Brainstorming on synastry reports
- Jim Eshelman
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Brainstorming on synastry reports
I know that synastry features of TMSA are several versions down the road, so this post isn't to rush anything. It's just that my own blind spots make it seem a gigantic and complicated question of: Exactly what kind of reports do we want for this feature? It seems complicated and uncertain to me.
I'm sure these questions in my mind come from the fact that I spent decades trying to get a handle on exactly how to approach synastry in a systematic, regular way. - Or (since that's a little misleading), I could do it myself but without a clear sense how to teach others to do it. I've finally figured out ways that can be passed along, that can replicate success, and it's still complicated. What I actually do is too complicated and customized to expect that a whole series of reports would be crafted to match it, and I'm still not sure that they would give people what they need or what they want.
So, I thought I'd start a conversation that, in addition to Mike jumping in with what he's planned, everybody else can jump in with input. As I type this, I don't know where my thoughts will take most things. (I have a few settled conclusions in mind, but many more questions past that.) If I type it all out, there will hopefully be some good ideas and surely should be some bad ideas... and people should feel free to praise or condemn them accordingly
When I wrote New Instant, really the best I knew was to take the conjunctions, oppositions, and squares between two charts and pull the interpretive paragraphs for each. Even though I had a good idea what each planet combination meant (much of which has been modified and hopefully improved over time), this "just read the interchanges" as at best crude and, at worst, totally disproportionate on how each thing fit into the picture. There was no prioritization, no overview, no clear access point. I knew the orbs needed to be pretty wide, which is another way of saying that I knew that, at least sometimes, really wide orbs were important. OTOH I'm sure I had the instinct that closer aspects are more important, though I think I didn't say that in New Instant. There was also the sense that the few most distinctive "relationship interchanges" needed the most attention, primarily those that Jung found most common which basically were some specific luminary aspects and a few others of Venus and Mars (the priority, of course, being on judge adult romantic-sexual relationships; almost no attention was paid to other kinds of relationship, which, of course, also need attention).
Within a few years after, I was at least systematic enough that my rule was "read all those interchanges from smallest orb to larger." This isn't bad, it at least gives some sense of priority on how "most important" tends to imprint our thinking first. Its weakness is that, in the definition of "most important," it doesn't also factor in "most relevant," since some aspects might be not quite as close as others that have less to do with the particular relationship. (It doesn't factor in a lot of important things.) In time, I figured out more complicated strategies. It's that "more complicated" that makes me anxious about what would translate into truly helpful reports.
I'm sure these questions in my mind come from the fact that I spent decades trying to get a handle on exactly how to approach synastry in a systematic, regular way. - Or (since that's a little misleading), I could do it myself but without a clear sense how to teach others to do it. I've finally figured out ways that can be passed along, that can replicate success, and it's still complicated. What I actually do is too complicated and customized to expect that a whole series of reports would be crafted to match it, and I'm still not sure that they would give people what they need or what they want.
So, I thought I'd start a conversation that, in addition to Mike jumping in with what he's planned, everybody else can jump in with input. As I type this, I don't know where my thoughts will take most things. (I have a few settled conclusions in mind, but many more questions past that.) If I type it all out, there will hopefully be some good ideas and surely should be some bad ideas... and people should feel free to praise or condemn them accordingly
When I wrote New Instant, really the best I knew was to take the conjunctions, oppositions, and squares between two charts and pull the interpretive paragraphs for each. Even though I had a good idea what each planet combination meant (much of which has been modified and hopefully improved over time), this "just read the interchanges" as at best crude and, at worst, totally disproportionate on how each thing fit into the picture. There was no prioritization, no overview, no clear access point. I knew the orbs needed to be pretty wide, which is another way of saying that I knew that, at least sometimes, really wide orbs were important. OTOH I'm sure I had the instinct that closer aspects are more important, though I think I didn't say that in New Instant. There was also the sense that the few most distinctive "relationship interchanges" needed the most attention, primarily those that Jung found most common which basically were some specific luminary aspects and a few others of Venus and Mars (the priority, of course, being on judge adult romantic-sexual relationships; almost no attention was paid to other kinds of relationship, which, of course, also need attention).
Within a few years after, I was at least systematic enough that my rule was "read all those interchanges from smallest orb to larger." This isn't bad, it at least gives some sense of priority on how "most important" tends to imprint our thinking first. Its weakness is that, in the definition of "most important," it doesn't also factor in "most relevant," since some aspects might be not quite as close as others that have less to do with the particular relationship. (It doesn't factor in a lot of important things.) In time, I figured out more complicated strategies. It's that "more complicated" that makes me anxious about what would translate into truly helpful reports.
Jim Eshelman
www.jeshelman.com
www.jeshelman.com
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
Starting with what I think will be least controversial, most straightforward, relying on existing code, and having the greatest agreement from the most people:
Similar to the current two-wheel format for return charts, in addition to the "one person's chart in the other" (which, regrettably, can't be switchable without recalculation), two sets of planet position tables. The first is planet data for Person A's planets inside Person's B chart; the second is planet data for Person B's planets inside Person B's chart. That is, both are based on the "radical planet" section of a return chart page, such that the first one shows Person A's planets precessed to the moment of Person B's birth, then azimuth, altitude, and PVL calculated within Person's B's natal framework (and then reverse for the second table). Suggested label: "A's Planets Within B's Wheel," etc.
NOTE: Thinking about the "who is inside of whom not being switchable" question - I assume that the data input table will do something like ask for selection of two charts, A and B. I suggest a Swap button on this page, so whoever is "inside" can be swapped with whoever is "outside" for a two-click recalculate (defaulting to a Temporary chart).
I don't consider it a settled question whether synastric planet-to-angle contacts should be taken ecliptically or mundanely. In fact, I'm looking forward to TMSA giving us the tools to routinely determine this in practice (something never before easy to do). My favorite examples all incline me to think it is ecliptical, but those few favorite cases aren't nearly enough and we should all gather field experience. Showing both will be the easiest thing in the proposed format (which I suspect is much like Mike already has in mind) without making a fuss about it. (See below.)
The other table I think is non-controversial is simply a list of all the co-aspects. Presumably there will be a setup page where the user can define what aspects and orbs are wanted for synastry. (I doubt we need Class 3 for this table, but there is no reason to remove the option [no reason to do unnecessary coding to redesign] unless you have something else you want to put in the third column. I think these should be sorted by orb (or %), not by planet order.
This also means that ecliptical aspects to angles are needed (which, however, should mean RA contacts with EP-a and WP-a). I think this will have been coded in the transit features already done when the synastry features are tackled, so it shouldn't be a problem. By having the ecliptical contacts in the aspect list and the mundane contacts evident from the planet positions lists, both theories of planet-angle interchanges are available at a glance.
That's all the stuff I consider non-controversial. It's mostly raw data using currently implement or by-then-created structures. More or less everyone doing synastry from any theories probably wants these.
Similar to the current two-wheel format for return charts, in addition to the "one person's chart in the other" (which, regrettably, can't be switchable without recalculation), two sets of planet position tables. The first is planet data for Person A's planets inside Person's B chart; the second is planet data for Person B's planets inside Person B's chart. That is, both are based on the "radical planet" section of a return chart page, such that the first one shows Person A's planets precessed to the moment of Person B's birth, then azimuth, altitude, and PVL calculated within Person's B's natal framework (and then reverse for the second table). Suggested label: "A's Planets Within B's Wheel," etc.
NOTE: Thinking about the "who is inside of whom not being switchable" question - I assume that the data input table will do something like ask for selection of two charts, A and B. I suggest a Swap button on this page, so whoever is "inside" can be swapped with whoever is "outside" for a two-click recalculate (defaulting to a Temporary chart).
I don't consider it a settled question whether synastric planet-to-angle contacts should be taken ecliptically or mundanely. In fact, I'm looking forward to TMSA giving us the tools to routinely determine this in practice (something never before easy to do). My favorite examples all incline me to think it is ecliptical, but those few favorite cases aren't nearly enough and we should all gather field experience. Showing both will be the easiest thing in the proposed format (which I suspect is much like Mike already has in mind) without making a fuss about it. (See below.)
The other table I think is non-controversial is simply a list of all the co-aspects. Presumably there will be a setup page where the user can define what aspects and orbs are wanted for synastry. (I doubt we need Class 3 for this table, but there is no reason to remove the option [no reason to do unnecessary coding to redesign] unless you have something else you want to put in the third column. I think these should be sorted by orb (or %), not by planet order.
This also means that ecliptical aspects to angles are needed (which, however, should mean RA contacts with EP-a and WP-a). I think this will have been coded in the transit features already done when the synastry features are tackled, so it shouldn't be a problem. By having the ecliptical contacts in the aspect list and the mundane contacts evident from the planet positions lists, both theories of planet-angle interchanges are available at a glance.
That's all the stuff I consider non-controversial. It's mostly raw data using currently implement or by-then-created structures. More or less everyone doing synastry from any theories probably wants these.
Jim Eshelman
www.jeshelman.com
www.jeshelman.com
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
I'll now brainstorm some other features that match my way of doing/teaching synastry. There could be some good ideas in the bunch and some bad ideas, but I'll just spill them out here as they stream out of me. If I need an example, I'll use Mike's chart with mine (which is also a good example to see blind spots for relationships falling outside the common romantic-sexual synastry examples).
When I first look at two charts together, the first thing I examine are interactions BY SIGN ONLY of the five fastest planets. (I use different ones for non-romantic relationships than I use for romantic ones, but it's always within these five and by sign only.) This information is readily available in the planet positions tables (and already in a very accessible, usable form), so nothing new is needed for this.
Next, I check a highly selective planet mix of each person's planets to the other's chart. This is the first new report I'd like to see (but others may find it useless or redundant and suggest we don't need it). Specifically, I only want aspects of A's two luminaries, two benefics, and two malefics to B's chart, and then vice-versa. (I also include each person's planets foreground in the other's chart, but this is already evident in the planet tables and may not need duplicating here, but I'll add ecliptical contacts in the sample below.) Two columns of this are obvious. Using Mike's (A) and my (B) charts. the lists (no opinion on whether they should be in planet or orb sequence) would be:
These should, of course, also include mundane aspects, which will be different in the two charts (and which I haven't had to stop and include here). This btw creates a problem to be solved in the original list of all interchanges, because only the ecliptical ones are identical both directions.
This request/suggestion raises the fair question of whether we need this second list of aspects when all the same information can be found in the original "here are all the aspects" list. I suggest that having it separate (under a heading like "Luminaries, Benefics, Malefics") is quite valuable to filter through all the noise. (BTW, I suggest the "all the aspects" list go last on the premise that all the other tabulations are ways of zeroing in faster, and the "all aspects" list is the comprehensive summary, used however people want to use it but, for me, useful as "now look for anything important I missed.")
The next thing I do is look at each chart as transits to the other - showing one's relationship to the exact moment in time. Admittedly, this raises the question of whether we want/need a THIRD way of showing the aspects. It's valuable to me but I don't know how other people feel about it.
My view of this is that it contains ONLY partile 45° series aspects. Notice that the 45 and 135 may not have been included in the main synastry lists (I never look at them except in this one perspective). Probably the best way is to use whatever definitions the user has selected for transits (I assume there will be a separate aspect setup for transits) - that at least matches the individual astrologer's preferences and personal habits in viewing transits.
I don't know if mundane aspects should be included here. We haven't determined that these are valid for transits. It would be easy enough to do technically by this point, so the question is strategic (about the program) rather than technical. Ignoring those for the moment, the aspects in A-to-B will be identical to the aspects B-to-A except they will have different meaning because they fall a different place in the "transit stack;" i.e., these, I suggest, should be listed in planet order from outermost planet inward, and this sets up the broad pattern of the type of experience one is having. Counting only ecliptical aspects (partile 45° series), Mike's and my charts look like this:
Notice that, while these two lists give exactly the same aspects, they paint a very different picture of the experience. These aspects, thus organized, suggest that my experience of Mike is like a time when transiting Jupiter was crossing one of my angles (and octile my Saturn), with other details filling in the gaps and ending, that day, with Moon opposing my Neptune. The second column suggests - a very different view - that Mike's experience of me is like a time when Pluto transited his Sun and Neptune opposed his Moon, ending on a day of a nice Venus transit, at a time when his Jupiter came to an angle (i.e., transiting angle touched his Jupiter). This is a reminder that the two people in a relationship don't have the same experience. (I think I have to say: Wow, poor Mike <g>.)
When I first look at two charts together, the first thing I examine are interactions BY SIGN ONLY of the five fastest planets. (I use different ones for non-romantic relationships than I use for romantic ones, but it's always within these five and by sign only.) This information is readily available in the planet positions tables (and already in a very accessible, usable form), so nothing new is needed for this.
Next, I check a highly selective planet mix of each person's planets to the other's chart. This is the first new report I'd like to see (but others may find it useless or redundant and suggest we don't need it). Specifically, I only want aspects of A's two luminaries, two benefics, and two malefics to B's chart, and then vice-versa. (I also include each person's planets foreground in the other's chart, but this is already evident in the planet tables and may not need duplicating here, but I'll add ecliptical contacts in the sample below.) Two columns of this are obvious. Using Mike's (A) and my (B) charts. the lists (no opinion on whether they should be in planet or orb sequence) would be:
Code: Select all
aJu co bEP 0°28' bMa sq aMe 0°46'
aMo op bNe 0°58' bJu sq aMo 1°19'
aMo sq bUr 1°02' bVe sq aPl 2°14'
aMo sq bJu 1°19' bMa sq aMo 3°23'
aMo sq bMa 3°23' bMo op aJu 3°27'
aJu op bMo 3°27' bJu sq aMe 3°56'
aSu op bSu 4°56' bJu sq aNe 4°00'
bSu op aSu 4°56'
bJu co aUr 5°08'
This request/suggestion raises the fair question of whether we need this second list of aspects when all the same information can be found in the original "here are all the aspects" list. I suggest that having it separate (under a heading like "Luminaries, Benefics, Malefics") is quite valuable to filter through all the noise. (BTW, I suggest the "all the aspects" list go last on the premise that all the other tabulations are ways of zeroing in faster, and the "all aspects" list is the comprehensive summary, used however people want to use it but, for me, useful as "now look for anything important I missed.")
The next thing I do is look at each chart as transits to the other - showing one's relationship to the exact moment in time. Admittedly, this raises the question of whether we want/need a THIRD way of showing the aspects. It's valuable to me but I don't know how other people feel about it.
My view of this is that it contains ONLY partile 45° series aspects. Notice that the 45 and 135 may not have been included in the main synastry lists (I never look at them except in this one perspective). Probably the best way is to use whatever definitions the user has selected for transits (I assume there will be a separate aspect setup for transits) - that at least matches the individual astrologer's preferences and personal habits in viewing transits.
I don't know if mundane aspects should be included here. We haven't determined that these are valid for transits. It would be easy enough to do technically by this point, so the question is strategic (about the program) rather than technical. Ignoring those for the moment, the aspects in A-to-B will be identical to the aspects B-to-A except they will have different meaning because they fall a different place in the "transit stack;" i.e., these, I suggest, should be listed in planet order from outermost planet inward, and this sets up the broad pattern of the type of experience one is having. Counting only ecliptical aspects (partile 45° series), Mike's and my charts look like this:
Code: Select all
aJu co bEP 0°28' bPl oc aSu 0°26'
aJu oc bSa 0°54' bNe op aMo 0°58'
aSu oc bPl 0°26' bSa oc aJu 0°54'
aSu oc bVe 0°39' bMa sq aMe 0°46'
aMe sq bMa 0°46' bVe oc aSu 0°39'
aMo op bNe 0°58' bEP co aJu 0°28'
Notice that, while these two lists give exactly the same aspects, they paint a very different picture of the experience. These aspects, thus organized, suggest that my experience of Mike is like a time when transiting Jupiter was crossing one of my angles (and octile my Saturn), with other details filling in the gaps and ending, that day, with Moon opposing my Neptune. The second column suggests - a very different view - that Mike's experience of me is like a time when Pluto transited his Sun and Neptune opposed his Moon, ending on a day of a nice Venus transit, at a time when his Jupiter came to an angle (i.e., transiting angle touched his Jupiter). This is a reminder that the two people in a relationship don't have the same experience. (I think I have to say: Wow, poor Mike <g>.)
Jim Eshelman
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
These are the primary reports I'm suggesting (lined up in the order given except with the "all aspects" at the end). Mike, of course, gets the final say because he's writing the program. I know he'd appreciate all the engagement on this question that everybody would like to offer.
That last example was so powerful for me, maybe I should do another. Here is the same kind of "treat like transits" example with Marion's and my charts. (She's A, I'm B.) - FWIW I've estimated the precessional shift for the EP contact, not calculated it exactly. It's just an example. (Again, only ecliptical aspects. I'm not sure if mundane should be included and, in any case, haven't calculated them.)
Again, notice that these portray quite different experiences! Her transits to my chart show a time of life marked by Uranus transiting my Sun and Jupiter transiting my Pluto, on a particular day when I was especially martial, in an hour that Moon aspected my Neptune, at the moment that my Mercury crossed an angle. In contrast, the second column shows that my chart as transits to hers show primarily a time when Pluto transited her Jupiter and Neptune aspected her Moon. (Those don't feel comfortable to me, so I have to hope I've driven her the right kind of crazy.) Within that, a couple of stimulating day-length transits were finalized by Mercury transiting one of her angles. Notice how different these feel!
BTW, this also reminds me that local angles are their own factors. I think people need to run the local charts for each person and newly run the synastry report to see what appears.
That last example was so powerful for me, maybe I should do another. Here is the same kind of "treat like transits" example with Marion's and my charts. (She's A, I'm B.) - FWIW I've estimated the precessional shift for the EP contact, not calculated it exactly. It's just an example. (Again, only ecliptical aspects. I'm not sure if mundane should be included and, in any case, haven't calculated them.)
Code: Select all
aUr oc bSu 0°21' bPl oc aJu 0°52'
aJu oc bPl 0°52' bNe oc aMo 0°21'
aSu oc bMa 0°06' bMa oc aSu 0°06'
aMo oc bNe 0°21' bSu oc aUr 0°21'
aEP op bMe 0°29' bMe op aEP 0°29'
BTW, this also reminds me that local angles are their own factors. I think people need to run the local charts for each person and newly run the synastry report to see what appears.
Jim Eshelman
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
There is a further kind of report that's been in the back of my mind. It may be too inadequately formed in my mind at present. I've been meaning to write about this perspective in the Synastry section of the forum, and haven't gotten there yet. It might resemble the Planetary State / Cosmic State / Whatever State report that is coming on the natal chart in the next version.
Here's the idea... and, in my mind, it's the most important insight I've had into synastry in the last 30 years or, maybe, ever.
It's a method of more uniquely identifying what an interchange means in the context of a specific person's natal chart - things we miss or don't think of when applying interchange interpretations more generically. It relies on principles with which everyone probably agrees, builds on what we already understand of aspects, and shows us - at a glance, intuitively! - where the specific interchange falls in terms of impact in a specific person's life and psyche.
Consider the following: When we meet and begin to interact with a person, we arrive having already our natal horoscope and its aspects. If one of your planets aspects one of my planets that has few (or wide) aspects already, then your planet will have a much more powerful aspectual impact than anything in my chart has on my planet. For example, my Sun is essentially unaspected: If someone's planet aspects my Sun, they have a stronger impact on it than does anything in my chart except its Virgo sign placement.
Similarly - same principle - any planet you have aspecting my planet comes into a psyche / person / chart system that already has various configurations on my planet. The mix of aspects is much more complicated than simply our planetary interchange. If you bring Jupiter to my Venus and I already had Venus conjunct Saturn, I'm going to react differently than someone would who, say, had a Venus-Moon aspect instead. AND IT'S ALL GOING TO BE VISIBLE IN MY CHART.
In some ways, this "how do you take into consideration each person's natal chart when judging synastry," or "how do you really consider what they are bringing to the relationship," is the long-sought Golden Fleece of synastry. Everyone says you should do it - and nobody has proposed a way of doing it (other than the Tropical-heavy idea of house rulerships in which your Uranus on my Sun means it affects my Sun-ruled 12th house and your Uranus-ruled 11th house - which is rubbish). Repeat: I don't know of anyone ever providing an actual method of discerning what each person brings to the mix of their energies other than the global overview of: read the entire chart and get an idea what kind of person this is and what they want in a relationship. (And this approach, as theoretically sound as it is, remains, at best, unsatisfying in real-world practice.)
But there's an easy way to do - an absurdly easy way!
Simply collate the synastric interchange into the "planetary state" table we are already building: The astrologer will intuitively, quickly, and accurately know what to do with it!
Consider: Marion's Venus opposes my Mercury 2°08' and her Mercury opposes my Venus 3°22'. At first look, the aspects are straightforward and accurate: Smooth, flowing, fluid communication has come easy to us since we first met. When we were building our relationship, we'd spend hours (often until dawn) talking together non-stop.
But it's more complicated than that. Even ignoring for a moment that her Mercury and Venus each have their own strong aspects, these planets are aspecting my own Venus and Mercury with their own aspects. For example, my Mercury has one natal aspect, a 2°24' conjunction with Saturn. The more deeply I settled into connection with Marion, the more my Mercury was also in 3°22' opposition to Venus (in this case, her Venus). This means that my Mercury changed from being aspected only by Saturn to being aspected by Saturn and (almost as closely) Venus.
Just how much weight do I give to this? This is always an important question, right? The answer is that, if I collate the interchange into my list of things affecting my Mercury, it will become quickly obvious to me - I don't need rules - it will simply appear evident to me. I will be able to see, usually at a glance, how strongly that one aspect affects my Mercury, and almost as quickly see how important it seems in my overall psyche. It's a strong measurement of exactly how I "become a different person" while in relationship with her.
Here is a concrete example. First, I will create a "state" report similar to what I think Mike is designing. This is just my natal chart:
From this you can learn more or less everything astrology can tell you about me in general. Now, I'm going to modify it only by adding the aspects (the ones I consider valid in synastry) that Marion's planets make to my chart. This will tell you the "different person" I am to the extent I'm in relationship with her, and also show how her aspects to my chart fit into the mix and balance of how my chart is on its own.
I have not calculated mundane aspects (of her planet to mine in the framework of my chart), but perhaps I should. In a case where I have planet A aspect planet B, and she also has B aspect my A, I have gone with the smaller orb (e.g., my 0°46' Neptune-Pluto sextile wins over her 1°00' semi-square of Pluto to my Neptune).
What kind of difference does this make? For one huge difference, look at my Sun in the two charts and think how you would interpret the natal Sun of those "two different people." Or for a quite different look, see Mercury in both lists. Or notice how her Saturn square my Venus, though a reasonably close orb, is only the fifth-strongest aspect to my Venus and takes a present but proportionately minor role, while her wider Jupiter opposition to my Sun (because of where it falls in the mix) is dramatically more important. Or how her Jupiter to my Venus makes my natal Venus-Jupiter stronger (closer orb) and, by nature of the aspect, more dynamic. There is much to see!
In contrast, here is my "state" report with Mike's aspects to my planets added in. Look at how it shifts attention on my Moon. Notice that his Mars to my Neptune doesn't even appear - seems to have no effect - because my own Mars-Neptune is already much stronger. Similarly, his Mars to my Moon pales before my closer natal Moon-Mars, but his Moon to my Jupiter-Uranus is much stronger than my natal Moon-Jupiter and Moon-Uranus. There's more to see"
It seems to me that this is a worthwhile approach and, as being utterly suitable for computer calculation, perhaps should somehow be worked into the report structure.
Here's the idea... and, in my mind, it's the most important insight I've had into synastry in the last 30 years or, maybe, ever.
It's a method of more uniquely identifying what an interchange means in the context of a specific person's natal chart - things we miss or don't think of when applying interchange interpretations more generically. It relies on principles with which everyone probably agrees, builds on what we already understand of aspects, and shows us - at a glance, intuitively! - where the specific interchange falls in terms of impact in a specific person's life and psyche.
Consider the following: When we meet and begin to interact with a person, we arrive having already our natal horoscope and its aspects. If one of your planets aspects one of my planets that has few (or wide) aspects already, then your planet will have a much more powerful aspectual impact than anything in my chart has on my planet. For example, my Sun is essentially unaspected: If someone's planet aspects my Sun, they have a stronger impact on it than does anything in my chart except its Virgo sign placement.
Similarly - same principle - any planet you have aspecting my planet comes into a psyche / person / chart system that already has various configurations on my planet. The mix of aspects is much more complicated than simply our planetary interchange. If you bring Jupiter to my Venus and I already had Venus conjunct Saturn, I'm going to react differently than someone would who, say, had a Venus-Moon aspect instead. AND IT'S ALL GOING TO BE VISIBLE IN MY CHART.
In some ways, this "how do you take into consideration each person's natal chart when judging synastry," or "how do you really consider what they are bringing to the relationship," is the long-sought Golden Fleece of synastry. Everyone says you should do it - and nobody has proposed a way of doing it (other than the Tropical-heavy idea of house rulerships in which your Uranus on my Sun means it affects my Sun-ruled 12th house and your Uranus-ruled 11th house - which is rubbish). Repeat: I don't know of anyone ever providing an actual method of discerning what each person brings to the mix of their energies other than the global overview of: read the entire chart and get an idea what kind of person this is and what they want in a relationship. (And this approach, as theoretically sound as it is, remains, at best, unsatisfying in real-world practice.)
But there's an easy way to do - an absurdly easy way!
Simply collate the synastric interchange into the "planetary state" table we are already building: The astrologer will intuitively, quickly, and accurately know what to do with it!
Consider: Marion's Venus opposes my Mercury 2°08' and her Mercury opposes my Venus 3°22'. At first look, the aspects are straightforward and accurate: Smooth, flowing, fluid communication has come easy to us since we first met. When we were building our relationship, we'd spend hours (often until dawn) talking together non-stop.
But it's more complicated than that. Even ignoring for a moment that her Mercury and Venus each have their own strong aspects, these planets are aspecting my own Venus and Mercury with their own aspects. For example, my Mercury has one natal aspect, a 2°24' conjunction with Saturn. The more deeply I settled into connection with Marion, the more my Mercury was also in 3°22' opposition to Venus (in this case, her Venus). This means that my Mercury changed from being aspected only by Saturn to being aspected by Saturn and (almost as closely) Venus.
Just how much weight do I give to this? This is always an important question, right? The answer is that, if I collate the interchange into my list of things affecting my Mercury, it will become quickly obvious to me - I don't need rules - it will simply appear evident to me. I will be able to see, usually at a glance, how strongly that one aspect affects my Mercury, and almost as quickly see how important it seems in my overall psyche. It's a strong measurement of exactly how I "become a different person" while in relationship with her.
Here is a concrete example. First, I will create a "state" report similar to what I think Mike is designing. This is just my natal chart:
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Mo Aqu FG | sx Ma 1°31' tr Ve 4°29' tr Ur 5°56' tr Ju 6°13'
Su Vir | sq Ma 6°28' co Ne 8°53'
Me Lib | co Sa 2°24'
Ve Sco- | co Pl 0°13' tr Ur 1°27' tr Ju 1°44' sx Ma 2°57' tr Mo 4°29'
Ma Sag | sq Ne 0°07' sx Mo 1°31' sx Ve 2°57' op Ur 4°45' op Ju 4°41' sq Su 6°28'
Ju Can+ | co Ur 0°17' tr Ve 1°44' sq Ne 2°16' op Ma 4°41' tr Mo 6°13'
Sa Lib+ | co Me 2°24'
Ur Can | co Ju 0°17' tr Ve 1°27' sq Ne 2°00' op Ma 4°45' tr Mo 5°56'
Ne Lib | sq Ma 0°07' sx Pl 0°46' sq Ur 2°00' sq Ju 2°16' sq Ma 0°07' co Su 8°53'
Pl Leo | co Ve 0°13' sx Ne 0°46'
From this you can learn more or less everything astrology can tell you about me in general. Now, I'm going to modify it only by adding the aspects (the ones I consider valid in synastry) that Marion's planets make to my chart. This will tell you the "different person" I am to the extent I'm in relationship with her, and also show how her aspects to my chart fit into the mix and balance of how my chart is on its own.
I have not calculated mundane aspects (of her planet to mine in the framework of my chart), but perhaps I should. In a case where I have planet A aspect planet B, and she also has B aspect my A, I have gone with the smaller orb (e.g., my 0°46' Neptune-Pluto sextile wins over her 1°00' semi-square of Pluto to my Neptune).
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Mo Aqu FG | sx Ma 1°31' tr Ve 4°29' tr Ur 5°56' tr Ju 6°13'
Su Vir | oc Ur 0°21' op Ju 4°30' sq Ma 6°28' co Ne 8°53'
Me Lib | co Ne 2°04' op Ve 2°07' co Sa 2°24'
Ve Sco- | co Pl 0°13' oc Ju 1°05' tr Ur 1°27' sq Ma 1°58' sq Sa 3°00' co Me 4°22' tr Mo 4°29'
Ma Sag | oc Su 0°06' sq Ne 0°07' oc Pl 1°25' sx Mo 1°31' sx Ve 2°57' op Ur 4°45' op Ju 4°41'
Ju Can+ | co Ur 0°17' tr Ve 1°44' sq Ne 2°16' op Ma 4°41' tr Mo 6°13'
Sa Lib+ | co Me 2°24' co Ne 4°29' op Ve 4°31'
Ur Can | co Ju 0°17' tr Ve 1°27' sq Ne 2°00' op Ma 4°45' tr Mo 5°56'
Ne Lib | sq Ma 0°07' oc Mo 0°21' sx Pl 0°46' sq Ur 2°00' sq Ju 2°16' sq Ma 0°07' co Su 8°53'
Pl Leo | co Ve 0°13' sx Ne 0°46' co Ma 1°45' oc Ju 0°52' sq Sa 3°14' sq Me 4°35' co Ur 5°01'
What kind of difference does this make? For one huge difference, look at my Sun in the two charts and think how you would interpret the natal Sun of those "two different people." Or for a quite different look, see Mercury in both lists. Or notice how her Saturn square my Venus, though a reasonably close orb, is only the fifth-strongest aspect to my Venus and takes a present but proportionately minor role, while her wider Jupiter opposition to my Sun (because of where it falls in the mix) is dramatically more important. Or how her Jupiter to my Venus makes my natal Venus-Jupiter stronger (closer orb) and, by nature of the aspect, more dynamic. There is much to see!
In contrast, here is my "state" report with Mike's aspects to my planets added in. Look at how it shifts attention on my Moon. Notice that his Mars to my Neptune doesn't even appear - seems to have no effect - because my own Mars-Neptune is already much stronger. Similarly, his Mars to my Moon pales before my closer natal Moon-Mars, but his Moon to my Jupiter-Uranus is much stronger than my natal Moon-Jupiter and Moon-Uranus. There's more to see"
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Mo Aqu FG | sx Ma 1°31' op Ju 3°22' tr Ve 4°29' tr Ur 5°56'
Su Vir | sq Ma 6°28' co Ne 8°53'
Me Lib | oc Ju 1°30' co Sa 2°24'
Ve Sco- | co Pl 0°13' oc Su 0°39' tr Ur 1°27' tr Ju 1°44' sx Ma 2°57' tr Mo 4°29'
Ma Sag | sq Ne 0°07' sq Me 0°46' sx Mo 1°31' sx Ve 2°57' op Ur 4°45' op Ju 4°41' sq Su 6°28'
Ju Can+ | co Ur 0°17' sq Mo 1°19' oc Sa 1°29' tr Ve 1°44' sq Ne 2°16' sq Me 3°56' op Ma 4°41'
Sa Lib+ | oc Ju 0°54' co Me 2°24'
Ur Can | co Ju 0°17' sq Mo 1°02' tr Ve 1°27' oc Sa 1°46' sq Ne 2°00' sq Me 3°39' op Ma 4°45'
Ne Lib | sq Ma 0°07' sx Pl 0°46' op Mo 0°58' sq Me 1°39' sq Ur 2°00' sq Ju 2°16' sq Ma 0°07' co Su 8°53'
Pl Leo | co Ve 0°13' oc Su 0°26' sx Ne 0°46'
It seems to me that this is a worthwhile approach and, as being utterly suitable for computer calculation, perhaps should somehow be worked into the report structure.
Jim Eshelman
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
Of course, all of this begs the question of whether the program and its users are best served by a long stream of reports like this tagged onto the bottom of a two-wheel chart, or whether a different approach is better.
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
I will be researching the best ways to present the information as I take breaks from coding, and engaging in further study of this thread and other threads on the subject. Synastry is likely to be the focus of version 0.6. I personally think the luminaries, benefics, and malefics, and each chart as transits to the other are rather revolutionary. We will of course retain the traditional one chart's planets in the angles of the other. I expect version 0.5 will teach me several skills I need to tackle synastry.
Time matters
Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
Thank you for explaining this all in such detail.Jim Eshelman wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 4:51 pm Of course, all of this begs the question of whether the program and its users are best served by a long stream of reports like this tagged onto the bottom of a two-wheel chart, or whether a different approach is better.
I wish I could clearly see the reports of my synasty with others, who I become, who they become.....
like you explained here.
I like to believe that my chart has nice things that could enhance another's, but I'm also naive to think that it wouldn't also act detrimentally as well. Having raw data that clearly shows these added aspects to our being is very important.
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
I just had a flash on this, Mike - I'm curious what you think.Jim Eshelman wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 1:35 pm Similar to the current two-wheel format for return charts, in addition to the "one person's chart in the other" (which, regrettably, can't be switchable without recalculation), two sets of planet position tables. The first is planet data for Person A's planets inside Person's B chart; the second is planet data for Person B's planets inside Person B's chart. That is, both are based on the "radical planet" section of a return chart page, such that the first one shows Person A's planets precessed to the moment of Person B's birth, then azimuth, altitude, and PVL calculated within Person's B's natal framework (and then reverse for the second table). Suggested label: "A's Planets Within B's Wheel," etc.
NOTE: Thinking about the "who is inside of whom not being switchable" question - I assume that the data input table will do something like ask for selection of two charts, A and B. I suggest a Swap button on this page, so whoever is "inside" can be swapped with whoever is "outside" for a two-click recalculate (defaulting to a Temporary chart).
The "who is inside of who" (ahem, moving on) might be moot. If the planet tables under the chart show each person's planets in the framework of the other's cusps (as discussed), maybe there is no need to show that in the main wheel display. Imagine... a synastry two-wheel that is equal house from 0° Libra (for instance) and includes not only each person's planets but their angles - perhaps emphasizing the angles just a little by displaying them with hyphens in the gaps, including the PVL space, instead of spaces (e.g., bAs-02Vi20------). Each person's planets are displayed with longitude but their PVL in the other chart, and with the angles displayed as just mentioned. A single wheel tells the story of each, the tables give the technical data of each in the others chart, and we move on from there with aspect lists or whatever.
Thoughts?
Jim Eshelman
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
Actually the bi-wheel from 0 Li with angles indicated for both is just perfect. It will simplify presentation quite a bit. No need to generate two different wheels or have a swap button.
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
Thought you'd like that <g>.
I created a wheel style yesterday to do a mock-up. Yours will look different, of course, since the wheels won't be segregated and the PV longitudes will be included, but this might give a useful visual. (I'm ambivalent about whether opposing angles, e.g., Dsc and IC, should be included - they might catch the eye better, but I also lean toward learner content).
I created a wheel style yesterday to do a mock-up. Yours will look different, of course, since the wheels won't be segregated and the PV longitudes will be included, but this might give a useful visual. (I'm ambivalent about whether opposing angles, e.g., Dsc and IC, should be included - they might catch the eye better, but I also lean toward learner content).
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Jim Eshelman
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Re: Brainstorming on synastry reports
I was bored tonight and did a mock-up of what I thought this might look like. (BTW I'm sure I made loads of mistakes, it's just a sample. Nor did I use the same data in all the different parts.)
Code: Select all
NOTE: Biwheel with both charts, equal house from 0° Libra, no mundoscope.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: In the next two sections, each person's planets are framed within
the other person's cusps, the RA & Dec precessed to the other's birth
epoch.
Pl Longitude Lat Speed RA Decl Azi Alt PVL Ang G
Person A
Mo 15Le59'02" 05N01 +12°49' 164°27' 12N04 90°52' +20°01' 339°59' 25%
Su 25Ar05'15" 00N00 +57'59" 47°42' 17N47 251°43' +46°59' 228°27' 9%
Me 09Ta48'19" 01N40 - 1'40" 62°35' 22N45 242°22' +60°46' 243°37' 4%
Ve 14Pi17'15" 01S42 + 1°09' 9°15' 02N08 266°03' + 8°02' 188°03' 83% F
Ma 24Aq21'15" 01S37 +45'07" 350°54' 05S41 271°50' -11°03' 168°57' 70%
Ju 04Pi55'21" 01S06 +11'42" 0°25' 01S01 269°19' - 0°46' 179°14' 100% F
Sa 29Cp41'32" 01S03 + 2'25" 327°24' 14S16 280°35' -34°23' 145°10' 2%
Ur 20Ar03'55" 00S22 + 3'27" 42°46' 16N01 254°05' +42°14' 223°21' 18%
Ne 29Aq46'24" 01S09 + 1'29" 355°42' 03S06 270°44' - 5°43' 174°17' 91% F
Pl 03Cp31'18" 01S59 - 0'19" 301°08' 22S24 295°00' -58°45' 118°49' 43%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Person B
Mo 15Le59'02" 03N53 +12°20' 164°00' 11N01 92°01' +19°43' 340°17' 26%
Su 14Ta01'27" 00N00 + 0°58' 67°22' 21N49 234°15' +63°14' 247°44' 16%
Me 27Ar30'46" 03S35 - 0°02' 51°06' 14N56 245°23' +47°31' 230°13' 6%
Ve 19Ar28'04" 01S31 + 1°13' 42°31' 14N45 252°59' +41°14' 222°30' 20%
Ma 03Le51'00" 01N25 + 0°29' 151°33' 13N11 98°35' +30°34' 329°09' 0%
Ju 17Pi58'06" 01S11 + 0°11' 12°26' 04N03 265°27' +11°42' 191°44' 72%
Sa 28Cp52'23" 01S03 + 0'24" 326°36' 14S32 280°55' -35°09' 144°21' 2%
Ur 07Le07'09" 00N46 + 0°01' 154°26' 11N25 98°07' +27°15' 332°30' 2%
Ne 19Li25'23" 01N50 - 0°01' 222°34' 14S26 72°38' -41°04' 42°23' 20%
Pl 15Le19'57" 13N36 + 0'16" 167°20' 20N13 82°05' +22°45' 337°04' 13%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: In this section, aspects of each person's 2 luminaries, 2 benefics,
and 2 malefics to the other's anything (ecliptic and mundane aspects),
and anything to the other's angles (ecliptic).
Lights, Benefics, Malefics & Angles
A's Planets to B B's Planets to A As Transits to A
aVe sq bMa 01°58' xx% bMa co aPl 01°45' xx% | tJu oc rPl 00°52' xx%
aVe op bAs 03°00' xx% bMa sq aVe 01°58' xx% | tMa oc rPl 00°52' xx%
aSa co bNe 04°28' xx% bVe op aMe 02°07' xx% | tSu oc rMa 00°06'xx%
aSu op bJu 04°30' xx% bSa sq aVe 03°01' xx% | tMo oc rNe 00°21' xx%
aSa op bVe 04°31' xx% bSa op aPl 03°14' xx% | tEa op rMe 00°23' xx%
bJu op aSu 04°30' xx%
bVe op aSa 04°31' xx%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: In this section, aspects of each person's planets and angles to
the other's everything (ecliptic and mundane aspects): IOW the entire
interchange list. (Angle contacts are ecliptical.)
All Interchanges
Class 1 Aspects Class 2 Aspects As Transits to B
bSu oc aMa 00°06' xx% aVe sq bSa 03°00' xx% | tPl oc rJu 00°52' xx%
bMo oc aNe 00°21' xx% bSa sq aPl 03°14' xx% | tPl oc rMa 00°52' xx%
aMe op bEa 00°23' xx% aNe oc bPl 01°00' xx% | tNe oc rMo 00°21' xx%
bMa oc aPl 00°52' xx% aVe oc bJu 01°05' xx% | tMa oc rSu 00°06' xx%
aVe sq bMa 01°58' xx% aMa oc bPl 01°25' xx% | tMe op rEa 00°23' xx%
aMe op bVe 02°07' xx% bMe op aVe 04°22' xx%
aMe co bNe 02°04' xx% aSu op bJu 04°30' xx%
bJu oc aPl 00°52' xx% bNe co aSa 04°29' xx%
aVe op bAs 03°00' xx% bVe op aSa 04°31' xx%
bMe sq aPl 04°35' xx%
bUr co aPl 05°01' xx%
aVe sq bUr 05°14' xx%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: This is the modified Cosmic State I descried in two threads.
Cosmic State of Person A
Mo Aq F | sx Ma 01°31' tr Ve 04°29' tr Ur 05°56' tr Ju 06°13'
Su Vi | oc Ur 00°21' op Ju 04°30' co Ne 08°14'M sq Ma 06°28'
Me Li B | co Ne 02°04' op Ve 02°07' co Sa 02°24'
Ve Sc- B | sq Pl 00°13' tr Ur 01°27' oc Ju 01°05' sq Ma 01°58'
| sq Sa 03°00' op Me 04°22' tr Mo 04°29'
Ma Sg | sq Ne 00°07'M oc Su 00°06' co Pl 01°25' sx Mo 01°31'
| sx Ve 02°57' op Ur 04°25'
| op Ju 04°41' sq Su 06°28'
Ju Cn+ | co Ur 00°17' tr Ve 01°44' sq Ne 02°16' op Ma 04°41'
| tr Mo 06°13'
Sa Li+ B | co Me 02°24' co Ne 04°29' op Ve 04°31'
Ur Cn | co Ju 00°17' tr Ve 01°27' sq Ne 02°00' op Ma 04°25'
| tr Mo 05°56'
Ne Li | sq Ma 00°07'M sx Pl 00°46' oc Mo 00°21' sq Ur 02°00'
| sq Ju 02°16' co Su 08°14'M
Pl Le B | sq Ve 00°13' sx Ne 00°46' oc Ma 00°52' oc Ju 00°52'
| sq Sa 03°14' sq Me 04°35' co Ur 05°01'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cosmic State of Person B
Mo Le B | co Pl 00°39' oc Ne 00°21' sq Su 01°58' sx Ne 03°26'
| tr Ve 03°29' co Ur 08°52'
Su Ta F | oc Ma 00°06' sq Pl 01°18' sq Mo 01°58' sx Ju 03°57'
| co Me 07°15'M sq Ur 06°54'
Me Ar F | sq Sa 01°22' op Ve 04°22' sq Pl 04°35' op Ne 05°59'M
| co Su 07°15'M sq Ma 06°20'
Ve Ar- F | op Ne 00°03' op Me 02°07' tr Mo 03°29' tr Pl 04°08'
| op Ve 04°31'
Ma Le F | sq Ve 01°58' oc Pl 00°52' co Ur 02°53'M oc Ju 00°53'
| op Sa 04°59' sq Me 06°20'
Ju Pi B | oc Pl 00°52' oc Ma 00°53' oc Ve 01°05' sx Su 03°57'
| op Su 04°30' op Pl 06°38'M
Sa Cp+ | sq Me 01°22' oc Ne 1°00' sq Ve 03°00' oc Ma 01°25'
| op Ma 04°59' op Ur 08°15'
Ur Le- F | oc Su 00°21' co Ma 02°53'M co Pl 05°01' sq Ve 05°14'
| co Pl 08°13' op Sa 08°15'
| co Mo 08°52' sq Su 06°54'
Ne Li F | op Ve 00°03' co Me 02°04' sx Mo 03°26' sx Pl 04°05'
| co Sa 04°29' op Me 05°59'M
Pl Le B | co Mo 00°39' sq Su 01°18' sx Ne 04°05' tr Ve 04°08'
| op Ju 06°38'M co Ur 08°13'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Eshelman
www.jeshelman.com
www.jeshelman.com