Astrological Compatibility: What Do The Stars Say About Your Relationship

Love is a mystery: Who we love and why we love them. Love goes right, we are in Heaven, love goes wrong, we are in Hell. We are never so uncertain or so vulnerable as when we are just taking those first steps into love, and for millennia we have been consulting the stars in the hope of catching a glimpse of the outcome of our love affairs, our marriages.

Once, families would consult their children's astrological charts before arranging a match to a suitable, and hopefully compatible spouse. We now follow our hearts instead of our stars, and maybe we are right -- or are we? Some star signs are mildly incompatible, others are completely antagonistic, but still, we do have a tendency to feel a wild attraction to the "wrong" type...

So who's the right person, and the wrong one for each particular Sign of the Zodiac? We give you a few hints, but remember to take Ascendants into account.

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Aries is all about passion and fire, impulsiveness, and intensity, and those are the same traits they will bring into their love affairs. While Aries will do extremely well with a Gemini, a Leo, a Sagittarius, or an Aquarius, things are bound to go pear-shaped when out fiery Aries falls for watery Cancer. Cancerians are reserved and slow to commit and will find Aries head-long rush into love suspicious...

Aries and Capricorns are another unauspicious combination. You'd think that with two fire signs they'd get on...well, like a house on fire... But while Aries' fiery nature is spontaneous and warm, Capricorns are more like arsonists: Their passions are coldly calculated to serve their ego and their ambitions, and Aries-Capricorn love matches can have painful ends.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Earthy Taurus is ruled by Venus, airy mistress of love, which adds a dollop of contradictions to this star sign. Taurus' earthy side makes them practical, materialistic, and dare we say bull-headed? Venus leavens the mix with a passion for beauty, and a sensual nature that thrives on love, or sex -- whichever comes first. Taurus will have their most successful relationships with Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, and Pisces, but head for disaster with Leos and Capricorns.

Fire sign Leo is exciting for Taurus, but pretty soon the Lion's impetuousness and sheer vanity will drive the Bull to distraction. Both ambitious signs, they are also ego-driven, and unlikely to give way for the sake of mere love... Taurus will also literally butt heads with fellow earth sign, Capricorn. Taurus is difficult to dissuade from a course of action, and Capricorn is equally stubborn, jealous, and dedicated to self-interest. Not a comfortable relationship at any level!

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Geminis are always in two minds about love and everything else for that matter. They can't help it, there's two of them, and they often disagree about EVERYTHING. Gemini is by nature mercurial, exciting, spontaneous, and changeable. The Twins are fascinating, fun, and fickle... Everyone falls in love with Gemini, but can they handle them? Aries, Leo, Libra, and Aquarius certainly can, but Leo and Pisces will be out of their depths with Gemini.

Proud, outgoing, ambitious Leo will be attracted by Gemini, who is just as big and bold a personality (or is it personalities?) But the twins and the Lion will quickly run into trouble. Gemini is Air, Leo is Fire, but when the air runs out, the fire dies... They like the heat, but they live in different realities. Pisces, on the other hand, is just too dreamy for rational, logical, PRACTICAL Gemini. Yes, contemplating the music of the spheres is fine, but what's for dinner? And besides, Pisces has a bit of a roving eye, and both Twins insist on fidelity...

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Sensitive, and emotional Cancer is ruled by the Moon. The Crab's hardshell hides a soft tender heart, all too vulnerable to ruthless and insincere lovers. So Cancer takes it slow, before giving away their hearts, and showering their chosen partner with unconditional love. Their best connections are with Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces; but it would be wise for Cancer to steer clear of Aries and Capricorn, and their fellow Cancerians.

Cancer and Aries just don't mix. Aries is impetuous and likes to jump right in, and will be frustrated and angered by the Crab's need to take its time. Their basic natures are just like oil and water -- or fire and water. Not a good mix, which also applies to a Cancer/ Capricorn pairing but for different reasons. Capricorn is not a naturally nurturing sign, which may leave poor Cancer feeling unloved, and very unhappy. As for Cancer/ Cancer, their relationship is bound to be complicated by their sameness and doomed by their emotional neediness.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)

Bold, outgoing, and proud Leo needs to be worshipped. The Lion wants attention, adulation, and confirmation of how amazing they are. In return, Leo will treat his or her partner like Royalty, showering them with love, and adoration. The signs most likely to enter happily into this symbiosis with Leo are Aries, Gemini, Libra, and Sagittarius; while a relationship with a Taurus or a Scorpio will be far from fulfilling.

Yes, Taurus will give Leo that flattering, single-minded adoration, but the Bull's slow-but-steady pace will drive the impulsive and impatient Lion to distraction. As for Scorpio, Leo's need for attention, and that unfortunate compulsion to flirt (just to feed the ego) will not sit well with the ever-faithful and honest Scorpion. It's not that Leo cheats, they just like to know that others desire them too... So, Leo, stay away from Scorpio, no matter how seductive that singleminded passion may be.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)

Cool, calm, collected, and controlled Virgo likes everything to work out just so. It's no surprise that Virgo is the sign most likely to remain single. Getting swept away by passion is more likely to give the Virgin an anxiety attack than to lift them to heights of ecstatic love. Best bets for a Virgo are fellow earth signs Taurus and Capricorn and the worse are Sagittarius, and Pisces, and of course, fellow Virgos.

Saggitarius is fiery, passionate, and flamboyant, which will not sit well with Virgo who will constantly imagine the Archer will stray to greener pastures. As for poor Pisces, their dreamy, flighty, impossible to pin down nature will be an irritant to logical Virgo. Worse of all is Virgo versus Virgo. Imagine a clash of O.C.D. titans...

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)

Libras are the ultimate romantics. Yep, they buy the whole hog. The Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and One True Love. Of course, being Venus' true children (Taurus is adopted) Libras are blessed with enough charm to seduce them all, which can be complicated. Libra's search for The One will be more likely to succeed with Leo and Aquarius; and likely to lead to heartbreak with Sagittarius, Gemini, and fellow Librans.

The biggest problem between Libra and Sagittarius is that Venus' child is monogamous by nature -- at least once they find The One -- and expects a close soul-bond that will prove a challenge to the Archer's freewheeling nature. So Sagittarius will feel trapped and Libra insecure... While a relationship with Gemini might seem ideal at first glance, the duality of these two star signs' nature will spell disaster. Libra's need for balance and Gemini's duality will clash. As for Libra-Libra, they will be constantly trying to please and placate each other, and lose sight of their own emotional needs. Very unhealthy!

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

Scorpio is probably the most misunderstood of the star signs. The Scorpion is passionate, intense, insanely loyal, and obsessed with justice -- and yes, sometimes they do sting! The truth is that its nature makes the give and take of relationships difficult for Scorpio. The Scorpion will find its happiest matings with Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, and Pisces; but would be wise to avoid Aries and Leos.

Just like Aries, Scorpios are ruled by Mars, and their passionate relationship can become a veritable battlefield, where their aggression feeds off each other. Lots of fights and war-wounds, but very little kissing and making up... As for Leo, Scorpio will find it hard to deal with the Lion's constant need to be in the spotlight. Somber Scorpio and extravagant Leo will not be writing a "happily-ever-after" ending together.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

Funny, feisty, and fiery Sagittarius is the life of the party. A go-getter with a heart of gold, nevertheless Sag has this one trait that tends to make them a complicated bet in the romantic stakes: commitment phobia. It's not that they can't commit -- and once they do it's for life -- it just takes them a while, and the Centaur can be skittish... Best bets for taming the wild Archer are on Leos, Aries, Aquarius, and Libras; Taurus and Cancerians need not apply.

Taurus may match the Sags capacity for physical love, but their stolid and steady approach to life will never agree with the Archer's need for excitement and change. Taurus hates change, Sag thrives on it... As for poor Cancer, the shy and loving Crab may fall madly in love with a Sag, and be reciprocated, but the Archer cannot give them the stability and security they so desperately need. Sagittarius is all about fireworks and the next horizon, all the things that make Cancer nervous.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

Capricorns are the fuss-bugs of the Zodiac. Practical, pragmatic, goal-orientated, and ambitious, it's hard to believe its a fire sign. They love passionately but have a cold, calculating streak that leads them to withhold affection. Caps can be very demanding too, sometimes hold their loved ones to unreasonably high standards. Capricorns are more likely to find happiness with hardworking, and ambitious Virgo and Taurus, but are headed for woe with Aries and Leo.

Leo's flamboyance will rub Cap the wrong way. There's only one star in the family, one ego, and that belongs to the Goat. Leo and Caps in love are in a constant tug of war: the Lion's fun-loving energy against Cap's innate conservatism and pessimism. It's a war no-one wins... Another battle Cap is sure to lose is against Aries. The fiery Ram is just as headstrong as Capricorn, and just as controlling, but the Goat will never stoop to soothing Aries with kisses...

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

"Still waters run deep" must have been invented to describe Aquarius. The Water-Bearer is anything but wishy-washy. Aquarius are usually deep thinkers. intellectuals, with a great capacity for love, and yet you scratch the surface of that placid pool and you uncover a free-spirited wild-child. They are at their best matched with an Aries, a Gemini, a Libra, or a Sagittarius; but if Aquarius falls for a Taurus or a Cancerian the resulting relationships might prove to be quite a challenge.

Taurus is all about consistency and keeping the status quo, the tried-and-tested way; Aquarius is constantly looking for the path to the future. Aquarius joyfully embraces change, passive-aggressive Taurus resists... The strain can prove to be more than all but the most devoted (or masochistic) can bear. As for Cancer, the Aquarian lover is never as demonstrative as the Crab would like. Cancer is all about nurture, and clinging to the protective shell of the past; while Aquarius is all about evolving, and leaving that past behind... Tricky, very tricky!

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20)

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink! That may be what someone in love with a Pisces might feel faced with the Fish's strangely contradictory nature. Pisces are creative, brilliant, but can be so impractical their brilliance evaporates into dreams. Deeply empathic, Pisces can also be overly emotional (drowning in tears). The Fish is wildly romantic, and commits easily -- but will just as easily stray. Pisces will be at their best with Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, and Capricorn; and at their worse with Leos, Libras, and of course, fellow Pisceans.

Profoundly romantic Libras and Pisces will fall in love deeply and easily, but the crunch comes later when the rational Scales start dealing with all that emotion. Oh! And Libras commit for life, and take fidelity very seriously, while Pisceans practically invented polyamory... None of these problems will crop up in a relationship with a Leo, but the Fish will be constantly on the edge of tears, bruised, and battered by the Lion's brashness. And of course, there is nothing of the dreamer about Leo. Two Pisces in love, living in the same fishbowl year after year, mirroring each other's flaws, and reinforcing their worse traits is a perfect recipe for disaster. Not a good idea!

Please take into account that your Ascendant is just as important as your Sun Sign, especially when it comes to working out your compatibility with your prospective partner.

And, of course, there are couples from incompatible signs who fall deeply in love and commit, work through their differences, and find true happiness. It's all about the hard work they are prepared to put in, and how much they love their partner, no matter what the Stars may predict.