Synastry and Composite Charts
January 5, 2014
Synastry and composite charts are tools used in astrology to understand the relationship dynamics between two people (topics of conversation, interests, and activities) as well as the purpose and karma of the relationship. When analyzed holistically, they reveal the level of compatibility between two people. My research with these charts using couples that are married a significant amount of time (30+ years), reveals patterns in the types of aspects/ planetary combinations that repetitively occur. What this means for us is that we can identify the people who would make the best marriage partners for us and we can also identify the people who would cause unnecessary heartbreak and bring us down like a sinking stone! It is not that either of the two are “bad people” but it may be the case that one person’s way of natural being conflicts with the other to an extent that is too great to handle gracefully. We cannot change our natural personality and it is futile to try. When incompatible people get together there are constant arguments and a need to censor one’s ideas/ behaviour to please the other. This is not healthy for either person. Certainly any long lasting marriage requires compromise, dedication, as well as tangible expressions of love. However, if there is not an underlying strong compatibility, after the stresses of married life kick in, it will likely succumb to pressure and result in divorce.
When two people are dating/in courtship, they will try their best to put their best foot forward to impress the other person. They choose which facets of their personality and lives to reveal and which to keep hidden, essentially they are wearing a mask. This mask will likely not come off unless there is a tragedy/ very difficult situation during the dating period. However, the mask will inevitably come off after marriage because you cannot hide your true colors for very long from someone you live with. At this time, the personality as indicated on the chart comes out! In 15 years I have never encountered a case where a person did not objectively fit very well with their chart, in other words the accuracy of natal charts is 100%. Thus contrary to what some people believe as being judgemental by forming preconceived notions about a person or a relationship from the charts, it is actually one of the wisest decisions one can make. The main reason for broken hearts and relationships is that one or both people’s expectations and needs were not being met. By studying relevant charts, you will not be surprised when a person’s genuine personality shines forward and you will understand why they speak and behave the way they do, rather than being disappointed that they didn’t say/do what you thought they should have. I have come to experience that love does not hurt, it feels really good! Life is too short to waste time in relationships that make us feel badly about ourselves, that negatively influence our lives and in an overall sense are restricting personal/ spiritual growth. There are people out there who will inspire you to be a better person, make you feel like a champion and cause you to rise higher than you ever dreamed of. The following example of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is intended to illustrate some of the most beneficial aspects to have in marriage. This is not an exhaustive list but is merely a guide to show why the marriage was as long-lasting and harmonious as it was.
Synastry and composite charts are tools used in astrology to understand the relationship dynamics between two people (topics of conversation, interests, and activities) as well as the purpose and karma of the relationship. When analyzed holistically, they reveal the level of compatibility between two people. My research with these charts using couples that are married a significant amount of time (30+ years), reveals patterns in the types of aspects/ planetary combinations that repetitively occur. What this means for us is that we can identify the people who would make the best marriage partners for us and we can also identify the people who would cause unnecessary heartbreak and bring us down like a sinking stone! It is not that either of the two are “bad people” but it may be the case that one person’s way of natural being conflicts with the other to an extent that is too great to handle gracefully. We cannot change our natural personality and it is futile to try. When incompatible people get together there are constant arguments and a need to censor one’s ideas/ behaviour to please the other. This is not healthy for either person. Certainly any long lasting marriage requires compromise, dedication, as well as tangible expressions of love. However, if there is not an underlying strong compatibility, after the stresses of married life kick in, it will likely succumb to pressure and result in divorce.
When two people are dating/in courtship, they will try their best to put their best foot forward to impress the other person. They choose which facets of their personality and lives to reveal and which to keep hidden, essentially they are wearing a mask. This mask will likely not come off unless there is a tragedy/ very difficult situation during the dating period. However, the mask will inevitably come off after marriage because you cannot hide your true colors for very long from someone you live with. At this time, the personality as indicated on the chart comes out! In 15 years I have never encountered a case where a person did not objectively fit very well with their chart, in other words the accuracy of natal charts is 100%. Thus contrary to what some people believe as being judgemental by forming preconceived notions about a person or a relationship from the charts, it is actually one of the wisest decisions one can make. The main reason for broken hearts and relationships is that one or both people’s expectations and needs were not being met. By studying relevant charts, you will not be surprised when a person’s genuine personality shines forward and you will understand why they speak and behave the way they do, rather than being disappointed that they didn’t say/do what you thought they should have. I have come to experience that love does not hurt, it feels really good! Life is too short to waste time in relationships that make us feel badly about ourselves, that negatively influence our lives and in an overall sense are restricting personal/ spiritual growth. There are people out there who will inspire you to be a better person, make you feel like a champion and cause you to rise higher than you ever dreamed of. The following example of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is intended to illustrate some of the most beneficial aspects to have in marriage. This is not an exhaustive list but is merely a guide to show why the marriage was as long-lasting and harmonious as it was.
As an inspiration to start 2014, I decided to examine the Astronumerology charts of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, they were married 50 years (1958-2008), until Paul’s death in 2008. When asked about infidelity, he famously said "Why fool around with hamburger when you have steak at home?" In describing being married to Paul after 50 years, she said "Being married to the most considerate, romantic man". Their marriage has been the gold standard in Hollywood for years, widely admired for its longevity, depth of connection, generosity and benevolent projects. Aquarius is the most humanitarian sign of the zodiac and Pisces is the most compassionate sign of the zodiac. I have noticed this blend in many of the most philanthropic celebrities. I also see it often in people who volunteer extensively. Paul has the Sun in Aquarius and the Moon and Uranus in Pisces. Joanne has Mercury, Mars and the Moon in Aquarius and Sun conjunct Moon in Pisces. On their own, each person has a naturally humanitarian and compassionate nature and wants to do their best to serve the less fortunate. In the composite they have Venus, Sun and Moon in Aquarius and Mars, Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces, making them a couple with a destiny, sense of urgency and an unwavering passion to serve underprivileged groups. Newman’s Own, their company which makes dressings, sauces and other foods, currently gives all of its after tax profits to charities worldwide. Since 1982 they have given over 370 million dollars (1). As a couple they donated 10 million dollars to Kenyon College for a scholarship fund (2). Over 20 000 children in Connecticut per year enjoy going to Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp which serves seriously ill children (3). Paul and Joanne co-founded the camp in 1988 and now there are different branches in Israel, France, Ireland and the U.S (2). They met when they were both in the Broadway edition of Picnic (1953). Then they worked together in 1957 in the movie The Long Hot Summer. In total, they made 11 feature films together and she starred in an additional five films that Paul directed or produced but did not star in (4).
In addition to boosting the scope of their generosity and charitable projects, the relationship also boosted both of their careers and their wealth tremendously. As characterized by their synastry/ composite charts, the energy of the relationship greatly intensified their individual star power. Note that in the composite chart, the second house (earned wealth) is extremely strong, it contains the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus. The Sun is technically in the first house but forms an exact conjunction with the second house cusp (most powerful point of a house). Also Neptune in the eighth house (shared resources) is very auspicious for a couple for receiving large amounts of money. Shortly after their romantic relationship began, Joanne won an Academy award in 1958 for the Three Faces of Eve and was nominated four more times for four different movies in later years. She was named best actress in 1974 at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. She won two Emmy awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie, for See How She Runs (1978) and in Do You Remember Love? (1985). She was nominated an additional five times for other shows. Paul had been in a few movies before meeting Joanne but his star started burning blue hot after beginning a romantic relationship with Joanne in 1958. This is when he won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for The Long, Hot Summer. For the Cat on the Hot Tin Roof he was nominated three times: Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Golden Laurel Award Top Male Dramatic Performance. His nominations and awards are too extensive to list (41 wins and 50 nominations) but include the prestigious Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Golden Laurel Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Emmy award and many more. A complete list can be found at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000056/awards
In addition to boosting the scope of their generosity and charitable projects, the relationship also boosted both of their careers and their wealth tremendously. As characterized by their synastry/ composite charts, the energy of the relationship greatly intensified their individual star power. Note that in the composite chart, the second house (earned wealth) is extremely strong, it contains the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus. The Sun is technically in the first house but forms an exact conjunction with the second house cusp (most powerful point of a house). Also Neptune in the eighth house (shared resources) is very auspicious for a couple for receiving large amounts of money. Shortly after their romantic relationship began, Joanne won an Academy award in 1958 for the Three Faces of Eve and was nominated four more times for four different movies in later years. She was named best actress in 1974 at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. She won two Emmy awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie, for See How She Runs (1978) and in Do You Remember Love? (1985). She was nominated an additional five times for other shows. Paul had been in a few movies before meeting Joanne but his star started burning blue hot after beginning a romantic relationship with Joanne in 1958. This is when he won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for The Long, Hot Summer. For the Cat on the Hot Tin Roof he was nominated three times: Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Golden Laurel Award Top Male Dramatic Performance. His nominations and awards are too extensive to list (41 wins and 50 nominations) but include the prestigious Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Golden Laurel Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Emmy award and many more. A complete list can be found at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000056/awards
The astrology of their relationship shows an almost ideal picture of compatibility on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.
Their ascendants are conjunct 2 degrees at 11-13 Capricorn
This shows a similarity in outlooks, ways of relating to the world, how they come across to people and their mannerisms. The Capricorn ascendant gives the influence of being serious, hardworking, practical, ambitious and responsible. These features are accentuated as both charts have Saturn close to an angle (Asc and MC). When Saturn is on an angle, the person tends to be hardworking, serious, ambitious, persistent, resilient, needing structure and they are overall a tough cookie. They may have more than their fair share of barriers in life but are systematic and determined in breaking them down. Keep in mind that their personality numbers in numerology also affect how they come across to others and that will be discussed later on in this article.
Pluto and the seventh house of marriage
There is a powerful theme regarding Pluto, planet of transformation, in the seventh house of intimate romantic relationships/ marriage. Pluto is in the seventh house for Woodward and Pluto is conjunct the descendant 1d (cusp of the 7th house) for Newman. In the composite chart, Pluto is conjunct the descendant and makes an exact conjunction to fixed star Sirius at 14 Cancer. This is auspicious because Sirius is the brightest star and very benevolent. It brings fame, honor and glory wherever it is found. Pluto is in the seventh house for both of them individually and means that a person’s greatest transformation comes through intimate relationships. Each of their relationships are characterized by intensity, extreme and wide ranging emotions (they give it their all or nothing at all), and when they commit, they do so with their whole heart. The relationships all through life are characterized by passion and a profound depth. At least one significant relationship in each of their lives carries with it a mystical sense of destiny, someone who has been with them for many lives and they are now reunited. It seems they were “the one” for each other.
Woodward Sun conjunct Newman moon by 8d in Pisces. Newman Sun and Woodward moon both in Aquarius although not in aspect
The Sun-Moon conjunction is one of the most powerful indicators of compatibility in romantic relationships. When it repeats both ways like for this couple, it is said to be soul mate connection and often signifies unconditional love. Paul says about Joanne "Joanne has always given me unconditional support in all my choices and endeavours, and that includes my race car driving, which she deplores. To me, that's love" (5). It does not matter if the Sun and Moon are in within orb, as long as the signs are the same (although the connection tends to be stronger with tighter orbs). The two people intuitively understand each other and feel very comfortable together. They don’t have to wear masks, their natural self is pleasing to the other and they feel they can tell each other anything without fear of being judged or rejected. Joanne was quoted in an article saying “Paul and I were good friends before we were lovers. We really liked each other. We could talk to each other, we could tell each other anything without fear of ridicule or rejection. There was trust” (6). There is mutual understanding, emotional sensitivity and affection that indicates a genuine connection. Often, they know what the other is thinking and feeling by just looking at them and they take great care to be kind to one another.
Venus sextile Venus 1d
The sextile is an easy aspect and indicates that their social and love natures are compatible. They tend to have the same taste in entertainment, recreation, leisure and what is beautiful. The way they express love and affection is similar and it is easy to understand the other person’s needs in this regard.
Mars sextile Mars 7d
The two people have a similar way of expressing their energy and ambition. It is not that this couple won’t fight, but when they do it won’t easily deteriorate to an underhanded level where they deliberately try to hurt the other. When they get angry with each other, they will have an easier time working it out and compromising. They reinforce the other’s self- confidence and drive to go after their goals.
Vertex conjunct vertex exact
This is another indicator that this relationship has been through several past lives and was fated to come together again in this life. There is a very strong sense of destiny as a couple, they likely feel that the other is their soul mate and with this aspect they probably are.
Woodward’s Mercury and Mars conjunct Newman’s South node
When planets are conjunct the South Node it indicates past life associations and when the two get together the relationship is comfortable and natural, they sense that they have been here before. Mercury’s influence makes their intellectual communication very easy, they have interesting discussions and debates. Mars indicates that their physical/ sexual attraction is very strong. Also they become each other’s cheerleader, increasing their self-confidence and always being an encouraging presence to go after their respective goals. There are also many instances when South Node connections can pull a person back and discourage stepping out of their comfort zone, people can experience feelings of being drained or that the person is blocking their ideas/ actions. However, in this relationship there are too many favourable aspects for this to be a serious problem and it looks like they benefit a lot from the comfort and ease of having South Node connections.
Newman’s moon is on an exact conjunction to Woodward’s Sun/Moon midpoint at 1 Pisces. Woodward’s moon, mars and mercury are within 6d of a conjunction to Newman’s Sun/Moon midpoint at 18 Aquarius.
The Sun/Moon midpoint is a very sensitive psychological point in a chart and is especially important for relationships. You will often find important relationships where one person’s planet makes a tight hard aspect to the other’s sun-mood midpoint. We notice here that there are multiple planet to Sun-Moon midpoint hard aspects. This indicates them having a deep and lasting impact on each other and is integral to the other person’s soul evolution.
When an aspect repeats both ways in synastry and then again in the composite chart, you can be 100% sure that the effects of the aspect will be powerfully dominant in your relationship. Even if the aspect repeats 2/3 times, it has a considerable influence over your relationship.
Tight aspects from Jupiter to Sun in synastry and composite:
Composite: 1d semisextile from Sun to Jupiter
Synastry: Newman’s Sun trine Woodward’s Jupiter 1d
Woodward’s Jupiter sextile Newman’s Sun exact
Sun-Jupiter aspects are very fortunate to have in intimate relationships, especially the easy ones. It indicates a mutual trust, generosity, and kindness toward each other. They naturally have fun and laugh a lot together. Joanne is quoted as saying "Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat" (5). As a couple they are optimistic, lucky and fortunate in foreign travel. They encourage each other to expand their horizon and tend to talk about the larger, philosophical questions. This aspect is also good for motivating each other to develop spiritually.
Tight aspects from Venus to Pluto in synastry and composite:
Composite: Venus quincunx Pluto 1d
Synastry: Newman’s Venus oppose Woodward’s Pluto 3d
Woodward’s Venus trine Newman’s Pluto 1d
The Venus-Pluto aspect is a mix of hard and soft aspects. The general theme of this combination tends towards a relationship characterized by passion, intense/ extreme emotions, volatility, love/hate, obsessions, compulsions, and unusual depth of love. It is marked by transformation by both people involved and will have long lasting effects on both of them. It is very similar to the aforementioned theme of Pluto being in the seventh house in each of their charts and intensifies these characteristics (Venus rules the seventh house).
Tight aspects from Moon to Neptune in synastry and composite:
Composite: Moon oppose Neptune 2d
Synastry: Woodward’s moon oppose Newman’s Neptune 3d
Newman’s moon oppose Woodward’s Neptune exact
The Moon-Neptune aspects are all hard in this instance so the energies are a little more difficult to deal with. This is likely to manifest as them sacrificing unnecessarily for the other out of the misguided notion of helping them. In reality, the other person did not ask for help, nor did they need help. There is likely to be excessive idealism that results in not truly seeing the flaws of the other, this can cause a major disappointment when the bubble bursts. There is also a proclivity towards not wanting to acknowledge the negative emotions or motivations in your partner that make them human. Since both people may misread the other’s speech or behaviour, they need to make an effort to communicate directly when there are conflicts.
Connection between Moon and Venus in synastry and composite:
Newman’s moon is conjunct Woodward’s Venus in Pisces
In composite the Moon and Venus are in Aquarius
The Moon-Venus conjunction is excellent for all types of relationships, especially romantic relationships. There is a lot of emotional sensitivity and special care is taken to protect the other’s feelings. Both people are genuinely affectionate with each other- when they hug and kiss they really mean it! They have a special appreciation of beauty in all forms and the relationship itself is viewed as “perfect” by others as the couple seems to have an especially strong bond. It is not that they don’t have problems but in working out their difficulties they are never mean, excessively critical or have the intention of purposely wounding the other. When asked about why their marriage lasted Paul said “…because of 'great impatience tempered by patience. When you have been together this long, sometimes you drive each other nuts, but underneath that is some core of affection and respect'" (5). Even in the middle of arguments, the emotional sensitivity remains and that is the key to many successful marriages.
Connection between the North Node and IC:
Woodward’s North Node is conjunct the IC of the composite chart 1d
Woodward’s North Node is conjunct Newman’s IC 3d
These aspects are another indicator of the sense of destiny and extremely strong pull of these two people together. The IC represents our psychological roots, subconscious mind, home life, family and the deepest part of ourselves that tends to remain hidden. The North Node represents future connections, what we are growing and striving towards in this lifetime to make the most personal and spiritual growth. This connection shows that these two help each other tremendously to analyze themselves and figure out the deeper motivations for their behaviour. This self- examination is very useful as it allows us to work on our negative patterns of thinking and change our less desirable personality traits, therefore promoting growth on all levels.
Numerology
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward
Expression 7
Personality 3
Soul urge 4
Birthday 9
Life path 6
Paul Leonard Newman
Expression 9
Personality 5
Soul urge 4
Birthday 8
Life path 8
Each number has a particular way of relating to every other number- some have excellent compatibility, some are good compatibility, some can go either way and some take significant effort. When analyzing this couple, two of their numbers show good compatibility, one had the best compatibility, one can technically go either way but it looks like it went the beneficial way and only one number was not compatible. Therefore in numerology, these people would be compatible.
Expression 7 and 9 can go either way. These numbers can be very intense in their religious/ spiritual/ philosophical beliefs and if they share similar views, this can bring them closer together. If they do not, and they do not make an effort to be tolerant of their partner, they will clash. Number seven takes the approach of independent study, solitude, reading and meditation for their spiritual growth whereas number 9 is more extroverted in their desire to positively impact the world through leadership, humanitarian pursuits and teaching.
Personality 3 and 5 have good compatibility as they both enjoy communicating with others, travel and entertainment. The personality number is how other people see us and the first impressions we make. When the personality numbers are compatible, other people tend to view the couple favourably, understanding why they are a good fit for the other. Numbers 3 and 5 are extraverted numbers that thrive on interaction with people, as a couple they enjoy socializing, attending parties and other public events. Joanne appears to others as jovial, philosophical, creative and charming. Paul appears fun loving, bright, adept at persuasion and articulate in speech.
Both of them have soul urge number 4, when both people have the same number it is best for compatibility generally. The soul urge is our deepest desires, dreams and hopes. It is not apparent to anyone besides the person themselves. In this case they share a desire for security, stability, structure and discipline. They like excitement, change and variety as shown by other numbers but at the end of the day, a happy, stable home life is essential to their happiness.
Birthdays 8 and 9 are not compatible. This is mainly because number 8 is a workaholic, very concerned with status, prestige, money and beautiful creature comforts, it is a practical and efficient number. Number 9 is not a materialistic number and is not as concerned with advancing their career or buying nice things. They may place more importance on volunteering, relief efforts and charitable causes. These two ways of being clash because the 8 may believe the 9 is not being “sensible” in choosing not to spend so much time at work and gain promotions whereas the 9 may think the 8 is not spending enough time helping other people and doesn’t spend as much time with the family.
Life path 6 and 8 have good compatibility. Both of these numbers have an entrepreneurial streak and will work hard on their business to make it flourish. They appreciate creature comforts and beautiful things and have similar tastes in entertainment and leisure. Number 6 is naturally compassionate and has a strong interest in improving the quality of life for people. Number 8 can be generous with their money so with the 6’s strong desire to help people and number 8’s financial backing, they can run very successful charitable events, fundraisers and causes.
A more minor influence but nonetheless relevant is the first letter of the first name. This gives an added dimension to someone’s personality that may not be reflected in the core numbers. The first letters of this couple are J=1 and P= 7. Numbers 1 and 7 have excellent compatibility because they both value independence of thought and behaviour and cherish their freedom. They value their solitude for different reasons and give each other the space they need to discover new information and try new activities without feeling tied down or restricted. True to his Aquarius nature, Paul is quoted as saying “Wives should not feel obligated to accompany their husbands to a ball game, husbands do look a bit silly attending morning coffee breaks with the neighborhood wives when most men are out at work. Husbands and wives should have separate interests, cultivate different sets of friends and not impose on the other ... You can’t spend a lifetime breathing down each other’s necks ... We are very, very different people and yet somehow we fed off those varied differences and instead of separating us, it has made the whole bond a lot stronger” (5).
Summary
It is evident from their Astronumerology charts that Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were destined to be together, they were soul mates and propelled each other to achievements that neither of them could have accomplished by themselves. They each had star power on their own but together their stars were blue hot! It is relevant to note that in the composite chart, the ruler of the chart, Saturn, is placed in the 11th house. The 11th house represents dreams, desires, wishes, large groups, teamwork, charitable organizations and humanitarian efforts. It is auspicious in a composite chart to have this feature as it indicates the couple helps each other fulfill their dreams and they have the potential to do a lot of benevolent and generous work in helping those less fortunate, especially large groups of people that are underprivileged. I hope this inspires you to take a look at your synastry and composite chart with the person you are romantically interested in, are dating, or are married to and see if you can uncover the deeper reasons for your unique relationship dynamics. The purpose and karma is revealed in those charts, working on the strengths of the relationship will definitely help each of you in your personal and spiritual growth. May 2014 bring you peace, joy and love!!!
Their ascendants are conjunct 2 degrees at 11-13 Capricorn
This shows a similarity in outlooks, ways of relating to the world, how they come across to people and their mannerisms. The Capricorn ascendant gives the influence of being serious, hardworking, practical, ambitious and responsible. These features are accentuated as both charts have Saturn close to an angle (Asc and MC). When Saturn is on an angle, the person tends to be hardworking, serious, ambitious, persistent, resilient, needing structure and they are overall a tough cookie. They may have more than their fair share of barriers in life but are systematic and determined in breaking them down. Keep in mind that their personality numbers in numerology also affect how they come across to others and that will be discussed later on in this article.
Pluto and the seventh house of marriage
There is a powerful theme regarding Pluto, planet of transformation, in the seventh house of intimate romantic relationships/ marriage. Pluto is in the seventh house for Woodward and Pluto is conjunct the descendant 1d (cusp of the 7th house) for Newman. In the composite chart, Pluto is conjunct the descendant and makes an exact conjunction to fixed star Sirius at 14 Cancer. This is auspicious because Sirius is the brightest star and very benevolent. It brings fame, honor and glory wherever it is found. Pluto is in the seventh house for both of them individually and means that a person’s greatest transformation comes through intimate relationships. Each of their relationships are characterized by intensity, extreme and wide ranging emotions (they give it their all or nothing at all), and when they commit, they do so with their whole heart. The relationships all through life are characterized by passion and a profound depth. At least one significant relationship in each of their lives carries with it a mystical sense of destiny, someone who has been with them for many lives and they are now reunited. It seems they were “the one” for each other.
Woodward Sun conjunct Newman moon by 8d in Pisces. Newman Sun and Woodward moon both in Aquarius although not in aspect
The Sun-Moon conjunction is one of the most powerful indicators of compatibility in romantic relationships. When it repeats both ways like for this couple, it is said to be soul mate connection and often signifies unconditional love. Paul says about Joanne "Joanne has always given me unconditional support in all my choices and endeavours, and that includes my race car driving, which she deplores. To me, that's love" (5). It does not matter if the Sun and Moon are in within orb, as long as the signs are the same (although the connection tends to be stronger with tighter orbs). The two people intuitively understand each other and feel very comfortable together. They don’t have to wear masks, their natural self is pleasing to the other and they feel they can tell each other anything without fear of being judged or rejected. Joanne was quoted in an article saying “Paul and I were good friends before we were lovers. We really liked each other. We could talk to each other, we could tell each other anything without fear of ridicule or rejection. There was trust” (6). There is mutual understanding, emotional sensitivity and affection that indicates a genuine connection. Often, they know what the other is thinking and feeling by just looking at them and they take great care to be kind to one another.
Venus sextile Venus 1d
The sextile is an easy aspect and indicates that their social and love natures are compatible. They tend to have the same taste in entertainment, recreation, leisure and what is beautiful. The way they express love and affection is similar and it is easy to understand the other person’s needs in this regard.
Mars sextile Mars 7d
The two people have a similar way of expressing their energy and ambition. It is not that this couple won’t fight, but when they do it won’t easily deteriorate to an underhanded level where they deliberately try to hurt the other. When they get angry with each other, they will have an easier time working it out and compromising. They reinforce the other’s self- confidence and drive to go after their goals.
Vertex conjunct vertex exact
This is another indicator that this relationship has been through several past lives and was fated to come together again in this life. There is a very strong sense of destiny as a couple, they likely feel that the other is their soul mate and with this aspect they probably are.
Woodward’s Mercury and Mars conjunct Newman’s South node
When planets are conjunct the South Node it indicates past life associations and when the two get together the relationship is comfortable and natural, they sense that they have been here before. Mercury’s influence makes their intellectual communication very easy, they have interesting discussions and debates. Mars indicates that their physical/ sexual attraction is very strong. Also they become each other’s cheerleader, increasing their self-confidence and always being an encouraging presence to go after their respective goals. There are also many instances when South Node connections can pull a person back and discourage stepping out of their comfort zone, people can experience feelings of being drained or that the person is blocking their ideas/ actions. However, in this relationship there are too many favourable aspects for this to be a serious problem and it looks like they benefit a lot from the comfort and ease of having South Node connections.
Newman’s moon is on an exact conjunction to Woodward’s Sun/Moon midpoint at 1 Pisces. Woodward’s moon, mars and mercury are within 6d of a conjunction to Newman’s Sun/Moon midpoint at 18 Aquarius.
The Sun/Moon midpoint is a very sensitive psychological point in a chart and is especially important for relationships. You will often find important relationships where one person’s planet makes a tight hard aspect to the other’s sun-mood midpoint. We notice here that there are multiple planet to Sun-Moon midpoint hard aspects. This indicates them having a deep and lasting impact on each other and is integral to the other person’s soul evolution.
When an aspect repeats both ways in synastry and then again in the composite chart, you can be 100% sure that the effects of the aspect will be powerfully dominant in your relationship. Even if the aspect repeats 2/3 times, it has a considerable influence over your relationship.
Tight aspects from Jupiter to Sun in synastry and composite:
Composite: 1d semisextile from Sun to Jupiter
Synastry: Newman’s Sun trine Woodward’s Jupiter 1d
Woodward’s Jupiter sextile Newman’s Sun exact
Sun-Jupiter aspects are very fortunate to have in intimate relationships, especially the easy ones. It indicates a mutual trust, generosity, and kindness toward each other. They naturally have fun and laugh a lot together. Joanne is quoted as saying "Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat" (5). As a couple they are optimistic, lucky and fortunate in foreign travel. They encourage each other to expand their horizon and tend to talk about the larger, philosophical questions. This aspect is also good for motivating each other to develop spiritually.
Tight aspects from Venus to Pluto in synastry and composite:
Composite: Venus quincunx Pluto 1d
Synastry: Newman’s Venus oppose Woodward’s Pluto 3d
Woodward’s Venus trine Newman’s Pluto 1d
The Venus-Pluto aspect is a mix of hard and soft aspects. The general theme of this combination tends towards a relationship characterized by passion, intense/ extreme emotions, volatility, love/hate, obsessions, compulsions, and unusual depth of love. It is marked by transformation by both people involved and will have long lasting effects on both of them. It is very similar to the aforementioned theme of Pluto being in the seventh house in each of their charts and intensifies these characteristics (Venus rules the seventh house).
Tight aspects from Moon to Neptune in synastry and composite:
Composite: Moon oppose Neptune 2d
Synastry: Woodward’s moon oppose Newman’s Neptune 3d
Newman’s moon oppose Woodward’s Neptune exact
The Moon-Neptune aspects are all hard in this instance so the energies are a little more difficult to deal with. This is likely to manifest as them sacrificing unnecessarily for the other out of the misguided notion of helping them. In reality, the other person did not ask for help, nor did they need help. There is likely to be excessive idealism that results in not truly seeing the flaws of the other, this can cause a major disappointment when the bubble bursts. There is also a proclivity towards not wanting to acknowledge the negative emotions or motivations in your partner that make them human. Since both people may misread the other’s speech or behaviour, they need to make an effort to communicate directly when there are conflicts.
Connection between Moon and Venus in synastry and composite:
Newman’s moon is conjunct Woodward’s Venus in Pisces
In composite the Moon and Venus are in Aquarius
The Moon-Venus conjunction is excellent for all types of relationships, especially romantic relationships. There is a lot of emotional sensitivity and special care is taken to protect the other’s feelings. Both people are genuinely affectionate with each other- when they hug and kiss they really mean it! They have a special appreciation of beauty in all forms and the relationship itself is viewed as “perfect” by others as the couple seems to have an especially strong bond. It is not that they don’t have problems but in working out their difficulties they are never mean, excessively critical or have the intention of purposely wounding the other. When asked about why their marriage lasted Paul said “…because of 'great impatience tempered by patience. When you have been together this long, sometimes you drive each other nuts, but underneath that is some core of affection and respect'" (5). Even in the middle of arguments, the emotional sensitivity remains and that is the key to many successful marriages.
Connection between the North Node and IC:
Woodward’s North Node is conjunct the IC of the composite chart 1d
Woodward’s North Node is conjunct Newman’s IC 3d
These aspects are another indicator of the sense of destiny and extremely strong pull of these two people together. The IC represents our psychological roots, subconscious mind, home life, family and the deepest part of ourselves that tends to remain hidden. The North Node represents future connections, what we are growing and striving towards in this lifetime to make the most personal and spiritual growth. This connection shows that these two help each other tremendously to analyze themselves and figure out the deeper motivations for their behaviour. This self- examination is very useful as it allows us to work on our negative patterns of thinking and change our less desirable personality traits, therefore promoting growth on all levels.
Numerology
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward
Expression 7
Personality 3
Soul urge 4
Birthday 9
Life path 6
Paul Leonard Newman
Expression 9
Personality 5
Soul urge 4
Birthday 8
Life path 8
Each number has a particular way of relating to every other number- some have excellent compatibility, some are good compatibility, some can go either way and some take significant effort. When analyzing this couple, two of their numbers show good compatibility, one had the best compatibility, one can technically go either way but it looks like it went the beneficial way and only one number was not compatible. Therefore in numerology, these people would be compatible.
Expression 7 and 9 can go either way. These numbers can be very intense in their religious/ spiritual/ philosophical beliefs and if they share similar views, this can bring them closer together. If they do not, and they do not make an effort to be tolerant of their partner, they will clash. Number seven takes the approach of independent study, solitude, reading and meditation for their spiritual growth whereas number 9 is more extroverted in their desire to positively impact the world through leadership, humanitarian pursuits and teaching.
Personality 3 and 5 have good compatibility as they both enjoy communicating with others, travel and entertainment. The personality number is how other people see us and the first impressions we make. When the personality numbers are compatible, other people tend to view the couple favourably, understanding why they are a good fit for the other. Numbers 3 and 5 are extraverted numbers that thrive on interaction with people, as a couple they enjoy socializing, attending parties and other public events. Joanne appears to others as jovial, philosophical, creative and charming. Paul appears fun loving, bright, adept at persuasion and articulate in speech.
Both of them have soul urge number 4, when both people have the same number it is best for compatibility generally. The soul urge is our deepest desires, dreams and hopes. It is not apparent to anyone besides the person themselves. In this case they share a desire for security, stability, structure and discipline. They like excitement, change and variety as shown by other numbers but at the end of the day, a happy, stable home life is essential to their happiness.
Birthdays 8 and 9 are not compatible. This is mainly because number 8 is a workaholic, very concerned with status, prestige, money and beautiful creature comforts, it is a practical and efficient number. Number 9 is not a materialistic number and is not as concerned with advancing their career or buying nice things. They may place more importance on volunteering, relief efforts and charitable causes. These two ways of being clash because the 8 may believe the 9 is not being “sensible” in choosing not to spend so much time at work and gain promotions whereas the 9 may think the 8 is not spending enough time helping other people and doesn’t spend as much time with the family.
Life path 6 and 8 have good compatibility. Both of these numbers have an entrepreneurial streak and will work hard on their business to make it flourish. They appreciate creature comforts and beautiful things and have similar tastes in entertainment and leisure. Number 6 is naturally compassionate and has a strong interest in improving the quality of life for people. Number 8 can be generous with their money so with the 6’s strong desire to help people and number 8’s financial backing, they can run very successful charitable events, fundraisers and causes.
A more minor influence but nonetheless relevant is the first letter of the first name. This gives an added dimension to someone’s personality that may not be reflected in the core numbers. The first letters of this couple are J=1 and P= 7. Numbers 1 and 7 have excellent compatibility because they both value independence of thought and behaviour and cherish their freedom. They value their solitude for different reasons and give each other the space they need to discover new information and try new activities without feeling tied down or restricted. True to his Aquarius nature, Paul is quoted as saying “Wives should not feel obligated to accompany their husbands to a ball game, husbands do look a bit silly attending morning coffee breaks with the neighborhood wives when most men are out at work. Husbands and wives should have separate interests, cultivate different sets of friends and not impose on the other ... You can’t spend a lifetime breathing down each other’s necks ... We are very, very different people and yet somehow we fed off those varied differences and instead of separating us, it has made the whole bond a lot stronger” (5).
Summary
It is evident from their Astronumerology charts that Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were destined to be together, they were soul mates and propelled each other to achievements that neither of them could have accomplished by themselves. They each had star power on their own but together their stars were blue hot! It is relevant to note that in the composite chart, the ruler of the chart, Saturn, is placed in the 11th house. The 11th house represents dreams, desires, wishes, large groups, teamwork, charitable organizations and humanitarian efforts. It is auspicious in a composite chart to have this feature as it indicates the couple helps each other fulfill their dreams and they have the potential to do a lot of benevolent and generous work in helping those less fortunate, especially large groups of people that are underprivileged. I hope this inspires you to take a look at your synastry and composite chart with the person you are romantically interested in, are dating, or are married to and see if you can uncover the deeper reasons for your unique relationship dynamics. The purpose and karma is revealed in those charts, working on the strengths of the relationship will definitely help each of you in your personal and spiritual growth. May 2014 bring you peace, joy and love!!!
References
1. http://www.newmansown.com/charity/
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Newman
3. http://www.holeinthewallgang.org/document.doc?id=535
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Woodward
5. http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/paulnewman.htm
6. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1176910/Im-guilty-hell--Ill-carry-Paul-Newmans-marriage-secrets-revealed.html
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