Synastry and love in Chinese astrology, Part I

In the Chinese system called Batzu, astrological compatibility is shown by the signs of your year and day of birth against the signs of the year and day of the birth of your partner. In the Nine Star system compatibility is shown by comparing your year, month and tendency stars to those of your partner. This article discusses compatibility through the Batzu system. Following articles will discuss the individual signs in Batzu, and the Nine Star system.

There are twelve signs in Batzu. They are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. In judging compatibility we compare year to year signs, and day to day signs. There are other factors to consider, but these are the basics.

Rat is a yang Water sign. The easiest signs for Rat are Dragon and Monkey. Rat also gets along with Pig, Rooster, Ox, and Tiger. Rat's Flower of Romance is Rooster. The signs most challenging for Rat are Sheep, Horse, and Rabbit. Sheep and Rat have a complicated relationship that may or may not work well depending on the dependability of Rat and the tolerance of Sheep, Rat being the Star of Romance for Sheep.

Ox is a yin Earth sign. The easiest signs for Ox are Snake and Rooster. Ox also gets along with Rat, Dragon, and Snake. The Star of Romance for  Ox is Horse but these can have discord because Horse moves too fast for Ox, and Ox can be stubborn. The signs most challenging for Ox are Sheep and Dog.

Tiger is a yang Wood sign. The easiest signs for Tiger are Horse and Dog. Tiger also gets along with Pig, Rabbit, and Rat. The Star of Romance for Tiger is Rabbit (yum). The signs most challenging for Tiger are Snake, Monkey, Rooster, Dragon, and Sheep.

Rabbit is a yin Wood sign. The easiest signs for Rabbit are Sheep and Pig. Rabbit also gets along with Dog, Tiger, and Snake. The Star of Romance for Rabbit is Rat, but these clash so the relationship between them tends to become complicated with the tricky Rabbit side stepping the aggressive Rat. The signs most challenging for Rabbit are Rooster, Dragon, and Rat.

Dragon is a yang Earth sign. The easiest signs for Dragon are Rat and Monkey. Dragon also gets along with Rooster, Sheep, Snake, and Horse. Dragon's Star of Romance is Rooster. The signs most challenging for Dragon are Dragon, Rabbit, and Dog.

Snake is a yin Fire sign. The easiest signs for Snake are Ox and Rooster. Snake also is attracted to Monkey, although this is a complicated relationship in which both can harm one another if they don't understand one another. Snake also gets along with Horse, Sheep, Dragon, and Dog. Snake's Star of Romance is Horse. The signs most challenging for Snake are Tiger, and Monkey.

Horse is a yang Fire sign. The easiest signs for Horse are Tiger and Dog. Horse also gets along with Sheep, Snake, Rabbit, and Dragon. The Star of Romance for Horse is Rabbit. The signs most challenging for Horse are Horse, Ox, and Rat.

Sheep is a yin Earth sign. The easiest signs for Sheep are Rabbit and Pig. Sheep also gets along with Horse, Dragon, Snake, Monkey, and Rooster. The Star of Romance for Sheep is Rat. But, Sheep and Rat can clash. Sheep and Rat are both adventurous, but they can harm one another if Rat arouses mistrust in the Sheep. The signs most challenging for Sheep are Rat, Ox, and Dog.

Monkey is a yang Metal sign. The easiest signs for Monkey are Rat and Dragon. Monkey also gets along with Snake, but unless these two understand one another they can cause one another trouble. Other signs Monkey gets along with are Sheep, Ox, Dog, and Rooster. The Star of Romance for Monkey is Rooster. The signs most challenging for Monkey are Pig, and Tiger.

Rooster is a yin Metal sign. The easiest signs for Rooster are Snake and Ox. Rooster also gets along with Dragon, Monkey, Sheep, Rat, and Pig. The Star of Romance for Rooster is Horse. The signs most challenging for Rooster are Rooster, Dog, and Rabbit.

Dog is a yang Earth sign. The easiest signs for Dog are Horse and Tiger. Dog also gets along with Rabbit, Snake, and Monkey. The Star of Romance for Dog is Rabbit. The signs most challenging for Dog are Rooster, Dragon, Ox, and Sheep.

Pig is a yin Water sign. The easiest signs for Pig are Sheep and Rabbit. Pig also gets along with Tiger, Rat, and Rooster. The Star of Romance for Pig is Rat. The signs most challenging for Pig are Pig, Monkey, and Snake.

Challenges can bring out great opportunities for self-development; relationships between incompatible people are not entirely useless. On the other hand, we must note that even if there is compatibility between two people their internal personal issues may make the relationship a challenge. There is no easy answer to this.

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Raphael is available for both western and Chinese astrological, as well as psychic readings. Ask for astrosynastry readings. For more information about Raphael's work visit www.raphaelsimons.com

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The 10/19 Lunar eclipse in astrology

The lunar eclipse was at 00:51 AM GMD on October 19 at 25:52 Aries. It was visible in Brazil, all of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and much of Russia.

A lunar eclipse in the third decanate of Aries is said to cause abortive births and to pose dangers to women. Lands ruled entirely or in part by Aries, in which the eclipse was visible and will register more strongly, include Denmark, England, Wales, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Syria. The force of a lunar eclipse lasts three months on average.

The eclipsed Moon is in the second lunar mansion, called Albothaim. It gives courage, but also recklessness caused by lack of reflection, and can destabilize financial dealings.

For those of you whose birthday falls on this day it signals a turning point in your life. If the eclipse is visible where you are it is all the more powerful, and says that the next three months are going to be most eventful and challenging.

The most important planetary aspects at the eclipse include Mars exactly opposite Neptune, and Uranus exactly square Pluto. Mars and Neptune are at 2 degrees Virgo and Pisces, respectively. Uranus and Pluto are at 9 degrees Aries and Capricorn respectively. These two planetary configurations, because they occur at the time of the eclipse, will play out violently in the world from the time of the eclipse to the end of this year. Mars opposite Neptune is explosive.

The eclipse in the UK occurs at the zenith. There will be loud public outcry against the Government. Mars and Neptune are conjunct the 2nd and 8th house cusps respectively showing the financial crisis becoming explosive. Uranus and Pluto are in the 9th and 5th houses respectively showing trouble in international trade and diplomatic relations.

The eclipse in Bruxelles, therefore for the entire Euro zone occurs in the 9th house showing trouble in international trade relations. Mars and Neptune are in the 1st and 7th houses, respectively showing treachery and double dealing in international relations, and a violently angry spirit among the people; there will be rioting. Uranus and Pluto are in the 9th and 5th houses, respectively showing trouble in international trade and diplomatic relations.

The eclipse in the US is in the 12th house showing a crisis in services. Mars and Neptune are in the 4th and 10th houses, respectively showing treacherous dealings and violent fighting between the incumbency and the opposition in the Government. Uranus and Pluto are in the 11th and 8th houses, respectively showing violent disputes in the Congress having to do with the national debt.
Mars in the 4th house opposite Neptune in the 10th house shows that the people are being lied to, and are becoming very angry with the Government. The Ascendant in DC at the eclipse is conjunct the Pleiades, also known as the Weeping Sisters. As shown by this eclipse, the national outlook is seriously troubled.

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Raphael is available for private astrological and psychic readings. For more information visit www.raphaelsimons.com or contact Raphael at simons.traphael@gmail.com