This is where the signs come in, and this is the crucial piece that is missing from the modern dialogue about the aspects. The five major ‘Ptolemaic’ aspects, the conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition, are not just based on the geometrical shapes and distances that they correspond with, but they also connect together signs of the zodiac which share an affinity with one another through their gender, element, and modality. Here is how that breaks down:
- Signs that are sextile share an affinity through the same gender. So, Aries and Gemini are both masculine signs, and that is what they share in common.
- Signs that are square share the same modality. So, Taurus and Leo are both fixed signs, and that is what they share in common.
- Signs that are trine share the same element as well as the same gender. So, Cancer and Scorpio are both water signs and they are both feminine, so that is their affinity.
- Signs that are in opposition share the same gender, although they also share a special connection through the polarity of their domicile lords, since the rulers of those signs traditionally are diametrically opposite but complementary in their characteristics.
A composite chart is created by taking the 'midpoints' produced by the combination of the couples' corresponding planets. Each sign is composed of 30 degrees, and the signs are continuous round the zodiac from 0 degrees to 360: 12 x 30. For a composite chart you take the whole numbers of the signs and add them up.
The Zodiac is:
The Zodiac is:
| aries from 0 - 29 degrees | taurus from 30 - 59 | gemini from 60 - 89 |
| cancer from 90 - 119 | leo from 120 - 149 | virgo from 150 - 179 |
| libra from 180 - 209 | scorpio from 210 - 239 | sagittarius from 240 - 269 |
| capricorn from 270 - 299 | aquarius from 300 - 329 | pisces from 330 - 359 |
So, if your Sun is at 20 degrees of Aries your Sun number is 20. If your partner’s Sun is 8 degrees of Sagittarius it is 248 (in degs of the whole zodiac, Sag starting at 240degs),. Add the two of them together, 20 + 248 = 268, then divide by 2, which gives 134. That means that the midpoint of your Sun and that of your partner is at 14 degrees of Leo (which starts at 120 degs). This is the Sun for your composite relationship chart.
Do the same for all the planets: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron, and the North Node. Also for your combined Ascendants and for the Midheaven.
| elementally speaking: the elements distinguish character 'modes' - thought / intuition / sensation / feeling | |
| Air Signs: ( thought) Libra, Aquarius, Gemini will be more drawn to Fire signs & other Air signs. Earth signs may prove to stolid for quicksilver air intellects. | Earth Signs:(sensation) Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo Will be more drawn to Water signs and Fire signs. The breeziness of Air signs can prove too impersonal. |
| Fire Signs: (intuition) Aries, Leo, Sagittarius will be more drawn to other Fire signs, and Earth signs. The characteristic emotional dependence of water signs can smother fire's energy. | Water Signs: (feeling) Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Will be more drawn to Air signs and other Water signs. The outgoing and flamboyant fire signs can be just too much. |
| The energy, creativity and flamboyance of fire signs sees them attract a wide range of other signs but attraction does not necessarily equate to lasting relationships, where Water signs tend to be the most attractive long term bet. The earth signs hallmark is dependability and practicality, while the air signs are traditionally the most awkward to combine with. | |
| qualitatively: the qualities indicate character types: dynamic Cardinals / self-assured Fixed / changeable Mutables | |
| Cardinal Signs: Libra,Capricorn, Aries, Cancer | Can work well with Mutable signs but may dominate |
| Fixed Signs: Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio | Get along best with other fixed signs |
| Mutable Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces | Can find the fixed signs to rigid and inflexible |
| It's more often the case that you'll get on readily with other signs of the same quality or element, but especially where the quality is shared. The sharp eyed will observe that the polar opposite signs are found within each quality - eg in Cardinal you find Libra-Aries and Capricorn-Cancer. | |
