A reader asks:
“In your style, do you feel composite charts are more, less or just as significant as synastry? I know that every astrologer has a different style & preference. Just wondering what your take on it is. Are they both different but hold just the same weight of importance?”
I think they are both significant but for different things. Synastry shows how two people interact. She feels thwarted by him. He feels supported by her. They butt heads all the time, or whatever.
A composite chart shows how the relationship functions. It’s a hypothetical! Because you can put charts of any two people together and if there is no real life relationship, it’s meaningless.
That said, I love composite charts and provided a relationship forms, I can think of a few ways where they may be a better indicator than synastry of how to people are going to fare.
I see couples where the synastry is so-so but the relationship rocks and if you check the composite…it’ll be blatantly obvious why. And I have an idea why this is. The chart is a map of a person’s energy. Taking two charts and comparing them is like taking two people and comparing them. It’s supposedly very precise and analytical which is of course ludicrous!
“Okay. Her Saturn is on his Sun, so she’s going to oppress him!” the (beginner) astrologer announces.
Say what? How do we know that? How do we know how this person uses their Saturn? How is Saturn aspected in the chart? Is it well aspected or involved in a train wreck with Venus, Mars and Pluto? Don’t you think this is going to impact what that gal does with her Saturn? I do. It gets very complicated!
This is one of reasons why synastry by the book, to the letter does not always compute.  “It says here, he is supposed to love me…” No, synastry is not that simple. But the composite is what it is and it’s much easier to read.
14 Responses to “Synastry vs Composite Charts”
Need to study more about the two, thanks.
I use both methods together. If I get results, I don’t really care how I get them, as long as they’re relevant. Synastry will quickly tell you the obvious obstacles, while the composite tells you what’s not so obvious. Both charts should function together at least so-so. If you have a Saturn on Lilith on Algol square to the partner’s Leo AC, Sun and Moon, I think there may be some friction. If both are mature enough and love is there, even this can be overcome, but it will take some hard work and serious compromises. If the same Saturn/Lilith/Algol sits on the composite Pluto/Lilith, you’re playing with fire. Add a Mars sq Mars without easy aspects, one Mars opposing the above Stellium on Algol, you have a really loud couple with no chance in Hell. If this is the case, any questions will probably reflect the situation. “Why is she nagging all the time?” “He only cares about himself and never listens!” “She’s like a black cloud over my head!” “Can you imagine he farted in front of my mother and never apologized?”
You can create your own scenarios, if you like, but real couples make much better material. If you’re divorced, you have excellent material and first hand experience to decipher it with. Divorces and breakups among friends and family are good for study too. Something went wrong and all you have to do is find it.
I start with the synastry… and if the thing is real, i check the composite.
~aways learning~
Recently i got intrigued with a woman’s lilith tightly conjunct my Sun… our 1st contact was through the network, i wonder if ill met her, i mean, if i choose to, cause she is willing… it will probably to feel that energy. Its a 4th house Lilith in Cancer in my 11th house Cancer Sun.
An obvious Lilithian encounter like the one you described, Paulo, will probably lead to intense sex, pregnancy, a shotgun wedding, lots of family strife, obsessive behavior, unhappiness, mental issues, self esteem issues, drinking, divorce and loss of perfectly good money. She can still be a perfectly good girl, but if she chooses you to warm up her Lilith with your Sun, you’re together for the wrong reasons. For casual sex, this would be a perfect choice, however. Certainly intense enough, even without love. Don’t mistake intensity for love. If she turns out to be bi, don’t be surprised. If she’s otherwise kinky, don’t be surprised. If she’s apparently normal, then changes completely and blames you for it, don’t be surprised.
If, however, she’s an advanced soul who can deal with her own issues and doesn’t allow them to fester, there may be little for Lilith to work on. That still doesn’t mean you’re immune to Lilith yourself. If you have any issues you’d rather not deal with or have not identified as issues, you’re toast. Look for friendly aspects between your Liliths to see if they’re working together against you. Two Liliths in the same sign are also bad. Lilith with Pluto, bad. If you’re Buddha, none of these apply and you should be safe. That still doesn’t mean Lilith couldn’t drive HER crazy.
LOL jannevellamo … LOVED your insight!!! thx very much for it, its rare to see lilith aspects over the internet, and i have no books over it.
She is far from being advanced… all the last mates run away frm her before sex… she has Pisces Sun/Mercury PF on 12th house and 28º58′ Pisces rising. Use drugs, love alcohol… she sees/speaks with spirits, she confessed after i read her chart 2 her. She is a kardecist (i doubt she goes often)… and showed some sympathy over Umbanda … her 8th house double scorpio pluto scorpio is in a grand trine with that 4th lilith and 12th Sun.
I see her as being good… sure need some guidance, but i feel it as u sad of being dangerous for me in some way.
Her data: 26feb 87; 07:25 Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Mine: 03jul 77 10:00 same place
Her lilith squares my pluto
My lilith square her sun/merc
id love to continue this on other place, learn more.
Paulo hop over to the Boards and post a thread! People will chime in – we all love to look at an interesting chart, and also to talk about BM Lilith
Really good food for thought. Elsa, I was wondering how you handle a composite if you don’t know the birth time for one (or both) of the people. Would you use a noon birth time or would you just not attempt it?
I would use a noon chart but ignore the moon and house. The aspects of the other planets would still be useful.
ok thanks!
Blessed Place, Elsa, jannevellamo, everybody interested in lilith…
http://boards.elsaelsa.com/topic/bm-lilith-study?replies=2#post-345209
have fun
This is great!! Thank you.
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Thanks elsa, this is wonderful. I am new to your website and I LOVE it when you write about stuff like this. Becuase its like your passing on your teachings to us. Youre world-class. I love it. You say whats not in the books!