Synastry Studies  ✦  Dawn Bodrogi  ✦  The Inner Wheel

Please read Part 1 of The Roving “I” before this piece. It’s important to understand how the angles operate before tackling angle contacts and positions — particularly when considering the role of the Ascendant in synastry.

The tightrope walk between Ascendant and Descendant can be tricky. Ascendant/Descendant contacts are powerful. When this angle is touched by another person’s planet, we can feel finally found. This person understands us and appreciates us for who we are — they seem to see the deepest part of the inner me, the ideal partner. Alas, this is also the area where we have blind spots. It is where we assume too much.

When there are planet/angle contacts it feels like fate. However, there is also a tidal pull towards what may be difficult — and rarely, but occasionally, dangerous — psychological waters. We may or may not be prepared to navigate them, with the current partner or any other. Lack of development or lack of balance of the Ascendant/Descendant often contributes greatly to continuing relationship difficulties. An over-emphasis on one or the other end of the axis, either natally or via synastry, is certain to rock the relationship boat.

The Progressed Angles

A crucial element of examining a relationship is to look at the progressed angles. They will tell you a great deal about the current state of affairs. Depending on what method you use to progress the chart, the angle moves at roughly one degree per year. Look to see if the progressed angle has recently changed signs — there will be a huge shift in perceived identity and relationship needs. It’s often a rocky patch when one half of a couple goes through this phase. Also look for progressed angles conjuncting progressed planets. The need to embody that planet will be powerful.

Transits of the outer planets to progressed angles will also be deeply felt. Pluto often awakens primal dissatisfaction and the need to be reborn in some way — often, this is through sex. Neptune may not only awaken longing, but also be accompanied by other-worldly experiences that change one’s perception of oneself and one’s place in the scheme of things. Uranus will often spark a surprising about-face, or engender the need to cut and run.

It doesn’t matter which end of the angle is affected. Sometimes contact with the Descendant will bring the experience through a partner — Uranus conjunct the Descendant, and the partner leaves. In this case, the partner is acting out the client’s unspoken need.

The Ruler of the Descendant

Examining the angles and the position of their rulers will give us a great amount of further detail regarding relationship behaviour. A person with the Descendant ruler in the first house will identify themselves as a partner — they will be more partner-oriented than one with the Ascendant ruler in the 1st house. The Descendant ruler in the second house may give us someone who values partnership above all, or who depends on the partner for a sense of being valued.

For further information, look where the eighth house ruler is placed. If conjunct an angle, it will show the area where that kind of transformative experience is sought. If conjunct the Descendant, a sexual partnership is crucial no matter what else the chart says. If conjunct the 10th, the transformative experiences will be found through work. The IC — home and family. The Ascendant — that person may constantly invent crises in order to reinvent themselves. Because we are dealing with the ruler of the 8th, all of these crises may be triggered by intense partnerships of all kinds.

Combining basic relationship needs — as indicated in the natal charts — with currently emphasized needs will give a more accurate picture of the client’s relationship sensibility right now. For example, you might believe you’re dealing with an earthy Capricorn Mars. But if that Mars has progressed into Aquarius, and furthermore is conjunct the progressed Descendant, he may be wanting to throw that ambitious earth energy to the wind. He might even leave his steady Cancer girlfriend — or look for partners who represent the free-wheeling Aquarian archetype, finding himself attracted to women who love him and leave him. This will cause him to examine his own innate desires for solidity and security.

The years where Mars is conjunct the Descendant within one degree will be the crucial ones for change. But the Capricorn Mars will continue to have Aquarian experiences — these help it expand its understanding of its own motives. The natal chart energy is the base we return to after our explorations in understanding. Progressions tell us what qualities we need to develop in order to move on and mature.

In Part 3 we explore the signs on the axis, the behaviours that may need to be outgrown, and the pitfalls that may occur. See also: The Inner Script.

Go deeper

The Foundations Book by Dawn Bodrogi

For a deeper understanding of how the angles, their rulers, and their progressions work together in a complete synastry analysis — Dawn’s Foundations Book is the essential companion for anyone serious about relationship astrology.

→ The Foundations Book — all ebook retailers

The angles are gateways — the highly sensitive points where experience is made conscious and available for our growth.