Skip to main content
💫

Zodiac Compatibility Insights

Decode Your Cosmic Chemistry

Compatibility Is More Than Sun Signs

Real talk: those "Aries and Pisces are incompatible" articles you see online? They're oversimplified. Your sun sign is one piece of a much bigger puzzle. True compatibility looks at your Venus (how you love), your Mars (how you desire), your Moon (how you feel), and how all those placements interact with your person's chart. You might be a Taurus sun who's "supposed to" vibe with earth signs, but if your Venus is in Gemini and your Mars is in Aquarius, you're actually going to connect better with air signs. Or maybe you're a Capricorn sun with a Cancer moon, and you need that emotional depth that water signs bring—even though "traditional astrology" says you should stick with earth signs. Synastry (the comparison of two birth charts) shows where you flow together and where you clash. Some friction is actually good—it creates chemistry and growth. The goal isn't finding someone who's "perfectly compatible." The goal is understanding your dynamics so you can work with them instead of against them.

Venus: How You Love (and Want to Be Loved)

Venus is the planet of love, attraction, values, and pleasure. Your Venus sign shows what you find beautiful, what makes you feel loved, and how you express affection. If you want to understand someone's love language, look at their Venus. **Venus in Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):** Loves boldly and passionately. Needs excitement, adventure, and spontaneity. Wants to be pursued and adored. Gets bored easily if the spark fades. Values independence even in partnership. Love language: acts of passion, grand gestures, playfulness. **Venus in Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):** Loves steadily and practically. Needs stability, consistency, and tangible proof of commitment. Shows love through actions more than words. Values quality time and physical presence. Love language: acts of service, gifts, reliability. **Venus in Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):** Loves intellectually and socially. Needs mental stimulation, good conversation, and friendship as the foundation. Values independence and space. Gets bored without variety. Love language: words of affirmation, quality conversations, shared interests. **Venus in Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):** Loves deeply and emotionally. Needs intimacy, vulnerability, and emotional safety. Intuitive and empathetic. Can be possessive or clingy when insecure. Values emotional depth above all. Love language: emotional connection, quality time, physical touch. **Venus Compatibility:** — Fire + Air = natural flow (passion meets intellect) — Earth + Water = grounding depth (stability meets emotion) — Same element = too similar (comfortable but can lack growth) — Opposite elements (Fire/Air vs Earth/Water) = attraction but requires work Your Venus doesn't have to "match" perfectly. Sometimes the best relationships have Venus placements that challenge each other—as long as you're both willing to meet in the middle.

Mars: How You Fight (and How You Desire)

Mars is the planet of action, desire, anger, and sexuality. Your Mars sign shows how you assert yourself, what turns you on, and how you handle conflict. If you want to know if you're sexually compatible with someone, look at Mars. **Mars in Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):** Direct, passionate, aggressive. Fights openly and gets over it quickly. High sex drive, needs novelty and excitement. Turned on by confidence and boldness. Conflict style: explosive but doesn't hold grudges. **Mars in Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):** Steady, sensual, strategic. Fights methodically or shuts down. Sex drive is consistent but needs comfort and trust to fully let go. Turned on by competence and patience. Conflict style: slow to anger but holds onto resentment. **Mars in Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):** Intellectual, detached, argumentative. Fights with words and logic. Sex drive is mental—needs conversation and connection. Turned on by intelligence and wit. Conflict style: debates everything, can be passive-aggressive. **Mars in Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):** Emotional, intense, reactive. Fights from a place of hurt feelings. Sex drive is tied to emotional connection. Turned on by vulnerability and depth. Conflict style: passive-aggressive or emotionally manipulative when wounded. **Mars Compatibility:** — Fire + Fire = explosive chemistry but constant battles — Earth + Earth = steady but can lack passion — Air + Air = great debates but may avoid emotional conflict — Water + Water = intense connection but can be codependent — Fire + Air = stimulating and exciting — Earth + Water = sensual and grounded If your Mars placements clash (like Mars in Cancer vs Mars in Aries), you fight differently. One person wants to talk it out emotionally, the other wants to move on quickly. This can work if you learn each other's conflict styles—but it takes effort.

Moon: Your Emotional Needs in Partnership

Your Moon sign governs your emotional world, and in relationships, it shows what you need to feel safe and nurtured. You can have great Sun/Venus/Mars compatibility, but if your Moons don't vibe, the relationship will feel emotionally off. **What to look for in Moon compatibility:** — Do you process emotions similarly? — Do you both need the same level of emotional expression (or do you clash)? — Can you meet each other's emotional needs without feeling drained? **Moon sign compatibility patterns:** — **Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sag)** need independence, optimism, and action. They struggle with overly emotional or clingy partners. — **Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Cap)** need stability, routine, and practical support. They struggle with chaos or emotional intensity. — **Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)** need mental connection, space, and rationality. They struggle with heavy emotional demands. — **Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)** need emotional depth, sensitivity, and intimacy. They struggle with emotional unavailability. **Challenging Moon pairings:** — Fire Moon + Water Moon: One wants lightness, the other wants depth — Earth Moon + Air Moon: One needs routine, the other needs variety — Water Moon + Air Moon: One feels deeply, the other rationalizes feelings **Harmonious Moon pairings:** — Fire + Air: Mutual respect for independence and lightness — Earth + Water: Emotional security meets stability — Same element: Deep understanding but may lack growth Moon compatibility isn't a dealbreaker, but it's where you'll feel the emotional friction. If your Moons clash, you'll need to consciously learn each other's emotional language.

Synastry: The Art of Chart Comparison

Synastry is when you overlay two birth charts to see how the planets interact. It's not about "good" or "bad"—it's about understanding the dynamics. Here's what to look for: **Key synastry aspects:** **Conjunctions (planets in the same place):** — Sun conjunct Moon: Deep understanding, you "get" each other — Venus conjunct Mars: Magnetic sexual attraction — Moon conjunct Moon: Emotional resonance, you feel safe together — Mercury conjunct Mercury: You think alike, easy communication **Trines and Sextiles (harmonious angles):** — Easy flow, natural compatibility — Venus trine Venus: Similar love languages — Mars sextile Mars: Sexual rhythm and compatibility — Jupiter trine Sun: You bring out each other's best **Squares (tension, 90° angles):** — Friction and challenge, but also growth — Venus square Mars: Sexual tension but conflicting needs — Moon square Moon: Emotional clashes, different needs — Sun square Sun: Ego battles, power struggles **Oppositions (180° angles):** — Polarity, push-pull dynamic — Sun opposite Moon: Attraction of opposites, balancing act — Venus opposite Venus: Different values, requires compromise — Mars opposite Mars: Sexual chemistry but constant conflict **What actually matters in synastry:** — Venus-Mars contacts = chemistry and desire — Moon-Moon/Venus-Moon = emotional compatibility — Sun-Moon = feeling seen and understood — Mercury-Mercury = mental compatibility — Saturn contacts = long-term potential (or burden) — Pluto contacts = intense transformation (obsession or power struggles) **Red flags in synastry:** — Lots of harsh Saturn or Pluto aspects = heavy, karmic, potentially toxic — No Venus or Mars contacts = friendship but no romance — Harsh Moon aspects with no support = emotional incompatibility — Too many squares with no trines = constant friction, exhausting Synastry isn't fortune-telling. It's a map. You can have "perfect" synastry and still break up if you're not compatible as people. And you can have challenging synastry and make it work if you're both committed to growth.

The 7th House: Your Relationship Blueprint

The 7th house in your natal chart represents partnerships, marriage, and how you approach committed relationships. The sign on your 7th house cusp (called the Descendant) shows the qualities you're attracted to in a partner. **What the 7th house reveals:** — The type of partner you attract (or seek) — How you behave in committed relationships — What you need from partnership — Patterns you repeat in relationships **Your Descendant by sign:** — **Aries Descendant (Libra Rising):** Attracted to bold, independent, assertive partners. Need someone who challenges you and doesn't need constant validation. — **Taurus Descendant (Scorpio Rising):** Attracted to stable, sensual, reliable partners. Need someone grounded who can handle your intensity. — **Gemini Descendant (Sagittarius Rising):** Attracted to smart, witty, communicative partners. Need mental stimulation and variety. — **Cancer Descendant (Capricorn Rising):** Attracted to nurturing, emotional, sensitive partners. Need someone who softens your edges. — **Leo Descendant (Aquarius Rising):** Attracted to confident, creative, expressive partners. Need someone who's okay being in the spotlight with you (or for you). — **Virgo Descendant (Pisces Rising):** Attracted to organized, helpful, detail-oriented partners. Need someone who grounds your dreaminess. — **Libra Descendant (Aries Rising):** Attracted to charming, diplomatic, aesthetically-minded partners. Need someone who balances your impulsiveness. — **Scorpio Descendant (Taurus Rising):** Attracted to intense, mysterious, transformative partners. Need depth and emotional honesty. — **Sagittarius Descendant (Gemini Rising):** Attracted to adventurous, philosophical, free-spirited partners. Need someone who expands your world. — **Capricorn Descendant (Cancer Rising):** Attracted to ambitious, responsible, mature partners. Need someone who provides structure and stability. — **Aquarius Descendant (Leo Rising):** Attracted to unique, unconventional, intellectually independent partners. Need space and freedom in partnership. — **Pisces Descendant (Virgo Rising):** Attracted to compassionate, artistic, spiritually-minded partners. Need emotional depth and creativity. **Planets in your 7th house:** — Venus in 7th: Relationships are central to your life, you're a natural partner — Mars in 7th: Attracted to assertive partners, may experience conflict in relationships — Saturn in 7th: Relationships come later or require work, you take commitment seriously — Pluto in 7th: Intense, transformative relationships, power struggles are a theme Your 7th house shows what you seek in partnership. But here's the key: you often project these qualities onto others instead of developing them yourself. The goal is integration—embody the traits of your Descendant while staying true to your Rising sign.

Composite Charts: The Relationship as Its Own Entity

While synastry compares two individual charts, a composite chart blends them into one chart that represents the relationship itself. It's like the relationship has its own birth chart, its own personality, its own purpose. **What a composite chart shows:** — The nature and purpose of the relationship — The strengths and challenges you face together — The overall vibe/energy of the partnership — What you're here to learn or build together **Key placements in composite charts:** **Composite Sun:** The core identity of the relationship. What are you together? — Composite Sun in Fire: Passionate, adventurous, dynamic relationship — Composite Sun in Earth: Stable, practical, building-focused relationship — Composite Sun in Air: Intellectual, social, communicative relationship — Composite Sun in Water: Emotional, intuitive, deeply bonded relationship **Composite Moon:** The emotional foundation of the relationship. How do you nurture each other? — Composite Moon in 1st house: Emotionally open, wear your feelings on your sleeve — Composite Moon in 4th house: Homey, family-oriented, private — Composite Moon in 7th house: Relationship feels like "home," emotionally balanced — Composite Moon in 12th house: Private, secretive, or karmic connection **Composite Venus:** How you love and value each other. What brings you joy together? — Composite Venus in 5th house: Playful, romantic, creative connection — Composite Venus in 8th house: Intense, sexual, transformative bond — Composite Venus in 11th house: Friendship-based love, shared ideals **Composite Mars:** How you take action together. What drives the relationship? — Composite Mars in 10th house: Ambitious, goal-oriented partnership — Composite Mars in 1st house: High energy, competitive, active relationship — Composite Mars in 12th house: Hidden tensions, passive-aggressive dynamics **Challenging composite placements:** — Composite Saturn in 7th: Relationship feels restrictive or heavy — Composite Pluto in harsh aspect: Power struggles, obsession, intensity — Composite Moon in 12th: Emotional confusion, hidden feelings, karmic baggage — Composite Sun square Saturn: Purpose of relationship involves hard lessons **Positive composite indicators:** — Composite Sun/Moon in harmonious aspect: Emotional and identity alignment — Composite Venus in 7th: Natural partnership energy — Composite Jupiter in 5th or 7th: Growth, joy, expansion together — Composite North Node in 7th: This relationship is part of your soul's journey Composite charts don't predict if a relationship will last—they show what the relationship is here to teach you. Even "difficult" composites have purpose.

Resources & Next Steps

Synastry Tools

  • Astro.com — Free synastry and composite chart generators
  • Astro-Seek — Detailed synastry aspect tables
  • Clairvoya App — AI-powered compatibility readings

Recommended Reading

  • "Skymates" by Steven Forrest & Jodie Forrest — Best synastry book
  • "The Astrology of Love & Sex" by Annabel Gat
  • "Planets in Composite" by Robert Hand — Composite chart bible

Related Guides

  • Relationship Timing & Transits — When to start/end relationships
  • Love Tarot Spreads — Divination for relationship clarity
  • Natal Chart Foundations — Understand your own chart first
💕

Get Personalized Love Guidance

Ready for insights tailored to your unique situation? Connect with Clairvoya's AI astrologers for personalized love readings that integrate your chart, current transits, and tarot wisdom.

Get Your Reading
Zodiac Compatibility Insights | Clairvoya Love & Relationships | CLAIRVOYA