Your Astrology as a Couple: The Couple’s Reading

Astrology has many uses and techniques; one of the most popular uses is synastry, which is the term to describe how two charts interact with each other.  We all have the same points in our charts: the Sun in a sign, the Moon in a sign, Mercury in a sign, and so on.  When we get together with someone our energy designs (our charts) interact.

This article is one of a series to look at the interaction of points between two people and explain how to interpret the dynamics between points in different charts.  This is the final article in the series, culminating with a sample of a couple’s reading, which incorporates the synastry charts, composite chart, and Davison chart for two people.

What is Synastry Astrology?

It is probably easier to show it visually rather than write a lengthy explanation.  Below you will see a single image of two charts, one on the inside and another going around the outside.  There are two images to show what the relationship looks like when person A is on the inside and person B is on the outside, then the reverse.

These were randomly generated charts. As you can see, all the same points appear in different signs throughout the two charts.  When we look at them together, we have the chance to see the kinds of energy dynamics that will take effect when they form a connection, whether as lovers, friends, or family members.

To do a complete and comprehensive reading for any two people, you want to look at the synastry charts – Person A to Person B and Person B to Person A, the combined charts – Composite and Davison, and the combined charts to Person A and Person B. 

Reading the Synastry of Two People, the Primary Triad (Sun, Moon, and Ascendant)

A fair amount of my work as a professional astrologer involves relationship chart reading, and I always start with the Moons and work my way through the other points.  Often clients, or people I meet in public, who find out I am an astrologer, will say something like, “I am a Leo and read somewhere that I should never date a Scorpio” or “I am a Leo and should only date fire and air signs, like Aries or Gemini”.  Then they ask, “is that true?”

While it is true that some signs challenge one another and others flow, any sign can “get along” with another sign depending on the maturity of the individuals.  There are certainly plenty of examples of successful and happy Leo/Scorpio couples and failed Aries/Leo couples.  The signs do not guarantee success or failure, they just reveal how energy will generally interact in any relationship.

Moon to Moon

The Moon for Person B is in Aries and the Moon for Person A is in Libra.  They oppose each other by sign, but not degree.  To oppose by the degree they would need to be within 6 degrees of the exact opposition and they are just over 7 degrees apart. 

Since the Moons of these two people oppose, they will seek emotional balance from one another in ways particular to the signs involved.  The Aries Moon person prefers to give and receive love in an independent, maverick, in-the-moment way while the Libra Moon person prefers to give and receive love by relating, harmonizing, and balancing with others.

Sun to Sun

The Sun for Person B is in Taurus and the Sun for Person A is in Scorpio.  They oppose each other by sign, but not degree.  To oppose by the degree they would need to be within 6 degrees of the exact opposition and they are over 13 degrees apart. 

Since the Suns of these two people oppose, they will seek life to life balance from one another in ways particular to the signs involved.  The Taurus Sun person lives a life path to stabilize, endure, and build while the Scorpio Sun person lives a life path to transform, exert power, and upheave.  If these two signs strike the right balance, there is nothing they cannot do together.

Ascendant to Ascendant

The Ascendant for Person B is in Gemini and the Ascendant for Person A is in Cancer.  They sit “side-by-side”, so they can learn from each other because they identify in very different ways.  The Gemini individual (person B) will prefer to identify as open to knowledge and willing to learn through communication and study of the self.  The Cancer individual (person A) will prefer to identify as nurturing and caring, learning about self through emotional connections with others.

Combining Two Charts to Create One Chart

There are two main ways to combine astrology charts: the midpoint method, known as the Composite chart, and the geographic method, known as the Davison chart.

The Composite Chart

Below is the composite chart of the two charts above:

When you combine the charts, the Couple ends up with the Sun Leo at 15 degrees and 01 minute in the 3^rd House of Communication.  The combined Moon is 12d33m of Capricorn and the Ascendant is 22d14m of Gemini.  The Primary Triad for this couple could be stated as, “Their Life Path needs to be adventurous and filled with dynamic interactions with the people around them, as social leaders.  At the heart (Moon) of the relationship is the Soul Urge to succeed together as a couple.  People will perceive them together as open-minded and curious, the type of couple everyone likes to communicate with.”

The Davison Chart

Below is the Davison chart of the two charts above, as well as the map showing the midpoints in space:

When you combine the charts, the couple ends up with the Sun Leo at 14 degrees and 08 minutes in the 3^rd House of Communication.  The combined Moon is 11d50m of Capricorn and the Ascendant is 21d00m of Gemini.  The Primary Triad for this couple could be stated as, “Their Life Path needs to be adventurous and filled with dynamic interactions with the people around them, as social leaders.  At the heart (Moon) of the relationship is the soul urge to succeed together as a couple.  People will perceive them together as open-minded and curious, the type of couple everyone likes to communicate with.”

The Composite Couple Chart and Each Person

For Person A, the Moon in the Composite chart is right on top of Jupiter in the 7^th House of Partnership.  The “heart” of this partnership will help Person A expand and connect with other people out in the world (7^th House) and the people who will help Person A reach his or her goals (Capricorn).  Whether or not the relationship lasts, the emotional engine of the two them together will drive up the ambition of Person A.  Since it is a conjunction the process could be loving or challenging; either way, it will be significant.

For Person B, the Moon in the Composite chart is right on top of Neptune in the 8^th House of Intimacy (and Shared Resources).  The “heart” of this partnership will help Person B understand and really “feel” his or her purpose (Neptune), especially regarding the relationship itself and how the two of them will achieve and succeed (Capricorn) together (8^th House).  Again, since an impersonal Point is aspected by a conjunction, the positive or negative force is not defined in the aspect; the way it would be if the aspect was a square (challenge) or trine (collaboration).

The Davison Couple Chart and Each Person

For Person A, the Moon in the Davison chart is right on top of Jupiter in the 7^th House of Partnership.  The “heart” of this partnership will help Person A expand and connect with other people out in the world (7^th House) and the people who will help Person A reach his or her goals (Capricorn).  Whether or not the relationship lasts, the emotional engine of the two of them together will drive up the ambition of Person A.  Since it is a conjunction, the process could be loving or challenging; either way, it will be significant.

For Person B, the Moon in the Davison chart is right on top of Neptune in the 8^th House of Intimacy (and Shared Resources).  The “heart” of this partnership will help Person B understand and really “feel” his or her purpose (Neptune), especially regarding the relationship itself and how the two of them will achieve and succeed (Capricorn) together (8^th House). 

Summation

In essence, these charts are good but not great for a romantic relationship.  It’s rather like finding someone attractive, but not beautiful.  If this is a friendship or family relationship, then it would suggest a manageable, even enjoyable relationship, with some average struggles.  Were the Suns, Moons, and Ascendents closer in proximity by degree, the energy would be more intense, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on the souls of the people involved.