Synastry Studies ✦ Dawn Bodrogi ✦ The Inner Wheel
We’ve distorted the meaning of the word “essential” in popular language to mean something that is absolutely necessary. In truth, the meaning is the opposite. If something is essential — “of the essence” — it is something that can never be taken away or distorted. I think of this when I deal with the composite Sun in astrology.
The composite Sun has nothing to do with need. Renaissance astrologers referred to the Sun as the “heart” of the chart. Without it, the chart could have no warmth, light, or definition. The Sun is also a consolidating energy — a transit or progression can sit there, inactive for months, and then things blow when the transiting Sun hits the relevant points.
The Sun’s Dual Function
The Sun has a dual function in the chart. One is to portray the essence of the human being — the eternally creative life force which is our core Self in its truest expression. The evolving I, the one that evokes and embraces change, is represented by the progressed Ascendant. We are both eternal and evolving through the experience of our material reality.
The Sun’s second function is as creator and consolidating force. It moves the chart forward. When the Sun touches another planet, we become aware of that planet — primed to learn our lessons regarding its function and meaning in our lives.
— Dawn Bodrogi
The Benevolent Power of the Sun
I tend to think that there is nothing malefic about the Sun. Even if it is connected with the darkest pile-up of planets you can imagine, the Sun’s presence there would be hopeful — because there is always the possibility of light and awareness. With a hard aspect, the awareness might be hard to come by. But the possibility is there, unlike the flat-out darkness that might exist if the Sun were absent.
The Sun can be a great mentor too. Sun/Jupiter will be lucky with teachers or spiritual guides. Sun/Pluto may draw from both sides of the legal divide to learn its lessons. Sun/Neptune may draw the artistic or the helpless. In all cases, it’s the Sun bringing awareness of the planet — not the planet acting on the Sun. The Sun is the centre. As the essence, it cannot be manipulated or maneuvered.
In synastry, I never worry about hard aspects between the individual Suns. All that means is that two people have very different ways of processing experience. With the Sun, the stimulation that occurs with hard aspects can be very creative — it causes us to seek out new ways of interacting and solving problems. None of the discomfort that can happen when two Moons are at crossroads.
The Composite Sun Through the Houses
The composite chart is a thing of beauty when read correctly. It represents the essence — the creative drive that is the outcome of two energies joining forces. By house and sign, the composite Sun will show the essential purpose of a relationship and what it is meant to show the two people involved. Aspects to the Sun will illustrate the major developmental challenges two people will experience in this lifetime.
Houses 1 — 2
First House — a lucky place for the composite Sun. This is a couple whose energy pours easily and naturally into the relationship itself. Very much wrapped up in we and us — a united front. The challenge is to learn to be inclusive as a couple, and to balance work and home life with other partnership needs.
Second House — we value what we have together. This may be a relationship for the express purpose of sharing talents with one another and with the world. The Sun here is practical — it wants to accomplish something concrete. Challenges can come through conflicts regarding creative pursuits or with groups and peers.
Houses 3 — 4
Third House — a relationship that may work primarily on the intellectual plane, where the exchange of ideas is the utmost priority. Great curiosity about how the world is put together. Challenges come when one partner wants to experience the greater world out there.
Fourth House — the emphasis is on home, family, and the laying down of roots. Inner-directed, needing a respite from the world at large. Great comfort with one another. Challenges come from the outside world — career issues or other people invading the sacred space.
Houses 5 — 6
Fifth House — the fun couple. Very dynamic, expressive — you won’t see them hiding their light under a bushel. May pursue creative fields together, or the emphasis may be on procreation. Challenges when they can’t get a handle on what they have to contribute to their world.
Sixth House — an interesting placement. The emphasis is on balance, wholeness, and healing. These couples may be prone to experiencing one challenge after another, or feel like scapegoats. On the other hand, there is often a strong emphasis on work and service.
Houses 7 — 8
Seventh House — either very out there and passionate about connecting with others, or spending their time trying to figure out who they are by finding out who they are not. The Sun’s light will work out the kinks in the relationship shadow, allowing them to become progressively closer and stronger.
Eighth House — profound inner transformation together, through intimacy or through experiences which challenge the partnership’s very existence. These are the couples who may lose themselves in the throes of partnership and then find out they are not who they thought they were.
Houses 9 — 10
Ninth House — built on mutual goals, dreams, and visions. A perpetual search for meaning and higher purpose. The drawback may be a lack of willingness to commit. Challenges come because the hard work of grounding ideals in the real world may be tedious.
Tenth House — another easy placement — the Sun is very happy in its noon position. If the Sun is right on the MC, these couples may be prominent in their field. Happy being seen as a couple and willing to take their place as leaders. Challenges usually come from a lack of real emotional honesty and intimacy.
Houses 11 — 12
Eleventh House — a very friendly placement. The very social couple, surrounded by friends and active in group activities. The focus is on how things should be rather than what is. Problems arise when the reality of their lifestyle does not match their dreams.
Twelfth House — something needs to be fixed. These couples share a specific karma that needs realignment, a specific thing that needs to be accomplished. More than any other solar composite position, there is a tendency to break up once the specific lesson is learned.
The Enduring Importance of the Lights
I am a big fan of the Sun and the Moon, and it often saddens me to see that they are no longer considered sexy in the astrological lexicon. We gloss over the lights and jump to the Vertex and/or aspects to Chiron. But in doing so, we miss the essence of the chart. We miss what the chart feels like from the inside.
To reveal the true essence of your relationships — and who you are within them — the composite Sun placement is the key. You can create your own composite chart to discover your relationship’s purpose with a tool like the one on Astro.com.
Thanks to Jeff Kishner and Erika Malzberg for being great editors.
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We gloss over the lights and jump to the Vertex. But in doing so, we miss the essence of the chart — what the chart feels like from the inside.
Hi Dawn, I am sorry if this is off topic, but I didn’t know where to post. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on Katie Holmes chart in light of the recent events? She has some interesting transits and progressions. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this if you have time or the inclination to do so.
Thank you.
Hi Farah–Thanks for the suggestion. If there is time at the end of the series, I’ll do a piece on Holmes/Cruise.