Could you please explain the difference between synastry and composite houses? I have seen people mention synastry houses but I thought that was only for composite. How would you find/calculate the synastry houses?
Difference Between Synastry and Composite
For any new astrologer, after the primary natal chart comes the study of synastry charts and composite charts.
The Difference?
Synastry or “chart comparison” is two people’s charts laid on top or next to one another to see how their planets play out. It is the impact two people have on one another based on their planetary positions. As a result, a synastry chart does not have “individual houses” or “synastry houses”. Not the way a natal chart does or the way a composite chart does. Rather, two people’s planets will fall into the other’s houses. This is technically termed as “Overlays”.
EX:
In the above example, We see what is termed as a “synastry chart”. If you look at the glyphs on top of the grid, you will see person 1 who we will call “Jesse” planets and houses are horizontal. I.e his sun is in his 4th house, Moon in his 1st, Mercury in his 5th, etc. Person 2 who we will call “Milo” planet’s and houses are Vertical on the left. I.e His Sun is in his 10th, Moon in his 5th, Mercury in his 10th, etc. Aspect wise, we can see from the chart that Jesse’s Sun is squaring Milo’s Moon. Because Jesse’s sun is aspecting Milo’s Moon in the 5th, Jesse’s sun falls into Milo’s 5th house. Conversely, Because Milo’s moon is touching Jesse’s Sun, Milo’s Moon fall’s into Jesse’s 4th House. Make sense?
A Composite Chart
Is the mathematical midpoint between two people’s charts. What you’re doing is merging the two charts to come up with a chart of their relationship. The difference is that synastry shows you how two people interact and affect each other. Composite gives information about the relationship itself. How It tells it’s purpose and it’s qualities. It illustrates the union of two people [romantic, familial, platonic, etc]. Is the union full of joy and love? Is it a stable relationship? Erratic? Formal? Playful? etc.
EX.
As we can see here, the composite chart looks a lot like a natal horoscope.
It has a sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus as well as an ascendant and houses. The product of synastry is the composite chart. It is the “natal horoscope” of the relationship itself. Using the same two individuals, Person 1 [Jesse] being a Virgo and person 2, Milo being a Cancer, the midpoint between those two charts equals a composite chart with a Sun in Leo [the midpoint between Cancer and Virgo]. Their composite sun’s house is in the 7th which indicates they treat each other as equals in a relationship. This placement is an indicator that the relationship itself could wind up in marriage, since 7th house a soulmate and partner/relationship house.
Now Let's Look at Composite Aspects
Just like a natal chart, you can see aspects to planets, minor and major. Here we can see that Jesse and Milo’s composite Sun in the 7th [1st column] is trining the composite moon in the 3rd.
What Does This Mean?
Their communication and understanding between each other in the relationship will be effortless and very vibrant. Deep understanding of each other and passionate as well seeing as the Composite sun is in Leo and Moon is in Aries.
However
We also see composite Mars is opposing composite Uranus at a wide orb but making an opposition nonetheless. Uranus is in Sagittarius in the 11th and Mars is in Taurus in the 5th. This is an indicator that travel, society, and tradition vs unconventionalism can make the two argue or break up just to make up often. Affairs can also be an issue with 5th House Mars. This will be what plays out between the two.
Note:
When studying these two charts, you’ll begin to see trends. You’ll see who may bring more of the energy to the relationship than another. Like synastry, composite chart aspects can usually be traced to one person’s natal chart.In essence, two people can feel really good around each other but still have a relationship that is plagued with difficulty or impediment of some kind. Adversely, you can also have two individuals with very challenging charts, but the moment you put them together, their composite is exceptional. A classic case of two people being better together than apart. Hey, it happens. Those stories people tell at their weddings. Where they say things like “I hated her at first, but then we became an item and I couldn’t live without her.” or “My life was shitty, but then I met….” In addition, the composite chart is going to be hypothetical unless the relationship actually forms in real life/real time. So a composite chart can be fantastic but will not manifest unless two people make a tangible connection.