025—Axis Astrology Podcast: “Relationship Charts” (September 7-20, 2014)

In this episode, Alison and Arwynne discuss the transits, aspects and moon phases for September 7-20, 2014. Our Astrology 360 topic this time is Relationship Charts, so we talk about the difference between Synastry, composite and Davison charts and give some examples of each. Arwynne reviews Relationships & Life Cycles by Stephen Arroyo and Alison reviews Planets in Composite by Robert Hand.

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• 9-Sep-2014 Mercury Square Pluto: Obsessive, control-freaky, psychological, investigative, powerful communications
  
• 9-Sep-2014 Venus Opposition Neptune: Confusion, misunderstandings, sensitivity, potential for manipulation, abuse
  
• 10-Sep-2014 Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Confidence, expansive thoughts, big plans, traveling or long-distance connections
  
• 11-Sep-2014 Sun Sextile Saturn: Responsibility, preparation, commitments, tying up loose ends, solving problems
  
• 12-Sep-2014 Mercury Opposition Uranus: Restlessness, excitement, mental agility, new ideas, innovative solutions
  
• 13-Sep-2014 Mars in Sagittarius: Adventurous, spontaneous, the “swashbuckler,” outgoing, restless, far-sighted
  
• 14-Sep-2014 Venus Trine Pluto: Persuasive, compelling, dramatic, good for seduction, presentations & negotiations
  
• 20-Sep-2014 Venus Sextile Saturn: Committed, secure, comfortable, calm —all in the realm of relationships and finances
  

8-Sep-2014 Full Moon in Pisces

15-Sep-2014 Last Quarter in Gemini

This forecast period sees the Moon moving through the waning half of her cycle and the light diminishing. It suggests a time to finish things off and sow seeds for future cycles still to come. It is not a time for starting things; that will come next time.

Arwynne reviews Relationships & Life Cycles by Stephen Arroyo, one of the staples of any astrological library. Although there are many concepts covered, from synastry and composite charts to the cycles of the outer planets and their effects on individuals as well as generations, the style is definitely accessible enough to engage ambitious beginners.

Alison reviews Planets in Composite by Robert Hand.

Planets in Composite is the best book on composite charts that has been around for many years. It is the one I recommend for students who are starting out with composite charts. To be honest there are other books but Rob Hand is the most well known and respected astrologer who writes on this subject. It was interesting that both Arwynne and myself have this book as often our tastes do differ. This book comes highly recommended!

For many people, the ability to study the unique dynamics of relationships is the thing that initially draws them into astrology. The insights and descriptive power of the astrological archetypes to capture and define our most intimate interactions seems nothing short of miraculous. Ironically, if you fast-forward a few years and ask almost any professional astrologer what they think of relationship charts, 9 out of 10 will tell you something like this: there are many insights to be had, and many tools with which to excavate them, but no one—and no science, modern or ancient—can tell you whether or not a given relationship will stand the test of time.

“Will my relationship with ‘X’ work out?” … “Is ‘X’ the One?”

These are the wrong questions. Some of the questions astrology can answer—very well in fact—are: “What are my basic needs for long-term happiness and fulfillment in a relationship?” and “Which aspects of my personality contribute to conflicts that repeatedly occur in my relationships?” The same questions apply to your partner. Astrology can also address the dynamics of your relationship, like what attracts you to each other, what you are likely to disagree on, and how you might work around those things. Sometimes just being aware of a potential problem area is enough to enable you to stand back when conflicts flare up, to not take it so personally.

Let’s say, for example, that his Saturn in Cancer squares your Mars in Aries, and a certain type of argument repeatedly occurs in your relationship. When you’re all fired up to initiate action in your life, he always seems to react with caution, bringing up all kinds of worst-case scenarios, which makes you feel restricted and discouraged. You wonder why he can’t just support your ambitions. But by studying the nature of Saturn and Mars in your charts, you may be able to understand that your Martian energy triggers unconscious anxieties in him and, although he wants you to go forth and conquer (in fact, your Martial qualities are probably very attractive to him), he also feels protective of you. He may subconsciously feel that he’d be failing you if he let you run off into battle with gaping holes in your armor, or a faulty sword or whatever. Before he can support your plans, he needs to understand how they will work, and that you’ve considered and prepared for the obstacles and pitfalls ahead. Assuming there’s sufficient trust and commitment in your relationship, you may be able to regard his Saturnian response as helpful, as providing a tactical proving ground where he can help you refine your goals and plot out your best strategies for taking on the world. It won’t be easy, but in time you may stop thinking of him as a wet blanket smothering your fiery energies and begin to see him as the calm, cool water that tempers your blade before battle… or something like that!

1. Synastry: The comparison of two charts, usually presented as “biwheels,” showing one chart inside the other and vice versa. They let you make quick observations, like what signs the planets are concentrated in across both charts, where your planets fall in each other’s charts (i.e.: which houses). You’ll also see the obvious conjunctions where one planet from each chart is in the same degree, but beyond that you’ll want to look at the aspect grid…

The Aspect Grid: Just like multiplication tables with one person’s planets going across the top and the other down the side. We recommend sticking to the major aspects and keeping the orbs small (opinions vary but they were set at 50% for the example below).

2. Composite: A mathematical construction that calculates the midpoints between all the planets and points between two people’s charts.The resulting chart is an entirely new entity, but without an actual birth date or location.

3. Davison: A variation on the composite chart that plots an actual date in time and a point in space at the exact midpoint of your two charts (e.g. mine and Rodger’s is March 28, 1969, 118w09 /50n09). The resulting chart can be used in all the same ways you would use a natal chart; transits, progressions, relocation, even Synastry and composite charts with other people. Comparing our Davison chart with the composite above you can see that the Ascendant is the same, the four outermost planets have shifted just a few degrees at most, and several have flipped sides, so we now have four planets in Aries. Both of these composite charts are all about the 5^th-11^th house axis, and both have the Moon conjunct the MC in Leo. (From a purely subjective standpoint, I prefer our original composite chart – it’s like 50 Shades of Libra.)