Astrology uses synastry between two charts in order to determine compatibility between two people and more generally to analyse relationships. Synastry is a comparison of aspects between two charts' planets and important points.
The same technique can be used in heliocentric astrology, with some differences. First of all, the analysis is simplified as there are only planets and no other points to compare. Secondly, my findings indicate a significance for each planet and a meaning for each aspect, as regards relationships, which are rather different from other astrological systems.
This first lesson focuses on commitment in relationships and the two specific planets which indicate the possibility of commitment. They are probably not what you would expect. These two planets are Jupiter and Saturn.
The potential for a committed relationship between two people occurs when there is an aspect between Jupiter in one chart and Saturn in the other chart.
Before explaining about aspects and orbs, let's try and understand why these two planets have the most significance in committed relationships.
Jupiter represents growth and Saturn represents maturity. Jupiter represents joy and Saturn represents focus. Jupiter represents optimism and Saturn represents commitment.
The union, by aspect between two charts, between Jupiter and Saturn is the union of complements. Jupiter rules over the optimistic, hopeful, joyful outlook on life and the future. Jupiter rules also over one's beliefs, which are so important in any significant relationship. Saturn, as Jupiter's complement, signifies reaching maturity and looking for what is essential, what is really important in life. When there is an aspect between one person's Jupiter and another person's Saturn, there is the potential for a bond between these two people, because each of them feels that the union with their partner can bring fulfillment.
An aspect between one person's Jupiter and the other's Saturn is not enough of course to determine whether a committed relationship will actually occur in the first place, nor whether it will be a happy one and not even if it will last.
Conversely, the absence of this aspect does not necessarily mean a significant relationship cannot be formed.
The presence or absence of this aspect is only one of the elements which can make or break a couple, but it is a very important one.
The aspects between Jupiter and Saturn may be any of the aspects used in this system (see
Aspects and Houses), but with the following orbs:
The
orbs may be doubled, thus becoming normal orbs (see
Aspects and Houses) whenever there is a second aspect, with normal orb, between these two planets:
- if there is a Jupiter - Jupiter aspect (with normal orb)
- if there is a Saturn - Saturn aspect (with normal orb)
- if there is a second Jupiter - Saturn aspect (with normal orb): if along with chart A's Jupiter in aspect to chart B's Saturn, there is also chart A's Saturn in aspect to chart B's Jupiter.
Important: the closer the orb (relative to the type of aspect) the more significant and committed the relationship will be. An exact conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn will be more effective than a wider one.
However, a relatively wide conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn will be better than a very close quincux.
The type of aspect will determine the type of committed relationship going on within a couple. In future lessons with example charts we will analyse this subject in more detail.
One last note: an aspect forming between Jupiter and Saturn in the heliocentric charts may not occur in the geocentric charts, as both Jupiter and Saturn (but especially Jupiter) may be at different degrees in the two systems.
October 24, 2006 - Copyright Maddalena Cecchinato
