The Synastry of physical attraction

Synastry is the art of relationship Astrology. It is a somewhat fascinating and illuminating study of how individuals interact with one another, how the factors of there natal chart find conflict and companionship.

Many of us are familiar with the study of Sun Sign Compatibility and often ask akin to "Does a Cancerian get along with a Leo?" and while these comparisons have some value, they are very general and often just based on a elemental correspondence between the signs.

For a more accurate and overall impression of compatibility between two people many other factors are involved in the evaluation.

Although Synastry itself is a very complex system, we can all (with a little effort) turn to some especially useful methods of studying relationships that will help shed light on our interactions.

With the upcoming Valentines in mind below are some of the traditional pointers of physical compatibility.

When somebody's Mars falls in your 5th house, heart-pounding reactions and strong romantic/sexual desires and crushes can be activated. You want each other, although the attraction may not last long unless there are other stable aspects and positions in your synastry.

When somebody's Mars falls in your 8th house, that person inspires deep sexual urges and physical desires in you.

A conjunction of someone's Mars to any angle (that is, the Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven-10th cusp, or IC - 4th cusp) in your natal chart will pull out gut reactions and intensity of desire--although the feelings can go either way.

Mars-Sun conjunctions, squares, and oppositions usually inspire a need to make the relationship physical and generate a sort of "buzz" of energy between the two people involved. Trines generate some physical attraction, but of a more pleasant kind.

Venus-Mars conjunctions and squares can inspire quite a bit of fuss and sexual interest, while Venus-Mars sextiles and trines offer a more pleasing, less in-your-face attraction.

Venus-Pluto conjunctions, squares, and oppositions are one of the most potent cross-aspects for sexual and emotional attraction. Although both people are generally attracted to each other, it is the Venus person who is the most enthralled and even obsessed with Pluto—Venus is consumed with the attraction. Ultimately, it is the Pluto person who has the upper hand in terms of whether the relationship is going to endure.

Moon-Mars aspects can generate strong feelings that are often both physical and emotional at once, with the Mars person involved taking most of the initiative in the relationship, which can be very attractive to the Moon person (at least at the outset of the relationship).

Venus-Uranus conjunctions and squares can generate so much interest to the point of enthrallment, and often result in sexual activity between people before they know each other well.

This can be a confusing and destabilizing contact in the long term, but these aspects generally inspire initial attraction. When these relationships last, the Uranus person is often seen as inconstant by the Venus person and there can be many ups and downs.

Mars-Pluto conjunctions and squares are often powerful indicators of initial attraction and sexual intrigue. Trines don't necessarily draw people together, but once together, they are some of the most powerfully sexual aspects between two charts.

Ascendant-Ascendant conjunctions, sextiles, and trines, while not as strong as the indicators above, give a pleasing sense of physical harmony.

When someone's 8th house planet or ruler of their 8th house forms a strong aspect with one or more of your planets, you are likely to ignite passion in that person.

The asteroid Eros also plays a role in sexual attraction as well. Most potent are Eros-Venus, Eros-Ascendant, Eros-Psyche, and Eros-Mars links. Conjunctions, oppositions, and trines are often seen as best.