Zodiac Compatibility: Creating Harmony in the Stars

Zodiac Compatibility - An Introduction

What does Western Astrology have to do with zodiac compatibility? What zodiac signs go best together, and how do we figure that out? Which zodiac signs prefer to be single and why?

These questions, and many more, can be best answered via the lens of Western Astrology – the type of Astrology most practiced in the West, as the name suggests. There are many more nuances and layers to this than one may think. We must consider the zodiac signs’ ruling planet to understand true compatibility, not just the elements so popular in mainstream Astrology. Zodiac compatibility is so much more than two fire signs, like Leo and Aries, going together, as we will come to find out.

It’s also important to consider that zodiac compatibility is based on the ‘Sun Sign” of two individuals (otherwise known as Star Signs). Yet, we have ten planets to consider when understanding and unpacking Zodiac compatibility. Thus, the below should be taken with a small pinch of salt, understanding that there are many more layers to zodiac compatibility than just the Star Sign.

With this in mind, read more to explore what makes certain zodiac signs so compatible and why certain zodiac signs prefer to stay single.

How to Check Astrology Compatibility?

There are three main ways to check zodiac compatibility: elements, modes and ruling planets.

Elemental compatibility is the easiest and most accessible way to check if two zodiac signs are compatible. There are four elements to work with: earth, air, fire and water.

Earth Signs

Earth signs tend to look for security, stability and commitment. They share a grounded practicality and tend to be sensible and pragmatic about love.

Air Signs

Air signs are sociable, talkative and mentally orientated. They love to share ideas, connect intellectually and enjoy experiences together. They tend to be light, detached and friendly, not to mention flirty!

Fire Signs

Fire signs share a passionate nature and are adventurous, spontaneous and fun-loving. They are self-expressive, independent, warm, volatile and even confrontational at times. They say it like it is and are deeply honest.

Water Signs

Water signs tend to be soft, sensitive, emotional and crave to feel safe with their partners. They can be very attached and need to give and receive plenty of nurturing and empathy. Water signs can be moody and defensive, too, not to mention manipulative.

So, the first thing to check for zodiac compatibility is whether these elements go together.

If, for example, the two of you are the same element, you’ll get along easily and understand each other with barely any effort. You express yourself in the same way, though there can also be too much of a good thing!

Elemental Compatibility in the Zodiac

Feminine Elements - Earth and Water

Then, the 'Feminine' elements go well together and create beautiful zodiac compatibility. These are the earth and water signs. They nourish and nurture each other, helping each other to soften and grow. They feel safe together.

Masculine Elements - Fire and Air

The 'Masculine' elements also go well together. These are fire and air. Fire and air zodiac signs are outgoing, passionate, adventurous and open. They're less inclined to seek safety and more inclined to seek independence, though they love to share experiences.

The elements that need some work together are earth/fire, air/water and water/fire.

Earth/Fire

Earth/fire can be routine versus passion, but they can also ground and inspire each other, giving each other more of what they need to grow.

Air/Water

Air/water can be tough to start with, as air is primarily rational, whereas water is emotional. They may see each other as insensitive or oversensitive at times. Yet, they also balance each other out. Mind and heart can work together here.

Water/Fire

The pairings that can be the hardest work are water/fire - they can drown each other and be overly volatile, seeing each other as a crybaby or tactless. Earth and air can also be challenging, as they have no real meeting point - one is materially focussed, whereas the other can be airy-fairy.

Yet, all relationships can work with the right amount of consciousness, so keep that in mind.

Mode Compatibility in the Zodiac

Then, when it comes to Modes, there are three: Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable.

Cardinal signs tend to be leadership-oriented,
whereas Fixed Zodiac signs are more consistent and committed and need a durable connection.
Mutable zodiac signs are adapting, flexible and sometimes non-committal.

With Modes, zodiac compatibility tends to happen with same-mode signs, yet there will be some clashing, seeing as they are so similar.

For example, two Fixed signs may last a long time but be very stubborn and unwilling to change for each other. Two Mutable signs may not be committed enough, though they are willing to adapt. Two Cardinal signs need to decide who is going to take the lead.

Ruling Planets Compatibility in the Zodiac

Finally, Ruling Planets are incredibly important in zodiac compatibility. Certain planets don’t go well together, whereas others do. Here’s a short list of which planets go with which signs:

Aries: Mars
Taurus: Venus
Gemini: Mercury
Cancer: Moon
Leo: Sun
Virgo: Mercury
Libra: Venus
Scorpio: Mars and Pluto
Sagittarius: Jupiter
Capricorn: Saturn
Aquarius: Saturn and Uranus
Pisces: Jupiter and Neptune

In the next section, we’ll dive into which signs go together according to their planets. But, as an example, even though Aries and Taurus may not seem to go together (being fire and earth), they have Mars and Venus as their ruling planets, which are cosmic lovers, symbolically speaking. So, they do have a chance.

What Zodiac Signs Go Well Together?

Firstly, zodiac compatibility can be boiled down to elemental matches. Here are the top most compatible pairs and the least compatible zodiac signs in order, using elements:

Elemental Compatibility

Top Elemental Compatibility :

Aries/Leo/Sagittarius (all fire signs)
Taurus/Virgo/ Capricorn (all earth signs)
Cancer/Scorpio/ Pisces (all water signs)
Gemini/Libra/Aquarius (all air signs).

Medium Elemental Compatibility:

Aries/Leo/Sagittarius (all fire signs) with Gemini/Libra/Aquarius (all air signs)
Taurus/Virgo/ Capricorn (all earth signs), Cancer/Scorpio/ Pisces (all water signs)

Medium - Average Elemental Compatibility:

Aries/Leo/Sagittarius (all fire signs); Taurus/Virgo/ Capricorn (all earth signs)
Cancer/Scorpio/ Pisces (all water signs) and Gemini/Libra/Aquarius (all air signs).

Needs Work in Terms of Elemental Zodiac Compatibility:

Aries/Leo/Sagittarius (all fire signs); Cancer/Scorpio/ Pisces (all water signs)
Taurus/Virgo/ Capricorn (all earth signs); Gemini/Libra/Aquarius (all air signs)

Mode Compatibility

When looking at Modes, there are the zodiac signs with the best compatibility:

Fixed signs (Taurus, Aquarius, Leo and Scorpio) with each other
Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) with each other
Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) with mutable or fixed signs

Compatibility by the Ruling Planets

Finally, the planetary rulership of the sign comes into play, with these zodiac signs being the most compatible according to their planetary ruler:

Aries (Mars) with Libra and Taurus (Venus)
Gemini with Virgo (Mercury rules both)
Cancer with Leo (Moon and Sun go together well)
Scorpio with Taurus (Mars and Venus ruled)
Sagittarius with Pisces (both ruled by Jupiter)
Capricorn with Aquarius (both ruled by Saturn)

Which Zodiac Signs Prefer to be Single?

Certain signs are just better: single, in an open relationship, or a relationship with a great deal of built-in freedom. They are:

Aries

Aries: the most independent of the zodiac signs, loves to do their own thing and hates being pushed into a clingy relationship. They can make wonderful, loyal partners if given a fine balance of attention and freedom. However, Aries people fall in and out hard, so be warned!

Sagittarius

Sagittarius: The free spirits of the zodiac. Sagittarians hate being tied down. They are famously non-committal and love the idea of open relating unless their partner is someone special who allows them plenty of room for growth. Then, they make loving and warm partners.

Aquarius

Aquarius: Although very faithful and loyal when in a relationship, Aquarians prefer friendship to romance. They’re also usually better as friends than partners, as they love the community rather than the individual. Aquarians can sometimes be too detached for most people.

Pisces

Pisces: Although the die-hard romantic, Pisces tends to feel extremely pressured in a relationship that doesn’t give them space to escape and be free. Thus, they may drift from one relationship to the next, always searching for the most perfect relationship of their fantasies. Even though they are very vulnerable, they have an inner strength that makes them very good single people.

Zodiac compatibility is a wonderful and useful tool, but keep in mind that there’s always room for the couple to grow and learn from each other, even if their elements don’t match, their Modes don’t work well, or they don’t have similar planetary rulers.

If a couple is willing to work together and put in the blood, sweat and tears, anything (aside from continual abuse, of course) can work. The power lies in your hands, and if the love, trust, respect, responsibility for the connection and willingness to make an effort are there, you have all it takes for the perfect relationship!

Author Bio - Margarita Celeste

Margarita Celeste is a practicing professional Astrologer with a fervent passion for the language of the cosmos. She has witnessed the life-changing effects this ancient art can have on her clients and students and is honoured to support, guide and facilitate this healing process. Margarita has a Jungian (Transpersonal Psychology) approach as well as a special interest in relationship astrology, both topics that hold an important place in her heart.