 | Exegesis Issue #31
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Exegesis Digest Mon, 22 Jul 1996 Volume 1 Issue 31 |
| Exegesis Issue #31
|
Exegesis Digest Mon, 22 Jul 1996 Volume 1 Issue 31 |
Hello Michael and other Exegesians!
In issue #30 Michael asked for our opinion on the following matters:
I use Relationship charts to check out the potential in new or proposed relationships and partnerships of every kind; and a Composite chart to get an idea of what they will be like once established. I have occasionally progressed a composite chart with some, but not a lot of success. Transits to the Composite chart seem more useful to look ahead any distance. I used Hand's Planets in Composite as my textbook on this kind of chart.
Unfortunately no one seems to comment on this, at least not officially. Well, here are my opinions, comments, etc...
During the last years I've used four techniques for determining compatibility. (I should also say that I have some problems distinguish the difference between the English words "technique" and "method".)
1) SIGN-CONNECTIONS. Here I simply check the "aspects" between the planets in A:s chart with those in B:s chart according to signs. This shows to me how like-minded the two people are, how much they have in common regarding temprerament, etc. For instance, a Cancerian with Moon in Capricorn, Asc in Scorpio and Venus in Cancer, should feel that he has very much in common with a Scorpio with Asc in Cancer and Moon & Venus in Scorpio.
According to the sign-connections, two people with much water in their charts should feel they have very much in common. They may be very attracted to each other, and in fact very like-minded. However, there is a risk of too much water in the relationships. There may be too much emotions, subjectivity, passivity, etc. This is a paradox that has gotten my attention for years. Astrologers seems to disagree whether it is good or bad when two people have a majority of planets in the same element. Any thougts on this are welcome.
My experience tells that the sign-connections tells VERY much about a relationship.
2) COMPOSITE CHART. Another important technique. The composite chart seems to tell a whole lot about the relationship itself, and which form it may take. I have generally paid far more attention to the composite chart than on the synastry (see below), but right now I have no clear opinion on the matter.
I don't pay attention to the signs in a composite chart. For instance, I have problems accepting that a relationship between a person with lots of planets in Cancer, and a person with lots of planets in Scorpio, should be very Virgonian.
I think the composite chart tells a lot about the needs of the RELATIONSHIP. I think "good" aspects should be "consumed", otherwise they may actually start causing problems. A composite chart with trines/sextiles between planets like Moon, Venus or Asc, might not function smoothly unless the two people actually do allow themselves to hug, etc, with each other.
Squares may indicate a struggle between needs. A square between e.g. Saturn and Uranus, may indicate a relationship that requires both freedom, exciteness, surprises, etc, AND stability, predictiveness and control. And with squares, there are always some struggle and imbalance.
Aspects may be personalized. In the case of an opposition between Saturn and Neptune, one person may be very idealistic and the other very Saturnian. The two partners may alter the roles!
My experiences tells me that aspects like Sun square Saturn (or Sun square Mars) often are found in the composite charts between people that don't get along very well.
Whether a relationship will succeed or not, seems to depend very much on the LACK of difficult aspects. To simplify: 2 trine and 2 square, may be better than 5 trines and 4 squares. The composite charts of people living happily for many years, doesn't necessarily have lots of trines and sextiles. Rather, they have none, or very few, difficult aspects.
None of the above statements are based on empirical research. It's rather based on personal experiences and thoughts.
3) SYNASTRY. By "synastry" I'm talking about the aspects between the planets in A:s chart, and those in B:s chart. These aspects must be in orb.
I don't think synastry necessarily tells that much about whether a relationship will become successful or not. I rather think the synastry has an explaining function. Via the synastry we are able to see exactly WHAT causes the problems. (In this case the sign-connections are of value as well. Mercury square Moon in the composite chart, may have a connection with the fact that A is very "airy" and B is very "watery".) I admit that I might be biased in this case, since the synastry between me and the girl I loved when developing my "rules" were rather difficult.
Some contacts via synastry is far more important than other. Generally, contacts involving Sun, Moon and Asc seems to be most important. Aspects between e.g. A:s Mercury and B:s Mercury (or Venus and Venus), also are important. (By the way, Mercury square Mercury often starts with an intellectual attraction and admiration, and often ends up with two people disagreeing with everything...)
I consider sign-connections as more important than synastry. This may be controversial, but at this time these are my experiences. However, one must always try to remain flexible. Mars in Libra sesquisquaring Mars in Aquarius should indicate both compatiblity and friction regarding the way each person acts, etc (mars principle).
4) THE INDIVIDUAL CHARTS. This is a very important thing to consider. Unfortunately, it's also a very difficult task. Especially for a person (like me) who wants to quantify things. There's a girl/woman I know who I am very compatible with according to each of the three above-mentioned techniques. However, I'm totally uninterested in her, and not at all attracted to her. I believe the explaination to this can be found by looking at the individual charts. I feel uncomfortable with the aspects in her chart. For instance, Venus square Uranus in her chart definately goes against my needs of safety, stability, etc.
Then there are all kinds of other things to consider. Age-diffence, cultural differences, the transits each person goes through, circumstances, luck, etc, etc, etc...
My overall thoughts are that the success of a relationship has more to do with each person's attitude and capacity, than with the actual compatibility.
To more specifically try to comment upon your things, I do not use progressions in any way. This may mean I miss a lot of available information, just as think people who only uses the major aspects misses a lot of ery important information.
Transits to composite charts do seem to work, probably as well as transits to a natal chart.
I, too, use Planets in Composite. Actually it's the only book I have on composite charts, and my whole approach to composite charts are based on it.
Finally, I have "found" a technique that seems to work at least as good as transits. I call it "comptrans", and it is based on the composite chart between chart of the person and the chart of the current event. The connection between "Comptrans" and composite charts, is the same as the connection between transits and synastry. If a composite chart, and transits, works, then "comptrans" should work! Although I haven't found anybody else who is using this technique, I think there must be people out there who does.
I intend to post a single posting on "comptrans" later on, but if anyone has any comments, etc, you are welcome to share them.
Regards, Denis
Unless otherwise indicated, articles and submissions above are copyright © 1996 their respective authors.