If synastry shows the relationship potential, if you will be attracted to one another, how you relate to each other than the Composite Chart shows how the relationship will play out. People may have excellent synastry but a more challenging composite and vice versa. A composite chart can be read much like a natal chart. Robert Hand outlined in his book Planets in Composite what takes precedence when analyzing these charts:
·Strong house emphasis
·Look at the placement of the sun and moon as they represent masculine and feminine energy
·Also look how the sun and moon connect, are they squaring one another, opposing one another or not connecting at all
·Look for Venus and Mars as these planets indicate sex and romance
·Always look at the Angels 1,4,7,10 as the planets there are strongest
·Look at Saturn, it will show where there is weakness and strength
The Ex-Files
I have an ex that often calls me, I broke up with him for practical reasons, shortly after he married a “practical” older woman, and shortly after I regretted ever breaking up with him. He regrets getting married stating he wishes she were me and I confess I have never found anyone like him and here we are 3 years, one plutonic love and him one child later. We both concede if we could do it again we would have stayed together. But you can only know what you know at the time.…Ive decided to take a look at our Composite Chart to see what exactly are these ties that bind
The Composite First House:
The Composite First House is much like the Natal 1st House; it is the face by which the world sees you only this time as a couple. According to Robert Hand a strong 1st house can indicate all show and no substance. However Robert Hand also suggests regardless a strong 1st house indicates the relationship will have a great effect on both partners.
Our Composite Ascendent is in Pisces, this makes for a compassionate, sympathetic relationship where the 2 people can tend to idealize one another and gloss over real issues. Venus in Pisces is dreamy and intuitive in the first house conjuncting the Ascendent it indicates we are a natural complement. True Love. Being strongly attracted to one another at first sight without knowing why. The longer you know one another the more you like each other. Hand states this relationship is friendly, offers forgiveness and have come together for a creative purpose.
In my own experience I have to say attraction was instant, I only saw him from behind and found him irresistible. Only to have him turn around and realize we had been friends when we were small children. Our adjustments toward one another were minimal as we liked each other exactly for who we were. I think our relationship with all of its ups and downs was often viewed with a certain Venusian charm, as people always wanted to talk with and be around us. We had an energy when combined was greater than either of us have being alone. People often told us “we looked perfect together” We became exclusive after 2 dates and 3 weeks in he confessed his love and I was singing to him You Light up My Life before bed. That is Venus in the first house
Composite Mercury in the First house
Composite Mercury indicates the mental activity between the couple, do they have a mental understanding.Composite Mercury in the first house means you like speaking with one another. The way of thinking is similar in the first house. I wouldn’t necessarily say there was a depth to conversations, that is more of a Mercury in the fourth house, but communication always flowed easily
The Composite Second House
The Composite 2nd house is all about what you value. These can be tangible items such as property, finances or values in terms of ideas and philosophy.
Composite Sun in Taurus in the 2nd house is far from my favorite. It’s like a double whammy, the 2nd house is already naturally governed by Taurus . Venus in the 1st house is no doubt what brought us together, and here in the 2nd house lies the reason for my “practical departure” The bright Taurus Sun shining on values and finances. Taurus’ keyword is: I have. To a Taurus Sun “stuff” It is important. Taurus can be overindulging. This position of the sun is best for business partnerships where you acquire material assets. As per Robert Hand in a personal relationship, you will want to acquire real estate together. This location of the composite Sun can manifest in 2 ways making your personal and philosophical values a priority or material items. Ours turned out to be the latter. Our emotional values were the same, so there wasn’t any conflict there. He was especially family oriented, kind and giving. It was the financial aspect. We both wanted more “stuff” He complained I was making him broke and I complained he wasnt working hard enough .Ordinarily I’m quite disinterested in finances, I certainly do not want them to be the focal point of my life, but when the 2 of us came together, they were an issue. Overall what we wanted to spend money on was different. Who was going to handle the finances was a concern. We were at odds over work ethic. How ironic that he has now married WAY up and he told me he has never been so unhappy or emotionally unfulfilled. I have been single for a while, I have dated men with that check list of stuff, but I miss the non tangible items, the way he flew to get a first aid kit if I so much as had a paper cut, the holding the door open, ordering my dinner, making me soup when I’m sick. Never mind the passion!
Composite Jupiter is in the 2nd house, Jupiter’s placement tells you where you go overboard and where you are naturally lucky. According to Hand a couple with Composite Jupiter in the 2nd house will have enough of what they want. However it can indicate a couple that is overly materialistic, that you sacrifice other important matters for wealth…hence here we are.
The Composite Third House
The Composite 3rd House is like the natal 3rd house communication, siblings, relatives, and short trips.
Mars the planet of war in the house of communication means lots of passionate disagreements. Being that composite mars is in Gemini it is my belief these arguments are not long-lasting as Gemini wants to move on to the next agenda. Hand did point out that with Mars being here and the 3rd house also ruling relatives, the couples fighting will affect their relationship with their family and immediate surroundings.
The Composite 4th House
The Composite 4th house signifies the depths of the relationship and yes real estate, home and roots. And here in the 4th house naturally ruled by the moon is our Cancer Moon Keywords I feel. I like to say home is where the heart is or in this case Home is where the moon is. There is a dependency with a 4th house moon, instinctive desire to nurture one another. similar background can be helpful to this placement so you can naturally understand where each of you are coming from. Robert Hand states this is an excellent placement for marriage by “the strong sense of sharing it induces”. Emotional security is offered here. 4th house placements remind me of a quote by Jennifer Lopez while discussing Marc Anthony, she stated how they had similar backgrounds and “they had that short hand”. That is 4th house moon or venus in my opinion.
The Composite 5th House
The Composite 5th house is similar to the natal 5th house, it oversees children, gambling, and creative expression.
And here in the house of fun we have dreadful Saturn. Ordinarily I would run like hell from a 5th house Saturn, I m loud and openly expressive and the normal obvious assumption would be this relationship would stifle me. There is so much literature out there stating Saturn in the 5th implies heavy obligations, a relationship that lack spontaneity blah blah, That is not the case here as our relationship was always interesting and exciting, we traveled, hosted Margarita nights went out to dinner often. We had a lot of fun. I will say that Saturn in the 5th house often means the couple is unlikely to have children. In my case, I did not wish to have children with this particular man. He was the type of man you rode through life with and children were simply not apart of that equation . And there is my explanation for Saturn in the 5th house. If however you do want children I would avoid this placement.
Composite 6th house is the house of responsibility. How dreadful. Look to see what planets falls there to see where your obligations lie.
Composite 7th house is your relationship to one another. And there is Pluto. Packing Punch Pluto who revolutionizes everything he touches. This is a powerful relationship that has a great impact on both parties. It is important to work together as a unit as per Hand.You can work together to achieve great things or work against one another attempting to dominate one another.
The Composite 8th House
The Composite 8th house is different from the natal house, in the natal chart the 8th house represents your spouses finances. In Composite it is still the house of “other people’s money” Money outside of the relationship as well as transformation. Uranus the planet of sudden change in the house of transformation and finances. As per Robert Hand, sudden change can happen, unpredictable events and it is best to roll with them rather than develop a rigid point of view. Also he states this aspect shows concern over handling money or that neither of the couple has a desire to handle finances which can thus lead to arguments. Hmm a recurring theme here! I have 8th house nataly so I enjoy a bit of a bumpy ride and sudden changes. His sun conjuncts my ascendant in Aquarius so I would say we are naturally inclined to sudden change. Sometimes you have to look at the entire picture, synastry, natal and composite.
The Composite 9th
The Composite 9th house is similar to the natal 9th as it represents the “higher mind” beyond the day-to-day, your broader more philosphical mind. Neptune rules psychic abilities, confusion, escapism and spirituality. Neptune in the 9th according to Hand shows an interest in the mystical and psychic matters. We share the same views; both believe in fate, one time I was burning sage and doing a moon ritual only for him to come home with sage and a crystal in his pocket. How random, but definitely like-minded. Neptune in the 9th is also an indication that as a unit you do not view the world as it is. There is a certain seeing through rose-colored glasses.
The Composite 10th house represents the couples life direction. On a personal level I’m not to interested in the 10th house. It bores me. It is the highest point in the chart and often indicates your direction, your goals, it rules status and reputation.
The Composite 11th house is the house of hopes, friends and wishes. Planets placed here will show if you share the same ideals, obviously no planets are placed here I have however analyzed a chart where Saturn was in the 11th. Oh no Saturn restricts whatever it touches, this very well may symbolize a lack of friendship and hopes and wishes that never will materialize.
The Composite 12th House symbolizes all that is hidden and repressed with in one another. I knew someone with Uranus in the 12th house, I always felt like trapped inside this very conservative man was a rebel just dying to be released. Strong 12th house not recommended for marriage, the planets placed in it work against the couple. Remember 12th house is home to self undoing
In Conclusion Composite Charts can point out some issues a couple is having that they are really perhaps unaware of. You can take a step back for a moment and ask yourself, is it worth it. Or maybe you will have one of those Ah-ha moments. I surely did…a little late perhaps. But in the words of Drake: Better late than never though never late is better;) We are all learning our lessons in our own time.
