Synastry

Sharing Sacred Space in Relationship by Linda Reidcopyright 1997 http://www.panplanet.com/ What is Relationship? When we learn about houses in astrology it soon becomes apparent that no house stands in isolation from the others. There is the interface of opposite houses, houses at 90 degree angles to each other, adjoining houses and following houses all of which have a relationship of meaning with each others. !ife e"perience is such that contact with others is essential to wholeness and well being. #n the first house, one is loo$ing out to the %th to search for a special other . &rom the 'nd house one measures resources and self(worth through the reflective e"perience of the )thhouse. *very subjective house ( from + to ,, has its counterpart in the objective house opposite, from % to +'.The -ori.on defines the +st and %th houses and this a"is is where we most clearly focus on the e"change between the solitary self and intimate relationship with others, as those houses below the hori.on are centered on the self and subjective e"perience while those above the hori.on are centered on others and objective e"perience. The +st house connects to the idea of persona ( that part of the personality that is comfortably e"posed to the world and the image or role played a mas$ behind which to protect the vulnerable inner self. /y polarity, the %th house is where that vulnerability lies and represents that which is least e"posed to the world. -ere is where parts of the self are not revealed e"cept in intimacy with another. #n the comple" dynamics of +st and %th house polarity the %th house acts as a place for the 0shadow0 components of the self. The %thhouse represents relationships with others and is traditionally the house of marriage, intimacy, but also the house of enmity. What is "Shadow" 01hadow0 can be e"plained as all that a person denies or is unable to recogni.e or ac$nowledge about himself, both positively and negatively ( a sort of compensating facet of the self which is deemed incompatible with what the conscious world demands. This 0shadow0 can be li$e a splinter aspect of personality that contains positive and negative traits. #n relationships one might see$ another person who is able to e"press these 2ualities so that one e"periences a sense of whole being. The Self and the Other The +st house is about survival of the personality. 3ver and above all the other connections with the house, it is the first e"perience, mar$ing coming into conscious being at the moment of birth. 1urvival is the instinctive 0perpetual flame0 of spirited life and carries overtones of the planet 4ars. #magine 3lympian runners who carry the torch across the world. -ealthy, virile and powerful, the runner guards the flame until he reaches the goal, which is to announce to the world the message of human love, peace and good relationships between people. 5ations gather in the name of this ethic, and the doves of peace and harmony that are released as the flame arrives at the goal are a symbol of what has motivated the race in the first place. The whole process is an allegory for +sthouse ( %th house dynamics ( the urge to find peace, acceptance, approval, love and beauty in the eyes of another and of the world6 a joyous celebration of individual survival to reach for unity. The principles of love, harmony, unity are embedded in%th house meaning. #n surviving the elements, stress, loneliness, the runner finds his sense of reali.ation. -e is loved, acclaimed, adored and applauded. #t is entirely natural and instinctive to see$ others in order that they may reflect something of ourselves, our prowess, our gifts and talents. There would be little the eyes of another and that reflection confirms and reinforces 7being8. Synastry purpose in surviving if we did not have others with

whom to share, compete, love, approve and support, and with whom to find a sense of worthiness. *ach person see$s reflection in

When wor$ing with charts and relationship, astrologers e"amine the way one person8s planetary energies interface with another person8s planetary energies. This is called 1ynastry. #t is illustrated in the e"change between the gestalt of houses, the parado" of archetypal pairs and the connections and e"change between specific planets. 1ynastry defines the psychic urges, energies and connections that are made in this e"change. 5o one person can affect another without being affected themselves. 9erfectly placid people can find themselves filled with tension when around specific individuals. They may even react physically, as their hair stands on end, and they may feel intruded upon by the very presence of the other so that they feel compelled to ta$e a step bac$wards. 3ne person does indeed invade the other s space8: 1imilarly one may feel empowered and delighted by the presence of another. ; gap has been breached and 7space8 has been occupied but in a harmonious and pleasurable way. 1uch is the nature of attraction and one might ta$e a step forward in this circumstance: *"change of energy between two bodies is a two(way connection and li$e a magnet, can repel or attract. #n intimate relationships people build a mutuality that has its own space and becomes a composite of the planets involved, ta$ing on a life or 0entity0 in itself that lies between the partners and is a mutual melding of parts of each. The Astrologer s Role in Relationships !o"nseling ;strologers need to loo$ at relationship in a completely non involved and non judgmental way. When counseling others we have to ta$e care not to invade their mutual space. #f we do we tread on the fertile soil of sacred space in which the relationships grows. We must never blame ( even though one person might e"hibit negative traits. The e"change in relationship is what is important not one individual s effect on the other in a polari.ed $ind of way.

We play a part in counseling whereby we are at ris$ of projecting our own dilemmas onto our clients or identifying with their pain as the energy of acting out troubles touches something in our shared space. &or when we come into consultation with two others, two becomes three and the 2uality of the sacred space alters. We then must act in some ways li$e a guest, a guide, or a light that shows the way but does not determine the path. The dynamic of projection is a constant in any relationship. The counselor needs to dissociate from 7issues8 in the clients life and not ma$e personal connection with those issues. That way he protects himself from the projections of clients to avoid being 7blamed8 for things that occur in a client8s life: </lame= in itself is a process of denial of responsibility and an attempt to shift issues li$e so much baggage from one person to another.0#ssues0 arise when the melded energy is stimulated, positively or negatively, drawing out the potential positive or negative faces of that melded energy. ;strologically this occurs as transits or progressions trigger responses in one or both of the partners and resonate within the shared space created by specific planetary aspects. The ;strologer s role is to empower clients to ma$e creative decisions and ta$e actions for themselves. #f we ta$e away that power by identifying with their issues, ma$ing decisions for clients, we are not doing our jobs correctly. 3nly rarely, perhaps where there is danger to life, can we step in and become directly involved. The responsible astrologer will have lin$s with shelters, legal advisors and other professionals. What is #ro$ection? The shadow finds its most virile e"pression in relationships. What we don t own is dumped on the other person: This is an entirely unconscious process because if we were conscious it was happening we would be owning it: We project our positives too for it is a sad fact that we often bury our affirmative 2ualities along with the undesirable. To understand how projection wor$s, imagine a film projector, beaming images that are embedded in and emanate from a reel of film. Those images pass through the air and are not decipherable as they are being beamed . We can only decipher them when they hit a screen, set the right distance away so there is focus. This is projection. #f # am standing beside the projector ( effectively, if # am the projector ( # see, reflected

on the screen, e"actly what is embedded in the film. 1ince the film 0belongs0 to me, # see the very images which # initially own . /ut # may not be aware that the film is running: #f the images do not hit on a screen, they continue into the distance until they either run out of energy, as defined by the power of the projector, or they hit on a screen so distant that the images are blurred and meaningless. 1o, in order to see the images, the screen has to be e"actly in the right place and the right focus length: This is the 7hoo$8 for my projections ( the one with whom # have a relationship: What # project is reflected bac$ to me and it appears that the screen is the reality not the projector: #nner archetypes, energies, drive, desires and shadow stuff is projected out into life s arena,

albeit unconsciously. This is a natural process of the psyche see$ing connectedness with life. 4any of those projections can be defined as e"pectations that we become aware of and deal with through understanding our own psychic dynamics, but often we are surprised by what we see projected. That s normal: #t doesn8t always have to be e"perienced through intimacy, but can be found every day, in all associations. There is creative good in projecting our positives. /y doing so, we empower the other person, actuating, supporting and confirming those same 2ualities in them. ;nd so we nurture each other. 5egative energies are another matter .When we project our negative shadow sides, they are li$ely to respond from their shadow side too. 01hadow bo"ing0 is all too common a phenomenon in relationship but is not identified until such time as it rises up and soc$s us: Wor%ing with Synastry #n a synastric relationship there will be times when the mutual meeting point is affected by the unfolding cycles of planets. #f, for e"ample 9luto is dominant by transit or by being transited in the chart of one or both partners, the relationship can become 7ridden8 by the energy of 9luto. ;ny connections in the synastry of the people that are responsive to 9luto will arise as 7issues8 for them. The connection may lie dormant for years until the right trigger comes along and focuses on that particular facet of the relationship. Then the shadows may both come out to play and it isn t really play, but a deadly game of power play. #n e"amining the synastry between people astrologers can identify potential 0hot spots0. To do so we have a useful tool called the synastry grid, which will be detailed in part two of this series or articles. 1o who owns what> 5o one person, necessarily. What is central to the theme is the melding of energies ( an archetypal meeting in a sort of morphogenic field ? mutual space. *nergies touch, connect, blend and integrate and the source is lost from view. ;n alchemical change occurs and the core meaning of each planet is modified. ;strologers deal with that third entity, not the sources. #t sometimes occurs that a relationship is distinctly unhealthy and for some reason not apparent at the time, people are drawn together to fulfill some facet of shadow e"perience. We need to be realistic and not idealistic about relationships. @omantic notions have no place when a relationship turns sour. 1ometimes a relationship outlives its purpose. *"change is graphically shown in the synastry grid illustrating planetary interaction between one person and another. 9articular points of contact alert us to potential 7issues8 that could arise and also give us potential points of harmony and balance through which our clients can be encouraged to enjoy more fully. ;n e"ploration of the grid can be found in the ne"t part of this article. The Synastry &rid What the &rid 'll"strates ;spects between one person s planets and the other person s planets describe the interface of contacts in the shared space of relationship. They describe the product of the blended energies. Anderpinning that, always, is the individual s archetypal e"pectation from relationship which is reflected in the natal chart. #t is a fallacy then to e"pect the synastry grid to offer anything more than a gestalt of the relationship unless one has a firm grasp on of each individual natal chart. 5evertheless, the grid is a very useful tool to use in relationship counseling and the aspects in the grid can be 2uite telling. ; hard aspect does not mean bad. ; soft aspect does not mean its easy street either.

We can use a grid to e"amine the dynamic e"change between specific planets from one person to another, but the points of contact are li$ely only to emerge in life e"perience when triggered by transits or progressions. The main value in the grid is to give first an overview of the relationship, its tone and color, then, when issues do arise, to e"amine the specifics contacts. &or e"ample, his 1aturn is conjunct her 4oon. This may operate, depending on natal e"pectation, as a dynamic that creates safe boundaries, consistent nurturing, stability in emotional display or may enable the couple to feel safe and cherished within the relationship. #f one or the other or both e"perience difficult transits or progressions that trigger either or both of these planets natally, it can be at the meeting point, the shared space that an issue arises. What has represented safety and maturity can now be beset with feelings of limitation, unresolved parental issues for one or both partners, and this matter needs to be resolved through dialogue and understanding. #t is simply one aspect in the entire relationship, one contact in a grid full: #t is essential for the professional

astrologer not to fall into the trap that so many do, of loo$ing at a synastry grid, defining one or two negative contacts as doom to the relationship, when such contacts may never be triggered or raised into consciousness. 1o the grid serves two purposes, it describes only the potential for problems or harmony in its general tone, but also gives a focus for specifics if and when they arise. ;spects formed between one person s planets and another s planets, represent the 2uality and $ind of e"change. The 1ynastry Brid shows one person s planets placed across and another person s planets placed down. Where the planetary energies interface, there is aspect, which has a defined 2uality to it. 3rbs used are the same as in natal wor$, but obviously the tighter the contact the closer the e"change.

The grid above shows the interface of planets between fictional people Catie and Doe, and illustrates the range of aspects that form between them. #n this article # address aspects as contacts in the gestalt of the grid. The potential manifestation of particular aspects will be e"plored in a later article, but in a general sense 0difficult0 aspects indicate potential trouble or challenges in the relationship, depending on the planets involved and difficulties may only emerge when triggered. 1o, pic$ing the grid apart, point by point is a futile effort and does nothing to enhance understanding the dynamics of the relationship. When counseling, it is more li$ely that the astrologer will only deal with those e"changes that have arisen as issues and e"amine the dynamic of that along with any transits etc. that are occurring for the individuals. #t is important though to see the overall nature of the relationship and some people actually need challenging relationships. 1o the overall tone is determined by the type of aspects in the grid. @elationship is played out at many levels, in day to day contact, in a social environment and at a deep psychic level where interchange occurs without conscious awareness until buttons are pushed and people are overcome by feelings and urges they didn t even reali.e e"isted: /y dividing the grid into e"periential fields , we can gain insight into the personal daily dynamics of the relationship, the social and environmental, hierarchical and moral interface and the subconscious, psychic connections. These levels of e"perience are naturally ta$en as a whole, yet divided for the purpose of e"amination. (ow to )i*ide the &rid into +,periential -ields 9lacing person ; across and / down, first separate the planets from the angles, node or any other points you choose to use. # recommend planets, Ehiron, 5ode and ;ngles. Fraw a line from 9luto of one to 9luto of the other and create a large s2uare. 5ow draw a line from one 4ars to the other 4ars ma$ing a smaller s2uare in the top left(hand corner .Eontinue this 4ars line down to the 9luto line on both sides of the chart and you have G s2uares with 'H bloc$s in each, where:

Top !eft: ; and /s #nner planets meet .Top @ight: ; s 3uter planets connect with / s #nner planets. /ottom !eft: / s 3uter planets connect with ; s #nner planets /ottom @ight: ; and / s 3uter planets connect. 'nner #lanets The top bloc$, enclosing 4ars to 4ars ( are the Eonscious dynamics involving the #nner planets. This is the $ind of e"change that is in each person s awareness as they are interacting on a personal level. This is the e"change that goes on day to day. These planets enable individuals to recogni.e each other s needs and significance, challenge and co(operate with each other openly. This is a particularly vital dimension, the dimension of activity and consciousness, life giving and constant. /ecause the 0inner0 or personal planets are closer to individual awareness the individuals are less li$ely to project so one tends to own this area. There are 'H possible contacts here. 3bviously we cannot e"pect that every space in the grid will have a contact. #f it did one might have an e"tremely symbiotic relationship. +' to +G is a reasonable number of contacts to e"pect, depending on the type of relationship. The more contacts, the more dynamic, vital and energetic the relationship will be, also the more complicated and e"clusive of others it can become, so there needs to be spaces in the togetherness: Within this field area there are e"changes between archetypal pairs that come into relationship already e2uipped with parado": O"ter #lanets to 'nner #lanets

3uter planets to #nner planets appear in two locations. ; s 3uter planets to / s #nner planets and / s to ; s ( top left and bottom right s2uares. Eontacts here represent unconscious energies emerging into consciousness. This is the $ind of e"change that operates at a subliminal level and can be easy to project. /ecause of the tendency to project, one must avoid the tendency to define who is doing what to whom , but that there may be an issue arising at some time, if the aspects are difficult or there may be opportunities for growth through relationship if the aspects are easy. The person who s inner personal planet is hit on , is the one who may bring the issue into the consciousness. The field outlined is from Dupiter to 9luto, so they involve both ( the 1ocial Dupiter and 1aturn and Transpersonal Aranus, 5eptune and 9luto. These are the undercurrents that most often manifest as issues. &rom Dupiter to 9luto there are several layers or levels of consciousness leading to unconsciousness. The deeper layers are symboli.ed in the actual distances of the planets in orbit. #n this way Dupiter to a personal planet constellates closer to consciousness and by the time you get to 9luto you are getting deeper and deeper into the layers of the unconscious. With 9luto in particular there is a feeling of compulsion, maybe a habit(forming relationship with the other person s personal planet. 1o if one person s 9luto aspects the other person s Ienus there is a compelling 2uality to the relationship that is almost indescribable. #t has enormous magnetic pull that, depending on the condition of Ienus and 9luto in the individual natal charts, might fulfill some huge need and can often be the sort of thing that holds people together for better and often for worse ( depending on how they handle the conscious dynamics. This area is where you get a lot of insight into the relationship, not just what is said or what is acted out but what lies beneath the surface. The transpersonal planets are often the ones most projected, because, between people of similar ages, they might reflect natal potentials into relationship and the other person becomes an easy means to subconscious denial. This area is where the relationship gains maturity or falls apart. This is where people sometimes must address the undercurrents, the sorts of issues that constellate and arise from unconscious energy and where there s a real need to loo$ within and say what do # want out of the relationship. Why are these issues arising> What are they telling you> *normous growth can ta$e place through these contacts. 1o can enormous destruction. *ach person has a representative set of bo"es of their own, so there are two bo"es with 'H in each. Twice as many as in the conscious s2uare: Twice the possibility of hits that affect the relationship. What are these little energy bursts doing to the relationship> #s the relationship able to stand the button pushing stuff in each separate individual> ."piter and Sat"rn Within this section there is a sort of sub section where Dupiter and 1aturn interact. These planets are the bridge between personal and transpersonal and have a lot to do with the way we live our lives with others. 1o it is worth loo$ing at them as a separate gestalt to the Transpersonal planets. To do so, means to again draw a line between 1aturn and Aranus, dividing a narrow strip that is the bridge to the unconscious. -ere is described much of the conditioning that has occurred in childhood, that is brought into the relationship. We may believe in intimate relationships that there is each one of us, but in fact there are a lot of other involved: 4other, father, teacher priest, siblings, friends and ancestors all share the common bond. We inherit our parents psychology and they join us in bed with our partners: We are shaped in childhood and adolescence by social and environmental philosophies and paradigms and bring them to the relationship. !i$e dowries of old. These are the planets tell us something of what the couple s mutual directions, ethics and social e"pectations might be and the natal chart will tell us how those matters have been shaped. ;re they at odd with each other> What are their social, economic and ethnic, religious and philosophical bac$grounds> The interaction with inner conscious planets will indicate some of the social matters that arise. Fifferences as well as similarities will show up. #t is as well to begin by loo$ing at the balance between each person s section for if there are more contacts in one section than the other, then there could be difficulties. #f the tone of the aspects are difficult, then the issues that arise come from conditioned factors har$ing bac$ to learned behaviours. &or e"ample, these two planets, especially in contact with the other s 4oon will indicate a lot about family and hierarchical e"pectations. 1aturn might e"press the limiting or restricting factors while Dupiter might e"press the joyful, e"pansive and encouraging facets of conscious relationship. 1imilarly, 1aturn offers secure boundaries in which the relationship can thrive and Dupiter might e"aggerate and amplify facets of individual issues out of proportion. 4other(in(law looms large: 3ne way or another balanced number of hits are going to offer opportunity for growth and direction. This applies not only within the

relationship but also in the way in which it operates within society, families, the tribe, the general social environment, educationally and sociologically. #t gets the relationship out into the wider community and establishes it within the framewor$ of contemporary society as it is e"perienced in the environment in which we live. 1aturn can bring real structure to the aims and goals of the relationship, if the persons are aware and often they are not. 1aturn can be comfortable in its sameness and provide genuine security. Dupiter can instill a sense of growth and e"pansion and provide enthusiasm for goals and e"pectations. The way that an individual handles society, education, religion, hierarchical structures are all operating on a semi(conscious level. They are just below the surface and they can cause friction. This can occur if the balance between the two sections is out of $ilter. #ndividual aspects might emerge as issues and points of agreement or contention, but if the energy e"change is lopsided, there is already a potential issue. as one philosophy overcomes the other and 2uite often there solution is found in family attitudes. #f the balance is reasonably even, then the potentials for harmony in all matters social, moral and hierarchical are good. #f not, social e"pectations, religion, ethics and morality, family and in(laws, jobs and education all might create challenges and bring outsiders into the picture. The attitude towards relationship or marriage stems from social and imprinted family conditioning and arises here. There are 'G possible connections between Dupiter 1aturn and the #nner planets but most important is that there is a reasonable numeric balance. /ran"s0 1ept"ne and #l"to 3uter planets in connection with the other person s #nner planets create e"changesthat can have very significant meaning in the relationship. These are the contactsthat push the buttons of awareness in another.#ts as though one person s unconscious become manifest in the othersconsciousness and so this is where projection ta$es place. 4anipulation,undermining, disruption and distortion are all negative possibilities that can andwill arise to some degree. 1o can transformation, inspiration, unconditional love,idealism, and clarity.4uch will depend on the 2uality of the aspects. There must be a good balance between one person s 'H s2uare outer to inner and the other person s s2uare. 3nereflects the other. This is where the unconscious levels of the relationship can become loaded and you might get a perpetrator ( victim syndrome ( and the power of the victim can be as great as that of the perpetrator:These are powerful contacts lin$ing the unconscious of one to the consciousness of another, so that what emerges as issues can be both empowering as well asdestructive.We cannot lay blame on the person who s 9luto hits another person s 1un becausewe cannot be entirely sure that the other does not need to have the 9luto connectionin order to feel alive and vital. #f we do so, we are falling into the trap of assumingthat 9luto is a bad energy and 1un is a good one. They are in fact different facesof the self. The 1un consciousness of one may need to borrow that powerfulenergy from the unconscious of the other.#t is only through negative issues that arise that we can even begin to understandhow the connection is wor$ing . What we do $now is that somewhere in therelationship, one person draws out the other person s unconscious energies. -owthey manifestly use them is a matter for conjecture. O"ter planets to O"ter planets2 This section is generational so represents collective phase energies within thesociety and time that the relationship is ta$ing place, care should be ta$en with thisarea. 5o personal planets are involved so it is descriptive rather than dynamic.3f course people born close in age are going to get conjunctions between Aranus 5eptune and 9luto and # suggest that you loo$ very carefully at these and also loo$ at the collective conditions prevailing at the time in history when these people were born.# used to disallow them, but have subse2uently revised my opinion of theor effectiveness. They do indeed have great power. *veryone born carries some of thecollective energy. This is e"pressed historically by the trends of the time when the people were born. This constellates in the psyches of the individuals who now bring those energies jointly to the relationship. They are 0flag bearers for their peer group, so the interaction between outer planets and outer planets is important.3uter to outer indicate a sort of spiritual 2uality to the relationship but also connectto life phases or generational 2ualities that are deeply embedded and may meanlittle to the social paradigms of the present day.There are common patterns shown in the birth charts as reflections of collective patterns. &or e"ample during the +9,0 s the planets Aranus and 9luto were inconjunction. The planets 1aturn and Ehiron opposed them. for some. /oth partnersmay carry these energies which can be e"tremely destructive in many respects andhighly challenging in

others.The principles of the planets will play out in some way in the relationship and, atthis part of the grid are descriptive of collective undertones. Eonsultant astrologersare familiar with the syndrome of similar clients, by age and dilemma. 0;ll myfriends relationships are brea$ing up. What is wrong with mine0. #n essence thefulfilment of collective urges rests on those born at the time and there is a problemin relationships when those collective models are stimulated. #t s happening allaround and can be very influential on individuals. There is a $nee jer$ reaction asthe tribal nature of the e"periences of the collective impinge on the psychicstructures of individuals ( and often the solution can be found in the contacts made across the bridge of Dupiter and 1aturn and the philosophies of peers.

The Angles The entry point to relationship is the angles ( for better or worse.; luminary conjunct an angle is a great meeting point, especially in a growthsense. We are all insecure in different ways about persona, coping mechanisms, soif someone comes along who s very vital life energy blends with our approach tolife, there has to be a whac$ of energy.These angles of each natal chart form the structural realities of relationship and of course, involve not only intimate partners but the parental a"is that is brough tothat relationship too. ;nd, if the relationship under e"amination is a partent childrelationship, the angles will also be important.#t is easy to divide this area into small sections, those that connect angles toluminaries6 angles to personal planets6 angles to social planets6 angles to outer planets and angles to angles . This can be divided to suit your personal preference,so as to incorporate the little subsections in the rest of the grid.# find it important to have contacts here. ;ngles to !uminaries in particular. ;gain# d hope for a balance between the two sections ( because the ;ngles relate somuch to the manifestation of the relationship in reality. /y this # mean theindividual s perception of reality, through the ;sc. which e"presses the way theyapproach life and their coping mechanisms, persona and goals in life at a very personal level. 1o we are relating the 1ynastry to the houses in a sense, but thosehouses are the +st, Gth, %th and +0th house e"periences.#f a person has a high e"pectation of life ( many planets in angular houses, strong personal goals via the +st house, they might see$ someone in life, whom, theysense instinctively , can help them achieve those goals.Eonversely, if the relationship e"perience for one individual is frustrated by the lifee"pectation of another, there is a further tension to contend with. The 1ode 5orth 5ode and the a"is formed with the 1outh 5ode say something about theindividual souls journey. 4etaphorically, # have my personal destiny and so does my other . #f our journeys coincide, then there is a strong lin$. 1piritually, we are connectingsomewhere in the search for our personal grail ( on the same journey, at least partof the way or our journeys ta$e us so that we connect to learn something from eachother. 4aybe, if you subscribe to the theory that 5odes reflect past lives, there s a past life lesson to be learned. The nodal contactsdo not have to illustrate permanence ( they may be going in different directions but paths cross. The relationship dynamic is where they play out or pay for this lin$ .#t s a philosophical point and astrologers should define the node in their own way. !hiron The meaning embedded in the planetoid Ehiron is dual ( the wounded healer andthe great teacher, so these e"pressions enter relationship together with all the other archetypes.When we perceive Ehiron as the wounded, we have come to understand the wounding is actuated in childhood and resonates to themes of abandonment and not fitting in at some level of e"perience. 1o it may be that connections remind theindividual of these unconscious themes in his life, either positively, or negatively.The relationship can become the vehicle of healing or that of further wounding, because where there is the wounded, is also the capacity to wound. #t is worthloo$ing carefully at this when a grid implies the possibility of to"icity in therelationship because it may be through the psychic connections with Ehiron thatactual physical illness can arise out of the psychosomatic dynamics of therelationship.1imilarly the theme of teacher arises and for every teacher and his assumedwisdom there has to be a student and assumed ignorance. 3nce more, the marriagemay be a life lesson ( it may be one where one partner assumes the role of

teacher and the e"change is bloc$ed by feelings of inade2uacy in another.The two facets of Ehiron are ine"tricably interwoven ( the healer/teacher archetypeteaches because of his woundedness yet can be wounded because of his ignorance.

The interface of these energies is subtle because they come from a dar$ place (childhood, the unconscious, so there is a ris$ of psychological scapegoating embedded in these contacts.#f abandonment themes are not addressed or dealt with individually, they are projected into the relationship, and either healed or projected onto the partner assurrogate perpetrator ( so there is a strong potential here for revenge, for continued fear of and e"periences of abandonment.;t the same time, there is powerful psychic healing and empowerment. Thewisdom and healing energies mutually shared can create an environment wherebyeach empowers and heals the other or they become co(dependents. There can be a perpetual re(enacting of the initial pain that created the wounded psyche. This iswhere one see$s out the others wea$ spots as well as their strengths. Aspects in the Synastry &rid -aving defined the gestalt of the relationship the ne"t approach to the grid is todetermine the 0flavour0 or 0tone0 of the relationship. The grid could be li$ened to a piece of music, there are all the notes in the individual spaces, but without thetiming, the 0signature0, or the instruments, how does the music sound> #s it playedstaccato, allegro or con spirito ( is it a solo piece or an orchestral crescendo, whatare the harmonies and melody, and where are the elements of surprise and delight>To determine the flavour of the relationship, count the number of hits accordingto the aspect. This will often show a predominant aspect, underpinned by a secondtype of aspect. #n might also show that one type of aspect is very low in number.3r not represented at all. ;t the ris$ of oversimplifying, this gives an immediate0feel0 for the relationship and the e"periential fields where particular aspectsmanifest as dominant.&or e"ample one might find the personal area well aspected with trines andse"tiles, while unconsciously there are a lot of s2uares and oppositions. 3n thesurface the relationship might be pleasant and outwardly harmonious but it isfraught with projected tensions and challenges at an unconscious level, suppresseduntil triggered.

/y loo$ing at the grid in this way, a distinct bias according to the dominant aspectwill show. This is descriptive of the whole relationship.The second predominant aspect can often be in contrast to the primary aspect. The predominant 0theme0 running through the relationship is a strong indicator of howthe individuals e"perience the relationship. 3ne should e"amine this carefully inorder to be fully understand the 2ualities and dynamics that are inherent in therelationship, no matter how it is e"pressed to you or to the outside world.;nd, it goes without saying that not everyone loo$s for the same 2ualities in arelationship. 1o the 5atal Ehart will always be the point of departure intorelationships. A lot of con$"nctions There is osmosis in this relationship and you often see this in people who grow oldtogether and start to loo$ ali$e, tal$ ali$e and in many ways are the same. Theywill have a tendency to identify each other by roles. #n some respects this can be anideal but can also become a bit predatory or co(dependant. With this tonal 2uality,there is both positive and negative.Eonjunctions are the foundations of the chart. #t s where people agree, where thereare few disputes and hence compatibility that is a true melding of energies. Thisrepresents a solid foundation that provides a base for lasting interface. 1o if thereare plenty conjunctions, there is commonalty and communion./ut too many, sets the relationship in concrete to the point where is becomes staticand lac$ing in energy. ;n osmotic relationship is fraught with the danger that oneof the partners can, by the strength of personality, entirely swamp the other. Theris$ of domination is high particularly where one person s outer planets areconjunct the others personal planets.The unfortunate side of this $ind of relationship is that an issue might arise that cansmash the concrete to pieces as transits trigger response mechanisms in individualnatal charts and the stress is a projectile ( straight into the sacred space of union.

#lenty Oppositions

Benerally spea$ing in today s Western marital climate, individual roles are clarifiedas e2ual.3ppositions can be very useful in illustrating distinctly individual positions in hee2uality. They point out potential differences that might be challenging but areaspects that lead to ways to meet in the middle .-owever, if there are too many oppositions, individuals don t come together often enough to sustain the relationship: 9ositively, each identifies themselves within therelationship as separate entities. 1ometimes this $ind of opposition basedrelationship can create conflicting or challenging conditions, but it is a dynamicform of energy and one from which give and ta$e emerges as a positive outcome.9artners either agree to differ or find some measure of compromise. Whenoppositions are triggered by transits to one or both charts, the issue that arises canoften be clear( cut.3ppositions enable the individuals to respect and recognise their differences andwhen issues arise they will often draw together and rise to the challenge united or polarises to one point of view. With oppositions, they challenge each other to grow.;nd personal growth can sometimes be at the e"pense of the marriage, but if it is bonded with supportive aspects such as trines or se"tiles, loving and li$ing andrespect underpin it. 3ppositions are not rigid, they allow for a .apping bac$ andforth of energy, and at times there needs to be a haven for tran2uillity andrestoration of energy. 3any S4"ares 12uares can be very energising but also very difficult in relationships because withthe s2uare there s often no solution or resolution to tensions.There seems to be a need to prove something all the time in a s2uare relationship.This can be a crisis(ridden relationship but with each crisis there is opportunity for growth. /ut, growth can be bloc$ed when every time one partner see$sconfirmation in the mirror of the other they meet a bric$ wall or they meet withsome shadow energy that reflects the un( owned negative 2ualities of the partner.

The lac$ of give and ta$e when the s2uare predominates can be very wearing. Toomany s2uares will ta$e a toll somewhere6 there s only so much stress a person canta$e:Wherever you have a s2uare you have a potential issue that has to be integratedinto the framewor$ of the life of the relationship so that it becomes an active partof the whole. 9ositively this can create a great dynamic with potential for motivation and acceptance of the other s 2ualities, but if there are too many, it becomes burdensome.#f you ve ever watched a bric$layer building a house, he fills his hod with only asmany bric$s as he can comfortably carry. That way he is productive and the building grow. 12uares are li$e bric$s. They build walls but also create safe boundaries. Too many and they either crash down and $ill an innocent passer by or they cripple the craftsman:@elationships need a few bric$ walls to climb in order to test the validity of therelationship. #t s often through a certain level of healthy stress that we can achieveand there is potential for achievement with a good balance of s2uares. 3ainly Trines !i$e the grand trine, there is promise of great talent and creativity but most often itis not accessed unless it s part of a $ite or gets a good $ic$ along with a s2uare or two. #t s the same with a Trine flavoured relationship. #t can be very bland. #t may be lovely and light(hearted and frivolous but without issues, without passion, thereis no richness. There is often a sense of one partner accumulating6 staying put inlife while the other becomes the social activist. #n this way, they never fullyinterface but so tolerate each other s activities. With this relationship there s aneasy, friendship based relationship, an easy come( easy( go0 $ind of e"periencewith nothing to really come to grips with.; lot of trines in marriage can imply that they fell in love with an inner image of the perfect partner, ( romantic 5eptunian stuff. #t is 2uite possible that they driftout of love but since they are 2uite comfortable, they accept the status 2uo. ; fews2uares and oppositions are needed to ma$e it more dynamic. The comfort .one inthe relationship is where the trines are ( here the whole relationship can become socomplacent, too much comfort, fat and la.y, unmotivated. Where there are trines iswhere the solace is but there s silence in too many trines. Trines are a release mechanism6 there is no resistance. When the trines support hard aspects in asecondary position, they are light and comforting and healing. *ven when they predominate, provided there are some good solid hard aspects, to motivate, trinesare beneficial. 1uch relationships often do well in a social or material way so arereflected in a life of material comfort and social ease.

Se*eral Se,tiles When the grid shows a predominant number of se"tiles, you have a grid thatvibrates to a ,th harmonic . The ,th harmonic relates to the idea of helping ( itoccurs in a child s si"th year, when those little people first begin to want to assist inchores, and be rewarded by a parent. The seeds of relationship are set at this time.1omeone who see$s out a se"tile $ind of energy is often see$ing confirmation fromthe inner parent about his or her usefulness. ; predominance of se"tiles, is probably the least harmful, it tells you the relationship wor$s because each aidsthe other and also rewards the other. #t may not be passionate but there is an innateacceptance of the others flaws and a capacity to wor$ in tandem, with roles notalways defined but shared. The se"tile brings a practical and balanced attitude, arealistic ease, because there is an understanding of and an awareness of tension,and a constructive, creative energy that pre(empts and often turns tensions to goodeffect. They are not the most e"citing aspects but li$ing and respect come with thisaspect. #t enables one to live in the real world in which the other also lives. #timplies that any difficulties find a wor$ing solution, a compromise and that there isa support framewor$ in place. The negative face of the se"tile is that compromisecan also mean one becomes subservient to the other, self effacing and ta$ing too passive a stance. 1o there is also the ris$ of one becoming martyred to the cause of the other ( until some transit comes along that triggers a rebellion: *ven so, therecan be a resolution. The "3inor" Aspects &ortunately you re unli$ely to find predominance because of the orb used for theso(called 04inor0 aspects. The Semisquare implies discontent #t can illustrate a lac$ of trust in the relationship. There is an unwillingness to goall the way to a full blown aspects, and irritation and conflict is rarely addressed, but they seem to get half way but then bac$ off.When semi(s2uares are triggered, old habits and irritations loom large and ta$e onridiculous proportions. What might seem a cute little habit when you are in theglister of first love becomes the straw that can brea$ the camels bac$ in '0 year stime and the issues just simmer along until a transit triggers them. ;pparently good relationship can then brea$ under the strain of what might seem to others atrivial issue. The Sesquisquare implies ongoing but unrecognised irritants This is a bit li$e the semi s2uare e"cept there might be a bit more chance of facingit. #ndeed it is faced so many times as a dynamic in the relationship that iteventually becomes a reliable source of conflict in what might otherwise be a dulle"istence. #t ta$es irritation and ma$es it full blown frustration.#t can however, lead to confronting and issue at least, usually after a long period./ut residual animosity tends to remain. The Quincunx is a very difficult aspect There are charts where this ta$es dominance and they are to"ic relationships.Benerally said to be the areas where adjustments have to be made, if one has toadjust to the point of losing focus then it is a sinister aspect.The Juincun" 0swings0 between a trine and opposition. There is a constantshifting of energy that can be wearing.This aspect is the stuff of the victim / perpetrator and one hopes not to find ite"cept in small numbers. Too many and the chances of the relationship beinghealthy are remote.#t occurs commonly in charts where one partner is alcoholic, sic$, or escapesresponsibility through infidelity or illness and the other ta$es the strain. The2uincun" erodes the relationship. #t is li$e standing tal$ing to someone and theydon t ma$e eye contact, their eyes flic$ from left to right but never directly at you, you re not even sure they are listening and then you start to feel uneasy,

edgy anduptight. #f you ve e"perienced that you understand how disconcerting it can be.Well, imagine that as a constant dynamic in a relationship, an uneasy, fearfulfeeling. #t s enough to erode any relationship. #t s almost li$e developing an allergyto each other, and can in fact give real physical symptoms.-ypochondria is part of this dynamic, the ultimate cop out, the escape intosic$ness syndrome and you wonder who is the perpetrator and who is the victim.Kou never really $now e"cept that someone is carrying the load. ;djustmentimplies change and too many adjustments imply complete change.; few 2uincun"es might be fruitful for individual personal change to accommodatethe needs of another, but too many are too demanding.

The Quintile is the creative, willing risk taking, playful and joyful dimension of the relationship #f you find these there is joy to be found in the relationship. #t might be throughchildren, through wor$ or just simply enjoyment of each other and a commoninvolvement with arts, music etc. These people are prepared to ta$e a few chances,and will tend to lay it all on the line to each other so there is indwelling honesty.This is where the love affair can continue into old age. #t is a solar $ind of energyand if it s between personal planets, they each shine and bas$ in each other s glow.#t occurs in partnerships in artistic fields. #ndividually they may be mediocre buttogether they re dynamite. They bounce off each other, feed each other, inspire andresonate off each other. The vibration is wonderful. #t brings the facet of playfulness to the relationship, a childli$e 2uality that means there is an area,which is fun.1o, of the minor aspects you can t do better than a 2uintile. #t s the /est &riendenergy that can $eep a relationship alive and vital. /ut it goes a little further because it empowers the individuals to be creative and fruitful within therelationship. The Septile carries both spiritual overtones and shadow undertones ; few septiles imply spiritual bonding. There is rapport at a mental level6 oneintuits the thoughts of the other. There is a psychic lin$, a reading of minds anduniting of thoughts that is almost telepathic.-owever, if there s too much mental or psychic lin$ing it can become intrusive.3ne might not want the other to tune in to their thoughts: Too many septiles canintrude in a sinister way and creates an environment whereby shadows come out to play. The Novile implies the search for perfection #t illustrates what one might e"pect or hope for in the relationship and may or may not find. 5oviles in a 1ynastry highlight areas where there is a possibility of trapsetting dynamics because of preconditioned e"pectations.!i$e the 1eptile it operates li$e an unconscious harmonic vibration and may wellhave a lot to do with childhood e"pectations. Kou fall in love with an ideaLlM.;rchetype meets archetype ( the handsome prince and princess swoon: Thenreality stri$es and in reality things are not as e"pected. #t can be wonderful whensomeone measures up to the ideal and creates an e"change whereby there is a senseof dreams coming true. /ut this aspect can also promote an environment of testingand trap setting.Too many of these and partners are constantly setting the other up for failure. *venwhen they pass a test, there s another around the corner: 555 #n a general sense, the main aspects plus a few of the main minor one should givea chart with enough space for energy to move. When you use the 1ynastry grid, itdoesn t need to be pic$ed to pieces and e"amined through specific individualaspects unless there is an issue. 4any of these issues will arise through contacts bytransit or progression to one of the partner s natal planets and constellate andemerge, through the dynamics of the energy contacts in the relationship. Theoverview, the individual natal charts, and aspects involved in the hot spot that isfocussed by transits and progressions give a clear picture of issues and enablecreative dialogue and hopefully, resolution.