The Astrology of Relationships

Carol Willis, MA

Astrology is a tool to explore the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Astrological counseling can help to validate and enhance a great relationship, or to improve or release a bad relationship. Astrological factors can give clues to analyze current and upcoming situations, and also to help you create the quality of relationships you desire by understanding yourself and honoring diversity.

BASIC DEFINITIONS

Birthchart: Also called a natal chart, an astrological chart of the time of a person's birth, calculated using the full birthdate, exact time of birth as shown on the birth certificate including AM/PM, and city/state/ country of birth. A birthchart looks like a circle or wheel with 12 pie-shaped sectors, and symbols for the planets are distributed around the chart according to where they were at the time of your birth. If your chartwheel were a clock, you would see your Ascendant (Rising Sign) in the "9 o'clock" position on the circle.

Planets: The planets are symbolic of archetypal energies, qualities and potentials in a person's life.

Ascendant or Rising Sign: The sign rising in the east at the time of your birth, determined by your full birthdate, exact time of birth and location of birth. Your Rising Sign is correlated to your physical appearance and outer personality, talents and interests that are easy for you to develop and share with others. The Rising Sign is the astrological and calling card" you present to the world, what people see when they first meet you. The Ascendant (and degree) is a key orientation point in the astrological chart, determining all of the other house cusps and where the planets are located in your chart.

Houses: The pie-shaped sectors in an astrological chart, showing areas of human concern such as self, body, money, communication, home, children, job, partner, and much more.

Aspects: Mathematical relationships between planets, degrees between them, such as:

conjunction - 0 degrees

opposition - 180 degrees

• trine - 120 degrees
• sextile - 60 degrees
• square - 90 degrees.

THE BIG PICTURE

All planets, houses, and every factor in your astrological chart bears on your relationships. Some planets carry extra weight in relationships, such as Sun, Venus, Moon, and Mars.

The Sun symbolizes your true self, your vitality and individuality, your heart and courage.

Venus relates to love, affection, values, aesthetics and affinity, and shows which qualities must be present for you to love and be attracted to a person or situation, and where you're most likely to find love.

The Moon symbolizes your needs for emotional security and acceptance, and shows where you're likely to receive support and attention from others.

Mars shows action, passion, sexuality, initiative, taking a stand and willingness to fight.

CHART COMPATIBILITY

If you compare your birthchart to that of any other person - friend or stranger - there will be some points of compatibility, ease or attraction, and some points of stress. Your relationship with the person depends on many factors including soul's desire for experience, common ideals, emotional comfort, communications, personality, spirituality, beliefs, chemistry, sexual attraction, habitual ways of being and acting, and issues to be worked out. Depending on your own ethics, maturity and temperament, a factor of ease can be flowing, pleasurable and dependable, or it can be taken for granted and seen as boring. A factor of stress can be exciting and stimulating, or it can be antagonistic and oppressive. Much depends on what each of you bring to the table, and how each of you plays the game of life.

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