PLANETARY PATTERNS
A comparison between the different types of planetary patterns possible in the horoscope, a concept first introduced by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones, can give some general guide as to how well two nativities are likely to blend. Seven main types are distinguished: the Bowl, Bucket, Bundle, Locomotive, See-Saw, Splash and Splay. Of these the Splay types are probably the most self-sufficient, independent and the least likely to adapt to a partner, although they might be satisfied if the partnership were run on their terms. The Locomotive pattern suggests a certain dynamic drive which might accord ill with the temperament of the Splay native. To some extent the actual shape of the pattern will provide a clue as to whether the two types will get on well together.
The Bundle is usually contained within a trine, while the Locomotive usually has an empty trine. If the Bundle consists mainly of an arc of the zodiac that is missing from a particular Locomotive pattern, the partnership could be most effective although both might tend on occasion to act without
consulting the other. In all cases of pattern combinations the final judgment must depend upon whether the majority of cross-aspects are favorable or otherwise. The Splash pattern provides a dramatic contrast to the Bundle and here there may be the attraction of opposites. The Splash types can provide a variety of talents and interests that may contrast effectively with the rather limited approach of the Bundle types, who are able to turn to good account the ideas and wide experience of their partner. The Splay is apt to be similarly unyielding to the Bundle, so that adaptability could be lacking in such a partnership.
The See-Saw may gain something from the Bundle type, as the more decisive outlook of the latter may help resolve some of the dilemmas the former encounters when trying to do justice to both sides of an argument. It is doubtful however, whether Bundle types will wish to spend much time assessing the merits of points of view opposite to their own and they may not be inclined to encourage the association. The Bowl types, with their desire to pour forth the fruits of their experience, may find Bundle natives too inhibited and too self-intent, although if the planets in the Bundle occupy the empty hemisphere of the Bowl pattern, the feeling that the lack they feel may be satisfied by partners with this type of Bundle pattern may attract certain Bowl types towards them. To a certain extent the above remarks also apply to the relationship between the Bundle and the Bucket types, although a great deal will depend on the cross-aspects to the "handle" of the Bucket. If these are pre-dominantly harmonious, the two types may get on well together.
The Splash type, with a wide variety of interests, is often pre-pared to go more than half-way to meet others and may get on with the Splay type better than most. These natives can often fire the
enthusiasm of the Locomotive type, who can take their ideas and supply the necessary drive to put them into execution. The universal interests of the Splash type may intrigue the See-Saw type and the two may get on well together although they might never actually achieve much. When the Bucket type is involved, aspects to the "handle" planet are crucial, and while the Splash type can provide a good contrast to the Bucket, any preponderance of afflictions to this planet may spoil the relationship.
Inasmuch as both types are outgoing, there is a certain similarity of temperament, and Bucket types may be able to give a greater sense of direction to their partner. The self-containment of the Bowl native offers the attraction of contrast to the Splash type, with its more uninhibited approach to life on a broad front, and a good partnership can result if the cross-aspects are mainly favorable.
Splay types are very much their own people and much will depend on the willingness of other types to give them the freedom of action they require. As this pattern is the nearest approach to the concept of an "immovable object," and the Locomotive pattern is the nearest approach to the concept of an
"irresistible force," an harmonious combination of the two may be difficult to bring about. The general attitude of the Splay type may be rather too impersonal and self-seeking for the Bowl type, with its greater concern for people and causes, while the Bucket type may well have the same reservations about the former. There is the added complication that both types can be rather uncompromising.
See-Saw natives may be attracted to the Splay because they see this type as an anchor. On the other hand, they may suspect the definite view-points held by the latter as evidence of an inability to think all round a subject or concede that there is sometimes merit in a point of view that is not the same as their own. As with all See-Saw relationships, a crucial factor may well be whether planets in the other's horoscope build up a T-square or form trines and sextiles with the oppositions that give the See-Saw its distinctive name.
The ability of See-Saw natives to weigh the merits of opposing ideas gives them a basis for establishing meaningful relationships with others, though it may not endear them to those with a driving urge to put into practice ideas of which they are absolutely convinced. The Locomotive type, who tends to progress by zigzagging from side to side, has something in common with the sometimes tentative approach of the See-Saw type. There is often an ability to forge a partnership when both are willing to proceed on the basis of trial and error. Bowl natives may tend to bring the See-Saw type down heavily on one side in favor of one particular point of view. As the Bowl depends for its
definition on an opposition, much will depend upon how the oppositions in the two horoscopes merge with each other. Favorable aspects between the two sets of oppositions may pave the way to a rewarding partnership. In some ways the relationship with the Bucket type rests on the same factor but the uncompromising direction of effort usually indicated by the singleton planet becomes a crucial factor. If this is not helpfully integrated with the defining oppositions of the See-Saw, the relationship may not flourish.
Both the Bowl and the Locomotive types are conscious of a sense of lack. The former may attract the latter if their planets fall mostly within the empty trine of the Locomotive, who may then supply the driving force to implement the plans of their partner. The single-minded purpose of the Bucket natives may find in the Locomotive type the kind of drive they need to put their ideas into effect, but if the singleton planet does not connect favorably with the grand trine usually present in the Locomotive pattern, much of the value of the combination may be lost.
The Bowl and Bucket types have a good deal in common. If there is good support for the singleton planet in the Bucket pattern, the Bowl natives may feel that they have met a valuable ally. Much may depend however on the way in which the occupied hemispheres in the two horoscopes combine with each other. If they approximately coincide or oppose each other the attraction may be greater than otherwise, although in all Bowl-Bucket relationships there may be a special need to study the cross-aspects carefully before deciding on the degree of compatibility between the two.
It will often be found that planets in the Pre-Natal Epoch of one partner are closely configured with the natal planets of the other. If the correct Pre-Natal Epoch is known, valuable evidence is often afforded by observing this type of interplay. Not all Pre-Natal Epochs are easy to find, however, and it is best to ignore these positions if there is any doubt about their authenticity, since there is a wide variety of other factors on which a sound judgment can be based. Even when the Pre-Natal Epochs of both partners are known it is probably unnecessary to compare the two Epochs.
The foregoing paragraphs have indicated some of the principal ways in which two charts may be compared. Soon after I began to study astrology it occurred to me to devise a means by which a point in time could be found which epitomized the partnership between any given partners. This I
christened the "Relationship Horoscope." Some years later I found that a method originating in Germany used midpoints to build up a composite horoscope to represent the nature of the partnership. In general broad principle, that of producing one horoscope unique to one particular partnership the two systems agree, but in practice it will be found that the author's Relationship Horoscope is easier to handle. In one respect, it arises more naturally from the astrological relationship. This system will be fully explained, and examples given, in later chapters.
CHAPTER 5
Sun Sign Compatibility and other General Comparisons
The serious student of astrology soon realizes that the popular presentation of astrology in the press and over the radio bears little relationship to astrology proper. Because the Sun is the only body whose cyclic relationship with the Earth is more or less exactly repeated in each successive year, this is the only stable factor on which any mass presentation of astrology can rely. Because of this regular yearly cycle it is possible to estimate within about a degree the zodiacal longitude of the Sun on any given date during the year.
This means that everyone who knows their birthday can very easily learn what sign their Sun was in at birth, even if they do not know the actual degree, unless they are one of those "in betweens" born on the day the Sun leaves one sign for the next. Because the Sun sign is the only factor of which the majority of non-astrologers are aware, a whole system of "Sun sign" astrology has been built up. This system is only a pale reflection of real astrology but unfortunately, in the eyes of the uninitiated, it appears to be all that astrology has to offer.
One of the most publicized areas of Sun sign astrology relates to the compatibility of those born with their Suns in the same element. Thus those born with the Sun in Aries are reckoned to be compatible with those born with the Sun in Leo and the Sun in Sagittarius. While there is some truth in the fact that each element tends instinctively to understand how best to deal with its own kind, and while it is true that the Sun represents the real and essential nature of an individual, there can be many
situations in which a theoretical Sun sign compatibility can be discounted. In such cases the placement of the two Suns may play a comparatively minor role in the total assessment and sometimes an over-emphasis of this factor can prove to be very misleading. If, for instance, one partner's Sun is at the very end of Aries and the other's at the very beginning of Leo, technically the two Suns will be in square aspect. This could well indicate difficulties in adapting to each other. Or it may be that the nativity with the Sun in Aries has a majority of planets in air signs, while the nativity with the Sun in Leo has a majority of planets in water signs, so that a truer comparison between the two horoscopes would be on the more representative basis of a contrast between air and water, which are not particularly compatible elements. Even if the Sun signs should be compatible and there are discordant planetary clashes between the two charts, such disharmonies may greatly outweigh any concord suggested by the compatibility of the Sun signs.
The basic idea that Sun signs of the same element are congenial to each other is a useful one in synastry, provided it is remembered that the Sun is only one of the ten bodies normally used in
astrological work (to say nothing of the Ascendant, Midheaven and Lunar Nodes). The overall picture, when all these additional factors are included, may greatly modify any conclusions based on the Sun signs alone, or even those based on the general balance of the elements, when all the factors are taken into consideration, since the cross-aspects of planets from one nativity to another may produce a very different picture (see Chapter 7).
While, theoretically, solar compatibility can indicate a valuable deep level harmony, too many superficial differences, indicated by planetary disharmonies, may prevent this harmony from finding its most satisfactory expression. The Sun reaches its peak of influence from the age of 22 to 40. It is likely that the effects attributable to the solar position and the aspects the Sun receives will not reach their most effective expression until that period in the life.
Too great an emphasis on the same element, although it may at-tract at first, can ultimately produce a degree of boredom or dullness in a relationship. It is the contrast between temperaments that usually adds piquancy to a relationship, providing there is a reasonable degree of compatibility between the partners and the contrast is not so complete that neither party can successfully adapt to the other. It is not uncommon, therefore, to find the Suns of marriage partners in opposite signs, especially as, in terms of the solar houses, this will mean that each has the partner's Sun in the solar seventh house, the house of marriage and partnership.
As well as taking into account Sun sign compatibility, each planet in the horoscope can be treated on a similar basis, so that if, for instance, both partners have Mars in a water sign and Venus in an air sign, a greater degree of compatibility is likely.
The horoscope of a well-balanced individual should have a fairly equal distribution of the planets among the four elements. Most horoscopes deviate to a greater or lesser extent from this theoretically ideal situation. It has been observed that a state of perfect balance is apt to encourage inertia,
consequently the horoscopes in which the planets are rather less evenly distributed among the elements lead these natives to undertake activities and gain experiences that provide them with the opportunity of enlarging their wisdom and hastening their soul growth. In assessing the balance of the elements in a horoscope, it is usual to count the number of bodies in each element. A preponderance of bodies in one element will naturally leave no doubt as to which is the most important element, but it will often be found that two elements contain an equal number of planets.
Preference should then be given to the element in which the Ascendant is placed. This may not
always solve the problem, since the Ascendant may be in a fire sign, while earth and air signs contain the most planets. In such cases, the majority group containing the Sun should be given the principal emphasis. If neither majority group contains the Sun, the presence of the Ascendant ruler should be used as a deciding factor, but if the issue is still unresolved, the two elements may be considered to be equally poised. It can sometimes happen that three elements are equally represented, but such cases are comparatively rare. Where there is a more or less equal emphasis on two or more elements, one may be able to associate easily with a variety of people of different temperaments, although if an element should contain only badly placed and afflicted planets the native may not mingle easily with those in whose horoscopes this element is strongly represented.