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[FONT4]MY SKY OR YOURS?
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If my planets are opposite your planets, there might be some tension between
them. If mine line up with yours, they might share some natural understanding.
"Aspects" is the technical word astrologers use for those kinds of geometrical
relationships, and we've found a few of them to be particularly sensitive in human
relationships. Planets ninety degrees apart seem to bother each other. Ones
separated by sixty or 120 degrees get along more harmoniously. And there are other
so-called "minor" aspects as well.

Aspects between charts are tremendously important in synastry, but we need to

use them carefully. Lots of astrological harmony between people may sound like a
fine thing, but it can easily lead to boredom and sleepiness -- too many shared
defense mechanisms and too many "collusions" to avoid growth, to put it in more
psychological language. Similarly, lots of tense aspects can make trouble for
people in obvious ways...even deciding where to eat tonight can become another
"growth experience!" But those tense aspects also breed alertness between lovers,
and skill in working through difficulties. They can be quite passionate, in both
the delightful and in the exhausting senses of that word. After a fight that comes
to a good, clear conclusion and a better understanding between partners, they often
feel closer and more intimate: that's the simple, human idea behind the
astrological jargon.

So what about [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2]? On our Harmony/Disharmony
Scale, here's how they look:

[CALCULATE_SYNASTRY_HARMONIC_SCALE]

Remember while you think about this scale that harmony, even though it can be
sweet, can just as easily be monotonous -- and that disharmony, while troublesome,
can also be passionate! What all this really means for [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT
NAME 2] as individuals depends on how they work with the unique challenges and
opportunities of their own situation.
{$SYNASTRY_HARMONIC_SCALE_LOW}

Regarding those challenges and opportunities, one point is sure -- there is

little risk of these two falling asleep in this relationship! There are many ways
in which [INSERT NAME 1] will simply never understand [INSERT NAME 2], and vice
versa. Good listening, clear self-expression, and a tolerant sense of humor are all
"musts" here, but the greatest asset they've got is the endless, fascinating
mystery that each one poses for the other. Long after many couples have faded into
a blither of "yes, dears," [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] have the potential
to be surprising each other, stretching each others' boundaries, and discovering
new erotic doorways into each other. This relationship is passionate, growth-
intensive, and demanding. If both [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] commit to the
work, their bond will be precious to both of them. If they don't: let's hope their
neighbors have fallout shelters.
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_HARMONIC_SCALE_HIGH}

Regarding those challenges and opportunities, one point is sure -- these two
are pretty good at simply "liking" each other. Even if there weren't any issues of
sexual attraction, [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] would probably be fast
friends. Of course, as we've seen amply demonstrated in the previous pages, none of
this means [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] are clones of each other! They do
have differences, but the point is that those differences are mostly complimentary
and the two of them flow together quite merrily in most cases. So what's the rub?
Say there's something pertinent to the relationship that [INSERT NAME 1] doesn't
want to deal with...[INSERT NAME 2] may, wittingly or unwittingly, provide
cover...or vice versa. That's the road to the monotony we spoke of a little
earlier. God knows, forgiveness, forbearance, and letting resentments go are
essential virtues when it comes to sharing life together. But [INSERT NAME 1] and
[INSERT NAME 2] need to make sure they don't go too far in that "agreeable"
direction. How can they tell if they've crossed the line? Easy. Life together
begins to grow too predictable. Sex is usually the canary in the coal mine -- when
it starts to lose its luster, the time has come to be a little less "supportive"
and a little more real.
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_HARMONIC_SCALE_MIDDLE}

[INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] fall right around the middle of our
Scale, which tells us that in some ways they are comfortable enough around each
other to share a long journey in a space capsule, but that in other ways they come
from entirely different planets. It's a mixed bag, in other words. Since we don't
find a markedly clear trend here, there isn't a whole lot to say -- except that the
details will emerge very soon when we start sorting out the particular "devils" and
"angels" in the relationship. One comment, though: while any kind of bond can be
made to work with enough love and devotion, in many ways [INSERT NAME 1] and
[INSERT NAME 2] are in the best possible position. There is enough easy
understanding between them to make simply liking each other come pretty readily,
and enough fireworks to keep them alive, alert, and out of the clutches of Demon
Predictability.
{$ENDIF}

Theoretically, it's possible that two people might meet who had absolutely no
aspects linking their charts. They probably wouldn't even notice each other.
There's an old saying in astrology, "No aspects, no action." In practice, having
very few aspects between two charts is a far bigger challenge than having many
difficult ones. Many aspects make for a complicated web of bonds between lovers,
and such patterns often appear in relationships that last a long time (...even if,
in retrospect, they perhaps should not have!) Having many aspects between charts
seems to act like a kind of glue -- and you can use it to repair delicate, precious
things that may have gotten cracked, or you can epoxy your elbow to your thumb and
your thumb to the telephone while you're dialing 911! Glue is just sticky, that's
all. It's what we do with it that counts.

How dense are the aspects that link the birthcharts of [INSERT NAME 1] and
[INSERT NAME 2]? We've got another Scale, and we'll spare you the technicalities
behind it. Suffice to say that not all aspects are created equal, and in creating
this Scale we've taken that into account, weighting the portentous ones more than
the penny-to-a-dozen kind.

[CALCULATE_SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE]
{$SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE(1)}

There is remarkably little aspect activity connecting these two birthcharts.

In this kind of situation, it is imperative that [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME
2] give each other as much space and independence as possible. Love can thrive
between them, but only when there is a marked effort on both sides to listen and
really hear what the other one is trying to say. Respect is pivotal. There is also
a need for an absolute commitment to the principle of honoring each others'
autonomy. [INSERT NAME 1]'s thought-patterns and practical problem-solving methods
don't naturally blend with [INSERT NAME 2]'s, and much unnecessary misunderstanding
can be avoided by simply defining separate spheres of influence. The bottom line is
that these two are very different creatures, and we're either going to see an
enriching "cultural exchange" or belligerence driven not so much by real
disagreement as by simple misunderstanding.
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE(2)}

[INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] are definitely connected aspectually, but
not in a very multidimensional way. That's really okay, so long as they respect
each other's differences. In this kind of partnership, life is far more pleasant if
the partners err in the direction of maintaining their separate identities rather
than trying to "merge" and do everything together. They might, for example,
consider doing their finances as independently as possible. Best to divide up any
household chores very clearly. And if they are considering tattoos, here's an idea
for the message: "Never give your partner driving lessons!"
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE(3)}

[INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] fall right around the middle of our
"glue" scale -- there is a real web of planetary connections between their charts.
At the same time, there's room for the wind to blow between them too. When we begin
exploring the "devils" and "angels" in the relationship immediately below, we'll be
able to be clearer about the areas where they can successfully share and cooperate,
and the ones where a policy of respecting each other's "territorial waters" would
work best.
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE(4)}

[INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] are linked by a markedly thick pattern of
planetary aspects between their charts. This relationship, both humanly and
astrologically, is highly complex. It demands a lot of work and commitment, and it
rewards the two of them with the potential for a great richness of intimacy. Both
[INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2] will be changed in deep and fundamental ways as
a result of their interaction; each one has already seeped deeply into the other's
psyche. The web of connectedness which links them would be difficult -- and painful
-- to unweave.
{$ENDIF}
{$SYNASTRY_DENSITY_SCALE(5)}

Olympic Gold here, so far as sheer complexity goes! [INSERT NAME 1]'s chart
and [INSERT NAME 2]'s chart are woven together aspectually to an unusually high
degree. Virtually no part of either person's psyche is unmarked or unaffected by
the character of the other one. The potential for real, adult intimacy -- far more
multi-faceted than a simple romantic buzz -- is extraordinary here. The downside is
the danger that each person's individuality could be somewhat eclipsed or distorted
by the power of the bond. Is that bad? The question is partly philosophical, but
one point is clear: this relationship is far easier to get into than it would be to
get out of! No bond is unbreakable, but as we said, we are talking about epoxy
here.
{$ENDIF}

So far, in talking about the links between [INSERT NAME 1]'s chart and
[INSERT NAME 2]'s chart, we've just been looking at the big pattern. Now it's time
to get down into the details of the matter.
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[FONT4]DEVILS AND ANGELS
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The specific webwork of planetary connections linking [INSERT NAME 1]'s and
[INSERT NAME 2]'s birthcharts gives us a lot of detail about how these two people
get along -- exactly how they compliment each other, bother each other, enjoy each
other, befuddle each other. In the pages that follow, we concentrate individually
on the most energetic of these geometrical "aspects" that link their two charts,
focussing first and most deeply on the truly central ones.

As two planets move away from an exact geometrical alignment -say, they're
174 degrees apart instead of a "perfect" 180 degree opposition - the power of the
aspect they form diminishes rapidly. In order really to spotlight the most critical
information, in this report we mostly ignore the "sloppy" aspects and concentrate
only on the "tight" ones, except in cases where the planetary configurations are
just so important that we can't ignore them even if the geometry is loose.

As we saw earlier, some aspects are harmonious -- but perhaps sleepy. Others
are disharmonious -- and perhaps full of passionate alertness. We'll call the
disharmonious ones "devils," but as you'll soon see, they often offer real energy,
aliveness, and intensity to a long-term human bond. The easier ones are our
"angels," and there we'll be seeing how the automatically easier parts of a
relationship can be made into something even better...if we don't snooze through
the opportunity.

As you read, do try to keep perspective! No single "devil" or "angel" tells

the whole tale, however nasty or sweet it may be. What we are doing here is
bringing up a lot of details about the way [INSERT NAME 1] and [INSERT NAME 2]
interact. As always, when we do that, there's a danger of losing the big picture.

Let's start with the biggies then move onto the details.

{SYNASTRY_ASPECTS_INTERP(1)}[SERVE]
{SYNASTRY_ASPECTS_INTERP(2)}[SERVE]
{SYNASTRY_ASPECTS_INTERP(3)}[SERVE]
{SYNASTRY_ASPECTS_INTERP(4)}[SERVE]
{SYNASTRY_ASPECTS_INTERP(5)}[SERVE]
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And with that we end our analysis of the astrological dimensions of [INSERT
NAME 1]'s and [INSERT NAME 2]'s relationship. We thank you for letting us touch
this very intimate part of your lives, and hope that you've found the words and
perspectives helpful. All through this report, we've endeavored to honor your human
capacity for improvisation in the face of difficulty, for maturity and self-
determination, and for magic. We've looked at some challenging areas, but we hope
we've conveyed to you that no challenge is so great that enough love on both sides
can't surmount it. More happily, we've also looked at many areas in which it seems
you were made for each other -- and we encourage you stay alert to them, resisting
the sleepiness that turns new love old and wrinkled.

Wherever your journey together takes you, we wish you joy.