house is the house of partnership. The ascendant and descendant form the self/other or 1/7 house axis in a chart.)
The interplay that I have commonly found to relate to that phenomenon described as "love at first sight" and which typically results in more than a superficial rendezvous involves the ascendant. The planet ruling the ascendant or descendant in one person's chart is within 8 degrees of orb of being united with (forming a conjunction) or opposing (in opposite sign) the ascendant in the other persons chart. For example, Person A has Venus ruled Taurus rising and Person B has his/her Venus in Taurus conjunct the ascendant of Person A. Or, Person A has Taurus rising and Person B's Mars or Pluto is in Scorpio (because Mars and Pluto share rulership of Scorpio, the sign on the Descendant in Person A's chart). Such a linkage is not testimony of a physical attraction as much as it is evidence of mutual affinity. There's often an instant recognition between the folks. The two people, if open to the possibility, experience an instant sense of similitude with one another.
The power of such linkages is enhanced considerably if it involves a mutual interaspect. For example, person A has Virgo rising and person B has Leo rising. Person A's Mercury (ruler of Virgo) is in Aquarius conjunct the descendant of Person B. Person's B's Sun (ruler of Leo) and Mercury (ruler of Virgo) are in Virgo conjunct Person A's ascendant. This could be termed a "Double Whammy" because the 1/7 axis and ascendant rulers of both charts are involved. The man who had this particular aspect where his Sun and Mercury was conjunct his partners ascendant told me that the moment he laid eyes on her he thought, "she's the woman I've been waiting my whole lifetime for."
Keep your eyes peeled for any type of mutual linkage between the charts of two people: whatever planets are involved. The mutual linkages strongly influence the entire relationship and in the nature of the planets involved. For example, a mutual aspect (at least one of them a conjunction, sextile or trine) between Sun and Mercury in both charts is excellent for communication. When the mutual aspect involves Moon and Jupiter or Moon and Neptune the two people have a great deal of tolerance for each other's shortcomings.
While the linkage of either the ruler of the ascendant or descendant in one chart with the ascendant or descendant in the other chart often indicates instant affinity and hence, attraction, any time you find interaspects between the planets in one chart to the ascendant of the other, they indicate attraction founded in a sense of familiarity. Further, they often account for attractions that are not evidenced by the planetary linkages alone. The Venus in one chart linked with the Uranus in another represents a "love at first sight" founded in physical attraction more than an attraction founded in a natural affinity between the two people (unless of course Venus and/or Uranus is the ascendant or descendant ruler in one or both charts).
In addition, if the Sun, Moon, Venus or Mars in one horoscope is in the sign rising or descending in the other's chart, it is also confirmation of attraction. Better yet if the planet is within eight degree orb of conjunct the ascendant or descendant. For example, Person A has Gemini rising and Person B has Sun, Moon, Venus, or Mars in Gemini or Sagittarius. In my experience, these sort of ascendant/descendant linkages are not only testimony of attraction, but also provide evidence that the attraction is rooted in all levels of the being, not just the physical. Therefore, such linkages increase the possibility that the attraction would endure. Which brings us to another important consideration in synastry analysis: what is the potential for longevity?
JUDGING ENDURANCE
In a world where there are no guarantees, it is helpful to have some means for allowing us to evaluate the odds for success. Whatever the venture might be. Astrology provides one means. Yes? Astrology can be like having unbiased, non-judging, wise counsel. In analyzing the astrological symbology as it concerns the potential for a relationship to endure, one cannot overlook the importance of Saturn's influence in the two charts. Longevity is Saturn's domain.
Some folks naturally have more discipline, take their commitments more seriously, have a stronger sense of duty, and the ability to persevere despite hard times than do others: that is why you look to Saturn in each of the individual's natal charts before examining the endurability indicated between the two charts. However, even for those folks who experience greater ease in Saturn's domains, they will be less likely to commit to a partnership unless there is a Saturn interplay between the two charts.
On the other hand, even for those who avoid commitments at all costs, a strong or several Saturn linkages between the two charts enhances the potential for that person to stay with the relationship both "in good times and in bad." The key is to have enough Saturn interplay between the two charts without having too much; something which becomes easy to identify with practice. I won't go more deeply into the analysis of Saturn in relationships, because most of the books on astrological compatibility do. Nonetheless, I feel it important to acknowledge the key role Saturn plays in determining endurability of a relationship.
The Sun is another key player in compatibility. The Sun symbolizes our individuality and core identity. Therefore, an analysis of the interplay between the respective Sun's is very important to the analysis of the potential for the relationship to endure. However, there is much more involved in this analysis than most astrology books would have us believe. Sun sign astrology would tell us that our Cancer Sun would not do well with a Libra Sun. There's certainly truth to the potential for tension to exist between these two signs. But there are also exceptions. And the exceptions relate to that notion of affinity we've been exploring.
First, let us use an example of house/sign affinity. For example, Person A might have a Cancer Sun placed in the 7th house of the natal chart. The 7th house is Libra's natural house. This would be indicative of an innate affinity between the two Sun signs that would not be apparent if only the signs themselves were analyzed. Also indicative of affinity is if the Libra Sun had Cancer rising or the Moon in Cancer or the 4th house. Even better, let us say that in addition to Person A having the Cancer Sun positioned in the 7th house, Person B had the Libra Sun is in the 4th house of his/her own natal chart - Cancer's natural house. Another example of a Double Whammy. Powerful stuff.
To provide you with a few more examples of house/sign affinity, consider a 5th house Sun to have a natural affinity with a Leo Sun, Moon and ascendant and an 8th house Moon to resonate with Scorpio Sun, Moon and ascendant. There are several of these types of affinities that are not only testimony to allure but contribute healthfully to the potential for longevity. When any such affinity exists, the dynamic tension created by a Sun in Cancer interacting with a Sun in Libra (or any other two signs whose natures can be at cross-purposes) can become more a source of strength than one of stress.
Following are examples of other types of affinity that increase the potential for longevity:
1) ELEMENTAL AFFINITY:
Person A's Sun, Moon or Ascendant is in the same or an agreeable element to the Sun, Moon or Ascendant of person B. When planets are within orb of a sextile or trine to each other, they are in the same or an agreeable element. However, even when the two planets are not in orb of aspecting each other, the compliment of the elements contributes to affinity. For example, Person A has Sun in Taurus at 12 degrees and Person B has Moon in Capricorn at 26 degrees. Technically, the two are not within orb of the trine aspect, but the affinity of nature is still evident. The same would be true if one person had 3 degrees of Aquarius rising and the other had 14 degrees of Gemini on the ascendant - these two signs sextile when in orb of aspect. (Fire and air compliment each other as do earth and water.)
2) SIGN/ASPECT AFFINITY:
Use this analysis to determine potential affinity between any of the planets in the two charts that aren't linked via aspect. If the planets are also linked by aspect and also share this sort of affinity, all the better. Sexual compatibility exists even if there is no Mars/Venus interplay if, for example, Mars is conjunct Pluto in Leo in one chart and Venus is in Scorpio in the other. The reason is because Pluto rules Scorpio and hence both the Venus in one chart and the Mars in another resonates with Pluto. As another example, Person A has an aspect between Venus and Neptune and Person B has Mars in Pisces (Neptune rules Pisces).
3) There are several variations of an Ascendant/Descendant affinity that increases the potential for longevity:
--Person A has the ruler of the ascendant in the sign rising in Person B's chart. For example, Aries is rising with its ruler, Mars in Virgo. Person B has Virgo rising.
--Person A has the ruler of the descendant in the sign rising in Person B's chart. For example, Person A has Libra on the Descendant and ruler Venus is in Virgo, the sign rising in Person B's chart.
--The ruler of Person A's ascendant or descendant is in the same or opposite sign as the ruler of Person B's ascendant or descendant. (i.e. Person A has Capricorn rising and ruler Saturn is in Leo. Person B has Taurus rising and ruler Venus is in Aquarius.)
--Both ascendant's are ruled by the same planet (using traditional rulerships of the signs) For example, one has Scorpio rising and the other has Aries rising, both traditionally ruled by Mars.
---The same sign or opposite sign is rising in both charts. (i.e. Leo rises in both charts or Leo rises in chart A and Aquarius is on the ascendant of Chart B)
---The ruling planets of the ascendant and/or descendant in the two charts are in conjunction, opposition, sextile or trine to each other. (i.e. Taurus rises in chart A and Aries rises in chart B and A's Mars is trine B's Venus or vice versa)
4) AFFINITY OF SUN SIGN RULERS:
Take for example, Person A has Sun in Sagittarius and Person B has Sun in Cancer. Person A has the ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter, in Cancer and Person B has the ruler of Cancer, the Moon, in Sagittarius. Another variation on this would be if Person A had Moon in Cancer and Person B had Jupiter in Sagittarius.
Last, but certainly not least in importance, another strong indication of the potential for a relationship to have endurability is when any of the planets in one chart are in conjunction to either the north or south node (better yet if both) of the moon in the other's chart. The Moon's node are an imperative consideration in analyzing our soul's intent for this lifetime. When another person's planets aspect our nodal axis, and especially in the situation of the conjunction and opposition, that person is in some way involved with the *work* we intended to do this lifetime. Conjunctions to the South Node represent unfinished business between two souls. The conjunctions to the North Node indicate that the person has a key role to play in the fulfillment of our destiny this lifetime. The planet involved and the sign and house of the conjunction provide clues as to what type of role that is.
SUMMARY
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In the preface to their book, "Skymates," Astrologers Steven and Jodie Forrest wrote that "Love is a wild card." I'd have to agree with them. Further, I find it quite divine that it be such. Play that wild card and anything is possible. However, when it comes to partnership, both folks must believe in the glorious miracles that are possible when that wild card is played. One person alone cannot make a partnership a celebration of love. Both must participate. Both must be driven to honor love: to grow together, to forgive mistakes, and to gift one another with honesty.
But sometimes it can seem that even that wild card is not enough. It's an illusion, but a very convincing one. For that reason, sometimes it is very helpful to have the unbiased, non-judging guidance of astrology because nothing is quite as powerful when it comes to identifying the sources of misunderstanding, unmet needs, or any type of obstacle that should surface and enact barriers that threaten the continued growth of the partnership.
It has been my joy to share with you some of the insights astrology has given me into the dynamics of chart comparison. My hope is that you will find them as valuable as I have.
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NOTABLE QUOTES:
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Anything that brings you to your truth is a blessing.
-- Emmanuel
Lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
--Martin Luther King Jr.
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www.astroresources.com/oct99.htm