Although sun sign compatibility is often the first step for beginning astrologers to figure out how like-minded they are with a love interest, there are much more influential astrological placements that help determine astrological compatibility.
First, you have to calculate the two peoples’ birth charts by figuring out the exact time and location of their births. You can do that on a variety of websites, but one of my favorite resources for beginners is cafe astrology, because it not only calculates birth charts for free, it also has copious amounts of articles about different planets and placements.
The website is a perfect place to begin to understand the complexities of astrology because it has easy-to-use resources for beginners, publishes articles specific to particular aspects within astrology and explains the multifaceted roles of each planet and house.
For each individual, the planets were positioned in a unique sequence at the time they were born. Your birth chart tells you the position of each planet — meaning what sign that planet is in – and what sign each of the 12 houses are in. Astrological houses represent different areas of life and are highlighted through transits and aspects.
Aspects are the manner in which your placements interact with each other, while transits are how those placements relate to how the planets are positioned at any time related to the zodiac.
I have ranked seven planets in terms of importance for determining romantic astrological compatibility.
1. Venus
As you might imagine, Venus rules love and romance. It represents peoples’ value, what they find pleasure in and compatibility. It can help determine happiness in relationships.
In determining unity, Venus’ placements are of vital importance because it can help you understand what your partner wants in a relationship.
2. Mars
Mars is the planet of energy and desire in astrology. It rules sexual desires and survival instincts. The red planet is the second most important placement on my list because Mars and Venus are almost dependent on each other in order to understand a person’s romantic and physical needs.
Although Mars is often associated with sexuality, it also helps determine drive in other areas of life. Mars’ compatibility speaks to the ways in which partners’ energies relate, based on which aspects are present.
3. Rising/Ascendant
A person’s rising sign represents how they present themselves to the world. Because relationships are often built on first impressions, that initial attraction can be determined by how compatible two peoples’ rising signs are.
Although relationships tend to be much deeper than the mask a person puts on for the outside world, to get to that point there must initially be a degree of understanding.
4. Moon
Your moon sign is the reality you live in. This astrological placement is how you express your unconscious personality. Moon signs are said to be what people keep hidden from the outside world and because of that, it is the vulnerability that only the people closest to you, such as your partner, experience.
Moon sign compatibility helps determine if you and your partner are comfortable on an instinctive and emotional level. The sign hones in on what people are comfortable or uncomfortable within their daily lives and speaks to how a person processes and reacts to emotions.
5. Sun
Sun sign placements represent the ego and how individuals express it. It is referred to as the “key to full self-expression” by Astrologist Jan Spiller because an individual’s sun sign signifies from where they draw their power from, how they exhibit creativity and their leadership style. The sun symbolizes your higher self. It is important to your daily compatibility primarily because egos can play an important role in human interaction.
Sun sign compatibility can show how a couple can work together at their highest level of self. However, by only examining the unifying sun sign is limiting because it does not take into accounts all other areas of someone’s personality. To fully understand the role of sun signs in astrological compatibility, someone must first understand the other ruling planets in their partner’s birth chart and how their chart compares to their significant others.
6. Jupiter
Jupiter is the planet of social opportunity and perspective. A person’s Jupiter placement shows how they find faith in themselves and others, build trust and find personal value. It plays a role in astrological compatibility because Jupiter represents tolerance, generosity and where you find joy in life.
In terms of relationship harmony, Jupiter can help you understand which areas of life will be easiest and where conflict could arise. Jupiter’s significance is exalted when linked with other placements. However, because Jupiter represents luck and optimism, compatibility between Jupiter and other planets such as Mars, Venus and Moon signs can be telling to how a relationship will endure over time and how a partner can influence your mood.
7. Saturn
Saturn is the most powerful planet in the solar system because it rules over karmic energy. However, it is also one of the most misunderstood planets. It represents time, order and judgment regarding right and wrong. Saturn’s placements speak to a person’s sense of responsibility, their greatest fears and desires, their social obligations and the purpose or direction in their life.
Because Saturn rules over karma when comparing two individual’s birth charts, it is an important part of helping to determine long-lasting relationships. If a couple’s Saturn signs are compatible, they are more likely to have a relationship with solid foundations and resiliency, whereas incompatible placements can lead to restrictiveness in a relationship.
In determining compatibility, knowing the placements of your partner is essential. However, this unity is ultimately determined by the aspects of the relationship, meaning how placements interact in relation to each other and to what degree they conjunct.
Astrologers look at each person’s sign and house placements of each planet and compare them using aspects. In order to determine astrological compatibility, it is integral to examine how partners’ placements relate. My favorite holistic resource for comparing charts for harmony in relationships is on astro-seek.
Ultimately, compatibility is a complex comparison between two people’s charts, and varying aspects between them can play varying roles in how planets impact the relationship.
