Astrology is perhaps our greatest tool pertaining to relationships, especially intimate and romantic relationships. In astrology, we call relationship analysis - synastry.
 While it does and will take time to get to know your prospective mate (which is what the purpose of dating and courting is for or used to be for), astrology in general and the prospective mate's (as well as your own) natal chart can prove most helpful due to offering you much valuable insight, insight into the person's personality and individuality.
A person's personality and individuality will include their conscious will and how they navigate in life here on planet Earth, their emotion nature, how they communicate, how they go about attracting what they want in life and how they love; and how they are sexually (their sexuality: preferences, orientation, etc.), just to name a few.
The foregoing is important pertaining to relationships as you will want or desire certain things from the potential mate and vice versa. We enter into relationships because basically we desire things, most notably - traits (or qualities). It is traits, especially when desirable, that keep us (our relationships) together.
Having astrological insight into yourself and your prospective mate will prove invaluable because you will have insightful information and information is knowledge and knowledge applied is power.
It (natal chart) will help you to have a working knowledge of the planets and their energies, the signs and what they represent, the houses and what they represent, and the aspects and what they represent in order to get the most out of relationship analysis (synastry). All things mentioned above are important but the aspects are by far the most important aspect of synastry.
Below are some important factors you need to look for (in both natal charts: yours and the prospective mate) and consider before deciding on taking things further with the potential mate.
Sun Sign
 Sun signs are important because they give knowledge and insight about our conscious will and how we navigate in life on planet Earth. It is key to our basic nature. However, we are more than our Sun sign and the rest of our natal chart must be considered, especially for synastry.
Always ask your prospect (possible mate-to-be) what his or her Sun sign is, followed by asking for their birthdate, the time they were born, and where they were born (simply for purposes of analyzing their natal chart and conducting relationship analysis). Be smooth with it. Don't come off like an investigator lest the person is made to feel uncomfortable, especially a man to a woman.
Personally, I am the type to ask a person their Sun sign before asking what is their name. Usually, this intrigues a person and makes them ask me why do I want to know. In many cases, it's a great conversation starter (though I'm really not looking to incite a conversation but am just astrologically curious to what the person's Sun sign is).
I like it even better when certain people not only tell me their Sun sign but volunteer telling me what their Moon and Rising or Ascendant sign is as well. The more information, the better!
Sun sign combinations are naturally harmonious. A general rule of thumb is that there's an easy rapport between Sun signs of the same Element. In Western astrology, there are four basic elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.
Earth signs include Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Water signs include Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Air signs include Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Fire signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Signs of the same element are naturally harmonious. After the "conjunction" (0 degrees), the most harmonious aspect is the "trine" aspect.
A "trine" denotes 120 degrees (because the sign of the same element is located 120 degrees apart from each other in the astrological wheel). This means that Taurus is located 120 degrees from Virgo, Virgo is located 120 degrees from Capricorn, and Capricorn is located 120 degrees from Taurus, completing the wheel. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are all of the same element (Earth).
The same above is true of any other element category. All signs of the same element are 120 degrees from each other within the Wheel.
Trines are supporting and very accepting of one another. They allow us to accept others, ourselves, and situations. This is why when relationships are built upon Sun Signs that are "trine", they are usually very harmonious (unless other aspects in the chart override the Sun Sign).
Now, you're probably wondering what is a "conjunction" and what does it mean, especially since you now know what a "trine" is and what it means.
A "conjunction" occurs when planets and points form (within the chart or Wheel) and their energies are united. They are blended, therefore, they act together. They don't stand alone, and they have a difficult time truly acknowledging each other as distinct or separate.
Conjunctions can be technical because many authorities differ on the degrees that constitute a conjunction. Some say a conjunction only exists if two or more planets or points are within 0-5 degrees of one another; others say 0-7 degrees or 0-10 degrees. However, I would agree that the closer the two planets or points are the more of a symbiosis and blending there will be.
After "trine", the next most harmonious aspect is "sextile." Sextile denotes 60 degrees. Signs that are 60 degrees from one another are "sextile" and thus harmonious, but to a lesser degree than "trines." So, "sextile" would denote the potential or prospect for harmony, despite obvious and objective differences.
Sextiles are communicative and relationship-friendly aspects. Sextiles can be categorized into two categories or divisions: tangible signs and intangible signs.
The tangible signs would be Earth and Water as both of these elements are tangible in nature. You can hold them in your hands. However, Air and Fire are not tangible, but intangible. You cannot hold them in your hand, technically speaking.
 So, Earth and Water signs are naturally tangible and sextile because they are 60 degrees from each other. For example, Taurus (Earth sign) is 60 degrees from Cancer (Water sign). Cancer (Water sign) is 60 degrees from Virgo (Earth sign). Virgo (Earth sign) is 60 degrees from Scorpio (Water sign). Scorpio (Water) is 60 degrees from Capricorn (Earth). Capricorn (Earth) is 60 degrees from Pisces (Water). Pisces (Water) is 60 degrees from Taurus (Earth) and on around the Wheel again.
The two intangible elements - Air and Fire, would be sextile to one another. Aries (Fire sign) is 60 degrees from Gemini (Air sign). Gemini (Air sign) is 60 degrees from Leo (Fire sign). Leo (Fire sign) is 60 degrees from Libra (Air sign). Libra (Air) is 60 degrees from Sagittarius (Fire). Sagittarius (Fire) is 60 degrees from Aquarius (Air). Aquarius (Air) is 60 degrees from Aries (Fire) and on around the Wheel again.
Earth and Water signs are well aspected just as Air and Fire signs are well aspected. So behind trines, "sextiles" are beneficial aspects and denote harmony and ease in relationships, but lesser than that of "trine."
Okay, now we delve into the hard aspects - those that make relationships a challenge, and in my opinion, worthwhile (if you like fun and passion and are also conscious at the same time).
These (hard aspects) are the ones where the attraction creates steam (passion and intensity), especially sexually, but the challenges in the form of disagreements, drama, arguments, fights, battles, etc. are just too overwhelming and may lead to exhaustion and burn out; so no matter how good the sex was or is, the heart and spirit just can't take it and the union dissolves, perhaps just as fast as it started.
The most hard aspect is the "square." A "square" denotes 90 degrees. Any sign 90 degrees from your own sign constitutes a "square." The "square" aspect creates tension between the planets and points involved, however, tension is necessary in order to stimulate action, but too much tension translates to stress.
With "square" aspects, we may overdo and run into countless obstacles and challenges before we "get it right." Squares force us out of complacency and get the ball rolling. Square aspects are usually more difficult when we are young, as these aspects force us to grow, evolve, and mature and learn our life lessons.
Any sign that is 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and/or 270 degrees from itself constitutes a "square." For example: Aries is 90 degrees from Cancer, 180 degrees from Libra, and 270 degrees from Capricorn. An Aries individual would experience great challenges in relationships with people of the signs Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn - the only exception would be the harmonious aspects (dominating the chart) in the synastry (relationship analysis).
And what do all of these signs (e.g. Aries, cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) have in common? They are Cardinal signs! Cardinal is a "quality" or "modality." There are 3 categories of "qualities" in Western astrology: Cardinal signs, Fixed signs, and Mutable signs.
Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) constitute "squares" because they are 90 degrees from each other, so a rule of thumb in synastry is that dating signs of your own "quality" group is a sure way to experience challenges, which is not necessarily a bad thing because the steam (passion, intensity) could be very beneficial. Challenges and struggle help us to grow and evolve. We must remember that without struggle, there can be no progress, well, at least in most cases.
Fixed signs include Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
Mutable signs include Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Notice that within your own "quality" group is the sign that constitutes your astrological opposite which is actually your best and most ideal mate for relationship and marriage, e.g. Aries and Libra, Taurus and Scorpio, Gemini and Sagittarius, Cancer and Capricorn, Leo and Aquarius, and Virgo and Pisces. These signs are 180 degrees across from each other.
Now, for your astrological edification:
CARDINAL. Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Also known as movable signs, they stand for the seasonal changes, marking the four quarters of the year. Cardinal signs on the angels of a chart denote prominence in related fields. They are related in some way to activity, to expressing oneself through enthusiastic and considered action. Ambition is a motivating force, and there is little delay in seeking to fulfill it. The driving force of Cardinal signs is strong and can result in selfishness and the treading down of rivals.
FIXED. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Fixed signs tend to be strong, stubborn, determined, controlling, loyal, and reliable. They make for calm individuals, single-minded, determined, composed and self-contained. Recognizing their goals, those with an emphasis on fixed signs in their horoscope advance steadily, sometimes stubbornly, towards them. They are, in their own eyes, always right.
MUTABLE. Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Mutable signs produce adaptable folk who are flexible enough to change with the prevailing wind, if they see that change to be to their advantage. They are versatile and resourceful, sympathetic and grateful for assistance. Diplomatic, they are generally liked, though if accused of duplicity they are often guilty.
Okay, moving forth, after the "square" (90 degrees), we have the "opposition" (180 degrees) as the next hard aspect in synastry. The expression of the "opposition" is like the Rob Base rap song "It Takes Two!" The "opposition" is created by dividing the Wheel (or circle or Zodiac) by 2. Therein lies the key to the meaning of this aspect: RELATIONSHIP.
Opposition denotes 180 degrees and therefore, astrological opposites (which are straight across from each other, like East and West or North and South). Because there are 12 Zodiac signs, if you divide the Zodiac in half or by 2, you will get six. As just mentioned above, the six Zodialogical relationships or pairings (which constitutes the most ideal unions) are as follows:
Aries (Fire) and Libra (Air)
Taurus (Earth) and Scorpio (Water)
Gemini (Air) and Sagittarius (Fire)
Cancer (Water) and Capricorn (Earth)
Leo (Fire) and Aquarius (Air)
Virgo (Earth) and Pisces (Water)
Notice how astrological opposites involve "sextiles" (Earth and Water and Fire and Air). This is why the term "opposition" should never dissuade you in relationships because in this opposition is "sextiles" and "sextiles" are relationship-friendly and harmonious. However, there is tension involved with the "opposition", but remember, opposites do attract and that is because in opposites we see dormant traits within ourselves that are active or activated in the opposite person or mate and we desire such, whether we are conscious of this or not.
Folks with "oppositions" seek out others, as if to mirror or reflect their own inner or internal struggles. They learn about themselves through their interactions with others. Oppositions cause us to swing from one side to the other and we feel torn as "opposition" represents a state of divided loyalties. Inner discontent, uncertainty or doubt, and insecurity can be a result of this. While the Square aspect is urgent and courageous, an "opposition" is unsure and wavering in nature and effect. When we use our oppositions correctly, we are more willing to consider the other side. This can make us adept negotiators.
To be continued in PART 2!
Thank you for reading!
This article is compliments of Dherbs.com
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