Planets in Composite

Other books by Robert Hand

Horoscope Symbols

Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living

Planets in Youth: Patterns of Early Development

 Robert Hand
Planets in Composite
Analyzing
Human Relationships

M««u> huvtt*
Copyright © 1975 by Para Research, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may

be reproduced or used in any form or by any
means — graphic, electronic, or mechanical,
including photocopying, mimeographing,
recording, taping, or information storage and
retrieval systems — without written permission
from the publisher. A reviewer may quote
brief passages.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 75-17260

International Standard Book Number: 0-914918-22-2

Designed by Bob Boeberitz

Edited by Margaret E. Anderson
Type set in 10 pt. Palatino on a Compugraphic II
Printed by R.R. Donnelly & Sons Co.
on 50-pound 110 Warren Sebago paper

Published by Para Research, Inc.

Whistlestop Mall
Rockport, Massachusetts 01966

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Printing, August 1975, 6,000 copies

Second Printing, March 1976, 6,000 copies
Third Printing, June 1977, 6,000 copies
Fourth Printing, September 1978, 5,000 copies
Fifth Printing, August 1980, 4,000 copies paper
Sixth Printing, March 1981, 3,000 copies paper
Seventh Printing, November, 1981, 4,000 copies paper
 To create anything like this
requires opportunity,
encouragement, and incentive
from others. I therefore
dedicate this book to
Frank Molinski who
provided all these.
 Contents
Foreword by John Townley ix
Introduction 1
Chapter One: Casting the Chart 9
Chapter Two: Reading the Chart 29
Chapter Three : Case Studies 39
Chapter Four: Houses 69
Chapter Five : Sun 81
Chapter Six: Moon 119
Chapter Seven : Mercury 159
Chapter Eight Venus 191
Chapter Nine : Mars 223
Chapter Ten: Jupiter 253
Chapter Eleven: Saturn 277
Chapter Twelve \ Uranus 301
Chapter Thirteen: Neptune 319
Chapter Fourteen : Pluto 335
Chapter Fifteen : Moon's Nodes 351
hnicx 363
Foreword
 Foreword

The origin of the composite chart is shrouded in obscurity. According to the

noted German astrologer Edith Wangemann. two researchers were working
on it in Germany in the 1920s. But the technique predates that time and. like
a good folk song, it must be considered traditional in origin. More recently,
astrologers on both sides of the Atlantic claim to have invented and or
developed the composite chart, and there is probably some truth to their
claims. When the right time for an idea has come, it tends to pop up
independently in various places.

Whatever its origin, the composite chart was unknown to most astro
in England and the United States until 1974. when Samuel Weiser published
my work. The Composite Chart . outlining basic composite structure. In the
comparatively brief span of time since then. I have watched skeptical or
uninterested astrologers become enthusiastic about the technique.

Just a few years earlier there was a similar growth of enthusiasm for
midpoints In the late 1960s, few American astrologers knew what
midpoints were, much less used them. Now every astrology student studies
them as a necessary part of their education, and most professionals are
well-versed in their use. It is very likely therefore, that composite charts
will come • Jely used as midpoints bet SUM the composite is really
a midpoint chart

But in order tor any technique to gain wide .1 here must

be a definitive work on the sublet t so that eat h astrologrr will not h.i
•■ on the technique. In th -Midpoints Keinhold
.% as the definitive

Robert Hand has ; -he much needed definil

comj and thorough work on the sublet t will aid
•hr astrologer and the student in the delineation ot ,nt important
tet hnique

A* I leafed through the manuv npt of this booV I WMM delighted to hnd that
 Planets in Composite

the interpretations of the various aspects and house positions reconfirmed

my own experience with composites. Also there are many subtle
interpretations here that had never occurred to me. I was particularly
pleased to see Mr. Hand's more realistic and fruitful approach to multiple
composites.

Of special interest are the example cases, which use the composite technique
to unravel details of relationships that would otherwise remain hidden.
Since much of astrology is concerned with personal relationships, the
composite technique is necessarily an important tool. The most
sophisticated synastry (chart comparison) does give the range of potentials
in a relationship between two people, but the composite chart paints a
clearer picture of the actual relationship. In addition, the transits and
progressions to the composite chart point out the ups and downs of the
relationship for as long as it lasts. Thus the composite chart is essential to
any astrologer trying to understand his own personal relationships or those
of his client.

I am happy that of all the astrologers I know, Robert Hand has written this
book. Not just because he is a friend, but because he has a more practical
and realistic understanding of astrology than almost anyone else in the
field. He has brought both sense and humor to the subject, as well as the
critical eye of a mathematician and statistical researcher.

Robert Hand has an enviable talent for writing with depth and
expansiveness, and the result is a work that is both large and complete. I
expect it will be many years before another book will add significantly to
what he has written. Planets in Composite should prove to be an invaluable
tool to the working astrologer and a classic text for the student of astrology.

John Townley
Introduction
 Introduction

I have found the technique of composite charts, as described in this book, to

be the most reliable and descriptive new astrological technique that I have
ever encountered. New astrological methods are constantly being devised
and promoted by their discoverers, but no other method has given me so
much new material for analysis. Many times I have taken the charts of utter
strangers, and by using the composite chart, described the most intimate
details of their relationship with each other. 1 have been able to describe not
only how they get along on a day-to-day level, but also details about major
events in their relationship.

In reading composite charts I have found little or none of the ambiguity that
occurs with conventional techniques of synastry. Creative and positive
relationships are recognized clearly and unambiguously, and so are difficult
and relatively unrewarding ones. The composite allows me to see the
precise nature of the difficulties in a problematic relationship and enables
me to give the persons involved insightful and useful advice about possible
solutions to the problems they face with each other.

To be sure, much of this material would be accessible by traditional

methods, but it could not be seen with such ease and clarity And many
relationships that made little or no sense in terms of synastry have become
completely clear with the composite chart. An example of such an instance
is given in the case study of Fred and Mary

The composite chart deals with relationships in a new way The technique
• that a relationship ot jnv kind is not simplv two
'or rr ■ ther it is also an entity in its own right It two people
are involved with eat h other in some way there are three entities tr .
people and their relationship Often in ever
•'ut who have an exiellent and
fulfilling relationship Somehow, being ' sot thn:
that v belong to the third
entity the relationship
 Planets in Composite

When I first encountered composite charts in 1972 I was not impressed. It

struck me as a formal mathematical device based on a gimmick that did not
reflect any kind of astrological reality. Needless to say, this was an a priori
opinion not based on experience, which illustrates the danger of such
judgments in astrology. Later I became convinced that the technique was
valid and recently have been working on a theory of astrological influence
which also accounts for the composite chart. This theory has suggested
some of the changes I have introduced in the technique of creating multiple
composites, changes that have been verified in practice. The entire theory is
rather complex, but I will present it here in somewhat simplified form.

Each planet can be regarded as a directed stress or pull in the heavens. That
is to say, each planet produces upon the earth a pull in the direction of the
planet's zodiacal longitude. Each planet has its own kind of pull, which
differs from the others in quality rather than quantity. Here I must stress
that although the planets do pull on the earth literally through gravitational
attraction, that is not what I am referring to. I am using "pull" as a
metaphorical term here; the important point is that there is something like a
pull and that it has direction.

People who are familiar with mathematics or physics will recognize that
what I am describing has some resemblance to a vector. A vector is a
quantity that also has a direction. The sentence, "He traveled at 60 miles per
hour," is a statement of quantity alone. But "He traveled east at 60 miles per
hour," introduces the factor of direction and makes the quantity a vector.
Similarly, if one states that there was a pull of 90 pounds to the right, 90°
from the direction of travel, that is a description of a force vector. Any
quantity that acts in a certain direction is a vector. Like ordinary numbers,
vectors can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided by each other,
although the rules are rather complex. I refer the reader to any college math
text for more information.

The planets act like vectors in that they set up stress patterns in the zodiac.
And when the planets are in certain significant angles to each other (the
aspects), which are derived by dividing the full 360° circle by small whole
numbers, they set up vibrations or wave patterns in the zodiac. These
vibrations establish the influence of the planets.

One can object that planets not in aspect to each other must still have
influence, to which I would agree. However, it can be shown that in fact
every planet is in aspect to every other planet, if we do not limit ourselves to
the traditional basic aspects. It is not necessary to divide the circle just by 1,
conjunction; 2, opposition; 3, trine; 4, square; 5, quintile; 6, sextile; and so
 Introduction

forth. One can also divide the circle by 13. 23, and any other number. We
do not understand how to use these aspects, yet they do exist and have
significance almost certainly. All pairs of planets set up these wave patterns
determined by their angular separation and influence the chart accordingly.
A full description of how the waves work would be beyond the scope of this
book. For our purposes, we need only establish some simple points.

The planets, like vectors, have a quantitative stress, and more important, a
qualitative stress, in a certain direction. Eventually we may find the
quantitative basis for these qualitative differences, but that is not important
for this discussion. We can consider all planets approximately equal
quantitatively, except possibly the Sun and Moon may be stronger. At any
rate, we assign all the planets a value of one unit. Such vectors are called
unit vec;

The important point here is that using the rules given in this book, the
angular positions of the planets in a composite chart are the same as they
would be it the planets were treated as unit vectors and added according to
the rules of vector addition. This is true of multiple composites as well as
••ay composites. The sum ot often called a resultant. The
>ns ot the planets in the composite chart arc resultants oi their
ns m the natal charts. The natal chart shows how the stress tactors
(planets) relate to each other and produce wave patterns which I helit
the ultimate key to understanding astrological influence. And the com;
chart shows the resultants ot t; e> when two (or more) people come
together in a relationship

In this dis< ussion I have not touched on the quantitative as; tOfl
because at this time I have no idea what their ettec t is Hut I am certain that
eventually the quantita' unci to be verv important.

The main point I am trying to stress is that the composite chart is not |ust a
mathematical abstraction It is bated on principles that have important
parallels m physics I was originally taught to do multiple cocnpoeitei by I
mrthod that did not tit this model at all. and it did not seem to work ver\
well his older method Indicated that I Could not ^et alon>
well with two (.Id friends because the twelfth hous. stronglv
rmpl >irn I inv< i found that the technique 1 had
enl from that t in to work
out the principles that 1 • in this b

"m pnn< |
jstro "his argument in not intended to
 Planets in Composite

We are simply not secure enough in our basic principles to do that. The only
test is to try out a technique and then if necessary try to figure out why it
works. I urge you to do this with composite charts.

The purpose of this book is twofold. First of all, it is a complete description

of the technical aspects of creating a composite horoscope. In using this
book, you should not have to consult any other source, except for
ephemerides, tables of houses, and the like.

The second purpose of the book is to acquaint the reader with the methods
of reading the composite horoscope. This is done in three ways. First of all,
there is a complete chapter on how to read composite charts, which gives a
useful order of priorities to follow in reading. Here also some technical
problems are dealt with that arise only in composite charts.

Second, several case studies are given, which take the reader through the
process of reading actual composite horoscopes. Each case has been selected
because it exemplifies some important fact about reading composites.
Various techniques that can be used with composite horoscopes, such as
progressions and transits, the vertex point, and solar returns, are also
discussed. Extensive descriptions are not given in all cases, because the
techniques differ little from those used in natal horoscopes.

Third, the main text of the book gives extensive delineations of planets in
houses and in aspect with each other. As I have stated elsewhere in this
book, the meanings of the planets in aspect and in the houses are not
radically different from their meanings in ordinary charts. Usually the same
principles are applied to composites, although some peculiarities are worth
noting. But some readers may find it difficult to make the mental leap from
reading a person to reading a relationship. This is particularly likely to be a
problem for students of astrology, to whom this section is especially
addressed.

More experienced astrologers will find it relatively easy to follow the

reasoning used in these delineations and to apply their own methods of
reasoning. I encourage this, for I do not mean this book to be a gospel in
any way. The delineations are only sample possibilities and cannot take
into account all the individual issues that arise in every chart. The student is
asked to use this book as a guide, not as a crutch. Everyone must develop
techniques of analysis based on their individual experience, and no one
should use my experience or anyone else's as a substitute for his or her own.
In the delineations, particular stress has been laid on personal relationships
such as friendships, love affairs, marriage, and the like, but with very little
 Introduction

stretching of the imagination they can be applied to almost any kind of

human relationship, profession, family, or whatever.

For reasons of simplicity in language, all of the delineations are written for
relationships between two people. In fact, composites can be cast for more
than two people. There is a complete section on the casting of such
composites.

This technique has not been in use long enough for all possible questions
about it to be answered. Even in this book are several new practices that
have never been described elsewhere. Other new developments will
emerge, and this process of discovery will continue. I ask that readers share
their observations and discoveries with me by getting in touch with me
through the publisher.

Subsequent to the first printing of this book, I found that the horoscopes for
Hickman and Parker, Case Five, were based on inaccurate data. Securing
accurate birth data is a problem that astrologers constantly face, and
incorrect data can obviously cause confusion and discrepancies. In this
edition, therefore, I have deleted the above-mentioned case study and
substituted an examination of a different relationship: that between
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.* I feel quite confident that the data used to
compile their charts are accurate and come from valid sources.

Good luck with composites.

A»»r<' .iln>n*hip I hr
.10
 Chapter One

Casting the Chart

 Casting the Chart

The composite horoscope is created by finding the midpoint between pairs

of planets and other sensitive points of the two natal horoscopes, that is, the
Sun of one and the Sun of the other, the Moon of one and the Moon of the
other, and so forth. The composite Sun is the midpoint of the two Suns, the
composite Moon is the midpoint of the two Moons; the composite Mercury
is the midpoint of the two Mercuries, and so on for all the other planets.
The houses, however, are calculated in a different manner. But before
discussing the construction of the chart, it is important to understand some
things about midpoints.

A midpoint is a point in the zodiac equidistant from two other points,

usually planets. It is believed, and extensive practice bears this out, that the
midpoint combines the qualities of the two planets from which it is derived.
Whole systems of astrology have been created around these points, most
notably the Uranian system and Cosmobiology. Many traditionalists use
them also. They have been discussed by Dane Rudhyar and Charles Jayne.
to mention but two of the many who have used midpoints as well as
traditional techniques with great effec t Midpoints are not new and nothing
about this technique ot working with them drparts radically trom
traditional prac I

However, the use of midpoints in the composite chart raises a problem l )n

a straight line there isonly one midpoint between any pair ot points Hut on a
circ le. any pair of points will yield two midpoints Thr • eai h pair
nts divides the circle into two an s both ot whi( h can be divided by
midpoints into two equal halves In the illustration (see RgUTC 1 ! we |
cJtcIc with two points A and H. which gives us two arcs AH and 1
which AB is the shi 'id by the point P while an HA is
the point P If A and H were planets R and I' would be tl •
midpoints Fortunately, I 'ly 180° trom eat h

The working hypothec upon whic h the ( on ; ; 's that P

the midpoint of the AB. is the n I nful of ti-

ll
 Planets in Composite

Figure 1

therefore the one used in the chart. We call the midpoint of the shorter arc
the "nearer midpoint/' and the other midpoint, P, the "farther midpoint."
An exception to the use of the nearer midpoint occurs when the planets
being combined are more than 150° apart in their shorter arc. In this case the
two midpoints are nearly equal in strength, and both should be taken into
consideration.

The rule that all pairs of planets have two midpoints is important in
understanding the houses of the composite horoscope, which differ
somewhat from the houses of an ordinary birthchart. These differences will
be discussed in Chapter Four. But another phenomenon that arises from this
same fact should be mentioned.

In all horoscopes, the Sun and the planets Venus and Mercury travel around
together as a unit and are always in approximately the same part of the
zodiac. In the composite chart, however, the combining technique that will
be described here can yield such curiosities as a Sun-Mercury opposition or
a Venus-Mercury opposition, which are clearly impossible in an ordinary
chart. This can only happen when the Sun-Mercury-Venus clusters are
nearly opposite each other in the two natal charts. In such cases I believe in
using the rule formulated above for planets in near opposition; that is, use
both sets of midpoints. Alternatively, one could also use only the nearer
midpoint of the two Suns and then use the Mercury and Venus midpoints
that are on the same side of the zodiac as the nearer Sun. At any rate, a
Sun-Venus, Sun-Mercury, or Mercury- Venus opposition should be treated
like a conjunction, not a true opposition. Instances of this will be referred to
in the case studies.

12
 Casting the Chart

Figure 2 Figure 3

In Figures 2 and 3 are the charts of a man and a woman who will be
discussed later on in the case studies. For the present, we will use their
charts to illustrate the construction of a composite chart. Their data are not
given in order to help preserve their anonymity. Proceeding step by step:

1 Take both charts and change the longitude of each chart element from
the usual notation in terms of signs to notation in terms of a 360° circle, that
is, count all chart positions from 0° Aries instead of from 0° of their sign.
For each sign, add the number A- ofes degrees given in the table below.

a
Taurus so
6a
Gemini
12a
CanoM
Leo
Virgo 15a
iea
Libra
Scorpio 21a
24a
Sagittarius
Capricorn 27a
3oa
Aquarius 90*
P V »-S 33a

■ample, if the longitude is 22° n 07. we add 60" for Gemini according
•n
to the table, which gives 82" 07 in 360* notation Below tabulated in full.
are the conversions of both sample ihjrt% trom sign notation to 360*
 Planets in Composite

Person 1 Person 2
Sun 13° / 13' + 240° = 22° "2 14' + 150° =
Moon 13° "V 58' + 210° = = 253°13' 27°ai1' + 120° =
Mercury
15°^ 56' + 240° = = 223°58' 8° <m 37' + 150° =
Venus 17° ^ 58' + 240° = = 255°56' 13°- 57' + 180° = 172°14'
Mars 23° m> 14' + 210° = = 257°58' 11° — 10' + 180° = 147°11'
■191°10'
8°37'
Jupiter 24°S21'+ 90° = = 233°14' 10° <m 56' + 150° = 15
Saturn 8°H41'+ 60° = = 114°21' 9°S28'+ 90° = 193°57'
Uranus 2°H08'+ 60° = = 68°41' ■■ 99°28'
13° H 09'+ 60° =
Neptune 1° — 50' + 180° = = 62°08' 3°= 32' + 180° = 160°56'
Pluto
7° a 03' + 120° = = 181°50' 9° SI 34' + 120° = = 73°09'
Nodes = 183°32'
28° SI 20' + 120° = = 127°03' 26°S05'+ 90° =
M.C. = 129°34'
21° X 33' + 330° = = 148°20' 3° T 06' + 0° =
Asc. = 116°05'
12°S15'+ 90° = = 351°33' 22°?2 07'+ 90° =
Vertex 29°m/10' + 210° = = 102°15' 8°^ 29' + 240° = = 3°06'
= 112°07'
= 239°11'
2. Take the longitudes for each pair of chart elements — the= 248°29'
two Suns, the
two Moons, the two Mercuries, etc. — add together, and divide by two.
(Remember that you always find the midpoint of a pair of same planets, not
two different ones.) Using the two Suns, we get the following:

a. 172°14' + 253°13' = 425°27'

b. 425°27' ^2 = 212°43.5', rounded to 212°44'

3. Convert back to sign notation.

212°44' = 2°m>44'

4. Check to see whether steps 2 and 3 have given you the nearer or the
farther midpoint. If the result is the farther midpoint, replace the sign in step
3 with the opposite sign. In this example, dividing by two gives the correct
side of the zodiac. Below is the computation for all the elements of the two
charts:
2°m/44
Person 1 Person 2 Composite 5°^ 35
Sun 253°13' + 172°14' = 425°27'
Moon 223°58' + 147°1 1 ' = 371 °09' -2 = 212°44' 27°^ 17
-2 = 185°35' 2°m/12
15°i^58
Mercury 255°56' + 158°37' = 414°33' -h2 = 207°17'
Venus 257°58' + 193°57' = 451 °55'
Mars 233°14' + 191°10' = 424°24' -2 = 225°58' 17°a39
Jupiter 1 1 4°21 ' + 1 60°56' = 275°1 7' -2 = 21 2°12' 24°7°H39
H 05
Saturn 68°41' + 99°28'=168°09' -2 = 137°39'
Uranus 62°08'+ 73°09'=135°17' -2= 84°05'
-2= 67°39'
14
 Casting the Chart

Neptune 18332 - 181 50 = 365 22 2 - 182 41 ^^41

Pluto 12934 - 127D3 =256 37 2= 128 19 8 19
Nodes 116=05-148 20-264 25 2 132 13 12 13
MC 3=06-35133 354 39-2 177 20 27-20
Asc 112=07-102=15 214 22 2 10711 17°S11
Vertex 248=29-239=10=48739 2 243 50 3 ' 50

Only the composite M.C., see table above, comes out on the wrong side of
the zodiac, because the combining technique produces the farther midpoint.
Its sign is reversed when converted to sign notation.

The houses are not calculated by this technique. Only the M.C. is calculated
in the same manner as the planets. Although we have calculated a
composite Ascendant and vertex* using this technique, we will not use it as
the cusp of the first house. The midpoint of the two Ascendants, the
"composite Ascendant," is entered in the final chart as an important
sensitive point, but the cusp of the first house is calculated as follows:

Take the composite M.C. as the cusp of the tenth house and erect a new set
of house cusps for that M.C, using the latitude of the residence where the
two people live or where their relationship is taking place. You may use any
house system you prefer, but the examples in this book are calculated
according to the Birthplace House System of Walter Koch of Germany. The
calculations were done on a Wang 500 desk calculator directly through
trigonometry.

Below is an example of the method for calculating house cusps from the
table of houses. The method is very similar to that used in an ordinary
chart, except that we start with the longitude ot the M.C, which means that
the sidereal time is dispensed with altogether It you are unused to the
method, this example should help.

Our example couple took up residence at orographic latitude 4,T,N47

geocentric latitude 41"N36'. (I use geocentric latitude instead ot geographic
latitude. This distinction is described in several tcxtbookl and I rcter the
reader to them tor more information I The longitude ot n-suh-ncr is not
needed because we already have the- M C which is . ivhuh lies
between 27° and 25° * in the tablrs As mentioned .iK «h lablrs
'or thrsr c ale ulations i For our example we will cak ulate in full

* r*ii-. !•■ tailed ihr inmpiii!'

in grnrral

15
 Planets in Composite

the first-house cusp, but the same procedure is used for the other house
cusps. Remember that the composite first-house cusp is not the same as the
composite Ascendant, which was derived by taking the nearer midpoint of
the two natal Ascendants.

Our latitude for this calculation is geocentric 41°N36', which lies between
41°N and 42°N in the tables. For a M.C. of 27° X , we have a first-house cusp
of 16°S49' at 41°N and 17°S28' at 42°N. For the M.C. of 28° * we have a
first-house cusp of 17°S35' at 41°N, and 18°S13' at 42°N. I recommend
that you arrange the work in the following manner:

M.C.
27° X 00'
? 28° X 00'
First House 41 °N
16°S49' 17°S35'
?
First House 41 °N36'
?
First House 42°N X20'
17°S28'
18°S13'

Now we must fill in the middle column by interpolation. We start by

finding the first-house cusp corresponding to 27°X20' at 41°N. The
composite M.C. 27° X 20' is 20/60ths, or 1/3, of the way 27°between 27°* and
28° ^ . In this case it would be easier to do the interpolation by means of the
fraction 1/3 than by logarithms, but the logarithm calculation is shown
here in case some readers are not familiar with the process. Since the
composite M.C. is 20/60ths of the way between the two M.C.'s in the table,
the Ascendant at 41°N will be 20/60ths of the way between 16°S49' and
17° S 35', the separation between these two Ascendants being 46'. Using any
table of diurnal logs, the set-up looks like this:

log 20' = 1.85733

+ log 46' = 1.49561
-log 60' = 1.38021
sum 1 .97273

The sum is the antilog of 15' rounded off to the nearest minute. Therefore
we add 15' to 16° S 49' to get 17° S 04'. Repeat the above procedure to get the
first-house cusp corresponding to our composite M.C. for 42°N. We find
that the two first-house cusps for 27° * and 28° * at 42°N are 17°S28' and
18° 25 13', which are separated by 45' of arc. The set-up looks like this:

16
 Casting the Chart

log 20' = 1 85733

-log 45' = 1.50515
- log 60 = 1 38021
sum 1 98227

In this case the result is exactly the antilog of 15' again. We add the 15' to
17°2 28' to get 17° 2 43'. Our worksheet should now look like this:

MC 27" X 00 zr x 20 28-00
First House 41 N 17* 2 04 17 -.35
First House 41 N36 16= 2 49'
17° 5 28
First House 42*N XT 2 43 18; 5131

We now have the first-house cusps for 27° * 20' at 41°N and at 42°N. but we
want the cusp for 41°N36\ so we must find the Ascendant that is 36 60ths
of
willthelook
way like
between
this: 17° 2 04' and 17° 2 43', which is an arc of 39'. The set-up

log 36 1 60206
- log 39 1 56730
- tog 60 = 1 38021
1 78915

This is the antilog of 23' to the nearest minute. We add 23' to 17° 2 04' to get
17°2 27. The completed worksheet should look like this:
28° M 00
MC 2T K00 2T *20
17° 2 35
First House 41 N 16° 5 49

First House 41 1M36 17 5 27

17 5 04'
17 2 28 ir 2 13
First House 42°TJ IT 2 43

The final answer 17° '-27.

Thr other houses may be calculated in the same manner it desired

ever, their >t most birth data makes it unnecessary to be this
<• Usually you can estimate by eye to the nearest degree on the
inter ps Actually, you can get away with this tor the first house
ilso I have outlined the < omplete method here tor the o< t asions when
the n< • . lustihes the eMr.i work The lull set ot house c usps is
Kiven below *> that you m.i it your work These I

17
 Planets in Composite

calculated directly on a calculator, using the direct trigonometric method.

Assuming that you use the Koch Tables, yours should agree within plus or
minus 3' of arc. Placidus and other systems will, of course yield different
results.

10. 27° X 20'

11. 16° 8 02'
12. 20°H58'
1. 17°S27'
2. 11°^00'
3. 4° HE 03'
Derived vertex 3° * 59'

We are now ready to enter the planets, Sun, Moon, and composite
Ascendant in the chart, as shown in the illustration of the completed chart
(see Figure 4). Although it did not happen in this sample chart, remember
that if any of the natal pairs are more than 150° apart in their shorter arc,
take both midpoints into consideration. A reading of the chart we have just
cast is given in Chapter Three.

18
 Casting the Chart

Multiple Composites

Although the delineations in this text are written for relationships between
two people, composites can be done for more than two. This is one
exceptional feature of this technique that distinguishes it from conventional
techniques of chart comparison, which are limited to two persons.
However, with multiple composites some problems arise that require
explanation here. Incidentally, these problems, which are extremely
important, have never before been written about. Although other
astrologers may be aware of them, I discovered them independently while
doing research on composite charts. If these problems are not taken into
account, they can completely distort the reading of a multiple composite.

The problem is that in many cases, the technique for multiple composites
taught by earlier authorities is incorrect and can give rise to spurious and
ineffective composite points. This technique can also result in the house
cusps being completely wrong, which negates all attempts at interpretation.

Previous writers and older authorities on this subject have taught the
following step-by-step method:

1. Change all longitudes to 360° measure, as described on pages 13 and 14.

2. Add together all Suns, all Moons, all Mercuries, and so on, as for a
double composite, except that here you have more than two, of course.

3. Divide each sum by the number of charts being combined.

4. Convert back to sign notation

You may recall that the last step in making a double COmpOtHt WM to see
whether you obtained the nearer or farther midpoint when you divided by
ind then to change the sign of the composite midpoint to that ot the
nearer midpoint I explained that the nearer midpoint was the stron.
the two unless the two planets being combined were near opposition in
which case you use both midpoints The hgi. For this puipotl
150"; that is. if the planets were beyond 150°. both midpoints would be

You will note that in the older rult-s tor multiple composites there is |K
that is analogous to this one and that is I
1 1 I mentioned that the issue ot two midpoints ujst the todil
le any two points will vield two midpoints and these

If
 Planets in Composite

Figure 5

two midpoints are always opposite each other. This also applies to multiple
composites. The older technique given above would work if the zodiac were
a straight line, but since the zodiac is a circle, it is not adequate. I have
chosen three hypothetical three-person composites in order to point out
what the problems are and how to deal with them.

Case One (see Figure 5) is a fairly simple situation in which all three Suns
are in an arc less than 180° , and 0° Aries does not lie among them. (The
importance of these two conditions will become clear as we go on.) If we
handle these Suns according to the old rules given above, the chart will
work out fairly well. Below is the calculation:

3°H15' + 60°= 63°15'

20°S35' + 90°=110°35'
24° — 10' + 180° = 204°10'

The sum of these is 378°00', which when divided by three, the number of
Suns, gives 126°00', or 6° ^-00'. If you examine the representation of Case
One you can see that this result looks plausible. The composite Sun is
contained in the same arc that encompasses the three Suns.

Now let us turn to Case Two (see Figure 6). Here we have three Suns at
27° T 10', 5°H36' and 2°K 50'. If you examine the illustration of this case, a
curious discrepancy emerges. The position marked "First Composite Sun" is
the longitude that you would get by following the same procedure as in

20
 Casting the Chart

Figure 6

Case One. As you can see, it does not fall within the arc that encompasses
the three natal Suns. One would expect it to fall somewhere between 2° * 50'
and 5° 1136'. but instead it falls at 21° Si 52'.

If the zodiac were a straight line with a beginning and an end, the result
would be quite plausible. But a circle does not have a beginning or an end.
and calling 0° Aries the beginning of the zodiac and counting all positions
from that point is just a mathematical convention. The beginning of Aries is
a convenient reference point, but the zodiac actually is continuous. We
must take this tact into consideration when we do a multiple composite, and
this is how it is done.

Instead of taking 0° Aries for our starting point, we have to find a new point
that does not fall within the arc containing the three Suns (or whatever
other planets are being combined). The following steps must be taken:

■ amine the three natal positions and hnd the shortest arc in the /
that contains all three.
2 Find the natal planet that comes first in that arc and start vour
measurements from 0" of that sign rather than ( R other words
I all longitudes in 3o0" measure from the beginning ot that sign joH
as it it were the beginning of the zodiac It may help to . NOW
formula for this procew:
ill longitudes to 360° m< in the normal
mar
b Subtract the longitude of the beginning ot the sign (0" tor Aire*. 30*

21
 Planets in Composite

for Taurus, 60° for Gemini and so on) containing the first planet in
the arc from all the above longitudes, adding 360° to each longitude if
necessary to avoid negative angles. This gives the longitude as
measured from the beginning of the sign containing the first planet.
3. Add together the longitudes that result from Step 2 and divide the result
by the number of planets being combined — in this case, three.
4. Now add back the longitude of the beginning of the sign from which
you have been measuring and subtract 360° if the result of the
addition is more than 360° .
5. Convert back to sign notation in the normal manner.

This may seem like a complex procedure, and it is. There are other, simpler
ways of doing it, but they all incorporate the same principle, that is,
measuring from the sign of the first planet in the shortest arc encompassing
all three (or however many) planets. I have described the method in this
manner because it is the only rigorous statement of rules that works in all
cases. Other methods work only in special cases and have to be worked out
each time you do a multiple composite chart. The method presented here
would work even for a two-person composite, although it would be
needlessly complicated in that instance.

Now we will go through a calculation to demonstrate the technique. In Case

Two, we examine the three Suns, at 27° T 10', 5° H 36', and 2° X 50'. We find
that the arc from 2° X 50' to 5°n 36' is the shortest arc that includes all three
Suns. (It may help to plot out the three positions with a protractor, as was
done in the illustration, but if you are experienced in visualizing the zodiac,
this will not be necessary.) Therefore we will calculate all our positions
from 0° Pisces instead of 0° Aries, Pisces being the first sign in the arc.
Following Step 2 for each of the three positions, we get the following
calculations:

2° X 50' + 330° - 330° = 2°50'

27° T 1 0' + 00° + 360° - 330° = 57°1 0'
5° H 36' + 60° + 360° - 330° = 95°36'

The sum of these comes to 155°36', which we divide by three to obtain

51°52'. Now, following Step 4, we add 330° to obtain 381°52' and then
subtract 360°, because 381°52' is above 360°. The result is 21°T52'. This
point lies in the arc and is the true composite Sun.

Note that this point is in trine to the Sun obtained by the older method. On
the drawing it is marked "Second Composite Sun." In a three-way chart, the
actual composite always trines (or conjoins in some cases) the composite

22
 Casting the Chart

**.*» "5

a**/ 21'>r if

Z9'#27

Figure 7

position obtained by the older method, just as in a two wiy chart the
farther midpoint of two planets is opposite the nearer. By the same token, in
a four-way chart the correct composite point will be in square, opposition
or conjunction to the one created by the old technique; in a five-way chart it
will be in quintile. biquintile, or conjunction; and so forth.

This gives rise to another problem, which is illustrated by Case Three (see
Figure 7) Here we have three natal Suns at 2e> I 12'. 29°"B15 and 14 *?55'.
In Case Two, the shortest arc that contains all three planets is obvious. But in
Case Three, while one of the three possible arcs is shorter than the Other
' is not much shorter. This presents a problem much like that in the
two-way composite in which two planets are in near opposition. Here.
> I or an opposition, we have a wide grand trine among the three Suns
The solution is similar

Applying the rigorous rules given above we tind that the c omposite Sun is
at230,T527 (Actually in this case the older technique would h.i
also It is only when the vernal equinox lies in the shortest arc that tl
trouble with the old technique I However since the nating the
three .rand trine the other points in the trine
must also be taken into consideration Thus juftl as m some tl
ins (or wl
d trine II this were to happen with a Midhi
isps I ■ pei i< n< i- *h< ''.\ i h< •■•■
that the point that Ue\ in the shortest arc is the itl • h the

23
 Planets in Composite

Fortunately, as the number of points being combined in a composite chart

goes up, the probability of encountering this problem goes down. In a
four-person composite, the four points would have to be in a grand cross; in
a five-person composite, in grand quintile; and so forth.

This problem does, however, put a practical upper limit on the number of
people that can be combined in a single composite, totally aside from the
complexity of the mathematics involved. I would estimate this number to be
about ten, but that is only an estimate. As more people are combined in a
composite chart, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine the shortest
arc, so the rules given above become harder and harder to apply. This is not
likely to be a severe problem in practical use. Ninety percent of all
composite charts are two-way, and most of the rest are three-way.

The Vertex and the Composite Chart

In the charts covered in the case studies you will notice a sensitive point
called the vertex. While the delineations in the text do not describe this
point, I have nevertheless found it to be significant in the study of
composite charts and wish to mention it here.

Although the vertex is obviously important, I do not yet have enough

experience with it to give extensive delineations for its aspects in the way I
have for the other points of the horoscope. However, the position of the
vertex is given in the case studies in this book, and references are made to it
whenever it is important to the discussion.

The vertex, originally discovered by the late L. Edward Johndro, one of

America's leading technical astrologers, has been very strongly advocated
by Charles Jayne of New York. I first encountered it through several of his
students. According to Jayne and others, the vertex means "fateful" or
"karmic" encounters. By this is meant encounters with either persons or
circumstances over which the native seems to have no conscious control,
encounters that seem to be fated. Usually such encounters have the effect of
changing the native's life and altering its course. Relationships that have
strong vertex ties have the strongest effect on the lives of those involved.

The encounters indicated by the vertex are not necessarily negative. They
are simply important and have a quality of portentousness. I have found
that the house occupied by the vertex, usually the fifth through eighth,
identifies the sphere of experience that will be most significant for the native
in terms of his or her overall destiny. Planets aspecting the vertex, most
powerfully by the conjunction or opposition, indicate the kinds of energies

24
 Casting the Chart

that will influence the native's destiny. In my own chart, Uranus opposes
my vertex, and I am an astrologer, astrology being ruled by Uranus.

John Townley, the author of another work on composite charts, strongly

advocates the use of the vertex in composite charts, and I have to concur.

As with the composite first-house cusp and the composite Ascendant, there
are two possible vertices in a composite chart. The first of these is the actual
nearer midpoint (or meanpoint in the case of multiple composites) of the
two natal vertices. This I call the "composite vertex'' by analogy with the
composite Ascendant. The second vertex is derived from the composite
M.C. for the latitude at which the couple resides. This I call the "derived
vertex" to denote that it is derived from the composite M.C. Both of these
points are given in the case studies.

But what is the vertex, astronomically speaking, and how is it calculated?

The vertex is the degree of the zodiac that is exactly due west of the native at
the time and place of birth. Technically it is the intersection of the great
circles of the ecliptic and the prime vertical in the west at the time and place
of birth. There is also a point called the "anti-vertex in the east, which is
exactly opposite the vertex in the zodiac.

Here are the rules for calculating the vertex. If you can calculate an
Ascendant, you can calculate a vertex.

1. Subtract the geocentric latitude of the birthplace from 90° . This gives
the co-latitude of the birthplace.
2. Enter a table of houses or Ascendants, using the fourth-house cusp
exactly as if it were a M.C, and calculate the Ascendant that corresponds to
it for the co-latitude as if it were an ordinary latitude The resulting
"Ascendant is the vertex In other words, the vertex is calculated .»
were the Ascendant of the fourth-house cusp at the co-latitude of birth

That is all there is to it I think you will find that the extra work is more than
justified by the results, especially when you discover that it will help you
trace your way through the intrn ns reUtionah |

Additional rechniquca

• art is not limiU-d to the .in.ilvsis ot Initial potentials • in

thata
•mmon U I lid ot
.bin* the btfinnlni ot the
 Planets in Composite

one can do with a conventional chart. It can be progressed and transited,

and there is even a technique for doing solar returns based on the composite
chart.

Transits can be made to the composite chart by the same method as is used
for a conventional chart. The only limitation, which I suspect but do not
know for sure, is that one should not do very much midpoint work with a
composite chart because the planets in the composite chart are already
midpoints. In other words, it would be taking transits to midpoints of
midpoints. However, in the work of the Uranian school of Alfred Witte,
there is precedent for using midpoints of midpoints, and they do so quite
often. In my own work there is also some indication that you can take
transits to midpoints in the composite chart, but I have not yet reached a
firm conclusion on this point.

Progressions or secondary directions to a composite chart are done simply

by calculating the progressed chart of each person involved in the
relationship and then making a composite chart of the two progressed
charts. The technique is the same as that for doing a composite of natal
charts. Preliminary research suggests that this works quite well, and an
example is given in the case study of Will and Sylvia in Chapter Three.

By the same token, one can also use solar arc directions in a composite chart
simply by subtracting the natal composite Sun from the progressed
composite Sun and adding that arc to all the natal composite planets in the
usual manner. I have not yet had much experience with this technique, but
everything suggests that it ought to work.

For those who use tertiary directions, I would suggest that you try
composites of tertiary charts as well. Again, the technique would not differ
from that for combining natal charts.

I have had extensive experience with solar and lunar returns in natal charts,
but I have not yet arrived at any firm conclusions about them. I have not
found any return charts to be very reliable, whether cast in the sidereal or
the tropical zodiac. However, for those who wish to experiment, the
technique is simply to cast a chart for the return of the Sun or Moon to its
position in the natal composite chart. One can do this either in the tropical
or sidereal zodiac. But it is necessary to calculate the composite Sun to the
nearest second of arc. Because of my current uncertainty about return
charts, I have not given any examples in the case studies.

Other techniques have occurred to those of us who use composite charts,

26
 Casting the Chart

but none of us has had much experience with them. More research is in
order. Here is an example:

In checking out the significance of an event in a person's life, make a

composite of the transit chart and the natal chart. This chart should give a
very good idea of the person's relationship to the event. I have not done this
extensively because conventional transit techniques are quite satisfactory in
my work, but it may be worthwhile to check this out.

Actually, two or more charts of any kind may be combined by this

technique if one wishes to examine the relationship between the entities
signified by the charts. John Townley, in his book on composite charts,
gives an example of combining the chart of John Lindsay with the chart of
New York City. I have done very little with such charts because of the
dubious nature of most mundane horoscopes.

The composite chart provides an almost unlimited field of research. 1 invite

anyone who is interested to try out these techniques and share their results
with the rest of the astrological community.

Text and Calculations by Computer

The original impetus for writing this book came from the need to produce a
superior text dealing with relationships for use in a computer horoscope. 1
felt that the composite technique was superior to the traditional techniques
of synastry and therefore recommended that this be the basis of the
computer chart. The delineations in this book of the house positions of the
planets and their aspects are also used in Para Research's computer text the
Astral Composite.

The Astral Composite offers you complete calculations tor any two-person
composite — that is, both natal charts and the composite chart It also lists
all the house positions of the planets and their aspects to each other In
addition there is a complete print-out ot all the text in the book that pertains
to your composite chart This will be ol considerable help if you are
uncertain about the mechanics ot casting and reading a horov opt "t ou are
also assured of complete mathematical accuracy.

Having everything that pertains to your own chart in a separate booklet

enables you to easily make notes and mark sign vages And the
A*fra/ Compo$itt is also good for people who want to know what astrology
can tell them about their relationships, but who are not currently interested
in learning the technique of casting (harts
 Planets in Composite

All computer horoscopes, including the Astral Composite, as well as

textbooks of delineations such as this one, have the limitations of not being
able to synthesize the chart as a whole. They give you a good idea of the
usefulness of astrology, but they should not be employed in an extremely
critical situation. In such cases the personal insight and experience of an
astrologer will prove more effective.

I recommend the Astral Composite as a good text for encountering

astrology. However, if you have a serious relationship problem, you should
consult a competent astrologer or other counselor.

Below is a sample coupon for ordering the Astral Composite. You can also
order the computer calculations without the text, if you wish. There are
additional coupons in the back of the book.

Para Research, Inc., Department PC, Rockport, Massachusetts 01966

□ I enclose $21.50 for the composite horoscope

offered in Planets in Composite.
□ I enclose $5 for the computer calculations alone.

Send to:

Address

City State Zip

My Birth Data Birth Data #2

Date: Mo Day Yr Date: Mo Day Yr.

Place: Place:

Time: am/pm Time: am/pm

28
 Chapter Two

Reading the Chart

 Reading the Chart

Reading a composite horoscope will not be very difficult for anyone who
has mastered the art of reading a conventional natal chart. The only real
difference you may have to adjust to is that you are working with a
relationship rather than an individual. Also, composite charts have
technical peculiarities that have to be dealt with in reading the chart We
will handle these first and then set down some rules for reading these charts.

In reading this book you may be struck by the fact that there are no
references to the signs of the zodiac. In this book there are no delineate
the rising sign in the composite chart or the planets in the signs, and no use
is made of the signs to indicate house rulerships. This is not an oversight.
Earlier astrologers using this technique have felt that in the composite chart
the signs were not real signs, that the zodiac in this case is an abstraction
that serves only to measure the positions of the planets. In truth, this matter
has not really been settled. The signs may have the same importance in
composites as they do in other charts. But I have not arrived at a firm
conclusion through my own experience, and neither has anvone else.
Therefore I leave this matter to you to decide from your own experience.

It would be rather unwise to give delineations ot a component in the chart

namely the signs of the zodiac whose effect on the reading is unknown * In
any case, it can be stated that readings of the composite chart without the
signs are reasonably complete for psychological delineation. In forecasting
events, however, it may be necessary t he signs to their normal
place One result of not using the signs tor this technique is that everything
in th: • hr applied in either the tropical or siderea; thout
any difficulty But in conclusion I must repeat that I do not i firm
opinion on the us* of signs in composite i harts

*
■tanl Tht

u%* of II*"' in tht compo*iU •

 Planets in Composite

With regard to the outer planets some facts should be noted. The house
positions of the outer planets— Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto— are as
important as those of the inner planets in determining the nature of a
personal relationship. However, it is questionable whether the aspects of
the outer planets have much effect in an individual chart, because they are
the same for all combinations of certain age groups. Probably the outer
planet aspects signify the way in which whole generations interact.

It is my opinion that these aspects should be taken as important only if one

of the pair of planets is within orb of a conjunction to the Ascendant,
midheaven, Descendant, or imum coeli, the four angles of the composite
chart. The delineations are written with the understanding that at least one
of the pair of planets involved is so placed.

You will also notice that the lists of aspects between Uranus, Neptune, and
Pluto are not complete. There are no delineations for the Uranus-Neptune
conjunction; for the Uranus-Pluto conjunction, trine, or opposition; or for
any of the aspects of Neptune and Pluto. Either the aspect will never occur
in the composite chart of any living person, or, like the sextile of Neptune
and Pluto, it is found in the composite charts of almost all persons now
living, except the elderly. In the first case we have no data on the effects,
and in the second, it has been impossible to sort out the effects of the
particular aspect from the effects of the other aspects, because it is always
there.

Another peculiarity of composite charts arises from the 150° rule, which
states that if planets in the two natal charts are more than 150° apart, you
should use both midpoints. This rule creates a perpetual opposition between
a pair of Suns or Saturns or whatever. In the case of Moon's nodes in a
natal chart, of course, this kind of perpetual opposition has a precedent.
And as with the nodes, three different aspect situations can arise whenever
both midpoints are used. Here is what we suggest in each case:

1. If a planet is conjunct a nearer or farther midpoint, simply treat the

aspect as a conjunction.
2. If a planet is trine one midpoint and sextile the other, blend the
interpretations of the trine and the sextile, which are not that different.
3. If a planet is square both midpoints, treat it like an ordinary square.
Nothing else need be done.

Because of the 150° rule, you can also have two complete sets of house cusps
for the composite chart, if the two natal M.C.'s are more than 150° apart. In
this case, the nearer M.C. cusps seem to take precedence, while the farther

32
 Reading the Chart

M.C. cusps are used for supplementary information. The case study of
William Hickman and Marion Parker illustrates this situation.

The other principal peculiarity of composite charts is that they always refer
to more than one person. In this book I have tried to aid the student in
making the mental changeover from individual to relationship by giving
sample delineations for all the house positions and aspects of the planets. As
in any text, none of these delineations is a complete exploration of the
possibilities inherent in any planetary placement. It is impossible in a single
text to take into account all contingencies that may modify the reading of an
aspect or house placement. For this reason, as I stated earlier, I encourage
you to check these readings with your own experience.

One final note before taking on the problem of reading a composite chart.
You may wonder about the role of the minor aspects in a composite chart.
The answer seems to be that they have the same importance as in a
conventional natal chart. But at this time 1 do not understand them well
enough to write much about them. Hopefully, future editions of this work
will have additional chapters on the quincunx, semisquare. sesquiquadrate.
and quintile aspects. I feel that the quintile is especially important in sexual
relationships, but it is not yet understood well enough to write about.
Again, share your discoveries with me.

I have found that the following order is useful for reading the com;
chart. This procedure is followed, more or less, in the sample readings, but
since each reading highlights certain facets of the composite chart, only the
first case study of Will and Sylvia follows all the steps completely To do
this in each case would have been too tedious. Nevertheless I strongly
recommend that you follow these steps at least initially, until the patterns
inherent in the chart become clear to you upon first inspection Th«

l Beron mine the composite chart evaluate the two natal charts
for their inherent capacity to have relationships See what the individual
stems to want in a relationship and the kind of person he or she is .itt

■ • the composite chart tor .inv strong house emphasis th.it

house with lour or more planets in it
J. I Soil and Moon
4. < positr Sun and Moon
■ • 'ions am'.
• • pects involving pla the lour angular hi
happrninK in the hrst titih seventh and eleventh h
 Planets in Composite

the principal houses of relationships.

8. Check the house position and aspects of Saturn.
9. Check whatever is left over.
Now we will go through each step thoroughly.

Step 1. Examine the natal charts. Relationships are very strange entities,
and the real reasons for a particular relationship may be quite different from
what you would expect. The desire for love and happiness may be
completely superseded by the desire for security, wealth, or status. And
some relationships exist solely because two people fulfill a need in each
other that is quite separate from love or happiness. It is safe to say that even
the best relationships are held together in part by something of this kind.
You must recognize that every relationship fills some need at the time and in
the circumstances when it happens, however perverse or destructive it may
seem to others. At times, people even seem to need painful relationships,
and at such times they will pass up an opportunity for a really beautiful and
loving relationship, simply because it does not fill their need at the moment.

The needs of the moment as well as both individuals' general needs

throughout life can be determined only by checking the structure of the
natal charts and examining the transits and progressions to them.
Therefore, in order to make the best use of composite charts, you must have
a thorough understanding of natal charts. As a technique for evaluating
relationships, the composite chart stands alone quite well. But you will
encounter many relationships that don't seem to make sense in terms of this
or any other technique unless you check the natal charts. This is the most
difficult part of examining a relationship and could very well be the subject
of a book in itself. All I can do here is suggest ways to use the natal charts to
see if a relationship is appropriate to the people involved at the time.

First, you must find out from the couple what type of relationship they
have. That will determine which houses in the natal chart must be examined
most closely. For love and/or marital relationships, check the signs on the
cusps of the fifth and seventh houses as well as the aspects, the rulers of
those houses, and the planets contained in them. These all help to describe
the kind of person whom the native is likely to be attracted to and the kind
of relationship they will have.

In sexual relationships, another very important factor is the condition of the

planets that are opposite in sex from the native. For men, these are Moon,
Venus, and Neptune; for women, Sun and Mars in particular, and there is
some evidence that Uranus may be important in forming a woman's mental
image of men.

34
 Reading the Chart

Some readers may be surprised to see Neptune included as a feminine

planet. I believe that Neptune is completely misnamed; everything about its
symbolism is feminine rather than masculine — darkness, moistness. the
association with unconsciousness, subjectivity, and vagueness. (In this
regard I would prefer to classify planets as yin and yang. according to the
old Taoist view of the two world principles, rather than male and female,
which are only aspects of yin and yang. not the totality. In this
classification Neptune is one of the yin planets, along with Moon and
Venus.)

The planets of opposite polarity from the person's sex signify the ideal
mental image of the opposite sex that one forms. This image, in turn,
determines the kind of person that the native seeks for sexual relationships.
Sometimes men with Moon-Pluto aspects, for example, will form
relationships with women who have Sun-Pluto aspects, or men with
Venus-Saturn afflictions will be attracted to women with Mars-Saturn
afflictions, and so forth. Also sometimes the polarity will reverse and, for
example. Mars-Saturn men will attract Venus-Saturn women. This is true
regardless of the aspects that are formed when one chart is superimposed on
the other, as in synastry. Unfortunately, the details of this approach are too
complex to go into in this text, but it is covered in other books that deal
with relationships from a more traditional point of view.

The houses and rulerships to check for other types of relationships are as
follows. Business relationships are described by planets in and ruling the
seventh, second, sixth, and tenth houses. Friendships are described by
planets in and ruling the eleventh and fifth houses. Although the eleventh is
traditionally the house of friendships, the fifth house describes the native s
need-- km and hit or her ability to e re. It should not
be ovi n friendships any more than in love ar

Step 2 Examine the composite chart tor strong house emph.iM*. Very otu-n
•• chart will have four or more planets in one house This tells
'idt the issues associated with the hoi. v important in this
relationsh | • some idea of these ■onb I the Keneral house
delineations in the text, which describe the overall signituar
hou«j the planets In determining the basu thrust ot |
house that has manv planets in it usuallv tal

' >on It there .ire no

; i.inrts the houses . Moon in
dr-w ribe the most important issues that will arise
 Planets in Composite

in the relationship. In a personal relationship, the best houses to be

emphasized by the Sun, Moon, or strong planetary clusterings are the first,
fifth, seventh, and eleventh. After these come the third and ninth houses,
which are not specifically related to the formation of relationships, but help
to keep vital communication alive. It is good to have the fourth house
emphasized in a relationship such as marriage, in which a couple must share
their most intimate personal lives and perhaps property. The second house
is not especially significant for personal relationships, but it has meaning for
professional associations, as does the tenth house. The eighth house is not
necessarily difficult, but it often signifies a very fateful relationship. The
least desirable houses for a personal relationship are the sixth and the
twelfth, but even these can have quite positive effects if the aspects involved
with them are good.

Step 4. Check the aspects of composite Sun and Moon. The house emphasis
given by the placement of Sun, Moon, or largest cluster of planets describes
only the most important issues of the relationship. The aspects to Sun and
Moon begin to describe how the couple will deal with those issues. Very
often these aspects can make or break a relationship. However, I must
repeat that if they choose to, a couple can deal with any energy that is
appropriate to their relationship needs as described by their natal charts.

Step 5. Check the house positions of and aspects to Venus and Mars. The
energies of Venus and Mars are most relevant to sexual relationships, but
the success of any kind of relationship depends on the partners' ability to
complement each other, so Venus and Mars are always important. In a
sexual relationship, aspects between Venus and Mars, Sun and Venus, or
Moon and Venus are ideal.

Step 6. Check planets near the four angles of the chart and their aspects.
These can be extremely important in determining the quality of a
relationship as well as finding whether or not the relationship will fulfill the
couple's expectations. Although this is the sixth step, it is still very
important; each of the first six steps is very critical.

Step 7. Check the first, fifth, seventh, and eleventh houses. In ordinary
charts the first house is not a house of relationship, but in a composite it is
very important to understanding the relationship. Even if these houses have
not been emphasized by Sun, Moon, or a cluster of planets, they are always
important in a relationship. If there are severe afflictions involving planets
in any of these houses, this can signify serious problems in a relationship.

Step 8. Check the house position and aspects of Saturn. This planet is

36
 Reading the Chart

particularly critical because it can tell so much about the strengths and
weaknesses of a relationship.

Step 9. Deal with whatever is left over. That may be quite a bit, so this is
not a trivial step. But it is impossible to reduce the rest of the reading to a
step-by-step procedure, which raises a point about this whole description.
An experienced astrologer knows that there is no set pattern to reading a
chart, that each chart requires a special approach. Nevertheless, some kind
of schema is very helpful to the student, and that is why I have given one.
But do not hesitate to abandon this order of procedure if the chart seems to
require a different approach. Astrology is an art that requires tremendous
flexibility, so do not become a slave to this or any other routine. Strive to
develop flexibility in your readings as soon as possible, whether they are
composite charts or any other kind.

37
 Chapter Three

Case Studies
 Case Studies

Case One : Will and Sylvia

This is a case study of two people whose names have been changed for the
sake of privacy. For the same reason, although there are full charts, no data
are given. In this study we will go through all the steps outlined in Chapter
Two so that the student will get a better idea of how this process works.
This case study is the most thorough. The others emphasize particular
aspects of chart reading.

Will and Sylvia were acquainted from childhood, having grown up within a
>>cks of each other. But their relationship did not begin until they both
were in college. They were married and had one child, a girl. After six years
of marriage, they separated and one year later obtained a divorce While no
longer intimate in any way, they remain good friends, having completely
gotten over any resentments that might have resulted from the dr.
Their charts were presented as examples in the section on calculating
Composite charts tor two people. Their charts and the com] ghrCfl
•i here tor convenient reference.

First, let us look at the natal charts (Step It and MC wh.it thev suggest tor
marriage I aking Will's chart first, we find that he has Saturn as the ruler ot
an c*mpty seventh house Saturn ruling the seventh house indicates that in
marriage he sought either son • ml to him or someone to
whom he COuld ' This tendency UtUAlly results in a marn.ige
meone older .1 late marriage lo someone youngsi or mania]
. ith strong Saturn symbolism such .is .1 strong ( .ipruorn or
with 1 n In itselt this is not particularly bad it is
simp! tally it is quite common and 1 in I
■ .
'.ibili/ing effecl on .1 relationship

.'urn is in the eleventh house

in the tit" C tilth is the houat ol love relationships

u
 Planets in Composite

Will's Natal Chart Sylvia's Natal Chart

Composite Chart

Will has said on a number of occasions that he probably married Sylvia

because she was the first woman who paid any attention to him, and he
despaired of ever finding another. However, this symbolism also suggests
that he is likely to feel, consciously or unconsciously, that an intimate
one-to-one relationship (seventh house) would stifle his self-expression
(fifth house). Also, he has a Sagittarian Sun and Venus, both of which are
likely to produce restlessness in close relationships. Because he has Cancer
rising, which denotes a strong domestic streak, he kept his Sagittarian
restlessness well hidden.

42
 Case Studies

When we check out the fifth house, we find that it is a very strong house in
the chart, containing not only Sun, but also Moon, which is the ruler of his
Cancer Ascendant, Mars, and the vertex point. I have already discussed the
afflicted Sun, so let us see what these other indications tell us about his
relationships.

Moon, the Ascendant ruler, in the fifth house in Scorpio indicates a

very strong need for intense self-expression through feelings and emotions.
This means that Will's difficulty in forming love relationships, as indicated
by the afflicted Sun in the fifth, is especially troublesome to him, because he
has a strong need for emotional relationships. Moon here also indicates that
he is attracted to women in whom the Cancer symbolism is strong or who
have a strong Moon. Mars in this house is trine Jupiter in the first, which
will help to minimize the effects of the Sun-Saturn opposition. This
combination attracts him to rather strong women who express their
strength in a positive, stabilizing, and even protective manner. The trine
from Jupiter indicates that he should avoid the Saturnine relationships that
activate the opposition and instead move toward Mars-Jupiter relation-
ships, which would have a much better chance of working out. Can^
Moon should also be strong, either in the composite or in the other person.

Turning to Sylvia's chart, we discover that she too has Saturn ruling an
empty seventh house. Her fifth house is also empty except tor the
point, so we must turn to the rulers of the fifth and seventh for indications
about her relationships.

In Sylvia s chart, Saturn, the seventh-house ruler, is in the twelfth house

sextile Mercury and Jupiter, but square Venus and Mars This symbolism is
similar to Will V The sextile to Mercury indicates that she is attracted to
intelligent and verbal men as partners or to ( >eminis and others in whom the
. mbolism is strong The sfxtile to lupiter indicates that she might
also U- M- upiter types like Will, with his Rnt-hoUM lupiter and
Sun coniur niunct Vrnus in Sagittarius

But t) • turn to the Ven injunction in the fourth I

■ ual drive that i i bv the
hettfth-hotttC Saturn In this ho n ottcn inch.
th a Venui nfunctJon the could hardly bi
but there to HI ^lem with the ;

n PlutO thu\ pberd d«

 Planets in Composite

relationships, possibly with someone in whom the Pluto or Scorpio

symbolism is strong (Will's Scorpio Moon). In fact, both of them have a
very strong Scorpio-Pluto symbolism in their relationship picture, which
should be a sign of compatibility.

Also notice in Sylvia's chart a close trine of Venus and Uranus enclosing all
the planets in the chart. This cannot help but be significant. One might call
it her counterpart to his Sagittarian Venus, the restlessness that comes when
a relationship becomes routine.

How well does each one fit into the pattern of the other's natal chart? I have
already mentioned several ways in which they do. Will is a
Jupiter-dominant person with a strong Saturn aspect, and Sylvia has Jupiter
sextiling her Saturn ruling the seventh house. With the Pluto-ruled fifth
house, she would be attracted to a person with strong Scorpio or Pluto
symbolism. Will has a fifth-house Moon in Scorpio. Unfortunately Sylvia
has the strong affliction from Saturn, her seventh-house ruler, to the
Venus-Mars conjunction. This conjunction is trine Uranus, which suggests
that her sexual expression could be more free outside of marriage.

We find that the Saturn symbolism in Will's relationships is not reinforced

by Sylvia's chart. Aside from Saturn ruling her relationships, Sylvia is not
an especially Saturnine person; several other planets are equally strong.
Also she does not reflect completely the symbolism of his Scorpio fifth
house. Being a Cancer Ascendant, however, she does fit the symbolism of
his fifth-house Moon. Sylvia does not have a great deal of either Mars or
Jupiter symbolism. All these planets are active in her chart, but they are
about equal in strength, so no single planet stands out.

Was the relationship itself especially Saturnine? Was there an age gap, or
did the marriage occur quite late in their lives? The answer is no on both
counts. She was twenty and he was twenty-two when they married.
Therefore, the Saturn symbolism of their Capricorn seventh houses was not
being fulfilled, which indicates that the relationship was not entirely
appropriate. This fact is not a very strong indication by itself, but when we
add it to the other information from the two natal charts, we can see that it
fits into the overall pattern of difficulty.

At this point we have learned two things from the natal charts. First,
Sylvia's chart describes Will better than Will's describes Sylvia. Second, the
fact that both of them have Saturn as their seventh-house ruler suggests that
both were looking for the same kind of partner in a relationship, but not
each other. These points, while not final by any means, are a preliminary

44
 Case Studies

indication that this relationship could have problems.

What we must keep in mind about this rather sketchy analysis is that it has
nothing to do with the way two charts contact each other as in conventional
synastry. The initial phases of the description come entirely from
deductions made from the two natal charts taken by themselves.

Before we turn to the composite chart, I would like to point out one thing
about the chart contacts. Note that Sylvia's Uranus is exactly opposite Will s
Sun, and that her Venus is sextile his Sun. Outside of the instability that
characterizes any relationship with severe problems, there was almost
nothing Uranian about this relationship in and of itself. Nor was it
short-lived, unless you call ten years of courtship and marriage a short
relationship!

Step 2 tells us to look at the composite chart for any strong house emphasis.
In this chart there are five planets solidly in the fourth house, with a sixth
Venus, on the fourth-house side of the fifth-house cusp. Both Sun and
Moon are in the fourth house.

A strong fourth house, such as this, denotes two people who have a strong
sense of a common past or origin. They are very likely to own property
together and to set up housekeeping. All of this is true for Will and Sylvia
They grew up within a half mile of each other and had known each other
since he was nine years old and she was seven. He quite literally married the
Kirl next door, and they promptly settled down in his mothers house, a
KiK^ntic, rambling old farmhouse. Later, they built their own house within
siKht of her parents home.

Remember that Will is .1 Sagittarian with lupiter rising Even with C

on th> ml, OIW would BCpCd him to move around more than that
They rm><.. fftMn their old neighborhood when he went to graduate
1 but immediately I they returned to it Onlv after their
marridKe broke up did tl 1 1w.1v from their home town Will now
. thousands oi miles a month, true to his Sagittarian nature anil it is
that he will COfltil d tor a lon>; time

we have 1 1 ill with the houses ol sun .ind Mo

us turn t' iposite Sun is ionium t Mai
Id run hi«h between them In .inv
. er and resentment but
illy m one wr miunition If Will and Sylvia found it
dith, ' Infortui

45
 Planets in Composite

Saturn is in the twelfth house, which implies that they would try to keep
tension down by not expressing their real feelings. Thus, tension would
build up to a dangerous level. In fact, this is what happened in this
relationship. Neither person was able to say what was on his or her mind
until the internal pressure was unbearable, and then it would come out in a
virtual explosion. The Sun-Mars conjunction makes it very likely that they
would irritate each other quite a bit. Except for this conjunction, Sun
receives no other close aspects.

Composite Moon is a bit more active, having three major aspects — a trine
to Uranus, a sextile to Pluto, and a conjunction with Neptune. The trine
indicates that this relationship will expose both persons to new and
stimulating experiences. Although the trine is not as harsh as the square and
opposition, the couple must be flexible with each other in order to derive
maximum benefit from its effects. They must avoid trying to force the
relationship into set patterns. But Will and Sylvia were not able to do this.
Each of them had strong ideas about what a marriage should be, and they
tried to make their marriage conform. At that time, neither of them had the
confidence to strike out on a marital path of their own.

The sextile of Moon to Pluto suggests the depth of feeling between them.
This was a deeply emotional relationship, even though they may not have
handled the emotions very well.

Of the three Moon aspects, the Moon-Neptune conjunction is the most

serious, for it indicates the danger that this relationship was largely based
on illusion rather than reality. Since this conjunction is in the fourth house,
it also raises the danger that things would happen to each of them in their
home lives that the other would not know about, either through lack of
communication or even outright deceit. Clearly it indicates confusion at the
root of the relationship, which tends to weaken the whole structure.

Neptune in such a position makes it difficult for two people to withstand

periods of crisis in which they have to encounter what they really mean to
each other. Also, it made them feel less confident about each other, and
consequently the marriage was insecure. Each of them doubted the- other's
love or suspected that the other loved someone else. This lack of trust is not
at all good for a relationship.

Next we check the positions of Venus and Mars and their aspects (Step 5).
The chief Mars aspect has already been discussed. By the way, despite its
problems, Mars conjunct Sun can be a potent indication of sexual energy in
a relationship. But when we look at Venus we see the most positive focus of

46
 Case Studies

their love relationship. Venus is very closely conjunct the fifth-house cusp
and in a close trine to both the first-house cusp and composite Ascendant.
Also it is in square to Jupiter in the second house. All these aspects are solid
indications of a love relationship with a great deal of feeling.

It is worth noting with the second-house Jupiter that while they were
together. Will and Sylvia had few serious financial problems. It was only
after they had separated that they encountered money difficulties.

However, the positive indications of these aspects are not quite enough to
make up for the problems that this couple encountered, especially
considering what their natal charts have told us about their relationship
needs. When the dust cleared after their break-up. they both realized that
neither was at fault. It was just that both of them needed something else in a
relationship.

In Step 6 we look at the angular houses. But in this case they all are empty.
except for the fourth, which we have already discussed.

Step 7 asks us to look at the houses of relationship; one, five, seven, and
eleven. Pluto is in the first house, but so near the second-house cusp that I
would have to consider it more second-house than first. The seventh house
is empty, as is the fifth, except for the vertex point.

But the eleventh house contains Uranus, whose principal aspect to Moon
has already been discussed. However, let me say something about the
effects of Uranus in this house. Will and Sylvia were fairly conventional
people, at least outwardly, but they did have some rather unusual tr k
Not that their entire circle of friends was outrageously Iranian but quite a
few of them could be so described. By Uranian I mean people who in
various ways do not conform to social norms. Even their more
conventional-seeming friends were actually quite unusual, certainly not the
ordinary citizen* of modern suburbia.

In ac 8. we turn to Saturn As mentioned previously

Saturn is in the twelfth house, which is not by any means fatal in itselt
I docs indicate a tendency (already noted) to hold in feelings that
• that Saturn is trine to Mm urv in the fourth
•her than kills tree 1 ommunuation between I
but the t. -ainly mean that communicator
lit This v. the main problems in the relationship

It fi the marriage itsel! in i .insit% and

 Planets in Composite

Marriage Chart

progressions work in a composite chart. The wedding chart is given, as well

as the individual progressed charts of the marriage and the composite of the
two progressed charts. See Chapter One, page 26, for instructions on
making a composite progressed chart.

In the chart of the marriage, we see Venus elevated in the ninth house very
close to the M.C. in a grand trine with Saturn and Neptune. You will notice
that this grand trine falls very tightly onto the trine of Venus and composite
Ascendant in the natal composite, as well as contacting the second-house
Jupiter. All in all, the marriage chart touches the composite chart more
closely than it does the natal charts. The Venus-Neptune-Saturn trine
indicates a conflict between illusion and reality, which characterized this
relationship from the beginning. Also notice that the fifth-house Moon of
the marriage chart is coming to a trine with the Sun-Mars conjunction in the
natal composite.

To those who are interested in symbolism, one especially fascinating point

is that the theme of the Sun-Mars conjunction in the composite chart is
repeated with a square between the transiting Sun and Mars at the time of
the wedding. This in turn strongly aspects the M.C.T.C. axis of the
composite chart.

The twelfth-house Mars of the marriage chart squares the twelfth-house

48
 Case Studies

Will's Progressed Chart Sylvia's Progressed Chart

Progressed Composite Chart

Saturn of the composite chart Here again we see the theme ot npn
anger that is not expressed until the pressure is rtingifmmlj high There are
other points h« ••• se, but I believe these establish how sensitive the
comr ' is tO transits al attention to planets that transit
the angles of a composite ( hart Again and again in thrv- studies we will see
the impo- jc h transits

Turning to the progressed composr. ..-findavi indication

of marriage The progressed U Moon is coming to a tnnr with
 Planets in Composite

progressed Sun. Another interesting indication is that progressed composite

Ascendant and the first-house cusp are both coming to a trine of the
fifth-house vertices in the natal composite. The vertex point is the point of
"fateful encounters" (see Chapter One, page 24) and it seems to indicate
when the most important events occur in a relationship. Also, the
progressed composite Ascendant has just left square to the natal composite
Sun-Mars conjunction. And progressed Mars is just two years beyond the
Venus of the natal composite chart. That corresponds to the time when their
relationship began on a physical level. The progressed composite chart is
quite a powerful tool in understanding a relationship.

Many other connections can be made among these various charts, and I
invite the reader to look for them. From this you can see that the composite
chart can receive transits and progressions just as a conventional natal chart
does, which helps immensely in timing events in a relationship. Before
concluding this study, I would like to say a few things about the transits at
the time that this marriage broke up.

Will left Sylvia because he had come to the conclusion that this would never
be a happy marriage for him. He felt that it was holding him back in some
way from fully expressing his potential (Saturn ruling his seventh opposing
Sun in the fifth house). And it does seem to have held both of them back in
certain ways. Since their separation, both Will and Sylvia have established
different styles of living that suit them better.

However, to return to the transits to their charts on the date of separation.

On that day there was a full moon on Will's natal Venus. The most
important transit to the composite chart was transiting Pluto on the cusp of
the fourth house, indicating the breakdown of their home life. Transiting
Pluto was at 26° "559' stationary direct, while transiting Saturn was trine to
Pluto at 28° 8 34'. Transiting Venus was conjunct transiting Saturn and trine
to transiting Pluto and composite I.C.— the breakdown of the home
through love's separation! Transiting Sun was at 17°H32' (midnight U.T.)
trining transiting Mars at 16° ~ 00', which opposed in turn composite
Jupiter, squared composite Venus, and quincunxed composite Ascendant.
As you can easily see, the angles of the composite chart were quite busy at
this time, which had very important effects.

Case Two : Fred and Mary

The purpose of this case study is to show how the composite chart can
greatly aid the interpreter in coming to an accurate conclusion about a
relationship. For the sake of privacy, Fred and Mary are fictitious names.

50
 Case Studies

Fred's Natal Chart Mary's Natal Chad

Composite Chad

The two natal c harts are reproduced above. We will look at them first trom
the standpoint of conventional synastrv to see what this technique tells us
about their relationship

The first point that struck mc was that Saturn in Freds chart squares the
Sun. M I PtutO ir ' Mart It has been n
Sun Saturn square is usually a ve: two
charts It indicates that one of the two ptopll makes the other leel in--
while the other relationship Almost alwavs this atptCt
 Planets in Composite

leads to separation. We also find that Venus in his chart opposes Uranus in
hers. This promises a short and unstable relationship at best, with lots of
ups and downs. Also notice that Uranus in Fred's chart conjoins Ascendant
in Mary's, which indicates much the same thing. At the very least, these two
contacts between the charts promise a relationship that will jar both
partners out of their normal patterns of life, as it actually did.

Her Neptune opposes his midheaven with great precision, indicating that
somehow she would confuse his sense of direction in life and possibly make
him feel insecure as well. Her Saturn, meanwhile, squares his seventh-house
Mercury, which indicates difficulties in communication and difficulties in
achieving an intimate one-to-one relationship. Certainly it does not bode
well for a home and family situation.

There are a couple of good aspects, such as the trine of Mary's Sun to Fred's
Mercury, but most of the contacts between the two charts are very
negative. Let us review the most significant (Ma — Mary, Fr — Fred).

Sun (Ma) square Saturn (Fr).

Mars (Ma) square Saturn (Fr).
Pluto (Ma) square Saturn (Fr).
Uranus (Ma) opposes Venus (Fr).
Ascendant (Ma) conjunct Uranus (Fr).
Neptune (Ma) opposes M.C. (Fr).
Saturn (Ma) square Mercury (Fr).
Moon (Ma) square Sun (Fr) very widel

There are no significant aspects between Mars and Venus in either direction,
and the only contact between Venus and the lights in either direction is a
wide Venus (Ma) quincunx Sun (Fr). Obviously there are not too many
indications that a relationship between these two people would ever get off
the ground.

Now for the facts! Mary and Fred began going together over a year ago and
have kept fairly steady company ever since. There has been a little talk of
marriage, and they seem to be quite attached to each other. They do have
problems, and it would be easy to predict that their relationship will not
survive in the long haul except possibly as friendship. In fact, they are
gradually becoming friends instead of lovers. They enjoy each other's
company, and what they are able to give each other helps both of them to
grow. On the emotional level, they seem to be in fairly good harmony with
each other. Their main problem is that they have numerous intellectual
disagreements.

52
 Case Studies

The question is this: with all the bad contacts between their charts, what is
giving this relationship the impetus to survive? In my opinion, this
relationship has already done better than the traditional methods of
synastry would lead us to expect. When looking at their charts, remember
that you now know that this relationship is working out, more or less, but
do not read that knowledge into what you see. Ask yourself honestl>
knew only their charts, what would I think of the prospects for a valid
relationship between these two people?" I think you would consider it very
unlikely that they would get together in the first place.

Now we turn to the composite chart, in which we must apply the 150" rule
to Sun, Mercury, and Venus. Consequently we have two of each of these,
and immediately we find the answer! The composite Suns lie very closely
along the 5-11 house-cusp axis and are in a trine-sextile aspect to Jupiter,
which lies on the Ascendant. This is a clear indication of a relationship in
which two people feel at ease with each other. It suggests that they will
grow despite the difficulties and that they will give each other support and
comfort.

Also, although there are very few indications of Venus energy in the
contacts between the charts, in the composite, Jupiter is square Venus. This
is an extremely positive aspect (see also Case One: Will and Sylvia), which
emerges only in the composite chart.

At the same time, the problems of this relationship are clearly indicated.
Mercury is conjunct Saturn, a clear sign of intellectual conflicts, and the
conjunction in turn is square Pluto, which indicates that one of them is not
willing to let the other have his or her own opinions Pluto is conjunct the
second-house cusp, indicating that the main conflict is about values II thev
had any common financial concerns, these would probably be a sou:
conflict al that here the main problem is not emotional harmony
but intellectual rapport

The composite chart shows quickly and I lgths ami

weaknesses of this relationship in a way that standard chart comparison
techniques canr id) I would not discard the traditional meth-
analyzing relationships, but I would not depend on them alone eitt •

h. I >uk« and I >in fu-ss ,.f \\ irulsor

The relationsh;. '.ike and Huchess of Windsor is a significant one

If analysis How many relationships havr it » ing rennunc ing
hi* tr I lor both persons i-

5J
 Planets in Composite

The Duke's Natal Chart The Duchess' Natal Chart

Composite Chart

the Ebertin Press Archive of Germany. The Duke was born at 10:00 PM
G.M.T. at 51°N26', CPW16' on June 23, 1894. The Duchess was born at 5:30
AM, E.S.T. at 39°N15', 76° W41' on June 19, 1896.

Let us look at the Duke's chart first. Moon, the ruler of the sixth house,
is square to M.C. from the first house, which suggests a conflict in his life
between the duties that were imposed on him (the sixth house) and his
overall sense of life purpose (the M.C). The ruler of his tenth, Jupiter,
conjunct the fifth-house cusp, however, is trine Saturn in the eighth. This

54
 Case Studies

indicates how important love was to him. as does his fifth-house Sun. The
trine to Saturn in the eighth suggests that he had to give up his inheritance
to fulfill this love, but that he was not as unhappy doing so as another
person might have been. Most of the planets in the chart are below the
horizon, which is an indication of a person who is not very happy in the
public eye. Uranus in the ninth is a sign that the Duke's ideas on how to act,
as well as his overall outlook on life, were too eccentric and individualistic

to fit in with the demands of a king's life, with its ancient ritual and
traditionally prescribed activity.

In general, this chart is not particularly royal ; a Cancer with a Pisces Moon
is a very sensitive and often very retiring combination. But the trine of the
Sun and the Moon, with the Sun ruling the seventh house of marriage, makes
a reasonably decent marriage probable, although the square from Mars in
the second means that the couple would have some disputes. The same
square indicates the Duke was likely to be a big spender, because of the
second-house Mars. Fortunately his financial base was solid.

The Duchess does not have the chart of a queen. Notice the large cluster of
planets in the twelfth house! Usually a person with such a strongly
twelfth-house chart is not terribly fond of living his or her life out in the
open. As is well known, both the Duke and the Duchess led very private
lives after the Duke abdicated the British throne.

I have no way of knowing whether they ever wanted children, but with
Saturn in the Duchess' fifth house it would be unlikely that they ever
would have had children, especially since both were in their forties when
they married. It is worthwhile to note that the Duchess had no children by
either of her two previous marriages.

Turning to their composite chart, we see several interesting detail*.

there is a rising conjunction of Venus .md Pluto in the first house. A
Venus-Pluto coniunction often means a sexual relationship that I
particularly urgent force behind it The relationship must be fulfilled in
some way The sextile from Mars in the eleventh house reinforces this It
would have been very difficult for the powers ot society to prevent this
relationship from developing Mars srxtile Pluto indicates a strong will in
any kind of ( hart Heft with Mars m the eleventh we have thr si^n that the
t them would pursue their hopes and wishes with unusual tirt
even if it meant that the Duke had to ghrt up his throne

-sill notice that two tomposite Avendant M here This is

a- the Awendanls in the natal charts are morr than 15<T apart The

55
 Planets in Composite

nearer and farther midpoints are labeled. The nearer composite Ascendant
is opposed to the vertex. This is an indication of a "fateful" union. Not only
was one of the two people prominent but the relationship, itself, made
history.

Moon is in the eighth house, as it often is in a relationship that completely

changes the lives of the persons involved. Certainly that was the result in
this case. The Moon is also trine the composite Ascendant (the nearer one)
and sextile the vertex, which suggests again that the fateful transformation
in their lives was not unwelcome.

The transits to this chart are interesting. King George the Fifth, the Duke's
father, died on January 20, 1936. On that day, transiting Saturn was at
7° *45' in close square to their composite Venus. This was the event that
made it almost impossible for the Duke and Duchess to come together.
Neptune was square the composite Neptune from the fifth to the first house.
A romantic relationship that was not working on a very practical level?
Transiting Jupiter was closely opposed from the composite seventh house to
the first-house Pluto of the composite chart. A conflict would be created by
this relationship coming into being. Meanwhile, transiting Pluto was
beginning its transit over the fourth-house cusp of the relationship. This
transit brought about the crisis that finally led to the Duke's abdication the
following December 10.

Turning to the transits of the abdication, we find that the Sun had just
opposed the Venus-Pluto opposition in the first house from the seventh
house of the composite chart. According to history, the Duke made up his
mind to abdicate in the days just before he did so. The transiting Sun
triggered off the tremendous energies that brought about the relationship
and that made his decision almost inevitable.

Transiting Jupiter was opposing the Suns of both natal charts and of the
composite chart all through this period, during which high status (Jupiter)
was voluntarily given up. Saturn transiting the eleventh house squared the
first-house Neptune, a conflict between an ideal and reality. In this case the
ideal won, or did it? There are many indications that the Duke would not
have made a very good king. Perhaps his choice was quite realistic. Saturn
also trined by transit the sixth-house Uranus of the composite chart. In this
instance, Uranus in the sixth indicated rebellion against the duties and
responsibilities of the royal office. The trine from Saturn signified
relinquishing these in favor of what the two of them wanted (eleventh
house). Transiting Mercury also conjoined the transiting Jupiter opposing
both the two natal and the composite Suns. A Mercury-Jupiter combination

56
 Case Studies

is characteristic of a decision-making time. Also, transiting Venus had just

gone over the composite M.C. in the previous few days and on the day of
abdication was opposed to the transiting Pluto.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were married on June 3, 1937. This
event, which brought the crisis to a conclusion, was signified by Jupiter
being very close to the composite M.C. opposing the transiting Pluto going
over the fourth-house cusp. A Jupiter-Pluto combination often signifies
attaining an objective, but the opposition aspect means that attainment
required challenging society at large. Also, the transit of Pluto over the
fourth-house cusp indicates the forces that were opposing the relationship
and that brought the couple down from great social prominence to the very
quiet and private life that they led from then on. While they got what they
wanted, their marriage constituted a "fall from grace in the eyes of British
society. The Duke's family had nothing to do with him for the rest of his
life. Yet Jupiter on the tenth at the time of their marriage did enable it to
take place.

It is also interesting to note that the transiting Sun was now conjunct the
Venus-Pluto conjunction in the composite chart, opposite its position when
the Duke abdicated the throne. At the same time, transiting Venus was
making a T-square with the Jupiter-Pluto opposition along the M.C — I.C.
t the composite chart. Notice that most of the major events of this
relationship occurred when the planets were at about 27° of the cardinal
about one degree beyond the composite M.C. Probably this is the
actual location of the composite M.C, since the birth times given were
approximate. Rectification by means of a composite chart may not be the
•Mint way of doing rectification, but this instance shows that it might be a
possible method.

C as* Four Nicholas and Alexandra

las and Alexandra, the last Czar and Czarina of Russia, have recently
been the subject of a book and a movie, and so are well known The charts
given here are recalculated from the data Riven in Marc Fdmund lonrs
Sabian S.' Me data are as follows C /ar Nicholas 12-02 I'M
• PrtrrsburK 'now l.rninKradi Ki;
•mstadt Hesse, Germany lonrs does not nive the
time The time Kiven here is derived from the M.C.

DC studyinK Nic holas s c hart will immediately b«-< lit that the
• him in the book Nicholas and Alexandra by Kol^rri K Massie is

57
 Planets in Composite

Nicholas' Natal Chart Alexandra's Natal Chart

Alexis' Natal Chart Three-Way Composite Chart

58
 Case Studies

essentially accurate. He was a mild-mannered, decent person who probably

could have succeeded as Czar at any other time in history. He was a good
man who had the best interest of Russia at heart, but he was not a very
capable ruler, for he did not have the ability to understand the tremendous
currents that were sweeping Russia during his reign.

The chart shows him as a very good, mild-mannered, romantically inclined

person who was not very practical, even though he was a Taurus. Note
Venus square Neptune, Moon conjunct Jupiter square Venus. He was
obviously fond of beautiful and luxurious things. Mercury in the tenth
in Gemini is closely opposed by Saturn in the fourth, which shows very
clearly that domestic difficulties, namely his sick son (Saturn ruling the
fifth), would work against his career and ultimately cause his downfall. His
thinking became so dominated by the problem of his son that he lost the
flexibility one normally associates with a Mercury in Gemini, and he could
not grasp what was happening around him.

The chief indication of the tragedy that was to befall him is that his Sun and
are both conjunct the Pleiades and opposed by Saturn The Pleiades
are traditionally associated with violent death (see the chart of Marion
Parker, who also has a M.C. — Pleiades conjunction). Also, the node l
square the Mercury-Saturn opposition. This means limited mental
connections and difficult communication with other individuals or with
groups Nicholas was unquestionably misunderstood.

Alexandras chart, if we take the Jones data as correct, is much more

impressive. In her own way she was a very strong woman, who poured all
her strength, and a good part of Russia's, into caring for her son the
• vich. who suffered from hemophilia.

Note the strong clustering of planets around the area of the Ascendant,
which denotes a person who has a very strong effect on her surroundings
Neptune coniunct the twelfth-house cusp denotes one who spends
much time caring tor a sick, person That placement can al
tend*-* i martyrdom, which she manifested in several wavs both in
her behavior toward her son and in her eventual death But the most
rdinary part of the chart is that it ; in annular eclipse of
the sun that was visible in the extreme east of Ki. K> that the
etlipse is toniunct Mars in the first house This in
strength as well as the likelihood o» i ntering her Ufa at some point
Al*> her eighth-house ruler. Jup:'- -.inus the planet of
n the twelfth f irn in the ninth
squares Neptune also an indication ot < hronit illness Tr again
 Planets in Composite

signifies that caring for her son was an important factor in her death.

In the two natal charts, therefore, we see many dramatic indications of

what was to happen to this couple. If we turn to the composite chart, we see
many of the same indications, even more clearly than in the natal charts.
The composite also describes the nature of the relationship very clearly. The
most striking element is the preponderance of tenth-house planets — seven,
including Sun and Moon! This is truly a tenth-house relationship.

Nicholas and Alexandra came together because the Czar needed a wife to
produce an heir. The world knew them as Czar and Czarina, rulers of the
largest nation on earth in area, and they always had to be conscious of their
role in the world. In fact, to some extent it was the attempt to deny their
prominence that afflicted them. They tried to be as private as possible and
to deal with their family problems within the family, which cut them off
from the Russian people. This lack of consciousness of their responsibility
as a couple is signified by the tenth-house Neptune, which is the first planet
in the tenth house after the M.C. Notice, by the way, that the composite
M.C. is 0° Aries, another indication that Jones's chart of Alexandra is
accurate. Many astrologers, especially of the Hamburg school, have noted
that a strong emphasis on 0° of the cardinal signs shows that a person will
have some significance in the world outside his or her immediate
surroundings.

The tenth-house Neptune is closely square the twelfth-house Uranus

conjunct node conjunct composite Ascendant. The result of this is to make
Neptune more deadly and to ensure that it will affect their relationship with
the world (composite Ascendant). The combination of Uranus, the node,
and the composite Ascendant signifies disruptive connections with others,
and in the twelfth house it signifies that these are likely to be secret.
Rasputin? Also, Uranus-Neptune combinations have to do with spiritual
matters and altered states of consciousness, such as trances and spiritual
states of mind, with which Rasputin was clearly connected.

Venus is in the eleventh house, a good position for a personal relationship,

sextile Neptune, indicating that this was a romantic relationship, as was
apparently the case. But Venus is also opposed by Saturn in the fifth
house of children, which could have more than one effect. For example, it
could indicate that this relationship has severe ups and downs because the
two people have unrealistic expectations about each other. But in this case,
the fifth house is clearly related to children. Saturn in the fifth house of a
marriage chart can indicate problems with children such that they become
more of a responsibility than normal. Also notice that Venus is in

60
 Case Studies

opposition to the composite vertex, indicating a fateful encounter through a

child. It is quite evident that although Nicholas and Alexandra were
devoted to each other, problems with the Czarevich came between them.

The possibility of violence is shown in the chart by the combination of

Uranus conjunct composite Ascendant and the conjunction of Mars and
Pluto. A Mars-Pluto conjunction in the tenth can simply signify a
tremendous drive to succeed, but even in an excellent chart it is quite likely
to produce outbreaks of violence, either from within or from without.
Several times during their reign, the royal couple could have averted
disaster by compromise. But above all else, Nicholas was the autocrat of all
Russia, and Alexandra was his wife. Their inflexibility in this regard did not
help the situation and created an atmosphere in which the Bolsheviks
concluded that only by destroying the Czar and Czarina could they be safe
from counterrevolution. This reaction is typical of the energy that Mars and
Pluto generate.

The third player in this drama is the Czarevich, Alexis, whose hemophilia
added so much to the problems of the declining Russian Empire. His data
are given by Jones as noon L.M.T., St. Petersburg, Russia, August 12, 1904.
In the natal chart, one immediately notices that, exactly like his father, he
has a Sun-Saturn opposition along the midheaven-fourth house axis. If one
were to cast their composite chart, the Sun-Saturn opposition would show
up in it also It an aspect occurs in two charts in the same direction — two
sinister tnnes or two dexter trines but not a dexter and a sinister trir-
example — it will show up in the composite chart as well

The three-way composite of Nicholas, Alexandra, and their son. the

Czarevich Alexis, is quite remarkable in that it shows so clearly the
ns as the chart ot Nicholas and Alexandra Once again then
planets in the tenth hoilM and Neptune is not only elevated it is direi tlv on
the M C of the composite chart This is extremely important tor it is |
strong sign that this relationship did not have its priorities straight
Although the health ot the C/arevich was very important to the tut
Russia A • • pec i.illy lavished so much attention on the sick boy
• rs of the royal family became withdrawn from the
Russian ; d this withdrawal facilitated their overthr.

I Mars in the tenth square the rising Uranus This is a sign of the
violence and disruption that this relationship led to Also notice in passing
that in this chart the Venus S.iturn opposition occurs again in the

► c hild
 Planets in Composite

On the day they were assassinated, July 16, 1918, transiting Mars was in
trine to composite Mars and formed a T-square with the Venus-Saturn
opposition. However, except for this Mars transit, the transits on that day
are so mild as to be inappropriate to the violent deaths they suffered. The
only chart that shows any hard afflictions of a violent nature, including the
three natal charts, is the three-way composite! The lack of heavy close
transits to any of the natal charts leads me to wonder if the death date
recorded in history books is accurate. There were a number of heavy
afflictions to the three natal charts in the period that followed, which
suggests that they were assassinated somewhere in this time span. But it
does not appear to have been this date.

Case Five: Freud and Jung

In this case study, we shall examine the charts of Sigmund Freud and Carl
Jung, two of the most influential intellectual figures of modern times. The
purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the composite technique is not
limited to sexual relationships, that it can express the subtleties of even the
most complex human relationship.

Freud was considerably older than Jung and was already well on the way to
establishing his theory of psychoanalysis when Jung first came to work with
him. Naturally, Freud regarded Jung as a young prot£ge\ but Jung, even
though quite young, was already an established thinker with considerable
experience in treating mental illness. In fact, one of the factors that
eventually led to the split between the two men was that Jung's experience
with psychotics, especially schizophrenics, led him in quite a different
direction from Freud, whose original field was neurology. Because of his
early experience in treating hysterics, Freud was more concerned with
neurotic behavior, while Jung concentrated on the psychotic. Nevertheless,
for many years Freud and Jung worked together closely and were intimate
friends. Jung was attracted by Freud's innovative method of analyzing the
mind according to symbols.

However, Jung had great difficulty with Freud's insistence on infantile

sexuality as the cause of all neuroses. Jung began to develop his own ideas
on this subject, which he eventually published as Wandlungen und Symbole
der Libido, the revised edition in English being Symbols of Transformation.
Publication of the book led to an open split with Freud, although the
differences between them had been growing.

We shall use the natal charts of these two men, plus their composite chart,
to show what factors brought them together and what drove them apart.

62
 Case Studies

There are several different charts for each of these men in the astrological
literature. However, considering that they were born in the nineteenth
century, we are on surprisingly solid ground.

The data for Freud, from Ernst Jones's biography, are 6:30 P.M., L.M.T.,
May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia, latitude 49°N39\ longitude 18°E10' '
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, that city is now Pribor,
Czechoslovakia, but some other charts have used the wrong Freiberg. At
that time L.M.T. was used throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to
which Freiberg belonged. The L.M.T. of 6:30 P.M. is 17:17:20 U.T.

The data for Jung, which come from his daughter, Gret Baumann-Jung,
were originally published in Spring: An Annual of Archetypal Psychology
and Jungian Thought. 1975, pages 35 to 55, "Some Reflections on the
Horoscope of C.G. Jung." The version of the chart presented here is from
the Journal for Geocosmic Research. Autumn 1975. It has been slightly
rectified by Charles Emerson of New York. The time was originally [
as 7:32 P.M., L.M.T.; but Doris C. Doane s book. Time Changes m the
World, indicates that all of Switzerland was on the L.M.T. of the capital.
Berne, so the time was probably Berne L.M.T. rather than that of the
birthplace. However, as the cusps in these differing versions do not vary by
more than a degree or so, I have gone along with Emerson's rectification. In
the article for JGR. Emerson made a slight error in converting his U.T trom
the rectification to L.M.T.; the data given here are for the U.T. ot the
corrected chart, not the L.M.T. Carl G. Jung was born July 26, 1875,
18:5532 U.T. at latitude 47"N36 '. longitude 9°E19 ', Kesswil. Switzerland
The chart is internally consistent, because after the rectification, the calcula-
tions were redone by Astro Computing Services of Pelham, New York

Freud's chart shows a seventh-house Sun, which indicates a person who

does best in close association with another, either in c ooperation or i ontlic t
Also there is a Sun-Uranus conjunction in the seventh house. sugK^'inK J
conflict between the Taurean tendency to persist in partnerships .md the
Uranian desire for freedom. He could be happy in a relationship only it it
did not curb his self -expression Mercury in the seventh indicates the need
tor intellectual relationships and in textile with lupiter in the titth. it
itrs that he en)oyed playing with ideas in close involvement with
»omeone rise

'At I \tattd in the in'-

calculating
atituJr Becautr th. n the
rnjl li«r (.c«Kmmu Reseat' '
 Planets in Composite

Composite Chart

Taurus is a sign of pleasure and sensual enjoyment, which are also

associated with the fifth house. One of Freud's earliest formulations was the
pleasure-pain principle, that is, that behavior is motivated solely by the
desire to gain pleasure and avoid pain. Yet Freud was not a sensualist, as
his chart shows. The Mercury-Jupiter sextile from seven to five tends to
stress the theoretical and intellectual, and with Mercury in Taurus, he could
quite easily intellectualize pleasure. Also, the Sun in Taurus in the second is
sextile Neptune in Pisces in the fifth. Such a Neptunian Neptune tends to
deny expression on a physical plane and promote idealization and

64
 Case Studies

abstraction. Freud would be more concerned with abstract ideas of pleasure

and sensuality than with the direct experience. His Moon is in Gemini in the
eighth house, which is certainly associated with the kind of sexuality that
Freud dealt with. In his later work he wrote of the importance of the love-
death polarity in human history. Gemini in connection with the Moon
again reveals a tendency to intellectualize emotions and the hidden depths
of the psyche.

Scorpio is rising in Freud's chart, and Pluto is the planet closest to the
angles, and therefore one of the most powerful, which is very appropriate
for the father of psychotherapy, especially with his emphasis on infantile
sexuality and pleasure-pain. Pluto is also on the west horizon, suggesting
power struggles in relationships, which is also shown in Freud's and Jung's
composite chart. But his life would grow through the crises brought about
by these struggles.

Jupiter in the fifth is also squared by Saturn and opposed by Mars, again
indicating that his search for pleasure would be strongly curbed by
necessity, personal rigidity or intellectual considerations (Gemini). The
opposition to Mars indicates a need to strike out on his own and probable
difficulty in dealing with established groups (eleventh house). And Venus
sextile Saturn is another indication that he would not exhibit his sensuous
Taurean nature on a physical level.

Jung's chart also shows a very strong seventh-house emphasis, with the Sun
and Pluto close to the angles. Pluto is near the I.C., which establishes lung s
credentials as a therapist, but it is quite different from Freud's, which i
the west angle, setting Freud's Pluto suggests his method ot p< •:
interaction with his patients. Jung also did this, but he emphasized
techniques that would expose the deepest layers of the unconscious mind,
which is symbolized by the I.C. area.

Jung s strongly angular Sun in Leo indicates that he wanted to be in control

of situations and was not good at taking a subordinate Rill which was
bound to be a problem in his relationship with Fraud. The two men are
heavy in fixed signs in square to each other, Leo and Taurus whu h is not a
good sign However. Freud's Sun is on lung s Moon which is often a sign
'ion between two paoplt« although usually one person plavs
an initiating? role, while the other takes a more passive role

JunK * Sun is in c los* square to his NtptllfM signifying diffk ulty in asserting
his independence as well .is COnOWT with mystical anil spiritual elements
tK and rigorous reflects hit earth signs lungwa*

65
 Planets in Composite

not so strongly earthy. It is easier for fire signs to go off into abstract ideas.
Jung's Neptune in the third, squaring the Ascendant, might also indicate
difficulty in communicating clearly in a close partnership because he would
be misunderstood or simply be hard to follow. In his autobiography,
Memories, Dreams and Reflections, Jung stated that when he was younger
he had several experiences of altered states of consciousness, visions and
such. He also paid great attention to his own and later his patients' dreams.

Jung's Uranus in the seventh house, like Freud's, indicates that he would not
be easily confined by a close working relationship. With Saturn rising in
Aquarius, he would look for someone who could play the father role.
However, with Saturn square Pluto near the I.C. in the third, his feelings
about a father figure would be very ambivalent. Jung's Aquarius rising and
Uranus squaring the Moon indicate a strong need for independence.

In many ways Freud and Jung were too much alike. Both were strong in the
fixed signs, both were Uranian and Neptunian, and both would have
difficulty in relationships unless each partner gave the other plenty of
freedom. Freud triggered this problem by trying to control Jung's thinking,
so that Jung had to break away in order to develop his own ideas.

In their composite the seventh and sixth houses are emphasized by the Sun
and Moon, respectively. This suggests that their relationship was partly
between equals (seventh house) and partly between a superior and a
subordinate (sixth house). As their association went on, Jung felt that he
should be Freud's colleague rather than merely a prot£ge\ but Freud was
unwilling to regard anyone as a true colleague.

That ideas were the dominant issue in their relationship is shown in several
ways in the composite. Sagittarius is rising, with both the composite
Ascendant and the derived first-house cusp in this sign. Also, Mercury is in
close opposition to the composite Ascendant in its own sign, Gemini. It is
also conjunct the Sun, putting a strong emphasis on communication of
ideas. With Venus and the Moon also in Gemini, the chart has a very
strong Gemini cast.

Since writing the earlier case studies, I have determined that individual
planets in the chart signify the partner who is most strongly of the
symbolism of that planet. In a sexual relationship, the Sun and Mars usually
indicate the man's position, while the Moon and Venus indicate the
woman's, if they are playing traditional roles. In this case, Saturn indicates
the fatherly role, which Freud played quite consciously with Jung. This is
shown clearly in the composite by Saturn in the fourth sextiling the Sun,

66
 Case Studies

which indicates that fathering was very important in their relationship. But
of course difficulties would arise when Jung tired of playing the role of
"son/' because of Jung's ambivalent feelings toward a father figure. Saturn
in the fourth is also square the vertex in the eighth, showing that changes in
the relationship would create problems and that the fathering principle
would be important in bringing about this fateful relationship.

Also in the fourth house, Neptune, the most angular planet, is very close to
the I.C., which indicates that abstract interests brought the two men
together. But even more important, misunderstanding and unclear thinking
would undermine the relationship. Neptune square the double Jupiter
(double because of the quincunx rule, see page 32), suggests possible
conflicts of ideals. Jung was more attracted to the mystical and spiritual
implications of their work, while Freud insisted on a kind of materialistic
orthodoxy as a defense against accusations of occultism, even while he
espoused otherwise radical ideas. Note that the nearer Jupiter is in
Capricorn in the second house of values.

Jupiter is also trine Pluto in the fifth and sextile Mars in the eleventh. This
indicates striving for accomplishment, which would give them both a sense
of fulfillment. However, the Mars-Pluto opposition also signifies a power
struggle, which is all the more dangerous because the fifth and eleventh are
houses of relationship. This composite opposition results from combining
the Mars-Pluto inconjuncts in Jung's and Freud s natal charts. Freud's
slightly wide inconjunct (2' over the 60' orb) explains his concern with
having power over others within the psychoanalytic movement. The
history of that movement was one of constant conflict between Freud and
others in the group, several of whom split off and founded an independent
movement. (An important factor in the intellectual break between Freud
and Jung was Freud s insistence that infantile sexuality was the only thing
that kept psychoanalysis out of the realm of occultism.)

The Taurus- Scorpio polarity of the composite opposition is especially

revealing, because Freud thought lung unconsciously wished him dead
Jung had had a dream in which he was in an old cellar and tound several
deeper cellars below that. In the lowest one were heaped bones and other
relics lung interpreted the dream to mean that he was being shown the
layers of the human subconscious Freud, who was already feeling rather
insecure about their relationship telt that it was a sign that lung
subconsciously wished Freud s death

The collaboration between the two men came to an end in \Q\2 Puring
that year L'ranus was transiting bait anii forth across lun> in! in
 Planets in Composite

early Aquarius, an obvious symbol of breaking away to follow his own

course. And in the composite chart, Neptune transiting the eighth house
indicated changes through dissolution or disappearance, in this case of the
relationship itself. With Neptune squaring composite Saturn, the father-son
relationship was dissolving. Jung's book, Symbols of Transformation, is
largely about the will, psychic energy and the symbolism of the hero, but an
astrologer can see that it is also about the symbolism of the Sun. Jung, the
Leo, was making his break from the father, Freud (Saturn in the fourth).

In 1912, transiting Uranus, in addition to conjoining Jung's Ascendant, also

trined the composite Moon from very near the cusp of the third house. The
break was signaled by the publication of a book. During the same year
Saturn moved from conjunction with Freud's Sun and Jung's Moon to
conjunction with the composite Moon in the sixth. This signifies that the
two no longer felt that they had anything in common.

Jupiter also transited both direct and retrograde over the derived first-house
cusp in Sagittarius and in quincunx to Pluto in the fifth house, signs of a
power struggle and breaking away. Jupiter transiting the Ascendant is
usually a positive indication because it shows the need for expansion and
further growth. But in a rigid relationship that has reached its limits, it can
be very difficult, because growth can occur only by ending the relationship.
In 1913 Pluto completed this pattern by crossing composite Uranus in the
seventh house.

The break-up was bitter, especially on Freud's part, but in many ways the
two were better off for it. Freud could carry on his own work without fear
of displacement by a more brilliant person, while Jung was free to develop
his own more radical theories, which have been so beneficial to those of us
who study the symbolism of the human race.

68
Houses
Chapter Four
 Houses

The Meaning of the Houses in the Composite Chart

The meaning of the houses in the composite horoscope is clearly very

similar to their meaning in the conventional horoscope, except for one
major difference, which will be dealt with shortly. The most important
point to keep in mind in delineating a composite chart is that you are
working with two or more people rather than an individual, so you must
adjust the house meaning accordingly. For example, in a conventional
natal chart, the tenth house rules one's status in society, one's career, and
the overall purpose of one's life. But in the composite chart the tenth house
shows the status of the relationship and its overall purpose in existing It is
hard to relate the issue of "career'' to a relationship unless it happens to be a
business or professional one. In the other houses also, some of the issues
are difficult to relate to a composite chart simply because a relationship is
not the same kind of entity as an individual.

But aside from this obvious difference, there is another difference, which is
much more important in reading a composite chart At the beginning of
Chapter One. it is stated that there are always two midpoint
opposite each other, for any given pair ot planets It is also staled that the
I midpoint the midpoint of the shorter ot the two arcs into whu h
the planets divide the circle is the stro' re used tor the
composite chart

• .rr. the farther midpoint also has some ettett and this effect increases
as the shorter and lonxer arcs approach 180". which happens when the
fa from the two birthcharts are in opposition to each other Then
when reading the description ol .mv composite planet in a ho.
id it in terms of the opposite h 1 And it the shorter
•s the
ancJ lonKer ar< s of the two planets are near 180° it is essential to take both
have had any great • • with
mtional birthcharts you know that this is n anv kind of
 Planets in Composite

qualities of the opposite house to some extent, and in composite charts this
is even more important. It is almost as if there were six paired houses in the
composite chart rather than twelve separate ones. But since one house in
each pair is stronger, we have retained the traditional idea of twelve houses.

One more point. The following are generalized descriptions of the matters
that relate to each of the twelve houses, independent of any planet that is in
the house. The descriptions are intended to extend the reader's
understanding of the significance of the houses, so that you can make
judgments beyond those indicated in the delineations in the text. Also, these
house delineations become important for an individual chart if there is a
large clustering of planets in any one house. That house may very well be
more important to an overall understanding of the chart than the Sun and
Moon houses, which are usually the most important in a composite chart. In
such cases the general descriptions of the houses will be useful.

The Composite First House

The first house of the composite chart is one of the angular houses, which
gives greater significance to any planet that is in it. Beyond that, however,
the first house is the persona of a relationship and indicates the kind of
impression it will make on its surroundings and how it will be viewed by
others. It tells to what extent a couple will be regarded as a unit in their own
right rather than as two separate individuals. The first house resembles the
tenth somewhat, but there is an important difference, in that the tenth
represents the reality of what the relationship is to the outer world. The first
house describes the impression the relationship gives rather than what it
really is. A strong first house can be an indication of a relationship that is all
show and no substance. The tenth more clearly indicates substance, at least
from the standpoint of social significance. Nevertheless, a strong first house
is usually a sign of a significant relationship that will have a great impact on
the lives of those involved. If one were to cast the composite chart of two
people who have just met to see if they would have a significant relationship
beyond a chance encounter, one could not say on the basis of house
occupancy alone but with a strong first house if the relationship does go
beyond the initial meeting, it will be an important one.

The Composite Second House

The second house of the composite chart refers to values — what the two
people value, and their relationship to what is valued. This can operate on
two different planes. The second house can indicate the role that
value-systems play in forming the relationship, that is, to what extent two

72
 Houses

people come together because they value similar things or ideas. If the
second house contains difficult aspects, particularly ones involving Pluto
and Mars, disagreements over values may be a major source of conflict
within the relationship. Similarly, positive aspects indicate that the couple
has compatible values, which helps to bind the relationship together.

On another plane, clearly related to the first, the composite second house
refers to whatever finances and property there may be in the relationship. In
reading the second house, remember that not all relationships involve
common property and finances. In that case only the first manifestation will
have any relevance.

Needless to say, a badly afflicted composite second house can mean exactly
what it means in a natal chart— difficulties with property and finance. This
may result from value conflicts in which the two people cannot agree on
what to do with money and property. Or it may result from neither partner
having any idea about what to do with money. In such a case, the
individuals natal charts should be consulted.

One final note: in a composite chart all finances are joint finances, because
you cannot clearly distinguish which person is which, so one of the
conventional distinctions between the second house and the eighth has no
meaning here. The eighth house has other meanings that have little to do
with finances, but you should consult both the second and the eighth tor
information on all financial matters in a relationship

The Composite Third House

third house has essentially the same meanings .is the third
in a conventional birthchart communication, mind routine
day-to-day environment, and relatives. In the composite chart the
communu ations aspect is especially important It the people in I
■ not communh real trouble Yer\ often in a
nal relationship, eai h partn- (he other to understand
him or her <>n ft intuitive level that does not involve vsords When
iple dis< overs that this deep understanding does not exist th«
i hurt An afflicted third house usuallv indua'-
Communication in some way This should b« tor

This matter is r. -\ I he third house is the ho

the lower rniml that is. the mind in its rOUtil I '"on
a low level Volving habitual paltl
thouKht . nned notions
 Planets in Composite

third house tells a great deal about how these patterns will operate within
the relationship. Will they constantly be a source of conflict, or will they be
a source of compatibility, binding the relationship together? Very often
they are a source of conflict. The only way to deal with these patterns is to
have a neutral third party help bring them out into the light, because people
are often not even aware of their own habitual attitudes.

A relationship with a strong third house usually comes about because of

mental affinity. The two people are fond of talking with each other and
exchanging ideas. Their only real problem arises in a close personal
relationship, for mental exchange may become a substitute for a
much-needed deep emotional exchange. Otherwise, a third-house
relationship is perfectly fine.

The Composite Fourth House

The fourth house represents more than the home, especially in the
composite chart. Many relationships have nothing that could be called a
home, and yet the fourth house remains important.

First of all, it is one of the angular houses, which gives it added significance.
But more fundamentally, the fourth house indicates the basic roots of a
relationship — both literally, in geographic terms, and figuratively, in terms
of mental and emotional background. The fourth house signifies the
innermost depths of a relationship, which may be so far within as to be
invisible at the surface.

The fourth house should be checked to see if there is an underlying

compatibility between the two people. Do they have compatible
backgrounds in the senses just described, and are their basic emotional and
psychological characteristics compatible?

On top of this, the fourth house does mean collective "home" if such a
notion is appropriate. The home is where a couple's deepest emotional and
psychological attitudes have their strongest impact. The home is in many
ways the physical embodiment of one's innermost being, and is therefore
influenced by anything that affects the inner life. Afflictions to the fourth
house have a negative effect upon the home, if there is one, and upon the
deepest levels of compatibility.

A composite chart with a strong fourth house usually indicates that the two
people share their innermost lives and that they probably share their actual
place of residence.

74
 Houses

The Composite Fifth House

The fifth house in the composite chart has many of the same meanings that
it has in a conventional chart— love affairs, children (where this is
appropriate), creativity, self-expression, and so forth. The interpretation of
self-expression, however, is especially critical in a composite chart.

The composite fifth house represents, first of all, to what extent the
relationship provides a setting for the individuals to be themselves in the
most genuine and honest way possible. Many relationships survive only
because each partner puts up a false front to the other. Each one tries to be
what he or she thinks the other wants, rather than what he or she really is.
When the truth becomes known and disillusionment sets in. such a
relationship must collapse. The fifth house signifies the ability of the
individuals to be real in each other's presence, which is not always easy.
And being real should not be an effort. An ideal relationship allows each
person to be real and to feel that it is easy to do so. When the fifth house
operates smoothly, it is easy to enjoy oneself with the other without feeling
that something unnatural is expected. A badly aspected fifth house, on the
other hand, indicates the opposite.

A strong fifth house signifies a relationship that is very concerned with the
issue of self-expression. In a fifth-house relationship a couple is not together
to form a team or partnership, but because they enjoy being themselves in

each other's company and because they enjoy each other For this rt
this is the house of love affairs and of friendships (which are also ruled by
the eleventh house). But the very nature of this house means that it is r
people who are trying to operate as a single unit In a fifth-house
relationship the two people are together but still individuals For this r-
it may not be the best house for a marriage, although it is not harmful to
one. The staying power needed for a marriage or other long-term
partnership may not be provided by a purely fifth-house relationship

I hi- ( omposiU- Sixth HOVH

The com; h house can signify real ob

nal relationship Somewhat like the sixth hou>-< nventional
to the duties and responsibilities that the relationship
must fulfil. relationships have obligations and in i
they *rr not likely to be harmful Duties bet ome .1 problem only when thev
arr the ma|or element of a relationship with no room for
is ruled bv the fifth h
, the t* kie relationship
75 as a <!
 Planets in Composite

something to be enjoyed. In a business relationship this is not a great

problem; there are tasks to be done and obligations to be met. But in a
personal relationship, which is supposed to be a voluntary and natural
expression of each partner's self, such a dutiful attitude can ultimately
weaken a relationship. Only if the circumstances call for work to be done
does a strong sixth house become an advantage. To make good use of these
energies requires that the two people approach even a personal relationship
from a strong sense of personal duty.

Health, the other traditional meaning of the sixth house, seems to have little
relevance to a composite chart, except as it may indicate a business or
professional relationship relating to health.

The Composite Seventh House

The composite seventh house, like the first, is a sign of a relationship in

which the two people are truly trying to function as a unit. The seventh is
the house of intimate one-to-one encounters. If a chart is on the whole
favorable, a strong seventh house is a good indication that any kind of
partnership, including marriage, can survive. A strong and well-aspected
seventh house is not absolutely necessary for a marriage or business
partnership, but it helps. In a strong seventh-house relationship, the two
people are likely to think of themselves as one, as "we" and "us." It is not
simply a matter of enjoying each other's company, as in a fifth-house
relationship. They should enjoy each other, but more important is the fact
that they complement each other and make a strong whole.

A clearly seventh-house relationship that is not well-aspected will still be an

intimate encounter, but the people may be enemies or at least competitors.
This is because the seventh is also the house of one's open enemies.
Obviously a strong seventh house cannot guarantee a marriage between
two people who love each other, but because they will think of themselves
as a unit, it is quite likely that they will get married or at least live together.

A strong seventh-house chart is also favorable to any one-to-one

relationship in which one person consults the other, such as a patient and
doctor, patient and psychotherapist, client and astrologer, client and
lawyer, or client and any other type of professional. Needless to say, the
seventh must be well aspected in these cases.

76
 Houses

The Composite Eighth House

In traditional astrology, one meaning of the eighth house has been joint

finances and property, or the "partner's finances and property. In a

composite chart it is difficult to distinguish between the meanings of the
second and the eighth house, because one cannot clearly distinguish
between the two partners. One difference is that the eighth house can refer
to finances and property of people outside the relationship. Otherwise it is
difficult to separate the two houses, insofar as they both refer to value and
things that are valued. The same issues can arise with both houses.
Therefore the reader is urged to review the second house for further
information.

However, the eighth house also has a quite different meaning all its own.
Traditionally it is the house of death, but this meaning is not limited to
actual physical death. It really means the passing away of any old order and
the building up of a new one. Therefore we refer to the eighth house as the
house of major transformations.

A strong eighth house may signify some great involvement with property
but it is more likely to mean a relationship of great significance that will
bring about major changes in the lives of the two people, especially at the
psychological level. A strong eighth-house relationship will very likely
make a considerable impact on both partners.

Whenever you encounter a strong eighth-house chart, be <p in

mind the double nature of this house. Its effects can be manifested at either
level or both at once.

The C ompositf Ninth Hon si-

The composite ninth house sanities the overall view of the world taken by
the persons involved in a relationship The phrase consciousness
expanding is often used in the delineations, because a ninth-house
relationship usually broadens the views of the two people Thr
< d tO think in terms ot .1 broader sprit rum ot
• 1lilies than bd •lging

•he ninth is the hoi; • mil COmdoUCft ng ninth house

enables people to communicate a* | -.■■-. high level They can reallv

• ry importa role in their relationsh and thrv will

nt ip
•han the usual effort to und ich othe < difficult
V i

77
 Planets in Composite

aspects to this house, especially involving Saturn, can turn this around so
that failure of communication becomes a major factor that weakens the
relationship. Similarly, some planetary combinations, particularly Mars
and Pluto, can create intense competition on the intellectual level and great
resistance to each other's views. The one certainty is that a strong ninth
house will make it very important that the two people have a strong
intellectual relationship. If they do not, that fact will be the major source of
difficulty between them.

The Composite Tenth House

The tenth house in the composite chart has much the same significance that
it has in the conventional natal chart. However, "career" seems to have little
relevance for a relationship, unless it is a business or professional
relationship. But even in an individual horoscope the tenth house has a
much deeper meaning. It tells about a person's development as an
individual, a unique human being, and how he or she establishes that
uniqueness in the world. Because of this, the tenth house refers to status and
reputation. It also tells about the directions of a person's evolution and the
principal occurrences of that process. All these matters apply in a composite
chart, especially the uniqueness and evolutionary purpose of a relationship,
both for the persons involved and for the outside world.

A strong tenth-house relationship will be more than normally concerned

with directions. The two people will often ask, "What purpose does this
serve in my life?" And often the encounter with each other will help them
find out exactly what they are doing in this world.

A tenth-house relationship is not likely to be a professional one. Profession

is only one aspect of life direction, and one that has been rather
overemphasized. What one does for a living may have little or nothing to
do with the central purpose of one's life, especially in a composite chart.
Consciousness of objectives is the main theme. The issues of the tenth house
are more than ideals and hopes, which are ruled by the eleventh. They are
plans that will probably be realized, because they are the real intention of
the relationship.

The Composite Eleventh House

A strong eleventh house is very appropriate in a composite chart, for it is

the house of friendship. It does not limit a relationship to friendship, but it
helps two people to be friendly in whatever they are doing together. This is
especially important in a sexual relationship; lovers who have a strong

78
 Houses

eleventh house will also be friends. Businessmen with a strong eleventh

house will be friends as well as professional associates. A strong eleventh is
an excellent house for a marriage composite.

Because it is also the house of hopes and wishes, a good, well-aspected

eleventh house gives a relationship a strong sense of shared ideals. Both
persons are looking for the same things in life.

Difficult aspects, especially those of Saturn, may bring about conflicts of

ideals in a relationship. Or friendship may be denied, limiting a relationship
to a purely professional one or a purely sexual one, without friendship.

In any case, a couple with a strong eleventh house must be able to share
with each other a great deal of their lives. Otherwise it is not likely to be a
very successful relationship.

The Composite Twelfth House

The composite twelfth house has many of the same meanings as it has in an
ordinary birthchart. However, as stated in the old texts, some of tht
so cloudy that it is worthwhile to state them here in a new way.

Basically, the twelfth house represents repressed thoughts It signifies

once-conscious ideas that have been eliminated from the waking mind
because the mind has chosen not to deal with them. The twelfth also clearly
indicates the environmental factors that has caused the thoughts to be
ltd. These are the aspects of the twelfth house that have tht- most
significance t<>r the composite chart. The traditional meanings concerning
hospitals, prisons and other places ot confinement do not really apply henr.

The problem with repressed ideas is that thev give rise to unCOmdOUtly
motivated actions that are often harmful to an individual or to the
relationship Because the actions are automatic t! ■
inappropr . -iven situation and serve to undo rather than aid the
■ >nship

In a strongly twelfth house relationship the persons involved d>" many

things to and with each other that do not r. in terms ot what is
really happenr them As a result they wind up dialing with
'oriiatK ally when they should bt making I thorough
ol them {yen when a COUP I r' '"
■. ith probk I openly there is often mon .
that is raw mi
 Planets in Composite

with in a personal relationship.

If people can handle what comes up in a twelfth-house relationship, fine,

and some people even enjoy such a relationship. Marriage is not normally
recommended for a couple with a very strong twelfth house. But there are
those who benefit greatly from intense, day-to-day psychological
encounters. And there are individuals whose unconscious acitons — one is
tempted to call them "programs" — dovetail with their partner's so perfectly
that they are indispensable to each other, no matter how miserable they
seem. For this reason, twelfth-house relationships must be evaluated very
carefully. They cannot be rejected out of hand, even though they are among
the most difficult of all relationships.

The Composite Ascendant

Because of the mechanics of casting a composite chart, the cusp, or

beginning of the first house, does not coincide with the midpoint of the two
natal Ascendants. Nevertheless, the midpoint of the two natal Ascendants
does have an importance of its own, aside from being a house cusp. It is a
sensitive point in the horoscope, which can be aspected just like the planets.
It is called the composite Ascendant to distinguish it from the first-house
cusp, which is called the composite first-house cusp.

The composite Ascendant has two sources of importance. First, it has the
effect of increasing the importance of any planet that is conjunct or opposed
to it in the composite chart. Second, it describes through its aspects ways in
which the energies of the relationship affect you and your partner. Its
significance is very similar to that of the first house in general. The main
difference is that it is a point that can be aspected by planets in other houses.

The composite Ascendant may not always fall in the first house of the
composite chart. In fact, it can fall anywhere from the eleventh house to the
second, depending on how different the latitude of the composite chart is
from the latitude of the two (or three or more) birthplaces. The house
position of the composite Ascendant may tell something about the kind of
effects the relationship will have upon the outer world but it is not as
significant as the house position of the composite Sun and Moon.
In the delineations that follow, the composite Ascendant will be
treated as an axis, a line running completely across the horoscope. This is
done because the composite Ascendant actually includes in its symbolism the
composite Descendant, the degree that is setting in the west exactly opposite
the Ascendant. Together, these two points signify the total exchange of
energies between the two of you and the world around you.

80
 I
Chapter Five

Sun
 Sun

El
The Meaning of the Sun in the Composite Chart

The house position of the Sun (along with that of the Moon) tells a great
deal about the basic thrust of the relationship, what it exists for, and the
major issues it will revolve around. The aspects to the Sun refer to the most
important energy patterns in the horoscope, the kinds of behavior that will
be most important between you.

A badly placed Sun with difficult aspects can be an important factor in

making a relationship difficult or even unbearable. It indicates that the basic
energies of the relationship are not being handled well and that something is
fundamentally wrong between you. On the other hand, a well-placed and
well-aspected Sun will help a relationship survive even in difficult time's

In any chart the Sun provides the energy for whatever entity the chart
ents. In a composite chart it shows what kinds ot energies each I I
contributes It the proper expression of this energy is blocked, the
relationship will seem inhibiting and repressive to each persons tree
self-expression It will be an effort to maintain the relationship and you will
not feel at ease with each other It the Sun is well placed in the chart, the
relationship will be experienced as tree- and spontaneous s»lt expression
requiring little effort Or course other fa< tors can i rcitr dilhc ul tie's
when the Sun is well placed, but a food Sun in a composite i-
iblc

( nmposiU Sun in the hrst Nous.

■ Sun in the hrst house often signifies a relationship that is

unu^ally important in terms of vour own lives The hrst house si^ni* •
entity % pervmahty and the way a person or a relationship impresses others

The r* ' m sue h a way thai

• r impression on those- around you than you would M

83
 Planets in Composite

individuals. Even if neither of you is an especially strong or dominant

personality, you will be strong as a couple. Together you may be able to
accomplish more in life than you could have separately. And you will be
especially strong in an adversary situation in which the two of you are
pitted against someone else.

The first house is a very strong and favorable position for the composite
Sun. It is usually an indication that you will be able to accomplish whatever
you have come together to accomplish. But as in most relationships, some
difficulties can arise if the energies of this placement are not properly
handled.

First of all, the two of you may tend to worry too much about how you
appear to others. This can lead you to neglect the real problems that are not
visible to others, for you consider such problems to be less important. They
may be more important than you think.

Second, if as individuals you are intrinsically forceful people, the energy of

this position may make you come on too strong with others, which could
provoke active opposition to anything you want to do as a couple. If this is
the case, be careful to control your energies toward others.

For an intimate relationship such as a love affair or marriage, this is an

intrinsically excellent position. It is characteristic of the first-house Sun that
the two of you will become very much a unit, which can bind you together
closely. Assuming that in the aspects of this horoscope there are some good
indications of love between you, this is likely to be a meaningful
relationship.

Composite Sun in the Second House

The Sun in the second house of the composite chart is the best possible
position for any business or professional relationship whose primary aim is
to make money or to gather material possessions. For a personal
relationship this position is neither good nor bad. However, it does mean
that the relationship focuses rather heavily on material advantage, possibly
at the expense of psychological, emotional, and other intangible factors.

The second house is the house of values, or rather, of things that are valued,
either tangible or intangible. The Sun in this house gives you a strong drive
to seek whatever it is that you collectively value. Usually these are material
things, although in some cases they may be philosophical or spiritual
values. The point is that you will go after whatever you want, and you are

84
 Sun

El
likely to succeed simply because you put so much energy into the effort.

In a personal relationship such as marriage, in which you own things

together, these things will be very important to the security of the
relationship. Even if you would not normally acquire property together,
you may do so with this placement. Friends with this position in the
composite chart may go into business together or become involved in a
common living situation in which possessions such as furniture and
appliances are owned jointly. However, although a second-house Sun may
suggest that you will live together, this is usually more characteristic of a
fourth-house Sun.

One danger of this placement is that there may be a conflict of values

between you. If this is so, it will be a serious problem, because your
relationship is based so much on values. It will not be easy for the two of
you to compromise on such issues, so it would be best to decide whether
your values are compatible before you embark on any kind of joint venture.
Unfortunately, the second-house Sun does not necessarily indicate
compatible values; it only indicates that values as such are an important
issue in the relationship.

Composite Sun in the Third House

The Sun in the third house of the composite chart favors relationships in
which communication and exchange of ideas and opinions are important In
business and professional relationships this position favors associations in
commerce and in the communications field.

For a personal relationship this position has great strengths as well a--
weaknesses The strengtr lows "i ou will have a strong abihtv to
communx u share many of the same ideas and opinions and
will be ab • • openly with each other. There will be tew barr •
mutual understand I perhaps at the emotional level You will
• >d conversations with each other.

The greatest weakness of this position is that even a personal relationship

will function primarily on an intellectual or mental level It is not 11 k •
be a • • v then the Sun in the third house
is a much'' .ndship than t will relate
her by talking rather than bv feelings .is .1 |. nship
requires When an emotional situation ihe danger th.r
will 11 'Ut instead of 111st living through it
and '
 Planets in Composite

experience cannot be replaced by logical analysis. But this is a lesson that

the two of you may have some difficulty in learning, because the
third-house Sun inclines you to logical analysis.

There is nothing wrong with an intellectual relationship, but there are times
when it is inappropriate. Fortunately, your strong commitment to
communication will aid you in approaching the problems you may have to
face together. Just be sure that you don't stop at the purely mental level.
You should enjoy an unusually good mental rapport and be more able to
talk to each other than many couples can.

Composite Sun in the Fourth House

Composite Sun in the fourth house favors a strong emotional

involvement. In a personal relationship, you and your partner are likely to
seek out everything that you have in common — past experiences, shared
tastes, standards of right and wrong, and particularly, shared ideas about
home and domestic life.

The fourth is the house of your most personal and intimate life, your home,
your past and origins in general, as well as your inner feelings and
emotions. The Sun in this house of your composite chart will make you
focus particularly upon these factors in your life together. Thus, this
position favors a relationship in which you settle down together and share
each other's personal lives as intimately as possible.
This is one of the best positions for marriage. It will not necessarily bring
about marriage, but should it happen, your domestic life will be very
important to you both. You will work very hard to create a stable home life
and a personal world to which you can retire from the pressures of
everyday existence.

Because this is an angular house, the position makes for a very strong
relationship. This position indicates a concern for owning a home or real
estate together, which may manifest itself as a desire to own land. If you
live together you will not be satisfied with a small city apartment but will
want plenty of room and, if possible, land.

On the psychological level, you are likely to experience profound emotions

together and to become deeply involved in each other's innermost mental
and emotional depths. This is not likely to be a superficial relationship. But
try not to become so wrapped up in each other's psyches that you lose all
perspective and the ability to see things clearly. The fourth is a subjective

86
 Sun

house, and the composite Sun there reinforces all subjective tendencies in
the relationship.

Composite Sun in the Fifth House

The Sun in the fifth house of the composite chart is one of the best positions
for a sexual relationship, because the fifth is the house of love affairs, among
other things. It is also the house of creativity, children, self-expression,
o
amusement, and good times in general, as well as of speculation and
gambling. The Sun in the fifth house gives a strong emphasis to any of these
elements.

In a personal relationship, a composite fifth-house Sun implies that your

relationship will give you good opportunities for self-expression, for being
yourself and enjoying it. You will like each other and enjoy being together.
This is not truly a position of partnership, but rather of being yourself with
others. For this reason, although this position is good for love affairs, it is
not so good for marriage or any partnership that requires a greater feeling
of oneness between you. The Sun in this house is not harmful to marriage
and partnership, but by itself it does not produce staying power for the long
haul. But if other positions make up for this lack, it can be quite good for
marriage, especially since it gives a strong concern for children.

This is a good position for friendship because it indicates a light-ht

relationship in which you genuinely enjoy each others company A
will learn to be yourselves with others and discover more about how
affect others.

In a relationship with this placement, you must give each other room to be
what you are. Fortunately a fifth-house Sun relationship usually has this
capacity It you do not give each other sufficient room, you both DM
that the other is placing clamps on your idf-expwioff Neither ol vou tan
remake the other so do not try In any case you must learn to let each other
be and stil! • 'her.

( ompoxite Sun in the Sixth I I

iiftuult positions !
because it is inherently a house ot inequality In most relationship-
must be some balar t.ikinx jnil ^ivm*
e thinK. e.n h one must COntfibuli
BHMUrr. if the asso< i.ition is to work Hut in a relationship with a sixth
It is the house ol

87
 Planets in Composite

service to others and of others' service to you.

The great danger of this position is that one of you is likely to feel taken
advantage of by the other. In fact, it is quite likely that each one is somehow
using the other and is in turn being used, which both of you will ultimately
resent. You will find yourself asking the question, "What am I getting out of
this relationship?" When a question like that comes up, there are serious
problems.

A sixth-house relationship is one in which normal ego drives seem to be

particularly disruptive. Perhaps the best way to deal with the problem may
be by going into such a relationship in a spirit of service and help for your
partner, with as little thought for yourself as possible. But recognize that to
really do this is extremely difficult, and you will probably be deluding
yourself if you try. Maybe you're just looking for warm pats on the back for
your "selfless" endeavor, but even that much recognition may not be
forthcoming. Remember that each of you may be doing the same thing in
this relationship.

Another way of dealing with this position would be to have a common task
or goal that you can work toward together. Even in this instance,
accomplishing your objective should be the only reward you seek. Other
rewards may come, but you must not consciously seek them, or you will
endanger the relationship.

Composite Sun in the Seventh House

The Sun in the seventh house of the composite chart is usually an excellent
position for any kind of relationship in which two people are trying to work
as a unit in an equal partnership. You will work together on a basis of total
sharing, with each of you making your own contribution to the strength of
the whole.

In most cases, this is the best position of all for either marriage or a business
partnership. It denotes a complementarity that makes the whole stronger
than either of the parts. Unlike a relationship with the composite Sun in the
first house, the strength of your relationship is real as well as apparent to
others.

One warning, however. The seventh is the house not only of partnerships
and marriage, but also of open enmities and intimate conflict. In fact, the
best overall description of it is the house of intimate one-to-one encounters
of any kind. With this placement, if your relationship is not going well, you

88
 Sun

may compete with each other in a way that is disruptive and produces
antagonism between you. Even in a healthy relationship you can expect this
to some extent, but usually such competitiveness should bind the two of
you together rather than drive you apart.

Composite Sun in the Eighth House

Composite Sun in the eighth house may give the two of you a feeling of
"fatedness. that this relationship is going to play an important role in your
lives, even if it is not a long-term relationship. The eighth is the house of
major transformations, involving the destruction of an old way of being
and the birth of a new one. In conventional natal horoscopes it is the house
of death. But this should not be taken to mean that a relationship with an
eighth-house Sun will end quickly. Instead, it will probably cause
something in each of you to die and something new to be born. Obviously
both of you will experience this relationship deeply.

You will be exposed to the most basic and profound aspects of your own
and your partner's inner nature. In addition you will likely confront each
other in such a way as to force changes in the areas of your lives that are not
ng out well. Both of you will experience psychological changes
through this relationship.

In a sexual relationship, physical sex assumes an unusual importance,

although not entirely for its own sake. Sex is likely to be seen by both of
you as an experience that transcends ordinary reality — not as an escape
but as something that gives greater depth to everyday life. Consequently,
your attitude toward sex is not likely to be casual.

The eighth house is also the house ot joint • and pro;

.vhat like the second-house composite Sun, this position can >;ive the
. a strong drive to acquire material possessions or it can mean
that possessions are a very important element in the security ot the
relationship Here a^ain it is necessary not to overdo this emphasis bee BUM
• 'ive Emotional needs illy more
important than possessions ! the eighth house is more
illy emotional and profoundly psychological than the second h
this is not v> ! • ,«t dittu ulty

( c.mpusili Sun m the Ninth HoUM

in the ninth hous< relationship that m\

< ularlv in a personal relationship, the

89
 Planets in Composite

experiences that you undergo will give you greater understanding and
insight into what is going on in your world. Together you will have a great
interest in philosophy, metaphysics, religion, and all other routes to
expanded consciousness and understanding. The relationship itself is likely
to be quite idealistic. With the Sun in this position, a relationship between
the sexes may tend to become platonic. Even if sex is involved, a platonic
feeling will still be present.

The two of you will be very interested in communication and the sharing of
ideas. Community of thinking is one of the dominant drives created by this
position. You may travel quite a bit or at least be interested in foreign or
distant places. "Travel is broadening," as they say, and you both view it as
a positive force in expanding your consciousness.

For a personal relationship the only possible defect of this placement is that
the relationship is likely to be more intellectual than emotional.

In a business or professional relationship this position is excellent for

associations involving foreign countries, for businesses concerning
travel — especially over long distances — for importing and exporting, and
for intellectual enterprises such as "think tanks." This position is useful in
any type of relationship because it indicates that together you have
foresight and the ability to plan ahead for the long haul.

Composite Sun in the Tenth House

A relationship with composite Sun in the tenth house is likely to be a

significant one. The tenth house, one of the most important houses of the
horoscope, rules overall life direction or purpose. This is manifested in such
areas as reputation, career, sense of self with respect to the outside world,
and the general direction that something must take in order to evolve.

First of all, this position indicates that the two of you have an identity of
purpose in your lives together, or at least that you are able to help each
other attain the goals you have set for yourselves. Obviously this position is
particularly useful for a business or professional relationship, but it is also
very important in a personal relationship. If this relationship goes anywhere
at all, it will have a strong effect on your life purpose. It may help both of
you to define yourselves and answer the question of who you are, or it may
take you further on a path that you have already chosen. At the very least,
you will feel a strong community of purpose and direction, that your egos
somehow complement each other.

90
 Sun

Since the tenth is also the house of status, some couples may become
excessively concerned with how they look to others — in other words, their
social image or their importance in the community — while ignoring serious
emotional problems that may be destroying the relationship. With this
position there is a general danger that you may be much too concerned with
g]
the outer world in general and not enough with your own subjective
concerns, which are valid in their own way. This is the exact opposite of the
problems that can arise with the fourth-house Sun. Here the danger is that
the two of you may deal with difficulties by trying to adjust matters in the
external world, when their origin is within yourselves.

Even so, this placement is a good indication of an important relationship,

one in which you will find a strong identity of life purpose and direction,
which will enable you to work well together.

Composite Sun in the Eleventh House

Composite Sun in the eleventh house is an excellent position for almost

any type of relationship because the eleventh is the house of friends. The
composite Sun here indicates that no matter what the purpose of the
relationship, the two of you will be able to get along with each other.

It is an especially good placement for marriage, because in the long run,

friendship the most important elements in cementing a marital
relationship. This position does not by itself indicate sexual attraction; that
must be provided by other components of the horoso

Trie Sun in this position is a good indication that you will share common
and ideals tor the future, and you will work together to attain them,
which is a desirable trait in any relationship In tact shared hopes arui
ideals may be the main element that binds the two of you together

• venth is also the house o! one s MM ial H ion and vour ability
nto groups A well-placed eleventh-house Sun indicates that tl •
; can fun' small Kroup in vour own ri^ht and that together
ill hnd it I ate in larger groups When vtui are together
ie around you This
is ir >uples who like to he together without others
>->l
Monal relationship is likely to
■ nsion as well which in most cases shouU aid
• than inhibit the other functions of the relationship
 Planets in Composite

Composite Sun in the Twelfth House

Composite Sun in the twelfth house is a significant position, but it

presents challenges that many people find difficult to deal with.

It indicates that through this relationship both of you will encounter aspects
of your inner selves that you would normally keep hidden from yourselves
as well as from others. It is also possible that the relationship itself may be
hidden from others in such a way that either they are not aware that it exists
or they do not understand what it is about.

The most difficult result of this Sun placement is that it may make the
relationship self-defeating for both of you, particularly if you are not
completely honest with each other. Unless you disclose all secrets, they will
cause one or both of you to behave in a way that will undermine not only
the relationship but your own self-esteem as well.

In any personal relationship this placement demands that you thoroughly

search your innermost selves to understand how previously hidden
psychological traits are operating within the relationship. This encounter
will make each of you grow as individuals, and the growth it can bring
about is more important than your survival as a couple. If you are at all
dishonest or if you shrink from the psychological truth in order to keep the
relationship going, it will only serve to further undermine the partnership.
And a breakup brought on in this way will thoroughly destroy any possible
potential for growth.

With this Sun placement, do not enter into any legally binding relationship
such as marriage until you have thoroughly worked out all the hidden
psychological patterns that may weaken it. This placement represents a
potential for psychological repression, so separations and breakups can be
particularly disastrous as the hidden pressures surface.

No one position or element in a chart is sufficient to destroy a relationship,

but this position of the Sun in a composite chart is a call to be especially
careful.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Moon

With Sun conjunct Moon in the composite chart, the two of you will have a
single-mindedness of purpose that is usually lacking in other relationships.
This aspect is especially good in the chart of a love relationship, because the
Sun is the masculine principle and the Moon is the feminine. Conjunction is

92
 Sun

El
the symbolic marriage of the two, indicating that you are truly
complementary partners. Because of the complementarity of masculine and
feminine, a man and woman with this aspect in the composite chart are
likely to have a strong sexual attraction. In friendship, this aspect is also
helpful, for just as in a love relationship, complementarity can be a strong
binding force.

Just as the Sun-Moon conjunction is the beginning of a new cycle, so the

conjunction in the composite chart indicates that your relationship has the
potential for bringing something new into the world. This attribute is
important, especially in a business or a professional association. The
complementarity factor indicates that you are somehow more complete as a
partnership than as individuals. Therefore the two of you will be more
formidable in the contests you enter together in life.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Moon

The sextile of composite Sun and Moon is a very good indication that
the two of you are basically compatible, regardless of the kind of
relationship you have. The more personal and intimate the relationship, the
more favorable are the effects of this aspect. The Sun indicates the active or
masculine energies of this relationship, while the Moon indicates the
feminine or passive energies. These descriptions should not be taken as
comments on the nature of the sexes but as manifestations of a
metaphysical polarity that is active in any relationship.

The sextile is an aspect ot balance, indicating that neither of you will always
take the dominant, assertive role. Instead, you will exchange the active and
result your relationship will be more truly a
partnership between equals

In m- ommunicahon between you should be good. You will feel

• rail intellectual and emotional compatibility as well as a conviction
l omplement your partners \

In a sexual relationship, the maleness ot the Sun and the tem.ileness (>t
the M themselves Sexual attraction will be coupled with I
genuine feeling of friendship a quality nut always found in such a
relationship

in Squan ( ompoeita Moon

• indamental tension
 Planets in Composite

within the relationship. The Sun and Moon symbolize the archetypal
masculine and feminine functions, the most important complementary pair
in the universe. In a larger sense the Sun and Moon signify all
complementarity. The fundamental meaning of this aspect is that the two of
you are not totally complementary. This can be quite a problem in a sexual
relationship, which depends upon complementarity.

There is a sense of tension on the psychological level, which prevents

you from being really at ease with each other. However, this can also work
in a positive way by making the relationship challenging and creative, so
that it doesn't fall into stale patterns and behavioral ruts.

Sometimes, for reasons that are not entirely clear, the Sun-Moon square can
create a rather strong mutual fascination. It is as if each of you sees in the
other something you want very much, even though you cannot handle it
very well. In fact, the energy may be so strong that you are unable to relax
into the casualness that is desirable in a long-term relationship. A
Sun-Moon square is quite likely to be found in the composite chart of an
intense love affair.

In any case, there will be considerable differences of opinion between you,

which should be hashed out whenever they occur. In this relationship,
repressed feelings are likely to cause potentially disastrous outbreaks of
emotion when the pressures become too great.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Moon

The trine of Sun and Moon in the composite chart is an excellent

indication of compatibility. It makes true love and friendship possible,
partly because the two of you are able to accept each other and allow the
other person to be whatever he or she is.

The Sun and Moon represent on the planetary level the basic polarity of the
universe, expressed as male and female, active and passive, energy and
matter, or any other such pair of opposites. The principle represented by
the Sun and Moon together is wholeness. The trine of these two means that
as a couple you are capable of that same wholeness. In this relationship,
you each are completed by the other, or perhaps it would be more accurate
to say that each of you is allowed to experience your own wholeness. Such a
relationship is characterized by a lack of tension and conflict. You are not
inclined to play games of "one-upmanship" with each other nearly as much
as other couples.

94
 Sun

Any type of relationship is favorably affected by this aspect, but a sexual

one is especially favored, because sexuality is one of the most basic
expressions of the Sun-Moon polarity. This aspect does not necessarily
guarantee that you will have a sexual relationship; the whole chart must be
analyzed to see whether that is likely. But it does help to make a sexual
relationship easier and more rewarding.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Moon

m
Sun opposition Moon in the composite chart is a double-edged aspect,
capable of bringing about much good or much difficulty, particularly in a
love relationship. With this aspect, there may be tremendous polarity,
which results in either-or situations that can cause great tension, even a
feeling of competitiveness between you. On the other hand, this aspect can
bring together two radically different elements of your lives and make a
higher and more dynamic entity of the two of you.

In a love relationship, you can expect this aspect to generate a lot of energy.
You will be tremendously attracted to each other, in spite of the differences
between you that this configuration represents. But although you will be
drawn to each other very strongly, you will not feel entirely at ease, because
there is a tremendous energy imbalance between you. For example, one of
you may be extremely energetic and dynamic, while the other is more
inclined to act slowly and deliberately. The differences are likely to be a
source of irritation, even though they are, paradoxically, the source of
attraction between you That is the chief difficulty in this composite aspect.

Much the same interaction will be found in the chart of friends In a

business or professional relationship, you will have to ask yourselves how
much tension and irritation you arc willing to put up with in order to obtain
the very great benefits the relationship can provide. In all situations this is .1
ver\ but unstable combination

niposiU Sun ( oniunit ( omposite Meuur\

• -i urv signifies that there will

be a y t mental activity in this relationship . Tl J tor
il communication between you. but it does not especially favoi
• 1 ommunit ation Do not make the mist
thinl iir ability to talk mi ill channels of c ommunn ation
• may not be :1 d emotions are
ommunu ation ruled by Men urv ^ OU

llizt \ our emotions •

 Planets in Composite

than deal with them at the gut level.

But your verbal communication should be excellent. You have an unusual

similarity of thinking, or at least a better than average ability to understand
each other's thinking.

Mercury is a planet of travel, not always in the literal sense of the word, but
in the metaphorical sense; that is, you like to be continually exposed to new
ideas and experiences together. To others this may appear to be restlessness,
but it is really only curiosity aroused by being together.

One of the most positive attributes of this aspect is the ability to be detached
from what you are discussing. Because of this detachment you may even be
able to talk about your relationship and arrive at understandings that will
help you both to get more out of it. But in the process, do not neglect the
emotional sides of the issues.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Venus

The conjunction of Sun and Venus in the composite chart is one of the
strongest indications of a love relationship between two people, even in a
friendship. It does not primarily indicate a sexual relationship; instead it
signifies love, pure and simple. In a friendship your feelings will have a
depth and intensity that most people associate only with a sexual
relationship. The attraction indicated by this aspect is so powerful that it
can bring together people who are incompatible by ordinary criteria. They
may succeed in making each other quite miserable, but they will still love
each other.

A Sun- Venus conjunction usually means that you will almost certainly have
one of the deepest and most loving relationships of your life, but there are
some possible dangers. Love is closely related to hate, and if the relationship
is laden with conflicts, even a strong feeling of love between you may turn
to hatred. The reason for this is that the two of you are so involved with
each other at such a fundamental level that you cannot get away. While this
is a possibility, it is not likely to occur in a relationship with this aspect. In
most cases this will be a very fine personal relationship.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Mars

Composite Sun conjunct composite Mars is a very energetic combination.

A relationship with this aspect in the composite chart is not likely to be
entirely peaceful and quiet, but it can be very creative. This relationship

96
 Sun

will arouse strong energies within you, energies that can be used for getting
a great deal of work done or for making changes within yourselves.

You will have many discussions about your relationship or other subjects
[§]
that will border on or actually be fights. However, this is not as negative as
it sounds, for these "battles' can help to clear the air and prevent serious
strains from developing. If you have this aspect in your composite chart, it
is important that you express these energies. Do not suppress your
legitimate angers and complaints because of a misplaced desire for peace
and quiet. This relationship can grow through creative conflict. If you do
suppress your anger or express it indirectly, the relationship could become
very uncomfortable or turn into an endless stream of arguments.

Since Sun conjunct Mars is an indication of physical vitality, you should

take part in vigorous physical activity together whenever possible.

This is a tricky aspect to handle in a business or professional relationship. It

can be an indicator that you will work well together and accomplish much
with dynamic vigor. But if the energy between you is very strong, it can
indicate disputes, conflicts, and disagreements, as well as destructive ego
competition.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Mars

Sun sextile Mars in the composite chart will bring about great energy within
your relationship. Being together will make you feel more vigorous and
active. Together, you will be able to accomplish more than you can
separately, especially if you are not normally very high-energy people. You
will find that your egos complement each other very well and that you will
be able to work cooperatively on most thir.

Physical activities will be important when you are together even it vou are
illy oriented as individuals Other people will regard you
team in any physical activities you take part in together Vou should I
sittinK around and doing nothing, although that is not likely to be a
rm.

In doing any k ind •• her your ability to work, cooperatively will

•-cully useful, as will be the balanced relationship between vou: |
•sill sjve .pie outside the relationship
rather than enhibit il rher

■■.,-.• . .

97
 Planets in Composite

timing and that you are good at recognizing and taking advantage of
opportunities. Use this trait to help you work together as a team.

Composite Sun Square Composite Mars

Composite Sun square composite Mars is a difficult aspect for almost any
relationship. Such great energies are generated that it is difficult to channel
them constructively. Usually these energies surface as intense ego
competition, disputes, disagreements, and other forms of hositlity.

The trick is to channel this energy outward instead of allowing it to operate

within the relationship. If you are physically very active together or if you
work very hard for a common goal, you may be able to bring this aspect
under positive control. If you let the energy stay within your relationship,
however, you will have many problems.

The energy signified by this aspect will make you quite active together, but
certain problems may arise when this energy is released. In a positive sense,
this aspect can produce a healthy sense of competitiveness between you,
which should bring about good results. But if you are not careful about how
you use this energy, your relationship may not hold together at all. This
aspect favors situations in which intense competition between you is useful
rather than disruptive. In such a case, all the energy is used, not wasted in
useless conflict and disagreement.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Mars

Sun trine Mars in the composite chart indicates that as a result of this
relationship you both will have great energy for accomplishing work or
tasks of any sort. This is not to say that your relationship will necessarily be
work-oriented, but only that the energy is available should you need it. You
will enjoy all forms of physical and athletic activity together, even if singly
you are not especially active.

If you do work together on any kind of task, your egos will not conflict and
you will complement each other very well. Through this relationship you
will be able to improve your understanding of yourselves and even
reinforce your inner selves.

It would be good to find some outlet for the collective energies symbolized
by this trine. The energy will express itself in a healthy manner if you let it.
However, even the most benevolent energy can turn sour if it does not have
an adequate outlet. Either some kind of work or some physical activity
 Sun

together would provide an excellent release for this energy.

This aspect signifies a lack of ego-conflict between you and an ability to

work together creatively, accomplishing much. You will be competitive
with others but not with each other. This aspect favors any activity
involving athletics or physical fitness and any tasks that require hard work.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Mars

a
Composite Sun opposition composite Mars could be extremely useful in a
relationship if its energies were not so difficult to harness, for this is the
most competitive, argumentative, and pugnacious of all Sun-Mars
combinations. All opposition aspects indicate some kind of polarization
between two entities, but this is especially so with the combination of the
Sun and Mars. The Sun represents the will in general, while Mars represents
that side of the will known as the ego-drive.

This aspect in your composite chart is a probable source of arguments,

fights, and all kinds of ego competition. It indicates particularly that the
two of you have very different energy levels, which can cause all kinds of
conflict. One of you will want to do something in one way at one rate of
speed, and the other will want to do it another way at a different pace.

The negative and disruptive effects of this aspect can be mitigated if you
both are very secure in yourselves. In that case, instead of regarding this
competitive energy as a threat, you will take it as a challenge and spur each
other on to greater heights of accomplishment. You will still be competing.
but the results will be creative instead of destructive.

Need • this energy would be most difficult to harness creatively in

a love relationship In a business relationship or a friendship it would be
to deal with. One exception should be noted however. It one ot vmi
has to counsel the other in any way. this aspect would be extremelv
counterproductive In such a situation you should be trying to put vour
own ego in the background Such a relationship is not furthered bv
flare ups - tlict. which are often Indicated bv this aspect.

( ompositc Sun ( onjunct C omposite lupitei

•he most UM-ful configurations in a composite

hoTOKopr It is an indie ation that you will grow through vour relationship
nsion and luck in manv arr.i

99
 Planets in Composite

First, you will have a general sense of well-being, of comforting each other
when you are together, even of nurturing and protecting. A Sun-Jupiter
conjunction is a sign of contentment.

Second, there is likely to be material prosperity. In fact, one of the few

negative attributes of this aspect is that within the relationship you may
become overly concerned with acquiring wealth and possessions. But this
will not happen in most cases. Even if you are not wealthy, you will feel
that together you have enough. At the very least this is a highly optimistic
configuration.

Third, this aspect will have the effect of broadening your horizons, of
expanding your consciousness of yourselves and each other, and of
increasing your understanding. It might possibly cause you to travel or
have connections with foreign countries.

This aspect is a strong indication that whatever the basis of your

relationship, it will be a good one, with fortunate consequences for you.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Jupiter

Sun sextile Jupiter in the composite chart is an excellent aspect for

friendship. You will feel very much at ease when you are together, and you
will gain a great deal of satisfaction from the relationship.

You will be fond of discussing things and exchanging ideas with each other.
But even your everyday conversations will concern important subjects,
because the broadening influence of Jupiter tends to minimize small talk. All
your thinking and conversation together will relate ultimately to larger
spheres, such as your philosophy of life and your view of the world.

In addition to broadening your mental outlook, this relationship will also

broaden your range of opportunities in the real world. This configuration is
associated with what people usually call luck. But it isn't really luck so
much as a positive attitude, which attracts good fortune simply because you
are open to it and can recognize opportunities when they arise.

Jupiter's influence will permeate the relationship with a strong air of

optimism and positive thinking, which will probably lead to much success
for you as a team. There is also the likelihood of considerable travel with
this aspect.

100
 Sun

Composite Sun Square Composite Jupiter

Composite Sun square composite Jupiter will produce a great deal of energy
in your relationship. If you do not establish adequate outlets for this
energy, it could manifest itself as restlessness and instability. The reason for
this is that the Sun-Jupiter square creates within you a sense that there are
things that must be done. You will make great demands on yourselves and
on each other in your efforts to achieve growth and development. Not
satisfied with the status quo, you will constantly be trying to improve and
m
perfect your relationship with each other, as well as trying to make it look
good to others.

Fortunately, the effects of this combination are such that you should be able
to achieve your goals. But do not try to give others the impression that your
relationship is better than it really is or that the two of you are better off
than is actually the case. This seldom convinces people and instead makes
them believe that you both have a superiority complex.

However, you must learn to be patient; you will probably try to do too
much too fast. As a couple, in your dealings with others you may
overextend yourselves and go too far in various kinds of projects. Avoid the
tendency to act on such a grand scale. You have the necessary' ability to do
what you want together, so simply try to be a bit more patient.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Jupiter

Sun trine Jupiter in the composite chart gives your relationship a

good start, and it will be a favorable and positive experience for both of
you. You will have whatever you feel you really need in your lite together.
Even if you have nothing in a material sense, you will believe that your life
together is all that is necessary.

will find that together you are able to express yourselves more
adequately to the world than you can as individuals Your understanding of
each other will constantly broaden giving you the wisdom and openness to
deal creatively with any difficulties that arise in vour relationship
• between you will be open and free .md vour i onvers.itmn
will deal largely with matters that both of you believe in and consider
-tant But even when you discuss important • hertogei'
with otherv th< - ..htiness or solemnity You have a sense
nism and a feeling that together you < .in handle anything
the world may throw at you And the (ha: od that vou can

101
 Planets in Composite

It is likely that you will travel together and perhaps go abroad or have
connections with foreign places and people. Even if you don't actually
travel, you will certainly go places together in your mind, exploring new
ideas, new concepts, and new dimensions of living.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Jupiter

Sun opposition Jupiter in the composite chart has very strong potentials' for
your relationship, but to get the most out of them will require some effort.
The problem with this aspect is that it causes you to make great demands
upon each other in terms of personal growth and evolution. You will have
very high ideals about what your relationship should be and will not readily
settle for less. This can result in either a pulling apart or a coming together.

Oppositions in general indicate a struggle between two forces that are in

some kind of competition. The danger of this opposition is that in
demanding so much of each other, neither is able to give easily to the
relationship. On the other hand you may come to understand that the best
way for you to grow and realize your ideals together is to help each other
rather than simply make demands. In that case this aspect will provide more
than enough help. This positive side of the aspect, if properly used, should
make you grow as people far more rapidly together than you would
separately.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Saturn

Sun conjunct Saturn is a very powerful aspect in a composite chart. It

indicates that you have come together to have an important learning
experience. Nothing else matters very much, really. Your relationship may
or may not be long-lasting or ultimately satisfying in terms of what you
now expect of it. The dynamics of the relationship will change your
expectations.

The experience of this relationship may expose you to truths about

yourselves that you would rather not face, which may cause you to be
discouraged. But instead of reacting negatively, try to learn about
yourselves, even about your shortcomings and weaknesses. The point is not
to judge yourselves or each other, but to see clearly and with detachment
and then try to make changes where necessary.

In many respects you may find this relationship confining and limiting. You
must ask yourselves whether the relationship is giving you a necessary
discipline that you would not otherwise have. Or is it cutting off legitimate

102
 Sun

self-expression that is really an intrinsic part of you? You may be inclined to

feel that the latter is the case, but be very careful. It may well be that you do
need this discipline and that you are not facing your responsibilities. If you
need this experience, the relationship may last a lifetime. But if it is really
too confining, it will probably not last very long. A Sun-Saturn conjunction
[§]
can operate either way.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Saturn

The sextile of composite Sun and Saturn gives a sober and rather restrained
tone to your relationship but at the same time makes it stable. Other
relationships may be more flamboyant and uninhibited, but with a
Sun-Saturn sextile, yours will probably outlast them, assuming there is a
basic attraction between your personalities.

This relationship should give your life a sense of stability and positive
structure, as well as knowledge of where you stand with each other. If either
of you is inclined to be impulsive or to act rashly, this aspect indicates that
you will have a positive restraining effect upon each other. It will teach you
a lot about yourselves and will have a great effect on the way you think
about things. But in this strength there is a possible danger. With this aspect
you can get so set in a rigid thought pattern that as a couple you do not
grow at all. Don't allow the structuring tendencies of Saturn to become
rigid. If you can maintain some degree of flexibility, this relationship
should work out quite positively, even though it will be comparatively
quiet and restrained.

Composite Sun Square Composite Saturn

Composite Sun square composite Saturn is likely to present some problems

t all. it is an indication that your lives are presently at cross pur:
to each other. It may be that you get in each other's way and then are not
flexible enough to let the other do what he or she wants. One of you il
likely to become a repressive influence upon the other constantly critic i/in>:
and condemning There is a real question as to whether or not vmi can

.in^es (nuld occur spontaneously in eac h of

you that would make your relationship more stable ami pleasant but you
%hould not make this a condition of the relationship You must be able to
• ilithc ult to do
that

103
 Planets in Composite

Try to avoid criticizing each other excessively, and do allow more freedom
of self-expression. If you really cannot accept each other's annoying
characteristics, it is probably best to get out of the relationship. The
interpersonal warfare that this aspect can bring about will make you
less complete as a couple than you are separately. And the only valid
reason for a relationship is to make your lives more complete together
than they are individually. Too much criticism and tearing each other down
may make that impossible.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Saturn

Composite Sun trine composite Saturn operates as a positive restraining

influence on your relationship, giving it structure and form. Eventually you
will know exactly what to expect from each other and what you must give.
At the same time, this aspect provides that through your relationship you
will both learn a great deal about yourselves and each other.

Although your relationship will not be very flamboyant, it will have a quiet
and sober dignity that others will admire, for this is a sign of stability. As
you grow to understand each other better, your experience of this
relationship will affect your thinking and give your outlook on life a stable
foundation.

As a couple, you will prefer peace and quiet and established living patterns.
You may be reluctant to experiment and encounter new aspects of
yourselves. But be careful not to let caution become timidity, or fondness
for familiar patterns become rigidity.

You will be rather reserved in the way you express your feelings for each
other. People may even think there is a kind of coldness between you. But
you probably do not need frequent superficial reassurances, preferring the
deep and sincere expression of feeling that is seldom put into words.

This relationship should outlast many others that may seem more energetic
and vigorous. Because the energies signified by this aspect are released
slowly, you will be able to stay together for a long time, no matter what
kind of relationship you have.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Saturn

Sun opposition Saturn in the composite chart presents real problems.

Among them are : lack of mutual understanding, temperaments so different
as to cause difficulties, a tendency to work against rather than with each

204
 Sun

I
other, a tendency for one of you to inhibit and limit the other unnecessarily,
and excessive criticism of each other. With energies of this sort, it is most
difficult to make a relationship work, properly.

The greatest danger is in criticizing and limiting each other. The one who is
temperamentally stronger is quite capable of depriving the other of any
strength he or she might have. Because of this, the relationship can
gradually make both of you less strong than you would be otherwise.

It is possible for a relationship with this configuration to survive, but

several conditions must be met. First, criticism must be limited to really
important problems and not be allowed to turn into constant carping and
harassment. Second, the relationship should be open enough so that you
can get away from each other in your daily lives and lessen the tension
between you. Third, the two of you must broaden your viewpoints and
become more tolerant of what you reject in each other. And fourth, aside
from the problems you may cause each other, you must have feelings of
genuine love or friendship for each other.

If you cannot meet these four conditions to a considerable degree, it is

unlikely that your relationship will survive or be of any real benefit to you
in the long run.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Uranus

With Sun conjunct Uranus in the composite chart, this relationship will
challenge the very core ot your beings. All your ideas about yourselves and
how you fit into other people's lives, as well as life in general, will be '
very severely. It you art- strong and seiure in yourselves you both will
learn a tremendous amount through this relationship But if you are not
-g. you will probably hnd it somewhat frightening.

Do r this relationship to follow any p.irtuular established

patterns, tor you will define t ■ ves new behavior patterns that tit
only the t. ire looking tor a i onventional predictable
■ u will probably be disappointed In a marriage tor
would both have to be very open. Your only goal must be
community ttandardi Any effort
marital pattern will ( reate sue h I teeling
of frustration that you both will want to w.inder elsewhere I his is .tlso
■ 'r nunmarital love relationships It you are friends be prepared 10
.entlv with n< | •

105
 Planets in Composite

If you find this relationship frightening or upsetting, you should examine

your expectations and try to determine whether you are a victim of rigid
thinking. However, even with the best will in the world and the most open
consciousness, a relationship such as this may not last. Indeed,
permanence is one of the concepts frequently challenged by Uranus. Make
as few demands as possible on the relationship, assume an open attitude,
and allow yourselves to be changed and opened up by the experience.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Uranus

The sextile of composite Sun and Uranus indicates that this relationship will
seek out a path of its own, defining new standards of behavior and changing
your thinking. While most relationships are very much restricted to the two
individuals involved, this one will be open to contact with others, almost as
if you must share what you have with as many people as possible. If it is a
sexual relationship, therefore, it will be quite open and free. A friendship
with this configuration will constantly challenge and stimulate the
world-views of you both and of those around you. Even if neither of you is
particularly unconventional, you will be amazed at the new aspects of life
and experience that this relationship will open up.

There will be a continuing exchange of ideas and new concepts between

you, always lively and stimulating. And the more you allow this exchange,
the better the relationship will be. Otherwise you both will find that you are
easily bored and restless in each other's company. Don't allow laziness or
fear of experimentation to let this partnership fall into conventional
patterns. To do so would be to weaken something that should be a highly
stimulating and creative experience for both of you.

Composite Sun Square Composite Uranus

Sun square Uranus in the composite chart means that this relationship will
be the source of many surprises for you, some of which will be quite
difficult to deal with.

Most important is the problem of instability. You are likely to find that this
relationship makes one or both of you extremely restless, impatient, and
likely to behave in ways that fly in the face of tradition. Clearly this is not a
relationship in which either of you can be possessive; you must give each
other maximum freedom. And if this results in one of you drifting away to
someone else, then that is the way it must be. This aspect is not especially
good for any relationship, such as marriage, that involves traditional
expectations. Marriage is possible, but it would require much more

106
 Sun

flexibility than most people have.

A persistent difficulty that you may have to face is the nervous, electric
quality in your interaction with each other. This quality will make it
difficult to relax and take it easy when you are together. On the other hand,
at least you will never be bored with each other.

This relationship must be allowed to take its own course, unhampered by

restrictive expectations. Even so, it will probably be a very unstable and
unpredictable experience.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Uranus

Sun trine Uranus in your composite chart means that you will be
strengthened by seeking out new paths of self-expression together. Do not
allow your relationship to fall into conventional patterns; instead, explore
new ideas, new horizons. If you can, you should travel to new places to find
experiences together that would not be possible outside your relationship.

If this is a love partnership, you should keep yourselves open to encounters

with others. Narrow conceptions of fidelity or possessiveness should not
prevent you from having valid relationships outside of this one. However,
this should not be interpreted as a license to be dishonest with each other.

On the contrary, this encounter calls for even higher standards of honesty.
You must be honest not only with each other but with yourselves at all
times In this way. as you come to each new experience, you will be al
deal with it openly, not from a fearful or narrow position Be assured that
this relationship will expose you to new areas ot life with each other and
within yoursel

( omposiU- Sun ( )pposition Composite Uranus

>un and Uranus su^ests that this will be an

upsettinK reldtionship in many ways Not that it cannot he rewarding and
worthwhile but it is not likely to be very ionvention.il or predn table
•ship will • letting tor the two ot vou depends
■ ■.! h<u\ open • new kinds ot
■bout the roles you pl.iv with
turbinn tl • ship will |

ll problem here is th.it one or the oth. will Constantly

chill'

107
 Planets in Composite

constant, unremitting revolution. It would almost be better to have this

aspect in a composite chart with one's psychiatrist, rather than with a lover
or friend. The ceaseless challenges will make it difficult to attain any kind of
stability between you. One moment you will feel you have the situation
well in hand, only to have the whole pattern changed by new events.

Another possible effect of this aspect is that the relationship will present a
challenge to the standards of the community in which you live. Others may
see it as a very unusual and eccentric relationship, one that even poses a
threat. In a sense, this problem could help your relationship, because
outside pressures might drive the two of you closer together. On the other
hand, the situation may become too hot to handle. If other people oppose
your relationship too strenuously, the pressure may be too great to
withstand.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Neptune

With Sun conjunct Neptune in the composite chart, there is either a lot of
idealism or much self-delusion in this relationship. The challenge you face is
to determine which of these is true in your case and to come to terms with
this reality.

Note that if idealism is carried too far, it comes very close to self-delusion. It
is one thing to have a strong sense of how things ought to be. But it is
something else if you believe that your ideals are being met when they are
not.

At any rate you will probably feel that the two of you have a highly
spiritual union, which may in fact be so. This aspect can indicate a
soul-union in which the two selves are so perfectly matched that verbal
communication is unnecessary. But it can also mean that you only believe
this is true, even when it is not. The action of Neptune is very nonphysical,
so that a love union under its influence is likely to be platonic rather than
physical.

The second possibility, that of self-delusion, simply means that the two of
you are not confronting each other but instead are projecting visions of
what you want on your partner. One manifestation of Neptune in a
relationship is that one of you may be trying to "save" the other from
himself or herself. This is especially true if one of you has a severe
psychological or physical problem that the other tries to cure. Often there is
a strong martyr quality in such a relationship.

108
 Sun

El
All these tactics represent insincere or self-delusive efforts to avoid the real
people in the relationship— you and your partner. If there really is a strong
spiritual or philosophical element in your relationship, that is very fine and
beautiful. But if not, don't try to deceive yourselves that there is.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Neptune

With composite Sun sextile composite Neptune, your relationship tends to

be very idealized. In some ways it is best suited to friendship, because it
tends to make a love relationship platonic. But if both of you are on a
spiritual path, this aspect will reinforce your efforts to be together.

No matter what kind of relationship it is— friendship, love affair, marriage,

or something else— you will have very high ideals about what you should
be to each other. Since you will be caught up in this ideal, you may be
reluctant to deal with the ordinary, mundane aspects of life. Others may see
your relationship as impossible or at least impractical, but that won't
disturb you particularly. You will go right on, seemingly with your heads in
the clouds. Obviously, this can be carried too far if you are not careful. You
have to deal with the real world one way or another. Also you must learn to
communicate with each other about all areas of your relationship, not just
the ideal parts.

In the long run, this is not a particularly difficult aspect to deal with. The
idealism it signifies can make a relationship quite beautiful. It is not so much
a matter ot suppressing idealism as of learning to deal with reality.

Composite Sun Square Composite Neptune

Be extremely careful with a relationship that has the square of Sun and
Neptune in the composite chart. This aspect implies that the relationship
tends to be unrealistic and impractical. In particular there is .1 danger that
• you will deceive the other, which could result in disappointment and
disillusionment when this is revealed. No matter how beautiful the
• -ns at the beginning there is a real possibility that it will end
with a major let -down

>n is victimised by the others constant deceptions But the

< tim may be partly to blame because ot a Mltx OftM k>UI desire tor
ingle asp. mnship completely
•sever this one demands that you hot! | melv
'anding about the real reasons tor the hon.: \.<u

109
 Planets in Composite

This aspect can mean that both of you are very unclear about what you are
doing with your lives, not only together but as individuals. If you do not
know where your own life is going, it is very unlikely that the experience of
this relationship will help you very much.

A relationship with this aspect could possibly have a solid basis and a
strong sense of spiritual union. That is the goal toward which you should
strive, but first make sure it is a realistic possibility.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Neptune

The trine of composite Sun and Neptune indicates that there is a good deal
of idealism in this relationship. You will feel that it is an extraordinary
union between two souls, perhaps even a spiritual union. Many of the
thoughts you want to communicate to each other will not have to be
spoken, for you will know beforehand what the other person is thinking.
Often one of you will start to say something, only to find the other saying it
too. In other words, there is a strong likelihood of a psychic bond between

you.
The spiritualizing power of Neptune tends to negate the physical realm. For
this reason, a relationship with a strong Neptune, such as this one, is likely
to be platonic rather than physical. Nevertheless, the great feeling of
beauty in such a relationship usually compensates for the fact that it does
not operate on a physical plane as well as on a spiritual level.

Your lack of concern with the physical and material realms constitutes the
major problem here. In a friendship it is perfectly all right to commune at
such a high level, ignoring practicality. But in a love relationship, especially
marriage, practical concerns have to be dealt with, and it may be difficult to
bring yourselves down to that level.

But because Neptune rules self-sacrifice, one of the strongest bonds between
you will be your willingness to give selflessly to each other at any time.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Neptune

The opposition of Sun and Neptune in a composite chart presents a number

of problems. First of all, it means that one or both of you is refusing to
evaluate the relationship realistically. One manifestation of this problem
would be that you each project your own ideal images onto the other
person; or it could appear as outright lies and deceitfulness.

110
 Sun

El
Second, of all combinations of the Sun and Neptune, this one is the most
susceptible to savior-victim behavior. As a noted astrologer expressed it,
the relationship is that of "a savior looking for a victim or a victim looking
for a savior. " Neptune denies the drives of the ego and therefore may cause
you to look for a friend or lover who will be saved by your wholehearted
sacrifice. Needless to say, the person who is being saved must pay by being
constantly reminded of the martyr's sacrifices.
Or it may be that one of you wants to be the one who is saved and looks to
the other as a savior. If he or she does not take the savior role, there will be
terrible disappointment.

The main problems presented by this aspect are learning to relate

realistically, which will be difficult, and learning to relate to each other as
equals. Sacrificing yourself will never improve anything or anyone, and it
may well sour the whole relationship. Relate to each other as you really are.
Do not impose unrealistic goals on each other, for they inevitably lead to
deceit and disappointment. This brings us to the strongest warning: be
honest with each other and with yourselves, for dishonesty, either
inadvertent or intended, is the greatest danger of this aspect.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Pluto

The conjunction of composite Sun and Pluto signifies that this relationship
will have very deep and long-lasting effects on you. for Pluto rules deep,
profound, and inevitable transformations.

This aspect will work in one of two ways. The first possibility is that \ our
relationship will have a very powerful effect on other people You may tind
that together you (an control and manipulate others in ways that would
If individually The effects ot Pluto are alwavs powerful
■ carefully, because it it is misused, others will respond
J join together to put you down

huh may happen quite independently ot the tirst

>>nship will have | powerful internal etteit and call*
important changes and transformation! Pluto rules
ii tor tl - than
n of the selt I his
nship m.i both ot

I'mnshipv timet
•>g is < <•: md thai the whole

ill
 Planets in Composite

relationship is over. With a strong Pluto, this may simply mean the
beginning of a major change; when it is complete you may enter a new
phase that will be better than ever for both of you. Try to be patient when
such crises occur. You can't afford to act impulsively.
Composite Sun Sextile Composite Pluto

The sextile of Sun and Pluto in the composite chart indicates that there is a
powerful force for regeneration and growth in this relationship. Concretely,
this aspect makes it possible for the two of you to revive your relationship
after periods of difficulty, either between the two of you or between you as
a couple and the outside world. It gives you staying power.

At the same time this aspect ensures that the experience of this relationship
will have a strong effect on your views of the world and your ways of
thinking about it. For the most part, these effects should be positive,
involving greater understanding of yourselves as individuals and as
partners in a relationship. You will continually be made aware of new
aspects of yourselves, as they are brought to the surface and examined by
both of you. In most respects this is a serious relationship, meaning that you
will be involved with each other at a very deep and profound level.

It may be that others will be somewhat afraid of the level of intensity

between you, but don't pay any particular attention to their fears. They will
come to see that there is nothing to be afraid of. The changes brought about
in you through this relationship are good, necessary, and natural products
of your own evolution.

Be prepared for the fact that your normal patterns of doing things will be
altered by this relationship. This aspect signifies that new insights about
yourselves will be revealed to you, but do not be afraid to deal with them.
The results can only be good for both of you.

Composite Sun Square Composite Pluto

The square of composite Sun and Pluto indicates that this relationship will
have profound effects, but they will not be especially easy. The
combination of the Sun and Pluto signifies power, and in its simplest and
most blatant form it usually means power struggles between you. The
problem is that one of you has a strong desire to transform the other into
something that he or she is not. Even if a change is called for, the style in
which it is done is likely to provoke the other partner to active opposition.

112
 Sun

[51
Pluto always operates on a relationship at a very deep level. There is
absolutely nothing superficial about its operation. If this aspect is one of
many that indicate conflict, then this will certainly be a difficult
relationship. If other aspects are more harmonious, the effects of this one
will be less destructive. But the relationship will still be experienced as a
very intense and deep transformation through and by each other. Even if
you are not trying to change your partner, you will. And the changes will
be felt from the innermost depths to the outermost reaches of your lives.

One problem that can arise with this aspect is a serious conflict of life
directions. It is not simply that you have different courses to pursue in your
lives, but that your life directions actually conflict. This is likely to be the
source of considerable ego conflict between you.

The only way to deal with the energy of this aspect is to avoid all ego
games. Confine yourselves to real sources of conflict and don't indulge in
mutual harassment over small matters that you do not really care about but

are using to score points at the other's expense. There will be enough real
issues to deal with that you will not need to invent any.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Pluto

The trine of composite Sun and Pluto is a sign of an emotionally intense

relationship that will transform you both for the better if you learn to move
with its t!

Your overall lite attitudes and philosophy will be very much affected by the
emotional and psychological changes brought about by this relationship
The effect on both of you will be as profound as could be achieved through
any kind ot therapy or psychological analysis Pluto rules psychol.
transformations and you can be sure ot profound changes wherever Pluto
is ir

nly will this relationship change you inwardly it will also h

visible ett. ktttiCi and the wav •

This is no' lifficult asp i! with but it \ eking*

ll liKhthi onship. it would n. ' t Pluto it
will be a siKnituant partnership and not hunt in tone althounh potentially
quid

il relationship the effect ><t Pluto is to Increase the emotional

in
 Planets in Composite

intensity as well as the emphasis on sex. The interest in sex will not be just
for physical reasons, but also for the profound emotional effects that go
with it. You both feel that sexual contact is an experience that affects you at
all levels of your being and enables you to transcend ordinary reality. This
attitude makes sex much more important to the two of you than it would be
to others.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Pluto

In a relationship with composite Sun opposition Pluto, the most difficult

problem will be power struggles. At times such a relationship will seem
more like a competition than a love affair, marriage, or friendship. And
there is a real danger that if this relationship breaks up it will degenerate
into open warfare.

One or both of you must learn to curb your desire to dominate the other.
Even if you justify your need to dominate as being for a good cause, still it
must be curbed. When the power of Pluto is misused, the response tends to
be violent, and no matter what you think, with this aspect the power is
likely to be misused.

It is also possible that together you may stir up opposition from other
people. The energy that this aspect brings out often makes others afraid of
what is going on between you. This possibility, however, is not so great as
the chances of conflict within the relationship.

There is a danger that through struggles for domination one of you may
emerge so much the loser that you will not easily be able to recover a sense
of pride and self-confidence. You must be quite careful about any
relationship that has this aspect in the chart. Although it may not be
impossible by any means, the dangers described above must be watched
for.

Composite Sun Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Sun and Ascendant signifies a relationship

that is likely to have a considerable impact on its surroundings. Other
people will be very much aware that something is happening between the
two of you. This is because Ascendant rules the kind of energy that the
two of you transmit to your surroundings, as well as saying much about the
relationship itself, while the Sun rules the basic energy drives of the
relationship. The consequence of this placement is that the fundamental
energy of your relationship is directed at your surroundings in some way.

114
 Sun

El
It may be that you are simply a striking pair of people who impress others
easily without making any special effort to do so. But it may also be that the
two of you are trying to make an impact on those around you for reasons of
your own. In a business relationship, for example, you might want to have
it known that you are a partnership to be reckoned with, that you are an
important team. This might also be the case in a personal relationship,
although for different reasons.

In any case, it is certain that you both will insist that others allow you to be
what you want to be as a couple. You are not likely to bow to social
pressures. In fact, you are more likely to apply pressure to others than you
are to knuckle under yourselves.

The most important point about this relationship is that it will have
considerable integrity. You will be true to yourselves, and that will
certainly help to win you the admiration of others.

Composite Sun Sextile Composite Ascendant

Composite Sun sextile Ascendant indicates that the two of you enjoy
social exchange with others. You are not a couple that likes to retire by
yourselves and avoid others. In fact, you are more likely than most to seek
out friends who become a very important part of your relationship with
each other.

nly do you like to be with friends, but also it is very important to both
i to have opportunities to talk with people and exchange ideas and
communication In a similar way, the two of you place great importar
communication between yourselves.

You will probably be good triends It this is a sexual relationship you mav
be lovers but you will be triends as well. This is very important in a
relationship between the sexes and not alwavs achieved.

I OCltain restlessness in this relationship but

i lithiult k mil It is simply that the two ot vou like to seek out new
rtuniricf tor doing things together This leads vou
: wide either literally through travel or figuratively through
pursuinn a c uriosity together « two ot vou are likeU to
have more vaf than many couplea have I he MCCCieffUl
'Ins relationship

115
 Planets in Composite

Composite Sun Square Composite Ascendant

When composite Sun is square composite Ascendant, the two of you

are not so concerned with how the energies of your relationship affect
others in your environment. You are much more concerned with your own
identity within the relationship and how it might further your own
development. You will be very concerned about the nature of your own
personal lives, or of your professional lives, if this is a professional
relationship. Or it may be that you will be concerned to find some overall
purpose in your lives through the experience of this relationship.

In most cases this is not a particularly difficult square. There is no reason

why the two of you should not concentrate on your own development
rather than worrying about how your relationship affects others. If carried
too far, however, this attitude can cause some troubles by disrupting
relationships with other people. Others may regard the two of you as being
overly concerned with yourselves, possibly too withdrawn or, at the other
extreme, too concerned with dominating others.

Fortunately, because the two of you are not very concerned about the
impression you make as a couple, it should be easier to deal with the
pressures that you may inadvertently arouse in others. You should try not
to stir up so much trouble with others that you find it difficult to get along
with them. But this is not likely to happen unless you both go to extremes to
outrage others, which is not a normal consequence of this aspect.

Composite Sun Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Sun and Ascendant is a very easy

combination in the composite chart. It indicates that you find it easy to
express yourselves to each other and to others. The two of you radiate good
energies, and other people like being in your company because you enjoy
being with them. This is not likely to be a withdrawn relationship that takes
place largely in secret.

At the same time, the trine means that the two of you find it easy to be
yourselves with each other. This is not a relationship in which you have to
pretend to be something other than what you are in order to get along with
each other. As a consequence, this is a good aspect to have in the chart of a
love relationship or close friendship.

The trine also means that this relationship will have a strong effect on your
consciousness. You will have new experiences together that you might not

116
 Sun

El
have had otherwise, and you may even travel a lot more than you did
before you came together. Since your philosophies of life are compatible,
you will not find it necessary to argue about the different ways in which you
see things.

In general, this aspect will help a relationship to survive, because it allows

the two of you to be at ease with yourselves and others.

Composite Sun Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Sun and Ascendant is similar to a

seventh-house composite Sun. It means that the two of you place great
stress upon being together as a team and facing the world as a couple.
Instead of thinking of this aspect as an opposition of Sun and Ascendant,
think of it as a conjunction of Sun and Descendant. In most cases, this is an
excellent placement for an intimate relationship such as marriage or one in
which the two of you must operate as a unit, as in a business partnership. It
is also favorable to any relationship that involves giving and receiving
advice, such as a lawyer-client, psychologist-patient, or astrologer-client
relationship.

Others will look at the two of you as a team or partnership, even to the
point that they would find it strange for you to be apart.

Sometimes the energies of this particular combination can go outside the

relationship and produce conflict between yourselves and others. Sun
opposition Ascendant can be a sign of open conflict as well as intimate
togetherness, although the conflict is not so likely to be between yourselves.
It is necessary to examine other aspects of your relationship it the overall
potential for conflict is high, this aspect is likely to produce conflict rather
than togetherr-

11?
 Chapter Six

Moon
 Moon

The Meaning of the Moon in the Composite Chart

The Moon, the natural complement to the Sun. represents the medium
through which the Sun's energy expresses itself. Whenever there is a
manifestation of the Sun's energies, the Moon's influence is also operative.

The Moon is the "planet" that most relates to emotions and feelings. Of
course, it is not really a planet but a satellite of the Earth. Nevertheless, it
operates as a planet in the horoscope.

In a composite chart, the Moon indicates how well the relationship acts as a
medium of emotional expression for the two of you. Can you be honest and
open with each other about your feelings? Can one of you reveal his or her
feelings without being rejected by the other? It is often difficult for others to

deal with the lunar aspects of one's being, because the level of intent
feeling is so basic that they do not fit into the formalized way that people
usually relate to each other. Yet in a close relationship it is very important
to be able to deal with each other on this level. For this reason alone the
n dt the Moon is very important for describing compatabihty

The Moon also rt-pr. i structures within >>nality: habits

unconst iously motivated behavior, and their sources— one ;*ins
family, and home life If the Moon is well placed in the composite chart, the
U will feel that you have something in common Even it
oriRins are qu:' u will feel that because of your « •
.in understand each other better than most couples A bacilv ;
howevt .■ of alienator . different from
ther, that will make it difficult tor you to net alon*

The house position of the Moon in the com;

which yoi u have the most in common If the
is badly placed in I on will ll

121
 Planets in Composite

The aspects to the Moon show the quality of the emotions that are
experienced in the relationship.

In contrast to the Sun, which shows what the relationship does, the Moon
indicates the subjective feelings of harmony and empathy that you have for
each other, even in difficult times.

Composite Moon in the First House

Composite Moon in the first house makes clear that in this relationship
your feelings and emotions are very prominently involved. It is not a cool
or distant relationship in which the two of you treat each other as distant
objects. You will be in there with all your feelings working.

Obviously, this placement is favorable to any relationship in which you

want to relate on a close, intimate level. However, it can create some
problems that must be dealt with if you want to derive the greatest benefits
from this configuration.

As the planet of emotions, the Moon emphasizes the subjective side of any
matter. A prominently placed Moon can, at its best, indicate a very
sensitive relationship in which the two of you know intuitively what is
going on inside each other. You have a deep emotional understanding of
how you get along. But the Moon can also create such a strong
emotionalism that you are unable to stand back and look at yourselves
clearly in terms of your relationship. In other words, your subjectivity
overwhelms your ability to see each other objectively. Be careful to avoid
such extreme emotional involvement.

The Moon also rules the past and the contribution each of you makes from
your individual experience, so these factors will be very important to you.
A first-house Moon is usually a strong indication of an important personal
relationship. It should give the two of you a strong sense of emotional
compatibility. You will feel that you belong together and that you have
much in common, which will indeed be true.

Composite Moon in the Second House

Composite Moon in the second house indicates that this relationship will
bring out the needs you both have for emotional and material security. In
fact, you may have come together because of those needs.

You will have a strong sense of shared values, which will help to reinforce

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 Moon

m
you as a couple against the undependable and changeable outside world.
Because of this shared feeling, your relationship will grow strong even
when there are considerable difficulties between you. You will be reluctant
to give up the emotional security granted by the Moon in this position, even
when things get tense. But the need for security could keep you together
even when that is not the best solution for either of you.

One minor problem that this placement can bring about is that your need
for emotional security can lead to a compulsive gathering of physical
objects. You may try to satisfy your need for emotional security through
owning things together. In this case your relationship will come to be
symbolized by great quantities of material possessions. Beyond a certain
point, possessions can become a millstone around your neck that limits
your freedom of movement. Particularly if this is a marital relationship,
you might be trapped into staying together because of what you own rather
than because the relationship is working well. Like everything else,
possessions must be kept in their place.

Nevertheless, the security that this relationship can offer should be one of
its strongest points and should help keep you together when the going gets
tough.

Composite Moon in the Third House

Moon in the third house implies that this relationship is based largely
on feelings The third is the house of the mind in its day-to-day
functioning, and in a relationship it indicates the normal attitudes and
opinions that you share. When you are together, you think about
yourselves more subjectively and are more influenced by your emotions
You communicate with each other primarily through feelings rather than
through intellect, so communication between you is likely to be mostly
nonverbal.

Because you have a strong sense ot shared opinions and viewpoints vmi
may not really need to communicate so much on an intellectual
level But at the same time, because communication within the relationship
is k> subjective and emotional, it may be difficult to discuss things
rationally II ■ ' vely when you ha.'

You may talk quite a bit about your collective feelings whu h obviously is
nal relationship if you keep your sense of ;
■ '>t let this ten<!' Derate into making mountains
molehill*

123
 Planets in Composite

In a marriage or love relationship you are likely to be involved to an

unusual extent with relatives, who may in some way contribute to the
emotional stability of the partnership.

Composite Moon in the Fourth House

The fourth house is in some ways the most natural position for
composite Moon, for there is a strong analogy between this house and
Cancer, the Moon's sign.
With this placement it is extremely important that the two of you share a
common background or experience, for it is likely to be a strong force
binding you together. You may feel that you are alone together in a crazy
world, protected only by your shared attitudes and origins. However, it is
not so important that your backgrounds be truly similar as that they have
given you similar basic attitudes to the world.

Even more than in a relationship with a second-house Moon, you are

together to give each other emotional security. And here again your
security is very likely to take the form of sharing real estate or a house. This
is an excellent position for marriage partners or roommates because of the
strong sense of sharing it can induce.

However, it is necessary to warn you that your desire for emotional security
and the related tendency to seek material security should not become the
sole factors binding you together. Also your need for a secure relationship
must not lead you to repress the legitimate gripes you may have with each
other. Let your partner know how you feel; your relationship is probably
strong enough to stand the strain.

A fourth-house Moon is most favorable in a relationship in which you set

up housekeeping together. For this reason it is a good position in the chart
of a marriage.

Composite Moon in the Fifth House

Composite Moon in the fifth house suggests that your relationship exists
because it makes you both feel good, especially emotionally. Traditionally,
the fifth is the house of amusement, love, and children. One could also call
this the position of recreational relationships, in which self-expression is a
principal aim. Obviously this is a good house position for any kind of
personal relationship, especially a love affair. You will enjoy each other's
company immensely, and together you will seek out parties, the theater,

124
 Moon

m
nightclubs, and all kinds of good times. These experiences will be important
in your feeling of what you share with each other.

The major deficiency of this position is that you may find it difficult to settle
down to anything serious. This can be especially difficult in a marriage or

long-term love relationship, for you can't always have fun and games; at
some point you have to work at the serious business of building a
relationship together.

If this is a marriage, children are likely to assume an important role in your

life together. With this position of the Moon, you will probably want to
have children, and you will have them.

For pleasantness in a relationship, this is one of the better Moon

placements. It ensures that you will be able to express yourselves
emotionally with each other easily and fully.

Composite Moon in the Sixth House

The sixth house is a rather somber and serious placement for composite
Moon. It suggests that you have a sense of having come together for a
specific and necessary task or purpose that may not be completely pleasant.
One of you may feel subordinated to the other in some way. Therefore, this
is a difficult placement for any relationship that requires you to give and
take equally, as most relationships do. One person may feel like a doormat
for the other; he or she is likely to get tired of that position and revolt
against the other.

The only way to make this position work is for the two of you to exchange
services equally, thus preventing it from becoming a one-way affair This
may be more difficult than it sounds 1: -u is determined to
martyr, especially since a martyr usually demands some kind of repayment
that is very difficult tor the other to make.

A related danger is that it one of you is giving more to the relationship

emotionally than the other, you could become quite resentful about it

Whatever the c i -oth must strive to be more nearly equal in giving

and receiving • this relationship will become quite unpleasant.

( nmpoMtr Moon in the Seventh HOON

n in the seventh \ I indication that in this

 Planets in Composite

relationship shared feelings will be very important. The seventh is the house
of intimate one-to-one encounters, both positive ones such as partnerships
and marriage, and negative ones such as open enmities. However you
encounter each other, it will be with feeling.

In general, the seventh-house Moon favors any intimate relationship,

especially marriage or other love relationship in which sharing emotions is
important. You will have a strong feeling that you belong together as a unit,
and your emotional attitudes toward the outside world will be similar. The
symbolism of this position is that you feel as if you were one person.

Somewhat like the first-house composite Moon, which is the polar

counterpart of the seventh-house Moon, there is the danger that in times of
emotional stress you will not be able to keep your relationship in
perspective. You are likely to become too involved in your personal feelings
and not be able to see what is really going on between you. Try to stay
somewhat detached from difficult situations so that you can deal with them
objectively and not get completely carried away. If you can do that, this
should be a very good emotional relationship for both of you.

Composite Moon in the Eighth House

Composite Moon in the eighth house indicates that your relationship is

very introspective. You will spend much time examining what you are as a
couple and trying to arrive at a complete psychological understanding of it.
Obviously, this is a good attribute in any relationship, if it is not carried too
far. Just make sure that you do not become lost in the emotional intricacies
of your relationship.

This is a position of transformation, which means that your relationship

will undergo extensive changes, partly because of what you will learn about
yourselves, partly because of the pressure of your emotions. Sometimes you
both will feel that the relationship serves much the same purpose as seeing a
psychiatrist or counselor; that is, it gives you new understandings about
yourselves.

In addition, this placement of the Moon in the composite chart makes you
very concerned with values. If you do not start out with a common set of
values, it will be very important that you develop one. Your shared values
may be purely on a psychological level, or they might exist more on the
material plane as a great concern for possessions and property.

The greatest strength of this Moon placement is the contribution it can

126
 Moon

make to your self-understanding. Its greatest difficulty is the tendency to

emphasize the heavy, moody aspects of your relationship and to dwell
excessively on serious matters. Try not to fall into a slough of despond" or
become too introspective. Explore the new and constantly changing features
of your life together, and welcome such changes instead of fearing them.

Composite Moon in the Ninth House

With composite Moon in the ninth house, there is a strong feeling

between you that you share basic attitudes about the world and
philosophies of life. Consequently you like to discuss your ideas and
opinions with each other. You feel that being together greatly expands your
awareness. Even if your backgrounds are quite different, communication
between you will not be difficult. You will see differences of that sort simply
as an enjoyable challenge to your understanding of each other. It is possible
that you may travel long distances together, or that you met in a place
foreign to both of you, or that you are from different countries.

At its best, this is a good position for learning and growth within a
relationship. You will continually teach each other, and even if the
relationship does not last, you both will feel that you have benefited from
it.

While this position is good for any type of relationship, it is strongest in

situations that emphasize communication and exchange of ideas. It is
ally good for people working together on some project writing
her. or negotiating in any way.

In a personal relationship, this placement by itself works more to pr

friendship than love, but even in a love relationship there will be a strong
intellectual affinity between you

( omposite Moon in thr I rnth HOUM

n in the tenth house indicates that you will sh.ire .1 concern

■ id in life You both wani I you
feel that together you un do it better th.in you could M
n in this house is traditional! J th making
rable impact on the pub! u public image is hkelv r
I this position (an be exploited
nship than In il one although it is
quilr go<nl in c
 Planets in Composite

However, in a personal relationship, one factor must be kept in mind. The

tenth house is an external house; that is, it deals with matters that are
normally part of the external world. Having an important element of the
chart in the tenth house indicates that you tend to see things too much in
terms of externals. The Moon, representing the feelings and emotions, is
particularly damaged by this tendency, because the feeling aspect of a
relationship should be an internal concern. It should be between the two of
you rather than outside.

There is a danger that you will look to factors in the outside world — your
life situation, your jobs, property, or whatever — to explain problems that
arise between you. You may look out when you should look in. Or you
may concentrate on externals and superficial matters to the exclusion of
internal matters. This is not an inevitable result of this placement, but it is a
danger that must be recognized and dealt with.

In general, the tenth house is a good position for the composite Moon
because it is an angular house, which gives the Moon strength and
importance. It also gives the relationship a dynamic, active quality that can
prevent stagnation.

Composite Moon in the Eleventh House

Composite Moon in the eleventh house indicates an underlying emotional

sympathy between you that is good for both love and friendship.
You have a strong feeling of shared goals and objectives in life, which will
contribute to your ability to get along with each other. You will
spontaneously think of yourselves as a unit rather than as two separate
individuals, which obviously is a plus for any relationship.

Since the eleventh house is the house of friends, this position is a good
indication that the two of you will have friends outside of the relationship.
You will be fond of company and enjoy sharing good times with others. Not
only will you have friends in the literal sense, but many factors in your lives
together will support your relationship in a friendly way without any
special effort on your part.

In general this is one of the better positions for a personal relationship and
should enable you to share both love and friendship.

Composite Moon in the Twelfth House

Composite Moon in the twelfth house is a demanding position in that it

128
 Moon

requires the two of you to do a great deal of work that most couples are
unwilling to do. Any relationship is helped by such work, but with this
position it is absolutely necessary that you do it.

If left alone, the two of you would be very likely to keep your feelings
hidden not only from each other but also from yourselves. When you do
this, the feelings become the source of actions and behavior that neither of
you understand but that are very detrimental to your relationship. At the
same time, you will tend to shy away from other people or at least to keep
your feelings hidden from others, perhaps because you fear that if they get
too close they will discover your secrets.

With this house position of the Moon, the greatest danger is emotional
dishonesty at the very least and sometimes open and outright dishonesty.
Very often this happens because you don't really know what is going on
inside your relationship. There may be repressed fears that you do not
know how to face or that you can't face directly.
The need here is for both of you to plunge into the relationship, find out the
truth of what is going on, and face it squarely and honestly. Do not shrink
from what you find, because the consequences of not being honest with
yourself and each other are far worse than anything you may be hiding.

If you don't seek out the truth, your relationship will make you lesser
people than you really are and will give you the feeling that you have been
defeated in life by forces you don't understand. And when the repressed
feelings finally do emerge, they will explode destructively and perhaps
violently. If. however, these feelings gradually emerge from an honest
search for understanding, the wisdom you gain will make you much
than people who haven't had to face such a challenge.

( omposite Moon Conjunct Composite Mercury

The conjunction of composite Moon and Mercury can contribute manv

strong Jnd useful features to a relationship Very simply it means that the
. can talk about your feelings instead ot keeping them bottled up
inside Th- j will be able to sit down and hash out a problem in a
reasonable way whenever things get rough > n not
guarantee that you will be able to deal with everything in I totally rational
way. That ability depends n the kinds of habits sou have
developed together Moon <on|un<t Mercury may
lind- depending on whether the lunar t« r the mer
: iminates
 Planets in Composite

If the lunar tendency triumphs, you will be able to discuss your emotional
situations, but you will be very emotionally involved and subjective. On
the other hand, you will really live and feel your emotions, so that
something real is communicated between you, even if it is not too clear.

If the mercurial tendency dominates, you will be more detached and

rational but also less involved. You will intellectualize your feelings instead
of living them and working them out. Consequently your communication,
even if easier, will be less meaningful.

Obviously the best tactic with this aspect is to create some kind of balance
between these two extremes. If you can achieve a balance, you will have the
best of both worlds. This position does provide that potential, which makes
it a good aspect in a composite chart.

In any case, avoid going to the other extreme — spending all your time
examining your emotions together. That can have a very distorting effect
on your perspective.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Mercury

The sextile of composite Moon and Mercury means that you can discuss
your feelings openly and easily with each other. However, with this aspect
there is less risk of being extremely subjective about yourselves and
excessively introspective.

This aspect indicates that you will be able to communicate both

intellectually and emotionally. It creates an emotional and intellectual
compatibility that enables you to combine your feelings and your ideas so
that you communicate with your whole being. Through this ability you will
come to know and understand each other and become friends with much in
common. This relationship will give you both an opportunity to grow
intellectually as individuals.

When emotional difficulties arise between you, your ability to talk to each
other will allow you to work out your problems better than most couples.
Using and defining words in different ways is one of the worst barriers there
can be between people, but for you it will not be a problem.

Regardless of your objectives, if you take advantage of this characteristic,

you should be able to build your relationship into something fine and
meaningful for both of you.

130
 Moon

m
Composite Moon Square Composite Mercury

The square of composite Moon and Mercury raises certain problems for
your relationship. It indicates that the emotional bonds between you are
somehow working at cross purposes to your intellect. Normally this
means that for each of you the intellectual and relatively detached part
of your understanding is overwhelmed by the emotional and subjective
part. The result is that when you try to talk about a problem it becomes an
emotional contest instead of a discussion. You must try to become more
objective about yourselves and each other when you talk things over.

On the other hand, it must be said that you don't keep things secret. You do
express your emotions openly, which is an advantage even in a difficult
relationship, for you know what is going on between you. And your
emotional communication is not limited to arguments and disagreements;
you communicate your good feelings for each other also. But again the
problem is that the communication may not be too clear on a rational level.
You will have to develop understandings in nonintellectual terms in order to
solve your problems. If you do this and also try to attain a higher level of
detachment in your relationship, you should be able to overcome the
problems that this aspect can bring about. It is not one of the most diffic ult
squares, for it can signify great depth of emotional understanding between
you.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Mercury

The trine of Mercury and Moon in a composite chart indicates that there
is xreat potential tor intellectual and emotional growth through this
relationship It means that you can communicate in a positive way about
your feelings and opinions and that your basic philosophies ot !:'•
compatible, which reinforces your emotional compatibility

When a situation arises that requires the two of you to sit down and dist uss
your problems, you can do so easily and with the proper blend of
1 ivity and involvement You understand that it can he dangerous to
-trllectualize emotional matters, and you are able to communicate
through your feelings as well as about them.

A» a i u *rr open to new ideas and experiences and consequently

rn|oy rxplormn ditfrrrnt arras of your lives together At the same tin |
are r and completely I here will !■■
onununk abort is c onctrmd

131
 Planets in Composite

With any effort at all, you should be able to exploit the potentials offered by
this aspect and to grow tremendously through this relationship.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Mercury

With composite Moon opposition Mercury, the challenge for your

relationship is to learn to balance rational communication with
communication of feelings. If the relationship is allowed to follow its
natural tendencies, you will probably find it difficult to bring the two kinds
of communication together. It will not be easy to discuss matters in which
you are emotionally involved with any degree of detachment and
objectivity. When you do talk rationally, it will tend to be about matters
that aren't really important to either of you, so nothing is actually being
communicated.

On the plus side, however, you probably won't hold back on discussing
matters that you feel must be talked about. But the problem will be in how
these matters come out into the open. Usually such a discussion will be a
very emotional experience with a good deal of sound and fury and not
much true communication. You must learn to make the discussion useful
for understanding as well as for letting off steam. In fact, you will have an
overall problem in objectively understanding the fundamental truth of this
relationship. It is not that your understanding is false, but that it is
formulated in such personal terms that no one else, including your partner,
can share it.

Nevertheless, it is possible to bring about a balance, so that real feelings can

be communicated clearly and objectively. But you both will have to learn to
look at things in a new and different way by standing outside of your
involvement and seeing your partner's position.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Venus

The conjunction of composite Moon and Venus is a most positive aspect for
any personal relationship, especially for a love affair or marriage. It
indicates a strong feeling of love between you that you will express openly.
The relationship may even have something of a dreamy quality, as if it were
too beautiful to be true. But the nature of this aspect is such that this
relationship should be as good as it looks. Other aspects can give a
relationship a feeling of beauty that is actually an illusion, but this aspect
should make the feeling quite satisfactorily real.

This quality of beauty may be envied by other people. It may seem to them

132
 Moon

that there are no rough edges in your relationship, although that will not be
entirely true, of course. But the basic inner strength of this relationship
should be great enough to overcome all but the worst problems.

If this is a marriage, you may have a strong desire for children, because this
aspect reinforces your parental instincts. It also indicates that you probably
will have children, although that is not a basic concern of this aspect.

Beauty and art are also promoted by this aspect. People who work together
in the arts often have this aspect in their composite charts.

In general, this is one of the most positive and useful aspects that a
composite chart can have for a successful personal relationship.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Venus

The sextile of Moon and Venus in a composite chart indicates warm

and positive emotions between you. It is a good aspect for friendship and
love in any kind of personal relationship. Furthermore, it indicates that you
communicate your affections to each other easily and that you are
emotionally compatible in general.

The effects of this aspect are very quiet and easy. It will not produce a
sudden mad, passionate attraction between the two of you, but rather a
relaxed feeling ot affection. This kind of energy is better for a long-term
relationship than for a short-term, possibly stormy affair.

In a love relationship with this aspect, you will find that you are friends and
lovers simultaneously. Friends with this aspect will have an affection tor
each other that is deeper than is usual in a friendship.

In a marriage the textile "I Moon and Venus indicates that you want
children and probably will have them. The Moon and Venus Configured in
an easy angle such as the sextile si^nitv fertility and motherhood It is the
sign of the earth mother I eve- is strongly linked to parenthood with this
asp«

On the whole, this is one ot the most benehc t.il aspei ts in I i omposite i hart
althounh its effc her quiet

posit. MOOT Square ( omposite \ tMH

BipOtitC Moon arul Venus i.innol

 Planets in Composite

really be called a difficult aspect. It presents some problems, to be sure, but

on the whole it is a rather benevolent aspect in a composite chart. Its major
effect is to give an air of compulsion when this relationship is beginning;
that is, you both have an urgent feeling that you should get together. This
aspect creates a strong and lasting attraction between you, and like all
Moon-Venus aspects, it acts as a buffer against bad times within a
relationship.

The only real difficulty here is that even if you are not really suited to each
other, you may be drawn together almost as if by a fatal force. This force of
attraction is undiscriminating but strong enough to bind you together in
what might otherwise be a very unstable, short-term affair. By itself this
aspect will not tell you whether a relationship will be a good one; it only
designates the presence of this powerful attraction. Therefore you must
evaluate your relationship carefully. But if you are getting along well with
each other, the feelings of love between you will be greater than average,
and your relationship should endure.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Venus

The trine of composite Moon and Venus is an excellent indication of a

relationship based on love and affection. By itself, this aspect suggests that
you are very compatible emotionally and that your relationship will have a
positive effect on both of you. Not only will it be pleasant but it will also
help each of you in your personal growth.

This is an excellent aspect for any relationship based on feeling, and for a
love affair it is superb. But that does not necessarily imply a short-term
affair, for it can also mean a long-lasting relationship. This aspect simply
creates a strong and intense feeling of love between the two of you. Needless
to say, it is also an excellent aspect in the composite chart of married
people, indicating that the marriage will start out and continue as a love
relationship.

In a marriage, this aspect may create a strong desire for children, because
the love generated here includes a strong need to protect and nurture.
Children satisfy a need created by a strong Venus-Moon combination,
which represents biological fertility.

On a very different level, this aspect can indicate that the relationship will
be materially prosperous, particularly if it involves investments and
speculation.

134
 Moon

This aspect is most desirable in the composite chart of any kind of

relationship, but particularly in a love partnership.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Venus

By and large, the opposition of composite Moon and Venus is a good aspect
in the chart of any relationship, especially a love relationship. But it has
some peculiar properties that should be noted.

First of all, it indicates a certain instability. Although your relationship may

be a long-term one, it will have considerable ups and downs of feeling.
However, these should not destroy it.

Second, this aspect can bring the two of you together even though you are
really quite different and would not usually get together. Your differences
actually make you complements of each other, but that will not be apparent
at first. Once you come together, you will discover your complementarity,
which will bind you together. The instability mentioned above comes from
learning to relate your differences to each other.

This aspect creates a strong magnetism, which is why it can bring together
two people who appear so different. This magnetism will help to hold the
two of you together even when the going gets rough, but at the same time it
has created some of the roughness, because of your differences.

On the whole, this aspect in a composite chart should prove to be a

lerable a^

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Mars

The conjunction ot composite Moon and Mars has a double-ed^ed <

On the one hand, it indicates that you arouse very strong fectingl i;
other, but by itself it does not indicate whether thi d or kid
feeling

In a love relationship tor example, this asrn-ct indicates that von will have *
very strong emotional involvement. The relationship will probably stir up
both positive and negative emotions in both ot you ^i nu will have vigorous
dtagrrements and rvrn tights but your reconciliations will k- equally
intense

My its«-lt this as; I whether this relationship in other

way* ll : nship is basically y ••% 1 11 sim|

IJ5
 Planets in Composite

heightened emotional involvement, although with a greater tendency to

quarrel. But if your relationship is not otherwise very sound, it will be
destroyed by the fighting that this aspect produces. In any case the two of
you will have some heated moments, which simply have to be taken in
stride along with all that is good in the relationship.

One of the strong points of this aspect is that in a sexual relationship it

creates a good deal of sexual energy. This can make sexuality a strong bond
between you. Although you will probably have many fights, even these are
a reflection of the underlying sexual energy.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Mars

The sextile of composite Moon and Mars indicates that your

relationship is based on feelings. There is a great deal of emotional energy
here that makes it difficult for you to ignore what the other person does or
says. Fortunately, however, the energy is not especially negative. In fact, in
a sexual relationship this aspect is a positive indication for success, because
Mars rules certain portions of the energy complex that makes up sexual
energy. The Moon, of course, rules the feelings. The result is that this aspect
arouses the energies needed for a positive sexual relationship.

Except for sexual contact, this combination of Mars and the Moon is not
especially physical in its expression. But physical activity provides a good
outlet for the energies it generates. Consequently you should not sit around
together but should try to be active in all possible ways. If there is work to
be done, the energy of this aspect can help. This is not a particularly good
aspect for mental work, however, because the subjective nature of the
Moon makes it difficult to understand ideas with logic and detachment.
Also, the energy of Mars is too vigorous for the quiet reflection needed for
most kinds of mental work.

This is a good aspect for a relationship based on feeling, but not so good for
one that requires much mental activity or communication of clear, ordered,
and objectively presented facts.

Composite Moon Square Composite Mars

The square of composite Moon and Mars is a somewhat difficult aspect for
a relationship. The Moon rules the basic feelings and emotions present in
the relationship, while Mars indicates its vital energies. More precisely,
Mars is the energy one uses to assert one's individuality. The result of the
square is likely to be emotional conflicts between you and a sense that your

136
 Moon

individuality is constantly being challenged by your partner. Fights,

disputes, and general disagreement are the probable result, unless you make
a great effort to overcome this problem.

Whenever the two of you have a disagreement or communication problem,

El
your immediate response is to get hot under the collar. But this tendency
must be curbed, because once that happens, all your ability to objectively
analyze and solve the problem goes out the window. You lose any chance of
understanding the other person's position; a fight ensues; and the
relationship is driven further apart. Only by maintaining some degree of
calm, difficult as that may be, can you arrive at a creative resolution of the
problem. Anger and extreme subjectivity go hand in hand in your
relationship.

If you really want to solve your problems, avoid getting angry with each
other. Obviously there are times when an honest expression of anger is
useful and constructive, and you should not always repress it. But try not to
overdo your honest expressions of anger; chances are, with this aspect, you
both fly off the handle too readily. Keep cool and save your anger for times
when it is really justified. Otherwise the relationship will not survive or be
productive.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Mars

The trine of composite Moon and Mars is a sign that the two of you have a
great emotional involvement in this relationship. You each evoke such strong
feelings in your partner that you can't ignore each other. For the most part,
these feelings will be positive, but it is important that your relationship have
ample outlet for emotional self-expression. This would not be a very good
• for j professional relationship that required mutual feelin.
detachment The combination of the Moon and Mars, even in a trine.
implies that the feelings evoked are strong enough to make the relationship
extremely subjective and personal.

This .1 most positively in a love relationship where it i .in make .in

otherwise quiet and subdued aft.ur into something muc h more emotionally
md involving Also, in a sexual relationship the energy ot the Moon
combinrd with Mars helps to stimulate physical sexuality

point must be kept in mind, r irul that is that neither ot you

must hrr There m ot emotional
Monhrtv... It held in too long | 'is trine would
mr out in jn • .vay.
 Planets in Composite

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Mars

The opposition of Moon and Mars can be a very explosive aspect in a

composite chart. It is an indication of anger and hostility breaking out,
which can transform any kind of relationship into open warfare. The
question is, do you want to be friends and/or lovers? Or do you want to be
competitors and/or enemies? If the energies of this aspect are given free
rein, you are more likely to be the latter.

One certainty is that you will never have to worry about repressing your
feelings when you ought to express them. The problem is to make the
expression creative, so that it can help the two of you grow, instead of just
being a destructive outburst.

When difficulties arise, try to keep calm for a little while and make some
kind of rational sense out of what is happening. Only in this way can you
keep a tight rein on the energies of this aspect. You will have one thing
going for you, at least; when people with this combination do blow up, it's
all over with quickly, because all the negative energy is expended. But
because the energies arise so often, quite a bit of damage occurs anyway.
You should ask yourselves whether the two of you are really compatible
enough to make a go of this relationship. The answer may be either yes or
no, but you should ask the question.

Some people have a great deal of difficulty expressing anger or hostility in

any form, even if the relationship tends to trigger it. If you are one of these
people, you must learn to express your feelings.

If you do succeed in repressing the energies of this configuration, which is

quite difficult, the results will be most destructive. Expressing your real
feelings honestly is essential with this aspect. Simply try to keep it under
control.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Jupiter

The conjunction of Moon and Jupiter in a composite chart is a very

favorable indication for any kind of personal relationship. Its symbolism
can be described in general as good feelings; that is, the two of you feel good
together. You feel warm toward each other, and you can express your
feelings easily and with enthusiasm. If one of you is sad or depressed, the
other person will cheer you up.

At the same time, you respect each other's emotions. You feel quite

138
 Moon

a
protective of your partner and try to keep him or her from being
emotionally hurt by others. It may even get to the point of mothering each
other; however, this will be experienced as supportive rather than
oppressive. In fact, the effects of this aspect are quite far removed from the
kind of mothering that may be better described as smothering, for you have
a great deal of respect for each other's freedom and individual rights.
When disputes do arise, you will try to deal with them in a very
high-minded manner, not allowing yourselves to be petty or small. You will
discuss the issues openly and try to resolve them in a way that is fair to both
of you.

A Moon-Jupiter conjunction in a composite horoscope is often an indication

that the two of you will be quite prosperous in a material way if you have
the kind of relationship in which you own possessions in common.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Jupiter

The sextile of composite Moon and Jupiter indicates that your relationship
has excellent potential for happiness and good feelings. There will be
considerable emotional exchange between you, most of it positive.

In a sexual relationship, this aspect signifies emotional interaction rather

than love. In any other type of relationship it indicates feelin.
contentment and happiness with each other.

You feel that you are supportive of each other and that you share similar
hopes for the future. And you find it easy to believe that your goals will be
fulfilled, because the Moon-Jupiter sextile is one that generates optimism. In
turn, your attitude of optimism makes it easier to attain your objectives
Others may regard you as lucky, but your luck actually results trom
:ve thinking

The expansive effect of lupiter upon the Moon means that both of you will
grow emotionally and personally in this relationship. In a business or
• tonal partnership this aspect indicates successful dealings with the
public and possible financial ther a personal or a professional
relationship with tf .sill probably have a good ima^e in other

;'.,Mt. Moon Square ( ompotiN lupiter

This •> and lupiter is one of tf. hat is

 Planets in Composite

not especially difficult to deal with. Like all combinations of Jupiter and the
Moon, it indicates basically good feelings between you. Your relationship
will have a quality of exuberance that will make others glad to be with you.
Also, you will be tolerant of each other's faults. In fact, the only real
difficulty this aspect might raise is that you may be too uncritical of each
other. The result might be that your personal growth would be lessened, but
it is unlikely that such an attitude would break up the relationship.

You will enjoy each other's company and may be quite fond of going out
together socially and having a good time. This is an expression of the
emotional exuberance of this square, which is an active aspect that requires
some form of activity to make it work out well. Therefore, take every
opportunity to do things together, so you can enjoy the energies of this
aspect to the fullest.

There is one other effect of this aspect that should be noted. If as individuals
you tend to overdo in some way, that tendency is likely to be reinforced by
the relationship. As a couple you probably won't deny yourselves anything
you want.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Jupiter

The trine of composite Moon and Jupiter will have a good effect upon your
relationship in several areas. First of all, it denotes that the two of you have
a generally good feeling for each other. You feel happy together and enjoy
each other's company. When you are depressed or low, being together will
make you both feel better.

Second, this aspect will help to create a warm sympathy and deep
emotional understanding between you, which will help you through any
problems you may have to face.

Third, this relationship is likely to have a spiritually and morally uplifting

effect upon you; it will make the world look better and will actually help
you both understand what the world is all about, in a spirit not of
resignation but of positive optimism.

In a marriage, this aspect instills a desire for children and makes it more
likely that you will have them.

Because of the feelings of optimism and happiness that you have with each
other, you will always feel that you benefit from being together.

140
 Moon

a
Composite Moon Opposition Composite Jupiter

The opposition of composite Moon and Jupiter is relatively easy to

handle. It may bring the two of you together even though you are quite
different, but it also provides the energy for you to adjust to each other.
Any Moon-Jupiter aspect indicates that you will be able to tolerate the
differences that exist between you.

An opposition is an active aspect, which means that the two of you will
have to be active together. Neither of you will be very fond of sitting
around waiting for something to happen. You will want to go out and look
for things to do. Probably you will be fond of going out together and
socializing. Jupiter is gregarious and likes company.

Other people are likely to see you as a very outgoing and happy couple.
You are also very generous to others, although you may be a bit
overextravagant.

Sometimes with this aspect there is a compulsion to be "happy-go-lucky" all

the time. You like to do exciting things and are fond of rather boisterous
activities. You may be reluctant to settle down and deal with serious
concerns that you should be facing together. As a consequence, you may let
important matters slide. This is perhaps the most serious negative tendency
of this aspect and the one you should watch out for most. By and large,
however, this is not an especially difficult opposition.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Saturn

The conjunction of composite Moon and Saturn produOCi two different

kinds of effects, both of which are somewhat difficult to deal with in a
>nal relationship

On the one- hand, it can create an emotional barrier between vou so that
you have trouble communicating with eai h other on a feeling level
Without the .nd ot that largely nonverbal and sublet ti\e dialogue that
n.il relationship, the two ot vou will have to spell out the
emotion*] 'hat should be understood intuitiveh .entlv
you will spend 'imc tryinK to express in words what should
;s without them

•.ill do • lol th of the relationship and ol c.u h other

WOrtl than t! I
of this tendency. b« viable relationship

141
 Planets in Composite

impossible. At best, analyzing your relationship can help you understand

what you have together, but it cannot completely replace intuitive
communication.

On the other hand, this aspect may cause the two of you to subordinate
emotional considerations to supposed necessities, duties, or responsibilities,
denying yourselves the joy and pleasure of open and relaxed
self-expression. Try to relax together and not be so serious about things.

At its worst, this configuration can bring about such a sense of emotional
alienation between you that the relationship will never get off the ground.
Even though purely verbal or intellectual analysis cannot totally substitute
for the subtler kinds of communication that this aspect prevents, such
analysis is the best course to take in trying to get along with each other.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Saturn

The sextile of composite Moon and Saturn suggests that you both are
very serious about your relationship, which you have probably entered for
practical as well as emotional reasons. As a result, you handle the
relationship very carefully and probably develop it rather slowly. Because
of your care and caution, the partnership you build will probably outlast
many others.

You are very sober in the way you deal with each other, which may
justifiably give others the impression that you are too serious and do not
look at life with enough humor. It isn't necessary to be so careful; you can
afford to take a lighter view of things. In fact, you can take liberties that
others cannot take because you have prepared yourselves so thoroughly
and carefully.

This aspect gives a relationship an emotional stability that is truly to be

envied. It is not likely to be an especially flamboyant or demonstrative
affair, and other people may think you are somewhat cool to each other.
That does not mean there is no real affection between you, but that as a
couple you have a different way of showing it. Go on doing things your
own way, and pay no attention to what others think.

Composite Moon Square Composite Saturn

The square of Moon and Saturn in a composite chart is an indication

that there is a lack of emotional affinity between the two of you. You may
be able to work together as business associates on various projects and even

142
 Moon

be quite friendly. But you are not likely to have the in-depth understanding
needed for a deep personal friendship or love relationship. This aspect is
least detrimental in a relationship that requires no great emotional
communication.

In a close personal association, this aspect is likely to produce a sense of

emotional alienation, as if you cannot quite get into each other. The close
warmth and togetherness that is basic to such a relationship is just not there.

An emotional relationship may survive for a long time in spite of this

aspect, but it will not be completely satisfying, and you may feel lonely
with each other. When you are together you will seem rather serious and
somber, causing other people to wonder exactly what you do for each
other. Introspection and deep examination of your relationship can
compensate to some extent, but intellectual understanding is not an
adequate substitute for what should be an unspoken emotional
understanding. In addition, the depressive effects of the Moon-Saturn
square may cause you to overemphasize the difficulties you actually face.

If you both feel that you need the relationship for personal growth, by all
means pursue it. But you should modify your expectations for deep
satisfaction on the emotional level. If you are just beginning such a
relationship, it may be that for the time being you need a rather detached
kind of commitment.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Saturn

The trine of composite Moon and Saturn produces a highly stable and
consistent relationship. In a love relationship, this aspect makes your love
for each other steady and sober It this is a friendship, it will be an enduring
one What you won't have with this aspect is the wildly romantic. unstable
kind ot love that many people seek out This is an indicator ot .1 serious
relationship, one that is only for those who arc tired ot playing .iround and
want somethinK real and enduring Th:
ll simply makes whatever feelingl there are steady and
solid

tudt that althouKn you both have emotional

. must alv* a realistk pragmath approach to
life ! . have and do not •■ Utdl upon
•lv what the relationship off

The* ibly quite n t the natun

 Planets in Composite

relationship and quite self-critical. It is as if you are constantly asking,

"What are we together, really?" While it is beneficial to reflect on the real
nature of a relationship, do not overdo the criticism. You have solid virtues
working for you with this aspect. Do not negate them with pessimism.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Saturn

The opposition of composite Moon and Saturn can be quite difficult for a
personal relationship, especially in terms of your emotional interaction.
The Moon and Saturn are opposite principles, and the opposition aspect
emphasizes their oppositeness.

The chief danger is that you will not interact emotionally at all, or you will
have no mutual understanding of each other's emotional nature. If you have
managed to establish an intimate relationship in spite of this obstacle, you
will feel lonely with each other at the times when you most need
understanding and warmth. You seem to be emotionally alienated. At best,
you act distant, and at worst you are hypercritical and intolerant of each
other's faults. The more you need intimacy and warmth, the more
unsatisfying it is likely to be. It may even get to the point that you handle
each other as objects in a cold and detached manner.

With this aspect in the composite chart, it is best not to expect too much of
an emotional relationship. A business or professional association that does
not require much emotional exchange is not severely affected, however; the
opposition of the Moon and Saturn indicates detachment rather than
hostility. But an intimate personal relationship with this aspect will prove to
be severely limited or totally unsatisfactory.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Uranus

The conjunction of composite Moon and Uranus is bound to create a certain

amount of excitement; what it will not provide is stability. You seem drawn
to each other for the excitement and stimulation that this relationship
offers, which you both depend upon. If the relationship ceases to be
stimulating, it may very well come to an end. And this is perhaps as it
should be, for Uranus challenges your preconceptions and drives you out of
your established ruts. This relationship may exist for the same purpose.

On the other hand, it is possible that this conjunction signifies something

unusual or atypical about the relationship itself. In a love relationship it
could mean that the two of you would not ordinarily be expected to get
together. Perhaps your backgrounds are radically different — racially,

144
 Moon

ethnically, or socially — or there is a great difference in your ages, or

possibly you are both of the same sex. Whatever the case, Uranus makes it
unusual. This quality may also be characteristic of a friendship.

The unusualness of the relationship may actually overcome the instability

brought about by Uranus. That is, if the relationship itself is unusual, it
may be more stable than a more ordinary partnership.

In a marriage or love relationship, this aspect demands that you give each
other more than the usual amount of freedom. Any attempt by either of you
to be very possessive is likely to jeopardize the partnership.

This is likely to be an unusual relationship. Accept it as such and allow it to

teach you something new about life.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Uranus

The sextile of composite Moon and Uranus indicates that there is an open
and free quality to this relationship, or at least there should be. It should
change your thinking and give you new insight into the creative possibilities
of a relationship. Either as friends or as lovers, you should allow these new
ideas to enter your consciousness and open up new worlds.

Under no circumstances must you force this relationship, whatever it is

based on, into established patterns governed by regular rules. This
partnership may be a totally new hybrid. A sexual relationship, for
example, is likely to be very open and may even include other people. Or
this aspect may produce a friendship that is also sometimes a love affair
Two people with this aspect in their composite chart may be very intensely
involved with each other, then separate for a while, then come back
together, always conscious that the other is there in spirit if not in body.

This aspect may bring together two people who have rather different
opinions and ways of thinking. Should this be the case, however, you will
be able to get along together if you are open enough to allow each other to
creatively challenge and possibly alter your thinking

( ompositc Moon Square Composite Uranus

With the square of com; >n and Uranus this relationship is not
likely to be a stable, enduring lonx-term one. at least as tar
• 'ned This is an aspect of emotional change and instability A lovt
affair with this aspect may flare up suddenly and then cool off with equal

145
 Planets in Composite

suddenness. Or one of you may continually challenge the other's ideas and
feelings, so that there seems to be no peace or stability.

Nevertheless, considerable good may come from such a relationship, as

long as you try only to find what it can offer rather than how long it can
last. It will challenge your basic patterns of thinking on an emotional level.
You will open up and explore new ways of relating to each other. If you
give it a chance, this relationship will expand your consciousness.

A friendship with this aspect may be quite enduring because it doesn't

demand such constant intimacy as a love affair. Because friendship is not by
nature possessive, it does not challenge the rebellious, free nature of Uranus
so much. But even a friendship with this aspect will change your
preconceptions and established ways of relating.

If you are at a stage of your life and consciousness when you are seeking to
build a stable and reliable relationship with someone, this is not a very
favorable aspect. But if you are open to any experience that a relationship
can offer, this will be a creative learning experience, although a bit crazy at
times.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Uranus

The trine of Moon and Uranus in the composite chart signifies that both
of you must be free in your emotional expression in order to bring out the
best in this relationship. This aspect demands that you allow new
experiences and ways of feeling about each other to affect your
consciousness. Even the relationship itself may take on very unusual forms.
You should have the courage to deal with each other in different and
exceptional ways. Otherwise you will have wasted an opportunity for
growth.

By the same token, this relationship is likely to have a strong

consciousness-altering effect upon both of you, changing your attitudes
about your own and your partner's emotions. Your world-views and
philosophy of life may very well be changed.

Certain attributes of a conventional relationship, such as stability and

predictability, may not exist here. Yet despite the unpredictability, there
will be much of value. And the more freedom you allow each other within
the structure of this relationship, the more you will get out of it, to the point
that whatever instability exists will not be of any importance to either of
you. In this relationship, freedom of self-expression is absolutely essential

146
 Moon

for both of you and should be your first priority.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Uranus

El
With the opposition of composite Moon and Uranus, this relationship will
be a constant challenge to both of you. It will be rather difficult and
probably very unstable. Neither of you will know quite what to expect from
the other, and you will not be able to count on having traditional role
expectations fulfilled. As individuals, each of you will have to seek a unique
and different place to find yourself in regard to each other. Even then,
however, you are not likely to settle down to a constant and reliable way of
relating to each other. As a consequence, a relationship with this aspect in
the composite may not be long-lived.

Indeed, if longevity is one of your principal criteria, as in a marriage, it

might be best not to enter into the relationship at all. At least you should
establish a real and reliable arrangement with each other long before
entering a legal marriage. Even then, the legal contract of marriage, which
alters any relationship, may turn it into something quite different from
what you expected. You both may be disappointed or feel unduly restricted.

This aspect is least destructive, in fact it is actually positive, in a

relationship that has no expectations placed upon it ; both of you are simply
encountering each moment as a unique experience to be savored for itself
and not as a promise of some hoped-for future. With Moon-Uranus
configurations, no moment can be counted on for anything, particularly as
a building block for the future.

You will constantly challenge each other, which will cause you to question
your most cherished preconceptions about the nature of life and ot
relationships in particular This fact alone would produce some instability
as you reel from the shock of new discoveries that alter your awareness.

This is certainly not an aspect for a reliable, safe relationship but it can be
productive of xreit learning experiences, if you are open to receive them.

( <>m[>MMi( Moon ( onjurut ( omposite Neptune

With the coniunctmn ol -ui Neptune in your COWpOtiH (fall

• >th should be very careful to undrrst.mil the true nature of vour
relationship It is not necessarily I ki.i tlllttonihlp in fait it might be
irly beautiful and high-minded But th< Mem bn IUM ol the
■ istic natu- me when c ombined with the Moon
 Planets in Composite

This aspect signifies the highest evolution of emotional and spiritual

idealism. You will not be satisfied by the ordinary and mundane ways in
which people usually relate to each other. What you both want is something
much more than that, a complete union of two souls in a cosmic oneness.
The difficulty is that you may think you have achieved this state when you
haven't. Both of you may be in a complete psychological fog about the
relationship and may not understand it at all. Consequently you must be
very careful to find out what the truth is. Don't allow yourselves to wander
about in a beautiful haze that has nothing to do with reality.

On the other hand, you must try not to fall into the trap of making
excessive and unrealistic demands on the spiritual quality of your
relationship. You both are only human and must accept your frail humanity
as you try to relate to each other.

If you succeed in striking the balance between these two extremes, you may
be able to build an extremely high and spiritual kind of relationship.

One final note. In a relationship between the sexes, the nonphysical and
idealistic influence of Neptune often results in a platonic union that is never
consummated on the physical level. Usually one or both of the partners
feels inwardly that a physical union would corrupt the high purity of the
relationship. It is difficult to make a sexual relationship live up to the
Moon-Neptune idealism, but it is worthwhile to try to spiritualize your
sexuality without denying its physicalness. Only then can you achieve the
total union on all levels that is Neptune's ultimate object.
Composite Moon Sextile Composite Neptune

The sextile of composite Moon and Neptune gives a relationship a strongly

idealistic, antimaterialistic, and nonphysical flavor. It is probably more
suitable for a friendship or platonic love affair than for a physical
relationship between the sexes. The spirituality of the relationship will be
emphasized very strongly. Both of you may be inclined to use the other to
get away from normal, everyday reality and to get in touch with a higher,
more ideal realm of existence.

Communication between you will be largely intuitive and nonverbal, with

looks and subtle gestures often taking the place of words. Yet you will feel
that you communicate very well, even better perhaps than those who are
limited to words. If this is in fact true, you have a very high type of
relationship, indeed. However, look carefully to make sure that this is
really the case with your relationship and that you are not merely deluding

148
 Moon

a
yourselves. Make sure that you really understand each other and are not
living in some fantasy you have constructed about yourselves.

The potentials of this aspect are good if the advice given above is heeded,
and you should have a relationship that is in many ways ideal and spiritual.

Composite Moon Square Composite Neptune

Be very careful if you have the square of Moon and Neptune in your
composite horoscope. This aspect creates a great danger that one or both of
you will deceive yourselves or each other, either about the nature of the
relationship or about outside matters that affect it. It can produce a
situation in which one of you has come to "help" the other with a very
difficult psychological problem, such as alcohol or drugs. But with a
Moon-Neptune square, the so-called helper is often motivated by the desire
to escape from some personal problem by relating to someone whose
problems appear to be worse. This situation creates a savior-victim
relationship that can be quite unhealthy, because the real issues are never
faced.

The relationship may also take on a very unreal idealistic tone, with the two
of you creating beautiful illusions about yourselves and each other. But
eventually you are likely to find that you have not faced all the facts about
each other, and you may become completely disillusioned and embittered.
Disappointment of one's ideals is perhaps the greatest danger presented by
this aspect. Its negative effects can be prevented only by the most
hard-nosed, pragmatic, and practical evaluation of the relationship. And
unfortunately, that is the very thing that the Moon-Neptune energy tends to
block.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Neptune

In any kind of relationship with the trine of composite Moon and Neptune,
idealism will be a dominant theme. You will feel that the spiritual union
between you is hixher and more soulful than in any ordinary relationship.
Such a union is a real possibility which the two of you should strive tor
but it will not come automatically What will come with this Mpfl t |g the
■ of spirituality, not necessarily the fact All Moon Neptune
combinations carry the seeds of self delusion which should be watched tor
very carefully. But the trine provides an enerKV that can help hnn>: about
the ideal a% well .1 m You both mus- realisin iboul
• r each other s weaknesses.
 Planets in Composite

The love you experience together will be a very ideal and spiritual love, and
it may be platonic rather than sexual. There will be a strong feeling that you
have a true soul union. Much that would ordinarily be expressed in words
about your feelings will be communicated in a subliminal and intuitive way
that others will not even be aware of. If you have really established the ideal
bond that you desire, you will be able to communicate more through
intuition than other people can with words.

This relationship will also affect your philosophy of life by making you
more idealistic and concerned with spiritual matters than you were before.
Faith will become a stronger element in your views of the universe.

The demands this aspect can make upon a relationship are great, but so are
the potentials. A truly ideal and spiritual relationship of a most uncommon
sort is a real possibility. But remember — so also is a relationship in which
you wander about in an idealistic romantic fog. The choice is yours.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Neptune

The opposition of composite Moon and Neptune can present many

difficulties in a relationship, all stemming from one central problem.
Namely, you have very little clear understanding about the true nature of
your relationship. The lack of understanding can take many forms, but two
of the more usual ones will be discussed.

First, of all Neptune-Moon combinations, this one is most affected by a

desire to escape your own problems through a "savior- victim" relationship.
That is, both of you are looking for ways to escape your own problems, but
one does so by "saving" the other from himself or herself, while that person
plays the complementary role of wanting to be saved. Since neither of you
will face your real problems directly, nothing is solved. You should try to
relate as equals, giving and receiving alike, with neither of you martyring
yourself to the other.

A second result of this aspect may be that the two of you have radically
different views about the relationship. While one of you idealizes, the other
may take advantage and act quite treacherously behind the first one's
back. The result may be that what you believe is friendship or a love
relationship is really not that at all. The surreptitious actions of one against
the other may lead to great disappointment and disillusionment.

The main problem is one of illusions. When this aspect occurs in a

composite, only the most hard-headed and pragmatic evaluation can

150
 Moon

a
determine the true nature of the relationship. Detachment and objectivity
are needed at every turn. Perhaps the best answer is to rely more than usual
on a third party to help you come to a true understanding. But be careful
whom you pick, and don't let your idealism and romantic imagination get
you into a situation you cannot deal with.

Even if neither of the two manifestations described above is at work in

your relationship, beware of other self-delusions that can weaken the valid
basis of your relationship.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Pluto

The conjunction of composite Moon and Pluto is a very intense aspect. It

means that your feelings will be extremely intense, and the relationship is
not likely to be a casual one.

Not only will the emotional content of the relationship be intense, but both
of you will discover in yourselves emotional depths you may not have been
aware of. You will experience feelings you have never had before, but do
not worry; they will not necessarily be bad feelings. The principal effect of
this aspect is simply to intensify whatever feelings exist already.

There are some effects, however, that you should watch out for. This aspect
can create an unnecessary degree of possessiveness in one or both of you. If
you do not allow each other enough freedom of self-expression, the
relationship may become too stifling.

It is possible that your feelings about this relationship will run so high that
you will not be able to evaluate it or each other rationally. On the other
hand, if there is a strong feeling of love between you, this aspect will make it
a most intense and enduring kind of love.

Just be careful that you do not go to work on each other's feelings too much.
You will need a little peace and quiet with each other, without the constant
analysis that this aspect tends to provoke. Do not become too heavy in the
way you relate to each other, try to lighten the atmosphere and CnfO)
quietly It you always operate at an intense level, you an- hk<
burn out • .ell as the relationship

( ompositc Moon Sextilc ( omposiu- Pluto

The ' n and Pluto induates a ureat deal ot intense

>n and vlf examination within a relationship You will ••

151
 Planets in Composite

and consider various aspects of your relationship, and this will allow you to
arrive at a deep and lucid understanding of what you are to each other and
to yourselves. You have a greater potential than most couples for doing this
successfully. At the same time, your self-examination will probably lead
both of you to make great changes in the way you deal emotionally with
life. Your everyday ideas about the nature of the world will also be strongly
affected by this relationship.

A Moon-Pluto aspect of this kind is very psychotherapeutic; that is, the

results of your encounter can be very much like the experience of
psychotherapy: an increased understanding and awareness of your
innermost selves.

The result of all this is that both of you are likely to regard this relationship
as one of the more important and significant in your lives, because it has
made you grow in awareness.

Composite Moon Square Composite Pluto

The square of composite Moon and Pluto can lead to a very intense
encounter. Whether or not it will work out positively depends very much
upon how you handle it.

This is an aspect of uprooting, in that it brings matters up from the depths

of your unconscious minds to the surface so that they have to be dealt
with. But the effects of this aspect are so intense that the relationship may
burn itself out before anything positive can be accomplished. One point
that must be noted is that you both have a great penchant for working upon
each other's psyche. But don't overdo it or try to be your partner's
psychotherapist. Such tactics are often a disguise for a not-so-subtle power
game between two people who profess to be only trying to help each other.
As a result, one of you is very likely to feel emotionally dominated and
overwhelmed by the other.

The emotional intensity of this aspect can also work in another way. It can
create such a strong involvement between you that you cannot let go of each
other for a moment, resulting in a smothering relationship in which neither
of you can grow.

Beware of emotionally manipulating each other. Try to be a bit more

detached in your attitude and leave each other alone a little, no matter how
strong the temptation is to interfere and make changes. Love each other for
what you are now rather than for what you think you can make the other

152
 Moon

person into. If you cannot do this, perhaps it would be best to dissolve the
relationship.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Pluto

The trine of composite Moon and Pluto in the composite chart indicates
that your relationship has an unusual emotional intensity, which makes it
difficult for you to react to each other in a detached manner. In itself this is
not at all bad and can, in fact, produce a very meaningful and significant
relationship. But it will sometimes be hard to avoid being too emotionally
involved with each other. You may find it difficult to stand back and make
an objective evaluation of the situation, which is necessary at times in any
relationship.

Nevertheless, if you want intimacy, this combination provides an intensity

that will bind the two of you together for a long time. This relationship may
cause you both to go through very profound emotional changes, in which
you will discover aspects of yourselves that you may not have known
existed. What comes out, if properly exploited, will enable you to express
yourselves more fully in many different areas of your lives. If either of you
has a tendency to be too intellectual or to live too much in the mind, this
relationship can greatly increase your capacity for emotional experience.

The only other difficulty that this aspect may bring about is a tendency to
be possessive and jealous of each other. Outside of this problem and the
need to be more objective about each other, this is a good aspect to have in
a composite chart, especially if your relationship is an intimate, personal
one.

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Pluto

The opposition of composite Moon and Pluto is an aspect of extreme

emotional intensity, tallinx forth ureal involvement and strong feelings
You certainly won't worry about not having a strong effect on each other.
the problem will be to avoid having too strong an effect.

If improperly handled, this combination can give rise to extreme lealousv

MrUK/ mil excessive possessiveness !t one- ot
you may completely stranxle the other's individuality or at least attempt to
It this ch c urs. the one beinn dominated will tind it verv hard to deal
with, because the ta •■> dominate will he subversive rather than
example pit] to the oil | .ill in
•he other The aggression will often h< ither than
 Planets in Composite

active; that is, the manipulator may pretend to be hurt by the other in order
to get his or her way.

Such a situation must be avoided at all costs. The power of this aspect can
lead to emotional violence, which could destroy the relationship and leave
much bad feeling in its wake. If you are tempted to use these tactics, don't.
Be as straightforward and direct as possible. The results will probably be
better than you imagine, and at least they will be less destructive. Every
time you win by being manipulative, you actually lose, because the other
person is building up a long-lasting reservoir of resentment that may
explode when you least expect it.

If you are the victim of such methods by your friend or partner, be direct
and call your friend's bluff. Declare that you know what is being done and
that you won't stand for it. If emotional manipulation is being used to
prevent you from doing something you have a right to do, say so and go
right ahead with your plans. Don't allow yourself to be the victim of any
kind of emotional blackmail.

Composite Moon Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Moon and Ascendant signifies a relationship

in which your emotions and feelings play a very prominent role. Therefore,
this aspect is more favorable to a personal relationship than to a
professional one, because the subjectivity that is characteristic of the Moon
is not very helpful in a relationship that requires clear thinking and
detachment.

On the other hand, in a personal relationship, the Moon close to the

composite Ascendant signifies that the two of you can achieve an emotional
rapport and depth of shared feeling that will be the envy of many other
couples. You will share your moods, emotions, and feelings with each other
at all times, so that it will be easy for you to know each other on an inner
level as well as an outer one.

Of course, this attribute can also be a problem. It may prevent you from
seeing each other clearly at those times when a certain degree of objectivity
and detachment are called for. During periods of stress in the relationship,
you may get so wrapped up in your emotions that neither of you is
capable of sorting out who is responsible for what. You each may blame
your partner for situations that are really your own doing, which can lead
to disruptive arguments between you. It is very important with this aspect
of the Moon and composite Ascendant that there be many indications of

254
 Moon

harmony in the relationship. This could be a difficult aspect, but if other

indications are good, it can also be an excellent aspect.

Composite Moon Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Moon and Ascendant means that it is easy

for the two of you to share your feelings and communicate them to each
other. You are able to strike a balance between your need to have emotional
rapport and feelings in common, on one hand, and the ability to be clear
and objective about the relationship, on the other. The sextile means that
you can probably verbalize your feelings for each other, and even when you
cannot, you get the message across.

Although you may not verbalize this feeling, you both have a deep sense
that your objectives are similar. You have similar attitudes about many
things, which gives you a strong sense of community with each other. Many
problems that other couples would have to spend a long time straightening
out with each other seem to have obvious solutions to the two of you and
are understood intuitively.

You may have similar habits also, and these will be hard to break if you
want to break them. The reason is that the Moon, which operates on an
unconscious level most of the time, signifies a kind of "programming" that
has been built into you since early childhood. This should not be too much
of a problem, because the sextile of the Ascendant and the Moon helps to
make you compatible in your habits. However, if conflicts arise because of
bad habits or unconscious attitudes, you will have some difficulty making
the necessary changes.

Any friends that you have as a couple will be persons to whom you both
can relate on an emotional level You will not be happy with people who
<le only intellectual stimulation You will want communication .it all
levels

( umposite Moon Square Composite Ascendant

The square of composite MOOII Hid Asiemi.int pl.iies ^re.it emphasis

on emotional fulfillment within a relationship This is a relationship that
will k*"' nowhere without stronn emotional interaction between von
Becausr of this, it is necessary that you both feel that your ku ItgrOUndi are
timilar even if thry *rr not actually the same The important point is that
• /round* give you compatible ittil >ul the world

155
 Planets in Composite

This relationship will very likely cause each of you to be very attached to
elements in your past, so it is important that these be elements that bring
you together rather than drive you apart. Unfortunately, you cannot tell
from this aspect alone which of the two it will be. Your overall
compatibility is the only way to judge this. An any rate, watch out for
unconscious attitudes from your past that affect the way you get along
together now. Live in the here and now with each other, and do not let the
past get in your way.

If your relationship is not running smoothly, people around you will find
out very quickly. Your emotions as a couple are very quickly transmitted to
others, even without any particular idea of conciliating them. You both are
more concerned with the relationship between you at all levels than with
how it looks to others. Nevertheless, you will probably get along well with
people outside of your relationship.

Composite Moon Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Moon and Ascendant is a good aspect in any

personal relationship. It indicates that it is easy for the two of you to fully
express yourselves to each other on an emotional level. You are able to
show your feelings with complete confidence that the other will understand
or at least accept them. And this is important, for the trine makes emotional
expression very important in a relationship. You are not likely to be
detached and cool toward each other.

In a love relationship this aspect indicates a very positive emotional rapport

between the two of you. You understand each other's feelings, and
expressing them makes you both feel good. At a very deep emotional level,
you are able to feel as one, which makes the bond between you even deeper.

You deal with people outside the relationship on an emotional level also.
Others see the two of you as a couple with strong emotions, which you
express easily.

Through emotional self-expression and through experiencing each other at

such a deep emotional level, you both will grow in understanding and
tolerance. Even though you are not generally very critical of each other,
you will become even more tolerant of each other's quirks, even those that
might have irritated you in another situation.

256
 Moon

Composite Moon Opposition Composite Ascendant

It is better to think of this aspect, composite Moon opposite Ascendant, as

the composite Moon on the Descendant. In other words, its effects are not
truly those of an opposition.

Like all Moon-Ascendant aspects, this one indicates a very strongly

emotional relationship. However, when the Moon is directly on the
composite horizon, as in the case of the conjunction and opposition, the
emotional factor is emphasized. This is a sign of two people who can feel as
one, who may at times totally transcend the feeling of separateness that
El
usually exists between two people. As a consequence, this is a very valuable
position for any personal relationship. It is not quite so good for a
professional relationship that requires you to be somewhat detached and
objective about each other. The extreme subjectivity of the Moon's effects
is not always good in such a situation.

You must watch for subjectivity in a personal relationship also. There is a

fine line between feeling a strong emotional affinity, on one hand, and
relating so emotionally that the intellect is completely sacrificed, on the
other. In the latter case you may become so extremely subjective that you
cannot evaluate matters concerning your relationship. This is most
troublesome when other factors bring about difficulties, for then it is
necessary to see clearly in order to do what must be done. The
Moon-Ascendant opposition may make it impossible to see clearly. If this
problem can be transcended, however, this aspect is excellent for all kinds
of personal relationships.
 Chapter Seven

Mercury
 Mercury

The Meaning of Mercury in the Composite Chart

Mercury is the planet of mind and communication. In a relationship it

signifies the quality and manner of communication between the two of you.
It also tells something about the way you affect each other's thinking and
how you think as a couple, collectively.
m
A well-placed Mercury in the chart indicates that you have some degree of
intellectual understanding and can communicate with each other. While it is
desirable, especially in an emotional relationship, that two people have an
intuitive, unspoken understanding, it is also highly desirable that you be
able to talk easily with each other. Even in the most compatible
relationship, it is impossible for each partner to figure out what is on the
other's mind without some kind of verbal exchange.

Unfortunately, very often, especially in a love relationship, people think

that if they truly love each other, they should be able to feel what the other
is thinking without having to say anything What happens if you do this
however, is that you act according to what you guess about each other, and
eventually you are dealing with your partner as if he or she were a creation
of your own mind. If there is no communication between you, all you have
left is the image created in your mind in the absence ot real understanding
This is what a badly placed Mercury otten si^ni'

Basically. Mercury signifies your ability to speak each others lingmgi

;r thoughts m ways that the other can understand This requires
that your minds be attuned to each other in some way. so that vou can
share idr.i and words A well-placed Mercury is | great bl
to any relationship

( ompotitr Mrrcur\ in the \ irst Mouse

.ry in the first house of the composite chart indicates that in this

161
 Planets in Composite

relationship communication and community of ideas should play an

important part. Not that the relationship will be just an intellectual one, but
communication and intellect will be important factors. Therefore this is an
excellent placement for all relationships involving business or commerce in
any form. However, it does no harm in a personal relationship, which often
suffers from a lack of real communication. That should not be a problem
for you. The first-house Mercury is usually a sign that your minds are
compatible, and you are capable of thinking almost as one person.

Of course, this placement is also excellent for any relationship that involves
writing or working on a cooperative intellectual venture. It will be
important to keep alive the intellectual interests you share. Together you
will be interested in the world around you and constantly wanting to
explore and examine new aspects of its variety.

Composite Mercury in the Second House

Composite Mercury in the second house has two different meanings. Either
the two of you value things of the mind, or you put a lot of mental effort
into what you possess or otherwise value.

If the first of these is true in your case, it means that as a couple you value
books, musical instruments, radios, television, audio equipment, or other
materials with which you can entertain or stimulate your minds. Or on a
more abstract level, the two of you may value ideas and intellectual
principles.

If the second possibility is more correct, you both will spend a good deal of
time managing the property that you own in common, and you will put a
lot of effort into it. In an individual's birth chart, a second-house Mercury
signifies cleverness and intelligence in the handling of money. That should
also be the case in a composite chart.

Since it is likely that the two of you do value things of the mind or have
rather strong opinions about what you do value, it is very important that
you come to some kind of agreement about these matters early in the
relationship. Otherwise, disputes over such matters are likely to crop up
later on.

Composite Mercury in the Third House

Composite Mercury in the third house can be extremely valuable in a

relationship, because it assures easy and complete communication between

162
 Mercury

you. Many otherwise sound associations are weakened because two people
cannot say the simple things that keep a relationship going smoothly. This
should not be a problem for the two of you. In fact, you have a strong need
to communicate with each other, and it is likely that you first came together
because of some intellectual affinity.

m
Not only do the two of you have a strong need to exchange ideas and
opinions, but you also like to be with others and exchange ideas with them.
You have a great liking for all kinds of mental and intellectual interaction
with your environment. You do not like to stay off by yourselves but prefer
to get out and talk and have a good time.

The only thing you should be wary of is letting the cheerful and often
superficial banter of Mercury replace the deeper, more significant
communication that any successful relationship requires. Mercury works so
easily on a light level that you may be reluctant to delve any deeper. If you
can avoid intellectual and emotional superficiality, you should have an
excellent mental and intellectual rapport with each other.

Composite Mercury in the Fourth House

Mercury in the fourth house of a composite chart indicates that the two of
you are able to communicate about your deepest feelings and the most
deeply buried attributes of your relationship, matters that normally would
be unconscious. This is because the fourth house rules the deepest, most
internal aspects of things. You can share your thoughts about how your
relationship is working and what is at the heart of it. You should have an
unusual intellectual awareness of each other's feelings.

The fourth house also rules one's home — in this case the home you set up
together it that is appropriate to your relationship. Since Mercury rules
thought and communication, this placement means that you are likelv to
make your home as intellectually stimulating as possible You will surround
yourselves with fine books or whatever else interests you, such as materials
for hobbies or ( ratts You arc- also fond ot having people get together in
your hor: i I stimulating conversation

As is usual wfi. ri a position that loruerns teelings the onlv

• rintellec tuali/e the deep inner aspei ts o!
• t purelv as ideas
thin .1 , not to analv/e vourselvi-s or vour
rrljt
 Planets in Composite

If this warning is heeded, a fourth-house Mercury can be very helpful,

precisely because it does help to improve communication about your
feelings and inner selves, which in most relationships are difficult to discuss.

Composite Mercury in the Fifth House

Mercury in the fifth house of the composite chart indicates that as a couple
you are attracted to intellectual modes of recreation and self-expression.
You enjoy talking to each other, not just to communicate what must be
said, but also because you really enjoy talking. You both enjoy
conversation with others and activities such as going to the theater and
concerts or just being together and reading good books.

The fifth house is also the house of children and their education. If you have
children, you will pay close attention to their education, making sure that
they have all the right opportunities and are surrounded by the proper
influences. Just be sure that you do not educate them intellectually to the
point of neglecting their emotional growth. They must learn to be complete
individuals.

The fifth-house Mercury indicates that your attraction for each other is based
at least partly on your intellectual affinity. This position doesn't indicate
whether your thinking is similar at all levels, but at least you should enjoy
intellectual compatibility. Since one requirement of a successful personal
relationship is that you communicate easily, you have an excellent start.

Composite Mercury in the Sixth House

Composite Mercury in the sixth house indicates that the two of you expend
a great deal of mental energy on the problems or tasks that you have to
accomplish together. You will analyze, consider, and explore all the various
ways to deal with the matters that are important to you both, which may be
either material concerns or emotional ones.

If this is a business relationship centered around accomplishing some

particular task or series of tasks, you will go about them systematically,
rationally, and carefully.

If your relationship is an emotional, personal one, such as friendship or a

love affair, you will do what you have to in a systematic and careful
manner. Here, however, the issue will be making your relationship work
better so that the two of you will get more out of it. Be careful that this habit
of dealing with problems in a reasonable way doesn't turn into an

164
 Mercury

overconcem with your problems. It could get to the point where your
whole viewpoint is overwhelmed with analyzing your relationship.

Planets in the sixth house tend to emphasize duties and responsibilities at

the expense of the pleasure and fulfillment that should come out of any

m
personal relationship. Obviously a balance must be struck, particularly
with Mercury, because Mercury's location in a chart very strongly affects
the overall attitudes of the relationship.

Composite Mercury in the Seventh House

Mercury in the seventh house of the composite chart indicates that your
relationship will work well as a partnership in mental and intellectual
concerns. For example, if you came together to write a book (which this
placement of Mercury does not indicate especially), you would be able to
work together as a team very well. Similarly you would work well together
in any kind of business or commercial activity, particularly those involving
electronics, communication, data processing, or transportation.

In a personal relationship this placement indicates the ability to think as a

team and to provide a united front, at least intellectually, to the rest of the
world. The two of you are generally able to share your ideas and opinions
about everything.

Because the seventh is an angular house, the planet that occupies it is more
important than it would be otherwise. When Mercury is strengthened, as it
is in the seventh house, communication between you is easier and is a more
prominent part of the relationship.

Composite Mercury in the Eighth House

The position of Mercury in the eighth house of the composite chart will
enable you to examine in depth the psychological forces that are at work in
your relationship. These forces will be brought out and examined in the full
light of consciousness For this reason the two of you should be more
capable than most people at working out problems that may arise between
you lust be sure that you keep some sense ot perspective about the whole
not allow yourselves to iy by it

This placemen' v also means that the relationship will probably

have an important effect upon the intellectual development or both of
way of thinking about the world will be changed although it is not
poMibl' U) tell from this placement alone whether the change will be tor
 Planets in Composite

good or ill. In general, however, the potential for understanding yourselves

and each other is very great.

Composite Mercury in the Ninth House

Composite Mercury in the ninth house grants a relationship a great deal of

mental aliveness and interest in all new ideas that expand your collective
awareness.

Together you may be interested in travel, literature, philosophy, or

religion — interests that you did not have to the same extent before you came
together. You will want to explore and range widely, either in the real world
or in the world of the mind. At the very least you both will find that your
way of looking at the world has changed because of this relationship.

Others will recognize that the two of you have the intellectual capacity to
rise above the daily concerns of life that so often bog people down and
overwhelm a relationship with a mass of trivia. Together you will be
concerned about larger issues that affect the world in general, and you will
understand how these issues affect individuals, especially yourselves.
Consequently you will have unusual foresight as a couple and will seldom
be trapped by unforeseen circumstances.

In general, this relationship should enable your mind to grow and expand.

Composite Mercury in the Tenth House

The key idea of Mercury in the tenth house of the composite chart is
consciousness of life direction or purpose. This position implies that you
both have a very strong feeling of purpose within your relationship. At the
very least, you will discuss and think about your aims a lot. Mercury in the
tenth house does not tell a great deal about what that purpose may be, but it
does indicate that the issue will be important.

If your relationship exists for a business or professional purpose, this

position suggests that you will work together successfully in such fields as
communications, transportation, education, or writing.

In a personal relationship, nothing so specific is implied, except that

communication at all levels will be important in fulfilling the purpose for
which you have come together. There will be a strong intellectual bond
between you. You will enjoy sitting and talking and sharing your ideas with
each other. And the more you do this, the more you will grow as a couple.

166
 Mercury

This placement signifies that through reason, logic, communication, and

thought — the functions of Mercury — you will achieve your maximum
growth as a couple.

Composite Mercury in the Eleventh House

Mercury in the eleventh house of your composite chart gives the two of you
a very hopeful attitude. You like to think about the future and make plans
together. This position is likely to make you optimistic about your future as
a couple.

Friends will play an important role in your life together, especially friends
with whom you can exchange ideas and have witty and stimulating
conversations. You will like people who are intelligent and also very lively,
who can constantly present you with new ideas, rather than people who
seem to be stagnant or stodgy. Younger people appeal to you especially.

At the same time. Mercury in the eleventh house is a sign that the two of
you have similar intellectual goals and ideals. This increases your capacity
for communication because you do not have to spend a lot of time defining
basic issues for each other. Because your minds are compatible, you are able
to understand each other much more quickly than you would otherwise.

Composite Mercury in the Twelfth House

Composite Mercury in the twelfth house indicates that the two of you will
do much thinking and talking about the inner psychological aspects of your
relationship. There will be considerable mental probing of yourselves and
each other. At the same time, you are not likely to share this process with
people outside the relationship Others may view you as rather secretive or
even clandestine in the way you communicate with each other. You will try
to work out whatever problems you have within the relationship without
appealing to outsiders. This is a good position for psychol
self-understanding within a relationship.

However, ceaseless probing into each others minds can degenerate into
playing games with each other's emotions Be careful how you use the
understandings you gain. If you use them to manipulate each other, you are
likely to unleash forces that can undo the relationship In particular von
may stop communicating and start keeping everythi- Torn each
other This is extremely dangerous in a relationship because with a
twelfth r rry likely to generate suspicion

167
 Planets in Composite

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Venus

Mercury conjunct Venus is an excellent aspect in a composite chart, for it

indicates that you both are able to express affection easily. If you love each
other, you will have no difficulty expressing it, and there will probably be
some kind of affection between you.

This aspect also is an indication that the two of you share a love of beauty
and a strong sense of aesthetic appreciation, such as a common interest in
art, which you will probably discuss at length.

Another fortunate attribute of this conjunction is that it gives you

sensitivity to each other's feelings and the ability to say what must be said
nicely. This position helps to prevent the kind of disagreements that are
caused solely by verbal clumsiness. That is to say, you may have conflicts
about ideas and opinions, but you will not have petty fights about how an
opinion was expressed.

This aspect should help smooth out the roughness that occasionally comes
up in any relationship, but it may also make you keep quiet for the sake of
preserving harmony when you feel angry. Go ahead and say what you feel,
for you will be able to express what must be said in the right way. Don't
hold back.

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Venus

Mercury sextile Venus in the chart of your relationship makes

communication between you much easier and more pleasant than it might
otherwise have been. You both regard your relationship as something
beautiful, and you want to keep it that way. Consequently you try to avoid
unnecessary disagreements and petty arguments. Just be sure that in your
desire to avoid unpleasantness you do not back off from the real
confrontations that are necessary in any relationship. Sometimes the
affability of Venus causes people to shrink from saying anything
unpleasant, not so much from cowardliness as from a simple desire to avoid
anything distasteful. But this should be a minor problem and not a source of
great difficulty.

On the plus side, this aspect confers an easy ability to express your feelings
for each other. If this is a personal relationship you will probably be quite
affectionate with each other. This aspect also favors relationships that are
motivated by literary or artistic interest. You both will have a strong love of
beauty and good times, and this attitude will be reflected in the ways you

168
 Mercury

express yourselves to the world together.

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Mars

a
With Mercury conjunct Mars in your composite chart you can be sure that
you will express your feelings to each other with vigor and that you will
react strongly to each other s words. The effect of this aspect can range from
petty irritations with each other to constant fighting. It is this second effect
that you must learn to control.

It is possible that the two of you may actually enjoy fighting, at least on the
verbal level. Certainly you will let off quite a bit of steam this way. which
may help preserve the relationship. It is unlikely that you will repress your
resentments and brood upon them, but if you feel tempted to do so, try
not to. Let your emotions out, or they will destroy your relationship.
Repressing anger is always destructive, of course, but with the energy of
this aspect it is especially dangerous.

On the plus side, this aspect indicates that you will stimulate each other
intellectually and uproot each other from your mental ruts. In the long run
this can be quite beneficial, although the disagreements it causes in the early
phases may appear at first to weaken the relationship.

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Mars

With Mercury sextile Mars in your composite chart, you will be able to hold
your own verbally and intellectually better as a couple than you could
separately. Your minds seem to complement each other and make a
stronger and more aggressive whole. You will also stimulate each other
intellectually and become more active mentally than you have been.

You are likely to express your feelings to each other quite forcefully, but not
necessarily destructively. In fact, this forcefulness will cause you both to
say things that ought to be expressed between two people but often are not
Unexpressed feelings can cause a relationship to break up because they turn
into negative psychological energies that can undermine the bond bt •■
Expressing your ideas and feelings openly will be one of the strong
points ot this relationship Neither of you is likely to teel put down by the
: and you will be able to strike a balance between you

In a business or professional relationship thi

neM and the ability to stand up for yourselves m any COOII1 I
particular! ■. ns media
 Planets in Composite

This aspect also denotes people working together in shared effort. It is

excellent for any enterprise that involves a good deal of mental work.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Mars

Mercury square Mars can be quite difficult in a composite chart unless you
both are willing to make a concerted effort to overcome its effects. By itself,
this aspect can indicate a great deal of verbal arguments and fighting
between you. You may even reach the point of fighting purely for the sake
of fighting, rather than for some real issue. In every relationship, hidden
feelings have to be expressed, but don't overdo it. Otherwise the two of you
could become so battered and bruised mentally — or even physically — by
arguing that it will be hard for you to justify continuing the relationship.

The effect of this aspect is not real incompatibility between you, but it does
make you too sensitive to each other's irritating qualities, so that you
overreact to actions that are not really so bad. The danger of this aspect is
that it can allow trivialities to destroy a basically sound relationship.

What must be done is to strike a balance. You must be able to get your
problems out into the open, but make sure that you are arguing over
something significant, not merely finding an excuse for recreational
arguing. Save the energy for a real dispute and then let it all out.

In general, this aspect in a chart indicates that if the relationship does not
have a solid basis, there will be considerable difficulties. But if there is a real
bond between you, you must learn to control your energies a bit, especially
in what you say to each other.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Mars

Mercury trine Mars in a composite chart indicates a mentally active and

vigorous relationship in which neither of you will allow the other's mind to
become lazy. You will stimulate each other's ability and desire to learn and
have new experiences.

If you are doing some kind of mental or intellectual work together, this
aspect will prove extremely useful. At the same time, if one of you has a
problem that must be aired, this aspect will enable you to express your
feelings openly and get it over with. There should not be any of the sullen,
bitter, unexpressed resentment that so often poisons a relationship. It may
even be that you will enjoy arguing as a way of keeping each other sharp
and not being taken for granted (although that is quite unlikely to happen).

170
 Mercury

Fortunately you will be able to keep your arguing under control.

The openness between you and the stimulation you give each other, which
you both know you need, should be a strong factor in keeping this

a.
relationship healthy for some time.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Mars

The energies of Mercury opposition Mars in a composite chart are

somewhat difficult to deal with. This aspect is an indication of verbal
disagreements and disputes that can be quite damaging to the relationship if
not handled correctly. There will be times when arguments arise between
you not because of a real issue but simply because something in each of you
triggers the other's argumentative instincts. In such a situation, both of you
must learn to count to ten before flying off the handle.

If your relationship has other good qualities, it will be worth working this
problem out. Try not to take yourselves so seriously when you get angry.
Recognize that most of what sets you off is trivial. If necessary, when you
feel this anger coming on, leave the room for a moment or two.

One good point about this type of Mercury-Mars energy is that its effects do
not last long, unless there is really something serious at stake. In that case it
is best to get it out into the open and deal with the problem. Above all, do
not deal with your anger by suppressing it. Either employ some kind of
cooling-off technique, as described, or have it out. Suppressing this energy
can be quite destructive, for when the energy finally emerges, as it
eventually must, it may very well destroy the whole relationship, regardless
•d it is otherwise.

The two sets of tactics you should concentrate on in dealing with this |
are first, getting a better perspective on your irritability and second getting
the anger out into the open when the issue is important

( nmpusitc Meriur\ ( onjumt ( omposite Jupiter

ury and lupiter is an indication that the

. art very compatible intellectually and mentally That does not
■inly mean emotional compatibility, however which is brought
'her combinations Nevertheless this aspec t will help to ensure
that your relationship will survive and that both of you will benefit trom it
than other couples, you two will h.i
• onship ir reallv important

171
 Planets in Composite

Also, you will find that your relationship enormously stimulates the
development of your consciousness; that is, you will become more and
more aware of the world about you and your place in it. If the two of you
do any extensive planning for the future, this aspect will help you greatly.
In this regard, you will work better together than you would separately.

Being together may very well stimulate an interest in philosophy, religion,

or metaphysics; or it may bring about opportunities for travel. At the very
least you should both feel that your being together has been a positive
learning experience, even if other factors in your relationship eventually
cause it to break up.

Composite Merucry Sextile Composite Jupiter

Mercury sextile Jupiter in the composite chart helps to create a positive

feeling of friendship between you because of your overall mental and
intellectual compatibility. You will notice striking parallels in the way you
both think about things. Even when you differ, your ideas complement each
other in such a way that together they make up a whole that is greater than
its parts.

Being together will stimulate your feelings of idealism about the world.
Because of the positive viewpoint that this aspect signifies, you may
actually find it easier to make your plans come true, even if your plans are
seemingly idealistic and impractical.

You both will find that this relationship expands your awareness of the
world about you and makes you see things more clearly than you did
before. You may help each other see patterns in life that were not clear
before. At the same time, this relationship will broaden your views about
the way people ought to be. You will be inclined to be tolerant of each
other, because something about this relationship makes you realize that
there is room for all kinds of differences in this world. In many ways you
will be each other's teacher.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Jupiter

The square of composite Mercury and Jupiter is one of the easier squares to
deal with. About the only serious problem it indicates is a possible tendency
to be overly idealistic. It may lead you to expect more from your
relationship than it can deliver. However, this aspect also creates an
optimistic and positive frame of mind, which makes it more likely that
matters will turn out as you want them to, even if that is quite demanding.

272
 Mercury

Jupiter often acts to make something happen simply because you assume
that it is going to happen. This is the power of positive thinking.

Another effect of this combination is that when there are problems between
you, it may be hard to figure out what is wrong. This happens because

m
Jupiter makes you look to big issues for the cause of the problem, even
when it has arisen from some routine, apparently insignificant event. If
things are going wrong, do not always assume that it is because of some
great cosmic difficulty between you. The real cause may be something that
strikes both of you as quite trivial, which it may in fact be. But pay
attention to it — think how much more easily you will solve the problem if it
really is trivial.

Outside of these two small areas of difficulty, this aspect should make the
two of you very optimistic about your relationship, and that attitude
should be most helpful in smoothing out any difficult times that arise.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Jupiter

Mercury trine Jupiter in the composite chart is an excellent indication of a

good intellectual and mental relationship. You should find that your
outlooks on life are very similar or at least complementary. Even while you
are getting to know each other, you will not have to spend a lot of time
defining basic issues for each other. At least on an intellectual level, you will
get to know each other very quickly.

At the same time, this relationship will have a great consciousness-ex-

panding effect upon you, and you will be able to see the world in ways that
you have never seen it before. This may be true in a literal sense, in that you
may travel together more than before, because of opportunities arising from
;nK each other. At the very least this relationship should awaken in
both of you a curiosity and interest in the world that you did not have
before.

This aspt-ct is also particularly good for any kind ot prolrssion.il or business
relationship Men ury .md (upitrr in combination rule success in commerce.
A» a team you will have the ability to see the overall picture and Interpret
what is K«>mK «n in a way that is very useful in business.

Compositr Meriur\ ( Opposition ( omposite Jupiter

ry and Jupitrr is one ot the- It-ss dithcult

ihons l.ikr all the .1 ween Mercury and lupitrr It brw
 Planets in Composite

your consciousness, making both of you more tolerant and broadminded,

especially about faults in each other that might otherwise be sources of
disagreement. At the very least it minimizes pettiness when you do disagree.
You confine yourselves to the more serious issues that arise between you.

One effect of this aspect that you should watch for, however, is that you
may get into ventures that are simply too big or grandiose to be realized.
This is especially fatal in a business or professional relationship. Mercury
and Jupiter together are the combination of big ideas — ideas that are not
always truly practical but seem tempting at first. In a personal relationship
this is not so serious, although in a marriage it may affect financial
management.

Another area of possible difficulty is that you may expect too much of the
relationship. Although you are tolerant of each other, you expect to
accomplish things that cannot be accomplished in any relationship. Try to
keep your expectations down to earth.

But outside of these two possible sources of difficulty, this is not a bad
aspect in a composite chart. You both should learn a great deal from this
relationship without having to go through very hard times.

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Saturn

Mercury conjunct Saturn in the composite chart has great potential and also
great dangers. Both possibilities are equally likely, and the two of you will
have to choose your own course.

To deal with the dangers first, Saturn is the principle of limitation and
discipline. At its worst, it can have a narrowing and inhibiting effect upon
anything it is connected with — in this case, thought and consciousness as
symbolized by Mercury. With this aspect, the attitudes and opinions that
you hold jointly about the outside world and about yourselves can become
fixed and rigid. As a result, you could fall into ritualized games and patterns
of behavior that gradually have less and less connection with reality. While
you are standing still, reality is changing.

This rigidity does not have to occur, if you can be very conscious of your
patterns of thinking and communicating. At all times you must
communicate with each other, and you must be explicit and clear. This
aspect is not good for successful intuitive communication, so say what you
mean. If as a couple you can do these things, you should be able to reap the
benefits of this aspect.

174
 Mercury

rvj
The positive side of this aspect is that your communication with each other
should have a great deal of form and discipline. You are able to plan for the
future more effectively than most, because you consider every possibility.
Together you plan very carefully, thoroughly, and methodically. Although
other people may think of the two of you as a bit too careful, pay no heed.
You must go about your affairs in the way that is best for you.

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Saturn

Mercury sextile Saturn in a composite chart can have a most beneficial

effect on the way you think and analyze matters as a couple. It makes you
cautious in planning for the future and in approaching various areas of
everyday life, and this can help ensure your success. When the two of you
go about a task, you will succeed, not through blind luck but through
careful and methodical planning. You leave nothing to chance, so you get
very few unpleasant surprises. But be careful that being cautious does
not also eliminate the possibility of pleasant surprises. Remain open to new
experiences while you retain your carefulness.

At first, most relationships have to overcome some barriers to mutual

understanding and arrive at a common ground of opinion. After that phase
you will find that your thoughts and feelings about each other will remain
constant and grow further along the lines you have established. That can be
either bad or good, of course, depending on what kinds of feelings you
have established in the beginning. With this configuration, if you get off to
a bad start it will be difficult to change your point of view. But if the start is
good, the relationship will continue that way.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Saturn

Mercury square Saturn in the composite chart can present real problems in
a relationship, for it symbolizes basic difficulties in ( ommunu .ition Most
commonly the problem is not that the two of you cannot communn ate but
simply that you do not try. But you can get around the worst effa ts ot this
• il you make the effort to communicate. Do not assume th.it the- other
V nows what is on your mind Try to say whatever von art- thinking
and say it clearly

must be careful. | tor it this aspect does not cut Of!

communication, it • dwell o: iub)ectl YOU may
*ay nothi: to complain and then » ommunu ale
in the most irntatinK way possible- Or on the- Othtf band vmi
• minor i Ml
 Planets in Composite

As a couple, you must communicate regularly about all things, not just
complaints and criticisms. Otherwise you each will feel that there is no
reason to keep the relationship going, that it is not worth the effort. But if
you keep in touch with each other, it will not be this way.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Saturn

Mercury trine Saturn in your composite chart gives the two of you a serious
and sober but realistic view of the world. You are not prone to fantasies
about each other, but build a mutual respect based on the solid reality of
what you are to each other. A relationship with this aspect is likely to be
based on pragmatic considerations rather than ideals, fond hopes, or
romantic illusions. Something about the solidness and certainty of this
association will appeal to you, especially if you have had other
relationships that did not work out. This aspect can be very good in a
business or professional relationship, for your kind of practical concern can
make it very profitable.

In a personal relationship, this concern for practical reality helps to keep

things straight, but do not let it limit your ability to enjoy each other and
experience the lighter pleasures of life. Do not become overwhelmed by
pragmatic concerns to the exclusion of creative self-expression within the
relationship. You may feel that self-expression serves no useful purpose, but
if it isn't there, the relationship will seem dead.
The effects of this aspect can often help a relationship survive difficult
times; since you are not inherently idealistic, you are less likely to be
disappointed when there are problems between you. Instead of dreaming
about how things ought to be, you will work together to build something
real.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Saturn

Mercury opposition Saturn in a composite chart means that the two of you
will have to work very hard on communication in order to build a common
point of view. This will not occur naturally without some work on your

part.
If you make no effort to control what is happening, this combination will
create disagreements, for your viewpoints are fundamentally different and
not easily reconciled. To deal with this problem you will both have to make
an effort to recognize the other's point of view and to understand what it is
based on, rather than just rejecting it out of hand. It may not ever be

276
 Mercury

possible for you to agree completely, but at least you can respect each
other's opinions.
To do this, it is necessary to communicate, but this aspect may prevent you
from even making the initial overtures toward communication. On a
mental level you could be like two ships passing in the night that don't even
notice each other. Or if you do attract each other's attention, it may only be
to exchange verbal barrages.

So communicate, and do so with the positive intent of at least

understanding the other's position. If you cannot do that, you will certainly
have problems with each other, no matter what you try to do.

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Uranus

The conjunction of composite Mercury and Uranus makes for a relationship

that is stimulating, at least on the intellectual level. You will both constantly
challenge each other and point out new ways of looking at the world. One
thing you can be sure of is that you will not fall into a rut.

There is only one danger this aspect can present; you both may become so
addicted to the excitement you give each other that you cannot settle down
to the routine, everyday concerns of your relationship. Fortunately this
aspect works most strongly on the intellectual level, so it need not affect the
emotional basis of a personal relationship.

This aspect is most helpful in a professional relationship based on mental

and intellectual creativity, such as two people working together to produce
something new and inventive. Mercury and Uranus together relate to
technical and mathematical disciplines and to inventions in general.

For a personal relationship this aspect may be a bit nerve-wracking because

of the constant stimulation It may be hard to find an easy and comfortable
level of beinK toother, which most couples need. However, some people1
really like the unendinK excitement this aspect brings and perhaps th>
v it

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Uranus

• Uranus in the composite- (hart indicates that this

n*hip will have a stimulating effect on both ot vmi "i mi will tincl that
hallenne • istomrd ways ot thinkinK in a way that is
inlrre-MirtK and rewardinx rather than annoyinx or difficult "lour
 Planets in Composite

conversation and exchanges have a vital, alive quality that is not found in
many relationships. When you are together you enjoy going out and finding
new experiences, particularly intellectual and mental ones.

This aspect works to best advantage in any kind of business or professional

relationship that requires intellectual creativity and innovativeness. No
matter to what extent you have these qualities as individuals, you will find
that being together brings them out.

In a personal relationship, this aspect can help prevent you from falling into
ruts and thereby help your relationship to stay alive and vital. It also is a
good indication of basic intellectual compatibility, which is good in any
personal association.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Uranus

Mercury square Uranus in a composite chart indicates restlessness and

unquiet in the mental life you share. This may take one of two forms.

It may be that as a couple you find conventional ideas and opinions very
unsatisfactory, and you are in a constant state of rebellion against them.
People might see the two of you as intellectual eccentrics who never take
any idea at face value but are always probing and analyzing to find the
deeper meaning and hidden implications of what others say. This
manifestation of the aspect is the easier one to handle, because the energy is
directed outward and doesn't become a force that divides you.
The other manifestation is more difficult to handle for it does tend to divide
a relationship. This aspect may make you very restless and rebellious
against each other's ways of thinking. Whenever one of you says
something, the other automatically disagrees with it. And you do so with
the dogmatic vigor that is characteristic of Uranus. Yet despite such
disagreements, you stay together because you like to challenge and goad
each other. The problem is that unless the relationship has some
compensating factors, this way of life could eventually become tiresome
and cause you to part company. People can stand only so many bruises,
even intellectual ones. It would be better to direct the energy outward,
rather than have it working between you.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Uranus

Mercury trine Uranus in the composite chart promises an intellectually alive

relationship that will have a strong effect upon both of you in your ways of

178
 Mercury

looking at the world. One of the main purposes of this relationship is to

cause you to look out at the world from new points of view and with less
rigid preconceptions. While this aspect does not in itself indicate whether
the relationship will be a long-term one, it does indicate that you both will
derive something of value from it. It is always good to have one's point of

m
view challenged, and the challenge this aspect offers will not wipe you out
mentally but will be a pleasant mental excitement.

Like some of the other Mercury-Uranus aspects, this one is especially useful
in a business or professional association in which the two of you have to
find a new and different solution to some problem. Mercury and Uranus
jointly rule inventions and discoveries.

But even in a personal relationship this aspect can be useful in solving

problems. Instead of trying the old familiar tried-and-true methods of
problem-solving, which often do not work, you will find new methods that
might be quite a bit more successful, especially because they relate to your
individual needs. At any rate, you can expect that your relationship will be
mentally stimulating.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Uranus

Mercury opposition Uranus in a composite chart creates an extremely

restless mental environment for the two of you. Do not expect this
relationship to be a peaceful place where you can retire from the challenges
of the outside world. Your relationship will constantly challenge you and
prevent you from falling into set patterns of thought. And it will not do this
in a very gentle way.

There is much potential for growth with this aspect, if you both are willing
to expand your views enough to encompass the new experiences this
relationship will bring. Some people actually enjoy the incessant mental
stimulation, although most will not admit it. They may complain about the
lack of peace and quiet, but in fact very few people get into a Uranus
relationship of this sort unless they want it that way. You should
wledge this fact about yourselves in order to get the best out of the
relationship

In this combination with Mercury, the Uranus influence may m.ikr fcm
«o«idinK I ndmK to outr.iK<-"iiv lommonts nisi to
*** what will happrn This is thr |otrr attribute which both Uranus and
.ry po««», and the opposition jsprc t brin^ H out most strikingly
; ■ -int is not to • ;sl\ tor il you do you rn.iy
 Planets in Composite

hurt each other unnecessarily without intending to.

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Neptune

Mercury conjunct Neptune in the composite chart is a strange combination

of planetary influences. Mercury represents the principles of the rational
mind — precision, orderliness, and logic — while Neptune represents the
mystical and spiritual principles of the universe, with all their paradox and
illogic. The effects of Neptune on Mercury are twofold. On the one hand, it
can totally neutralize the logic of Mercury, leaving only confusion,
self-deception, and unclear thinking. On the other hand, it can bring to the
intellectual perceptiveness of Mercury a higher knowledge of the universe,
with which Neptune is ultimately connected.

The first effect brings chaos, the second great sensitivity. Unfortunately, it
is not possible to predict with certainty which potential will be brought out
in a relationship; the two possibilities are equally accessible to you.

It will not be easy for you to determine precisely what you are to each
other. Self-delusion is one of the great risks of a Mercury-Neptune
combination. Usually it takes the form of overidealization, of confusing
what you would like with what actually is. When you eventually confront
reality and discover the facts of the matter, you may be extremely
disappointed.

The best way to approach the situation is to live in the present in your
relationship. Do not anticipate and idealize. If you keep your antennae up
and become aware of what is happening, the positive effects of this aspect
will be brought out. Neptune can bring you to an understanding of the truth
only if you keep your attention on the present situation; living in a dream
world of future anticipation will only lead to disappointment.

A business or professional relationship with this aspect should be avoided

whenever possible. Such relationships demand straightforwardness and
honesty, or at least a clear head and a definite sense of where you are with
respect to each other. Possible exceptions are creative or artistic
associations in which imaginative creativity is very important to the success
of the relationship.

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Neptune

Mercury sextile Neptune in a composite chart indicates that the two of you
are seeking some intellectual or mental ideal within this relationship. At its

180
 Mercury

best this aspect can bring about instantaneous nonverbal communication

between you, a direct intuitive understanding of each other's mind. At its
least productive, this aspect can mean that one or both of you is
overidealizing the relationship rather than experiencing it as a reality. Even
though the reality may not be that bad in itself, it is not taken for what it is.

However, this is not a particularly difficult aspect to handle; even in the

most overly idealized fantasy, there is likely to be enough real
communication between you to prevent crushing disappointment when the
fantasy vanishes.

Idealism will always be a strong element in this relationship, even if you

keep your feet on the ground about most things. There is nothing wrong
with your idealism, because sometimes just believing in an ideal can help
make it happen. This is a positive result that you can look forward to with
this aspect.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Neptune

With Mercury square Neptune in the composite chart, the two of you must
keep yourselves firmly in touch with reality. Otherwise the effects of the
Mercury-Neptune square will probably be quite devastating.

To begin with, this square makes it very likely that unconscious forces will
have a great but hidden role in shaping your experience of this relationship,
so that to an unusual extent you will see what you want to see rather than
the truth. It can even get to the point that instead of experiencing the other
person as he or she really is, you experience some image you have in your
mind

The second effect of this aspect is to cause extreme confusion about the
purposes and goals of your relationship. For example, an association that
should be concerned with business mi^ht %v\. mixed Up with personal
matters, or vice versa. Or a friendship may be hurt by efforts to make it a
love relationship

Another problem that < jn result from thi • willtullv false

communication between you in other words lying. The lies may be
intentional or unintentional, to yourselves, each other or people MltsJdl
the relationship Needles* to »ay. when you eventually confront re.ilitv it
can be quite de

If the ir rralitirs sorted out vou will be

If]
 Planets in Composite

able to enjoy the benefits of this combination, which are acute sensitivity
and awareness of each other's being and the ability to communicate without
words. Otherwise, this could be a very disappointing relationship.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Neptune

Mercury trine Neptune in a composite chart provides for a highly developed

sensitivity toward each other and the ability to communicate nonverbally
and intuitively. The two of you will have to say less to each other than most
couples do, for your minds seem to operate in an instinctive harmony. You
know what the other feels even if you are apart.

In addition, you are idealistic about your relationship, so that it appears to

you more beautiful than others think it is. This is not a romantic idealism,
but idealism based on intellectual and mental harmony. You may be
realistic about each other's foibles, but you share an ideal of how things
ought to be, which is one of the factors that keeps you together. The
experience of this relationship may stimulate your poetic tendencies. Both
of you will look at the world with heightened sensitivity and awareness.
The only warning that is necessary with this configuration is to keep in
mind the truth as it is at the moment. Do not confuse your ideals with
present reality, but keep them in mind as a goal to work toward. If you do
this, the effects of this aspect will be very beneficial in the long run.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Neptune

Oppositions affect relationships more strongly than other aspects, and the
opposition between Mercury and Neptune can present many problems if
you are not conscious of its effects. This combination in a composite chart
can produce very unrealistic ideas about your relationship.

The unreality can take several forms. One of the most common effects is
that one of you does not tell the other the truth. This happens to some
extent in every relationship, but here it can be really destructive, because it
causes one person to live in a fantasy about the other. When the truth
ultimately becomes apparent, the deluded partner is bitterly disappointed
and unhappy. Obviously, to overcome the worst effects of this aspect, you
must at least try to tell each other the truth.

But even with the best of intentions, you may still honestly delude each
other, so you will have to adopt an uncompromising standard of truth and
reality in all your dealings with each other. That is the main challenge of this
aspect. If you cannot bring yourselves to do that, do not be upset by the

182
 Mercury

little surprises that tell you that your relationship is not what you thought it
was. With this aspect in your composite chart you can't afford to lose track.
of reality and indulge your fantasies without restraint. Every time you do so
in this relationship, you are likely to be disappointed.

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Pluto

Mercury conjunct Pluto in a composite chart combines the mental and

intellectual functions of Mercury with the powerful transforming qualities
of Pluto. These planets together indicate that this relationship is likely to
have a strong effect on the way you both think. Within your relationship
you will analyze aspects of yourselves and how you work together that in
previous relationships you simply would not have bothered with. This
aspect is an indication of acute psychological awareness, which is very
helpful in a relationship if it is not overdone to the point that little issues are
distorted and magnified out of all proportion.

But there is a more difficult side to this Pluto-Mercury combination that

you must watch for carefully. It can give rise to mental power struggles
between you; that is, one of you tries to totally dominate the thoughts and
opinions of the other. It is not possible to tell from this aspect alone which
person is the dominating one. Actually both people often do it to each
other, with one being dominant in an obvious, overt way, while the other
uses passive, more subtle techniques, such as maneuvering into a position of
being the apparent victim in order to gain sympathy from outsiders. Either
party may use either tactic at various times. This is not an inevitable result
of this aspect, but you should recognize the possibility and avoid it.

Another possible effect of this aspect is that its energy may be turned
outward When this happens, the two of you may find that you are able to
influence other people s opinions and ideas. This aspect would be especially
useful in the composite chart of people who have to influence public
opinion, such as those in advertising, public relations, or politus More the
influence ot this aspect is a powerful tool that can be used for either good or
bad. whatever is intended.

( omposite Mercury Sextile Composite PlutO

• Pluto in the composite chart provide! the two *>t you with
deep psychological insight an •( tin- normally hidden limes (h.it
i'r within a relationship Mercury rules the rational mind while Pluto
ha* to do with hidden transforminK force*. The sextile | 'ion.il
landing of these hidden lories so that the two "t you > .in actually

1&3
 Planets in Composite

deal with them on a rational level, instead of simply feeling their effects
and not knowing how to handle them.

At the same time, and partly because of this quality, this relationship will
change your ways of thinking about life; through it you will experience
different aspects of human psychology that you may not have encountered
before and therefore have not understood. This experience is not likely to
damage either of you, and you will probably derive great benefit from the
new understandings.

This aspect is an indication that the two of you will forge an intellectual
bond that will bind you together in a creative way for some time. Even at
the worst, this aspect will enable you both to benefit from the relationship,
even though you may not recognize it immediately.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Pluto

The square of composite Mercury and Pluto poses some challenges to any
relationship, the greatest of which is learning to tolerate each other's ideas.
Somewhat like the conjunction, but with fewer easing factors, this aspect
implies intellectual power struggles as each of you tries to impose your own
thinking upon the other. But one of you may very well weaken or destroy
the relationship by forcing the other to make a fight for freedom in order to
escape the tyranny of the Mercury-Pluto effect.

If you are aware of this problem, however, there is another effect of this
planetary combination that can be used favorably. If you can enlarge your
own views enough to encompass your partner's, you will have the capacity
to truly understand that point of view and include that perception of the
truth in your own perception.

Here again, as with the conjunction, the energy may be turned outward, so
that the two of you are always trying to influence other people's opinions.
Here also there is a danger that you could provoke a damaging response;
other people, instinctively fearing domination, might fight back against
your ideas. Here again the remedy is to enlarge your own point of view
sufficiently to encompass the views of others and make those ideas part of
your own understanding.

Composite Mercury Trine Composite Pluto

Mercury trine Pluto in a composite chart can grant the two of you a deep
and subtle understanding of what your relationship is about, which can be

284
 Mercury

very useful. Your relationship will not founder because of a lack of insight,
although it could falter if you don't acknowledge your insight. The
Mercury-Pluto trine grants understanding even of the hidden psychological
forces that are normally not accessible to people involved with each other.

This relationship will strongly affect your way of expressing yourselves to

others as well as your ways of self-understanding. You will encounter new
aspects of your own inner lives that you were not aware of, and you will be
enriched by these understandings if you truly acknowledge them and do not
resist them.

The awakened awareness that should come about through this aspect will
also stimulate your interest in exploring new dimensions of the world
around you, as well as the world within. And this interest will greatly
enlarge your views of the world.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Pluto

The opposition of composite Mercury and Pluto will create very intense
conflicts between you if you make no effort to enlarge your consciousness
of this relationship.

A typical situation is that during an argument one of you will start to

psychoanalyze the other and will present a very plausible case, supposedly
in the interest of bringing out some foible and examining it objectively.
However, what is really happening is that at each turn the truth is subtly
distorted so that the one being analyzed becomes the loser in the battle. The
so-called analyst also tries to force the other into his or her own ways of
thinking

The process is all the more devastating in that the truth, slightly amended.
• 1 as the weapon, which makes it even harder to fight. Finally,
i nsis point will be reached, and the victim ot this procedure will
■ and make a break tor freedom, even though this seems to violate
common • the other partner sees it

■ .rr. since at least one of you thoroughly understands the truth it is |

pity not to use it to create more understanding instead ot using it to
dominate This in tact is the way to handle the negative consequences ot this
II understanding of the truth to get at more truth not to win
over your partner And the same | ur dealir . uple with
prop. • onship since this Mpa t also gives the |

185
 Planets in Composite

Composite Mercury Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Mercury and Ascendant signifies a

relationship in which communication and shared ideas are very important.
You like to talk with each other, and communication between you is clearer
than it is with many couples. Your ideas stimulate each other.

By the same token, this conjunction also improves communication with

others outside of the relationship. Therefore this is a good aspect in the
composite chart of persons who are working together in communications or
in any kind of commerce, especially involving transportation of goods.

Fortunately, you are not likely to fall into rigid patterns of behavior in this
relationship. Mercury is a restless planet, which means that you are always
looking for new challenges and experiences. The two of you will seek as
many varied experiences as possible, but you will tend not to go into any of
them very deeply.

Shallowness is the most negative characteristic of Mercury, although it is

not a terribly serious defect. You will not do things thoroughly; although
you may cover a lot of ground in your experiences together, you often only
skim the surface. In this way you lose much of the richness that is
encountered only when you live your life in depth. This is particularly true
at the emotional level. Do not let superficiality deprive the two of you of
deep emotional experiences together.

Composite Mercury Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Mercury and Ascendant is a sign that the two
of you are likely to get around, physically and/or mentally. Mercury is the
planet of travel, and the sextile is traditionally associated with the third
house, which also rules travel, so travel is very heavily emphasized in this
relationship. The point must be made, however, that travel is not
necessarily limited to its literal meaning. It can also mean mental journeys,
encounters with new ideas and ways of thinking.

The two of you exhibit a restlessness of thought that makes it very unlikely
that you will settle into any rigid mental patterns. At the same time,
however, there is a danger that your restlessness will make it difficult to
settle down into a stable relationship. Fortunately, with this aspect,
restlessness is not likely to weaken the relationship, only to make it less
predictable.

186
 Mercury

The two of you have very strong ideas about what you want in this
relationship, and you like to talk about these ideas. Because you are very
clear about what you want, you are able to plan out the best course of
action for attaining it.

a
Friends are important to both of you, but they must be stimulating people.
You do not like to have dull people around. You enjoy lively banter with
others because it stimulates your own thinking processes. It appeals to your
need for new experiences, particularly on the intellectual level.

In a personal relationship, this aspect may emphasize intellectual exchange

of ideas at the expense of intimate emotional communication. Try not to
intellectualize your feelings; instead, allow yourselves to experience your
feelings simply as feelings.

Otherwise, communication between you is better than average, and this

aspect will help considerably in any kind of relationship.

Composite Mercury Square Composite Ascendant

The square of composite Mercury and Ascendant is a relatively easy square

to handle. It signifies that the two of you discuss what overall purposes this
relationship will serve in your lives. But you keep these discussions to
yourselves more than other couples might. As with all aspects of composite
Ascendant and Mercury, communication between you is quite good. Just be
careful not to get so wrapped up in yourselves that you neglect
communication with others. While you are a unique pair, so is every
couple, and the experience of others can help you too.

The square between ownpotite Mercury and Ascendant indicates that

you are unusually concerned about what you are doing together You are
very involved with analyzing your objectives But do not OfCfilUtlfectUl
• to let analysis become a substitute tor simply expenenc mg
lite as it is Avoid spending too much time conceptualizing the meaning of
-••Ijtionship The analytical side ot Mercury can be quite destrue tive in
a personal relationship, because the all-important emotional experience
•mg iary to intellectual analysis, which is a substitute- tor real

Mercury ("rine Composite Ascendant

The tnnr
any kin>! .'Kinship It has the of mi rrasmg
 Planets in Composite

self -understanding and mutual understanding between the two of you, and
it allows you to communicate meaningfully. You can easily express the
important feelings about your relationship that people often have trouble
saying to each other. You both know how to say the right words at the right
time. Insofar as it is possible to express the deep inner feelings that arise in
a personal relationship, you are able to do so.

At the same time, this relationship will have a broadening effect on the two
of you. By coming together you will be exposed to many new experiences,
and you both will benefit through greater understanding and awareness of
the world around you. You will become more tolerant of the differences
between you as well as between yourselves and others. You will come to see
that such differences are only challenges to your understanding and not real
threats to your way of life, which is how many people regard such
differences.

It may well be that intellectual concerns such as education and philosophy

will become important in this relationship. In these areas your basic mental
and intellectual affinity will enable you to achieve much together. Even if
this is not a working or professional relationship in any way, shared
interests will play a very important part in bringing you together and
keeping you together.

Composite Mercury Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Mercury and Ascendant should not be thought

of as an opposition in the usual sense. It is better to think of it as a
conjunction of composite Mercury and Descendant. This aspect has two
very different manifestations, both of which are derived from the same
principle. In this relationship, your minds are engaged with each other in a
very strong and intimate way.

On the one hand, this aspect may take the form of a very deep and
significant intellectual union between you. You seem to think almost like
one person, sharing the same ideas and thinking in a complementary way.
This means that the two of you can communicate with others as a team and
be more effective than you could as individuals.

On the other hand, the opposition of composite Mercury and Ascendant

can take the form of vigorous intellectual disagreement and conflict
between you. It is not just that you disagree, but that you actually derive
something very vital from disagreeing. Others may think that you are
destroying each other, but really you are engaging in a contest. Each of you

188
 Mercury

is dependent upon the other for stimulation, even if you make a great
pretense of being angry and fed up with each other.

It is not often recognized that opponents make up the same kind of intimate
one-to-one union as partners in the ordinary sense. You may be opponents
or you may be peaceful partners. In either case you depend on each other to
reinforce your ways of thinking and dealing with the world, either by
positively reinforcing them or by using each other's ideas as a negative
reference point to argue against. In either case you both would find it
difficult to operate without the other. If you have taken the "opponent
path, especially, you need to recognize this.
Venus
Chapter Eight
 Venus

a
The Meaning of Venus in the Composite Chart

Venus is obviously important in any kind of relationship, because it rules

both love and the ability to form relationships, particularly those based on
emotion. If Venus is badly placed, you may have a long-term relationship,
but it will not have much love. On the other hand, if Venus is strong and
well placed, but other relationship indications are not too good, the two of
you may be drawn to each other very strongly even though you are not
really compatible. This creates a very stormy, short-lived relationship.

In Hs deepest meaning, Venus represents the principle in the universe that

draws two entities together by natural and spontaneous inner forces, much
the way positive and negative charges attract each other. No external
compulsion is needed. But the power of Venus attracts only if the two
entities have fully defined themselves as individuals within the universe. In
human terms, this means that you have to be yourself in order to love
someone else. If you live according to other people's ideas of what you
ought to be, without regard for your own inner impulses, you will not
really be a whole person enough to love another.

The position ot Venus in the composite chart indicates how far this
relationship will allow both ot you to express yourselves through love It
also desc nbes what part ot your environment vou most desire to bring into
It is not necessary to have a good Venus in order to n
nship survive, but a good Venus will make the relationship worth
having

Composite Venus in the hrst \ Ion-,

• Venus in the first house signifies a relationship that is based on

•n It is r though this position
• ual relationship The ultimate meaning of
Venus is attraction basrd on the wavs in whu h vou are ditterent rather than
 Planets in Composite

the ways in which you are similar. This makes for a relationship of
complements, which form a whole that is stronger and more lasting than
either of the parts.

Composite Venus in the first house means that the two of you form such a
partnership. You were strongly attracted to each other when you first met,
even if you did not immediately know the reason why, and as you learn
more and more about each other, you remain strongly attracted.

The emotions aroused by Venus are quiet in their expression, friendly rather
than wildly passionate. But they are intense in their own way and much
longer lasting than some more intense emotions. This kind of affection will
sustain a relationship for a long time. This placement enables you to forgive
each other for the occasional hurts that arise in every relationship.

In some cases a first-house Venus may indicate that the two of you have
come together for a creative purpose. This could be anything from working
at an artistic craft together to farming or simply raising children. Somehow
this relationship will manifest the creative drives of Venus more than most.

Composite Venus in the Second House

Composite Venus in the second house indicates a love of beautiful things

and a desire to have them as personal possessions. In a personal relationship
in which you own property together, it simply means that you enjoy
owning beautiful or artistic objects. This reflects the fact that the two of you
place a high value on beauty and art. Even if you do not own property
together, for example if you are just friends, there will still be this emphasis
on the value of beautiful things. Venus also emphasizes comfort. As a
couple you will like surroundings that are soft, comfortable, and warm as
well as beautiful.

Incidentally, in any kind of relationship, Venus in the second house is a

good indication that you will have these things as well as the money to pay
for them. It can be an indication of wealth, or at the very least, of having
whatever you need.

In a business or professional relationship, this position suggests financial

success, especially in fields related to entertainment, art, or pleasure and
beauty.

294
 Venus

Composite Venus in the Third House

Venus in the third house of the composite chart signifies that together you
have an intellectual concern with beauty that you may not have been aware
of as individuals. You think about the beautiful in life, and you try to
surround yourselves with beauty as much as possible in your home and
where you work. Or you like to go places where you can find beauty.
Similarly, you are fond of discussing beautiful things, such as painting,
poetry, or music, and you may stimulate each other to take an interest in

m
the arts.

Venus in the third house also means that you are in touch with your
feelings, that you can discuss your relationship and verbalize what you feel.
In fact, you may possibly be more inclined to talk about love and friendship
than to do anything about them. There is the danger that you will deal with
love on a superficial, intellectual level and not fully experience it on a deep
emotional level. At any rate, do not try to subordinate your emotions to
your intellect. Nevertheless, the ability to verbalize your emotions that this
placement of Venus provides should prove valuable in the long run.

Composite Venus in the Fourth House

The effects of Venus in the fourth house of the composite chart are felt in the
most intimate and inward areas of your relationship. On the psychological
level you have a great concern for beauty in your most personal
surroundings, and this in turn is reflected in your desire to make your home
or other property that you own together as tasteful, beautiful, and
comfortable as possible. Even if you don't have much money, you will
probably succeed in creating an elegant home.

d<> n«>t own a home together, the effects of the fourth-house Venus
will be les :<ut this is an angular house so the planet that is m it
has K^eater importance than it would otherwise have. A fourth-house Venus
simply indicates that in this relationship the principles ot love and beautv
are strong and prominent, although the-. snl most ( lt-.irlv in your
intimate personal lives rather than in the lives you share with the outside
world This placement is usually an excellent indication tor an intima:>
relationship

( ompmitc Venus in the Fifth HouM

is in the tifth hous* | the stronger indications that

this will be a relationship o| |..ve or at the very least friendship The hfth
 Planets in Composite

house is the house of love affairs, self-expression, and children. Venus, of

course, is the planet of love, affection, and beauty and therefore has a
natural affinity for this position. It denotes a relationship between two
people who really enjoy being together and who make each other feel good.
You will share a great love of pleasure, of going out and doing things
together, especially attending amusements, theater, and other forms of
entertainment.

The fifth-house Venus is a light-hearted position. Perhaps its only real flaw,
which is not too difficult to overcome, is that it does not provide the energy
needed for a long-term, serious day-to-day relationship, such as marriage.
With this position you may be reluctant to face the difficult and sometimes
unpleasant work of building up a stable relationship, which isn't as much
fun as the good times you enjoy together. However, if you can overcome
this lack of seriousness, a fifth-house Venus guarantees that this will be a
pleasant and loving relationship for both of you.

If you are married, you will love your children very much and will develop
a warm relationship with them.

Composite Venus in the Sixth House

The sixth house of the composite chart is not the easiest place for Venus to
express itself. This is the house of work, duty, responsibility, and service,
which does not square easily with Venus's love of beauty, grace, ease, and
pleasure. The sixth is to some extent a house of self-repression, while Venus
is a planet of self-expression.

Within this relationship your concern for love and affection is kept
subordinate to what you may consider to be more important or more
practical matters. For example, in a marriage, this position of Venus would
tend to make the two of you stay together "for the sake of the children" or
perhaps to continue some business or work project you have become
involved in together.

Venus in the sixth does not indicate a lack of affection between you; it
simply means that love is not the highest priority keeping you together. Just
remember, however, that no personal relationship can survive for purely
utilitarian motives. The lighter, self -expressive feelings must be allowed to
come out too, if only to allow the relationship to survive.

One other outcome of this position should be mentioned. Your love for
each other may be partly predicated on a feeling that you can do something

196
 Venus

fairly specific for each other, something that your partner needs to have
done, beyond making him or her feel better.

Composite Venus in the Seventh House

Composite Venus in the seventh house is a good indication that this is a

personal relationship based to a considerable extent on affection. There
may be other reasons for this relationship, but love is certainly one of the
most important. This position of Venus does not guarantee a successful

m
relationship, but it does help. After the Sun and Moon positions, this is one
of the most important elements in the chart of a love relationship.

You will have a strong sense of shared emotion and feeling and a great need
to share your experiences. You will think of yourselves as a unit, a couple,
rather than as two single individuals. You will want to be together and do
things together as much as possible.

The only danger that you should watch for with this position is that you
may tend to be too accommodating; that is, you will try to agree with each
other even when one of you has a legitimate grievance. Instead of
expressing it, you will remain quiet for the sake of preserving the peace and
harmony of the relationship. The problem is, if you do this too often,
eventually the friendly atmosphere wears thin, and all kinds of resentments
boil out, with no way to control them. Do not let your desire for peace and
harmony prevent you from confronting important issues. Speak your
mind — it can't seriously disturb a good relationship.
Composite Venus in the Eighth House

With composite Venus in the eighth house, the love and affection between
you will have an intensity that is often lacking in the other houses This
position does not guarantee that you will have a love relationship
however it simply indicates emotional intensity concerning love.

Traditionally the eighth house is the house of death, although that does not
always literally mean physical death The eighth house has as much to do
with ' -i ol something new as <>n.
with the destruction of something
0 Venus in the eighth house represents the mingling of love and death

In a lovr relationship tl • n ot love will he quite intense with a

tul quality that will transform both of you in some fundamental vsa\
 Planets in Composite

into a new person. A sexual relationship particularly will have this

intensity. Your love will not be light and gay but something very serious
that involves both of you at all levels of mind, body, and soul.

On quite a different level, the eighth house can also refer to joint finances
and property. Venus promises material prosperity within this relationship.
It is often said that Venus rules money, and although some people have
questioned that, Venus does produce an ability to attract money, especially
in the second and eighth houses. This is an especially good placement if the
two of you ever require financial help from others.

Composite Venus in the Ninth House

With composite Venus in the ninth house, love and affection tend to be
intellectual issues that are discussed and pondered over rather than felt. The
ninth house of the composite chart represents the overall life-view shared by
the two of you — your collective attitudes and the nature of your intellectual
exchange. Consequently there is a danger that you may overintellectualize
your feelings in this relationship. Love is a more distant experience rather
than something felt and shared intimately.

However, in compensation, you both examine the nature of your feelings

and are more capable than most people of understanding what you mean to
each other. You are somewhat less likely to behave in an unconscious and
inappropriate manner toward each other. You can communicate at a very
high level concerning your relationship.

Love may become a philosophical ideal in this relationship, much as it was

in the medieval code of chivalry. You tend to think in intellectual terms and
to devote considerable attention to bringing about your ideals.

The experience of this relationship may also make both of you see more
clearly and become more aware of the world around you. Venus in the
ninth house can signify love as an agent of consciousness expansion. One or
both of you will be exposed to a broader range of experience because of this
relationship.

Composite Venus in the Tenth House

The tenth house of the composite chart is an angular house, and therefore
the effect of Venus is emphasized. Your experience of love within this
relationship will very strongly affect the lives of both of you.

198
 Venus

The tenth house rules the purposes for which the relationship exists, the
nature of its individuality, and its role in the larger society. On the
psychological level, this relationship will aid both of you in discovering
what you want to do with your lives. Loving each other should reinforce
you and give you greater confidence in yourselves.

Partly because of this mutual reinforcement, you are likely to be very

openly affectionate in the company of other people. They will regard you as
a loving couple, or if you are friends, as having a very close friendship. This

m
is a relationship that stands openly before the world and does not hide from
the view of others.

At the same time, this relationship will teach you about the nature of love
and how you relate to others on an intimate personal level. The only way
you can learn what living with another person means is by doing so. That is
one of the purposes of this relationship.

On a very different plane, the tenth-house Venus may also mean that you
have come together for some purpose connected with the arts,
entertainment, or luxuries. This may be either amateur or professional.

Composite Venus in the Eleventh House

Composite Venus in the eleventh house is one of the best placements for an
intimate personal relationship. The eleventh is the house of friendship, and
at the very least, Venus here will help to make you friends. However, the
emotional depth of this relationship is not limited to friendship. This
position can also be a sign of a deep love affair. In some ways it is better
than a fifth-house Venus, because along with being in love" you also love
each other. That is. you have a strong abiding affection for each other along
with that well-known, often short-lived feeling of intoxication

The eleventh house is also the house of hopes and wishes, and Venus here is
i indication that the two of you have harmonious ideals Because you
both art- seeking the same things beinK toother will help you tind them It
can also mean that you idealize either the feeling ot low or
nship. which can be a problem if either ot vou is prom to unrealistic
attitudes about feeling But it both ot you realistu about
. will expenenc e this relationship as something beautitul and
idea s based on truth

• Venus is .iKns tor | ki

and harmonious relationship uj

199
 Planets in Composite

Composite Venus in the Twelfth House

Composite Venus is one of the least difficult planets to have in the twelfth
house. There are problems associated with it, but there are strong points as
well.

This placement signifies that while you may have strong feelings of
affection for each other, you may not be demonstrative about them. Other
people may not even be aware of how you feel about each other. The
twelfth-house Venus can be a sign of a secret relationship.

This is also the house of your own unconscious, of those areas of your lives
and experience that you have repressed from your conscious mind. With
Venus in the twelfth, your relationship may be influenced to a considerable
degree by unconscious factors in both of you. It may be difficult to
understand the dynamics of this relationship, and you may do things for no
apparent reason. This can be either good or bad, of course, depending on
what you do. In any case, you should try to understand what lies behind
your relationship, if only to gain greater control over yourselves.

On the clearly positive side, this placement can help both of you overcome
your ego-drives within the relationship. It enables each of you to give way
to the other when that is desirable. You are able to think of yourselves as a
unit and to subordinate your personal interests to your interests as a couple.
This ability can eliminate many problems that will arise.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Mars

With Venus conjunct Mars in the composite chart you will find that feelings
run high between you. This is a passionately intense relationship that is
likely to be based at least partly on sexual drives, even if you are of the same
sex. This is not to say that it will be a homosexual relationship, but that
something of the emotional intensity that arises in relationships between the
sexes will be present in your relationship also.

If this is a sexual relationship, it will be intense, with a strong need for

physical expression; it is very unlikely to be platonic. Venus and Mars are
the feminine and masculine symbols respectively of sexuality. When they
are conjunct, it means that the feminine and masculine principles are
working together.

All the emotional reactions between you are heightened considerably by

this conjunction. Anger, sadness, and above all, love, are more intense. It is

200
 Venus

very difficult for people who have this aspect in their composite chart to
remain indifferent to each other. Even if you should become enemies, which
could happen, you would be intense enemies. The strong attraction between
you prevents you from being detached in any way about each other.

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Mars

Venus sextile Mars is a good aspect to have in the composite chart, for it
indicates a good balance in your relationship between your drive to express

a\
yourself fully as an individual (Mars) and your need for relationships with
others (Venus). Often these two needs are in conflict, and the fulfillment of
one results in the denial of the other. For example, some people can relate to
another only by suppressing themselves, and some can express themselves
only by trying to dominate the other instead of relating on an equal basis.
With the Venus-Mars sextile, however, you have the ability to express
yourselves by means of the relationship rather than in spite of it. This is most
helpful in any relationship.

This aspect produces its greatest benefits in a personal relationship between

the sexes, however. It relates especially to sexual self-expression, for sex is
the form of self-expression that requires a relationship with another person
And Venus and Mars are sexual planets. This aspect in the chart of a love
relationship helps to ensure sexual compatibility and makes physical
love-making easy and pleasurable.

Even in friendship, where sex is not an issue, the Venus-Mars textile

indicates a complementary balance of energy between you, which helps
keep the relationship goin^.

( ompusitf Venus Square Composite Mars

Venus square Mars in a composite chart has potential tor both good .irul
i! relationship it can make physical love making battel and
tyinx than usual. It often makes people ot OppOtJti
•ibly attracted to each other But it does not guarantee that the
nship will be easy an The problem this combination
presents is that sex can easily become a device tor one person to dominate
It is very important• •n that this doei not happen became sm h
domii litiuiiltv m a relationship that lias much

In other relationships the main challenge ot this aspect is that vou will tind
II har individual agOl and vour desire to

201
 Planets in Composite

relate to each other. Competitiveness may sometimes interfere with

cooperation. You will arouse in each other strong feelings that will
sometimes be difficult to cope with — feelings of anger, sadness, happiness,
or whatever.

It is possible that one of you will assume a dominant Mars role, while the
other assumes a more passive Venus role. This is perfectly all right if both of
you are satisfied with the situation, but be sure that you really are. It would
be better for each of you to alternate the dominant and passive roles. That
would express the symbolism of the aspect in a benevolent and constructive
way.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Mars

Venus trine Mars is one of the better aspects to have in a composite chart.
Much like the sextile, it means that there is a balance between your
individual ego drives and your need for the relationship; that is, you can get
along together without feeling that either of you is losing your
individuality. In fact, you will find that this relationship helps both of you
to express yourselves more fully — unlike many relationships, which act as
barriers to self-expression.

This aspect fulfills itself most clearly in relationships between the sexes, for
the sexuality of the two planets is then expressed easily. The trine of Venus
and Mars strengthens the need for physical sexual expression and makes it
satisfying. You both will be greatly fulfilled by sex, and you will work
together to make it even better. There won't be the differences of timing and
style that make many sexual relationships difficult. You truly complement
each other.

Complementarity is one of the benefits of this aspect for any kind of

relationship. Each of you is strong where the other is weak, so together you
will be stronger than you are alone.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Mars

Venus opposition Mars in a composite chart creates great magnetism

between two people, especially if they are of opposite sexes. Even if you are
of the same sex, there is likely to be a kind of magnetism, which if examined
closely would be found to have a somewhat sexual quality. You each might
feel that the other has some tremendously important quality that you lack.

This aspect often creates a strong bond between people, but it does not

202
 Venus

guarantee that the relationship will be smooth. For one thing, it can create
expectations that are very hard to live up to, so there is a constant sense of
striving rather than just letting things be. At the same time, getting what
you think your partner has may become such an ego-issue that you are not
willing to cooperate in making the relationship work. Unless you are very
careful, you may find yourselves trying to get something out of each other,
rather than creating something with each other.

In a sexual relationship, what you are trying to get from each other is sexual

m
fulfillment, for Venus-Mars in opposition is a strongly sexual aspect. But
this tendency to regard sex as something to be gotten from the other will
become a barrier to getting it unless you force yourselves out of that
thought pattern. If you both recognize that sexual fulfillment is something
you will get out of the relationship by working together, then you will get
what you want and it will be good. With this aspect, physical sex is a very
important factor in a relationship, even more so than it ordinarily is. If you
can keep in mind the need for true cooperation, you should be able to find
what you seek.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Jupiter

Venus conjunct Jupiter is one of the best aspects to have in a composite

chart. No matter what the purpose of the relationship, this aspect will help
fulfill it. It this is a professional association, the Venus-Jupiter conjunction
will help bring material success.

Both of you will feel that this relationship reinforces you and makes lite
• to bear. You will teel happier and more optimistic, which will help
make events go well tor you, although others are likely to think that you are
lucky Ot course, luck often comes trom having a positive attitude.

In a personal relationship with this aspect, love and affection are abundant
and easil\ i ^our teehr , : independently ot
anything you ii h other tor what von lie not
• hat you would like each other to be or do an unusually ideal
situation | r partners (laws to a remarkable extent
and is tolerant ot the little things that n «• hnd hard to take "> Oil
are willing to give each other room to be whatever you want and your
is not hindered by tationi

.itionshii end thing* can go wrong even with due

I hart will help the relationship to
ind will help both ot . -.<w within it

203
 Planets in Composite

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Jupiter

The sextile of composite Venus and Jupiter indicates an affectionate

relationship. It is especially good in the chart of a friendship, love affair, or
marriage. It is a sign that the two of you genuinely like each other and feel
positive about yourselves and each other. Jupiter is the planet of growth
and Venus is the planet of love, so the combination can be read as growth
through love. The intensity of feeling signified by this aspect may range
anywhere from friendship to a very intense love affair, but it is not an
especially sexual love. It is love as a positive feeling of warmth between the
two of you, with no other motivation for existence.

On another level, the sextile of Venus and Jupiter opens up opportunity.

The two of you are able to do the right things at the right time in such a way
that events work out well for you, both materially and emotionally. To
others this may appear to be luck, but actually you are creating a favorable
environment for happenings that are nice and pleasant. These cannot
happen unless you give them a place to exist. In other words, you must feel
the optimism that allows you to recognize opportunities when they arise.
The sextile of Venus and Jupiter signifies that together you have that kind of
optimism.

Composite Venus Square Composite Jupiter

The square of Venus and Jupiter in the composite chart is one of the easiest
squares to deal with. Jupiter and Venus are so compatible that it is almost
impossible for their influences to be combined in a negative way. The
square is an active aspect; that is, it signifies actions that are taken. In the
case of Venus and Jupiter, it suggests that together you will actively seek out
pleasure and ease in order to enjoy yourselves and each other's company.
You will be fond of beautiful and elegant surroundings and will go to great
lengths to acquire them. The only potentially negative attribute of this
combination is that elegance, ease, and pleasure can become greater
priorities in your relationship than other, more important elements.

Another difficulty that sometimes occurs with this combination is that its
very great energy brings together two people who are unsuited to each
other. The Venus-Jupiter square has an undiscriminating quality and does
not in itself tell whether your relationship is appropriate or not. All it
signifies is that there is likely to be a great attraction between you.

Nevertheless, you can expect an affectionate and loving relationship, no

matter what the original reasons for your coming together. And this

204
 Venus

affection will hold you together even in times of difficulty.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Jupiter

Venus trine Jupiter in the composite chart is one of the aspects that really
helps to make a relationship successful, particularly a personal one. In fact,
a professional association is very likely to become personal as well. The
Venus-Jupiter trine is a strong indication of a warm, affectionate feeling
between you.

m
In particular, this relationship will have a strong idealistic force that will
make you optimistic about yourselves and each other. And this optimism
will help bring about the ideal state of affairs that you expect. You will find
that the relationship will help both of you grow as individuals, for it
continually brings out your best qualities. There is a feeling of ease and
peacefulness with this aspect. Neither of you seems to make unreasonable
demands upon the other, but that can sometimes present another problem.
If one of you must make some really important changes, the other may be
reluctant to raise the issue for fear of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere.

theless, this is a relationship in which you will feel that you can relax
and be yourself with your partner. This relationship ought to be successful
and rewarding for both of you, whatever the reasons for your coming
together.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Jupiter

This Venus-Jupiter aspect is one of the easiest oppositions tor it ere*

stronK attraction between the two of you that makes a good relationship all
the more likely. The only difficulty to watch for is that sometimes you may
not net exactly what you expect from the relationship or from the other
• However, what you do get should be perfect]) 0 that
is not a great problem.

A personal relationship benefits the most trom this aspect tor it signifies
ferlinKs ot warmth and affection between two people Hut even a
Monal association will r unc K(,°d (relinks which will make
iljtionship more personal In this case however a situation i a:
in which the personal feelings conflict with the original purpose ot the
relationship At that point you may have to de< ide whu h is more important
relationship or the professional

■ . net into a Inendlv

205
 Planets in Composite

kidding kind of competitiveness, you will retain your basically good

feelings for each other. You won't let disagreements spoil your relationship.
The most important point about this aspect is that it does create a strong
attraction between you. Because of the active nature of the opposition, one
or both of you will very probably take the initiative in starting this
relationship so that it will grow and be of benefit to both of you.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Saturn

Venus conjunct Saturn in the composite chart can present problems for a
relationship, particularly a personal one. In professional associations it is
not so difficult.

Saturn represents the principle of reality, at least as most people see it. As a
planetary power it represses the warm and self-expressive nature of Venus
and can make a relationship very cold. Even if there are strong feelings
between you, the expression of those feelings is somehow always
subordinated to more practical considerations. One of you may feel that
despite your affection for one another, this is not the right time or the right
place for your being together. Perhaps it would foul up a personal
relationship that one of you has with someone else. This aspect particularly
can prevent a sexual relationship from ever being consummated, not for
lack of feeling, but because of the considerations just mentioned.

This aspect can have another, quite different effect. Your affection may be
expressed, and a sexual relationship may be consummated, but in a very cool
and restrained manner. There is little of the spontaneity and flamboyance
that is supposed to characterize a love affair. Nevertheless, the feeling is
genuine, and Saturn's slowing effect may make the relationship steady and
enduring rather than an affair that burns itself out, as some do. It may turn
a potential love affair into a platonic relationship. The same cooling and
steadying effects will also be seen in a friendship.

There is no reason to assume that this aspect will deny a satisfactory

relationship, but it will slow it down and keep it cool. The two of you must
ultimately decide what you want from this relationship. If you want a cool,
steady, and reliable bond, this is it. But if you want an exciting and
romantic affair, you won't find it with this aspect.
Composite Venus Sextile Composite Saturn

Venus sextile Saturn in a composite chart will have a certain restraining

206
 Venus

effect upon a relationship, ranging from a lasting sense of distance between

you to a restrained but otherwise very affectionate bond. A love
relationship with this aspect may be more durable than most, but both of
you would approach it with a sense of duty as well as enjoyment. If this is a
marriage, this aspect might make you stay together for the sake of the
children or some such reason, when other couples would have split up.

If there is affection between you, it is quiet and without fanfare; in fact, you
may not show it overtly at all. However, that should not be allowed to
happen, since you seldom really know each other's feelings unless you
express them in a clear-cut way. With this aspect particularly you should
not rely on your partner receiving your message by intuition.

Nevertheless, you can have a very positive relationship, as long as you take
the trouble to let each other know that you are still there in spirit and
haven t drifted off into some world of your own.

In a business or professional relationship this aspect favors such endeavors

as commercial art and practical design work of all types.

Composite Venus Square Composite Saturn

Venus square Saturn can be a most troublesome aspect in a composite

chart, depending to a great extent on what you expect of the relationship. It
can prevent a love relationship that is otherwise good from ever being
physically consummated. Things seem to get in the way— either
circumstances are not favorable or one of you blows hot while the other
blows cold. In a relationship with more problems, this aspect may be the
final indication that it cannot be satisfactory from any point of view.

In the first case, the relationship can be a very happy one. even though it
may not be everything you would like it to be It vou can restructure your
Mtions there may be sufficient reason to enter into it In
whenever this urs in a composite chart it is best to pr
without any expectations taking whatever comes as it happens
Expectations simply provide a structure to hang your disappointments on
when real Ml live up to wh.r Ml This ian be a most
. dii not saddle it with too manv demands
• what it must be in rV It vou .ire willing to take vvki
be all right
 Planets in Composite

Composite Venus Trine Composite Saturn

The trine of Venus and Saturn in the composite chart can affect you in
either of two ways. On the plus side, it creates a steady feeling between you
that changes very little from day to day. While you may not be the most
unrestrained and demonstrative couple, your feelings for each other are real
and reliable. This is true of either a friendship or a love affair.

In a professional relationship this trine can actually be quite beneficial.

Saturn rules business, and the combination of Venus and Saturn by a trine
literally means a business relationship. There is a balance in your
association between the function of self-expression — this is something you
both do because it suits you — and the function of accomplishing some
specific purpose together. And this sort of balance also applies to other
kinds of relationships. You can work together and enjoy life together,
which is a very decided plus.

On the debit side, this aspect can cause you to be caught up in repetitious
patterns. The other side of the steadiness of feeling is a tendency to get into
a rut, so that the relationship becomes dull and routine. With a Venus-
Saturn trine, whatever you get into together is hard to get out of. If you find
this happening, you must try to get out of the pattern you have created and
discover a new point of view about yourselves and your relationship.

Often it is a good idea to separate for a while — take separate vacations, for
example, and get away from each other so that you can see things
differently. Don't worry that this will bring the relationship to an end.
Chances are, the factors that brought you together in the first place will
bring you back again. And if not, that will be all right, too.

This aspect can hold two people together very well. Your relationship may
not be one of the most exciting, but at least you can count on it in a positive
way.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Saturn

The opposition of Venus and Saturn in the composite chart means that there
is a significant barrier to the expression of feelings between you. This does
not make a relationship impossible, but it does make it difficult. Maybe you
just do not like each other, but if you do, you find it difficult to say so for
some reason. Perhaps one or both of you has inhibitions, or you are simply
too shy. Or perhaps some external circumstance has created this barrier.
For example, if this is potentially a sexual relationship, one of you may have

208
 Venus

another commitment that makes it difficult to acknowledge your feelings to

your partner.

It can also be the case that you have strong emotions about each
other, but at different times, so that whenever one of you is interested,
the other is not. A sexual relationship with this aspect in the chart is usually
not consummated, and if it is, there is likely to be some other serious defect
in your way.

a
A relationship with this aspect is most likely to be successful if the two
people do not really want to be terribly close. That is fine, but be aware of
that fact and do not try to make the relationship into something it cannot
be. It is very important for you both to be willing to take whatever comes.
Do not saddle your relationship with all manner of expectations; it may
become very good or it may amount to nothing at all. Certainly there will
be some restrictions on it, but if you go along with an open mind, you will
get whatever good it has to offer. If not, you will get only that side of the
relationship that seems difficult.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Uranus

With Venus conjunct Uranus in the composite chart, you will have to keep
certain points in mind in order to get the most out of your relationship.

If this is a sexual relationship, it is very likely that your feelings for each
other arose suddenly. This is not an affection built up over a long period of
time; in fact, it happens almost immediately. Even a friendship with this
aspect develops quickly.

But no matter how intense the feeling, recognize that any attempt to hold
onto this relationship and make it long-lasting is probably doomed to
failure. It is not inevitable that this will be a short-term attair but it vmi
want it to last you must give each other lots ot room to move The more
freedom you give yourselves and each other, the better the relationship will
be. If you try to limit each other, you will probably destroy whatever
could (ome from your association You both must be very open to strong
feeling for others as well as to all sorts ot feelings within yours.

A relationship like this sf lUished thought patterns ami

nd something new in s it tan and
■My will br em iling. but it won t [ ording to the m npt von
have in your mind And if the moment ( ornes when it must end let it go tor
you wont heal v it won t end like that but that i ham e

209
 Planets in Composite

cannot be a factor in your considerations. This relationship may very well

change your life. Give yourselves the freedom to go where it takes you.

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Uranus

The sextile of Venus and Uranus in the composite chart indicates a

relationship that is very free and open in its expression. You each have
freedom to be yourselves, and you will not consider your partner to be your
property. Probably you will reach some unconventional arrangement with
each other, an arrangement that others may think very unusual. And it will
be, but it will express what you want, no matter what others think.

At the same time, this relationship will change your thinking, for the
experience of it will cause both of you to regard the world in a new light.
This in itself will make you reluctant to follow any particular set of rules
except those that you set up for yourselves. Even the usual categories, such
as friendships or love affairs (regardless of your sex), will not be followed in
the usual way at all. If it is a love affair it will also be a friendship.

Let yourselves flow with the tide of events in this relationship. If you let it
establish its own patterns, you should find it quite good.

Composite Venus Square Composite Uranus

With the square of Venus and Uranus in the composite chart you can
confidently expect the unexpected. A relationship can flare up and then die
with incredible speed when this aspect is present. Any effort to make such a
relationship fulfill narrow expectations is doomed to failure. Indeed, from
the normal point of view, it is extremely unstable. It would be best for the
two of you not to count on this relationship for anything in particular. Not
that it will have no value for you, but it is not likely to be what you expect.

If you are looking for a quiet, reliable, long-term association, this is

probably not it, unless you really can enjoy and appreciate an unstructured
relationship with almost no rules. If you can give yourselves room for such
an experience, by all means do so, but remember that you will be constantly
challenged.

A relationship with this aspect is destroyed usually because one of the

people tries to hold on to something within it. This makes the other person
feel trapped and rebellious about the restrictions. But such a relationship
does not need to have a long-term purpose; it can be an affair that goes
almost as soon as it begins. And when it goes, you must let it.

210
 Venus

Often a relationship like this has something very unusual about it and may
even fly in the face of social convention. Many extramarital affairs have this
aspect or a similar one. In a way, the relationship lives because of this
forbidden quality. If you break off your old relationships in favor of one
such as this, you will discover that making it legitimate has taken away the
"zing" of unconventionality. The two of you lose interest in each other, and
the affair dies. A friendship with this aspect survives to the extent that it
provides each of you with an escape from the ordinary routine.

In its own terms, a relationship with this aspect is usually successful in one
way or another. But if you want it to be long-lasting, you must operate
from a very unstructured and open position with a minimum of restrictions.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Uranus

The trine of Venus and Uranus can be very beneficial in the composite chart
of any kind of personal relationship, as long as you both are willing to
strike out against the conventional paths and find a path of your own. For
this relationship has a flavor that others would consider unusual, even
eccentric. Something about being together makes you both impatient about
doinfc things in a totally ordinary way.

A sexual relationship with this aspect is likely to be very open; that is, both
partners may permit each other to have other relationships with the
opposite sex. Or it may simply be that both partners are willing to grant
each other much more freedom of movement than usual. There are
countless other ways of being unusual as a couple. The point is that if you
don't want to follow the customary script for your relationship — love
affair, friendship, marriage, or whatever — then you don't have to.
There is a good quality to your relationship that will be brought out only it
you do thmKs your own way. Uranus is the planet of freedom and uncon-
ventionality, but it can also mean instability if forced to follow
conventional modes of expression, because it is the planet of rebellion

At the very least thi w to experience .1 relationship th.it

is different from any you may have known before. Allow yourself this
experience, and it will be good.

( umpmitr Venus ( >ppmition ( omposite Uranus

The • ■ the opposition ol COmpoaUe Venus .ind Uranus are quite

diffk wit to handle Normally this .ispe< t creates a very exc itinx relationship

211
 Planets in Composite

that lasts only for a short time. Typically, it will have tremendous ups and
downs that give the participants very little peace or quiet. This is
particularly true of love relationships. Other personal relationships are less
affected, although they will be very disruptive at times. The degree of
disruption is usually related directly to the intimacy of the affair.

The two of you may be very different in class, age, culture, or some such
factor. And usually the unusualness of the attraction is what keeps it going.
Consequently, any attempt to make the relationship normal or ordinary
will cause it to die.

This relationship may flare up quickly and then suddenly die out. The two
of you should not count on anything in particular if this aspect is present.
Not that you cannot derive any benefit from your relationship, but it is best
to take it as it comes and not try to live in the future. A marriage with this
aspect in the chart will be difficult, unless both of you are willing to give
each other a lot of freedom.

A friendship with this configuration is often more successful, because the

roles are less ritualized and you have more freedom within the relationship.
Uranus has a way of jarring people out of their ruts, which can be a
powerful force in a friendship.

Whatever the nature of your relationship, let it take the course that it wants
to take.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Neptune

With the conjunction of Venus and Neptune in a composite chart, your

affection for each other can become idealized to the point of unreality,
unless you are careful. This combination of Venus and Neptune can be a
beautiful illusion, or it can be the perfect mystical ideal union, which
obviously is an ideal that is not easily achieved.

A love relationship with this aspect usually starts out in a burst of romantic
fervor, for the Venus-Neptune aspects are the most romantic of all
astrological configurations. Unfortunately, however, such a relationship
usually doesn't take place between two real individuals but between two
fantasies that people form about each other. Be sure that your love is for a
real person and not for some imaginary ideal that your partner represents to
you. The effect of Neptune can be to make your disappointment more
intense when dull reality replaces the beautiful illusion.

222
 Venus

If in fact you both come close to each other's ideal, you will have a beautiful
relationship, the kind that inspires song and verse. But be honest with
yourselves; such ideal situations are rather rare.

Neptune is a nonphysical planet and therefore may turn an affair that

would otherwise be sexual into a platonic relationship. The physical aspect
of sex somehow does not come up to the spiritual idealism of Neptune.
Often this aspect will bring the deepest love but no sex. Even a friendship
will have this idealistic quality, but in that case the physical aspect is less of

a
a problem.

The important reminder with this aspect is to be realistic.

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Neptune

Like all composite Venus-Neptune aspects, the sextile increases the idealistic
and romantic tendencies of a relationship. A friendship becomes more than
an ordinary encounter, for each of you idealizes the other in some almost
magical way. In fact, this aspect favors friendship more than a love affair,
because like the other Venus-Neptune combinations, it inclines toward a
nonsexual relationship. Neptune operates on the nonphysical, nonmaterial
plane and denies physical manifestations, including sex.

Nevertheless, this aspect does not mean that a would-be sexual relationship
will be unsuccessful. It simply means that it will have a strongly spiritual
tone in addition to its sexual and physical dimensions. This can be a very
beautiful relationship for both of you, if you keep your feet on the ground,
at least a little bit. It should open your eyes to the sublime aspects ot the
world around you and make you more receptive to beauty. Through this
relationship you will also experience the beauty that lies within you At its
best, this can be a bond between true soul-mates who are matched
spiritually as well as physically.

Composite Venus Square Composite Neptune

The square ot composite Venus and Neptune requires that the two ot you be
quite wary about the true nature of this relationship It you arc not i
and unless you evaluate yourselves thoroughly, you could experience great
disappointment With this particular Venus-Neptun- vou may
believe that you have met the ideal ot your lite, especially in a romantic
jr lirt- is here! Everything may seem perfect and Idol
but tl • me a lime rather suddenly when it all turns out to be quite
ent trom what you had imagined.
 Planets in Composite

Neptune is the planet both of illusion and the ideal, and under its influence
you are likely to find it very difficult to tell which is which. This relationship
may be fact be a very good one from which you will derive much value,
although even at best you will probably idealize it. But even a really good
relationship may at the same time be a complete illusion. Without knowing
it, the two of you may not be able to see each other for what you are at all.
You must ascertain whether each of you is for real; that is, are you relating
to each other or to some idealized fantasy? Is the spiritual element that you
see in each other and in your relationship real or not?

You must examine this situation very closely, for you cannot afford to live
in a fool's paradise. Your relationship may be either very good or very
unreal, and you must find out which it is.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Neptune

The trine of composite Venus and Neptune indicates a highly idealized

relationship. If this is a love affair, it is a very romantic one; if it is a
friendship, you probably idealize each other's attributes. In either case,
something about this relationship stimulates your spiritual side, so that you
see each other as well as the world around you in a more idealized way.
This relationship may also stimulate great creativity in one of you, enabling
you to write poetry or music. However, it is more likely that it will only
stimulate a desire to be creative, rather than actually give you the ability.

Venus and Neptune together mean the beautiful illusion. In a trine,

however,the word "ideal" might be more appropriate than "illusion." Even
so, you must try to stay in touch with the everyday world; any relationship,
no matter how ideal, has to work out some everyday details that may not
quite come up to the beautiful ideal. With this aspect, the two of you may
even reject physical sex as being too earthly and material. Like many other
configurations of Neptune, this aspect is often characterized by a platonic
relationship. If there is physical sex, it is highly idealized.

The effects of this aspect are not really bad, although others may think that
the two of you are a little bit crazy. Your relationship should actually be
quite beautiful and pleasant, but in order for it to exist successfully in the
material world, you cannot spend all your time in the ideal world of your
dreams.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Neptune

The opposition of Neptune and Venus in the composite chart requires that

224
 Venus

you take great care when you enter into this relationship, whether it is a
love affair, friendship, marriage, or whatever. In any of these, your feelings
for each other will be very refined and idealized. At least in the initial
stages, this relationship will seem to have a perfection that you have never
found with anyone else. And there may be a spirituality between you that
you have never before encountered. Often one of you will look upon the
other as a spiritual leader who can act as a guide out of the confusion of
ordinary life into some new, higher spiritual realm.

a
But the question arises, who are you really in love with7 In any love
relationship you project elements of your own inner self upon your partner,
that is, you experience those characteristics as being outside of yourself. But
what you see in the other is often only a reflection of yourself, so you are
your own lover. In a successful relationship, the other person corresponds
to the projected image closely enough to make the illusion work. But in
some relationships there is little or no correspondence between the image
and the real person. Consequently, when this truth is recognized, great
disappointment sets in. Unfortunately, the Venus-Neptune opposition is
particularly subject to this kind of disappointment, because the ideals are
too high to begin with, so the letdown is even greater.

Do not try to find Salvation with your friend or lover. Be satisfied with a
human being in this relationship and look elsewhere for your god. Few
people can measure up to such expectations, so accept the reality of the
other person. You may find a far more beautiful reality than you would
have imagined to be possible.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Pluto

Venus conjunct Pluto in the composite chart signifies the power of love as
a transforming agent. In this relationship whether it is a friendship
love affair, you are seeking something more than love in the ordinary l
In other words, you are hoping to find a very intense experience that will
change and transform you. hopefully forever but at least as long as the
relationship la • quently, everything about your bein>; together
becomes extremely important nothing is treated lightly.

In a sexual relationship, physical lovemakinK is approached with an

intensity that can make f :ul and beautiful On the
other hand, it can exaggerate the impor' miM h that the whole
relationship hinges on the success of each instar making

At any rate this is not likely to be a casual relationship "l ou will be

215
 Planets in Composite

intensely involved with each other. Unfortunately, however, the intensity

can sometimes take a peculiar and undesirable form. Love can be
transformed into a power struggle if one or both of you tries to use the
relationship as a tool for manipulating the other. The victim is powerless to
do anything about it, and a strange love-hate tension is set up. Sometimes
one of the partners feels degraded by the other but at the same time is held
by a curious fascination. When such a situation finally explodes, it can be
disastrous.

Obviously, from what has been said, this is not a relationship to play with.
You must enter into it with serious intentions of making something good of
it. You will both have great power over each other, so use it well.

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Pluto

Venus sextile Pluto in the composite chart is an intensely transforming

aspect, but it works in an undemanding way. The basic significance of this
aspect is that your relationship will change the ways you think about the
world, as well as changing your personal objectives. You both will be
changed by the relationship, but you may not be aware of the process as it is
happening. The only thing you will notice is that your feelings will have a
depth that is not often found in a relationship.

Even a friendship with this aspect will have a greater sense of emotional
involvement than usual. Most friendships, especially between men, have a
casual quality with no particular awareness of love, just a friendly easiness.
With this aspect, however, your emotions will be evident, even in a
friendship.

In a sexual relationship the qualities of this aspect become especially

evident. The whole relationship, and particularly the physical part of it,
becomes a way of transcending the ordinariness of life. But it is not an
escape, for your awareness is heightened rather than diminished. The
emotions you feel will make the ordinary seem extraordinary, and the
everyday concerns will be of great importance.

Do not treat this relationship lightly, but do not be afraid of it either. It can
be particularly rewarding.

Composite Venus Square Composite Pluto

The Venus-Pluto square in the composite chart means the power of love or
the power in love. This is not a relationship to be treated lightly, for

226
 Venus

powerful forces are at work here. Some very unusual and difficult
emotional patterns can arise in which one of you is fascinated by the other
and comes under his or her complete control. Even if the dominated one is
aware of what is happening, there seems to be nothing he or she can do
about it. The feelings can become a mixture of love and hate.

Usually the effect is not that intense, but still there are problems. Even in a
more usual relationship one of you may use the love you share as a device
for manipulating and controlling the other. This often has disastrous
consequences if the dominated partner tries to break free. When such a
relationship breaks up, it leaves feelings of bitterness that are greater than
those in any other breakup.

There can be many good things about this relationship. Your emotional
involvement is intense, and you are very deeply concerned about each
other. In a sexual relationship there is a strong emphasis on physical
lovemaking. If you can avoid the kinds of games described above, you can
have a rich and rewarding relationship. Try not to play around with each
other's feelings. Although you will find it difficult to leave well enough
alone, you must learn to do so or face the consequences of bad feelings and
mutual recriminations.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Pluto

Like all composite Venus-Pluto aspects, the trine produces extremely

intense feelings in any kind of relationship. But with this aspect it is perhaps
easier to control the energies and still keep the strong points of such a
relationship.

In a love relationship between the sexes, you will find it easy to demon
your feelings for each other. You will enjoy loving and being loved. The
experience will transform you and make your world and your perception ot
it into somethinK new You may not be able to see how your lite has
changed, but there will be change Most likely, it is your point ot
about life that will change, which can be a very important change Voui
point of view determines how you respond to the world

With a Venus-Pluto trine, love has an almost psychotherapeutic effect on

both Even a friendship with this aspect has a transforming quality

Sexual lo. • nportant in this relationship In a marriage children

may assume a greater than usual significance Th< i tie to the
future, which somehow ensures that the two of von will m . uents
 Planets in Composite

usually have this notion, unconsciously, of immortality through their

children, but in this case you are likely to be very aware of it.

The Venus-Pluto trine confers an intense quality that can bind two people
together and give the relationship more than ordinary importance.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Pluto

With the opposition of Venus and Pluto in the composite chart you will
have to be very careful. Your relationship has a peculiar intensity that
makes both of you experience and display strange, usually unconscious
feelings. Somehow this relationship dredges up all kinds of deeply buried
emotions that you may not really want to cope with. At its best, this power
can cause you both to become new and more authentic people than you
have been. But at its worst you will just play around with each other's
feelings, and what comes of playing around will make both of you feel quite
bad about yourselves.

This is not a trivial relationship. If you are lovers, your feelings for each
other, both good and bad, are very strong. If you are friends, your
friendship is very deep and moving. Even if you are enemies, which is a
possibility with this aspect, you will affect each other profoundly and quite
probably in a positive way, although that will not necessarily be obvious at
the time.

Whatever your relationship, with such intense emotions you should not
trifle with each other, for you can help or hurt each other tremendously.
Typically, one of you may play God or psychotherapist and use the insights
that you gain to threaten or manipulate your partner. But it isn't a good
idea to fall in love with your psychoanalyst, or to be a psychoanalyst to
your lover. Instead, try to just experience your love. The feelings between
you can be powerful forces for good or bad, so use each other wisely.

Composite Venus Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Venus and Ascendant is a particularly

good aspect for any kind of personal relationship, especially a love affair or
marriage. It signifies that the two of you are extremely complementary in
many respects and that as a couple you are a whole that is stronger than the
two parts.

Love and emotion are very strong in this relationship. Even a casual
relationship will become loving. A professional or business association with

218
 Venus

this aspect will also be a friendship, without the difficult personal

entanglements that can sometimes destroy a professional relationship. In
any kind of relationship, the two of you can cooperate, and each makes up
for what the other lacks.

People around you will be aware of the way you feel about each other, and
this fact will improve your relationships with others. A loving couple makes
other people feel good, and they will enjoy being around you.

a
Under some circumstances, the conjunction of Venus and the composite
Ascendant can attract money and other kinds of property. In all, this is an
excellent indication for any relationship.

Composite Venus Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Venus and Ascendant is an excellent aspect for a

personal relationship. First of all, it is a sign of loving friendship, whether
you are lovers or simply friends. It is easy for each of you to indicate your
feelings to the other, without the hesitancy or shyness about revealing
emotions that can make a relationship difficult from time to time. You
always feel comfortable and easy with each other.

When stressful times occur, you both are primarily concerned about the
survival of your relationship, so you willingly make the necessary
compromises to ensure it. The only problem to watch for is that the energy
of Venus may be so accommodating that one partner will give way when he
or she should take a stand in order to save self-esteem and respect.
Fortunately, however, you both are inclined to do this, so at least it is not
always the same person who gives way. Even so, don't allow your desire for
a smooth relationship to make you hold back tensions and energies t hat
should be expressed, even if they cause some trouble. This problem
becomes more severe if there are other indications of trouble in the chart

This relationship may possibly become associated with some artistu or

aesthetic activity involving music or the arts or a branch of the
entertainment industry. Certainly the two of you will be attracted to such
• specially if you had an interest in them bet

( ompoMtc Vrnus Square Composite Ascendant

The K| , difficult squar.

ntrary. it is a very b*n«-fi<ial asprct in a c omposite i hart This
Ven • is a siKr v lovinx relationship
 Planets in Composite

This combination will manifest itself particularly in your home.

If this is a relationship in which you have a home together, it will be
an expression of your feelings for each other. It will be a place where the
two of you can retire from the outside world, not as an escape but as a
refuge where you can prepare yourselves for the next day. You will do
everything you can to make your home pleasant and comfortable, with
beautiful art and decor, comfortable furniture, and good food. And these
comforts are not simply an indulgence, but an honest expression of your
desires to make each other feel as comfortable as possible.

Sometimes the energy of this square operates outside the home as well.
Instead of expressing itself in your personal world, your home, this energy
may be expressed through your social and public lives. Instead of keeping
your love to yourselves, you may make your relationship very public and
open, so that others will sit up and take notice of two people who feel
strongly about each other.

In a professional relationship this aspect can mean that you are engaged in
an occupation related to art and beauty or the entertainment industry.

In a relationship that has no clearly identifiable home, this aspect means

that the two of you feel that your love for each other comes from a strong
similarity in your pasts. Many elements of your lives before you met have
given you something in common, and this binds you together.

Composite Venus Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Venus and Ascendant is one of the best aspects to
have in a composite chart, especially for a love relationship or marriage. It
indicates that the two of you enjoy each other and that your love is founded
on the ability to be yourselves in each other's company. Each of you accepts
your partner for what he or she is, without making endless demands that
the other change in ways that are impossible. You both understand that the
other is what he or she is, not in a spirit of resignation but of joy.

Because of this attitude, you are tolerant of each other's faults, and you let
each other alone instead of causing conflict. It is not just that you have good
feelings for each other, but that the way you feel about each other broadens
your understanding of life in general.

On another level, you enjoy having good times together. You like to get out
and attend the theater, nightclubs, and other amusements. If you have come
together for business or professional reasons, you would succeed quite well

220
 Venus

in professions relating to these fields. In an individual, this aspect may be a

sign of artistic ability, and in a relationship it may mean that the two of you
are somehow involved with the arts.

Under any circumstances this aspect should help to make your relationship
pleasant and worth having.

Composite Venus Opposition Composite Ascendant

a
The opposition of composite Venus and Ascendant signifies the possibility
of a partnership of real love, one of the best to have in the composite chart
of a love relationship or marriage. It can pull a relationship through the
worst situations that can occur

Regardless of why you have come together, this aspect will produce a love
relationship between you. The two of you feel that you complement each
other in some definite but indefinable way and that together you are
stronger than you would be separately. This is not merely appearance, for
at its ultimate level, Venus signifies the attraction between two people who
are truly complementary. That is to say, your differences do not create
barriers between you but allow you to work together in life. Each one has
what the other lacks and needs. Venus on the composite Descendant is a
strong indication that the two of you form such a complementary team.
Mar5
Chapter Nine
 Mars

The Meaning of Mars in the Composite Chart

The basic principle of Mars is the ego-drive, the energy by which you
sustain your sense of being an individual, both toward the world and
toward other people. You inevitably build up your notions of yourself
through the ways in which you interact with others. Without some kind of

SJ
active inner energy, you would not be able to withstand encounters with
others at all and would be forced to drop out of life altogether. And indeed
this does happen to some people.

In a relationship, people try to establish some kind of positive connection

with each other, but ego-drives often get in the way. If you have a sound
sense of yourself, as signified by a well-placed Mars, you will have little
difficulty getting along with others. But if Mars is badly placed, your sense
of your own being is deficient, and you will get into conflicts that make it
impossible to relate to others. A conflict between two people arises
whenever one challenges a weakness in the other's sense of individuality — in
other words, the ego.

In a composite chart. Mars signifies your ability to create an environment

within the relationship for both of you to express yourselves fully without
threatening each other and provoking destructive conflicts. Some— perhaps
quite a lot of — conflict in a relationship is inevitable, and conflict ;
should not be suppressed. But your ego drives must be basically compatible
within the relationship, or nothing can be accomplished.

In a sexual relationship. Mars also rules the sex drive A successful •

relationship requires that both Venus the abilitv to relate anil Mars the
be in K'M,d condition There is a la-, mponent in a
i! relationship It the relationship does not express each of
H will not work A poorly jspettrd Mars in a composite sanities
which will affect your abilit kloCIf will
il relationship it will aftec t the quality ol phytic al sex

225
 Planets in Composite

Composite Mars in the First House

Composite Mars in the first house demands that this relationship be a

complete expression of both of you. This should be the case with any
relationship, but it is even more important in this instance. It would be best
if you could find something that you both like to do together, and the more
physically active the better. There is a lot of energy in your relationship that
must be expended somehow.

If you can find a common purpose, all of your energy will be focused on
that instead of on each other. You will be able to accomplish a tremendous
amount of work together, and in the process you will enjoy each other.
There is no way around the fact that this relationship demands activity.

Unfortunately, if you do not handle these energies properly, Mars can

signify fighting and conflict. It is not that you necessarily dislike each other,
although that could be the case, but that the relationship doesn't give any
relevance to the matters that are really important to each of you
individually. There are you, the other person, and your relationship, all of
which seem to have very little in common.

Keeping this problem in mind, this can be an excellent placement for any
relationship that is specifically aimed at accomplishing a job or task, such as
a professional association.

Composite Mars in the Second House

Mars in the second house of the composite chart indicates a relationship in

which your mutual ego-expression revolves around acquiring things, but
not necessarily holding on to them. The second house is the house of one's
resources, both material and psychological.

There is a tendency to be reckless with resources, such as spending money

too quickly or taking chances with possessions. It is as if the two of you
glory in being able to do whatever you want with what you own. The
problem is that you both have to agree on what to do with your mutual
possessions. If you cannot agree, there could be serious disputes over
property, possessions, and finances. Even if the relationship is otherwise
satisfactory, the way you handle money and possessions could be a serious
threat to harmony between you. It is very important that you come to some
understanding about this issue as early as possible.

Even if you do agree, you should be careful about what you do with your

226
 Mars

resources. Otherwise you may find that the resources you need to
accomplish something have disappeared.

Mars in the composite chart relates to joint ego-expression. The

second-house position means that this will be achieved through property,
possessions, and money. Plan very carefully how to achieve what you
want, and be very sure to do something with what you have, for that is
what the position signifies.

The second house can also signify values in an intellectual sense. Whatever
your value systems are, be sure that you have a conscious understanding of
them, or they could become an issue that divides you.

Composite Mars in the Third House

H
Mars in the third house of the composite chart indicates several areas of
expression in a relationship. First of all, the third house rules the lower
mind, that is. the mind in its routine day-to-day functioning. If the two of
you are not getting along well with each other, this placement of Mars
signifies arguing and disputes and general intellectual disagreement. The
problem is that each of you may identify with your own ideas and opinions
so strongly that you regard a challenge to your beliefs as a challenge to your
innermost self. Habits and other ingrained behavior patterns could also
become an issue for dispute in this relationship. You must straighten out
within yourselves and with each other what is going on inside you. In other
words, you have to have great self-awareness.

The third house also rules the immediate environment and relatives. If your
relationship is working out well, this simply means that the two of you will
be actively and vigorously involved with your immediate family and
reldti negative turn I you may be constantly .it
odds with your immediate environment -continual disputes with relatives
for example Again it is necessary that you both wati h out tor linootUCJom
habits of thought

Composite Mars in the Fourth House

The fourth house rules the innermost been ot lite vour own inner
i.ition the home, the mcotudom mind, your | d in-laws.
.rth hou--< site ihart is most notneahle it its
Ol working smoothly It the Mars energy is working smoothly
you will hardly be I were >>t it I he two ot you will V ;ier with a
• it smoothness.
 Planets in Composite

However, if the Mars energy is not working smoothly, there will be a

number of difficulties to work out. To begin with, the sources of your ego
conflicts are buried deep within the relationship, so it will be difficult to
root them out and bring them into the open. The causes of conflict will be in
matters that you take so much for granted that you are not even aware of
them. For this reason you must question even your most fundamental
assumptions to discover how you are subverting your relationship.

The effects of this energy will be apparent in the most basic aspects of your
lives. If you live together, the energy could manifest itself as arguments in
and about the home. You might have differing concepts of what a home
ought to be, which could be a serious source of conflict. Or if you are
married, your parents might be the immediate occasion for battle. But
neither home nor parents is really the problem. The basic difficulty is that
your unconscious ideas and notions on various subjects become clear to you
only when they are challenged. It will take a very deep inquiry into
yourselves to get at these problems.

Composite Mars in the Fifth House

The fifth house is a very compatible position for Mars in a composite chart,
but the needs it generates must be met. It is a position of great
self-expression, so there must be ample opportunity for self-expression in
this relationship. You must give each other plenty of room to be yourselves
with a minimum of interference. If you impose all manner of limitations on
each other, there will be considerable conflict. Mars is related to ego
energies, which create no problem if expressed. If they are not expressed,
however, they can create many difficulties.

It would be excellent for the two of you to be as active as possible together,

with a common set of goals toward which you bend your energies. In that
way the energy that might become a source of conflict can bind the two of

you together".
In a sexual relationship this position can be extremely beneficial, provided
that you follow the advice given above. The fifth is the house of love
affairs, while Mars, along with Venus, rules sexual energy. In a sexual
relationship with this position, if you don't work well together on a sexual
level, there is not likely to be harmony on any other level. The energy that
should be used in sex instead becomes the source of very divisive ego
conflict.

228
 Mars

Composite Mars in the Sixth House

With composite Mars in the sixth house, you will have a sense of work to be
done together. The sixth is the house of work, and in a composite chart it
signifies the duties and responsibilities that the two of you must fulfill
through this relationship.

The difficulty with this position, as with all planets in the sixth house of the
composite chart, is that your sense of duty will often overwhelm the feelings
of joy and pleasure that should be present in a relationship. The two of you
may begin to regard the relationship as a burden, a set of tasks, rather than
something to be enjoyed for its own sake. This is a deadening point of view
and is particularly difficult in a sexual relationship.

a
This position is least problematical in a business or professional association
in which work is the sole object. But even here the two of you must enjoy
being together, so that your work becomes a form of self-expression as well
as a duty. The sixth house emphasizes the needful aspect of work rather
than the self-expressive aspect.

If the two of you do not feel that you are accomplishing something fairly
concrete by being together, this will be a disruptive problem. Enjoying each
other or feeling that you are both growing through your relationship is not
usually enough to satisfy the demands of this placement of Mars. There is
work to be done.

Composite Mars in the Seventh House

n the seventh house of the composite chart can indicate that th<
of you have a . • d common purpose. On the other hand
mean a total conflict of purpose to the point that you are clearly enemies
rather than friends or lovers. Either you will feel that your energies are
infinitely \ <-ssed by being together rather than apart or you will
be in an extreme state ot contlict with each other Which .
relationship will work depen>: .at extent upon hnding a u
her discovering something that vou can do
together The seventh is the house ot partners and of open enemies. t.\ ■
the very worst you will know exactly where you stand with each other

It is also ponfl for these two effects to occur together This

creates a k>VS> hf relationship in which your terlings toward eai h other
oscillate rapidly between loving and hating
 Planets in Composite

The presence of Mars in this house indicates that the ego-energies within
this relationship are very strong. In this situation it is not always easy for
one of you to accede to the other's wishes. Here the martyr game that
characterizes so many relationships — with one of you always conceding
grudgingly to the other — will not work.

This position requires that the two of you be on an equal footing. Any
attempt to place yourself over your partner will make a very tense
situation. Give each other plenty of room to find fulfillment within the
relationship and also to find something that you can work for together.
Then this position of Mars will be a help rather than a hindrance.

Composite Mars in the Eighth House

Composite Mars in the eighth house indicates that in this relationship the
two of you express your egos in a way that forces you to look for new
insights into the nature of your ways of living. The eighth house of the
horoscope is very complex. It is the house of transformation and of the
psychological energies that underlie any major changes within the self. As
each of you encounters the other, you will be challenged, not necessarily in
a destructive way, but in a way that will make growth necessary.

The eighth house also represents regeneration, and Mars in this house can
create a great deal of sexual energy for regeneration of the self through the
creation of another person. In this relationship, sex will be very important
and may even become a vehicle for transforming both of you.

This is the house of joint resources, which makes it very important to a

relationship. In some cases there may be conflict between you about money
or property. To avoid this problem you both must learn to back down and
make sure that petty expressions of the ego are not getting in the way of the
relationship. Try not to become too involved with your possessions. If you
identify with them too strongly, they will become a source of problems.

Composite Mars in the Ninth House

Composite Mars in the ninth, the house of the higher mind and long
journeys, indicates a strong involvement with ideas, beliefs, and
philosophies of life in this relationship. That is, your beliefs are very
important to each of you, and being together makes them even more so. If
your ideas and attitudes toward life are compatible, you will work very
hard together to protect them, and you will try to convince others of the
Tightness of what you are doing.

230
 Mars

If your attitudes are not compatible, you will waste a lot of energy trying to
convince each other of them, causing much conflict in the process. The
universe is actually large enough to encompass both sets of ideas, as well as
the beliefs of those whom you disagree with. But the two of you probably
do not realize this, feeling that if other peoples beliefs are true, yours
cannot be, and vice versa. You are likely to react to opposition almost as if
your lives were in danger. Be careful of this and try to expand your views so
that they can encompass those of other people.

This placement of Mars may also indicate that the two of you will do some
work together that involves traveling over long distances. Or it can mean
working together in some academic or intellectual field.

a
Composite Mars in the Tenth House

Mars in the tenth house of the composite chart means that the energy of
Mars must be successfully expressed through this relationship, or there is
likely to be trouble. The tenth is the house of the ego's most complete
expression, symbolizing what you must do in order to evolve in life. In a
composite chart, the tenth house has to do with how well each of you can
express your life purpose within the relationship. With Mars in this house,
the issue of ego-drives will be even more important than in most
relationships.

You must allow each other plenty of room to follow your own paths. It
would not be a good idea for one of you to sacrifice your goals in life in
order to allow your partner to pursue his or her objectives. Eventually that
course of action would become a sore point that could disrupt the
relationship. Each of you must be allowed to do your own thing while you
are together. Obviously it will be helpful if you have similar ideas about
what you wish to do with your lives. Whatever your ambitions they will be
an issue in this relationship

If you can agree on this issue, the energy of the tenth-house Mars will serve
you in good stead. You will approach business or any other ]oint activity
very aggressively and energetically. The results should be excellent
■ ver. take care not to let these energies get out of hand, because thev
could generate a great deal <>t opposition trom others that would be harmful
to your best interc-

( umpositr Mars in tht- M«'\ t-nth Hoiim-

s in the eleventh hous<- indicates that the two ol von will

231
 Planets in Composite

enjoy working with other people in groups. It is an indication that you will
derive more satisfaction from your work and energies if you feel that what
you are doing is part of a greater whole. Together you will identify with
various group projects, movements, and other situations in which the
individual ego is subordinated to group expression. It is easier for both of
you to completely express your personal energies through your relationship
this way.

This position may also indicate that you will try to dominate your friends
or associates, which will make matters rather difficult for the two of you.
No matter where Mars is located in the chart, you must be careful how you
handle its energies so that they do not cause strife and arguments with
others.

The eleventh house is also the house of your ideals and hopes in life. Mars in
this position indicates that the two of you will work very hard to attain
whatever you want out of life. Consequently it is very important that you
have similar or at least complementary goals in life. Otherwise,
disagreements on this issue are likely to be a great source of conflict.

Composite Mars in the Twelfth House

Composite Mars in the twelfth house makes it absolutely imperative that

the two of you understand exactly what you want from this relationship
and each other. You must arrive at a conscious understanding and
agreement. In most relationships, agreements are made tacitly, not formally
stated or written down. But for the two of you it might be very profitable to
write out an agreement. By doing so you may discover that you have
included all kinds of demands that you never thought you would ask
for. If you don't make the demands explicit, you can be sure that every time
one of them is broken it will cause a conflict, even though neither of you
will understand exactly why.

The literal meaning of Mars in the twelfth house might be stated as

unconscious forms of ego expression. The twelfth house is not really
unconscious, but it often indicates signals that you are sending out into the
world very strongly but not acknowledging. Whether or not you
acknowledge them, you will have to live with the consequences.

It is just the same with a relationship; the twelfth-house Mars signifies that
you are putting into the relationship sources of conflict that could weaken it
badly. Even worse, it would be very unclear why the problems exist. If you
do not make an effort to find out what you really expect of each other, it

232
 Mars

will be difficult to ascertain why you are having conflicts. You may find
that if you verbalize your wants, they will be full of contradictions,
double-binds, and contract arrangements that can't be fulfilled. Only if you
take the trouble to examine your expectations closely will it be possible to
understand what you really want from each other and whether your needs
can be met.

PL J
Composite Mars Conjunct Composite Jupiter

The conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in the composite chart denotes a

relationship that has a great deal of energy, either physical or
psychological. You like to be active and to do things together. Some couples
may work this energy out by participating in sports together, and others
may do so by sharing work. One thing is clear: whatever you do together
will be successful. This is an aspect of luck, or at least that is how others will
see it. What actually happens is that the two of you have a good sense of
timing in your activities together, so you get the best possible results. Also,
you approach whatever you do together with optimism and the
expectation of success, which aids you in accomplishing your objectives.

The Mars-Jupiter conjunction creates a relationship that favors ego-e>

sion; that is, you can do what you really want to do, and you each can be
the kind of person you really want to be. This aspect also helps to ensure
that the end results of your efforts will be good for all concerned.

In a sexual relationship, this aspect helps to make the physical expression or

your love good and satisfying. Sexual expression acts as a solid basis for the
whole relationship, and yet it does not remain the only positive quality
Your success in that area becomes the foundation tor an overall success that
others may well envy. It seems as though everything you do together works
out for the best

Composite Mars Sextile C omposite Jupiter

■i the composite chart is a good inclu ation that vo

harmoniously related within the relationship I hat is each d
.in do what you want and be what vou want without getting in the
way of your relationship In tact, this aspec t usually sanities that being
•her helps you both to be yourselves and do what v.ui want

.mbolism of the M hmation is (..Muriate at tion VoU

and have the happy ta» il

2JJ
 Planets in Composite

can pursue together. And all these activities cement your relationship. If
you are friends, this aspect will help you to be good friends. If you are
lovers, you will also be friends, which is quite unusual in a love affair.

This aspect confers a rare quality of optimism on a relationship. You expect

things to work, and that expectation somehow makes it happen. As a
couple you will set high goals for yourselves, and they will be within your
grasp. Sometimes the effort you expend, although real, will not even be
apparent. It simply comes so easily that you are not aware of the effort at
the time. This aspect can be instrumental in making a relationship
successful, regardless of its purpose.

Composite Mars Square Composite Jupiter

Unlike most squares, the square of Mars and Jupiter in the composite chart
is not all that hard to deal with. It gives the two of you a great deal of
energy and makes you fond of doing things together. In fact, it is essential
that you accustom yourselves to working together, for there is an
underlying element of friendly competition between you that you have to
understand if your relationship is to work out positively.

In the early stages, you may be irritated by each other's friendly kidding
and goading, until you realize that it is harmless. As you become more
familiar with your style as a couple, you will find that you make each other
put out more effort and get more done than you could separately. The ego
conflicts that arise somehow become the source of more energy.

On the other hand, if you do not try to work together and share your
activities, this energy will still be present. But then it is likely to become a
disruptive element and a source of bickering and conflict. It may not
seriously undermine your feelings for each other, but it will be an
unnecessary irritant. The more you work together, the more usefully this
energy will be expended. The two of you cannot afford to stare lovingly
into each other's eyes, or if you are friends, to sit around and meditate
together. This relationship requires action.

Composite Mars Trine Composite Jupiter

Mars trine Jupiter is one of the best trines to have in a composite chart, for it
indicates that there is harmony between you. You like to be together and
to do things together, which contributes to a greater understanding of
yourselves and each other. This is a growth relationship. Both of you will
find that you can be yourselves in each other's presence without apology or

234
 Mars

explanation. When one of you is down, your partner cheers you up, and
happiness permeates everything you do together.

Your optimism and exuberance extend to your activities, as if you had a

Midas touch that turns everything to gold. This is not really luck, although
others will think it is, but a sense of timing and a knowledge of your own
abilities that develops as you learn about yourselves from each other. You
do not expect things to go wrong, and they do not.

In a marriage, this aspect will help make child raising a positive experience.
You are very likely to have children, and you will cherish them as the fruits
of your relationship. In fact, this aspect makes any fruits of a relationship
turn out well, no matter what they are.

a
Composite Mars Opposition Composite Jupiter

This aspect between Mars and Jupiter in the composite chart is one of the
easiest oppositions to work with. It does create within a relationship a great
deal of energy that must be given some kind of outlet. If the energy is
bottled up, it can create problems.

To use the energy of this aspect, it is necessary for the two of you to be
active together. Whenever practical you must do things jointly and pool
your resources. If you do, you will find that together you can perform tasks
that you could never do as separate individuals. You arouse physical energy
in each other.

But if you do not find an outlet by working together, the energy can create a
competitiveness that will tend to break up rather than cement the
relationship. Mars-Jupiter energy is very physical, and often is best
expressed in athletic <u tivities, such as playing together in sports Also
sports provide an expression tor the naturally competitive n.iture ot the
' You will spur each other on to action in a light-hearted and triendlv
way. You may tease and make fun of each other, but this compctith •
will not become destructive unless vou try to suppress it

•ativelv. the best ot this aspect's e: U

will • hi out in your relationship

Mars ( oii|iimt ( ompositc S.ilurn

I S.iturn in a composite (hart | .\n be quite

difficult tO deal wil ally in a personal relationship The bas»

235
 Planets in Composite

principle of these planets together is blocked action. In a relationship, the

symptoms of this are feelings of frustration and futility by one or both of
you. Something about being together simply does not allow you to express
yourselves freely.

Mars rules the ego drives, the energies by which a person establishes who he
or she is in the world. But in a Mars-Saturn relationship each of you is
constantly getting in the way of the other's ego drives. There may be cutting
remarks, sarcasm, digs, and other tactics, but never an honest
confrontation that would clear the air and release the negative energies that
build up in a relationship.

Another result of this aspect in a sexual relationship is that one of you is

always "hot" while the other is "cold." One feels loving while the other feels
distant. A long-term relationship can survive this problem, but you will
have to learn to live with the situation of being out of phase with each
other.

With this aspect, what is most difficult to do is the very thing that must be
done. You must let each other be and give each other room to breathe. It is
particularly important to avoid unconstructive criticism, especially the kind
that masquerades as being constructive. And you must be tolerant of each
other's ups and downs, even if you cannot gear your own moods to coincide
with them. Be prepared for these mood changes, and do not take them too
personally.

Composite Mars Sextile Composite Saturn

The sextile between Mars and Saturn in the composite chart is not very
easy to deal with. But it does have some strengths, particularly in a
professional relationship in which some particularly exacting and
painstaking work must be performed.

In a personal relationship there is a great danger that the two of you will get
locked into behavioral ruts that are difficult to get out of. Every time one of
you acts in a certain way, the other can be counted on to react in a certain,
set manner that never changes. This aspect signifies habits, and as far as
relationships are concerned, not very positive ones. Often the habits have
very little to do with you as individuals; you probably behave quite
differently with other people. But there is something in this relationship that
makes you both behave strangely. Neither of you permits the other to be
himself or herself. These little negative rituals develop so that you can
handle being together on a daily basis.

236
 Mars

The only way to deal with this aspect successfully is for both of you to
become conscious of what you do that triggers your partner's responses. It
is possible to solve this problem, for this aspect is by no means fatal to a
relationship. All it takes is effort. Fortunately, one of the beneficial effects
of this aspect is that you will have quite a bit of patience in dealing with
each other.

Composite Mars Square Composite Saturn

Even in an otherwise favorable composite chart, the square of Mars and

Saturn is quite difficult, for it indicates that the two of you are working at
cross purposes. At its worst, this aspect will make you get in each other's
way to such an insufferable degree that you cannot get along at all. At best,
there will be friction because one of you is always in a different state of
mind from the other. But this aspect does not often give rise to open
warfare. Usually it produces negative feelings that seethe below the surface
without ever coming out into the open. Occasionally your feelings will go
past the boiling point, however, and there will be a big explosion of angry
words between you.

With this aspect in your composite chart, you obviously have work to do.
First of all, you must open the channels of communication between you.
You will tend to hide your anger even when it is not good to do so. Learn to
let it out and get it over with. It is better to blow off steam more often and
•tensely than to hold back your anger for a long time. Say exactly
what is on your mind and try not to express irritation in little cutting
remarks

In a sexual relationship, this aspect often creates differences of timing. One

of you will always be in a different mood from the other, and both of you
will insist on what you want when you want it. Obviously someone has to
give, and that will be difficult in this case. But if you each can decide, at
least occasionally, to give in without a fuss, it will improve vour
relationship immeasurably.

Composite Mars Trine Composite Saturn

The t: d Saturn is not one of the easier tnnes to deal

with It tends to lock, the two of you into patterns of self expression th.it
continue to operate even when most inappropri.itr 1 i kt- the textile, this
■ indicates habits in a relationship You tend to develop set wavs of
thinlunK that are very difficult to net away from and therefore vou find it
hard to srr matters as they really are.

237
 Planets in Composite

You both must learn to be more flexible in your thinking about the
relationship and avoid responding to each other in automatic ways.
However much you are tempted to respond as you have in the past, try to
look at your partner as if you had never seen him or her before. You will
find that each new situation, which you have been handling in the same old
set way, is actually quite different and should be dealt with in a very distinct
manner. Apply this idea to yourselves also. Watch your behavior and try to
avoid doing the same things you have always done before. Only by looking
at yourselves will you be able to do this.

In any personal relationship, but especially in a sexual one, it is important

to give each other room to be what you are. If you can accept each other
only on certain conditions, you should get out of the relationship. If you
can each grant freedom of self-expression to the other, many of the ill effects
of this aspect will be overcome.

Composite Mars Opposition Composite Saturn

The opposition of Mars and Saturn in the composite chart indicates a severe
conflict between your life styles. It presents quite a few obstacles for your
relationship to overcome. Most "commonly the conflict takes the form of
one-sidedness, so that one of you has all the emotions. Or the two of you
may alternate your roles. One of you will like the other very much, while
that person is feeling "cool," and then the cool one will suddenly turn on,
just when the first partner turns off. Even more important in a sexual
relationship, this aspect indicates differences in rhythm and timing.

A relationship may go on for some time with one partner being very
affectionate and the other responding only with increasing demands, giving
very little in return. In such a case, communication will be very poor
between you, for both of you are afraid that your partner will reject you or
not let you be what you are. Because of these fears, important issues that
you ought to face directly are not faced at all. When the situation gets tense,
as happens in any relationship, but especially here, stony silence reigns.
Neither of you will say anything, as if every word were too painful to utter.
Yetboth of you are seething with frustration and anguish, unable to give it
any vent.

The obvious cures for this problem are for both of you to let each other be
and allow any difficulties that arise between you to be expressed openly. Do
not hold it in. It is better to blow up occasionally than to blow out. Give
each other room and confine your criticism to real issues. In any
relationship some ego conflict is inevitable, but here there will be more than

238
 Mars

usual. You must allow for this conflict and expect it, but when it comes,
don't take it as seriously as you may be inclined to.
Composite Mars Conjunct Composite Uranus

The conjunction of Mars and Uranus in the composite chart signifies totally
unexpected and strange occurrences, so this relationship will not be an
ordinary one. It may be that your relationship exists partly to express
rebellion against established modes and patterns in the outside world; the
two of you have come together to defy the world. Of course that is an
extreme case, but even a more commonplace relationship, no matter what
its purpose, will develop in an unusual way.

If the relationship does not have this quality of defiance, there may be many
ups and downs and unexpected changes within it. This is not the ideal

El
aspect for a stable, reliable association. You may have come together under
unexpected circumstances or at a most inconvenient time. If this is a sexual
relationship, one of you may have another commitment, which will be
severely disrupted by this new encounter.

Clearly, with this aspect in your composite* chart, the two of you must deal
with your relationship in a very flexible manner. As with most Uranus
combinations, you will have to take what you get. Let the relationship take
its own course and don't saddle it with a lot of expectations. If you are not
free to go wherever its natural energies take you, perhaps you should avoid
it altogether. This relationship could be quite dangerous emotionally,
particularly if you are involved in another that would be incompatible with
this one.

Composite Mars Sextile Composite Uranus

• xtile of Mars and Uranus in the composite chart indicates that certain
elements of this relationship will change your lives, not necessarily In
cosmic ways but nevertheless meaningfully. Through this experience you
will find that your old ways of domu things are constantly challenged and
i tO change The results will not be shattering, however but
challenging and interesting Regardless of the purpose of this relationship
you will .1 ids. and together you will be eager to set ott in new
>ns

newness of it all n t Frightening Some

elements of this relationship simply do not follow the ordinarv s« ript but
don't worry about that If you go along with the natural flow of this

239
 Planets in Composite

relationship, it should work out satisfactorily.

At its best, this aspect will give the two of you new opportunities that you
can take advantage of only if you are willing to strike out onto new paths.
This relationship will not only prod you out of your rut, but will also help
you understand why you should be prodded.

No matter how strange, unpredictable, or chaotic this relationship may

seem, this aspect will give it a new dimension and make it rewarding to
follow through to its conclusion.

Composite Mars Square Composite Uranus

You have the square of Mars and Uranus in your composite chart. To a
great extent the virtues and flaws of any aspect in a composite chart depend
upon your objectives. A personal relationship with this aspect is most likely
to be successful if you have few expectations for it, because if it does not live
up to what you expect, you may consider it a failure. With the square of
Mars and Uranus in your composite chart, the two of you are especially
impatient of objectives that "must" be attained. This relationship will take
its own course, and expectations will not rest easily on it.

This is not an especially good aspect if you are planning to be married or

hope to establish some other type of permanent bond. Nor is it very good
for a business relationship, for example, in which there are definite
objectives to be gained. Such a relationship is not impossible, but you must
allow a great deal of room for the unexpected and for sudden change. The
more you restrict a relationship with this aspect, the more likely it is to
cause problems. Almost certainly there is something here that goes against
social convention. If that fact restricts either of you, it will be even more
difficult.

On the positive side, one thing is certain. If you are looking for a
stimulating relationship that will bring something new into your world, this
is it. Just give yourselves room to move.

Composite Mars Trine Composite Uranus

The trine of Mars and Uranus in the composite chart is a symbol that
through this relationship you both will strike out and find new paths for
self-expression. You will be unconventional and you won't do what others
expect you to, but that will not bother you very much, for you will be doing
what you want.

240
 Mars

This relationship will affect your whole view of the world and make you see
it from a new perspective. Your old ways of looking at things will be
transformed, and this new perspective will lead you to new kinds of action.

A love relationship with this aspect is very strongly affected, because it will
be more open than most. Possessiveness should be avoided, and you must
give each other a great deal of freedom to be yourselves. If one of you feels
confined, you will become very restless, which will make the relationship
unstable. You cannot expect this to be a quiet, stable, predictable
relationship, and you won't know what to expect at times. But it can be
very stimulating, whatever its purpose. It would be a pity not to let this
encounter show you what it can do.

a
Composite Mars Opposition Composite Uranus

The opposition of Mars and Uranus in the composite chart requires the two
of you to have a great deal of flexibility — far more than most people have,
unfortunately. With this aspect it is very difficult to let things be. Usually
you get into a very competitive situation in which you are constantly trying
to goad each other. It is almost as if you were trying to make your partner
explode. Each person's self-expression becomes a challenge to the other.
Sometimes the relationship itself takes such an unusual turn that you will
find it very difficult to pursue in ordinary society. Other people often
cannot tolerate such an "impossible" relationship because it is such a
challenge to their way of looking at life. Something about the way you act
together does defy society at large.

Obviously a relationship with this aspect should find a social setting that is
tely tolerant of the unusual. At the same time the two of you must
also be unusually tolerant of the unusual. Trouble is often caused it you trv
to make this relationship into something ordinary, which is neither
desirable or possible The pitMUftl that make it what it is art' so strong
that they must be expressed Otherwise the relationship will become so
explosive that it cannot survive. If you want it to survive, do not try to
change if It y>u cannot take this encounter as it is you should get out
compl-

( cimposiic Mars ( nnjunct ( omposite Neptune

•n|unctx Ompoaitf chart is not an easy

il signifies the union ol two plan< ■ ot readily
combined Cm is that on the- level ol mundane re.iht\ where most

241
 Planets in Composite

of us operate most of the time, Neptune is confusing, weakening, and

debilitating. Mars is the planet of one's own strength, and in a composite
chart it symbolizes the ability of the relationship to contribute to each
person's ego-expression. With these planets in conjunction, the two of you
will find it difficult to derive positive reinforcement from each other.

Often this aspect creates a relationship in which you both feel inferior,
unsuccessful, and debilitated. You may feel that as individuals you are
becoming weaker than you were before. One of you may become so weak
as to be totally dependent on the other. Your feelings of hostility do not
usually come out into the open but are expressed by making your partner
feel guilty or by depriving him or her of self-esteem.

On a higher plane, however, Neptune brings spiritual self-awareness. This

planet is quite destructive to ordinary awareness, but if the two of you can
go beyond your attachment to the everyday world and receive Neptune's
message, you may discover a whole new way of dealing with the world.
This is the only way to handle this aspect. You must be in a state of
consciousness in which you can detach yourself from your ego-drives in
dealing with each other. This does not mean you should suppress your ego-
drives; instead, they should be truly unimportant. If you merely suppress
them, you will act like a martyr all the time. And martyred behavior is one
of the subversive tactics of aggression that this aspect sometimes signifies.

Composite Mars Sextile Composite Neptune

The sextile of Mars and Neptune in the composite chart often denotes that
the two of you have come together for some idealistic task or purpose. It is
an aspect of friendship, but not ordinary friendship, for you are together
not simply to enjoy each other's company but to accomplish something. It is
not very likely that this will be work in the usual physical sense; it is more
likely to be spiritual or psychological work. The real task of such a
relationship is to alter each other's conception and experience of reality
through what you do together. You will handle your lives differently
because you have known each other. The alteration can be either good or
bad, so it is up to you to ensure that it is good.

The challenge of this aspect is to keep your intentions clear with regard to
each other. As with all Neptune aspects, there is a great danger that you will
become confused and act wrongly from that confusion. Unlike the hard
aspects of Mars and Neptune— the conjunction, square, and opposi-
tion—the sextile does not usually indicate that you willfully create
confusion or deception. But if you do not make a concerted effort to

242
 Mars

understand what you are doing with each other, your aims and purposes
can become confused.

In its highest manifestation, this aspect indicates that you will be spiritually
transformed by your association with each other. Even if events seem
strange or confusing, do not fight them. Simply try to understand and
accept them until the purpose of the relationship becomes clear.

Composite Mars Square Composite Neptune

Mars square Neptune in the composite chart can be quite difficult. It

indicates that your intentions and the way you interact weaken each other's
effectiveness. Usually one of you acts in such a way as to confuse or delude
the other, but also you may have a negative reinforcing effect on each
other. It is quite likely that you will act upon each other in turn.

The problem is that you each view the other's successful self-expression as a
threat. One of you may fear that the other will dominate and extinguish
your individuality. But this is fear more than actual fact. Also, the
relationship may present both of you with issues that you do not know how
to face at this time.

The only way to deal with this aspect is to stop playing ego games, which is
easier said than done, because such games are usually played out
unconsciously. Neither partner is aware of what is going on.

In an extreme case you may be consciously deceitful toward each other. In a

marriage, this might be done through infidelity; in a friendship, it might be
actions that intentionally go against your friend's interests.
If this is the only area of difficulty between you, the relationship can still be
quite rewarding. But if this is one of many problems, it might be best to
break the relationship oft If it has already begun and you wish to continue
it, the onl . I to be completely honest with each other and at the
same time reasonably gentle in your honestv

( nmposite Mars Trine Composite Neptune

md Neptune in the composite chart i.m imli.

•nship that is motivated by th< nan ideal or it i .in
Mmply that you art um leal about what is to b«- dOM I M V. oJ I laritv about
ire hkrlv to bi
misur an to w.ui inadvertent!) agalntl
 Planets in Composite

other or the relationship. It is therefore necessary to be unusually clear

about what you are doing together.

It is often the case that the two of you are seeking a spiritual goal. However,
you must not let your search for the spiritual ideal obscure your practical
needs in a relationship, regardless of what kind of relationship it is.

At its most successful, this aspect can help you attain your ideals, if the two
of you are very aware. You may find that being together furthers your
highest form of self-expression and that you gain new insights into the
world through your experiences together. At its least successful, this aspect
may cause you to have cloudy objectives, so that neither of you will
concentrate enough on the practical problems of making the relationship
work. You will have to work out which way it will go between you.

Composite Mars Opposition Composite Neptune

Mars opposition Neptune in the composite chart indicates the need for great
clarity and total honesty between the two of you. In this relationship the
actions and words that with other couples pass for little white lies have
effects out of all proportion to the intentions behind them. And if the
intentions are destructive, the consequences will be even worse. For at its
worst, this aspect is a symbol of mutual weakening; that is, unless you both
try to modify your behavior, you will cause each other to become confused,
unclear, and uncertain about almost everything you have built up between
you. This weakening effect will spill over into other areas and make both of
you less effective in your own lives.

At its most extreme, this aspect indicates a relationship in which one of you
deceives and works surreptitiously against the best interests of your
partner, who goes on believing that everything is all right. On the other
hand, the two of you may simply react upon each other in such a way as to
weaken self-confidence on both sides and make it harder to assert
yourselves. Sometimes this aspect indicates a drug or liquor problem that is
somehow reinforced by the relationship.

If you really want to get out of the difficulties caused by this aspect, there is
only one way to do it. But be sure that you really do want to solve this
problem, for the negative effects of this combination often come about
because two people want to be caught up in this kind of relationship.

Part of the nature of Mars is that you feel you must always be right and that
it is not necessary to condemn yourself if you are wrong. That is what is

244
 Mars

really meant by asserting yourself. Neptune is basically antithetical to

Mars, for it relates to a level of existence in which there is no need or
opportunity to protect one's ego game. Asserting yourself merely creates
the resistance that is manifested as the "bad" effects of the Mars-Neptune
combination.

To deal with this aspect, you must become more concerned with
knowing the truth about what is going on in your relationship,
regardless of whether it may seem to you "right" or "wrong." You need to
know the truth, but being "right" is only something you think you need in
order to feel better. It will not help solve your problems. If you recognize
this principle in your relationship, you will go a long way toward mitigating
the effects of this aspect.

Composite Mars Conjunct Composite Pluto

The conjunction of Mars and Pluto is a very powerful aspect to have in the
composite chart, for it indicates a strong power drive within the
relationship that may express itself in many ways. Recognize that any of the
manifestations are possible in a particular relationship and that it is up to
you to create the one you want.

The two of you may have come together to accomplish a particular task
involving a great deal of effort in order to change certain conditions in your
lives or in the lives of those around you. This is an aspect of powerful
transformation, which can be either creative or destructive. Together you
have the power to transform anything you aim at in your lives. Since it is
certain that you will direct this power at something, you should be
conscious of it, so that you can choose what you will transform.

If you are not conscious of this energy, it may come out as a power struggle
between the two of you, with one trying to dominate the other. "1 would
like you much more if..." is a common phrase with this aspect. It is possible
to transform each other creatively, but that is not likely to happen unless
you try to transform out of love, not egotism. This aspect is not egotistic ll
in itself, but such powerful energies are often subverted to purely egot:
ends, because that is where one's energy usually is. no matter how altruistic
or spiritual you think you are.

The eK«> brinxs out the worst enemies of Pluto, so it is best not to put them
to the service of the exo. These energies are t. r the ego to handle
Nevertheless, this is pre< isely what the Mars Pluto <. ombinahon sanities In
to soften the <• is combination, you must love anil ai i rpt

245
 Planets in Composite

each other, or you will probably do each other a great deal of injury.

The other way to use these energies productively was mentioned above.
You can project it outside of yourselves onto the world and work together
to make changes in conditions around you. But even here it is very
important that you do so from a position of love and tolerance. Otherwise
you will provoke such opposition from others that you may be defeated by
outside forces.

Composite Mars Sextile Composite Pluto

The sextile of composite Pluto and Mars gives the two of you the potential
for transforming yourselves through the relationship you create. You will
arouse each other's sense of will and purpose in a complementary rather
than a competitive way, and this will allow you to express your powers as
individuals without getting in each other's way.
At the same time, you each will find that through interacting you will gain
greater understanding of how the other works, and this experience will
enable you to change.

While this aspect furthers your individual ego-expression, it also allows you
to cooperate in gaining whatever you wish to gain together. You are able to
work hard together, for you call forth energies in each other that you may
not have known you had. The two of you will attack each problem and task
competently, because you will thoroughly analyze its nature before you
begin. And you will bring all your creative energies to bear upon the task as
well.

The greatest task that you face together may be the creative transformation
of yourselves. But you will bring the same creative energies to this project
that you bring to any other, thereby ensuring that this relationship will be
profitable to both of you in many ways.

Composite Mars Square Composite Pluto

The square of Mars and Pluto in a composite chart requires some care and
consideration within a relationship. Ego forces run high between you,
because something about your interaction makes you constantly challenge
each other. That also means that you each invest a great deal of energy in
being right at the other's expense. Consequently this aspect can create the
most intense competition between two people, even to the extent of both
physical and psychological battles. When the energies of this aspect operate

246
 Mars

unconsciously within a relationship, they can lead to considerable violence.

Obviously it is very important to be conscious of them.

The two of you have very different aims in life, and if you choose to get in
each other's way, you will certainly succeed in doing so. You will be able to
get along with each other only by recognizing that there is plenty of room in
the world for each of you to do what you want. Not only is there plenty of
room in the world, but if you are willing you can also find room within
your relationship for your separate aims. But both of you must be willing to
make an effort, or you can't complain when the relationship blows up in
your faces. This aspect does not make for getting along easily and
spontaneously; you have to make it happen.

Composite Mars Trine Composite Pluto

The trine of Mars and Pluto in the composite chart is an indication of much
powerful energy within the relationship, which can change both of your
lives if you choose to let it. First of all, if you have to do any kind of work
together, you will be able to cooperate and get the job done. As a couple,
you may find that you have more perseverance than you have as
individuals. Also, something about the way you interact makes you both
more desirous of changing conditions around you and affecting your world.
In some relationships this may take the form of stimulating business or
professional ambitions.

In a sexual relationship this aspect is favorable to strong expression of your

physical drives. Direct physical expression of your love will be very
important to you both; you are not likely to be of the quiet, ethereal, and
romantic school of lovemaking. However, along with the physical
expression is the need for your love relationship to be a transcendental
experience in which you are transported out of ordinary reality by the
intensity of your feelings.

Whatever kind of relationship you have, it will probably transform both of

you. One expression ot this will be a mutual interest in the study of various
forms of healing and regeneration— particularly yoga, because it concerns
the physical body — and psychotherapy.

Composite Mars Opposition Composite Pluto

With the opposition of Mars and Pluto in the composite chart it will be
diffic ult for the two of you to avoid ( ontlic t and power struy^lrs in any kind
ationship In extreme cases there could be physual violence

247
 Planets in Composite

The reasons for the extreme effects of this aspect are as follows. Mars has a
great deal to do with the ego-drive, whereby one becomes a fully
self-expressive individual. Pluto, being one of the outer planets beyond
Saturn, has to do with factors in the universe that are outside of normal
consciousness but that have a strong conditioning effect upon it. Pluto
represents the energy of intense and fundamental transformations. When
Mars and Pluto are opposed, this energy is combined inharmoniously with
the ego-drives. Or to put it in less philosophical terms, a cosmic power is
subjected to purely personal and selfish drives. While one should not
necessarily equate ego-drives with personal and selfish aims, that is how it
most commonly works out.

In order to deal with this energy constructively, it is necessary to reverse the

roles of Pluto and Mars, so that the ego-drives are transformed by the
cosmic power of Pluto. Unless you both do this, the experience will be very
unpleasant. You must let this relationship change and transform you
without resistance. Do not worry that your partner is getting away with
something, for that will only create conflict and power struggles, which can
be quite intense. Give up trying to make an impact on each other, but agree
that you will let each other have an impact. That is, don't make it happen;
let it happen.

Composite Mars Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Mars and Ascendant can be a source of

either strength or difficulty. It signifies a relationship in which ego energies
run high, so it is very important that the two of you get along well.
Unfortunately, by itself this aspect does not tell whether or not you will get
along.

If there are other difficulties between you, this aspect is an indication that
the two of you will have some fairly spectacular disagreements. You both
are too busy being individuals with your own points of view to really relate
to each other. Probably you will irritate each other instead of making each
other feel good. And neither of you can take an irritating situation lying
down; you are very vocal about it, which is one source of the problem. If
the energy of this aspect works out in this difficult way, the two of you must
first settle whether or not you want to have a relationship. If may not have
occurred to you to ask that question, but ask it anyway!

If other indications are favorable, composite Mars on the Ascendant can

be very useful for your relationship. It means almost the opposite of what
has been said above, implying that you reinforce each other's egos.

248
 Mars

Together you make a very strong combination, which other people may see
as formidable opposition. Needless to say, this is an excellent indication for
any relationship in which there is work to be done. Mars is the planet of
energy, and the conjunction of Mars and composite Ascendant means
that you arouse energy in each other, which helps to get the work done.
And you work well as a team, which is also helpful.

As you can see, this aspect is two-sided. To some extent it is in your power
to determine which manifestation you will encounter. If you can
subordinate your very strong egos to the relationship, you will be a very
strong team. Otherwise you will not have much of anything.

Composite Mars Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Mars and composite Ascendant makes it likely

that the two of you will be known as a very active couple in every way.
Mars is the planet of energy, and the sextile to composite Ascendant
means that this relationship will stimulate energies in both of you— energy
for work, for play, and for anything else you may want to do together. You
are also active in a psychological sense, for you each have the capacity to
jog the other out of lazy patterns and routines that you have developed
separately. There is always something to be done, and the two of you are
willing to work, both as a couple and with other people.

The energy that you arouse in each other might be competitive energy in
another couple, but you manage to work together as a team and not waste
energy with needless competition. This aspect signifies cooperation.

At the same time, you stimulate each other's thinking. You both will
become more active mentally and more willing to encounter new
experiences that you can grapple with intellectually.

The energy that you stimulate in each other is transmitted to others around
you, so that they too find your company stimulating Things get dofM when
the two of you are around.

• usly this dspt-c t is .it its best in situations where work must be done
and if |y good in .1 professional relationship

( omposilf Mars Square Composite \si» tulant

!.int 1 an be very difficult It

istu *oals is hkelv to ( ome between th
 Planets in Composite

of you. Something about this relationship makes you each acutely aware of
your own ego energies and how this relationship will further or inhibit
them. Unfortunately, if you operate on an unconscious level with each
other, you will find that the relationship does get in the way of your ego
energies; that is, it will be difficult for you to "do your own thing" in each
other's presence.
You may argue constantly about seemingly trivial matters, which actually
represent deeper psychological pressures that you are not expressing to each
other. These pressures are very likely to be expressed as disagreements
about your home together (if you have one) or about your overall
objectives in life. The latter is a more truthful expression of the real
problem. Disagreements about your home or other aspects of your inner
personal life are only side issues.

The main point is what the two of you are doing together. There may be
perfectly valid reasons for this relationship, and being together may be a
very good experience for both of you. However, you must ask the question
anyway, because the naturally competitive energies of Mars may make you
think you are completely incompatible, even if you actually have a deep
need to be together. This relationship calls for a great deal of
self-awareness.

Composite Mars Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Mars and Ascendant is a good sign that you are
able to express yourselves to each other without having to make
compromises. This is a relationship in which the two of you are able to be
yourselves and express your egos fully and without reserve in each other's
presence. There is enough room in your life for your partner, and neither of
you has to pretend that you are something other than what you are. Also,
you work well as a team. Together you reinforce and complement each
other, so that you can be individuals and work as a unit at the same time.

This relationship will arouse in the two of you a great deal of physical
energy that must find some form of expression. You should not sit around
when you are together; instead you should be doing something. Being
active together is the finest expression of the energies that you call forth in
each other. If this is a business or professional relationship or if you have
other work to do, the energies of Mars will be especially favorable. Work
that you do together seems to require little or no self-sacrifice. For the two
of you, such work is the most perfect kind of self-expression. This
relationship signifies that as a couple you will achieve a more perfect

250
 Mars

self-expression than either of you could experience in relationships with

others.

Composite Mars Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Mars and Ascendant is equivalent to a

conjunction of Mars and the composite Descendant. This aspect has two
distinct possibilities, either of which you may experience in your own
relationship. This can be a very perfect union of your individual energies in
a creative working relationship, or it can be an endless contest between you,
as if you were together only to challenge and goad each other.

In any case, you can be sure that the two of you form an intimate unit. The
only question is whether the union is a destructive or a creative one. One
point is clear, it is vital that you direct your energies toward accomplishing
a task or purpose outside of the relationship. If you are not engaged in some
activity together, the energies of Mars are likely to become disruptive rather
than creative. If not expressed outwardly, the energies will turn inward,
into the relationship.

Even if you succeed in turning the Mars force outward, you may have to
deal with another danger if you are not careful. You may experience
hostility from people outside your relationship. In part this is because of the
strong energies that you put into the world, often without understanding
them. If the two of you find that others are opposed to you either as a
couple or as individuals, you should consider carefully what you may be
contributing to the problem. Of course, it may be that others are hostile
simply because you are honestly being yourselves. In that case, you can't do
much about it. But if you are actively contributing to the hostility, maybe
the situation can be changed.

251
 Chapter Ten

Jupiter
 Jupiter

The Meaning of Jupiter in the Composite Chart

Jupiter in the composite chart signifies the areas that will provide a solid
basis for growth through the relationship. A strong Jupiter helps to ensure
that whatever the course of the relationship and whatever may happen to it.
you both will be aware of how much you have been helped by being
together.

The house position of Jupiter designates what aspect of your relationship

will be emphasized as a growth area. The two of you will be able to depend
on that area for sustenance together, and unlike other aspects of your
relationship, it will not be the cause of conflict and difficulty.

Nevertheless, what Jupiter brings to a relationship should not be taken

totally for granted. There is always a danger that you may overextend
yourselves in the area in which Jupiter is significant, which can convert it
into a source of difficulty. If the energy of Jupiter is flowing easily, it is
unlikely to cause trouble. But if the energy is flowing with difficulty, there
may be problems, usually brought on by doing something to excess. In any
case, Jupiter is not usually a major source of trouble in a chart and can
usually be counted on to bring benevolent results.

Composite Jupiter in the I irst House

Composite Jupiter in the first house is a generally good placement tor anv
kind ot relationship Jupiter is the planet o4 growth and development and
the first-house position signifies that this relationship will help the t.
you to become better and more fulfilled individuals

But in addituu • general indications this placement may have a

more particular significance lupiter is the planet ol law ethi
religion and philosophy The first-house position of this planet in.:
that one or more ot these areas is important to . • .<nship At the

255
 Planets in Composite

very least you can expect that together you will be intensely idealistic in
some way. This position also creates a kind of optimism that will help you
succeed in your expectations. As a couple you put out energies that make it
possible to meet idealistic expectations, even if others see them as
excessively high.

This relationship should be optimistic, happy, and productive for the two
of you. Even if it breaks up, you will not have great feelings of bitterness,
because you both know that you have gotten a great deal out of it. You will
have grown and increased in your awareness of life, which is more than
many couples can claim.

Composite Jupiter in the Second House

Jupiter in the second house of the composite chart is excellent for all matters
relating to property and possessions within the relationship. It does not
necessarily indicate that the two of you will be wealthy, but it does indicate
that you will have enough of whatever you want. In other words, resources
are not likely to be a source of insecurity with you. Business associations are
especially favored by this position of Jupiter.

The only problem to watch out for is that Jupiter here can make people
excessively materialistic, both individually and in a relationship. This can
cause the two of you to sacrifice matters that are important to your
happiness in order to gain wealth.

One of the fortunate attributes of this position is that making money and
gaining property are not areas of anxiety, so you can feel detached from
these issues and can express yourselves through material generosity to
others.

There may be a danger that you will be careless about money and unwise in
its use. However, this will not happen because of unluckiness but because
you like to take chances. If you take the time to stop and think, you will
know what to do in a situation. Make caution and success in handling
money more important than the excitement of gambling.

Composite Jupiter in the Third House

Composite Jupiter in the third house indicates that this relationship will
broaden and expand your consciousness in your everyday life. The third
house is the house of the mind in its routine day-to-day functioning, your
automatic and unconscious actions. This part of your mind is laden with

256
 Jupiter

routine habits and ways of thinking that can prevent you from taking full
advantage of opportunities that arise. This relationship will help to change
those habits in a very pleasant and helpful way. Jupiter does not usually
bring about change through upsets.

Narrow habits of thought and rigid ways of thinking will be expanded by

your experience of this relationship. It will open new ways of dealing with
everyday matters, so that your handling of them should improve. You may
find that together you will become more interested in philosophy and other
mind-expanding disciplines. A third-house composite Jupiter is a sign of a
relationship that will broaden your consciousness.

Composite Jupiter in the Fourth House

Jupiter in the fourth house of the composite chart indicates that if this is a
marriage or love relationship, the home is very important as a center of
security and comfort. In concrete terms, both of you will be happiest in a
large home where you can entertain extensively and have lots of company.
In such a setting you would be extremely generous and hospitable, and yet
you would always have enough for anyone who came along. This position
of Jupiter symbolizes protecting and nurturing people through sharing.

In psychological terms, this relationship will reinforce both of you and give
you a feeling of security and safety as you approach the outside world. You
may not understand exactly how this happens, but rest assured that you do
help each other in this way. Whatever difficulties the two of you may
encounter in the world, you will be able to turn to each other tor
sustenance. This is an extremely supportive relationship.

If you own land or real estate together. Jupiter in the fourth signifies that
you may have such property in abundance and that it is likely to be a major
source of wealth.

Composite Jupiter in the \ ifth House

• lupiter in the fifth \ . enerally positive indu ation tor the

my kind of relationship, but especially for friendship or a love
relationship The basic mraninK of this placement is that being tOgethef will
alow hot! v and become happier human beings simply by
being yourselves It is a position of benevolent self expression Yotl should
be ah • and rn|oy each other s company to the tull< M h of
■■■ ill feel that the other sur ; for what you are > ou will « •
fher warmly and easily I here will be a minimum
 Planets in Composite

of negative challenges and efforts to tear your partner down, even when
you are having difficulties.

At the same time, you both will be quite idealistic about this relationship,
feeling that you should maintain the highest standards of ethics with each
other. Honor will be a significant issue, and you will not relate in such a
way as to diminish each other's importance.
It is possible that this relationship may have come about because of a
mutual interest in religion, philosophy, metaphysics, or the law. But
whatever your initial reasons for coming together, you should have a more
than ordinarily satisfactory relationship.

Composite Jupiter in the Sixth House

Composite Jupiter in the sixth house indicates a relationship in which

serving others has become an ideal. You both feel obligated to help
humanity, and you will take on this obligation willingly and with dignity.
This is probably not a burden imposed on you from without; but if it is, you
accept it gladly.

In a business or professional relationship, this placement of Jupiter means

that the two of you will do whatever is necessary to make the relationship
successful, without feeling put upon. For this reason you are likely to be
successful, regardless of your objective.

In any relationship, this placement signifies that you are unusually willing
to help and be of service to each other. Needless to say, this can only help

you.
One factor should be kept in mind, however. The symbolism of Jupiter
demands that whatever is given be given freely. If one of you tries to impose
on the other more duties than that partner is willing to take on, there may
be considerable trouble. The one who is restricted will feel that all freedom
has been destroyed, and he or she will begin to look elsewhere for freedom
of self-expression. Otherwise, this placement should be a source of strength
for both of you.

Composite Jupiter in the Seventh House

Jupiter in the seventh house of a composite chart is very favorable for most
relationships. It means that the two of you are likely to feel that being
together is your most important means of growth. You feel that you both

258
 Jupiter

can grow faster through the relationship than without it. In fact you
probably idealize your relationship, but not to the extent that it becomes
impossible to live up to the ideal.

Even though you idealize being together, you are not totally possessive; you
know enough to give each other room to breathe. In fact, the only possible
problem with this placement is that under certain conditions one of you
may demand more freedom than the other is willing to give. However, in
such a situation, if the restrictive partner can give the other that freedom in
some particular instance, it will work out all right.

Normally this placement of Jupiter will be very favorable. You may

demand high standards of behavior from each other, but you are also likely
to get what you demand in that regard.

Composite Jupiter in the Eighth House

Jupiter in the eighth house of the composite chart, the house of major
transformations in life and of joint property, signifies that both of these
areas will be areas of growth. In this relationship you will never cease to
grow and change. Both of you will experience continual transformation
through the experience of being together. Even if you grow apart, as can
happen to any couple, you will part without much difficulty, knowing that
the relationship has been good, even if not permanent.
mm. mi
This placement of Jupiter may also have the effect of making you quite
successful in your dealings with property and resources in general, so long
u work together. This is a very good placement in the chart or a
business or professional relationship, particularly one that must relv on
outside financing to any extent.

It this is a marriage, you may receive bequests or other (manual assistance

trorn others A' vou should have little trouble borrowing money
lointly whenever you need it

In a s. ■ onship. this placement helps to ensure that sex is | mm.

reinforcement tor both < ■ • n it there arc- problems at tr

This placement will neither make or break a relationship but it tan help
v makinK it easier to meet vour material needs.
 Planets in Composite

Composite Jupiter in the Ninth House

Jupiter in the ninth house of the composite chart is in many ways "at home."
That is, this is the house most naturally suited to the meaning of Jupiter.
The ninth is the house of higher consciousness, expanded awareness,
philosophy, and one's overall philosophy of life, as well as of long journeys.
These are also the concerns of Jupiter.

This placement indicates a relationship that will expand your awareness in

many ways by presenting you with new perspectives and new experiences.
It may be that at some time you will travel extensively together. However,
it is far more likely that the influence will come out as strong intellectual
interests in common. At the same time you will evolve a world-view in
which honor and ethics play a very important part. Your ideals will be very
strong, and you are likely to work hard together to change conditions to
what you think they should ideally be.

Most important in terms of your immediate experience is that this will be a

growth relationship. Regardless of what happens, you both will become
more complete human beings than you were before. While Jupiter in the
ninth house is no guarantee that a relationship will be long-lasting, it does
mean that it will have great value for both of you.

In particular, this position favors any association that deals with intellectual
or educational concerns.

Composite Jupiter in the Tenth House

Jupiter in the tenth house of the composite chart has a number of possible
effects, depending on the nature of your association.

In a personal relationship it indicates a strong concern with goals and

status. The relationship will revolve around some sense of purpose, which
may range from very mundane to very high-minded. In a marriage, for
example, you both may have an inordinate concern for getting ahead in
society — in other words, social climbing. Or it can indicate that the two of
you will have a high social status without any effort on your part.

There will also be an emphasis on integrity and honesty. At least you will
consider these values important. However, in some charts there will be a
more negative effect from Jupiter, resulting in an attitude of haughtiness
and arrogance toward others that will not serve you well. It can also create
an attitude of hypocrisy, a pretense that somehow you are morally better

260
 Jupiter

than you really are. Jupiter makes you aware of moral issues even when you
cannot live up to its moral criteria.

In a professional relationship this placement of Jupiter can be a very strong

indication of success, particularly in fields pertaining to law, religion,
philosophy, higher education, or foreign interests. In almost any other field
of endeavor this is also a good indication of success. In addition, this
placement indicates that the work you do together will be carried out with a
high degree of integrity and honesty, which will help immeasurably in your
eventual success. Your achievements will not be the result of accident or
luck.

Composite Jupiter in the Eleventh House

Jupiter in the eleventh house of the composite chart is an excellent

placement for any relationship. It indicates that there are good feelings
between you and that you will give each other opportunities to grow and

a
become more evolved human beings. You stimulate each other's idealism
greatly, and you will work very hard to realize your ideals. The eleventh is
the house of your ideals and hopes or, in a composite chart, the ideals that
the two of you share.

Since the eleventh house represents friendship, Jupiter here is an especially

good indication of warm friendly feelings between you. The relationship
will have excellent overall consequences for both of you. A love affair or
marriage with this position will be in excellent condition. Not only are there
good feelings between you, but you are likely to be lucky in a material way.
This is because you are very optimistic in each others company, which
generates the kind of positive thinking that helps bring good fortune. As a
couple you will have good friends among the people you know and
circumstances in your environment will be favorable to your relationship.

Composite Jupiter in the Twelfth House

lupiter in the twelfth house ot the composite i h.irt has to do with M

DUf relationship The- twelfth house rules the tones th.it are
r>K unconsciously and their influence on the success or t.nlure ot the
nship It also rules the actions that eac h ot vou may take that can
II future as a couple These arc- UMiaDy unconscious SCtiOM or
ns that \ knowledge unless you are toned to

et in this house is tn indn Btion that unc ons< lout ai tions

em than in itionships You sre nol destroying
 Planets in Composite

your relationship in the manner that so many are destroyed. Although you
may have troubles at times, at least you can bring your problems out into
the open. In fact, one effect of Jupiter is that the two of you are able to get at
problems that most couples keep buried. Such problems can cause great
difficulty in a relationship precisely because they are unacknowledged.

The twelfth house is also the house of secret enemies, that is, people whom
you inadvertently alienate simply by being yourselves. But the presence of
Jupiter also helps prevent this from being a problem. It makes you
conscious of your actions so that you don't alienate people in the first place.
Quite a few of the problems that can occur in a relationship are alleviated
by this placement of Jupiter.

Composite Jupiter Conjunct Composite Saturn

The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the composite chart may have more
than one effect. On the one hand, it can make a relationship very unstable
and changeable. In this case the two of you seem unable to go forward or
backward on any issue, so that you constantly vacillate between the
alternative possibilities. Or you cannot figure out whether or not you are
happy in the relationship or whether it is working toward the objectives you
have set for it. Your uncertainty makes the two of you have tremendous ups
and downs. This conjunction will have these negative effects on any
relationship that is not in very good shape. Flaws induced by other aspects
are maximized by this one, for it tends to emphasize instability.

On the other hand, in a reasonably stable relationship, these two planets

can achieve an equilibrium. The outgoing, expansive quality of Jupiter can
be checked by the carefulness and caution of Saturn, so that you become
cautiously optimistic in your dealings with each other. You make plans for
your future very carefully and never overextend yourselves, always being
aware that things may not turn out quite as expected.

At the same time, since the idealism of Jupiter is tempered by the

pragmatism of Saturn, you accept each other as you are and do not make
too many additional demands. You may not think that this relationship is
perfect, but on the other hand you don't really believe such perfection
exists, so you do not demand it.

By itself, this is not an aspect that can make or break a relationship. It will
strengthen a good one and make a weak one more unstable.

262
 Jupiter

Composite Jupiter Sextile Composite Saturn

Jupiter sextile Saturn in the composite chart represents an excellent balance

between practical and idealistic concerns in your relationship. Your
expectations of each other are balanced and realistic, yet neither of you feels
forced to compromise your goals in order to get along with each other.

The same kind of balance is reflected in the way you approach long-range
planning together. Here again you set realistic goals and work patiently to
attain them, moving neither too quickly nor too slowly.

When you have problems with each other, you manage to avoid flying off
the handle. Unlike so many couples, you don't act hastily, which only
makes things worse. Your inclination is to wait patiently for the correct
moment and then cool things off with discussion and calmness.

As friends, you will find that your relationship brings out the strongest

a
points in both of you. The balance that this aspect represents enables you to
make up for each other's excesses. This is especially fortunate if either of
you by yourself is very impulsive or inconsiderate. In this relationship you
will find yourself proceeding much more moderately, without feeling held
back by your partner.

Composite Jupiter Square Composite Saturn

The square of Jupiter and Saturn in the composite chart indicates that the
two of you have some difficulty in reaching a balance between optimism
and idealism on the one hand, practicality and or pessimism on the other
Most likely this will manifest itself as great swings of feeling and mood
when you are together. Sometimes you will be very positive and optimistic
about your relationship, while at other times you will doubt that you can
ever make it work. Most couples «o through this process to some extent,
but in your case it will be worse than in most relationships Sellout ups .ind
downs are likely to be a major threat to the stability ot this relationship

One of the factors behind this problem may be that one ot vmi MM the
other as a wet blanket who continually dampens enthusiasm and
spop- | expression It may not always be the same one who has
this ettect. instead you may .1 les. Nevertheless the result is that
I illations ot mood

■•nth mus' ;ent with each other tor impatient e is

also one o| the proMeri hit mood

263
 Planets in Composite

begins to change for the worse, you should sit down together and try to find
out what is causing this situation. Although your temperaments may not be
perfectly matched, this shouldn't be allowed to spoil the relationship.
Composite Jupiter Trine Composite Saturn

The trine of Jupiter and Saturn in the composite chart gives your relationship
a steady quality that is quite enviable. You go on from day to day, avoiding
most extremes of mood. You can depend on each other always being there.
Both of you have the ability to accept each other for what you are and
tolerate each other's foibles. The demands you make of each other are
enough so that you work to satisfy them, but not so great as to be
impossible to satisfy.

As a couple, your expectations are well tempered by your understanding of

the way things are. You are very patient with each other and willing to give
your problems time to work themselves out. Since you do not act
impulsively, you avoid some of the difficulties that other couples experience
when they act on the impulse of a bad mood and damage their relationship.

When you have to plan together for the future, you are equally careful
without being overcautious. You act only after weighing all the factors, and
you usually act at the right time, for your sense of timing together is
excellent.

Regardless of the original goals of your relationship, if you take advantage

of these abilities, you should be better able to ride out the difficult times
than many other couples.

Composite Jupiter Opposition Composite Saturn

The opposition of Jupiter and Saturn in a composite chart means that the
two of you must find an equilibrium. You have a natural tendency to swing
back and forth between moods of opposite extremes, such as deep
pessimism and great optimism. As a couple, your desire to go out into the
world, to be more positive and assertive, is always at war with your sense
of caution and a need to be careful. You want to keep all the loopholes in
your life plugged against circumstances that might take advantage of you.

It is often the case that two conflicting tendencies are represented by each of
you separately, one of you taking the expansive role while the other is more
cautious. You find it difficult to be patient with each other because the
tension between you, which has to be expressed somehow, usually

264
 Jupiter

emerges as impatience and excessive criticism.

Needless to say, the two of you must learn to be patient in dealing with each
other. You have to give each other room without trying to limit freedom of
self-expression. If each of you can express your mood swings without
constantly running into resistance from your partner, the two of you should
be able to coexist in some degree of harmony and avoid unnecessary ups
and downs.

Composite Jupiter Conjunct Composite Uranus

A relationship with the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in the composite

chart may experience various effects.

First of all, in this relationship you will have to give each other a great deal
of breathing room. That may not necessarily be a problem, however,
because you probably came together in the first place because you sensed

a
some quality of freedom and lack of inhibition in each other. This is
definitely not a relationship for people who want to cling to each other.

This aspect represents not only freedom, but also new discovery. Pursuing
new kinds of self-expression and new ideas in life will be a major factor in
this relationship. Give yourselves and each other the room to experience
these discoveries and don't get tied down by convention and established
ways of doing things. You have the capacity to make new discoveries in lite
and to give others the benefit of your experience.

All of this pertains to professional relationships as well as to personal ones.

Whatever your reasons for being together, the more freedom you have to
discover new paths without restriction, the more capacity you will ha
Creativity and satisfaction. Any attempt to make this relationship conform
to the pictures in your mind will limit it unnecessarily and at the same time
A very unstable. If one of you is denied the freedom that this Mptl i
requires, he or she will be forced to hnd it outside ot the relationship

( omposite Jupiu-r Scxtflf ( omposite I ranus

With the M-xtile of Jupiter and Uranus in the composite th.irt this
relationship will be different in a new free, and innovative w.u
you will strike out in new directions not following the conventional
• rns of vour type of relationship

: le in a love affair with this aspei l both of vou will be freer and

265
 Planets in Composite

more individualistic than is usually the case. There will be little of the
tendency to cling to each other that makes many relationships fail for lack
of room to breathe. With this aspect, a love relationship is also much more
likely to tolerate the expression of love and affection for others.

There is a strong idealistic element in this relationship that encourages your

hopes for making things come true that have never been but that could be.
The two of you feel that there is no reason why these things should not be.
You find it easy to view life in a new way and to act differently from others.
Even the setting of this relationship is not likely to be an ordinary one. Your
ability to see the opportunities presented by new ways of thinking attracts
people who are sympathetic to your causes, and you will find an
appropriate environment for yourselves.

This aspect is especially beneficial to any relationship that requires

innovation and inventiveness. It encourages the development of you both
as individuals because of the individual freedom it confers.

Composite Jupiter Square Composite Uranus

The square of Jupiter and Uranus in the composite chart means that in this
relationship you must give each other a lot of room. It is not a favorable
aspect if one of you wants to "possess" the other in some way and limit his
or her freedom. If you try to do this, your partner will break away in order
to avoid being confined. This relationship makes it necessary for both of
you to be free from excessive restriction by each other.

Even at its best, this relationship is likely to have a certain quality that
makes it very unusual and atypical. Other people will not be able to
categorize you easily as lovers, friends, partners, or whatever. Your
relationship will not have the usual trappings of its type.

Even under the most favorable circumstances, this will not be the most
stable and predictable relationship. It will follow its own course, which may
involve considerable ups and downs.

Try to give each other freedom and let the relationship develop in its own
way. If you do, you may find that in return for giving up absolute
reliability, predictability, possessiveness, and so forth, you will gain an
experience that is quite unique and stimulating. But in order to experience
this, you both must be willing to give up many of your expectations about
how your relationship ought to run.

266
 Jupiter

Composite Jupiter Trine Composite Uranus

This aspect indicates a relationship that will achieve its own unique
self-expression. Like the other Jupiter-Uranus combinations, this one
indicates that your relationship will not follow any established patterns.
Nevertheless, there is nothing here that you should fear. This can be a very-
creative relationship, as long as you are willing to let it run its own course.

This aspect signifies new and creative ways of doing things. It expresses
hope and confidence in a bright and different future, with fresh ideas and
ways of looking at the world. Whatever the reasons for your coming
together, you both will be exposed to new ideas and concepts, which will
prevent you from getting into any kind of rut.

A love relationship with this aspect will not follow the established script in
many ways. For example, you will give each other a great deal more
freedom than most people would. You may even come to an agreement that
will permit other relationships outside of this, as long as there is an honest
commitment between you. There will be a great emphasis on honesty,
which you will be able to maintain because you don't confine each other. In
other words, you will give each other enough freedom of movement so that
you won't have to be "unfaithful ". And you will be friends as well as lovers,
which is a very good thing in a love relationship.

Composite Jupiter Opposition Composite Uranus

The opposition of Jupiter and Uranus in the composite chart may make it
difficult for you to have a stable relationship, regardless of your reason1, tor
being together. This aspect creates a situation in which individual freedom
and independence may be more important to each of you than the goak oJ
the relationship Therefore you must give each other plenty of room in
order to minimize tension and avoid having one of you feel the need to
break away.

• would be most effected by this .1

because such a relationship is inherently the most limiting of vour freedom
In order to sur ie. you will have to ar- v umiMieJ
• s with each other The important point here is that vou
must not \ ■ make any agreement that will enable the relationship
• even if the terms of the aureement are rather strange I he more
rselves into standard patterns the more vou will (eel
confr might find this aspect in an open man Ie in
which two partner itionships with otri<

267
 Planets in Composite

Other personal relationships are less affected by the energy of this aspect,
but even so you should avoid being narrowly possessive of each other, for
that presents a major threat to the survival of the partnership.

If you can allow this relationship to take its natural course, you may find it
quite rewarding. If you cannot, it might be best to stay away from each
other.

Composite Jupiter Conjunct Composite Neptune

The conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in the composite chart indicates

that your primary concerns are not of this world. This will be a somewhat
unusual relationship, with a strong spiritual component. The two of you
may feel that you have come together to find out about your innermost
soul. This belief is not necessarily a delusion, but you should try to keep in
touch with reality. Even though you may believe that the mundane world is
not your concern, ignoring such matters can have a seriously negative effect
on your relationship. On the other hand, do not ignore your sense of
spiritual communion. At its highest level of manifestation, this aspect can
bring about a great and positive learning experience.

This aspect can also have a completely different effect. The principle of
combined Jupiter-Neptune also rules gambling, not only in the literal Las
Vegas sense, but also in the more general sense of taking risks. It produces a
sense of well-being that may make the two of you feel that you cannot lose.
Unfortunately, if you trust this energy so blindly, you can indeed lose. Be
optimistic and positive but not foolish. Keep your sense of reality and don't
let the joyful idealism of this relationship take away your understanding of
what is real. This advice is especially important in any relationship that
involves making money.

Let the effects of this aspect add spice to your world, but do not let them
obscure your vision.

Composite Jupiter Sextile Composite Neptune

The sextile of Jupiter and Neptune in the composite chart is an indication of

an idealistic relationship. The idealism is not likely to be destructive but will
give the two of you a spiritual quality that can carry you out of the
mundane world into your own world of beauty. This aspect indicates deep
friendship, even in a sexual relationship. But in such a relationship it can
cause difficulties because it tends to make a love affair platonic. Its energies
are so removed from the physical world that they don't combine easily with

268
 Jupiter

physical sexuality. When the combination is made, however, physical sex

acquires a spiritual dimension that can be quite extraordinary.

In dealing with everyday practical matters, this aspect can present certain
problems, but they are not insuperable. The two of you must learn not to
indulge in contempt for mundane reality. Remember the concerns of the
world around you, even though this relationship enables you to escape
from it. It is beautiful to be transported above the ordinary world, but stay
down here anyway, for there is much to be done.

Composite Jupiter Square Composite Neptune

The square of Jupiter and Neptune in a composite chart makes it very

important that you know where you are with respect to each other and that
you don't indulge excessively in idealistic fantasies. Keep matters straight
between you. One writer has described this combination as false or
seeming happiness,' with the clear warning that just when your relationship
seems most beautiful, its illusory nature becomes clear, and there is great
disappointment. The danger of this happening is greatest in a love affair,

ss
which is so vulnerable to illusions.

However, you should not be constantly suspicious of what appears to be a

happy relationship. This aspect simply indicates that you should
acknowledge the truth when it appears. It is not that the energy of this
aspect obscures reality but that you are unwilling to face it, even whm you
know in your heart what it is. The problem is not really illusion in the
sense used above. It is reluctance to handle things that are unpleasant .ind
reluctance to deal with the real world

Your happiness will not be false with this .lspt-ct it von have •> KMC of
happiness, it is real But try to recognize whether you really feel it It von
are aware <>t lurking problems and unacknowledged fears, then deal with
them, for they will not go away by themst \

But remember that even thr squ.irc betWl pl.inets h.is an optimistic
quality, which will • u to handle the difficult periods onu
decide to deal with them.

( omposit* |upit« r I run ( ompositc Vptunr

'. the trine is idr.ilistu .indhrrrthc-spirilu.il

nbinatfon is brouKht out most itrongty "ton feci thai von
•■ven beacons* i.<ir tdtnl
 Planets in Composite

relationship between you that holds you together. However, in the best
manifestation of this aspect, you will alternate roles; the same partner will
not always play the same role. But that cannot be done consciously; it must
just happen.

Even in a love affair, this spiritual component will be evident, which may
cause the relationship to be platonic rather than physical. But even in a
sexual relationship, sex will be experienced in a very spiritual way.

You both will be very optimistic about your lives together, although other
people may not see why you should be. They may think you are living in a
fool's paradise and not dealing with the real world at all. There may be
some truth in that view. You will have to strike a balance between everyday
matters and your idealism. Try to stay in touch with reality, even though
this relationship allows you to have experiences that are quite removed
from the ordinary physical world and that help you appreciate this world.
Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to see what is just
beyond the range of their vision that would give them so much more to live
for. These things you should learn through this relationship.

Composite Jupiter Opposition Composite Neptune

With the opposition of Jupiter and Neptune in your composite chart, you
must ask yourselves whether you really know what your relationship is
about. You are very likely to idealize each other and your relationship
rather than dealing with the facts as they are. This aspect does not indicate
that the facts are anything to be afraid of, but you are reluctant to face them
anyway. It may be that you don't find the truth interesting enough to be
concerned about, but you ought to. Otherwise it is possible to build up a
false sense of security and well-being, and when your illusions come
tumbling down, as they often do in such a situation, you will be very
disillusioned.

Disillusion and disappointment are not inevitable with this aspect, but if
you do not deal with the truth, they are much more likely. Do not play
games with each other, for you will only deceive and hurt each other when
you do. And again, avoid idealizing each other. Your partner is a real
person with real faults and strengths, which you must learn to accept.
Idealism has its place, and the naturally idealistic quality of your
relationship will not be destroyed by truth, even though you fear that. Your
optimism and idealism will carry you both through difficult times, if you
know yourselves and what you have together. If you do not have this
understanding, you will only be disappointed.

270
 Jupiter

Composite Jupiter Conjunct Composite Pluto

Jupiter conjunct Pluto in the composite chart indicates that you have come
together in order to accomplish something. Jupiter and Pluto combined in
this manner are symbolic of a strong drive to succeed and to accomplish
important objectives. It can also mean a strong power drive.

Your relationship may have many different goals — love and affection,
security, friendship, or whatever— but in any case it exists to do something.
This is one of the best aspects for any kind of business relationship, because
the two of you are able to work well together and accomplish a great deal of
work. It is a strong indication of success and of financial gain, if that is an
objective.

Remember, however, that as with any strong Pluto energy, you must use
your tactics carefully and avoid all kinds of ruthless behavior. Otherwise
you will provoke opposition to your efforts, which could conceivably stop
the two of you from accomplishing what you want.

In a love relationship this energy is expressed as an exuberant desire to make

changes, to grow, and to expand your world. You will seek to transform
each other, and you will be transformed very greatly by this experience. But
the nature of this combination is such that your transformations will not
make the relationship difficult. The growth you help each other achieve will
be positive, as you will recognize from the very beginning.

Composite Jupiter Sextile Composite Pluto

The sextile of Jupiter and Pluto in the composite chart is an aspect vt growth
and opportunity. It will enable both of you to take advantage of situations
and help you accomplish what you are trying to do.

Whatever the nature of your relationship, you will have a friendship that
will make you teel mote confident and able to pursue your ol n life
At the same time, this relationship will broaden vour insight and allow
to see more clearly the opportunities available to \ Oil And that in turn will
lead you to become Increasingly Inti n learning more about
yourselves v> that you can further expand your opportune

You will probably hnd that your inner growth will attract others vsho are
tryin, with whom JfOU < an discover even more that you are
 Planets in Composite

But understand one thing. This is an aspect not so much of luck as of

growth. It ensures that the two of you will have the kind of positive attitude
that helps create circumstances you can take advantage of. In other words,
although the two of you may appear to be lucky, you have actually created
your own opportunities through the relationship you have made together.

Composite Jupiter Square Composite Pluto

The square of Jupiter and Pluto in the composite chart can make it difficult
for the two of you to get along, because you see each other's success as a
threat to your own. The result is a typical Pluto power struggle, rather than
the cooperative relationship you would ideally like to have. Success of one
sort or another is a very large issue in this relationship. The Jupiter-Pluto
energy represents will and power to grow and expand, to succeed and to get
things done. This energy cannot exist passively without trying to affect the
world in some way.

This is true for your relationship to each other and to the world outside.
You find it difficult to leave things alone, which creates the danger that one
of you will turn against the other or that the world will fight back against
you both.

You must learn to moderate your ambitions and your will. What you want
to accomplish together is not wrong, but you do not have the patience to go
about it gradually. This creates a feeling of pressure in other people or in
each other, if the energy of this aspect is channeled into your relationship. It
is this feeling of pressure that creates problems. If you can learn to be more
subtle, you will be better able to get what you want from each other and
from the world at large.

Composite Jupiter Trine Composite Pluto

The trine of composite Jupiter and Pluto is an excellent aspect for any
relationship in which you have to work together on some task or bring
about changes in the world around you. This is a success aspect. It confers
luck, not through fate but through the excellent sense of timing that results
when two people complement each other's abilities. This is also an aspect of
foresight. The two of you can see developments that may later affect you
while they are still in the early stages, before they reach the point at which
nothing can be done.

You complement each other's ambitions in a very creative way. Together

you want to make changes in your world, and through your relationship

272
 Jupiter

you will gain strength and ability that will enable you to get whatever
you seek.

Even if you have difficult times with each other, the energy of this aspect
will enable you to pull yourselves back together. This aspect can contribute
greatly to the overall stability of a relationship.

Composite Jupiter Opposition Composite Pluto

The opposition of Jupiter and Pluto in the composite chart indicates a great
need for the two of you to suppress your individual ego-drives somewhat. If
you do not, your relationship will be nothing but competition and constant
efforts to control each other. Something about this relationship stimulates
your drives to control and to dominate. The best solution would be to
cooperate and turn that energy outward. However, even here you must be
careful, because strong Pluto energies tend to arouse opposition from
others, so you might spend all your time fighting other people and

a
accomplishing very little.

In extreme cases, the energy of this aspect can create trouble with
authorities, even legal difficulties. How this happens may not be clear, but
you can be sure that the energies are coming from the two of you and the
way you operate together.

Your one recourse is to control these drives within yourselves and to work
in a more subtle manner, either on each other or on others. If the energies of
this aspect are kept under some reasonable control, they can be quite useful,
because they give you the drive and ability to accomplish what you want.
The problem is simply to keep the energies down below the point where
they cause more trouble than they can solve.

Composite Jupiter Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Jupiter and Ascendant is a very good

• tor jny kind of relationship. No matter what eventually happens
between you, this will be a growth relationship Because of it both ot you
will be better oft in some important way than vou were before When
Jupiter, the principle of growth is strong in a composite chart it helps to
ensure a positive relationship In a business or professional MMM lation this
financial rial relationship it allows the
two of you id iboul each other and about yourselves as a couple

With this I . will not In trivial matters You both

 Planets in Composite

will look at the relationship from a broad perspective. Because you

understand that being together is more important than winning points
against each other, as so many other couples do, you don't let petty
irritations get the better of you. Consequently, you are much more tolerant
of each other than most couples.

You will find that being together broadens your range of experience, and
together you will discover new aspects of the world that will help you grow
as human beings. Even if the relationship is not an enduring one, each of
you will recognize the important role it has played in your personal
development. You will be glad, therefore, that you have had this
experience.

In many cases, this aspect may signify that you have come together because
of some shared intellectual interest. Jupiter often particularly signifies a
very deep and profound kind of growth on an intellectual level.

Composite Jupiter Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Jupiter and Ascendant is a good indication that

this relationship will enable both of you to grow in whatever way you
want. In any relationship it is a good aspect for mental and spiritual
prosperity, as well as for material prosperity. Relations between you are
easy and lacking in stress, because you each understand that your partner
accepts you as you are and is concerned about you. Whatever else you may
be to each other, you will be friends as well.

This relationship will stimulate your ideals and also give you the necessary
optimism about yourselves and each other that will help you attain your
goals. Consequently, your ideals about yourselves and this relationship are
not unrealistic, and you will be able to work toward them. The two of you
broaden each other's scope in such a way that when an opportunity comes
up, you recognize and take advantage of it. But this is not done in an
exploitative way; rather, when you see an opportunity, you know how to
use it.

In this relationship you will not be troubled by the routine habits of

thought that often get in the way of a relationship by causing two people to
irritate each other unconsciously. You have the capacity to take these habits
at their real value, which is usually not very great. This helps
immeasurably to smooth over the potential rough places in any
relationship.

274
 Jupiter

Composite Jupiter Square Composite Ascendant

Normally, the square of composite Jupiter and Ascendant is a good

aspect. It helps to make a relationship work so that the two of you can
further each other's chosen path in life rather than get in the way of it. This
is accomplished in two ways.

On the one hand, the two of you have some understanding of what you are
doing with your lives, at least as it concerns each other. In addition, you
also know how to work together so that you support and further each
other's plans. Because of these factors, this aspect is often a help in a
business or professional relationship.

On the other hand, this aspect makes it easy for you to reinforce each other
in your intimate personal lives. You are emotionally supportive and try to
help each other through difficult times, including periods of emotional
problems. You each have the capacity to make your partner feel good about
himself or herself.

However, problems can sometimes arise, and if they do, many of the good
effects of the Ascendant-Jupiter square are then reversed. Instead of
supporting each other's egos and aiding each other in your life courses, one
of you takes advantage of the other, who may have to play second fiddle to
the first partner's ego-trip. In a normal chart, the negative manifestations of
this square are not too likely to occur. However, it is enough of a danger to
be worth mentioning.

Composite Jupiter Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Jupiter and Ascendant is an excellent Mpd

any kind of relationship It is a si^n that the two ot vou are able to create
from yourselves a higher-level being, the relationship itself And vou are
willir, "his relationship everything necessary to make it a positive
experience for both of you.

With this aspect in your composite chart the two ot you recognize that the
petty irritations and upsets that exist in anv relationship are not important
enouKh to warrant upsettinK what is otherwise a very p,om\ situation You
are positive about each other and about being together and eat h i
trirs to make the other feel better about himsrlt or herselt Anv irritating
char. i 'hat annoy you or your partner an i throng
■ f growth rather than criticism

275
 Planets in Composite

You are concerned with each other's growth, and as a consequence the
relationship is characterized by growth. No matter what happens between
you in the long run, you will recognize that this has been a good experience
for both of you.

New experiences and opportunities will be opened up by your being

together. Jupiter is a planet of expanded consciousness, and whenever it is
strong in a composite chart, as it is here, the relationship will help develop
your awareness of the world.

This aspect can also manifest itself on the material level, in that the positive
energies it signifies will attract good things, both material and spiritual, as
you need them.

Composite Jupiter Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Jupiter with Ascendant should not be thought

of as an ordinary opposition but as a conjunction of composite Descendant
with Jupiter. Instead of being difficult, as many oppositions are, this is a
very positive and easy aspect in a composite chart.

This aspect signifies that the two of you have come together as a team for
mutual growth. This growth can happen in either or both of two distinct
ways.

The first manifestation of the Jupiter energy is on the psychological and

spiritual level. Here the position of Jupiter on composite Descendant
signifies that you will nurture and support each other through all kinds of
adversity and that you will share in the high points of each other's lives as
well. This aspect also helps to ensure more high points in the relationship
than there might otherwise have been. You are not overly critical of each
other, and any criticisms that you do have are given and received in a
constructive spirit. Both of you will grow in awareness and understanding
of yourselves and the world. No matter what happens to the relationship,
you both will see it as a positive experience.

The second level of manifestation is material. This aspect signifies that your
relationship is likely to be quite prosperous. This is the result of the same
energies as described above. The optimism and positive attitude engendered
by this aspect attract whatever material things you may need. And you will
get pretty much what you feel you may need.

276
Chapter Eleven

Saturn
 Saturn

The Meaning of Saturn in the Composite Chart

Saturn is always a very complicated symbol. It has many meanings, some

of which are difficult to deal with. To begin with, it often represents those
areas of the relationship that are likely to be a source of insecurity. It is this
attribute that can make Saturn very hard to handle, because it signifies
fears, which can generate a negative energy that makes the worst come true.
You must learn to relax about those areas of the relationship that are most
influenced by Saturn.

Saturn also refers to limitations on the relationship, which are often more
apparent than real. Saturn is an inhibitor, representing the aspects of reality

a
that limit our efforts to expand and grow. As a consequence, through the
resistance of Saturn, everything in both the material and psychol.
world is forced to assume a definite form. The position of Saturn in the
composite chart will tell a great deal about what areas of the relationship
are most likely to be structured and even ngidified. it the influence is
uncht-. •

Saturn is not always difficult, however. Very often it indicates a lasting

relationship that will endure Much of the time you will respond to Saturn
simply by accepting the reality it imposes and not expecting that which is
impossible This prevents the frustrated idealism that makes so m.inv love
relationships difficult In such instances Saturn replaces flamboyance with
reliability

At other times, however Saturn s influence will make a relationship nearlv

impossible When this happens it is a reality that must b.
• rly handled, the « m Clfl be one <>t the most
significant ways in which you learn how you will act in certain situations
'ut it mi. -lowledged that this process is p
.larly plr.i
 Planets in Composite

Composite Saturn in the First House

Saturn in the first house of a composite chart can be quite troublesome to a

relationship, although not necessarily deadly. Under proper circumstances,
it can be very beneficial, for it can bind the two of you together in an
enduring association. The effect depends on how the energies are handled.

Under any circumstances, Saturn in the first puts a clamp on how much the
two of you can project yourselves into the world; that is, its effect is to
make a relationship very self-contained. Others will not know what is going
on emotionally between you. If you are having difficulties, you will tend to
keep them hidden from others. Even if you are getting along very well and
are quite happy, it will not be immediately obvious. You will always
present a quiet, reserved appearance that does not tell much about what
you are really feeling.

At its worst, Saturn in the first house can create barriers between you that
will make it very difficult to communicate with each other either verbally or
non verbally. The effect can be that of a wall between you. In general this is
not the best placement for Saturn in a composite chart. But if you do have
this placement, the best solution — once you have decided to enter the
relationship — is to eliminate as many barriers as possible and to
communicate about everything. Make yourselves as much a part of each
other as possible.

Composite Saturn in the Second House

Saturn in the second house of the composite chart usually gives a

relationship a great sense of material insecurity. In the old books, a
second-house Saturn in the chart of an individual was considered an
indication of poverty. But many millionaires have had a second-house
Saturn; in fact, it is this placement that caused them to amass a fortune in
the first place. They were so afraid of poverty that they nearly killed
themselves in an effort to avoid it.

This is also true in a composite chart. Money is a source of concern to the

two of you and therefore it is also a possible source of problems, even if you
have enough money. You may be so cautious in your handling of financial
matters that you don't allow yourselves to enjoy life. Similarly, the fear of
losing money may lead to all kinds of arguments concerning it, so that
money becomes a very divisive issue between you.

Of course, this placement of Saturn can result in the two of you not having

280
 Saturn

enough material resources. But in that case it is your negative attitudes that
actually drive away opportunities to make money or secure the resources
you seek. You may be so conservative that you don't even see the obvious
opportunities to do something about your problems. You hang onto the
orthodox ways of doing things because they are familiar, even though they
have served you poorly in the past.

While you will always be careful with material resources, you must learn to
be open-minded toward new opportunities and proceed with a positive
point of view. That will help considerably.

Composite Saturn in the Third House

Saturn in the third house of the composite chart indicates that the two of
you must be careful not to fall into set patterns of thought in this
relationship. This applies to the ways in which you think as a couple as well
as to the ways you think about each other. For example, it can indicate that
there is a real barrier to communication between you, because each of you
is so locked into certain ways of thinking and communicating that you
cannot loosen up and listen to what your partner is saying. Remember that
it is always necessary to talk in the other person's language; no matter how
successfully you can communicate in your own language, it will do no good

a
unless your partner understands you.

Unfortunately, a communications gap is precisely the problem that Saturn

in the third house is likely to create. You must abandon any tendency to
believe that your way of thinking is superior to your partner's, because that
will only make communication more difficult.

Saturn in the third house also makes the two of you fond of structuring
your immediate environment, a tendency that arises trom the mental habits
just discussed Mental orderliness is reflected in the way you organize vour
world You dislike disorder and will do everything in your powers to
prevent it

In a personal relationship. Saturn in the third can also give difficulty with
relatives Here again, the best solution r Nil Mfayi ol think ir- .
try to communicate in the same terms as the people v^u are talking to

( omnosite Saturn in the Fourth Nous,

' irn in the fourth house will have its most serious
a marn.i. .e relationship in which VOU intend to

281
 Planets in Composite

live together. Saturn in this position designates an inner incompatibility

that makes living together very difficult. Not that it will be impossible, but
this will be the area in which there are the greatest difficulties.

Even when the influence of Saturn is under control, it will have effects.
Your home life will be characterized by austerity; that is, you will keep your
home very simple, uncluttered, and neat. There is nothing wrong with this,
as long as it is not an outward reflection of an inward coldness.

In any kind of relationship with Saturn in the fourth house, there will be a
feeling of distance between you, as if you were unable to touch each other at
some very deep inner level. If you are consciously experiencing problems,
you will have to dig very deeply to find the answers. They are not
superficial problems, and a superficial solution cannot deal with them. Both
of you will have to get past your deep-seated inner fears in order to confide
in your partner with complete trustfulness. For this reason, it is probably a
good idea to get to know each other gradually. Do not be in a hurry. Under
favorable conditions, Saturn can make a relationship quite enduring.

Composite Saturn in the Fifth House

Saturn in the fifth house of the composite chart will make it rather difficult
to get a love relationship or a marriage off the ground. The fifth is the house
of fun and lightness, amusements and self-expression. It is also the house of
love affairs. Obviously, Saturn is not very much at home here; its heaviness
and severity are not particularly compatible with the fifth house. This
placement tends to restrict the lighthearted sense of joy that a love
relationship should have, subordinating joy to considerations of duty and
responsibility.

Any relationship with Saturn in this house will be surrounded by feelings of

obligation and necessity. You seem to feel that under different
circumstances there would be no relationship between you, but since
matters are the way they are, you will make the best of it. This much can be
said in your favor; you will really try to make the best of it, because you are
realistic about life. This is not an idealistic romance. You probably take life
much too seriously, which in the long run tends to magnify problems out of
all proportion to their real importance.

In a marriage with this house placement, the foregoing discussion suggests

that you may have difficulty in freely expressing your love for each other.
But this is also the house of children, and Saturn here may deny children or
at least create problems in having them. It would be a very good idea for the

282
 Saturn

two of you to plan on having no more than one or two children. If you
concentrate on that one or two, the best manifestations of this placement
can become apparent.

Composite Saturn in the Sixth House

Saturn in the sixth house of the composite chart has both strengths and
weaknesses. This is the house of duty, responsibility, and work. In this
capacity it is an excellent house for Saturn, which is concerned with many
of these same values. Whatever your purpose in being together, you should
be able to live up to the duties and responsibilities required of you.
Obviously this is a good placement for any kind of professional
relationship, because your work will get done.

In some cases, there may be a tendency for your sense of duty and
obligation to overwhelm the other areas of your relationship, transforming
it into drudgery, an obligation taken on unwillingly, rather than a
spontaneously joyful and demonstrative affair. It will be a work
relationship in the bad sense as well as the good. If this is your situation,
you must find some way of making matters lighter between you. Otherwise
the relationship does not stand a chance in the long run.

At its worst, a sixth-house Saturn relationship can make both of you feel
enslaved by the other or by the very nature of the relationship. If it ever gets
to that point, the only solution is to break the connection for a while, until
you can regain your sense of perspective about each other.

Composite Saturn in the Seventh House

Saturn, the planet of separation and repression, in the seventh, the he

marriage, mi^ht seem to be absolutely fatal to such a relationship, but it is
not. Saturn here is quite compatible with any kind ot relationship, although
it does create certain problems.

On the one fund, it (an hind the two of vou together btJCMIM it Minifies
that together you will h.i nn difficulties and responsibilities
By itself it does not signify that love is the bond that holds you together
although that may be the case for other reasons The binding tor
Saturn are requirements that must be met in the real world ^ (Ml are tied to
• by duties obligations, and responsibilities m addition to any
terlir . 'ion that v«'U m.iv have In lai t the seventh house Saturn
can tie tv. when they want to split up

283
 Planets in Composite

But this placement can also signify that under some circumstances there will
be no relationship at all between you. However, if Saturn in the seventh
house is really operating at a malefic level, it is highly unlikely that the two
of you will want to come together in the first place. If you have settled that
you want to have a relationship, you have already proved that Saturn is not
operating at the malefic level in your composite chart.

Composite Saturn in the Eighth House

Saturn in the eighth house of the composite chart pertains both to joint
property and resources and to major personal transformations and
regenerations.

To deal with the first area, the effects of Saturn in the eighth house can be
similar to its effects in the second, in that you may feel very insecure about
the physical resources you share. You may have fears of not having enough
money, for example. And as in the second house, this insecurity may
actually cause the two of you to concentrate on money to such an extent
that you become wealthy. Insecurity is the real problem here, rather than
any lack of money. However, you might conceivably have trouble with
other people's money — banks, finance companies, and such. It would
probably be well to avoid these if you can.

Turning to the area of regeneration symbolized by the eighth house, Saturn

here can indicate that the two of you will resist the deep transformations
that must take place in any relationship. The eighth house is the house of
death, both real and metaphorical; in other words, it signifies very
important and fundamental changes, such that your lives will not be the
same as they were before.

But the two of you are likely to be afraid of such changes and will try to
build up structures in your lives that will prevent change of any sort. It is
not good to do this, however, because the transformations of the eighth
house are very difficult to resist, and resisting them only makes them more
catastrophic when they do occur. You should not face life from a rigid
position. Relax and let yourselves be open to any changes that may occur.
They will probably be for the better.

Composite Saturn in the Ninth House

Saturn in the ninth house of the composite chart can be very useful. It
signifies a very careful and cautious approach to life. The two of you will
plan very carefully for your future, so you are not likely to be caught off

284
 Saturn

guard by unpleasant surprises from the outside world. Together you have a
strong sense of reality — not that you are incapable of idealism, but you
keep it well under control. Your approach to the real world is very
structured.

But the two of you should be on guard against certain negative effects of
this position. If Saturn's effects in this house are allowed to become too
strong, they can lead to such narrowness and excessive caution that you will
overlook the real opportunities that come your way.

This placement may also signify that each of you is solidly entrenched in
your position in life and can't be easily moved from it, especially in matters
concerning each other. Be very careful that with Saturn in this house you
don't get to the point of being unable to deal with each other's point of
view. Like the third house, the ninth is a house of communication, but if
Saturn is too strong, communication between you will be totally lost. For
any relationship, that is a bad sign.

You must avoid narrowness of thinking, either about each other or about
other people, because it can ultimately destroy any relationship.

Composite Saturn in the Tenth House

In many ways Saturn is in its own house here. Composite Saturn in the
tenth means that the nature and goals of this relationship are very
important to the two of you. You will be strongly conscious of your
objectives and will work very hard to reach them. This placement is
perhaps more favorable to a professional relationship than to a personal
one, but in either case it will not hurt.

Together you will work very hard to get ahead on your own terms,
whatever they may be. You both will feel that it is necessary to work hard,
although that feeling may be exaggerated.

Sometimes Saturn in this position can make you believe that the world is
bearinK down on you Whether or not this is ac tuallv true you will have to
quite hard together to net where you want to be. Success will not
v. but it will come it von work dihxently and do not take
%hortcuts The success of this relationship whatever its pi pCHOJ
upon doinK vour work c jrefully and meticulously I he present «• «>t Saturn
guarantees that if you do not do your work thoroughly Mid l.iv a strong
four • future action you will have trouble later on

285
 Planets in Composite

On the other hand, if you follow this advice, a tenth-house Saturn will
make it possible to reach your objectives with great success. This is not a
bad position for Saturn, but it requires you to exercise a great deal of
responsibility.

Composite Saturn in the Eleventh House

Saturn in the eleventh house of the composite chart is in one of the houses of
relationships, since the eleventh represents friendship. This can refer to
your feelings of friendship for each other as well as to friends that you have
as a couple.

In the first instance, Saturn in this house does not make friendship between
you impossible, but it does somewhat cool your expression of it; you may
still have a very enduring relationship. You may be quite reserved with each
other, but that may be just as well, for it will permit your relationship to
last longer. An eleventh-house Saturn can indicate a very long-lasting
friendship.

The eleventh is also the house of one's ideals, hopes, and wishes. In some
cases, Saturn can signify that the two of you have very different ideals and
that you don't usually react in the same way toward things. This can
diminish your sympathy for each other and make the relationship quite
difficult.

Taking the second side of the eleventh house, that of friends outside the
relationship, it can be said that when Saturn is operating positively, it
indicates few outside friends, but those few will be firm and long-lasting.
They may be older than either of you. But if Saturn's influence is not
working out well, you may not have any outside friends, probably because
of some rigidity in you that makes it impossible for you to share yourselves
with others.

Composite Saturn in the Twelfth House

The twelfth house is one of the more difficult positions for composite
Saturn. This placement implies that you find it difficult to deal with each
other in an open and direct manner. Your responses to each other are
automatic, as if you were acting out unconscious programs that you neither
understand nor particularly like. You may often ask each other, "Now what
made me do that to you?" You may also feel that as a whole the relationship
is very cramping to your individual styles. You feel repressed and put down
by the experience. In this case it would be best to avoid further contact.

286
 Saturn

However, if you decide that you have something of value together and
would like to continue, here is what the two of you must do. First of all,
recognize that many of the subversive tactics that you use against each
other are not intentional. You seem to trigger in each other mechanical
"programs that run even when they are not appropriate to the situation.
Therefore, you both must become very tolerant of these patterns — not only
your partner's, but also your own. Blaming yourself all the time is no better
than blaming the other person.

If you can learn to be tolerant of these patterns, you won't take their effects
so seriously either. That, in turn, will help you learn to understand what lies
behind them and how to deal with them. The first requirement is not to take
so seriously the actions that hurt the relationship, because then you don't
have to worry so much about protecting yourselves when you get into an
analysis of your problems together. You will be able to concentrate all your
energies on solving the problems. When you have done that, you are well
on your way to making the relationship work. The important part is the
initial commitment.

Composite Saturn Conjunct Composite Uranus

The conjunction of Saturn and Uranus in the composite chart indicates

tension and conflict between you. One of you wants to be free and
unfettered, and the other restricts that desire. This is an explosive situation
and can lead to sudden outbreaks of temper when long-suppressed tensions
come to the surface. Such bursts of energy can emerge suddenly and break
up a relationship that has seemed to be running smoothlv tor some time.
The result is surprising to those involved and to the people around them.

With this conjunction in your composite horoscope it is a good idea not to

hold back your feelings. Whenever tensions develop \N
them Don t hope that they will go away, because they won't. Problems
that .1 :it with immediately descend into hidden depths and later
when ' •»• Ki''s too Kreat, they explode without warning

This • to hold in your feelings can be very useful (fairing short

n or difficulty, fun-. • imes it will seem as it the two
vthinK together. But when mk h a period is over make
• • ts and emotional consequences oi that time are dealt
with n eventual blowup

297
 Planets in Composite

Composite Saturn Sextile Composite Uranus

The sextile of composite Saturn and Uranus is an aspect of endurance. The

two principles of Saturn and Uranus, which in nature are quite opposed, are
presented here in a creative balance. It gives your relationship qualities of
endurance and patience and the ability to endure much stress. The two of
you are not bothered by passing irritations, so you do not fly off the handle
at every little difficulty that arises between you. Only the major problems
occupy your attention. But patience can be carried too far. Tension may
build up if you don't find some way to release it, and the blowups, when
they finally come, are rather spectacular.

In the world around you, the two of you see a balance between the new, the
innovative, and the unusual on one hand and the old reliable values of the
past on the other. This viewpoint also results in a balanced way of thinking
within your relationship. When you plan something together, you
approach the problem in a practical, disciplined way that still allows you to
grasp and apply new principles.

Although this aspect by itself does not make for a very powerful attraction
between you, it does contribute to the stability of your relationship.

Composite Saturn Square Composite Uranus

The square of composite Saturn and Uranus is quite common in the charts
of people born in the early 1950s. This aspect may account in part for the
general instability of relationships in this generational group; it indicates
severe tension that frequently leads to breakups and separation.

If this aspect is strong in your composite chart, you will find it difficult to
handle the tensions that arise between you. Instead of dealing with each
irritation as it arises, you allow tensions to build up to what can only be a
breaking point.

Obviously you must learn to handle problems as they arise without letting
them build up. You may think it will cause more trouble to handle them
immediately because there are so many irritations. But, unfortunately,
frequent petty irritations are one of the effects of this square. Nevertheless,
the irritations become much worse if suppressed, for then they cannot be
dealt with at all. When the situation is allowed to reach that point, all
feeling is dead and there is little left to salvage. Do not let it go that far.

288
 Saturn

Composite Saturn Trine Composite Uranus

The trine of composite Saturn and Uranus does not create an especially
free and open relationship. There is always some underlying tension and
sense of restraint between you. Nevertheless, you can use this tension quite
creatively, for it enables you to handle problems that most couples canot
deal with. But this works only if there are long periods of letdown between
the tense times. If there are not. the tension will eventually build up and
explode, which will end the relationship once and for all.

This aspect favors planning and organizing your lives together. Uranus
allows you to see new ways of doing things, while Saturn ensures that you
will be careful and thorough. Similarly, your world views as a couple will
be balanced between the old and the new, so that you experience the best in
both worlds.

This aspect could be very useful if you have come together for the purpose
of teaching others. All Saturn-Uranus combinations give some capacity for
teaching, but the trine is the best. A teacher always has to strike a balance
between conveying a discipline (Saturn) and changing and reforming his or
her students (Uranus). The trine in your composite chart makes you
complement each other, so that together you will have this ability, even if it
is not so well-developed in each of you individually.

Composite Saturn Opposition Composite Uranus

The opposition of composite Saturn and Uranus can be quite difficult for a
relationship. It implies a state of tension arising from the fact that one of
you feels that the other puts a complete clamp on his or her style, while the
restrictive partner experiences the first one as a disruptive force. Add to this
-•.real difficulty in communicating with each other, so that pre
are not released, and you have an explosive situation You will probably
find it difficult even to relax with each other

With this aspect it your relationship does pri oft the ground, there is still
the critical problem of tension buildinK up rather than beinn let oft
gradually This problem causes many such relationships to end suddenly
and without warninK It is clearly a situation in which the onlv solution is to
learn m K^dually Talk frequently about what is Komg on
between you ar >ssibU- Y our prim ip.il .nm should
the trull • points over each other This
way you will be able to Irt out the energy and release the tension !
itionship will not ) ■ ippy "r long 1-ishnK
 Planets in Composite

Composite Saturn Conjunct Composite Neptune

The conjunction of composite Saturn and Neptune can present some strange
and difficult problems. This relationship is quite likely to challenge your
accustomed ways of looking at the world. The challenge will not be wild
and revolutionary, as is characteristic of Uranus; rather it will be a quiet,
subtle change such that one day the two of you will find that you don't
understand what is going on at all. You both will certainly be confused and
may be fearful of what you don't understand. A strongly placed
Saturn-Neptune conjunction is not favorable if you must work together in a
situation that requires great clarity of mind and understanding in order to
accomplish something.

There is a way to deal with the energies of this aspect in a relationship if you
can learn to be extremely flexible. Saturn-Neptune signifies a breakdown of
the ways in which you structure your perception of reality. If you can bring
yourselves to relax and flow with its energies, this relationship can present
you with a whole new way of structuring your world, which will greatly
enhance your ability to deal with life. Therefore this encounter can be
valuable, although it won't always be very pleasant. But you both will resist
this aspect of your relationship very intensely, and you will be beset by
fear, confusion, uncertainty, and especially self-doubt. You each may feel
that your partner has a way of undermining your belief in yourself.

If that is true in your case, the situation is exposing something in you that is
not strong enough. Instead of fleeing, try to understand what is happening.
Even if you feel that you have suffered terrible damage through this
relationship, you must recognize that you have a weakness that has to be
dealt with. Try to learn what it is, so that you will not have to deal with it
over and over again in the future.

The energy of this Saturn-Neptune combination will break down your old
understandings of yourselves in a relationship, but in the long run it can
also bring about a new and truer understanding.

Composite Saturn Sextile Composite Neptune

The sextile of composite Saturn and Neptune indicates that you will be able
to maintain a balance between the ideal and the real in this relationship. If
this is a personal relationship, for example, you will try to use what you
know about yourselves and each other to progress and develop into
what you would like to become. Very often the effect of a harmonious
Saturn-Neptune combination such as this is that people will work toward

290
 Saturn

the ideal by denying themselves in one way or another. This aspect is a

symbol of asceticism. One way to understand this principle is to think of it
as the idealization (Neptune) of discipline and austerity (Saturn). As a
couple you are able to put up with having very little because you want very
little.

The same tendency toward austerity makes it unlikely that this will be a
sexual relationship, unless there are many other indications for it. The
reason for this is not that there are blocks and repressions, as is usually the
case with Saturn, but because Neptune denies the physical world and
because this combination idealizes austerity. A couple with this aspect
probably would not even want a sexual relationship.

Other kinds of relationships with this aspect will also be restrained and
disciplined. That fact will not divide you, but may actually hold you
together.

Composite Saturn Square Composite Neptune

If the square of Saturn and Neptune is strongly placed in the composite

chart, there can be some difficulty, for this aspect tends to undermine
confidence and to produce fear and insecurity. The effect of Neptune is to
dissolve and weaken the solid physical basis of your world by making
things seem uncertain and unclear. And this aspect has the same effect on a
relationship also.

Sometimes there is a conflict between realism and idealism in your

relationship. It may appear that the ideal you seek— how you should relate
to or feel about each other, or some other ideal you want to work toward
together — is totally blocked by circumstances in the real world Otten this
belief can make both of you pessimistic or depressed. This aspect is not
noted for producing a gotni, lighthearted sense of humor.

• ver. you must remember that the situation is geJdoW as bad as it

appears with this aspect Much of the apparently depressing tirtums-
ly an illusion, so you must circumvent the illusion and pel at the true
reality, which is usually not so bad. Don t accept condition* as they tirst
If in (his relationship and don't give up seeking what you want It vou
>u will only undermine each Othef anil wc.ikrn your ability ti
with the world Obviously that is not a desirable result
 Planets in Composite

Composite Saturn Trine Composite Neptune

The trine of composite Saturn and Neptune produces austerity of

self-expression, self-denial, and even asceticism. With this aspect prominent
in the chart, it is unlikely that the two of you have formed a relationship
purely for pleasure. More likely you have come together with some higher
purpose in mind, something involving discipline and working toward an
ideal. You may even have come together to pursue a spiritual purpose. But
even if the task is of a business or professional nature, the two of you will
work very hard to attain your purpose and will indulge yourselves very
little. Work and discipline themselves may be the ideal toward which you
strive.

Obviously this style would not usually be found in a love relationship,

except in an idealized platonic one. But the self-denial and discipline that are
characteristic of this aspect will be a spontaneous self-expression, not an
imposed condition that you are unwilling to put up with.

Composite Saturn Opposition Composite Neptune

The opposition of composite Saturn and Neptune suggests that the two of
you have rather incompatible ideals and that you will constantly challenge
each other's notions of reality. The danger is that you will systematically
weaken each other's self-confidence to the point where both of you will be
less capable of handling the world than you were before.

Negative Saturn-Neptune energies can lead to fear, depression, sadness, and

a sense of futility, as well as to material want and deprivation. However,
material deprivation usually results from the negative psychological
energies generated by the aspect. You have to believe that something is
possible before you will go after it.

You both must learn to recognize that you are probably making your
relationship seem worse than it is. Be very careful not to make mountains
out of molehills and exaggerate problems out of all proportion. This is one
of the chief dangers of the aspect.

At the same time, it is necessary to play very straight with each other.
Otherwise, every time you discover that your partner has deceived or lied
to you, your relationship will become weaker and weaker until there is
nothing left except suspicion.

292
 Saturn

Composite Saturn Conjunct Composite Pluto

The conjunction of Saturn and Pluto in your composite chart indicates that
the two of you may have to face difficult times together and that you will
have to struggle quite hard to keep going. But these difficulties are not so
likely to occur within the relationship; more probably the two of you will
experience difficulties with the outside world.

You may undergo periods of economic scarcity, for example, or times when
everything seems to be working against you. However, this aspect also
gives a tremendous resistance to adversity. Together you will have a kind of
rugged persistence that people will envy. You will survive where others fail.

Although this aspect is not the easiest, it may actually strengthen a

relationship because of the ruggedness it confers. At the same time, if the
two of you have gone through a lot of trouble together, you may feel more
strongly about staying together. One might say that you thrive on
adversity. It is a challenge you are able to meet, and it builds you up.

Composite Saturn Sextile Composite Pluto

The sextile of composite Saturn and Pluto can give your relationship
considerable survival power. By itself it does not indicate that the two of
you are attracted to each other, but if you are, this aspect will help you deal
with the hard times that can arise in any relationship. The effect of Saturn is
to slow down and strengthen transformations, symbolized by Pluto. The
result is that the relationship becomes more resistant to the negative i •
of changes that may go on around you.

On the other hand, it must be pointed out that this aspect can also r.
relationship more resistant to positive changes All rextflw and tnnrs inhibit
changes to some extent, while one of the key ideas behind Saturn-Pluto is
the chanKinK <>f structure Therefore the sextile s mercies inhibit the normal
expression of the planetary combination

While the toughness and durability that this aspect gives your relationship
are desirable, n do not become rigidity AI.
en to neceeaary changes, or you will tmd ih.it yout
nship has become stultifying nothing more than .1 mass ol habitual
vith little real thought or reeling
 Planets in Composite

Composite Saturn Square Composite Pluto

The square of composite Saturn and Pluto creates difficulties. One of you
will feel that you are struggling in chains forged by the other, that the
relationship is restrictive, and that your natural growth is being inhibited. It
is most likely that each of you will affect the other this way at different
times. It will not be a one-way street.

The energies of the aspect may not be experienced directly, however. The
Saturn-Pluto combination seems to have the effect of creating a shortage or
lack of something that seems essential, so the two of you will not always
have what you want, whether it is material comfort or psychological
support. Something in the dynamics of your interaction brings this situation
about. As a consequence, your freedom of movement is very much
hindered, and you will blame each other for this problem.

Please realize, however, that the dynamics of your relationship is the

problem, not the other person. In other words, both of you are contributing
to the situation. Until you acknowledge this fact, you will not be able to
straighten out any problems that you encounter.

Such a relationship can face quite unpleasant circumstances, most

commonly in the form of increasing emotional coldness and remoteness
between you. From there you may get to the point of resisting each other
strongly and wanting to break free at all costs. If the relationship has
anything going for it and you want to make it work, you must recognize
how you have created this situation. How do you limit each other, not only
by actions, but also by attitudes? Do you undermine each other in any way?
Ask yourselves these questions, not to prove each other right or wrong but
only to get at the truth.

Composite Saturn Trine Composite Pluto

The trine of composite Saturn and Pluto confers a certain toughness and
rigidity upon a relationship that can be both good and bad. On the plus
side, it makes the two of you able to handle some fairly difficult times
without folding up. You can endure quite a bit of hardship, either from each
other or from the outside world. You develop a view of the world and of
your relationship that helps you understand why circumstances can be bad,
and you resist the panic that sometimes destroys a relationship when times
are tough.

On the other hand, it is possible to become rigid and unadaptable. No

294
 Saturn

matter how great the pressure, you may be unable to bend at all and make
the necessary- adaptations that could enable your relationship to survive
and produce happiness for both of you.

Try to avoid unconscious habits in dealing with each other. Your

relationship, like any other, requires that you make changes from time to
time. But you tend to resist these changes because of the habit patterns that
you have built up unconsciously with each other. Learn to approach each
situation as if you had never seen it before. Apply the same fresh and
innovative tactics that you would have used the first time. You will
probably see that this situation is quite different and that you had been
imposing a similarity that was not actually there.

Composite Saturn Opposition Composite Pluto

If the opposition of composite Saturn and Pluto is strongly placed, it can

create a great deal of tension between the two of you, which will be
expressed as rather explosive outbursts of feeling and passion.

The problem is that the rigidity of Saturn encounters the irresistible

transforming power of Pluto. An analogy can be found in the theory of
continental drift, in which the continental land masses come together
almost imperceptibly, but the accumulated pressure throws up mountains
and produces earthquakes of terrifying violence. A relationship in which
this aspect is strong is like that. Both of you are constantly changing, slowly
but powerfully, but you operate in such a way that it is difficult to let the
changes happen. The result is that they happen all at once in a cataclysmic
way rather than expressing themselves gradually.

When an emotional eruption occurs, it is because one of you I

hope of being able to deal with the other and bring about any kind or
constructive change. Finally, when the pressure gets too great, you blow
up. not to change your partner but to Id ott the powerful feeling stored up
inside

If either of you is rigid, you must learn not to be Don't allow your I
and ideas to persist unchanged Do not wait until the pressure b M
that you can't handle the matter easily

•.iMirn Conjunct Composite Wrndanl

i'urn and Ascendant tan h.i •

very different effects, depending on other faclOfl in the relationship
 Planets in Composite

On the positive level, it can signify a relationship that is bound together so

strongly that almost nothing can break it up. This is not so much because
there is a positive attraction between you as because you are intensely
involved with each other in a way that seems fated or strongly predestined.
Unfortunately, even if one of you wants to break out of this relationship, it
might be difficult because of material circumstances, psychological needs,
or other factors that seem beyond your control. This characteristic of the
Saturn-Ascendant conjunction is helpful, if the rest of the relationship is
basically sound, and not so good if the relationship is shaky.

If either of you experiences this relationship as a trap from which you would
like to break free but cannot, you must examine why you are together.
People sometimes stay involved with each other for reasons that have
nothing to do with happiness. If you examine the relationship carefully, you
may find that the two of you are getting something else from the situation.
You may be reluctant to give this up, even though the relationship itself is
unsatisfactory.

At another level, if the two of you do not have much interaction with each
other, the conjunction of composite Saturn and Ascendant may be the
final indication that you do not have enough in common to allow a viable
relationship. Certainly, if you are interested in being lovers or marriage
partners, you should make sure that other indications in the relationship are
extremely positive to compensate for this aspect. Even under the best of
circumstances, this aspect is likely to mean that emotional contact between
you is limited.

Composite Saturn Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Saturn and Ascendant can have a positive,

steadying effect upon a relationship, or it can make the relationship rather
rigid. In either case, this aspect causes structures to become hardened and
stabilized. Obviously this is fine for the good elements in a relationship, but
not good for the less positive elements. There is a danger that the two of you
could become so enmeshed in bad habits that you do not think about what
you are doing. You may act unconsciously instead of stopping to consider
what is really happening. A possible result is that many of your actions
toward each other may be inappropriate to the circumstances, which will
cause problems between you.

This aspect may curtail communication between you, but not in a way that
is truly detrimental. What it will do is keep your communication focused on
fundamentals. Instead of engaging in small talk with each other, you will

296
 Saturn

talk mostly about the matters that you both consider important.

In this relationship your ideals are pragmatic. You both are anxious to deal
with the truth ; instead of indulging in idle speculation about what could be,
you deal with what is. That includes each other, which means that this may
not be the most romantic relationship, but at least you are willing to make
do with what you have. For that reason, this relationship may be more
enduring than those that are characterized by a romantic attitude.

These same attitudes also make this aspect a very positive one for a business
relationship in which strong emotional interaction is secondary to clear and
objective consideration of the facts that you are working with.

Composite Saturn Square Composite Ascendant

The square of composite Saturn to Ascendant can cause real problems in

a relationship. It signifies that the two of you have a great deal of difficulty
cooperating with each other and coordinating your purposes in life so that
you can work together. In the composite chart, this aspect indicates
alienation of one partner from the other.

Only if other elements of your relationship are very positive can you
compensate for the negative effects of this aspect. It can make you both feel
that your past experiences have made you into such completely different
people that it is difficult to get together in the present. Your personal and
inward experiences of life in general are so different that you will have
difficulty in understanding each other, which adds to the overall sense of
differentness and alienation.

If this is a marriage or other relationship in which you share a home of MOM

kind, that home is not likely to be a very rewarding place to be. Neit'
you is willing to invest enough of your personal feelings and emotions into
making it pleasant This is a reflection on the material plane ot the inward
hat the two of you feel in this relationship

Anotr an interfere with the smooth functioning ot a relationship

with this asp«< t You may feel that external i in UflMtanOM hi such
a burden of duty and responsibility on vour relationship that you i.innol
the feeling that
•nus» be done first

■hip t hi likely t. mi m
mutu.' : nK If of nship
 Planets in Composite

are not too good, you should ask yourselves very honestly what you want
from this relationship and whether it is possible to attain it.

Composite Saturn Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Saturn and Ascendant will have a very stabilizing
effect on a good relationship, but an inhibiting effect on one that is not so
good. When Saturn's energies operate in a positive manner, as is often the
case with the trine aspect, they promote stability and help keep the
relationship on an even keel. This aspect prevents wide swings from
extreme happiness to extreme sadness or from very positive to very negative
feelings. But it does so at the cost of a certain spontaneity and exuberance.
A Saturnine relationship, even a good one, is more sober than most, more
concerned about practical realities and less about ideals and romantic
fantasies.

On the positive side, the two of you are able to make each other function in
a more regular manner. You give each other a sense of discipline. At its
best, this aspect makes it possible for the two of you to be your honest
selves with each other, but at the same time to exercise restraint. You are
not inclined to act in a completely free and loose manner when you are
together.

If the energy of this aspect operates negatively, however, then each of you
may be a serious obstacle to the other's self-expression. Even worse, you
may find yourselves locked into such rigid attitudes about each other that it
is difficult to make changes in your relationship. At the same time, these
energies may cause you both to become more rigid in your attitudes to the
world around you.

Which effect you are likely to experience depends in part on your

willingness to deal with each other openly and honestly.

Composite Saturn Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Saturn to Ascendant should be thought of

as a conjunction of Saturn and composite Descendant. Because the
Descendant is a very important point in the chart of a relationship, this is a
very important aspect. Unfortunately, it is also a difficult aspect for most
people to handle well. It implies that the two of you are unable to relate as a
team. You both feel there are great barriers between you that make it
difficult to relate to each other. This problem may derive from either of two
sources.

298
 Saturn

It may be that external circumstances are making the relationship

impossible. People around you may try to prevent you from getting
together, perhaps because one of you is involved in another relationship
that makes this one impossible. Or, especially if you are lovers, there may
be a great age gap between you that makes your relationship difficult.

But it is also possible that the two of you simply do not have a basic affinity
for each other. Saturn on the composite Descendant can be a sign of mutual
alienation.

If other areas of the relationship are positive, you will probably encounter
the first problem — persons or circumstances trying to block the
relationship. But if your relationship is not going well in other ways, this
aspect is a sign that it is not likely to be a very rewarding one, because you
are not basically compatible. In any case, with this aspect, you must
examine your relationship very carefully to see if you really want it enough
to overcome the obstacles it presents.

299
Uranus
Chapter Twelve
 Uranus

The Meaning of Uranus in the Composite Chart

Uranus is the planet of the unconventional and the unusual, at least in its
ordinary manifestations. It can also reveal alternate views of reality that
will help you to learn and grow. Unfortunately, this usually happens by
means of a surprising upset that seems to completely invalidate your
previous beliefs about life. Uranus is often regarded as the planet of
unpleasant surprises. The only way to deal with it positively is to maintain
a very open attitude and to structure your life as little as possible. Some
structure is necessary, of course. But Uranus demands that you maintain a
very flexible attitude toward the world.

In a relationship it is important to let the areas most affected by Uranus be

much freer than you might otherwise allow. The aspects to Uranus in the
composite chart usually indicate the area of the relationship that you must
release. Not that you will lose it, but you must let it take its own course,
with a minimum of expectations. Venus-Uranus aspects, in particular,
represent relationships that must not be restrained from following their own
course.

The house position indicates where Uranus is most effective, and that area
must be treated most gently. Any attempt to make a basically Uranian
char.i ntorm to rules or expectations will only cause disturb.:
the energy of Uranus under pressure becomes rebellious insisting on doing
everything in exactly the opposite way from what people want.
£3
Uranus is simply an energy that insists on being K'ven free rrin Yotlf
ability to handle it dt-px-nds upon how tret you are.

( iimpositr Uranus in th«- I irst Hou*e

With Uranus in the first housr ot thr ( omposi-. .ur rrl.itionship will
expn -si. .n At thr I I will be a
 Planets in Composite

highly individualistic one.

It may be that this relationship will begin very suddenly. Or perhaps the
two of you would not ordinarily be expected to come together. In either
case, being together will have a revolutionary effect on both of you. It will
reveal aspects of yourselves that you never even knew existed. By the same
token, the lives of those around you will also be affected.

The danger of this placement is that you, or those around you, will try to
make this relationship conform to established patterns of behavior. This
usually triggers the negative side of Uranus, which results in instability and
unconventionality for its own sake. Uranus means restlessness and not
wanting to be trapped into predictable patterns. You both tend to be easily
bored by predictable situations and then want to get out.

Only if the two of you are willing to approach this experience with a totally
open mind, free of expectations, will you get the maximum benefit from it.
That benefit will be a challenging experience that will enable you to grow
and expand your consciousness for as long as the relationship lasts.

Composite Uranus in the Second House

Composite Uranus in the second house of the chart may indicate that the
two of you will obtain your resources in an unusual manner, or that the
resources themselves will be unusual. It may also mean that the material
and financial aspects of the relationship will be unstable. The concrete
manifestations of this energy depend largely on the kind of relationship it is.

For example, in a business or professional association, a second-house

Uranus could simply mean that the two of you are involved in doing
something in a new way, perhaps some new invention or technique, which
produces income for you. In a personal relationship it can mean that the
two of you have a very unconventional set of values, such that you view
possessions very differently from other people. Specifically, you are likely
to feel that possessions are an encumbrance to be avoided wherever
possible, with the result that you will own very few things. Or it may
indicate a desire to collect unusual objects that other people do not collect.

In any relationship, however, by far the most likely possibility is

material and financial instability. This results from your tendency to regard
material possessions and dealing with money as a nuisance. When you
neglect your finances, they begin to go awry. In this case you must first
recognize that you do not take care of money and material matters

304
 Uranus

properly. Second, you must try to learn how to handle them so that you do
not experience them as such a problem. With any planetary energy, you
must recognize its effects and then learn how to flow with it.

Composite Uranus in the Third House

Uranus in the third house of the composite chart indicates a relationship

that will revolutionize your basic ways of thinking about life. It must be
remembered that the effects of Uranus, although always noticeable, are not
always huge and cataclysmic; they may vary from very slight to very great.
This relationship will change your thinking somehow. And the two of you
may try to communicate to others your new ways of looking at the world
and try to change their thinking.

As with any situation in which Uranus is prominent, you must avoid the
tendency to make your relationship fit your expectations. If you try to do
so, the unstable aspect of Uranus will come into play. Communication
between you will become erratic and disruptive, and you will often make
each other angry. After a while you might even find that you begin to make
each other nervous whenever you are together, instead of being at ease as
you should be. at least in a personal relationship. Of course, some
relationships do exist primarily so that one person can challenge the
consciousness of the other, but these are not often long-lived. Such a
situation is not particularly desirable in a close personal relationship

As always with Uranus, you must flow with the energy and let it tak-
wherever it goes In this house, especially, it is unlikely that Uranus will
take you somewhere you do not want or ought not to be.

E3
( nmpositi- l'ranus in the Fourth House

Uranus in the fourth house of the composite chart sanities .1 relationship

that has an unusual home bate In a personal relationship particularly a
relationship <>r marriage, this < an mean that the home itsdl is unusual
••re may be something unusual about the two oi JfOU living together.
An unmarried couple living together might have this placement oi l'ranus
nly if they themM-! : the situation as unconventional or in
• morality Other couples tor whom living together seems the
most natural and obvious move, would be less likely to have the
is This placement means tf
ility through tf 1

II home lite is un; and un- '

305
 Planets in Composite

whenever you come together, you don't know what to expect. This
situation can make the two of you very uneasy, to say the least, for the
fourth house represents that aspect of your lives that is the basis for
everything else. It is the reliable center from which you go out to face the
world and to which you return to find rest. If there is no rest for you there,
your relationship can be very unpleasant.

Before setting up housekeeping together, you must first determine which

effect is operating in your case. If it is the second effect, perhaps you should
reconsider. Your relationship can continue, but keep your homes separate.

In other kinds of relationships, this placement simply means that you

continually challenge some inner aspect of each other. This can make for a
valuable learning experience, or it can simply make you very uneasy with
each other.

Composite Uranus in the Fifth House

When composite Uranus is in the fifth house, a relationship may have to

take an unusual form in order to express itself fully. How this works out
depends on the kind of relationship that you have.

If this is a love relationship or a marriage, you will probably find that you
have to give each other a lot more freedom of movement than is
customary in such cases. A love affair with this position may be better off if
it does not become a marriage. You both value your freedom greatly and do
not wish to be restrained by the obligations that a legal arrangement entails.

If you do decide to get married, you must give each other a great deal of
freedom. For example, you must not let the marriage or the agreement
between you become a barrier to other relationships. Yet the permission
you give each other must be genuine. Otherwise your partner will sense that
you don't really mean it and will begin to hide what he or she is doing.
That, of course, will destroy the relationship even faster. It is not that this
placement of Uranus requires that you have outside affairs, but that the
relationship must not be felt as a barrier. Either of you is free to restrict
yourself to this one relationship, but your partner cannot make you do it.

Other kinds of relationships will experience this placement of Uranus as a

desire to have fun and express yourselves in unusual ways. You will seek
out unusual forms of amusement and entertainment. For example, you
might become interested in off-beat art forms together. Or it might be that
when you are together you like to act a little crazy or wild or

306
 Uranus

unconventional. This, of course, may apply to a love relationship or

marriage as well.

Composite Uranus in the Sixth House

Composite Uranus in the sixth house is not the most congenial placement.
The sixth house in a composite chart represents the duties and
responsibilities of a relationship. Uranus, naturally rebellious, tends to rebel
against all such impositions. The most obvious effect of this placement is
that your obligations to each other or to other people are likely to be
sources of disruption within the relationship. One or both of you will
continually be in a state of rebellion against this aspect of your relationship.

It is also possible, however, that the two of you may carry out your
responsibilities in some very unusual way. Instead of being impatient about
doing what you must, you are impatient about doing it in some particular
manner. In this case, it is a good idea for each of you to let your partner
carry out the responsibilities in his or her own way, as long as the tasks get
done.

This placement of Uranus is most helpful in a professional relationship that

involves doing some scientific or technical work or in any relationship in
which a new solution to a problem must be found. One meaning of this
placement is work carried out in a new or unusual way. This principle also
applies to a personal relationship, and you will encounter the best aspt>
the sixth-house Uranus if you always seek out new and unusual solutions
. problems that you have with each other

Composite L ranus in the Seventh Ho*

Uranus in the seventh house of a composite chart means that together vnu
will strike out into new paths, whether your relationship is professional,
business marriage or friendship This may refer to the structure of vmir
relationship or to what you do with it

In a marn I I Uranus can be a source oi dtfffc ulty. unless

the tv. do things your own way and not worry
/entional notions oi marriage Uranus requires thai
•ion with each other that is uniquely vour own 11 you try to
litional lines you DM
ommonly, in tact this placement in a
marriage (hart does indicate an unstable and short lived n lns is
'up with a seventh hou-..

307
 Planets in Composite

In any partnership with this placement, you must grant each other an
unusual degree of freedom of action, especially in regard to other people.
Attempts to restrict each other will only increase the pressures against your
survival as a couple.

It is also a good idea for the two of you to work together toward something
that is new, different, and unconventional, such as a movement for
humanitarian or political reform, j?r something similar. But whatever you
choose, be sure that you are doing it that way because you want to rather
than because it is supposed to be done that way. The energy of Uranus does
not easily permit doing something for the sake of convention.

Composite Uranus in the Eighth House

As is the case with all eighth-house placements, composite Uranus in this

house affects two different areas of the relationship. In the first place, it
affects your handling of the major transformations that must occur in any
relationship from time to time. In the second place, it also affects the way
you experience and handle the resources — finances, property, possessions —
that you share.

In the first area, an eighth-house Uranus may signify that the two of you
experience important changes as undesirable disruptions to be avoided at all
costs. Such an attitude can only worsen the situation because it signifies the
kind of mental rigidity that is so incompatible with Uranus. If you can be
more flexible and approach changes with an open mind, you will be able to
weather any difficulties that may arise. Even at best the changes are likely to
be rather sudden and unpredictable.

The eighth house ultimately signals growth on the most profound level,
growth that results when an old attitude dies and gives way to a new one. It
is the house of death and regeneration of the self — not necessarily death in
the literal sense, but the passing away of some element in your lives. The
more rigidly you face these situations that challenge the very core of your
relationship, the more likely it is that the relationship itself will die.

In the area of joint property and resources, this placement of Uranus, much
like the second-house placement, can indicate that the two of you consider
possessions to be a burden rather than an opportunity for growth. As a
consequence, you may not pay enough attention to your material affairs, so
that as a result they become a source of disruption. Either you must learn to
deal with the material aspect of your lives, or you must find a way to
minimize its power over you.

308
 Uranus

Composite Uranus in the Ninth House

Uranus in the ninth house of the composite chart indicates that this
relationship will challenge your ways of looking at the world. The ninth
house represents how the mind consciously views the world and makes
decisions and judgments about it. based on a higher world-view and
philosophy. In a composite chart, this house signifies the ability of the
relationship to expand and enlarge your view of the world, both as a couple
and as individuals.

Uranus in this house is both an opportunity and a challenge. The two of you
may be in considerable disagreement about your views of life, which at first
may be a constant source of trouble. You both will have to learn to
understand each other completely and enlarge your views to encompass
your partner's. This will allow you to have a true growth relationship. But
if you cannot do this, intellectual, philosophical, and even spiritual
disagreements will become the largest single source of disruption between

you.

If you do learn to encompass each other's views of life, the two of you will
probably arrive at a position that is quite different from the views of the
people around you. You may be regarded as a pair of mavericks whose
ideas don't quite fit with other people s. There isn't much you can do aobut
that, but don't worry; it is not likely to become a real problem. You may
even come to enjoy the role. It is rather interesting to see the effects of new
ideas on others.

Composite Uranus in the Tenth House

With composite Uranus in the tenth house of the chart, the purp>
relationship may be to challenge and revolutionize the views and even the
•f the people around you. Such a relationship may also revolutionize
your own .ell

The tenth is the hoi; • status OVCTlll life object they reallv
. wish them to be. which is the function of the eleventh
II role in ft I applies to i ompositr i harts as well as
i Iranue I • that th<- i
r that they will be a possible soun e of instability and disruption

This placement of Uranu u simplv like to do

>n the other hand
idei literally revolutionary In the

00
 Planets in Composite

latter case, beware of stirring up unnecessary opposition to your views. You

may feel that it is important to arouse some opposition, but make sure that
what you do stir up is intentional. Uranus in the tenth can also produce
sudden changes in your own social status, such as an abrupt and disastrous
fall from grace, which can result from letting your activities get out of
control. One thing is certain, however; this relationship must be allowed to
do its own thing.

Composite Uranus in the Eleventh House

Uranus in the eleventh house of the composite chart signifies that your
guiding ideals are quite different from the usual ideals in a relationship of
this kind. The eleventh house represents the ideals of a relationship (as
opposed to its actual purposes, which come from the tenth house) and the
kinds of friends that you have as a couple. You have your own reasons for
being together, and you have chosen not to seek out the same things that
others seek in life.

While most people marry for love, companionship, or sex, with this
placement you might marry for mutual intellectual stimulation, or to work
together for cause, or for some other unusual reason. This fact does not
affect the viability of the relationship, no matter what type it is. If your
motives are strong enough, they will serve the purpose just as well as more
conventional motives.

You may also find that as a couple you are attracted to a different set of
friends, people you would never have become involved with except for
something that this relationship has opened up in you. This is a reflection of
the fact that your relationship has brought you new expectations of life and
made you more open to a variety of experiences.

Composite Uranus in the Twelfth House

Composite Uranus in the twelfth house creates situations that you will not
understand until your consciousness has grown. The twelfth house relates
to unconscious or barely conscious actions that the two of you commit,
which eventually have very important consequences for you. The problem
is that these consequences seem to have little connection with the actions
that precipitated them. In fact the consequences usually seem to be creations
of fate and beyond your control. But you can be sure that you have helped
to bring them about, so it is very important to understand what is going on.

Uranus in the twelfth indicates that the two of you send out disruptive

310
 Uranus

energies. You do little things to others that may not be obvious to you or to
them. You make people angry, or you may make them feel that the two of
you are an irritating disruption. It is hard to pin the problem to specific
instances and causes, but the energies build up until something breaks. The
result is that you are severely affected by outside disruptions that seem to
have no apparent connection with the two of you.

It may be that you are caught in some difficult situation that you feel quite
resentful about but can't admit. You try to give the appearance of going
along with the situation, but you are continually sending out signals to
others of resentment and the desire to rebel. This attracts troublesome
disruptions in ways that may be subtle but are not necessarily occult. Do
not try to hide the elements of your lives that you would like to alter,
change, or rebel against. Express the energies somehow.

Composite Uranus Square Composite Neptune

The square of composite Uranus and Neptune occurs in the charts of the
children of the early 1950s, who as young adults brought the drug culture to
its climax, before it subsided. The problem signified by drugs and the drug
culture is the problem of the nature of reality. One of the key phrases for
Uranus-Neptune is revolutionary idealism, which is not content to merely
exist but tries to impose itself upon the world and become part of the way
you live.

Your relationship may have a radical feeling of disorientation Ideally, the

two of you should know yourselves and each other, but instead you feel
totally lost about almost everything, including yourselves This Mptd will

Kl
make it more difficult tor you to find yourselves unless you i .in learn to DC
hard-headed realists

rUy problem with your ideals is that even il realized they Blight
no useful purpose You may be using these ideals as devices tor escaping I
. that is not truly adverse but that you will not deal with Perhaps \mi
"aid that the truth is too stron, md that it toned to fact it von
will lose something that is very important to you That however is more
• an truth ffl learn to live together in the real world von will
be better able to make it all work

Composite Uranus lrm« ( ompotite Neptune

.s trine Neptune o<c urs | • | -illy in the i harts o! people born in

the late \QW\ and early 1940* I ike many mk I he Uranus Neptune

01
 Planets in Composite

trine expressed itself much more clearly when the generation born with it
grew up than at the time it occurred. Its symbolic meaning is alternate states
of consciousness. It was this age group that first became very much
involved with LSD and the other psychedelic drugs and with the general
issue of consciousness expansion.

In a relationship in which this aspect is prominently placed, the two of you

will probably seek to explore new kinds of consciousness in the way you
relate to each other. You may be interested in spiritual growth, mysticism,
the occult, or other such phenomena.

Your relationship is likely to be unusually idealistic, especially since many

of you have Neptune in Libra, the sign of relationships. You may experience
it as a way of transcending the ordinary. In that case, watch out that you
don't put too much of a strain on the relationship by demanding that your
partner be more than human. You will not find divinity in someone else or
in a relationship. At best you will find it in yourselves. Look for it there and
then use each other to help bring it out.

Composite Uranus Opposition Composite Neptune

The opposition of Uranus and Neptune occurs only in the composite charts
of people born early in the twentieth century.

This aspect signifies that either your ideals or your illusions will bring about
changes and upsets in your relationship. It can indicate that one or both of
you is unwilling to put up with what you consider "dull reality." You will
try to make radical changes in the relationship, which will be difficult to
adapt to. This aspect is a clear indication of impatient idealism.

Sometimes this aspect may signify ideological conflicts within a

relationship, that is, great disagreements between you about fundamental
philosophical beliefs. In this case you both adhere stubbornly to your own
point of view and find it difficult to reach a compromise. You must develop
a greater sympathy for each other's position, so that even if you do not
agree, you can understand why your partner has his or her particular
beliefs. At least you can learn to disagree amicably.

In some cases this aspect can indicate severe psychological disturbances

within a relationship, particularly if it ties in with the composite Moon or
Mercury. A key phrase for this opposition is "altered states of
consciousness," such as with drug problems, psychological disorders, or
alcoholism. Such a state will affect your relationship negatively.

312
 Uranus

Composite Uranus Sextile Composite Pluto

Uranus sextile Pluto occurs very frequently in the natal and composite
charts of those born in the early 1940s. Usually, this aspect in the composite
chart will not affect this relationship especially.

The symbolism of Uranus sextile Pluto is revolutionary change, but the

sextile is not a very violent configuration. It suggests that your relationship
has the capacity to evolve and grow as you face new conditions. It also
implies that the two of you will in fact have to face new conditions. But you
will probably regard this as a challenge, because you prefer change to the
status quo.

Your outlook together and your way of dealing with the world around you
is very strongly affected by your desire to examine every situation closely
and come up with new ways of doing things. You are not satisfied with the
usual methods of handling problems that arise between you. Most likely, if
this is a love affair or a marriage, you will have an outside therapist help
you discover what is disturbing your relationship. You will actually benefit
from such encounters through personal growth and expanded awareness.

Composite Uranus Square Composite Pluto

The square of composite Uranus and Pluto is quite common in the charts of
people born in the early 1930s. This was one of the aspects that signified the
Great Depression; in fact, it represents the energy that made that period so
revolutionary. During the 1930s, fascism made great inroads in Europe, and
even in the U.S., many people sought radical solutions to the economic
problems of the time. The sweeping, revolutionary changes of President
Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal were also characteristic of the Uranus-Pluto
square.

In a composite chart, this aspect indicates that there are times oi

change in your relationship. The Uranus-Pluto square was transited in the
opes of individuals and of relationships in 1°73 and 1°74 During this
period the characteristic energy was felt by many couplet
either to radically change the basis of their relationship or to break up

Wherever | | tails in the c omposite c hart is an area in which tf ■

;lay < onsiderable flexibility and willingness to adapt [|
•t the changes that must come in vmir n-lationship vou will
■ an upheaval that will make it very diftu till for your relationship
to survive On the other hand, if you c an adapt and a. > ept the t hallengct,
 Planets in Composite

your relationship will be revitalized and renewed. It will be like a

completely new relationship. Pluto means death to the old order, but it also
means the creative birth of the new. You must learn to look forward to this
change.

Composite Uranus Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Uranus and Ascendant signifies a

relationship that will probably have a strong impact on your lives. The
nature of that impact can vary tremendously, depending in large part on
your own attitudes.

First of all, this relationship will certainly expose you to a radically new
kind of experience. It will not be the gentle consciousness-raising of Jupiter,
but the jarring action of Uranus, the planet that challenges all your basic
precepts about what life is and how it should be lived. Your reaction to
Uranian energies is determined by how rigid you both are. The more
flexible you are toward change and new experiences, the more constructive
Uranus is likely to be. If the two of you are rather rigid, its effects can be
devastating.

A relationship with this aspect will cause great changes in your lives. It may
be that the two of you would not ordinarily be expected to get together,
perhaps because of some difference in your backgrounds. Or it may be that
one of you is always challenging the other. Sometimes this aspect means
that you have come together precisely because the relationship does
challenge your usual modes of thinking. It becomes a kind of rebellion
against the world, which raises a problem.

This aspect often signifies instability in a relationship, simply because

consciously or unconsciously you have come together to challenge or upset
your usual patterns of life. This is fine until you try to settle down into some
regular pattern together. Then the same restlessness that brought about
your relationship may serve to break it up.

A relationship with this aspect in the composite chart must always stay
loose and unstructured. Unless you allow it to follow its own unique course,
it will not prove to be very stable or lasting.

Composite Uranus Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Uranus and Ascendant signifies a relationship

that will be unique in many ways. It will cause the two of you to think

314
 Uranus

about life in new ways that you would never have thought of until you met
each other. You will not experience this as a disruptive change, however.
Instead, it will be like a fresh breeze blowing through your minds and your
lives, clearing away all your old and outworn attitudes and ideas.

One result of this change is that you will see elements of the world around
you that you have never seen before, and this will enable you to enlarge
your capacity to deal with life in appropriate ways. The sextile of Uranus
and the composite Ascendant is quite disastrous to old habits in a
relationship, but you can do very well without those old habits.

One likely change will be in the company you keep. Both of you will want
increasingly to be around people who embody the new ways you have
found of dealing with life.

The only point you must keep in mind is that any action of Uranus makes it
difficult to hold on to old and cherished, but largely unconscious
attachments, things that you want to retain although they have no real
purpose in your lives. Even in a sextile aspect, Uranus is likely to produce
circumstances that make it impossible to hold on to them. If you can let go
gracefully, you will experience the effects of this aspect as totally refreshing
and stimulating. If letting go is hard, the two of you may find this
relationship disruptive and upsetting, although not as harsh as the square

Composite Uranus Square Composite /Wcndant

The square of composite Uranus to Ascendant can be quite a disruptive

■-lposite chart. It signifies a relationship that is unstable
because it offers constant challenges that may be difhc ull for the two of von
to handle First ol all. it can mean that your direc tions in lite uallv
different that you can t reconcile them easily Unfortunately, you won t be
able to deal with this problem |ust by letting matters • uh have a
id the other either lonstiously or urn onst wuisly and to
challenge each oth< ird the other
Wished order that you have to rebel against

In an otht i chart, the is-- lion may mean that you have
her in dd overs tor example
you may be rebelling against parent .ih.i relationship exists simpi .
lorm <>f rebellion against establish ds I his tan In- an ext client
bindr . until you ha is the
disrtj; ;s is |tx used outward you will not ha\ •
■u Hut the day Mrill with
 Planets in Composite

each other, at which point you are likely to have the problems described in
the first paragraph.

The only way to work with Uranus is to be very open to elements that are
outside of your usual way of looking at things, and this includes elements of
each other. If the two of you can broaden your views of the world and
accept new challenges, you should be able to handle the energy of this
aspect.

Composite Uranus Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Uranus to Ascendant signifies a relationship that

will be very stimulating to you both. It will help you establish a new
orientation to the world around you. Perhaps you were drawn to each other
by a feeling of delicious outrageousness in the fact of your getting together.
With each other, you will find freedom to express yourselves in new and
different ways that you would never have dared before. But it all feels good,
and you need not worry about negative consequences.

This relationship requires both of you to be flexible in your attitudes. If you

cannot enjoy anything outside of an established routine, this is not likely to
be a very happy relationship. In that case you will find it upsetting, but if
you pass it by, you will be wasting a valuable opportunity to enlarge your
own consciousness.

Assuming that you both are mentally flexible, as a couple you will be
attracted to new ways of thinking that you might not have considered
before; these attract you precisely because of their stimulating nature. In
this relationship you absolutely cannot tolerate boredom, but that is not
likely to be a problem. Uranus rules both real electricity and things that feel
"electric" in nature. "Electricity" will permeate this relationship, giving it an
excitement that will make it all worthwhile for both of you.

Composite Uranus Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of the composite Uranus and Ascendant should be thought

of as a conjunction between Uranus and the composite Descendant, which
is a very significant point for understanding a relationship. Uranus on the
composite Descendant signifies that it will be very difficult to settle this
relationship into any accustomed and conventional patterns. For this reason
it is often a sign of an unstable relationship, one that has many serious ups
and downs and may even break up and come together again repeatedly. If
the two of you are thinking of a marriage or some other legal arrangement,

316
 Uranus

you would be well advised to give the matter a great deal of consideration.
Trying to fit a relationship like this into any kind of legally set pattern is
likely to trigger its most unstable aspects.

This relationship will work well as long as it revolutionizes your lives,

which it will at first, and as long as it is exciting. After the initial excitement,
however, you may have problems, because any kind of routine is anathema
to this relationship. If this is a marriage, the two of you must operate with
as few rules as possible. It may even be necessary to allow outside
relationships with others as a matter of course. At any rate, you must not
prohibit that possibility. If one of you begins to feel confined by this
relationship, your troubles will begin. You cannot impose rules upon each
other, only on yourselves.

One other problem that may arise with this aspect is that the two of you
may be challenged by people outside the relationship. This may happen
because you have unknowingly challenged them in some way, or you may
be quite aware of how you did it. Others may try to disrupt this relationship
and break it up, but if their power does not become too great, it may even
be a binding force between you. Of course, circumstances could reach the
point that it becomes impossible for you to stay together.

With this aspect in the composite chart, the two of you need to have many
good and binding factors in your relationship, if it is to survive for any
length of time.

E3
 Chapter Thirteen

Neptune
 Neptune

The Meaning of Neptune in the Composite Chart

Neptune in the composite chart is an energy that most people find quite
difficult to handle. It has two quite separate areas of meaning that are
ultimately connected, although they do not seem related on the surface.

First of all. Neptune is related to disappointment, delusion, deceit,

falsehood, and the gradual disappearance of things. Yet it also represents
whatever you idealize, legitimately and otherwise — that which is spiritual
and mystical, which is actually at the root of love in its most spiritual sense,
even more than Venus. It is the two-sidedness of Nepture that is so difficult
to deal with.

To a considerable extent, all true love is based on your idealization of some

aspect of the other person. That is one side of Neptune. But you must also
keep in mind the reality of the situation and not make that person into
something he or she is not. The nature of Neptune is such that you often go
too far and turn the other person into a myth . when you discover the truth,
bitter disappointment sets in. Yet if the Neptune energy were not working to
some extent, you would not have been attracted to that person in th<
place.

Hi
In a relationship, some things cannot be spelled out in words It is nn <
for two people to have some inner understanding ot each otr u will
never be able to communicate very well Neptune rules this kind o!
sensitivity within a relationship also But again its twofold Mtun
cauv if sensitivity to the point where you mil |
thing* that aren't thi .gerate the signitu tnct ot wh.it is

• Kp a balance? The answer lies in an .is

really understanding it Neptun< illy selfless
demands of the human > . have
HWthingh -tunes involvement
 Planets in Composite

becomes dangerous. The more your ego needs to enforce a situation, the
more Neptune will delude you about it. Your own wishes seem to create a
barrier to your seeing clearly, because you are too involved in the situation.
Neptune often makes the two of you think that what you want is already
so, even when it isn't.
However, if you can learn to accept the situation as it is, Neptune will help
you to learn even more. If you can hold your ideals and still be able to deal
with reality, Neptune may even help you realize your ideals.

Neptune in the chart tells about those areas of the relationship that are
idealized, maybe dangerously so. It tells about the depth of spiritual
communication and about the extent to which all communication is
disrupted by your illusions about each other.

Composite Neptune in the First House

With composite Neptune in the first house of a chart, there is a great danger
that the two of you don't understand what this relationship is all about. You
each may have quite widely different views of your relationship, with
neither of you aware of the difference. Or you may have a fairly clear idea
about the direction you should take as a couple, but you have difficulty
understanding where you are at a particular time.

Typical of the problems that Neptune induces is a situation that can occur in
a love relationship. One of you thinks that everything is beautiful and ideal,
and the world may agree, for a first-house Neptune can deceive others as
well as yourselves. But you will discover that something is radically wrong
between you when you wake up one morning to find that the other person
is gone, having been unhappy for months.

Another common Neptune pattern that applies here, although it is even

more characteristic of the seventh house, is that one of you sacrifices
yourself to "save" the other from some problem. Or you both may offer
yourselves in service to the world. This is usually the rankest form of
self-delusion, because one or both of you is using this pattern as a device for
working
manner. out your own hangups. People do not "save" each other in this

Unfortunately there are endless possible sources of self-delusion. But a

first'house Neptune does signify that you must work for a realistic
relationship and not let your ideals overwhelm your ability to see the truth.
Yet at the same time you must not surrender your ideals.

322
 Neptune

Composite Neptune in the Second House

With Neptune in the second house of the composite chart, there is likely to
be some confusion between you about what you hold to be important, for
the second is the house of whatever one values, most commonly but not
exclusively your material resources. With Neptune here, it may simply be
unclear to either of you just what you do value. You may not even know, in
which case you must find out, because if you don't know what you consider
important, you will find out only when someone takes it away.

But Neptune in the second house may also signify a great confusion about
managing your money and possessions. The two of you may have serious
misconceptions or be totally ignorant of how to deal with what you own.
Yet because of Neptune's double nature, you may also share an uncanny
sense of where to find money and have the ability to sniff it out in very
unlikely places. With this placement, it is very important for the two of you
to examine all matters ruled by the second house to determine whether you
are experiencing the first or the second effect.

One of two situations will apply to you. In the first, material posse-
are not very important to the two of you, in which case you should have no
problems with them. On the other hand, if they are important, they should
not be to such an extent, and then you probably will have trouble with
them. Neptune does not deny things in general so much as it denies things to
which you are too attached.

( omposite Neptune in the Third HOOM

Neptune in the third house of the composite chart is usually expcriCT

confusing to the mind, for in its lower manifestations Neptune is a planet ot
confusion The third is the house ot the mind functioning on a il.n to day
level, routinely, without much consciousness ot U

Si
In a relationship. Neptune in the third house can create very M
difficulties, in communication between you. at • illv Yoil have
difficulty putting into words what von want tO mgelv enough
thou* ne may actually imp I rbal intuitive
communu ation while it is fouling up verbal i ommuni< ation ^ on m.iv in
• ave a vr- >tuitive understanding of thl
whe- it

•ing either of you fl

what you wjnl You ha ,. h other and make
 Planets in Composite

yourselves understood.

Because the third house is the house of immediate environment, Neptune

here also has the effect of confusing your relationship to the people around
you. They may do things that the two of you do not clearly understand, or
they may appear to deceive you. In a marriage or love relationship,
relatives may be particularly troublesome this way. The path to take is to
learn to communicate with everyone, even though that may be difficult.

Composite Neptune in the Fourth House

The fourth house is one of the most ambiguous placements for composite
Neptune. If yours is a relationship that could have some recognizable home,
it is likely to be an ideal that the two of you will work very hard to attain.
You daydream about it together, saying, "How nice it would be if we had a
home of our own," or "A home like this," or phrases of that sort. Yet at the
same time, you tend to totally ignore what is actually going on in your
home. Frequently, what is happening is important and you should know
about it, but you are too wrapped up in your private fantasy world.

Sometimes the fourth-house Neptune indicates that although your personal

lives together have become quite difficult, neither of you is paying any
attention to that fact.

As always with Neptune, it is neither possible nor desirable to give up your

ideals. What is necessary is to learn to recognize reality and to allow your
ideals and reality to coexist without conflict in your world. At its highest, a
fourth-house Neptune can signify that spiritual ideals are at the very basis
of this relationship. If this is the case, most of the problems described above
will not be as difficult for you.

Composite Neptune in the Fifth House

Neptune in the fifth house of a composite chart will have the strongest effect
on a personal relationship, especially a love affair or marriage. In these
instances, at its best it denotes a particularly idealized and refined kind of
love. The nonphysical tendencies of Neptune may even have such a great
influence that the relationship will be platonic. This happens when Neptune
is working out well.

However, more commonly, one of you romanticizes your relationship

much too much. Everything seems to you to be perfect, ideal, and beautiful,
when actually there are serious problems, which are being covered over by

324
 Neptune

a romantic fog. Such a relationship can be very beautiful while it lasts, but
the end usually comes in a crash of disappointment when the truth comes
out, and the ideal lover is seen to be at best an ordinary- man or woman and
at worst a lout.

Neptune can create the fact as well as the illusion of a highly spiritual
relationship, particularly the sort in which one of you views the other as a
savior. While this view may be justified in some instances, the problem is
that the two of you are not relating as equals, as you should in order to
grow from your encounter. Or the Neptune energy may take the reverse
tack, with one of you spending your time caring for the other because of
some severe problem that he or she has. Here again you are not relating as
equals.

As is usual with Neptune, you must learn to live with reality as well as with
your ideals. At the same time you must be very certain that you are really
assisting each other and not working out your own hangups by seeming to
help your partner. Help given in that spirit is no help at all and only serves
to perpetuate your problems.

Composite Neptune in the Sixth House

Composite Neptune in the sixth house indicates that the two of you may
have a very high ideal of service to others, or else you may be unclear about
what you are supposed to do as a couple. The sixth is the hoi:
responsibilities, duties, and work, and Neptune makes these a possible
source of confusion Sometimes a sixth-} une can indicate that the
relationship has troubles of obscure origin. In many ways, however, this
house placement is not bad, because, like Neptune, it demands putting
something else before your own wishes.

a
Work, or )ust plain netting things done, becomes kind oi a philosophic .il ideal
: le with this placement. But remember that even, relationship
must CtCfll for the individuals legitimate demands tor
self-*'- Not everything can be done tor some high
Whether or not you acknowledge them as such your own Mtd
mate and must be met

If the ; ped up in the idea! er to

each lead to a very subtle torm o! resentment in
which <>ne or both 'he martyr Thus every time vou do
u make him or her pay tor it in ways tl
hut are difficult to deal with

325
 Planets in Composite

ideal of service, fine, but give yourselves room to get what you need in the
relationship also.

Composite Neptune in the Seventh House

With Neptune in the seventh house of the composite chart, the two of you
will have to be very careful that you understand the true nature of this
relationship, particularly if it is a partnership, such as a marriage or a
business partnership. This placement can make such a relationship seem
quite different from what it is in reality.

Neptune tends to subvert one of the most important aspects of the seventh
house, namely, one-to-one relationships between equals. With Neptune in
this house, regardless of the type of relationship, you often get the
"savior-victim" pattern, as one astrologer refers to it. One of you looks for
someone to rescue you from your problems, while the other looks for
someone to save. In reality you both are in equally bad shape, because
neither of you can relate on an equal, face-to-face level.

Typical of this syndrome is the "selfless" wife caring for her indigent,
alcoholic husband, apparently giving no thought to herself. You can be sure
that both are really getting what they want from this situation, because
neither has to take the responsibility of handling a normal relationship,
which is what they truly need.

Neptune in the seventh house can also simply indicate a relationship in

which each of you is dealing with the other not as a real person, but as an
ideal image derived from inside yourself rather than from the actual
experience of the other person. Such a relationship is bound to end in
a major disappointment when one discovers that the other is not the ideal
that was sought.

Yet a seventh-house Neptune can indicate a relationship that really does

have powerful spiritual bonds, in which the two of you have a deep
intuitive understanding of each other. But this requires understanding and
accepting the truth about yourselves and each other.

Composite Neptune in the Eighth House

Neptune in the eighth house of a composite chart signifies that a major

source of confusion and uncertainty in your relationship may be the
material resources that you hold jointly or that concern both of you.
Neptune's energy is nonmaterial in nature, so the area of the chart affected

326
 Neptune

by Neptune will have difficulty with material things. Because the eighth is
the house of joint resources, this effect is felt particularly strongly here.

Obviously, this will affect a business or professional association most, but

the financial dealings of any relationship except the most casual friendship
will be affected. All areas involving business and financial transactions
should be regarded with some care. Neptune is the planet of deception and
fraud, and these are the dangers you may encounter in your financial
dealings.

However, Neptune has two sides here, just as it does in the other houses. It
can also indicate tremendous intuitive awareness about financial and
material resources. And it is very hard to tell when Neptune will have either
of these two effects. The only solution is to be very careful until you know
what Neptune is doing. Even if the relationship is generally working out
well for both of you, be prepared for an occasional unpleasant surprise.

The eighth is also the house of major transformations that can occur within
a relationship. Neptune here can indicate that hidden and unseen factors in
the world around you are causing changes that are difficult to understand.
You will have to be very clear in your thinking in order to examine such
factors.

Composite Neptune in the Ninth House

Neptune in the ninth house of the composite chart signifies that this
relationship is enormously concerned with ideals. The ninth is the house of
higher mentality — the mind as it views the world, conscious ot doi:
This house relates to your overall philosophy of life and the mental
structure through which you interpret the world Neptune here gives this
whole area a mystical and religious flavor, or at least a fondness tor delving
into psychic or spiritual matters. In a composite chart this placement could
signify that the two of you are very much concerned with such matters m
this relationship

Jto possible that the ninth house signifies that your ways ol thinking
• the world .ire contused by this relationship There is a danger that
"uld be looking at the world either through rov
quite the reverse, from a needlessly piwimitth point ot view Either way,
the ninth house indicates that the two of you are dealing with the world in a
way that is not entirely realistic, and therefore l< open to
disappointment It is all right • ti< but do not COfll
with '
 Planets in Composite

Composite Neptune in the Tenth House

Neptune in the tenth house of the composite chart can be a source of

difficulty, for it indicates great confusion about exactly what this
relationship is and how it fits into the world at large. One manifestation of a
tenth-house Neptune is that the two of you may be affected by all sorts of
things that others are totally unaware of. On the surface your relationship
may appear perfectly proper, but this appearance conceals situations that
would make people think quite differently about you, if they knew. Do not
get caught in the trap of a relationship that is all illusory appearance with no
substance behind it.

The tenth-house Neptune can also indicate that the two of you do not have
any clear sense of where your relationship is going or what its purpose is. In
an individual chart, this is the house of one's profession. Similarly, in a
composite chart, the tenth tells something about what purpose a
relationship serves for you. Neptune makes it hard to perceive that purpose
clearly.

On the other hand it is also possible that this placement indicates the actual
purpose of your relationship. Neptune is the planet of ego-transcendence,
the process of going beyond your own narrowly conceived ends. It helps
make you more concerned about your needs in a greater metaphysical
context. In the tenth house of the composite chart, Neptune may signify a
relationship in which each of you must learn to deny your own desires in
favor of another's, as a way of satisfying your greater needs. It can also
signify that you are heavily involved on a professional level with
metaphysical or spiritual activities.

Composite Neptune in the Eleventh House

Neptune in the eleventh house of the composite chart indicates an unusually

idealistic relationship. The eleventh is the house of hopes and wishes, and
with Neptune, the planet of ideals, it makes an extremely idealistic
combination. Be careful that your expectations of this relationship are not
excessive. Try to relate to your partner for what he or she really is, not for
what you imagine or dream.

As in the other houses that concern relationships, Neptune here can

transform a relationship that normally would have been sexual into a
platonic affair. This is because of Neptune's nonphysical nature. You both
may feel that physical love is not pure enough for the kind of idealism you
share.

328
 Neptune

As the house of friendship, the eleventh can also signify the kinds of friends
that you attract through being together. Neptune indicates that your friends
are likely to be people who are in some way Neptunian. They may be very-
artistic or sensitive or involved in occult or psychic matters. Or they may
simply be unreliable or dishonest. They could even represent both these
extremes. Wherever Neptune falls in the chart is the area you have to be
most clear about and understand what is really happening, because you are
most likely to delude yourselves in that area.

Composite Neptune in the Twelfth House

The twelfth is Neptune's natural house, according to the traditions of

astrology. Therefore this placement in the composite chart is likely to be
relatively un troublesome. Both Neptune and the twelfth house stand for the
need to go beyond oneself and deal with a higher-order universe. At its best,
a twelfth-house Neptune indicates that both of you are able to give to each
other and to the relationship what is needed to make matters work out in
the best way. At the critical moments, when it really counts, you each can
disregard your ego's demands and do what must be done without having to
protect your own emotional investment. You both are willing and able to
sacrifice to the common good when it is necessary.

Oddly enough, however, this can also be a fault, if you carry it too far. The
negative side of this principle is the martyr attitude, a peculiar kind of
passive aggressiveness. The partner with this attitude always yields to the
other's demands, while at the same time making him or her feel as guilty as
possible for taking advantage of a weakness. This can be quite a sincere
attitude, in that one of you really believes that you are unworthy of a good
break from your partner, and therefore you don't stand up for your rights
Remember that however selfless you think you are. both of you must get
something valid from this relationship or it won't be any good for either of
you Eventually, unacknowledged, hidden .1. 1 will come out into

E3
the open and begin to foul up your relationship

( ompnsitt- Neptune Conjunct Composite .Wt-ndant

The conjunction of composite Neptune with Ascendant has a twofold

siKnitK .irw «• One <>r the other of its manifestations will emerge in the 1
.r relationship But in either case, a stronnlv placed Neptune such as
this introduces the element of idealism. The question is what kind ot
idealism and how d<*-s it affect your ability to see the truth?
 Planets in Composite

At its highest, this aspect indicates that there is a strong spiritual bond
between you. An invisible thread links the two of you together, so that
without having to say very much, you each can feel what the other is
thinking. You would be willing to do almost anything for each other. You
feel as if you have been truly united into one being, which is ultimately the
highest form of love.

In such an idealistic relationship, however, the emphasis is on a spiritual

bond. In a relationship that might otherwise be sexual, this aspect may give
you such a strong concern for the spiritual that you do not wish to
"contaminate" it with physical contact, or at least that is how it appears to
you. Therefore, this aspect can be an indication of a platonic relationship.

Unfortunately, such an ideal bond is not usually realized. More commonly

this aspect indicates a relationship in which there is an unusual amount of
illusion and self-deception. The beautiful selflessness of the ideal is
corrupted into self-martyrdom, which is often used as a means of
controlling the other.

Usually the problem is that one of the partners is not relating to the other as
a real human being. Instead, you create a mental ideal, which you force
the other person to fit, whether or not it is appropriate. But when the other
person's real identity emerges, you will experience great disappointment.
This theme is repeated again and again, wherever Neptune is strong. You
must stop searching for an ideal and be willing to appreciate your partner as
he or she actually is. Only then can you get the best out of the relationship.
And by so doing you may be able to experience the higher manifestation of
this aspect.

Composite Neptune Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Neptune and Ascendant emphasizes the

idealistic and sensitive sides of this relationship. The two of you have a
great deal more sensitivity to each other's needs than most couples do, and
you work well together on an intuitive level. Much of the communication
that two people usually have to spell out for each other is obvious to the
two of you without words. This saves a lot of time in establishing the basis
of the relationship. Just be careful that your idealism about each other does
not become unrealistic. You must appreciate the reality of what you are to
each other and not dwell in some illusion.

If this is potentially a sexual relationship, this aspect may make you friends
rather than lovers. It can be a sign of a platonic relationship, partly because

330
 Neptune

you both feel that the spiritual bond between you would be tainted if you
came together physically. It may be that you are afraid of the emotional
upsets and entanglements that would arise from a sexual relationship. But
this is not because of a desire for freedom; it is that you do not want to
disturb your "beautiful friendship" with the kind of concerns that sex
introduces.

At the same time, the experience of this relationship may make you both
feel more idealistic about the world in general. This aspect can be a sign of
seeing the world "through rose-colored glasses." Here again, you must be
careful not to let your idealism overwhelm your sense of reality. You may
tend to gloss over the flaws in your immediate surroundings, which in the
long run could prove quite detrimental to your relationship.

If you can keep your feet on the ground without losing the sense of the
beautiful that Neptune can bring, you should not have too much trouble
with this aspect, and you should experience its good qualities as well.

Composite Neptune Square Composite Ascendant

The square of composite Neptune to Ascendant can be quite a difficult

aspect. It means that the two of you are going to have trouble finding out
exactly what this relationship is all about. And for some reason you may
not feel very confident that it will last. There is a deep sense of insecurity in
a relationship such as this— insecurity about yourselves and each other.

If you are living together, you may find that your home life embodies this
insecurity. You can never quite figure out what is going on in your most
intimate surroundings, and even if you do, you are never sure that vou

a
aren't kidding yourselves.
In a relationship that does not include living together, you may have a great
deal of trouble det iding exactly what your mutual <<h< Where do
you want I •> as individuals and .is .1 couple? This problem can be
• er
compounded by exaggerated ideals about what vou ought to be doing

hip is otherwise sound the worst attribute's ot this aspect

can be avoided Alter the confusion is gone and vou have learned to
tranquility with each other, you will be able to build .1
spiritual bond betwern you Such a bond arises Irom the ability t<
what 1* going on w ther Hut vou will have to M
hat nan\
 Planets in Composite

Composite Neptune Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Neptune and Ascendant indicates a relationship

in which idealistic and spiritual elements are very strong.

If you are a man and woman, this aspect may be a sign of a platonic
relationship. Here, as in other Neptune-Ascendant combinations, the
nonphysical is often emphasized at the expense of the physical. Neptune has
a very strong world-denying quality. Even if your relationship is not
platonic, there will still be a strong spiritual emphasis.

A related manifestation, but one that applies to any type of relationship, is

that one of you may feel very strongly that the other has been sent to you as
a kind of spiritual guide. It is quite likely that this is true, but you must
understand that the guidance will go in both directions. It is not a one-way
teacher-disciple relationship, but a mutual teaching situation. Also, this
relationship may stimulate interest in occult and metaphysical studies.

In a love relationship there is often a strong tendency toward excessive

romanticism. You both may idealize the relationship and each other to a
degree beyond all reason. Be very careful of this, and make sure that you
are relating to your real partner and not to some illusion you have created.

In a marriage, this aspect sometimes signifies that you may have a problem
with one of your children, usually allergies or a similar long-term, mild
debility. It may not be very serious, but you should watch for it.

In general, this aspect can make a relationship quite beautiful, although not
totally realistic. Strive to emphasize the beautiful without being carried
away by your own idealism.

Composite Neptune Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Neptune and Ascendant is really a

conjunction of Neptune and the composite Descendant, which is a very
important point for understanding a relationship.

This aspect can have a number of effects, most of which are quite difficult to
deal with. First of all, it implies that something is preventing this from being
a true relationship between equals. It is very often the case that one of you
has entered the relationship with the idea of sacrificing yourself in order to
"help" the other. Quotation marks are used, because the "help" is usually
designed to ensure that the "helped" partner remains dependent on the

332
 Neptune

"helper.' There is a very subtle kind of egotism operating here under the
disguise of self-sacrifice.

Sometimes this symbolism takes the form of one of the persons being an
alcoholic or having some other type of psychological disorder, which
requires much attention and so-called sacrifice from the other.

At other times the effect of this aspect is simply to make a relationship very
unrealistic. There is a danger that the two of you are not relating to each
other but to some ideal image you have created in your minds. Instead of
dealing with your real personalities, you impose this image on each other.

There is also another possible manifestation of this aspect. It may be that

you are quite realistic about each other, but not terribly realistic as a couple
about others outside of your relationship whom you must deal with. This is
particularly so with people you consult for advice, such as lav.
doctors, or counselors. For some reason, the advice these people give you is
misleading rather than helpful. Be quite careful when working with such
people, and do not take their advice uncritically. You may also experience
difficulties with people who oppose your relationship, not openly, but
by secretive acts.

With this aspect in the chart, it is very important that neither of you indulge
in fantasies about matters that must be dealt with realistically.

a
Chapter Fourteen

Pluto
 Pluto

The Meaning of Pluto in the Composite Chart

Pluto is the planet of death and regeneration. In a composite chart it

represents those energies that cause a relationship to go through periods of
heavy change. When Pluto is operative, something goes out of existence
and a new order comes into being. Its action is absolutely essential to
prevent the stagnation that occurs when an old way of life has outlived its
purpose. The old must be cleared away to make room for the new state of
being that will follow. When dealing with Pluto, you must let go of
whatever is going through the Plutonian crisis. If you try to hold on to
something that is properly dead, you will not succeed in saving it. You will
only make the situation worse.

Pluto operates with such tremendous power that it may be divorced from its

"death and regeneration" aspect and be experienced purely as power. The

power results from the inevitability of Pluto's transforming quality. The
transformations ruled by Pluto are those that arise from the very nature of
what is transformed. Its effect is as much an integral part of an entity as an
object's weight, size, and color. Every living thing contains the M
circumstances that will eventually bring about all its fundamental ch.i
including its death The power of Pluto comes from within

In a relationship Pluto is very often experienced .is power conflu ts K ■■

the tv-. . • ual relationship it also a and
impact to your emotions and makes every happening verv dramatic and
important This heaviness is one of the more difficult attributes of the
plan< m warp your ; • completely.

The r t Pluto indicates the area Ol the relationship in which

there is most likely to hr a ( onllu t ! \ vu
or with ih> world
It also indicates which area erf the relationship it
•hrough your I • her and as a rrsult
which area i\ most -i«CI.
 Planets in Composite

The aspects to Pluto indicate whether this energy will be experienced as

difficult or easy and what other energy patterns it will be linked with.

Composite Pluto in the First House

Pluto in the first house of a composite chart indicates that this relationship
will try to project itself onto the world with some degree of power, that it
exists with the intention of making changes in the surrounding world. It will
also have a great impact on the two of you.

It may be that you want to bring about some kind of reform, or it may
simply be that you want to have the power to affect your environment
strongly. In either case, be very careful how you use the power that this
relationship will call up from within you. When Pluto's energies get too
strong, they tend to provoke strong antagonism in others, who will turn
against you and try to bring down your efforts.

This energy can also be something that transforms both of you. Pluto rules
major psychological transformations, those that are related to
psychotherapy. A relationship with this placement often brings about
major changes in you, much like those induced in therapy. In other words,
this relationship is likely to have a very powerful effect on both of you. The
only way that this placement can cause a serious problem in the long run is
if you try to resist the effects of Pluto. Go along with whatever is happening
and do not try to fight it. If you learn to flow with the energy, your
relationship will work out as it should.

Composite Pluto in the Second House

With composite Pluto in the second house, the two of you may find that
acquiring property becomes a strong and overriding passion. It is as if you
unconsciously regard the material world as the source of all power. You feel
that you must control it in order to keep control over your own lives.
However, too great a concern with acquiring property and possessions can
become a factor that controls your life, thus causing you to lose the very
control you were seeking.

But this placement does not always work out on the material plane. It can
indicate that this relationship enforces a strong sense of values in both of
you. Or, if you cannot agree on your values, they will be a source of
conflict. Whether or not you agree, this relationship is quite likely to change
your sense of values. This fact in itself may cause conflict between you, if
you cannot develop the flexibility needed to accommodate each other's

338
 Pluto

value systems.

Property or material resources may become a factor in this relationship in

another way. They may be a decisive factor in restricting your movement
or your development as a couple. Or property and possessions may become
a controlling issue in your lives. This problem ultimately stems from the
excessive concern with your value systems that has been discussed. You
must learn to give material resources precisely the importance they deserve,
and no more. Pluto in the second house often makes these matters too
important.

Composite Pluto in the Third House

Composite Pluto in the third house indicates that this relationship will have
a profound effect upon the thinking of both of you. In turn, the two of you
are likely to have an impact on the thinking of other people around you.
Pluto in the third indicates deep, profound thought whose purpose is to
understand the forces that lie behind events.

In more concrete terms, you are likely to spend a considerable amount of

time discussing the relationship itself and trying to analyze what makes it
tick. You will also look more deeply into yourselves to find out what makes
you act as you do in a relationship. The end result of this introspection
could be a considerable increase in your understanding of each other as well
as yourselves.

The danger lies in the other side of the third-house Pluto, a side M
should be minimized or avoided altogether. Because the third is .1
house of communication, Pluto here may indicate that one or both ot vou
will try to mold the other's mind and thinking according to your own
beliefs Most people do this to some extent, but the danger hen- is that your
Is to convince your partner will become an all-pervading concern, to
the point that the other may feel that he or she is being brainwashed and
that the only solution is to flee from the situation Obviouslv this tan be
very danKi'rous to the relationship

10 possible that the two o( you will turn the energy outward and make
a career of influent inn others to adopt vour point ot view It you iio so with
subtlety, this is all riKht. but watch out tor a backlash trom of

mpositr Pluto in the Fourth HottM

The fourth housr < an be a very important and ( ritual position tor Pluto in a
 Planets in Composite

composite chart. It indicates that powerful forces are at work in the

innermost depths of this relationship. The actual effects of this can vary
considerably. For instance, the fourth house rules the past. Therefore you
may find that past circumstances have a stronger than usual conditioning
effect on the course of your relationship.

The fourth house also rules the deepest levels of the unconscious mind, so
the two of you may act out very deep, unconsciously motivated patterns
that change the course of your relationship. It is very important to establish
whether this is happening. If you can ascertain that some of your problems
are being caused by your individual mental patterns rather than by external
events, then you can begin to deal with the problems.

In a love relationship or marriage, one or more of your parents may have an

unusual degree of influence on the relationship. Unfortunately one cannot
tell from Pluto's house position alone whether that influence will be good or
bad.

The fourth house also rules the home, and in a relationship that has a
clearly recognizable home, very powerful forces may be experienced there.
The problem is that home should be a place where you can get away from
pressure, but with Pluto in the fourth house, home could be the place where
pressure is most intense.

Whatever the effect of the fourth-house Pluto, it does provide for resolution
of its problems, because it gives you the desire and the ability to get at the
depths of your own being. Just don't carry it so far that you begin to lose all
perspective about life.

Composite Pluto in the Fifth House

Composite Pluto in the fifth house has its most intense expression in a
personal relationship or love affair that involves deep feelings. The fifth is
the house of self-expression, the house of your own being. Pluto here
indicates that in this relationship it is unusually important for both of you
to be able to express yourselves fully. You each have a powerful drive for
self-expression.

In a love affair this placement can signify extremely powerful emotions that
make you feel that this relationship is extraordinary. However, it must be
pointed out that by itself Pluto does not specify which feelings are so strong.
If your love is strong, Pluto in the fifth will intensify that, but if the forces of
discord are strong, Pluto will intensify them also. Whatever the dominant

340
 Pluto

emotions are, they will be experienced strongly.

In a sexual relationship, physical sex will assume a greater than usual

importance and will be experienced as an escape from the everyday world.
But that is a fairly heavy burden to place upon sex, and unless the
relationship is working on a physical level, you are likely to have severe
difficulties. Pluto in the fifth house does not indicate a platonic relationship.

The relationship itself may be viewed, at least subconsciously, as a vehicle

for self-regeneration, for making a new person out of yourself. This too
places a heavy burden on a relationship, but it may very well fulfill that
purpose.

Composite Pluto in the Sixth House

Pluto in the sixth house of the composite chart gives importance to duties
and responsibilities, to work that must be done. In a relationship, this work
may be what the two of you must do in order to maintain the relationship.

The actual effect of this placement varies. On the one hand, it can give the
two of you a strong desire to get things done. It provides a kind of
ambition, not to get ahead, but rather to keep busy. In a per
relationship you may feel that you must work constantly to keep the
relationship moving, that it will grow and develop only through constant

But there may also be a reverse effect, in which the continued necessity to
get things done strangles the relationship, and duty gets in the way ol joyful
self-expression. The two of you may feel you always have to try very hard
to make anything happen, there is a continual >>«■: rt and struggle

Which of these two effects comes about depends largely on your individual
attitudes toward responsibility. If you make the effort to fulfill each other s
needs, your relationship will grow It will also confront its greatest
challenges but they are the basis ol growth in a relationship

( <>mp<>siU- Plotfl in the Seventh HOOM

• Pluto in the seventh house can have two q

On the one hand it t an signify that the tv-.
a viable relationship You will make any net« n yOUfM
► And at the same time you both are aware that this is
111 unfair share of the burden
 Planets in Composite

You recognize that this relationship is having a great impact on both of you,
and you experience it as a way of gaining a new, regenerated life. This can
be expected if your relationship is otherwise quite good.

If there is a great deal of stress, however, a quite different effect will emerge.
In this case each of you will continually try to dominate the other: in other
words, a power struggle. If one of you wins this struggle, the other will feel
extremely stifled, which will probably lead to further trouble. The "loser"
may accept fate and continue in the relationship with a disgruntled,
grudging acceptance, taking every opportunity to make the other's life
miserable. On the other hand, he or she might just disappear rather than
risk a losing confrontation. If neither of you wins, the battle simply goes on
and on.

Most couples experience a mixture of good and bad effects from a

seventh-house Pluto. If you wish to keep this relationship going, continue
working together for growth and development. And try to lower the
pressure.

Composite Pluto in the Eighth House

The eighth house is Pluto's natural home among the houses, but the effect of
this is simply to make its action, for good or bad, more intense. A
relationship with an eighth-house Pluto will have many major changes and
periods of transformation. It gives an intensity to whatever emotional
involvement you have with each other.

In a relationship with this placement, your innermost psychological drives

will be brought out into the open and examined. This process may not
always be pleasant, but nevertheless it is good to have it happen from time
to time. If you allow it to happen you will learn a great deal about
yourselves, and that can only be good. In many ways this relationship is a
mirror in which you can see your own soul reflected. Remember that, when
you are tempted to blame each other for your problems.

A sexual relationship with Pluto in the eighth house will be particularly

intense. Sex will be more than simply sex, it will also be a pathway to
self-transcendence. That is, you can use sex as a vehicle to carry you away
from the ordinary concerns of reality into an experience beyond, an
experience everyone should ultimately have in order to make their lives
meaningful. In such a relationship physical sex has a very strong
metaphysical and philosophical importance that extends far beyond the
physical nature of the act.

342
 Pluto

However. Pluto is an energy that is not easily expressed in words, and you
probably won't think too much about the importance of your sexual
relationship in philosophical terms. You will simply feel that sex has a
greater significance to the two of you than to most couples.

In other relationships, the eighth-house Pluto may create a curious bond

that seems to hold you together even when you do not want it to. You may
feel that you are trapped in this relationship, although that is not really the
case. It is more likely that both of you are deriving an obscure satisfaction
from what you do to each other and have actually built up a dependency
between you on this basis. If you are honest with yourselves, you will see
what is happening and will be able to deal with it. It is not fate that has
created this relationship, it is the two of you, with your acknowledged and
unacknowledged needs.

Composite Pluto in the Ninth House

Pluto in the ninth house of a composite chart signifies that the two of you
will affect each other's way of looking at the world in a very fundamental
manner. And you will have the capability of affecting those around you in
the same way.

Pluto in the ninth house represents an energy that wants to convince"

others of its point of view. Convince'' is in quotation marks because it may
seem to those being convinced that "bludgeoned"' is a better word. You will
have a strong effect on each other, and together you will have a great
impact on other people. There is no need to make a special effort to do this
beyond what happens naturally ; in fact, it is not a good idea.

The energy of Pluto should never be harnessed to your ego You should not
try to use this energy to show people that you are right, simply to reinforce
your e><o Most people want to know the truth in order to be ri>:ht not to
understand and K«iin wisdom for themselves But when vou UM the energy
of Pluto for this purpose, which is very likely in the ninth home, oth<
led to try to prove you wrong. And they will try very hard, even at
the risk ot really hurting you.

In a relationship you run a great risk of doinn this to each other or to those
around you This tan m.i> ery difficult situation bt
communication is replaced h ol rigl | I'he
things that mi. .ir«- not

Keptundi- ntrol the ninth-house Pluto CUt mean that thl

 Planets in Composite

of you have an uncannily deep perception into the basic psychological

nature of your relationship. You can use this perception to make needed
changes in your relationship and to adapt to the changing world around

you.
Composite Pluto in the Tenth House

Pluto in the tenth house of a composite chart signifies that there is a very
powerful energy in this relationship that is strongly oriented to attaining
some objective. The nature of the objective that you seek will depend upon
the nature of the relationship, but in every case it will have to do with
making changes in the world around you.

A tenth-house Pluto means that the relationship will somehow heighten

your ambitions as a couple. Other people will feel that the two of you are
very powerful, even if separately you do not impress them that way. At the
same time, this relationship will alter and transform your life direction and
heighten your desire to achieve your objectives.

If the two of you handle the energies of this position well, it is a good
indication that together you can achieve something of note. Perhaps you
will gain power in business or politics, or perhaps you will simply become
influential among the people around you. Or you may feel the effects most
strongly between you, as this experience helps you to discover what you
really want to do with your lives and to start doing something about it.

But there is some danger if the energy is not handled well. Pluto in the tenth
house can be destructive, and its effect is to utterly ruin your reputations,
and possibly some more fundamental aspect of your lives. Usually this
happens because you have been ruthless in some way, either toward others
or with each other. Pluto here can signify that you let no one stand in your
way as you strive to get where you want to go. But when you encounter a
stronger person or a situation that you cannot control, havoc breaks loose.

The only way to deal with this is to control your ruthlessness. Keep in mind
other people's needs and wants as the two of you pursue the goals and
objectives you have set for yourselves. And treat each other with the same
consideration.

Composite Pluto in the Eleventh House

Composite Pluto in the eleventh house brings to a relationship ideals and

hopes that you will feel very strongly about and work very hard for. You

344
 Pluto

both feel that you have not come together casually and that this association
has great importance for your lives. You have a very strong emotional
involvement with your ideals and if necessary will fight to maintain them
against all comers. By the same token you will work hard together to
accomplish what you want.

This kind of intensity attracts others who are similarly inclined. And since
the eleventh is also the house of friends, this placement of Pluto signifies
that your friends either are very emotionally intense people, or they possess
some kind of power, or both. The power can be anything from an intense
aura of power that radiates from them to actual power on the material
plane, as in business or government. Pluto is by nature somewhat secretive,
and the friends that the two of you attract are not likely to be people who
are known to the world at large, but rather those who wield power from
behind the scenes.

An eleventh-house Pluto may also signify that the two of you are involved
in large-scale humanitarian movements that seek to transform and
regenerate the world, such as reform and revolutionary movements,
movements of mass consciousness, and so forth.

Composite Pluto in the Twelfth House

Composite Pluto in the twelfth house signifies that this relationship will
expose all kinds of previously hidden psychological characteristics, which
will necessitate a strong inner psychological transformation in both of you.
Fortunately, this position also signifies that you will be very interested in
working with each other on this level. While you may have great resistance
to some things m this relationship, you won't resist the idea ot exposing
these characteristics in the first place. Inward transformation is one of the
objectives of this relationship, and you both know it

Whatever comes up between you should be dealt with immediately,

because Pluto s UMlgkl un smolder tor a long time if not dealt with right
away And when they do smolder, they break out at last with sui h a hitter
fury and fiery intensity that it is difficult tor a relationship to survive.

Another effet t of this position is a kind ot Inking Ottl ot energy so that

the two of you unknowing radiate an intense anil powerful energy Hut
•his and often become afraid, because thev Jo not know
what the enrr>cy signifies This situation otter
you behind your M

345
 Planets in Composite

The twelfth is traditionally the house of secret enemies, usually generated in

the way described above. Your actions and manner of acting somehow
trigger a response in others that makes them work against you. To deal with
this it is necessary to be straightforward in your dealings with others and
make clear to them exactly what you intend to do in any situation.

Composite Pluto Conjunct Composite Ascendant

The conjunction of composite Pluto and Ascendant is a sign of a

profound relationship. Powerful forces are at work here, which can
manifest themselves either in a very positive way, a very negative way, or
in some combination of positive and negative. Pluto, the symbol of death
and regeneration, works with great power and force. Consequently, you
can expect that this relationship will call up energies within you both that
you probably never knew existed.

At its most positive, this relationship will bring out forces in each of you
that will completely transform your lives and set you on a totally new path.
You will experience this relationship with an intensity that will affect every
area of your life. Often, if the two of you are involved in a heavily
Plutonian relationship, you will feel a tremendous fascination for each
other that pushes aside all other considerations.

Sometimes the fascination is felt as a sinister force leading you down an evil
path, and often that sense of evil is the source of the fascination. Whether or
not the relationship really leads down an evil path depends on other factors
in the relationship. In itself Pluto is not any more evil than the other
planets, but its energies are so strong that they can overcome ethical
considerations. Hence the "evil" of Pluto's fascinations.

There is a negative side of Pluto that you may experience, particularly if this
is not a very sound relationship in other ways. It can signify intense power
struggles between the two of you, in which one partner feels an irresistible
power emanating from the other, which deprives the first one of freedom
of will. Such a relationship may be destroyed by the efforts of one partner
to break away from the spell of the other. Under these circumstances there
is often great bitterness associated with a breakup.

Obviously the energy in this relationship is powerful. Unless you use this
energy wisely, it could create great difficulties for both of you. Yet it is also
a great opportunity to experience a relationship that can change your whole
life.

346
 Pluto

Composite Pluto Sextile Composite Ascendant

The sextile of composite Pluto and Ascendant indicates that this

relationship will cause you both to analyze yourselves in depth and to
analyze the nature of your relationship. Taking very little for granted, you
constantly seek ways to change and improve yourselves as individuals and
as a couple. But the analysis that you undergo will not be a superficial
intellectual exercise. It will go on in your hearts as well as your minds. And
the changes that take place in both of you will affect all levels of your being.

This will not be a negative process. Elements of your personalities will pass
away, but the transformation will be experienced as good and necessary,
following naturally in the course of events. This is transformation through
evolution rather than revolution. It will be very deep, very powerful, and
very useful to both of you.

One consequence of this aspect is that your hopes for life will probably be
altered. Your earlier goals were based on what you were then. Because this
relationship changes you, it will change what you seek as well.

When the two of you talk, you discuss your serious concerns, not light
subjects. Others may consider you excessively serious, but this is because
you recognize the importance of what is happening in this relationship, and
you do not want to waste time with trivia. And this is right, at least for the
two of you. This relationship will bring about much growth in both your
lives.

Composite Pluto Square Composite Ascendant

The square of composite Pluto and Ascendant indicates the tianv.tr ot .1

serious ego conflict between the two of you at all levels ot Interaction It is
not merely that you are different from each other and have different aims It
that were the case, you could simply ignore each other But untortur
you have an irresistible desire to interfere in each other s lives One of you
will attempt to dominate the other or perhaps both of vou will try to be the
dominant •one
be. The problem here is to learn to leave each other alone anil let

If thi etween you continues, one of you will at len^tl

thr loser who (an win only I vay. Then the ti^ht tor
! the many struKxIes that mark this
relationship fTw ilMlgJl bcCOfTM it when the h*
up. all that is left is bitterness and mutual ret rimination

347
 Planets in Composite

Fortunately, there is another side to this aspect, which you should strive to
develop. It can also indicate that you transform each other inwardly and
outwardly, but in a positive way. The key is to just let it happen. You
cannot undertake this as a project; transformation of your partner cannot
be an egoistic goal. While you may naturally be concerned for each other,
you must not make an ego issue of your partner's development. You must
just allow the process to unfold, as it surely will.

When Pluto's energies are used for selfish and egoistic purposes, they tend
to become malevolent. Pluto must be allowed to remain a force of nature
and not harnessed for purely personal motives.

Composite Pluto Trine Composite Ascendant

The trine of composite Pluto and Ascendant indicates a very intense but
constructive relationship. Whatever feelings you have for each other you
express strongly. Because you do not keep your problems bottled up, a lot
of pressure is released that would damage the relationship if held in. If you
are lovers, you express your love with depth and feeling, for this is not a
light-hearted affair.

Your emotional involvement with each other is intense. Consequently,

when things go wrong between you, the energies that are released are also
very intense. You go to extremes in expressing yourselves, and you may be
inclined to overdramatize. If you do, however, you will find that what
ought to be rather trivial concerns get blown up out of all proportion.

The two of you experience love as a way of transcending the everyday

world, which is the reason for your great intensity. To you, love is a life-or-
death issue.

Whatever your reasons for being together, you will constantly examine the
overall importance of this relationship. You will be very concerned to
understand what it is all about and how it fits into your lives. But you will
not be satisfied with an intellectual understanding alone. You will want to
feel it and comprehend it with your body and soul. This aspect stimulates
an interest in the mysteries of life, and you will see your relationship as one
of those mysteries that must be comprehended.

Composite Pluto Opposition Composite Ascendant

The opposition of composite Pluto and Ascendant should be thought of

as a conjunction of Pluto and the composite Descendant, which is a very

348
 Pluto

important place in the composite chart.

Pluto on the composite Descendant can have very different effects,

depending on how the relationship works as a whole. In any case, this will
be a very intense relationship, whether it is good or bad. You will not take
each other at all lightly. If you love each other, you will love passionately.
If you hate each other, you will hate with just as much passion. But you
may have difficulty in regarding each other with detachment.

At its worst, this aspect denotes an endless power struggle between the two
of you, with neither one able to let the other be. You might spend all your
time trying to dominate each other and at the same time avoid domination.
Such a relationship can develop into a situation of unparalleled bitterness.

Sometimes the energy of Pluto will turn outward, in which case you will be
caught in power struggles with others. Either they will not let you two be
what you are, or you will not permit them to be what they are. Sometimes
this aspect indicates that very powerful enemies are working against your
relationship.

No matter whether you are trying to dominate other people or each other,
the cause is the same. This relationship arouses energies in the two or you
that will not allow matters to stay as they are. What you have to learn is
that the changes you seek must come about through natural evolution not
through your urging. It is your own egoistic involvement that makes the
energies of Pluto difficult. Even if you do not consciously work at it, the
Pluto energies will operate, but they will work out better if your ego is not
so heavily involved.

What you can have in this relationship, if you learn to let matters h«
tremendously significant encounter that will revolutionize your lives ami
put you on a whole new path

,., )
 Chapter Fifteen

Moon's Nodes
 Moon's Nodes

The Meaning of the Moon's Nodes in the Composite Chart

The nodes of the Moon have long been a source of controversy among
astrologers. A variety of delineations has been suggested, but there has been
little agreement. In Western astrology, at least, the result of speculation
about the nodes has been that the north node is vaguely "good,'' while the
south node is vaguely "bad." Some astrologers have gone further and
spoken of the nodes as relating to karmic patterns, but they have not been
very clear about what that means.

But one man has been an exception to this trend. He is Alfred Witte of
Germany, the founder of the Uranian (or Hamburg) school of astrology.
whose work has been confirmed by Reinhold Ebertin and the
Cosmobiologists. Their approach has been to minimize the distinctions
between the north node and the south node, treating them together as an
.bout which planetary patterns form. Collectively, the two node*, oi
the Moon rule unions, associations, coming together, groups, and
connection! The nodes, therefore, have a great deal to do with
relationships of all types. If this theory is correct, it is obviously important
to the subject discussed in this book, and in my own expenc-nc e it doc
to be ' • interpretation But I would not say that this delim -ation tor
the node* is true to the exclusion of all others, because nothing in it pr<\ hides
other delineations. But it is certainly one of the most important w.iv*. oi
interpreting the meaning of the nodes and should be taken into
consideration

- -ally. I tee I that there is some distinction to be m.ulc between the

north and the south nodes, but that this distinction become! clear only
when a planet is ( onjoined with one of the nodes anil opposed tO the other
the planet is equally involved with both nodes and it is
impossible to distinguish between them However it there is mch a
conjunction with one oi the nodes the north n BKM1
influence <>n forming unions, groups and associations while the south

J5J
 Planets in Composite

node has more influence on dissolving them.

Because the two nodes are always opposed to each other, the following are
the only possible combinations with planets:

1. A planet may be conjunct the north or the south node. It is necessary

to distinguish which node the planet is conjunct to.

2. A planet may be in a trine-sextile relationship with the two nodes. In

this case it is immaterial which node the planet is trine or sextile to.

3. A planet may square the two nodes. Of course, to be square one node is
to be square the other.

The following pages give delineations for these different combinations.

Because the nodes are not planets, they are not energies in the same way
that planets are. They are more like houses, in that they denote a place or
circumstance in which a planetary energy manifests itself. Therefore the
energies that are combined in the node aspects are fairly simple. As a
consequence, the delineations for the nodes in this chapter are not quite as
extended as the delineations for the planets. Also, the effects of the nodes in
the houses are not very clear as yet, and anything said here would be quite
hypothetical. Therefore, no delineations are given in this text for the house
positions of the nodes, although that may be changed in a future edition of
the text.

The aspects to the nodes of the Moon can be very significant because they
have so much to do with the formation of relationships. However, they are
not considered to be as strong as the planetary aspects, and in themselves
they are not likely to make or break a relationship. They simply add more
detail to a picture that has already been spelled out in broad outline by the
planets in the houses and their aspects. The most important aspects
involving the nodes are those in which a planet is conjunct the north node
or south node. The trine-sextile and the square are significantly less intense.

Although this is not spelled out in all cases, it is always true that the energy
of the node aspects can be felt either between the two persons involved or
between them and the outside world. Some of the delineations stress effects
that occur between two people, while others stress what happens between
them and the outside world. But remember that it can usually go either
way.

One more factor should be mentioned. In all the currently existing

354
 Moon's Nodes

ephemerides. the position of the node is that of the mean node, that is. the
node of the Moon as it would be if the Moon's orbit were not seriously
perturbed by the gravitational attractions of the Sun and the Moon.
However, in reality the orbit is perturbed, and the true or perturbed node

may differ by as much as F45' from the mean node. In approximate work
this difference is not great enough to get concerned over, and in composite
charts it is usually sufficiently close. However, in precise work involving
directions and transits, I have found the true node to be more accurate than
the mean node. The charts given in this book contain the true node,
calculated by a computer from the elements of the Moon and corrected by a
standard formula involving the positions of the Sun, Moon, and mean node
relative to each other. The tables, which are very simple to use. requiring
nothing more than addition and subtraction, are found in Carl W. Stahl's
Beginner's Manual of Sidereal Astrology. Book I as are the original
formulas upon which the tables are based. There is nothing inherently
"siderealist" about the true node of the Moon. It is simply that the
siderealists were the first to become aware of the issue, through the work of
Cyril Fagan. the great Irish astrologer and founder of the Western school of
sidereal astrology.

Sun-Node Aspects

All Sun-node aspects indicate a relationship that brings about many

important connections with other persons. In other words, relationships
with others will be unusually important in maintaining the relationship
between you.

Sun conjunct north node opposition south node. The two of you will have
many significant encounters with others, particularly men of some -
importance. These encounters will further your relationship and give it
additional strength

Sun tnne-sextile the nodes T; ry much the same as the

north node conjunction, but it is not quite so strong an indication

Sun square the nodes This aspect raises the possibility that the two of von
may have ego conflicts with others or that you may wish to withdraw trom
others, which could lead to difficulties in your own relationship Anv
Sun-r neans that ofher people are important to your
should try to minimi/e the conflicts that di-
stentions your relationship will depend heavily on

J55
 Planets in Composite

Sun conjunct south node opposition north node. You may find that some
prominent people, or possibly men in general, are opposed to the survival
of this relationship. They will not necessarily be effective in breaking you
up, however, unless the relationship is unstable in other ways.

Moon-Node Aspects

Moon-node aspects in general signify the importance of soul-unions and

emotionally based unions, either between the two of you or outside your
relationship. They may also indicate that women outside the relationship
are very important to its survival.

Moon conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect signifies that
this is a union based on feelings and that you both share a strong sense of
soul-union. Also you may have strong emotional bonds with other people,
particularly women, who in turn reinforce this relationship.

Moon trine-sextile the nodes. This aspect has very much the same meaning
as the above, but it is not quite so strong in its effects.

Moon square the nodes. This aspect also indicates a very strong emotional
union. However, here there is a strong danger that your extreme
subjectivity will make it difficult to clearly understand this relationship. It
may signify that you relate to each other almost entirely through your
emotions, but not very harmoniously.

Moon conjunct south node opposition north node. Much like the square,
this aspect signifies that emotional discord will tend to divide the two of
you. It is also possible that women will work against this relationship, but if
it is otherwise sound, this should not be a great problem.

Mercury-Node Aspects

These aspects generally signify that mental and intellectual affinity between
you is very important in establishing this relationship. Although
communication is always important in a relationship, it is unusually so with
these aspects. Relationships with others will also be strongly influenced by
intellectual considerations. If we say that the Moon-node aspects signify
soul-unions, then the Mercury-node aspects signify mental and intellectual
unions.

Mercury conjunct north node opposition south node. The need for
communication and shared intellectual experiences is very great in this

356
 Moon's Nodes

relationship. Mental affinity may have been a decisive factor in bringing

you together. You will also have an unusual number of intellectual
associations with people outside the relationship.

Mercury trine-sextile the nodes. This aspect means very much the same as
the above but is less strong in its effects.

Mercury square the nodes. This aspect also signifies the need for intellectual
and mental affinity between you. But it also indicates that lack, of agreement
may cause some problems in this relationship.

Mercury conjunct south node opposition north node. With this aspect, it is
necessary to work on communicating very clearly with each other.
Otherwise, remarks that slip out unconsciously could make your
relationship difficult.

Venus-Node Aspects

All these aspects signify a love union, and none is especially difficult.
Friendships with this aspect will be very loving even though not sexually
based.

Venus conjunct north node opposition south node. This is a very strong
indication of a love union or deep friendship. The two of you have a strong
sense that you complement each other in a very positive way, and you seek
to build up that quality to make your relationship work even better.

Venus tnne-sextile the nodes. This is very much like the north node
conjunction but not quite so strong in its effects.

Venus square the nodes. This is not a difficult square. It simply means that
similar past experiences or future life plans give you a feeling of athnitv and
are a strong bond between you. Often you do not consciously understand
what these elements contribute to your relationship.

Venus conjunct south node opposition north node The forces that have
brought you together are mostly unconscious, but that is not likrlv to lessen
the benefits of the Venus-node combination This is still a positive I

Mars \o<J« \-.[»t-(.ts

Thev unify that the two ot you should make a common ettort
toward a goal The kry phrase here is work union

357
 Planets in Composite

can also indicate a relationship in which ego forces are unusually disruptive,
either between yourselves or between the two of you and others.

Mars conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect is the
strongest indication of a work, relationship as described above. Its
significance is not limited to professional relationships, but in a personal
relationship with this aspect, the two of you should work together for some
very concerete goal. Sharing tasks will bind you together.

Mars trine-sextile the nodes. This aspect has very much the same meaning
but is less compelling in its effects. The two of you are able to work well
together, but it is less necessary that you do so.

Mars square the nodes. It is very important that the two of you make a
special effort to work together. If you do not do so, you will be likely to
quarrel because of certain discordances between you that have to be worked
out consciously.

Mars conjunct south node opposition north node. Of all the Mars-node
aspects this one is most likely to create discord, because the two of you do
not clearly understand how your egos interact. You must try to consciously
understand what is happening between you in order to minimize the
divisive effects of this aspect. Also be careful not to stir up opposition from
others, for this could be detrimental to your relationship.

Jupiter-Node Aspects

These aspects are usually quite beneficial, indicating a pleasant and positive
relationship that enables both of you to grow through the experience of
knowing each other. Negative effects of certain of these aspects are noted
where relevant.

Jupiter conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect indicates
that the feelings between you are very positive and that your relations with
others are also good. You help each other, you help other people, and they
help you. The two of you are very happy together, and you have a strong
feeling of friendship, whether you are lovers, friends, or involved in any
other way.

Jupiter trine-sextile the nodes. This aspect has much the same significance as
the above, but it is not quite so strong in its effects.

Jupiter square the nodes. Usually this aspect works quite positively.

358
 Moon's Nodes

However, if there are other indications of strong ego conflict between you,
it can mean that one of you will try to dominate the other or adopt an
attitude of superiority.

Jupiter conjunct south node opposition north node The effects of this
aspect are like those of the square. In addition, there is a danger that you
will also have ego conflicts with persons outside your relationship. If the
relationship is otherwise sound, however, this aspect as well as the square
will have positive rather than negative results.

Saturn-Node Aspects

Most of these aspects are rather difficult to deal with. Saturn emphasizes the
principle of separation, which is already inherent in the meaning of the
south node. Therefore, most of these aspects are separative in nature.

Saturn conjunct north node opposition south node. This is an extremely

separative aspect. In addition, it can create a situation in which one of you
tries to control the direction of the relationship instead of simply letting it
take its own course. This effort to control can make the other partner feel
smothered and consequently try to break free, resulting in separation.

Saturn trine-sextile the nodes. This is the least difficult of these aspects. It
can stabilize the relationship and make its course more predictable. But this
result is at the cost of spontaneous self-expression. Even at its best, this
aspect signifies that the two of you are too concerned about keeping your
relationship under control and being careful with each other.

Saturn square the nodes. The square is very similar in its effects to the
conjunctions with the north and south nodes. Ego conflicts may prove to be
divisive.

Saturn conjunct south node opposition north node The effects of &
much like those of the north node conjunction. However, since the south
node is the point of separation, this aspect is somewhat more divisive.

Uranus-Node Aspect*

Thev isually indicate sudden unions or relationships tfMl

unusual, peculiar, erratic in their COWM or otherwise exceptional. A
relationship with this aspect may come about very suddrnk and then
pear |ust as quickly It is difficult to settle into jnv kind of routine in
such a relationship
 Planets in Composite

Uranus conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect indicates a
relationship that may have a very jarring or unsettling effect upon the two
of you. The relationship itself may be a radical departure from past
experiences or it may be a totally unexpected occurrence. Often it is this
very quality of unusualness that has brought you together in the first place.
Both of you sense an excitement that has been missing in past relationships,
so you enter into this one for the novelty of it and the changes it can bring
about in your lives.

Uranus trine-sextile the nodes. This is the easiest of these aspects to contend
with, but even so it does imply that you both want a lot of excitement from
this relationship. You are willing to let it take its own course and express
itself as it will.

Uranus square the nodes. This aspect can be very disruptive. Its effects are
similar to those of the north node conjunction, but it is even more likely to
produce an unstable relationship with many ups and downs. It can also
signify that you find it difficult to coordinate your lives and work toward
the same objectives.

Uranus conjunct south node opposition north node. The effects of this
aspect are very similar to those of the north node conjunction, but it is even
more likely to be disruptive. When the initial excitement of the relationship
wears off, you will find it difficult to deal with each other. Consequently
you may create conflicts just to keep feelings stirred up between you and to
keep from being bored.

Neptune-Node Aspects

The nature of these aspects is particularly ambiguous (just as Neptune is in

most aspects with other points in the chart). They can signify an intensely
spiritual union, a union based completely on illusion, or various
combinations of the two extremes. Disillusionment is a very serious danger
of these aspects, and it can cause you to withdraw from each other
psychologically without actually breaking off the relationship.

Neptune conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect can bring
about any of the ambiguous situations described above. Be extremely
careful to sort out the facts from the illusions in this relationship, and do not
make any permanent commitment until you are sure of the facts based on
long experience with each other.

Neptune trine-sextile the nodes. This is the most easily handled of the

360
 Moons Nodes

Neptune-node aspects, but even here you must avoid overidealizing each
other. You must leam to deal with and accept each other as real people.

Neptune square the nodes. This aspect is bound to create quite a bit of
confusion in a relationship. It makes your objectives very unclear, so that
much of the time you do not know quite what you are doing. It also
introduces unconscious actions into the relationship so that you will act
unconstructively toward each other without understanding why you do.

Neptune conjunct south node opposition north node. The effects of this
aspect are very similar to those of the north node conjunction, but it is
possibly a bit more severe. You must try to detach yourselves and be very
realistic in dealing with each other.

Pluto-Node Aspects

These aspects indicate a very heavy sense of power in a relationship, power

that can transform and transfigure your lives. At their best, these aspects
can reform and rejuvenate you, leaving you in a very different place from
where you started out. On the other hand, they can represent a relationship
in which one of you dominates the other destructively.

Pluto conjunct north node opposition south node. This aspect exemplifies
most strongly the energies described above. In an otherwise healthy
relationship, the effects of this aspect are likely to be quite positive. But they
will be negative in a relationship that is not so well favored.

Pluto trine-sextile the nodes. This aspect has a milder effect than the north
node conjunction. It designates a relationship that will transform you both
but you are less likely to encounter the negative domination pattern
described above.

Pluto square the nodes. The energies described in the Introductory

paragraph are present with this aspect, but the harsher effects are quite
stronx It indu dtes that your aims in lite differ, which is a SOUffVf of i onflict.
because both of you try to tone vmir objectives upon each other

["he struggle to dominate

ther in various ways is strongest with this aspec t "i our manipulative
be very dcMriu tive and < an onlv lead to the breakup ot
.itmnship S<. you must :. h other In anv
nship will have a Strong effect on both Fill of
' v relationship who may trv to manipulate JTOU
 Planets in Composite

Ascendant-Node Aspects

Certain comments can be made about all these aspects in general, for their
effects do not differ from each other very much. They all denote an
unusually strong interaction between the two of you and your
surroundings. Connections with others are very important to both of you.
At their best, these aspects signify gregarious behavior; at worst, an
inability to be independent and on your own.

Of these aspects, the trine-sextile is the weakest in its effects. The square is
not particularly difficult, and there is virtually no difference between the
north node conjunction and the south node conjunction. That is because
like the nodes, the Ascendant is also a two-ended axis, consisting of
Ascendant and Descendant.

362
Index
 Index

Alexandra. Czarina. 57. 59-62 Fateful encounters. 24. See also vertex
chart. 58 First-house cusp, calculating. 16-18
Alexis. Czarevich, 59. 61 Fred and Mary. 50-53
chart, 58 charts. 51
Angles of chart, 36 Freud, Sigmund, 7. 62-68
charts 64
Anti-vertex, 25
Aries as beginning of zodiac, 21 Freud and Jung. 7, 62-68
Ascendant, composite, 15, 25, 55
aspects of, 114-117. 154-157, 186-189, House cusps, calculating, 15-18
218-221, 248-251. 273-276. 295-299, House emphasis. 35. 45
314-317. 329-333. 346-349. 362 Houses, meaning of, 71-80
meaning of. 80
Aspects, minor. 33 Jayne. Charles. 11. 24
Astral Composite, 27-28 Johndro. L Edward. 24
Astrological influence, theory of, 4-5 Jones. Marc Edmund. 57
Jung. Carl C. 62-68
charts 64
Case studies. 41-68
Casting the composite chart. 11-27
additional techniques in. 25-27 Jupiter
aspects of. 262-276
basic steps in. 13-15 in houses. 255-262
charts. 13. 18 meaning of. 253
multiple. 19-24 Koch Tables. 15. 18
Chart comparison See Synastry
Composite chart Koch. Walter. 15
advantages of. 3. 53. 62
casting. 11-27 Latitude, geocentric and geographic. 15.
16. 25. 63
origin of
problems of. 33. 37 Lindsay. John. 27
Logarithm calculation. 16 17
reading. 31-37
Lunar returns. 26
zodiac signs in. 31
Computer charts. 27-28
Mars
Cosmobiology , 11
Cusps. Sec House cusps aspects of. 233-251
importance of 36
in houses. 226-233
Duke and Duchess of Windsor 53-57 meaning of. 225
chart* 54 Ma«ir Robert K 57
M < composite. 15. 25. 32
Ebertin. Reinhold «i
Michael. 7

365
 Planets in Composite

nature of, 3, 6, 7, 25, 34

Midpoints, xi, 11-12, 19, 26, 32
definition of, 11 sexual, 34-35
farther and nearer, 12, 14, 15, 19. 32, 56 Rudhyar, Dane, 11
150° rule for, 32
Mercury Saturn
aspects of, 168-189 aspects of, 287-299
in houses, 161-167 importance of, 36-37
meaning of, 161 in houses, 280-286
Moon meaning of, 179
Sidereal time, 15
aspects of, 129-157
importance of, 35-36, 45 Solar arc directions, 26
in houses, 122-129 Sun
meaning of, 121 aspects of, 92-117
Moon's nodes, 32 importance of, 35-36, 45
aspects of, 355-362 in houses, 83-92
meaning of, 353 meaning of, 83
Multiple composites, 19-24 Sun-Mercury-Venus clusters, 12
new method, 21-22 Synastry, xii, 3, 45, 51-52, 53
number of people in, 24
old method, 19 Tertiary directions, 26
problems of, 19, 23 Townley, John, 25, 27
Transits, 26, 47, 48, 49, 50, 56-57, 62,
Natal charts, importance of, 34, 41, 44 chart, 48
Neptune
composite with natal chart, 27, 68
aspects of, 329-333
in houses, 322-329 Uranian system, 11, 26
meaning of, 321
Uranus
sexual nature of, 35
Nicholas and Alexandra, 57-62 aspects of, 311-317
charts, 58 jn houses, 303-311
Notation, meaning of, 303

sign, 13, 14 Vectors, 4

360°, 13, 14 Venus
150° rule, 12, 32, 53, 55
aspects of, 200-221
importance of, 36
Planets as male and female, 34-35, 66 in houses, 193-200
as yin and yang, 35 meaning of, 193
Vertex, 15, 18, 24-25, 50, 56
as vectors, 4-5
composite and derived, 18, 25
in composite', 66 how to calculate, 25
Planets, outer, note on, 32
Pleiades, meaning of, 59, meaning of, 24, 56
Pluto
Wangemann, Edith, xi
aspects of, 346-349
in houses, 338-346 Will and Sylvia, 33, 41-50
charts, 42
meaning of, 337
Witte, Alfred, 26
Progressions, 26, 48, 49-50
charts, 49
Zodiac
Relationships as circle, 11, 19, 21
business, 35 sidereal, 26, 31
friendship, 35, 62 signs of, 31
houses of, 36, 47, 67 tropical, 26, 31

366
 N o w th er
a horoscope fore' s
the two of you
It takes more than love to make a posite at the remarkable mtroduc tory
relationship work It take* under- pnerof only &20
standing And understanding comes •Three charts a natal chart of
from knowing Do you really know each person plus the composite
the one you love? •An introduction describing the
By combining new astrology tech- meaning ot each planet
nique* with humanistic psychology. •Planets m the houses divisions
scientific analysis and computer ac- ot the horoscope describing deferent
PM Research has developed a areas of the relationship The portions
new way ot looking at a relationship of the Sun and Moon show the mam
Now there a a horoscope tor the emphasis of the relationship
two ot you It s the Astral Composite ' i or planetary aspects
the world s first computerized these are important to understanding
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Until now astrologers have com- What does the Astral Composite •Accurate calculations an IBM
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superimposing one on the other Such three charts in one First the computer to the nt* ■
a comparison views the people as in- calculates the natal charts of the two accuracy depends on accurate birth
dividuals who happen to be involved people involved Nest these two charts ■upon below i
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The Astral Composite is different one equals three This is followed by a astrology tor relationships He
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inoiu'i Ms method a the factors of love money and friend- •Appronmatel> 10 Jtt
third chart m created a chart of the ship art taken info account This helps and 25 pages in easy i -
relationship itselt When two people
come together to form a relationship
point out the kind of relationship that
works best tor the two of you 1 ou •
r>riL-,.r_ . bi _-.: f- - » ' rgggj
*tdifionaJly
something new nwmi They *n still may be great together as lovers but
M two people of course but when it comes to a more lestm*
rfund
together they an something esse as mitment you may be heading tor guarantee,
satisfied *implv reiurr
well Together the> are the relation- trouble Better to be prepared •* I
ship This is what the Antra tall into a situation unknowingly
The Astral Composite not only
Thn method ut analyzing human points out the strengths ar ■ga that
-
relationships was developed about JO
> Today most astri.1. ■,.
.
adhere to the old comparison method
On* astrologer Robert Hand I

and

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 Analyzing Human Relationships
Robert Hand has written an important reference book that is much needed in
the astrological community. Until the appearance of Planets in Composite no
astrologer has written a definitive work about human relationships. Why?
Perhaps because the customary technique, called synastry, was just too com-
plicated and unreliable.

Instead, Robert Hand used a technique developed in Germany about thirty

years ago. After much research and professional experience,; he has
discovered that the technique not only works, it is easier to use.

This technique combines two individual charts and creates a .composite third
chart. . .a chart of the relationship itself. This gives the student or astrologer.'
a single chart to interpret, rather t'han two as in the synastry. method. /
Planets in Composite contains an explanation of the composite technique, \
chapters on casting and reading the horoscope, five case studies illustrating \
the use and validity of composite charts, plus twelve chapters of delineations. \
There are delineations for all the planets (including Sun and Moon) in each \
house and every major aspect (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition), j
374 interpretations in all, 300 words each, thumb-indexed for easy reference.
And there are 41 delineations of the Moon's nodes as well. '

Planets in Composite is not only the first major textbook to use the com-
posite technique, it is the most complete, in-depth astrology book ever writ-
ten about human relationships. Robert Hand's analysis of the Composite
horoscope has made a signficant contribution to the study of astrokjgy.

RobVt Hand is a professional astrologer with

more\han twenty years of experience in the field.
He has practiced in New York and Boston and
lives on Os^pe Cod. He has lectured and conducted
workshops n\the. United States and. England. He is
best known for his pioneering work into new
techniques of asjrology, including research into
the composite technique and the field of
harmonics.

He is the author of Planets in Transit: Life Cycles

for Living; Planets in Youth: Patterns of Early
Development; and the forthcoming books
Horoscope Symbols and Horoscope Synthesis, to
be published by Para Research.)

13.95
Astrology, 4SJ3N 0-914918-22-2
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