Sign by Sign Compatibility Matrix

Synastry Charts

A synastry chart compares your Natal Chart to someone else's.  Here's an example of a Cosmic Compatibility Report that results from this comparison.  This can identify things you have in common, including your emotional compatibility, how you handle conflict, etc.  Some Signs are naturally more compatible than others.  However, any combination can have a good relationship, though it may be more challenging and require more maturity, understanding and commitment to maintain.

If you're just starting out in a relationship and see some troublesome issues already, you may want to see how compatible you are astrologically before investing too much emotional energy.  At the least you can find out what to expect to see sooner or later.

In theory, Sun or Moon signs in square to one another will be much less compatible by nature than those in trine.   These are easy to identify via the Modes and Elements, i.e. Modes (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable) square each other and Elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) trine each other.  Signs that square each other will usually find at least one trait in the other that drives them crazy.  Whether or not it is tolerable depends on numerous other factors.  You can forgive a lot if you really love someone.  If you're together for other reasons, it's usually not that easy.  Signs in trine will have a generally harmonious nature, regardless of whether or not they are madly in love with each other.  But there are exceptions to every rule and any time you get two human beings together there are no guarantees.

Being a lot alike can be a good or bad thing, depending on other chart elements, but this is a place to start.  If the Sun Signs are not naturally compatible this can be balanced out if the Moon Signs are, since the Moon rules our emotional nature and that is one of the most important elements of a good relationship.  Compatible Ascendants can likewise temper any conflicts since this is the face we show to the world.  However, this can also cause an initial attraction that later is found to be based on inaccurate information as the two people come to know each other well enough to let go of their natural facade and show their true colors.  This can be particularly the case if one of the parties was under heavy Neptune influences when they met.

Signs that sextile one another often are fairly compatible, also.  These would be signs that are two away from yours.  For example, if you're a Pisces, then Capricorn or Taurus would be a comfortable match and you are likely to have numerous friends with those signs.  Note that Pisces is a Water sign while Capricorn and Taurus are Earth signs.  Not a bad combination since water and earth work well together for growth.  If your sign is Aries, then Aquarius or Gemini would be comfortable companions.  Aries is a Fire sign while Aquarius and Gemini are Air signs.  Again, fires need air to burn.  However, too much of a good thing can cause either a major mudslide for the first example or conflagration of Biblical proportions for the second.

As with everything else in life, there are no guarantees, balance is essential and free will rules.  This is not to say that Fire and Water or Earth and Air cannot have a good relationship because it's simply not the case.  There are too many variables when the entire chart is considered, to say nothing of the human heart.  Fundamentally, each sign is naturally compatible with at least four others.  But human nature being what it is, it seems most the time we wind up with someone from the other eight!  However, this is not as black and white as it may seem because compatibility does not have to come from the Sun Signs alone.

Generally, if you look at each person's "Big Three" (i.e. Sun, Moon and Ascendant Signs) you can get a fairly good view of the relationship's potential, both positive and negative.  Probability alone would indicate it's very likely for compatibility at some level when comparing two "Big Threes" but some people don't have three different signs, for example if they were born early in the day and their Sun Sign and Ascendant are the same or if they were born during a New Moon where the Sun Sign and Moon Sign will be the same.  This, of course, strengthens the sign characteristics they have.  But like previously stated, maturity, understanding and commitment exercised with a determined free will can conquer just about anything, provided BOTH parties are willing to work it out.

We can always learn something from another person, whether it helps us to grow or simply illustrates the old saying, "No life is ever wasted.  You can always serve as a bad example."

Another factor to be considered is that even though two individuals' signs may be in square, it's still possible that their actual Suns will make a positive aspect to one another.  Remember there are thirty degrees in each sign and even with a tight orb of a degree there is a lot of "wiggle room."  In other words, if one person has their Sun at zero degrees Cancer and the other has their Sun at 29 degrees Libra, their Suns are in trine even though the signs themselves are squared, since aspects between signs themselves are based on midpoints.  The converse is also true.  If someone has their Sun at 29 degrees Scorpio and another person has theirs at zero degrees Pisces, their Suns would be squared even though their signs are in trine.  So there are no hard and fast rules and astrology, as accurate as it may be for predicting personality, has no easy answers.

Other Chart Techniques One textbook means for determining whom a person will be attracted to is to look at the sign where Mars is located in the woman's Natal chart and conversely, the location of Venus in the man's Natal chart.  The odds are high that they will find themselves drawn to members of the opposite sex with either a Sun Sign or Ascendant in that sign.  The caveat here, however, is that just because they're attracted to them doesn't mean they'll be compatible!  Taking it a step further, any aspects made to the Ruler of the 7th House of Relationships can hold clues as well.  Planets aspecting the Ruler may be the ruling planets of those with whom they're inclined (or possibly destined) to have a serious relationship.

Another thing to look for is Sun or Moon signs located in reciprocal Houses.  For example, for a Pisces man and Leo woman, if his ascendant were Aquarius then his 7th House would be Leo and for hers to be reciprocal she would have a Virgo ascendant and her 7th House would be Pisces. These can result in strong attractions, even if other compatibilities are missing.  For 7th House reciprocity you may have a strong feeling of belonging together or a strong sense of partnership.  For the 8th House, there could be a very strong sexual attraction that can't be explained by any other aspect.  When these two people look each other in the eye everything disappears but the attraction between them.  However, not all problems can be solved in bed (though it's not always a bad place to start....)

Composite Charts combine the Natal or Progressed chart of the two individuals and create a single chart comprised of the midpoints of their individual planets.  This chart delineates the relationship itself as a living entity and captures areas of focus, emphasis and the general personality of the partnership, based on the blending of energy each person brings.  The House placement of the Composite Sun will reveal the relationship's foundation.  Note in the example chart which depicts the Composite for Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, that the Sun is in the 11th House of groups.  Obviously this couple is deeply entrenched in the media and entertainment world.  Of note, also, is that Pluto is in the Composite 7th House, hinting at the significant amount of power this couple wields collectively.  Other possible relationship emphasis for the Sun in the Houses are contained in the table below.

Relationships are never easy.  Sometimes the most challenging are also the most rewarding.  Not to quote another cliché, but often the course of true love does NOT run smoothly.  Who knows what karma you may be dealing with?  There are no hard and fast rules regarding who will make a fantastic couple as opposed to who won't.  Like they say, rules are made to be broken.  However, the general principles of astrology hold true and provide numerous insights into the behavior you can expect from another person.  Whether or not you'll be able to deal with it is entirely up to you.

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