The building blocks of relationships
Every successful relationship between two individuals requires one or more building blocks. Top Synergy analyzes their presence and intensity in existing or potential relationships.
The four building blocks are:
Commitment - The desire and capacity of the individuals to keep and maintain the relationship for the long run;
Intimacy - The emotional closeness and openness in the relationship;
Passion - The romantic and physical attraction between the parties to a relationship; and
Synergy: The potential of the relationship to become greater in its constructive and creative powers than the capabilities of the individual participants combined.
Three primary factors determine success of a relationship
The Individuals Involved: the individual characteristics each person brings into the relationship. This aspect is analyzed from several different angles:
Personal needs and goals;
The capacity to function and grow within a relationship;
The capacity to let others function and grow within a relationship.
Compatibility: how the relationship, as a separate entity, handles setbacks and behavioral modifications. Is the energy level and drive i) consistent with maintaining a dynamic co-existence; ii) respecting the concept of each partner's unlimited growth; and iii) coping with the frequent challenges posed by obstacles to growth (such as incompatibilities, children, or financial hurdles)? Does the relationship focus on a mutual life aim and sets its sights on a long-term commitment?
Feasibility: how the partners interact on a day-to-day basis. In many cases, the interaction could lead to a wonderfully romantic or intimate relationship, yet - at the same time - to a total inability to share personal and private assets, space or emotions.
Synergy: the potential for a relationship between two individuals to become greater in its developmental and creative energies than the sum total of the energies of each individual participant.
Astrology of the individuals
Astrologic Goal: The assessment of personal characteristics and traits that each party possesses and carries into the relationship.
The Analytic Process: The astrologic evaluation process approaches this topic from several different angles:
Personal needs and goals;
Ability to function and develop within a relationship;
Ability to let others function and develop within a relationship;
Perception of sex and intimacy practices.
Starting the process
By determining whether or not a relationship is possible between two individuals, and the way their personal needs and skills in building a relationship support the creation of a new relationship entity.
Opt to find that the planet ruling the house on the cusp of the first sign in one’s chart creates an aspect to the planet that rules the house on the first cusp of the other. The more harmonious this aspectual relationship, the better.
If there is no aspect relationship, apply the following test:
Is Mars and Venus are in aspect or in mutual reception; when using Mars as the first person while the other person’s Ascendant ruler can’t be Uranus, and the other person’s 7th house ruler can’t be the Sun.
Testing potential lack of fulfillment:
By the presence of Inconjuncts in the natal charts.
An instance of Inconjunct usually implies reorganizations where one gets less than he expected. It means that either person may be subject to frequent circumstances of giving up due to failing expectations.
Qualifying the capacity to accept and to change:
By searching for mutual receptions in either chart.
The more mutual receptions there are, the greater tendency there is for the person to increase harmony of the relationship despite inadequacies in compatibility. A mutual reception allows any interaction with a planet in a course of a sideways slide to take the position of the other planet. Partners with mutual receptions tend to be less locked into old habits and concepts. Mutual receptions in those planets that resist change in one way or another can be most beneficial such as Mars, and especially Saturn. But any of them can have their restrictive tendencies.
Observing potential discords in the relationship:
When the Ascendant in either chart is in the other’s 6th, 8th, or 12th house. Yet, this instance can only be considered as a warning or a red flag to a potential discord. There are ample counter-factors that can prevent it from manifesting.
Examine superiority potential:
If one’s Ascendant is on the other’s Mid-Heaven.
When found, one may advance over the other in business, legal or political matters, and may even be inclined to manage the other’s affairs. While a potential challenge, it is a strengthening factor if the other partner doesn’t mind being managed.
Identifying contributing characteristics, in the individual charts, to a good relationship:
Character (honesty, faithfulness, dependability, responsibility)
Saturn and Mars in good aspect to each other
Saturn and Mars in 1st quadrant
Saturn and Mars parallel or in good aspect to the ruler of the Ascendant
Saturn and Mars well placed by sign
Jupiter angular or in good aspect to the ruler of the Ascendant
Planets above the horizon, showing openness
Look for number of retrograde planets. These specific combinations show a capacity to experience hardship yet to try again. But as every coin holds two sides, it may also show an unwillingness to move on, if the relationship dies. The person may get stuck in familiar circumstances despite the fact that the relationship died a long time ago.
Characteristics of fitness and aptitude for establishing and sustaining a partnership:
Good aspect between Mercury and the ruler of the Ascendant.
Strong planets by sign (or which have good power and low friction) and in the houses, which are ruling marriage, children, or harmony.
Instances of Malefic in the 1st quadrant. Those are great teachers of mistakes early in life.
Ruler of Ascendant in good aspect (or powerful and of low friction) to the ruler of the house of the specific type of relationship on hand.
Ruler of Ascendant in good aspect (or powerful and of low friction) to a planet in the house of the relationship or partnership in examination. (The 7th house for a partnership, the 5th for romance, etc.)
Ruler of the house of the type of relationship in question which is not in bad aspect (or weak and of high friction)
Patterns that show tendency for permanence of relationship:
Mars-Venus aspectual relationship in a chart, and the power/friction condition of the Moon (in man’s chart) & the Sun (in woman’s chart). This is a three-bit test, consists of:
Identifying aspects or mutual receptions between the Mars-Venus and the Moon-Sun.
Finding parallels between the Mars-Venus and the Moon-Sun (a parallel is a declination within 15 minutes in either north or south declination). This increases the tendency to provide permanence in a relationship.
Examining if Venus or Mars are ruling the Ascendant – an assurance of a positive partnership.
House placement of Part of Marriage. This position may show where the opposite party is originally met. When it does, the use of the Arabic Parts, and the Part of Marriage and Fortune may be considered and useful in this context.
Presence of a fixed sign on the 1st or 7th house. It may demonstrate the tendency for permanence in marriage, provided that Uranus or Mars are not in the 7th house. Uranus propagates unusual changes; while Mars perpetuates lack of patience and harsh actions.
Retrograde ruler of the 7th house or another planet in that house. In such case, that person is more reconcilable and likely to try again.
Assessing individuals’ basic instincts toward partnership:
According to a pre-determined set of Moon-Marriage Orientation patterns. By nature of the Moon, the assessment is focused on the aspects of change and emotional interaction.
Then, combine the Moon in the signs, as determined in the previous step, with the condition of the 7th house ruler and any strong aspects to the Moon.
Evaluating other individual characteristics relevant to involvement in a relationship:
By inspecting which planet is in the natal 1st & 7th House Planet placements, or is the Ruler of the 1st or 2nd house cusp:
If its the Sun, then the individual has a greater tendency to be Like Mars but prouder and less active and jealous, more dependent on others, averse to accepting responsibility, but tending to luck. In a male chart: the native gets support from wife, mother and women; in a female chart: there is an improved position through the partnership.
Moon: The individual has a greater tendency to bend in everyday life, especially when closely aspecting Neptune. This placement can produce inconsistency in a domestic relationship unless other factors intervene (retrogradation, power aspect to Saturn, etc.). Often, the oversensitivity and outraged pride represented here may cause emotional outbursts between the parties.
Mercury: The individual has a greater tendency to be intelligent, active, industrious, yet restless person; He or she may enjoy working together with the spouse; also be a good conversationalist.
If Mercury is in aspect to Saturn or Mars, that individual appears always youthful. In this partnership, one occupies the student’s role while the other is the teacher, perhaps alternating. Sometimes there is more than one marriage, but always there are many journeys and change of addresses over the period or the partnership.
Venus: The individual has a greater tendency to be Kind, indulgent, gentle mannered, willing to follow spouse’s lead and have happy home life.
Mars: The individual has a greater tendency to be active, jealous, independent person who must take the lead. She or he will not accept second place, nor change his ways - unless Mars is in mutual reception with another planet giving him other venting opportunities. If Scorpio is on the cusp, and also conjunct the 19th degree, there is a greater potential for difficult partnership.
Jupiter: The individual has a greater tendency to be Like Venus, but also to spend and give things away, followed by an optimistic, happy and eager-to-please nature.
Saturn: The individual has a greater tendency to be quiet, industrious, patient, but often frustrated mate, unable to share outwardly how s/he feels inwardly, thus becoming a burden to the other person.
Uranus: The individual has a greater tendency to be an eccentric mate who departs from the norm in at least one way, is unpredictable, and may have some kind of personal cross to bear that impacts on the partnership. One of the partners plays 2nd fiddle, or the partners establish areas where they are the dominant one. If Uranus is in or ruling the 7th house, the eccentricity and unpredictability may cause a separation, depending on additional aspects.
Neptune: The individual has a greater tendency to cause difficulties which can be foreboding for the partnership such as keeping secrets. This can be especially difficult if Neptune is in high frictional aspect to Mercury. There may be an attraction to keeping marriage and related issues secret, and to seclude it from everyday life. There may even me a delayed marriage ceremony due to unspecified issues. A great example is “Runaway Bride” with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
Pluto: There is a greater tendency to complicate marriage; The partner may never be there when needed.
Dark Moon Lilith: The individual has a greater tendency to exhibit loneliness with mate by withdrawing and denying companionship.
Astrologic Compatibility
Astrology gives us a clear definition of the abstract characteristics of a relationship. One may define these characteristics as the natal chart of a newborn entity: the relationship. Many characteristics that are measurable in the natal chart can be used to identify those of the relationship.
In our analytical paradigm, we focus on the houses in the Cosmodyne chart. These measure the areas of life where the relationship shows impact.
In regard to Strength and to Compatibility, the first three houses have the most significant impacts on the relationship.
Comparing goals and view of existence in life pattern:
Sun-Moon Blend Patterns provide a clear indication of the shared pattern of the existence and goal between people, a most significant aspect of compatibility.
Inspecting sign/ascendant/house relationships between the pair’s charts:
Check if one’s sign on the Ascendant is in the other’s 1st, 5th, or 7th house; it represents a strong tendency to relate to each other by harmony and affection.
If the sign on one Ascendant is in the other’s 6th, 8th, or 12th house: the two will disagree often and be disappointed in each other’s behavior.
If the sign on one Ascendant is in the other’s 4th or 10th: tendency of one to assume rulership over the other upsetting relationship stability.
If the sign on one Ascendant is in the other’s 3rd, 9th, or 11th: relationship will tend to be on the friendly and companionable side.
If the sign on one Ascendant is in the other’s 2nd or 8th: possessiveness is significant, which may be good or bad as some people like to be possessed and some don’t.
Check for discord alerts by the presence of Malefics in houses 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th & 12th. This warning signal is being offset when some kind of constraining aspect to Saturn is present.
Relationship Feasibility
Astrologic Goal: To derive at the feasibility of the relationship.
Method: Comparing both charts together and notating what planets are in the other person’s houses, and signs, and doing that from the angle of each person. Each will perceive the other differently. And each will perceive the impact of the planet in the other’s house in a different way.
The first consideration in looking at Synastry is the type or purpose of the particular relationship. For each kind of partnership, there are different planetary emphases.
Teacher /Student relationship: Mercury (basic knowledge), Jupiter (higher education and broader philosophic understandings), and Saturn (teacher role as organizer, disciplinarian, and taskmaster) weigh the most.
Romantic relationships: Sun (affecting romantic attractions), Mars (affecting male principles), and Venus (affecting female principles) are the cardinal planets. Some important comparative aspects are Venus/Mars, Venus/Moon, Venus/Sun, Venus/Uranus, and Venus/Pluto.
Marriage carries the same considerations as a romantic relationship, but Saturn is added to the equation due to its ability to deal with responsibility, patience, and discipline in a relationship that involves everyday little interactions.
Business and Professional partnerships: In addition to all other characteristics of durable and viable long-term relationships, we qualify the relationship by three other criteria:
Compatibility in finances: represented by aspect relationships between Venus & the Moon, 2nd house Ruler aspects, and Planets in 2nd house of either person.
Compatibility in professional affairs, ambition for public recognition, and career goals: These are seen in the aspect relationships between Mars and Saturn, the 10th house and ruler of the 10th house, and planets in the 10th house of either person.
Compatibility in know-How, intelligence in regard to everyday commonsense, and natural aptitude in the business issues at hand: These are seen by looking at Mercury, the 6th house and ruler of the 6th house, the Interactions in the charts between Mercury and the 6th house, and planets in the 6th house of either.
Parent-Child relationships: Where the impact of Saturn is most significant.
One question comes up often regarding the analysis process: “Isn’t it unlikely that a person from the 21st century, and one who functions at an aboriginal level in the Australian outback are going to create a successful partnership?”
Indeed, relationships between real people can best exist between those of similar evolutionary position, no matter how well their charts look together. Measuring evolutionary development is certainly difficult, and we can offer only a partial compensation by evaluating similarity in the following connections between the parties:
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto: in closer conjunction to angles;
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto: in exact aspect to other planets especially the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Ruler of Ascendant, and strong Mercury (for similar levels of intelligence and communicative ability);
Strong Saturn for the capacity for self-discipline;
Strong Sun, for level of basic power and will.
Other influencing aspects on a relationship:
Suns in opposition, trine, sextile, parallel can provide an interaction pattern that is supportive. Suns are in square aspect show a continual butting of head to solve problems. Mutual receptions and parallels can overcome the square.
Both Moons in the same sign, shows a common emotional appreciation of problems.
The Moons in non frictional aspect to each other, in good aspect to other’s Ascendant, in good aspect to other’s Sun, in good aspect to other’s Jupiter, or in good aspect to other’s Mercury, enhance compatibility.
Moons afflicting each other or Moon afflicting the other’s Sun trigger a clash of personalities.
One’s Venus parallel to other’s Mars is beneficial for love and happiness to continue throughout the relationship, especially in fixed signs or angular houses. And so are:
Venus parallel to other’s Uranus - especially in fixed signs or angular houses;
Venus parallel to other’s Saturn - especially in fixed signs or angular houses;
Venus harmonious aspect to other’s Mars - especially in fixed signs or angular houses;
Venus harmonious aspect to other’s Uranus - especially in fixed signs or angular houses;
Venus harmonious aspect to other’s Saturn especially in fixed signs or angular houses (which gives modesty, tact & diplomacy).
Jupiter aspecting Mars provides optimism when needed. Jupiter aspecting Venus provides the same only with less intensity.
Jupiter aspecting Venus in the 10th house might show financial gain by the marriage. Jupiter in non-frictional aspect to- or parallel with- Uranus might give unexpected windfalls.
Uranus aspecting Venus or Mars prompts sometimes love at first sight. Permanent relationship is likely to follow if the aspect is angular.
A powerful mark of true synergy is the Nodal Axis - if there is an aspect by square or opposition or inconjunct or conjunct between the special planet, Ascendant or Mid-Heaven.
Here are some examples of how these relations impact the relationship:
Ascendant: A core event connects to the supremacy of each personality by itself, and how they combined look to the world.
Mid-Heaven: Parties are connected to career issues, with a shared sense of personal destiny.
Sun or Moon: A deep mutual recognition, a belonging to one another.
Mercury: Focused in the mind and thinking processes, and communication.
Venus: Romantic perceptions of reality.
Mars: Aggression and defensiveness, along with strong sexuality in follow-up, the fight then wild sexual make-up.
Jupiter: Enthusiasm, understanding, learning.
Saturn: Controlling circumstances, mutual manipulations.
Uranus: Intense and electrifying shared magnetism.
Neptune: Deception or mistrust, or a shared fantasy or aesthetic appreciation.
Pluto: Shared empowerment and resolve.
Source: Top Synergy
