The Magazine

Topic Relationships

Synastry, compatibility and what a chart can and cannot say about two people.

Other topics

In short

Synastry, compatibility and what a chart can and cannot say about two people. Every relationships feature from the daily magazine, in eleven languages, with the free tools behind each one.

  • Both birth times or neither. One accurate time and one guess produces a report that looks precise and is not.
  • Hard aspects are not incompatibility. Squares between charts are what long relationships are usually built out of.
  • Read the report together rather than about them. Synastry used as evidence in an argument stops being astrology.
  • A missing element in both charts is more telling than a clash — it shows what neither of you will remember to do.

8

Factors scored

2

Charts compared

1

Composite midpoint

29 yrs

Saturn test

What each contact governs in a comparison

Read the rows in order. Reports that lead with Venus flatter; reports that lead with the Moon last longer.

ContactGovernsFelt as
Moon–MoonDaily comfortEase or low-grade irritation
Sun–MoonMutual recognitionBeing understood
Venus–MarsAttractionChemistry, appetite
Mercury–MercuryConversationWhether talking is restful
Saturn contactsCommitment, dutyWeight, sometimes limitation
AnglesVisibility, homeWhether the pairing is public or private

Comparing two charts is old practice. Hellenistic astrologers checked marriage prospects by the condition of the seventh place and the Moon; medieval writers formalised the comparison; the twentieth century added synastry grids, composite charts and, eventually, the sun-sign compatibility table that made the whole subject look trivial.

The features here go back to the technique. Element and modality tell you the friction pattern, Moon contacts tell you whether daily life is comfortable, Venus and Mars tell you about attraction, and Saturn tells you whether the thing can hold weight. None of it says whether you should stay — only what you are working with.

Questions Readers Ask

What does a compatibility score actually measure?

On this site, eight weighted factors — elements, modalities, Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn and the angles. The number is a summary of the report, not a verdict.

Can I compare charts with someone who is not with me?

Yes. The partner-linked synastry tool sends a private invite link; they enter their own birth data and the two charts combine without either of you sharing details in a message.

Does this work for friendships and family?

Entirely. Drop the Venus–Mars weighting and the same technique reads siblings, colleagues and co-founders.

Should a bad report end a relationship?

No. A chart comparison describes tendencies, not obligations, and no honest astrologer will make that decision for you.