Predicting the Number of Potential Marriages in the Natal Chart

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Photo by sandoclr copyright iStockphoto

As an astrologer, one of the questions I’m asked most frequently is, “Will I ever get married?” There is a technique that claims to predict the number of potential marriages in your life. It involves counting the number of major aspects the Sun (in a hetero woman’s chart) or the Moon (in a hetero man’s chart) makes to the natal planets before it leaves its sign. This theory is described in Carol Rushman’s excellent book The Art of Predictive Astrology: Forecasting Your Life Events (she states that she learned it from other astrologers).

Although she does not cover gay marriage in her book, I believe this technique could also be used to discover the number of potential same sex unions. I would count the number of applying aspects from the Moon in a woman’s chart and from the Sun in a man’s chart.

Here’s how it works. Mary (who’s straight) has her Sun at 3 degrees Cancer. If she moved it forward until it reached 29 degrees Cancer, it would make aspects to other planets in her chart. Let’s say she has Mars at 4 degrees Scorpio and Saturn at 10 degrees Aries. Her Sun would trine Mars and square Saturn. That’s two potential marriages. Note that these are “potential” marriages … nothing says she has to get married two times if she’s happy with the first one!

Pay attention to this: the aspects to the other planets from the Sun or Moon only count if they are applying aspects. The Sun or Moon is moving towards these planets. Some aspects are classified as separating; these are not valid for this theory.

How to Calculate the Degrees of Your Planets

You can get a list of the degrees of your natal planets right here on Sasstrology (and to get the time zone and latitude and longitude for your birth location, fill out the Astrological Atlas widget here.) An alternative is to go to astro.com and follow these links in the sidebar navigation: Free Horoscopes > Horoscope Drawings & Calculations > Chart Drawing & Ascendant. After you enter your birth data and get your chart, click on the “View the Additional Tables” link.

Look for the first row that says “Longitude.” That includes the degrees of your planets along with their signs. Find the degree of your Sun if you’re attracted to men and your Moon if you’re attracted to women. Then only look for planets that have degrees that are higher than that degree. In addition, since we’re only looking at Ptolemaic aspects (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition) you should ignore planets in any signs that immediately precede or follow the sign of your Sun (or Moon) plus any signs that immediately precede or follow the sign opposite your Sun (or Moon) because these signs are inconjunct or semisextile your Sun (or Moon) sign.

For example, if you’re interested in men and your Sun is in Aries, ignore any planets in Pisces, Taurus, Virgo or Scorpio. Refer to the following list to see which signs you should ignore:

  • Aries: Pisces, Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio
  • Taurus: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius
  • Gemini: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn
  • Cancer: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius
  • Leo: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces
  • Virgo: Leo, Libra, Aquarius, Aries
  • Libra: Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus
  • Scorpio: Libra, Sagittarius, Aries, Gemini
  • Sagittarius: Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer
  • Capricorn: Sagittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, Leo
  • Aquarius: Capricorn, Pisces, Cancer, Virgo
  • Pisces: Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Libra

Does this theory actually work? Do the planets in question describe the marriage partners? I’m going to use my chart as an example.  I’ve been married twice (I’m on my second marriage). My Sun is at 10 degrees Virgo. It forms an applying trine to my natal Saturn at 22 degrees Taurus. It also forms an applying conjunction to Pluto and Mercury at 26 and 27 degrees Virgo (I’m counting Pluto/Mercury as one. Rushman states that Sun applying to Mercury indicates a relationship, but not marriage). Finally, my Sun makes an applying sextile to my Neptune at 28 degrees Scorpio. That’s three potential marriages.

My first marriage was to an older man. This fits with Saturn trine my Sun because Saturn represents age and authority. He was a Leo Sun/Moon which doesn’t match the Taurus energy (although Leo and Taurus are both Fixed signs). My current marriage is to a man with a Virgo Sun and strong Scorpio elements in his chart. That fits with Pluto (the ruler of Scorpio) conjunct my Sun.

So the theory does seem to work (with my chart, at least). What if your Sun (or Moon) is at the end of its sign and makes no applying aspects? I wouldn’t get too worked up about it. Even Rushman states that this technique does not work 100% of the time. But it’s fun to look at your chart and see the potential. Again, I repeat, this is potential only. It’s up to you to work with it.

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Comment below: How has this theory worked in your own marriage history?