posted May 10, 2013 06:37 AM
I had actually summarized it before in the Personal reading forum, but wanted to share it here, as well.It is simply a summarizing of David Cochrane`s chapter on compatibility in the book "Astrology for the 21st century", and I want to share the informations in there, cause I have found them to be very valid.
Preface
° composite alignments =
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conjunction/Opposition in the composite chart (no other aspects)
° orb: 2,5 degrees, but 1,5 degrees are necessarry for strong bonding patterns
(this relates to the composite alignments, not necessarily the synastric or natal aspects - the orbs for composite need to be much tighter than natal orbs to ensure the underlying principles, that are indicative of the bonding patterns, are still at work)
Also, he mentions that the composite of transits to natal chart is equally valid, and perhaps even more important than transit aspects to natal planets.
I definitely had noticed the importance of composites between transits and natal chart as well, quite some time before I read it in this book, so I feel sort of confirmed in my own findings, and encouraged to research that even more seriously, as I have treated it a bit as a "playground" until now
Three "Keys"
compatibility key 1: composite alignments (conj./ opp.): VERY powerful
reasons for the powerfulness of composite
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conjunctions and oppositions:
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1) mutual cross chart angle or aspect (synastry)
2) parallel angle or aspect (natal)
DEGREES of POWER
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most powerful
composite alignment that is supported by mutal cross aspect AND parallel natal aspect
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second most powerful
composite alignmetn that is supported by mutual cross aspect but NO parallel natal
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aspect
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maybe not third most powerful, but still important
composite alignment thta is supported by parallel natal aspect but NO mutual cross aspect.
(I think aspects would include the lower harmonics and minor aspects as well; probably up to the point when their effect gets too internal to be anything but subtly seen; so the aspect series would include the 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th harmonic and probably the quindecile; but most likely the major aspects would have the srongest effect)
compatibility Key 2: Bear Hug
° 2 planets in a chart are surrounded by the same 2 planets in the other chart
2 conditions for this pattern
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1) A`s planets surround the same planets in B`s chart
2) A`s planets make the same angle to B`s planets
3 CHARACTERISTICS of a Bear Hug pattern
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1) triple mutual angle:
let`s say there is a Bear Hug Pattern with Sun and Moon.
So A`s Sun and Moon would surround B`s Sun and Moon
AND
the angle of A`s Sun to B`s Moon is the same as the angle of A`s Moon to B`s Sun
in the composite the same angle between these planets will occor again
2) Reverse shift
Let`s say A`s Sun is 10 Sagittarius, B`s Moon is 10 Libra, B`s Sun is 10 Leo and A`s Moon is 10 Gemini
First condition is fulfilled; as A`s planets surround or embrace B`s planets like a bracket.
Second condition is fulfilled, too, as A`s Sun is 60 degrees of B`s Moon, and A`s Moon is 60 degrees of A`s Sun - so the same angle is existent.
However, A`s Sun is 60 degrees AFTER B`s Moon, while A`s Moon is 60 degrees BEFORE B`s Sun - that is what he means by reverse shift, and of course that is just another way of saying that A`s planets surround B`s planets.
3) midpoint alingment
there is a conj./ opposition of both people midpoints`
A`s Sun/MOon: 10 Virgo (or Pisces)
B`s Sun/Moon: 10 Virgo
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also of importance:
parallel aspects
shared aspect in the natal charts of two people, which shows they have a characteristic in common, which is conductive to friendship (or as I usually put it, potential for "common ground")
The composite alignment and Big Bear Hug pattern are powerful, because there is more than 1 interaction between 2 planets
if the cross chart angle is also an aspect , then the pattern is extremely powerfula nd becomes an extremely powerful bonding force between two people
The comp. alignment is powerful even if an aspect between the planets is not involved because there is by definition an aspect in the composite chart.
the Bear Hug pattern, however, has only the aspect of a conjunction or opposition of midpoints which is much less significant, so therefore a Bear Hug pattern is very powerful only if someo of the angles involved are also aspects.
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he introduces the term "harmonic composite alignment", which means that you take into consideration what mutual cross aspect is underlying the composite alignment.
he also mentions that a mutual cross chart aspect always produces either a composite alingment pattern or a bear hug pattern.
So, he concludes this "key"
third most powerful
a harmonic bear hug pattern that is reinforced by a mutual cross chart aspect
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(of course of the same planets that make the bear hug pattern)
compatibility key 3: composite planet conjunct or opposition a natal planet
(my favourite one and he taught me something new here!)
° these alignments are important becaus ethe degree involved is critical; any transti of that degree activates the composite and the individual`s chart!
(that is how I always seen its importance, yes, but now comes the new thing, that which I have not really realized before, but it is vital in terms how to interprete that pattern)
° there is a resonating angle involved
example:
A`s Venus at 10 Taurus and A Mars at 20 Taurus; B Mars at 00 Taurus
composite Mars 10 Taurus conjunct A`s natal Venus
The angle of persons A Venus to both his/ her own Mars and to person`s Mars is 10 degrees. Person B`s Mars is at a "balancing point" on the other side of A Venus. Sort of a very individual solstice point or refleciton point, as I thought reading this.
He sais: "This balancing point seems to be a positive point of fulfillment for person A, and almost equally fulfilling for Person B who feels the inclination o provide the qualitiy of that planet in relationship to the planet in person As chart" (p. 172)
How I would interprete it that, since the composite planet is the sum of both individual`s planets, they are both participating in its energy or quality. So if my natal planet is conjunct the composite Moon, of course I am relating to the emotional athmosphere of the relationship. but what does MAKE this athmosphere?
It is realy the relating of both lunar principles in the natal charts, and being equidistant from my planet, it is like I see in the other person (his Moon) qualities about my own internal lunar experience reflected, and thus might feel quite bonded to this, as he opens gateways for me to touch upon that feeling or principle inside.
But back to Cochrane
fourth most powerful is a conjunction or opposition of a composite planet to a planet in one of the individuals chart. The fifths most powerful connection is this same alignment, when not supported by aspects
For example:
My Venus might be conjunct the composite Mars, but if my Venus was trine my own Mars and also his Mars, it would be stronger and more powerful, as if the angle was, let´s say 22 degrees.
However he also sais, that the existence of such an alignment alone, even without underlying synastric aspects, is very significant, whereas a Bear Hug pattern is ONLY significant WITH the underlying cross chart aspects.
6th most powerful is harmonic triangles formed between two charts
For example.
A Moon 80 degrees of B Venus and both 40 degrees to A Mars
That would be a 9th harmonic triangle; however, I think it would be stronger if it was symmetrical and involving a midpoint-alignment.
A Moon 80 degrees of A Venus and both 40 degrees of B Mars (in this case B planet would be on the midpoint of A Moon/Venus - maybe one could differentiate midpoints like this, as this would b a 9th harmonic midpoint alignment, which might feel different from a 4th harmonic midpoint alingment - a T-square)
7th most powerful the existence of parallel harmonic triangles
Two people have the same planets in a harmonic triangle.
Like both having Sun, Moon and Jupiter in 3rd harmonic aspects in their natal.
If these overlap, meaning there are cross chart aspects with Sun, Moon and Jupiter, there must aslo be a composite alingment pattern or a bear hug pattern.
in a last chapter, he mentiones the persistence of composite Angles with varying fiducal or zodiac-starting points.
We are usually starting with 00 Aries (in tropical zodiac), but there are different starting points possible. For example we know about the Draco chart, which usese the NOrth Node as starting point.
He mentions that one could use the ASC as starting point (which actually makes much sense, as this is our individual ARies point, the entry in this incarnation,).
Anyway, the interesting thing is that it does not matter where you start the zodiac, the composite aspects will be the same or complimentary aspects.
Meaning. a conjunction can either stay a conjunction or become an opposition; a trine can stay a trine or become a sextile and so on.
He concludes from that, that yes, the composite ocnjunctions and oppositions are most powerfuly, but that also the other tight composite aspects might be more important than he originally believed.
Which I would want to emphasize as well. Especially if the tight composite aspect are supported by a mutual cross chart aspect or a shared natal aspect.
If we share the same aspct natally, it makes sense it comes up in the composite chart as well, as we carry this characteristics into the relationship, espeically if both have it.