Astrological compatibility

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Astrological compatibility (synastry) is the branch of astrology that studies relationships by comparing natal horoscopes. A natal horoscope is a chart, map, or imaginary snapshot of the planets in the Solar System and their positions in the zodiac at the exact time of a person's birth. The signs of the Zodiac represent 12 different types of spiritual energy and purpose. The planets in the Solar System are associated with at least one, but most often two signs of the zodiac.

Relationships between planets, signs (types of energy), and houses (sectors of the chart) are described in words and/or often rated in numbers to show to what degree, how, and in what ways one person is compatible or incompatible with another. The assessment is based on the patterns and distributions of energy in the respective and combined charts.

Compatibility between Zodiac signs is always approached within a particular branch of astrological tradition: Chinese astrology, Western astrology or Vedic astrology.

Compatibility in Western astrology

The first concept to be understood is that the different planets correspond to different kinds of love.

Venus is the planet of affection, attraction and/or romantic love. Venus is associated with the Zodiac signs Libra and Taurus. Mars is the planet of sex and passion; Martian love was called Eros by the Greeks. Mars is associated with the signs Aries and Scorpio. The Sun, which is associated with Leo, is also a symbol for love—the kind of love that is mutual honor, respect and an appreciation for each other as equals. The Greek word for this type of love is perhaps Philia. Agape is the love of God or the unconditional spiritual love. In modern astrology Agape might be associated with the planet Neptune or Jupiter, rulers of the spiritual sign Pisces.

A person is often blend of energies as described in the natal chart. The natal chart also tells the interpreter how or the manner in which someone loves. For example, if someone has Venus in Scorpio they will have a tendency to give affection in an emotionally intense, possibly mystical, way. If someone has a Mars in Taurus, their erotic style of loving will be sensual and slow.

When astrologers speak of aspects, they describe the relationships between the planets or energies. Each person has aspects or relationships between the planets in their birth (natal) charts that represent psychological strengths, weakness, natural blessings and personal demons. In synastry, or chart comparisons, aspects illustrate areas of ease and compatibility or challenge and incompatibility between the individuals studied.

Among certain astrologers, it is agreed that a relationship should balance strengths and weaknesses. Too much of even a seemingly good thing is often bland and unproductive, meaning that two "astronomical twins" who have the same planet alignments, were born at the same time, in the same place, etc., are not always the most compatible. Rarely are even the most narcissistic of people excited about the possibility of being in a relationship with themselves. So healthy or positive synastry between two charts is about blending and complementing another’s energies to create a healthy synergy.

Consider the zodiac as a circle or belt of fixed stars surrounding the Solar System. These fixed stars serve as “landmarks” in the sky. As the planets orbit the sun at their respective speeds and rhythms, when viewed from earth they appear to be in a particular constellation of the zodiac (area of the sky). Aspects have to do with the distance between planets as they travel. Aspects are measured in degrees since they all are moving within a big circle around the sun. Each of the 12 signs of the Zodiac occupies 30 degrees of the 360 degree circle. For example, if Mars is passing through the area of Virgo and Venus is traveling through Capricorn, at a certain time they will be exactly 120 degrees apart. This aspect is called a trine. A trine is considered the most positive aspect or relationship because it is between similar energies and therefore easily blended. In this example it is between the earth signs Virgo and Capricorn. If, however, Mars was in Virgo but Venus was in Scorpio, this aspect would be a sextile or 60 degrees apart. They are separated by one sign or constellation between them. The sextile is also a positive aspect because the energies complement one another. In this case they represent the elements of earth and water, which in nature need or support each other.

Astrology has a base-12 cycle in common with music. In music theory there are intervals which are more harmonious than others. If music theory can be applied to astrology, then the most harmonious to least harmonious aspects are conjunction, quincunx, sextile, square, trine, semisextile and opposition.

In practice the trine and sextile are considered the most positive aspects, the square (90 degrees) is the most negative, and the opposition (180 degrees) and conjunction (0 degrees) could be either bad or good depending on the kind of energies involved. An opposition of energies can be an ongoing battle or balance. A conjunction, meaning planets standing together in the same sign, can be a beautiful blend, e.g., Moon/ Venus (emotions and affections) or frustrating—Saturn/Mars (Stop and Go). Again, conjunctions can be positive aspects in a chart when they are energies that blend or complement one another, but if they are energies that naturally oppose or antagonize each other, a conjunction is NOT a good thing. There is one exception, however, and that is the combination of Mars and Venus.

In a compatibility chart between a man and woman when a man's Mars is conjunct with (in the same position as) a woman’s Venus, this denotes a very primal and urgent attraction. They represent the opposite energies in the zodiac and in nature. Venus is the Female principle and Mars is the Male. The combination of attraction /Affection (Venus) and Passion (Mars) is 'the stuff of great love stories'.

Polarity

Masculine, positive or power signs:

• Leo (Sun in domicile)
• Aries (direct Mars in domicile/Sun in exaltation)
• Gemini (retrograde Venus in exaltation)
• Libra (direct Venus in domicile)
• Sagittarius (retrograde Mars in exaltation)
• Aquarius (Venus as favorable)

Feminine, negative or romance signs:

• Cancer (Moon in domicile)

• Taurus (retrograde Venus in domicile/Moon in exaltation)
• Pisces (direct Venus in exaltation)
• Scorpio
• Virgo (Mars as favorable)
• Capricorn (direct Mars in exaltation)

Compatibility in Indian astrology

The Hindu/Indian system of examining compatibility based on horoscopes of the aspirant couple is unique. Horoscope matching is an art of the highest ingenuity of an astrologer. The fundamental concept of matching horoscopes emanates from constellations occupied by the Moon at the time of births of bride and bridegroom. Individuals inherit qualities of the birth constellation. Various constellations represent different nature in respect of their casts, animals presented by them, sex, Gana (God/man/demon), humour, birds ruled, primordial elements, Gotra, directions ruled, consonants and vowels, mutual harmony and repulsion with certain stars, beneficence to the other stars by virtue of mutual distance etc.

In addition, a host of other factors such as longevity of the individuals, character (sexual), widowhood, poverty, progeny, body status, radical strengths and indications, planetary nature and afflictions, currency of major and minor periods, Marakaas (death inflicting planets), placement of Mars in their nativity (Mangal Dosha), time of query, omen (Shagun), antidotes, propitiations, auspicious time for marriage etc. should be examined to arrive at a suitable union of the couple.

Based on the birth constellations, the following aspects are examined Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Gana, Graha Maitri, Bhakoota, Nadi, Mahendra, Vedha, Rajju, Stree Deergha, Linga, Gotra, Pakshi, Chandra Yoga, Ayya Varga and Yujja for checking compatibility.

In another system, only eight of these factors are given importance and are assigned numeric values - Varna (1 point), Vashya (2 Points), Tara (3 points), Yoni (4 points), Graha Maitri (5 points), Gana (6 points), Bhakoota (7 points) and Nadi (8 points). The total of these factors adds up to 36 points and a horoscope is considered to be matched only if the compatibility score is more than 18.

Significance of various aspects in compatibility are as follows:

• Varna: Grade of spiritual development, obedience
• Vashya: Mutual control – friendship.
• Tara: Mutual beneficence-luck-auspiciousness
• Yoni: Sexual aspects, affinity, urge, compatibility.
• Graha Maitri: Psychological disposition, friendship.
• Gana: Nature: Dev – Manush – Raakshas
• Bhakoota: Children, growth of family.
• Nadi: Temperaments, hereditary (astrological), affliction and death to other
• Mahendra: Promotes attachments, increase in longevity.
• Stree – Dergha: Service to husband.
• Rajju: Felicity and duration of married life.
• Vedha – Varga: Mutual repellence and enmity.
• Varga: Mutual friendship/enmity judged from their names
• Yujja: Type of mutual love – from one side – both sides.

Based on the above aspects, mathematical computation is performed to find a match. In certain cases need based matching is done and the astrologer has to use his skills in examining compatibility. It is felt essential to match the horoscopes before further marriage negotiations are done. The above system is in practice for the last two millennia.

Criticism

A statistical study^[1] was done on the predictive power of Indian astrology. The study found no statistically significant effects in the predictive quality among 51 astrologers.

See also

• Interpersonal compatibility

Notes

1. ^ J. V. Narlikar et al., "A statistical test of astrology", Current Science 96: 641-643, 10 MARCH 2009

References

For astrological compatibility in Chinese astrology, see:

• Theodora Lau. (1997). "Chinese Horoscopes Guide to Relationships". Publisher: Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 0-385-48640-5
• Suzanne White. (1998). Chinese Astrology: Plain and Simple. Publisher: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3188-2
• Suzanne White. (1998) New Astrology: A Unique Synthesis of the World's Two Great Astrological Systems: The Chinese and Western
• Theodora Lau. (1999). Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes. Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0-06-273731-7

For astrological compatibility in western astrology, see:

• The Diagram Group. (2004). "The Book of the Zodiac". Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. ISBN 1402713061
• Ronald Davison. (1983). "Synastry: Understanding Human Relations Through Astrology". Publisher: Aurora Press, Inc. ISBN 0943358051
• E. W. Neville. (1997). "Planets in Synastry: Astrological Patterns of Relationships". Publisher: Whitford Press, Inc. ISBN 0924608013
• Christine Rakela. (2004). "Love Relationship Formula: Predicting Romantic Success with Astrology ". Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Inc. ISBN 0738704245

For astrological compatibility in Indian Astrology

• Gayatri Devi Vasudev (2002). "The Art of Matching Charts". Publisher: Motilal Banarasidass. ISBN 81-208-1769-9
• H.Defouw - R.E.Svoboda(2000). "Light on Relationships: The Synastry of Indian Astrology". Publisher:

Weiser Books. ISBN 1578631483

• V K Shridhar (2002). " HINDU ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY". Publisher: Suvaas Publishers, 25, Friends Colony, Yamuna Nagar, 135 001 Haryana India. ISBN :81-901413-0-9. [1]