 |
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Trust Your Vibes
By Dr. Sonia Choquette, PhD.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer & Author
Love Letters
by Erika Morrell,
Soul Mate Medium™
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
Donna Cunningham, MSW, Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
MoonWatching with Dana Gerhardt and Friends
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
Avant-Gardening:
Insights
by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Encounters on the
Shaman's Path with
Dr. Hank Wesselman, PhD.
Anthropologist, Zoologist, Author, Shamanic Healer & Teacher
The Divine Human
by Ornesha De Paoli
Awakenings
by Karen Johnson
Worshipping by Wondering with
Sankara Saranam, MA Founder of the Pranayama Institute
Wisdom Walks in Circles
by Margaret Lewis
Author & Shamanic Practitioner:
The Awakening Generation
by Ann Marie Judge
Water For The Dry Sponge: Chronicles and Essays
by Shaun Brown,
Be Well Publications
Crystals, Minerals
& Gemstones
Light and Love with Crystals, Minerals & Gemstones
by Raven,
Raven Crystals
Furry & Feathered Family Members:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Animal Insights
by Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator,
talk-to-animals.com
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Transformational Healing through the Violet Flame!
by Eva Kettles
Herbs for Health
with Kami McBride
Cure Your Cravings
...For Life
Rena Greenberg,
Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming & Hypnotherapist
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Kabbalah:
Kabbalah Revealed:
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, Kabbalalist
Numberscope Forecast
by Vincent J. Barra
Oracle & Divination Systems:
Be Your Own Oracle
by James Wanless, Ph.D. Creator of the Voyager Tarot Deck
Resources:
Archives
Blessings & Messages
The Book Nook
The Directory
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
S.O.L.A.R.®:
S.O.L.A.R ®
Beyond Materiality. Beyond Spirituality. Toward the Complete Human Being...
by Martin Lass, Emissary
Tarot:
Moment to Moment
by Gigi Miner
Author, Tarot Consultant, & Teacher
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Educator
Tidbits:
Almanac of the Ancients
by TripleMoonGoddess
News Briefs
Op-Ed
Pearls of Wisdom
by Astro Aeon
& Astro Care
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Life's Other
Novel Moments
Publisher's Corner
General Information:
Advertising Information & Opportunities:
The Directory Advertising Rates
Premium Pages:
Groups 1, 2 & Display
Advertising Rates
The BookNook
Advertising Rates
About
The Meta Arts Magazine
Editorial Submission
Information:
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin, Astrologer:
|
|
|
The Alchemy of Synastry
|
|
|
by Carin Martin |
|
|
"I am in the process of a painful divorce. My marriage was fine for the first two years then it unraveled so fast my head spun. I had a synastry chart done at the time of our engagement. The reading showed we had great compatibility. What went wrong?"
Looking at your two charts, I can certainly see why your astrologer predicted strong compatibility. One of the first things most of us look for is the relationship between one of the three main placements in the two charts. An old rule of thumb that many abide by is that there must be at least one positive aspect between the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant of one chart to either the Sun, Moon or Ascendant in the other's chart. The rule of thumb certainly does apply in your case. Your natal Moon is trine your husband's Sun- a classic of potential relationship compatibility and an ancient one for male/female relationships at that.
There are also good aspects between the Venus and Mars natal placements. These are often interpreted as indications of physical attraction as well as the harmonious give and take in power struggles between two people. Fire/air sextile communications here are another plus. The more difficult aspects between the two charts involve placements are few and are given far less import than the harmonious aspects ones previously mentioned. So subtle in fact as to considered a subconscious influence and, or, karmic connection.
So what went wrong? Primarily I would say that despite these rules of compatibility, the astrologer ignored the first rule of thumb. Before reading the synastry between the two charts, and before reading the composite chart of the two people representing the relationship itself, one must read each individual natal chart focusing on the ability of each individual to maintain a long term relationship. How does each individual natal chart indicate each subjects CAPACITY for compromise, communication, empathy, affection, and commitment? This sounds elemental, but believe me, it is very often over looked in the excitement of positive indications of the synastry between the two charts. And even if the synastry between the two people is overwhelmingly positive, AND the composite chart radiates compatibility-if there are indications of lack of capacity in either of the individual natal charts-the relationship does not stand much of a chance of success. Synastry is a spiritual alchemy-the individual elements contributed by each partner must be functioning before they can be combined to transmute into gold.
The abundance of air in your chart and of fire in your husband's natal chart both indicate potential for early unrealistic enthusiasm. Too much of a good thing between fire and air elements can end up evaporating the relationship with excessive expectations. Also, both of your charts with their imbalance of air or fire indicate a longer period necessary for personal development than if the charts had water or earth placements to ground them. You both married young and have a good deal of growing to do. When there is an abundance of one element in the natal chart, the water and earth folks have an edge over fire and air as far as stability is concerned. They, on the other hand, are more likely to find their relationship stagnated or drowning in over dependency as well.
When I look at your natal charts in depth, I have no doubt that you have the capacity for long term relationship. I have my doubts about your husband until later in life perhaps even as far as old age. So many of his natal fire placements indicate a love for variety, excitement, and change to create a form of fidelity "attention deficit disorder." Apparently it was his infidelity that was the eventual final straw here in the dissolution of the marriage. From all the exciting potential of your first few years, I can imagine this was a painful shock to you. I have no doubt that he meant his intensity, it is just that intensity also carries with it its own dissipation. Air fans fires flame, but fire can become all consuming to air in its intensity.
Another indication of his potential lack of capacity for long term relationships is his problematically aspected moon in Aires. Aries ruled by fiery Mars is a difficult moon position for emotional sharing and usually lacks empathy for other's feelings. The harsh aspects to his moon position indicate an emotional self absorption that can border on the edge of cruelty.
Also one should never underestimate the effects from the outer/collective planets to the inner/personal planets in a natal chart. The aspects from his natal Pluto indicate an individual who looks to romance/love/relationship as a transformative experience. I have often seen this in the natal charts of people who have had many serial relationships of great drama and intensity. Think of it-if transformation is a motivation for relationship, then when the transformation is complete the individual has changed. The change puts new perspective on the compatibility of the synastry. The Pluto influenced person <your husband> is ready to move on to the next transformative relationship. This must be a difficult concept for you to grasp at first since you are by nature a highly rational individual and one for whom loyalty is inherent in your nature
Your husband's fire placements are dynamic and magical in their appeal. Yet on the down side they also proclaim that he can promise the moon "right here in river city." Your idealistic and yet rational air wants the "facts, man, only the facts." The synastry between you could be most compatible in a creative work partnership. But in the day by day grind of the reality of daily life, it lacks grounding.
All that exciting "ease" between your charts can also be a problem rather than a blessing. It promises too much from both parties and does not inspire either to work towards improvement of communication and compromise. As in all relationships in life it is not what you say but what you do. With all this fire and air I have no doubt that much was said but that little of it was actualized.
Frankly, it is more often that a relationship where there is such positive synastry as yours does work-as long as the capacity is there individually. And I would say in 7 out of 10 cases, a relationship does not last when there is not at least one positive aspect between Ascendant, Moon or Sun of one to at least one of these placements in the other's chart. In the those long term marriages where these three have no positive synastry and the sun and moon are square, the union is often filled with estrangement and bitter recriminations-often lasting for the sake of the children or financial or religious reasons. One of those sad unions where both parties are truly "committed" -- as in life sentence.
You also mention that the first two years of this marriage were wonderful. No doubt as mentioned previously it was a whirlwind of excitement. But then it seemed to you that all at once it began to unravel. The period for this "unraveling" coincides with your husband's Saturn return. The Saturn return is difficult for most people. It is the time when you see yourself for what you are, when you see what has worked for you and what has not worked in your basic character. It is a wake up call for maturity. This cosmically induced introspection is particularly difficult for a person with such a fiery chart as your husband. I believe every one is responsible for their actions, at the same time, enforced introspection by life's events are particularly difficult for fire people whose credo is self actualization. I can imagine he must have felt out of control, as if the universe had all of a sudden turned on him.
In another year you, too, will be experiencing your Saturn return. I can guarantee you that during this time period, you will act in a more rational manner than your fiery ex spouse, but at the same time, it will be a period of harsh realities for you. We all go through this experience. Since it immediately follows the dissolution of your marriage, it may feel particularly demoralizing. Be forewarned and do not let it demoralize you. I have no doubt that you will see your errors and contributions to the end of this marriage as well. Even with this insight, I hope you will remember that though the first Saturn return forces us all to take a hard look at our selves, be gentle. I hope you will be as fair with yourself as you so often are with others.
The discipline of synastry interpretation is a true art. It requires not only a well versed ability to read the subject's character in the natal chart but the ability to decipher the alchemy of the merging of two charts in the composite chart as well. I have seen far too many relationship interpretations BEGIN with the synastry between the two charts. The beginning of the synastry reading should be the interpretation of each individual natal chart and its inherent abilities or challenges for maintaining a long term relationship. Then the astrologer should move on to the aspects between the two natal charts, the house positions of the synastry. And from there to the interpretation of the composite chart which represents the living entity that is the union of the two people.
Also, since the first few years of partnership often make or break the bond, any major transits to either partner such as your husband's Saturn return should also be taken into consideration. Saturn returns are famous for being indications of either impending divorce OR impending marriage. I am concerned when I see the first Saturn return due within several years of a marriage. Of course it means the subject is quite young as well since the first Saturn return occurs during one's late twenties. I am not at all surprised to see an engagement occur DURING a Saturn return. It is often the case since Saturn creates a seriousness of mind and intent during it's transit.
Just as relationships are complex entities so are synastry interpretations. We have all had our successes and failures, and I know no astrologer who is not dismayed to have predicted bliss that ends in the divorce court. It may be helpful to you and your astrologer for you to contact him and gently inform him that you are confused by the turn of events and see what his response will be. If he is wise and on the ever evolving wheel of astrological development, he will reexamine his interpretation after learning about the timing and the facts of your divorce. If he abruptly answers you with a self aggrandizing excuse that places the blame entirely on you and your husband's lack of development. Get another astrologer. Most astrologers learn more from their miscalculations than from their successes and are only too happy to have your client follow up. In this case it may well be a learning experience for both you and your astrologer.
|
|
|
|
|
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
|
 |
Carin Martin has been an astrologer in private practice for over twenty-five years. She has also taught seminars in astrology as well as lead group workshops in self revelational archetypal astrology.
She has published on several subjects in the field of metaphysics and been interviewed both on radio and for national publications.
Calling herself the "eternal student" she has attended numerous workshops and seminars over years including those of Jungian James Hillman, as well as astrologers Liz Green and Steven Arroyo amongst many others.
Her private practice covers most areas of western astrology but in recent years she has gained a reputation for her work in the synastry of business and creative relationships and for avocational astrology.
An avid animal lover, she is currently working on a book about human and animal communication as well as several astrological projects.
|
Send your questions to:
AstroCarinMartin
@aol.com
Please understand that due to time constraints, only questions chosen for the column will be answered.
|
 |
You'll find
it in
The Directory! |
|
|
|
|
