Horoscopes
Zodiac Signs
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 the same point in different charts. This article will look at Mars, which rules desire and personal drive.
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.
A fair amount of my work as a professional astrologer involves relationship charts 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.
Please keep in mind that flowing energy is not the same as positive energy. Flow occurs when two points aspect or align with each other in certain ways and close to the same degree. For example, if I have my Mercury in Leo at 12 degrees and you have your Mercury in Aries at 13 degrees, our Mercurys will trine and easily flow since they are both in fire signs.
That is great if we communicate well and positively with our fiery approach, but not so great if one or both of us chooses to be argumentative all the time, picking verbal fights constantly. And no matter how problematic the communication energy between us, the flow will keep us communicating and trying to “win” our points whether the relationship is healthy or not.
The most powerful aspects are the conjunction (in the same sign and near the same degree), the square (three signs apart, in conflicting elements, and near the same degree), and the opposition (in opposite signs, and balancing elements, and near the same degree). Additionally, and worth discussing in a synastry reading is the trine (four signs apart, in the same element, and near the same degree), the sextile (two signs apart, in complementary elements, and near the same degree), and the inconjunct (five signs apart, in compromising elements, and near the same degree).
Below I have marked Mars from the two charts:
Mars for Person A is in Scorpio and Mars for Person B is in Gemini. They inconjunct each other by sign, but not degree. To inconjunct by degree, they would need to be within 2 degrees of the exact inconjunction and they are over 6 degrees apart.
Let me break the “4th Wall” for a moment and say that Astrology is not an exact science, or really a science in any rigorous, mechanistic Newtonian sense. Some astrologers will give points a 6-degree orb. I prefer to use more points in the charts I cast, so I use smaller orbs.
Hellenistic (classical) astrology would disregard the orbs of influence and just say these points inconjunct because they are five signs apart. I do think proximity by degree matters, but I also use quite a large number of points (23 in the examples here) in my charts, so I prefer to tighten the orb of influence for all the points.
Since A’s Mars is inconjunct B’s Mars, they will always have to adjust their desires around and towards one another. The Scorpio Mars person prefers to “drive hard and penetrate”, while the Gemini Mars prefers vigorous negotiation and persuasion. Energetically these elements do not mix easily (Air and Water) and the points occupy differing modalities (Mutable and Fixed).
I like to describe the inconjunct by comparing it to a carburetor, which is a mechanical device on older car engines that controlled the flow of fuel into the engine for power. Over time the carburetor will require adjustment as fuel efficiency drops. Until fuel injection, this device would wear down over time and need to be fixed or replaced regularly.
Inconjuncts in your own chart, or in the dynamic between two points with your chart and another person’s chart, represent energies that will never settle and will always need some kind of adjustment. This energy is frustrating but does promote growth, as is the case with all challenging aspects (square and semi-sextile).
The relating energy of an inconjunct does not allow couples to “take for granted” the energies involved. If they are unconscious souls, this aspect will be a constant source of frustration. If they are conscious souls, then they will know there is always work to do with this energy. Gemini/Scorpio energy is not the most difficult, largely because any aspect involving a mutable sign (Gemini in this case) will naturally adapt to the fixed (in this case, Scorpio) or cardinal signs.
As a result, the Scorpio Mars individual is going to “drive” this relationship.
You can certainly contact me for a chart reading and I can give you a comprehensive reading of your entire chart and tell you where Venus is in your chart. But you can also find it by going to an online ephemeris and looking up Mars by sign on the date and time of your birth.
