We also looked at the few positive sets they shared. Positive compound sets bring people into relationship. They can also seduce them into staying in a relationship that is fraught with difficulty.

Compound mars/saturn sets between charts represent one of the most difficult astrological combinations any couple can experience. Mars and saturn are the lesser and greater malefics, respectively. Therefore, their deleterious effect between charts makes sense. To read an expanded description of their effects, read any one of those papers (i.e., Simpsons, Ariens, A Family, F Family, Damons, or Gauquelins), their links on the Home Page.

To date, I have also written five papers on the astrology of benefic interaction between couples. Their focus shifted from the interaction of the two malefics—mars and saturn—to that of the two benefics—venus and jupiter. Compound venus/jupiter is one of the most positive astrological conditions any couple can experience.

Here are links to all the synastry papers. If you want to see the greatest venus/jupiter vs. mars/saturn contrast read the Browning and Simpson papers. The links: . Comments on Synastry--Astrological Compatibility--Using This Form of Astrology

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts, the Sixth Couple: Michel and Francoise Gauquelin

Synastry, The Astrology of Venus and Jupiter Between Charts, the Fifth Couple: the D Family

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts, the Fifth Couple: the F Family

Synastry, The Astrology of Venus and Jupiter Between Charts, the Fourth Couple: Ronald and Nancy Reagan

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts, the Fourth Couple: Carol and Michael Damon and Homicide/Suicide

Synastry, The Astrology of Venus and Jupiter Between Charts, the Third Couple: Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts, the Third Couple: Sandra and William A. and Her Homicide

Synastry, The Astrology of Venus and Jupiter Between Charts, the Second Couple: Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince of England

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts, the Second Couple: David and Jonelle Arien and Homicide/Suicide

Synastry, The Astrology of Venus and Jupiter Between Charts, the First Couple: Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Synastry, The Astrology of Mars and Saturn Between Charts Using the Charts of O.J. Simpson and His Deceased Wife, Nicole

History recorded that Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, had unusually loving and harmonious relationships until they were ended by the (natural) death of one of them. William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies had a strong, intimate liaison that lasted over 35 years. Thirty-three years younger than him, Davies took care of Hearst until his death at age 88 in 1951. Then his wife claimed his body. Ronald and Nancy Reagan were also noted for their exceptionally loving and loyal relationship. Less famous, but sharing a good marriage with the previous couples, the marriage between the D’s is now approaching its 39th year. Synastry for all these couples was high in the benefic interaction of venus and jupiter. Conversely, their synastry was low in the interaction of the traditional malefics of astrology, mars and saturn.

This is the twelfth paper in this series on synastry, the sixth to demonstrate the power of benefic exchange between couples when it is accompanied by relatively little malefic interchange. Newman-Woodward synastry is right up there with other famous benefic couples: they share two golden benefics, one relatively weak malefic, and several lesser, benefic sets. While not quite as strong, their synastry compares favorably with that of the first couple, the Brownings.

Golden benefics are comprised of light/venus/jupiter, with venus and jupiter being conjunction or square but not opposition. At least, when opposition they fight each other rather than cooperate for the "great good" they together can produce. When on an Angle, "Angle" can substitute for "light." Golden benefics are not truly golden unless they also influence an Angle, either being on it or influencing it through a ruler. When they do, they operate to produce luck and success throughout life in the areas and charts they influence.

The Newmans were married for fifty years, until Paul’s death from cancer in 2008. As Hollywood superstars, the longevity of their marriage was unusual, an index of their deep love and respect for each other.

The following information, on Paul Newman, is from my data source, Astrodatabank :

American actor and top star of long duration whose first film, "The Silver Chalice," was dreadful, but led to career development and a rise into the stratosphere of Hollywood stardom. "Long Hot Summer," "The Hustler," and "Hud" were all films which helped him reach the $1 million a picture class in his more than 60 films. In the late 1960s, Newman began to direct films, starting with "Rachel, Rachel," 1968.

Here is the Astrodatabank information on Joanne Woodward :

American actress who won the Best Actress Oscar in March 1958 for the film "Three Faces of Eve." In addition, she was an Oscar nominee twice for "Rachel-Rachel" and "Summer Wishes/Winter Dreams." Low-key and modest about her exceptional talent, she has an active interest in photography, astrology, palmistry and ESP. Joanne is a veteran stage performer who prefers the stage to films.

Joanne is also a professional screenwriter and director. Her husband directed her in "Rachel, Rachel." The two also work together as political activist for abortion rights, Planned Parenthood and AIDS. They created the Hole-in-the-Wall Camp for terminally ill children and the Scott Newman Center for drug prevention, named after Paul's deceased son by his first wife. Joanne is also a professional screenwriter and director.

In discussing synastry with this form of astrology, I have had to come up with some new terminology suited to it. If I were writing about venus and jupiter interacting—i.e., conjunct, square, or opposition each other—within one chart, I would state they were in the same set. Light/venus/jupiter in the same set is called a golden benefic. But here we are comparing planets between two charts (also known as synastry). I cannot just call the latter “sets” because sets by definition exist within one chart. I have chosen to label the sets which exist between charts “compound sets.” A compound set including light/venus/jupiter or Angle/venus/jupiter, then, is referred to as a compound golden benefic.

To define it succinctly, a compound set consists of planets from the charts of two individuals that are conjunct, square, or opposition each other, with an orb of 2°. If a light—sun, moon, or node—is involved, orb increases to about 3-1/2°. Compound sets are most powerful when they also include an Angle or a light and least powerful when they include neither.

Ease, comfort and fondness in relationship are not nearly as dramatic as the extreme discord that immediately precedes homicide. For the latter, compound mars/saturn sets, also called compound dark malefics, have been potent indexes of marital disharmony.

Compound venus/jupiter in relationship is either more rare, or less noticed than its negative (mars/saturn) counterpart. Probably the latter. That is, couples with compound venus/jupiter are far less likely to come to public attention than couples with compound mars/saturn. Peace and harmony bring far less press than do war and disaster. Therefore, to illustrate ease, comfort, love, attraction, and longevity in relationship, I may include incidences of venus and/or jupiter of one individual falling on an Angle or light of the other. That is, I am including compound sets of light/venus, Angle/venus, light/jupiter, and Angle/jupiter in addition to those golden benefics involving light/venus/jupiter in the same set.

Before I write about their synastry, I need to introduce information about this astrological method.

Method
This astrological method is not the traditional Western one. It is not traditional, period. True, it uses sidereal astrology, the predominant (traditional) astrology of the East. It also uses the Egyptian harmonic. Both are quite old. This method started with me in 1983. Its working rules were not inherited. They were uncovered gradually through years of research. As they were uncovered, a system which at first seemed too complex became almost too simple. Here are those rules:

Chart Rules

And here are links to my comments on the practical differences between sidereal versus tropical astrology as well as a paper discussing the origin of this method:

Tropical vs. Sidereal Astrology

About This Method

Venus in Individual Charts
Of all the planets, venus stands most for the qualities of harmony, grace, and beauty. Since we all like the experience of harmony, we find whatever produces it attractive, and thus venus is associated with liking and loving.

Venus as it is associated with the 2nd house and Taurus, one of the signs it rules, is correlated with having. For instance, venus in Taurus is a good placement of venus to attract money and quality possessions. It puts an emphasis on beauty and the fine things money can buy.

Venus as it is associated with the 7th house and Libra, the other sign it rules, is correlated with harmony in relationship. Librans demand equality in their relationships and are upset, for instance, with some Leos who consider themselves without equal. Or with Aries, who, more interested in action than agreement, go to the symphony when they want harmony. Cooperation is important to venus in Libra and venus in general.

Venus is a “soft” planet. It works through allure, charisma, cooperation, invitation and seduction.

People strongly under the influence of venus accomplish things above board through consensus; “below board,” through seduction or persuasion. They are rarely completely “up front” and “baldly honest,” types of encounters which are painful for them.

Venus in our charts stands for what we love and are attracted to. Venus in Gemini, for instance, evidences a love for, attraction to, and usually a facility for (all venus) learning, words, and communication (all Gemini/mercury). It also shows love (venus) of youthfulness (Gemini/mercury), and affection for or attraction to (venus) children (Gemini/mercury).

We can use venus in Cancer for another example of how venus operates in the signs. Venus in Cancer sponsors love (venus) of the nurturing things (Cancer), enjoyment (venus) of domestic activities (Cancer), including cooking and gardening, and love (venus) of home and family (Cancer), possibly with an appreciation of one’s roots (Cancer).

When another’s Angles, moons, or nodes pick up our venuses, that is, exist in the same set with them, they are eliciting our feelings of love and liking, friendliness, sharing, and devotion.

Jupiter in Individual Charts
In the East they say that jupiter represents the guru. That is, jupiter, by sign and placement in the chart, indicates the area through which the individual can experience considerable learning, growth, expansion, and success.

In its connection with the 9th house and Sagittarius, jupiter is correlated with some apparently non-related subjects—aviation, law, philosophy, higher mind (enlightenment types of things), and equestrianism. The 9th house is always opposite the 3rd house, which has mercury as its natural ruler. Our mercury-learning is serial, that is, it occurs piece by piece by piece. Our jupiter-learning occurs because of a higher grasp of the facts we learned in Gemini. Facts get sorted by relevance and level of importance. In that way, jupiter stands for perspective and perhaps some times for intuition. “Jupiterian learning” involves distance—more objectivity—regarding any situation. It stands for better comprehension, the wisdom of the over-view. The adjective for jupiter is “Jovian.” A lawyer is not necessarily Jovian, but a jurist is. A politician is often less than Jovian, but a true statesman properly lays claim to that title.

When another individual draws on one of our jupiters, he is addressing us in areas we are most successful, most comprehending, most at ease, and least threatened. Therefore, we are kind to him. We can afford to give him plenty of room. We treat his clumsiness with forbearance.

Jupiter in our charts is quite likely the index of our EQ—Emotional Quotient as defined by Daniel Goleman—touted as a better indicator of success (jupiter!!) than intelligence (mercury +). More than one author has recognized the universal power of “allowing” and adapting over pushing and aggressing. In fostering self-confidence, jupiter fosters allowing.

One individual’s jupiter on another’s Angles is a strong indication of a long-term relationship. Love (venus) in relationship is great, but not always dependable. Without philosophical support, without some distance, love can turn to hate. A long union like marriage draws heavily on compassion, a continuing sympathetic (but not enabling) view of the other fellow’s weaknesses. That long, philosophical rope is inspired by jupiter.

The best compound jupiter set for long-term relationship occurs when one individual’s jupiter falls on the Descendant (7th house cusp) of the other.

Venus + Jupiter in Individual Charts
Venus and jupiter in the same set (lighted and with Angular influence) within one individual’s chart create a golden benefic. Golden benefics are found in the charts of humanity’s most charismatic (venus) and successful (jupiter) individuals. Nearly all of our “superstars” (regardless of their field) arrived at that destination through the winning combination that is comprised of venus and jupiter together. Let me put it another way. Some people work very hard for success;others, hardly at all. Whichever their effort, nobody arrives at superstar without forefront venus and jupiter, either together or summed They must also be forefront by timing when success occurs. Their area of success depends on the path those planets describe. For instance, if one of them influences the 2nd house, their success will also be crowned with financial abundance. (The paper on famous gurus shows a number of these cases, where the same golden benefics whose path described spiritual illumination also included a 2nd house influence bringing in a fountain of wealth.)

Since venus represents love and jupiter luck, individuals with these two planets in the same set are lucky in love. Progressions of venus to jupiter, or jupiter to venus often accompany marriage.

Venus + Jupiter in Compound Sets, i.e., in Synastry
Venus and jupiter in the same compound set produce one of the loveliest astrological connections that can exist between two people. Until now I have used the synastry of a married couples to demonstrate the good results flowing from compound venus/jupiter. But, these sets work the same among any two people—lovers, boss and employee, siblings, parent and child, friends, and co-workers. They work whether the couple involved is gay or straight.

Venus and jupiter in a compound set between two individuals, then, barring strong counter indications, imply they are successful and/or charismatic as a couple. It could be said they are so harmonious as a couple that they remind us, when we observe them, what a relationship could be. They foster the allowing that fosters the retention of individuality for both partners. This, in turn, creates stronger, more adaptable, relationships.

Other Synastry
Exchange of benefics plays a large role in the synastry of attraction. Other astrology is important in synastry but I do not cover much of it here. I have written more about it in the blog associated with this site (address at top of page).

Locality Angles
In this age of easy world travel and endless relocation, couples who marry often do not live in the same locality they were born in. For that reason, it is necessary to include locality astrology in any analysis of their relationship.

Joanne Woodward was born in Thomasville, Georgia. Her late husband, Paul, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. As I understand it, they spent time together in three places—in the vicinity of Hollywood, California, in the area of New York City, and in the home they shared in Westport, Connecticut. Locality Angles for the latter two are not appreciably different. Pertinent locality Angles will be integrated into the sets as we go along.

Standard Chart Notations
In the tables below, b stands for birth, c stands for conception, and p for progressed. T stands for transiting. A number following the letters identifies the harmonic chart from which the harmonic planet was taken, e.g., b7 pluto identifies the harmonic of pluto for the 7th chart. All harmonics used are +2 greater than the number of the chart they are applied to. Therefore, the harmonic used for the 7th chart is the ninth, or novienic, harmonic.

MC stands for Midheaven while Asc stands for Ascendant. B-Loc identifies the locality Angle for birth, while C-Loc identifies the locality Angle conception. Reasonably, then, pB-Loc MC identifies the progressed locality Midheaven for birth while pC-Loc Asc identifies the progressed locality Ascendant for conception.

A Word About the Use of Rulers in Compound Sets
When I started writing these papers on synastry of couples, I was actually so mesmerized by the difficult sets between the Simpsons and Ariens I failed to include rulers of Angles in the analyses of their (shared) sets. In the paper on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert I began to realize I was leaving out an important part of set analysis when I omitted rulers. Here, in this paper, rulers of Angles are consistently included in analyses of sets. Rulers are important because when a couple shares a compound set—be it benefic or malefic—an Angle ruler in the set will make it much stronger, bringing continuously forefront in their synastry.

In this paper most of the chart comparisons are between 7th charts because the 7th chart is strongest in showing relationship.

Now we can look at some of the synastry in the compound sets which existed between Paul and Joanne.

Angles and (Placidian) House Cusps for Woodward and Newman
I have not included drawings of partial charts in this paper, therefore, house cusps are not shown. They are shown below for reference in reading the rest of this paper.

House Cusps for Joanne:
Placidus: C MC—20 Aquarius 35, c11—25 Pis, c12—2Tau, C Asc—6 Gemini 47, c2—29 Gem, c3—23Can, B MC—5 Libra 48, b11—2Sco, b12—25Sco, B Asc—18 Sagittarius 05, b2—25Cap, b3—3Pis

House Cusps for Paul:
Placidus: C MC—27 Libra 04, c11—19Sco, c12—9Sag, C Asc—2Capricorn 55, c2—19Aqu, c3—29Pis, B MC—14 Libra 44, b11—8Sco, b12—28Sco, B Asc—19 Sagittarius 23, b2—2Aqu, b3—14Pis

Starting Compound Mars/Saturn Sets Between the Paul and Joanne
By “starting” in the title above, I mean sets that exist between them before any progressions or locality changes.

Please refer to the papers on the Simpson, Arien, Damon, Gauquelin, and A and F Families (links on Home Page) for an extensive discussion of the difficulty experienced by couples with compound mars/saturn sets.

Woodward and Newman have one compound set with mars and saturn. Here it is :

Sure enough, Set (b) contains synastry involving her mars and his saturn, creating some discord, misunderstanding, and difficulty in coming to agreement. So, it has to be considered a compound dark malefic. At the same time, what we are actually seeing is her light/venus/venus/mars (planets of sexuality) to his Westport Locality Angle. If some one provides an Angle for our light/venus/mars, they become the target of our (strong) sexual attraction. Saturn’s presence indicates Woodward would need to be careful not to be too aggressive or possessive, qualities which would likely lead to his withdrawal (saturn).

Starting Compound Venus/Jupiter Sets, i.e., Golden Benefics, Between Paul and Joanne

Set (1) is a straight up (not contaminated with any malefics) compound golden benefic with influence to one Angle, her b 7th house, and two Angles in Westport. Therefore, it is very strong positively.

They have another:

By itself Paul’s chart contains its own golden benefic...well, almost. (B jupiter was at 15 Sagittarius 11 and progressed over B Asc in his late teens/early twenties during which time he did have a full and complete golden benefic.) B7 jupiter is actually not close enough to B Asc to be considered conjunct it (the orb for planet/Angle being 2°.) Her moon and B Asc in the compound set increase acceptable orb, giving him an Asc conjunct mercury/venus/jupiter in his relationship with her.

Note that his b mercury in the set is ruler of his b 7th house of partnerships. Conjunct venus and jupiter (both benefics) it promises a prosperous and happy marriage (7th house).

Also note that her B Asc, which is conjunct his Asc/mercury/venus/jupiter, is in her c 7th house. That gives her an active conjunction of (his) venus and jupiter in her c 7th house, again, with him in particular, facilitating an especially good marriage.

Locality Angles figure into Set (2). Her B-Loc Asc for Westport is at 21 Sagittarius 47. His C-Loc MC for Hollywood was at 19 Virgo 00. Each of these places added the influence of one more Angle to the set, increasing its strength.

With influence to four Angles and a locality Angle, Set (2) is extremely powerful benefically. Saturn’s present does not do much to diminish it. It likely provided caution and occasional breaks in feeling.

Starting Compound Venus/Light, Venus/Angle, Jupiter/Light, and Jupiter/Angle Sets Between Joanne and Paul
Many couples do not have compound golden benefic sets, but they have good relationships. The astrological sources of their harmony are their compound sets of venus or jupiter with Angles or lights. Those sets are vitally important in promoting good marriages.

Generally speaking, if I contribute a jupiter to some one else’s Angle or light, I approve of them, giving them a wide berth of compassion and understanding. If I contribute a venus to their Angle or light, I love and/or like them, and find them attractive. It works the same way if, for instance, I contribute light/venus to their Angle, or they provide another light for my light/venus. In all those case their Angle or light is further “developing” my capacity for venusian experience—liking, loving, sharing, and pleasant exchanges.

In earlier papers I stressed the importance of compound jupiter in promoting long-term relationship. Venus sets are great for love, and if one is going to have a long-term relationship, love would add greatly to it. But venus (nor love) by itself does not promote anything long term because it is too subject to the negatives of venus—jealousy, disappointment, a sense of betrayal, possessiveness. Jupiter brings philosophy, more open-mindedness, more evenness and a long rope into relationships. Any time any one draws on one of my jupiters from one of their Angles, they are drawing on the part of myself in which I am most learned, most open, most confident, and most forgiving. We already saw in Set (2) above that Paul and Joanne share his jupiter in complex ways that influences both of their Angles and both 7th houses. They share jupiter again through Set (1) above. Set (3) is more simple:

Set (3), with no influence to Angles, is not a big deal, but it does show she tends, through the benevolence sponsored by her jupiter, to pull him in the direction of his growth, symbolized by his NN in Taurus—some form of having. At least, it pulls him away from his SN in Scorpio, which generally stands for reactive, tumultuous scars from previous (even past lifetimes) relationships. Together they were meant to enjoy the stability and quiet physical beauty and aesthetics of Taurus.

Set (4) has influence to one Angle. It shows her mars to his venus, making her, once again, the sexual aggressor. That is sometimes a problem, and some times not. Considering their other positive sets, I am guessing it was rarely a problem. Paul Newman had all four of his moons in his 7th chart in the same set with venus. So, he was a very “venusian” man. That is, he was warm, loving, playful, and generous. Along with his “conjunction” of Asc/venus/jupiter in Sagittarius, his four moon/venus sets made him exceptionally charismatic since all his venuses rule either B MC or C MC (other examples of moon/venus/Angle individuals were President John F. Kennedy and Princess Diana). Moon-venus people are generally easy-going and conciliatory (sometimes too much so) and do not care much for showdowns.

Set (5) shows her providing an Angle for his triple-lighted venus in Taurus—surely a set showing his strong attraction and liking for her. It influences two Angles and picks up a locality Angle –his Hollywood B-Loc Asc was at 20 Scorpio 35.

Other Charts
I did not examine other charts of Paul and Joanne. Their 7th chart alone provides ample evidence of their long-term affection and attraction for each other.

Progressions for Marriage
Progressing for marriage is not quite the opposite of looking at couple’s charts for the time of death of one (or both) of them through homicide/suicide. Progressions for homicide/suicide in the charts of couples with failed marriages were always, and finally, significant. Progressions for marriage in benefic synastry are really just “more of a really good thing.”

And, progressions for marriage are not “final” for any couple. All couples—benefic and otherwise—go on to other experiences after marriage. They do not after the homicide of one of them. In each case, however, individual progressions as well as compound sets tell stories about their then present condition.

Couples marrying will have individual progressions of venus and jupiter making them forefront in their own charts. As well, they often have progressed compound sets of venus and jupiter.

Couples going through homicide/(suicide) each have individual progressions involving mars and saturn, and also usually (probably always?) have progressed compound mars/saturn sets.

At the time of their marriage, Joanne and Paul had the following:

• Her progressed B MC was at 3 Scorpio 39, in early opposition to her c sun at 4 Taurus 17. Her pb7 venus was at 6 Gemini 50, conjunct her C Asc at 6 Gemini 47. Her pc7 jupiter was at 5 Cancer 55 in the same set with her B MC at 5 Libra 48. And her pC Asc was at 28 Gemini 56 entering a set with her c venus at 29 Pisces 03. So she has Angles progressed to both venus and jupiter.
• His pB MC was at 18 Scorpio 05, having entered Set (4) above which contains his c moon at 17 Leo 59 and c venus at 17 Taurus 49. At the same time, her pb jupiter was at 17 Taurus 13, making this a progressed compound golden benefic. In addition, he had pb7 venus at 17 Aquarius 20 and pc7 moon at 17 Taurus 25.
• His pC Asc was at 23 Aquarius 52 in the same set with his pc jupiter at 23 Scorpio 27R.
• His pb venus was at 1 Aquarius 56, conjunct her b moon at 1 Aquarius 07, and forming a second compound golden benefic with her c jupiter [Set (2) above] at 0 Taurus 40.
• More minor, his pb7 sun was at 21 Gemini 18 in the same set with pb jupiter at 21 Sagittarius 47, while his pb sun at 15 Aquarius 42 was in the same set with pb7 jupiter at 16 Aquarius 07. So he had progressed Angles under the influence of both venus and jupiter. [T neptune was at 10 Libra 37 conjunct his c7 venus in Set (3) above.]

Conclusion
Woodward and Newman had two compound golden benefics [Sets (1) and (2) above], one of which [Set (2)] was exceptionally powerful because it influenced four Angles.

They had a weak compound dark malefic [Set (a) above] with influence to only one Angle (and one Westport Angle). It also contained her moon/venus/venus/mars—a set suggesting her strong attraction to him, with his saturn sometimes functioning as a form of rebuff.

In addition, she had sets [Set (4) and (5) above] which drew on two of his remaining moon/venuses, indicating he had a powerful attraction to her. That is, he loved her.

Altogether, the Newmans shared three compound light/venus/mars sets [Sets (a), (2), and (4) above], possibly the sets which sponsored his statement about his preference for his marital fidelity over other people’s choices of the excitement of infidelity.

I have not written about other synastry in the earlier papers, all of which only explored the synastry of the greater and lesser benefics and malefics between couples. Here I mention a little bit about those other forms of synastry:

Joanne and Paul shared moons in the same sign, that of Aquarius. Shared moons—contrary to her assertion above about their having nothing in common—do represent common, usually life-long interests. Aquarian moons indicate people who are progressive, open-minded, and innovative. They are egalitarian, with a somewhat abstract love of humanity.

Influences to 3rd houses also portray our areas of interest. Each had Pisces the ruler of a 3rd house. Each had a lighted neptune as ruler of those houses, so they had some psychic abilities (not profound, but some). Paul’s, included with one of his moon/venus sets, was also part of his cinematic charisma. (Marilyn Monroe also had moon/venus/neptune influencing an Angle.)

Joanne’s Angle/light/mercury/saturn [Set (2) above] also included c uranus at 16 Pisces 19 (progressing forward). Light/saturn/uranus influence to a 3rd house often indicates an interest in astrology and other subjects that combine innovative understanding (uranus) of aspects of the status quo (saturn).

Paul had his golden benefic [Set (2) above] which was nonetheless strengthened by Joanne’s Angle/moon. Joanne Woodward had her own golden benefic (it did not come up in their synastry): b sun at 14 Aquarius 17 , b venus at 19 Aquarius 20 (ruler of B MC), and b jupiter at 13 Taurus 47 (ruler of B Asc). It was simultaneously the indication she, too, would achieve fame and would find a good marriage (aspects to our suns represent the men in our lives. The two benefics suggested a powerful, positive spouse.)

Woodward’s Angle/moon/saturn (part of Set (2), above) shows a reserved individual. Newman starts out with an Angle/sun/mars—active, aggressive, and his astrology indicating his interest in the control and mastery involved in race car driving—which is slowly encroached upon by progressed conception saturn. Here is that set:

Saturn is progressing closer to mars/Asc, with their midpoint equal to 2 Capricorn 08. The following are some of the values for his progressing c saturn (which turned stationary direct at 1 Libra 56 in 1998):

His progressed sun/mars/saturn was in place a long time before it apparently cost him his life. Light/mars/saturn influencing Angles and a 4th house (and probably an 8th) are presently the main significators for an individual’s death. That is, they are necessary, but not necessarily sufficient. Progressing secondary saturn to an Angle, occurring at any time in life, is hard on that life. One apparent way Newman gave this set expression was in racing. Mars/saturn is frequently strong in the charts of athletes who dedicate a major portion of their young lives to the struggle for physical superiority. Race car driving, I found out, is also arduous. So, racing was a way for Newman to do something difficult (mars/saturn) and also flirt with losing his life (influence to 4th house). Moreover, his mars in Capricorn is in its exaltation. It shows some one keenly interested in and capable of action (mars) involving mastery and control (Capricorn).

Paul’s career in films is foreshadowed several ways. In his 10th chart of career, his moon at 17 Leo 59 and venus at 17 Taurus 49 picks up a close relation to c12 neptune (films, fantasy) at 17 Aquarius 25. The Angular influence of light/venus made him a love object, and the neptune increased its power as well as made it cinematic. He also had b12 moon at 5 Leo 34 conjunct c NN at 7 Leo 04, and indications drama and acting (Leo) are the right path (NN) for his growth (NN) and would be looked upon favorably (NN) by the rest of the world.

Discussion
Although other astrological factors play a role in determining the quality of a relationship, the synastry of mars/saturn and venus/jupiter between charts cover the range from very difficult to very harmonious. In that sense, they are good indices of failed and successful relationships.

Summing, starting with our “benefic” couples:
William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies, whose love affair lasted over 35 years, started with two compound malefic sets, one lacking both light and Angle influence, and the other lacking Angle influence. They also started with at least two—possibly three—compound golden benefic sets and seven more sets comprised of Angle/venus, light/venus, Angle/jupiter, or light/jupiter.

Since neither of their malefic sets influenced an Angle, the troubles represented by them tended to stay in the background even when a progressing light entered either set.

All of their benefic sets contain lights, and all but one of them [Set (5)] influences at least one of their Angles.

Queen Victoria and her Prince started with zero compound malefic sets and seven compound benefic ones, at least one of which approached being a compound golden benefic.

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning started with one weak compound mars/saturn set (it did not contain a light and had no influence to Angles). They started with eight compound benefic sets, one of which was compound golden benefic. (This number does not include any progressions or their locality Angles for Florence.)

Ronald and Nancy Reagan started with three compound golden benefics (two of them with Angular influence) and another comprised of Angle/moon/venus. They had one compound dark malefic with was both Angular and lighted. Because of the presence of venus, however, this set could have been functioning as a more “staid” compound benefic. They had no other compound malefics. Their marriage, which lasted 52 years, was strong and loving (in spite of very difficult circumstances for those last years) right up to his death from Alzheimer’s disease. Their love, I’m sure, continues on.

David and Cheri D. fall in line with other couples who share the experience of having had a happy marriage (now going on 39 years for them). They started with two compound golden benefics plus several compound light/venus and Angle/jupiter sets. In contrast to that, they started with one weak compound mars/saturn set which also contains venus and jupiter, which ought to considerably soften the harder parts of the set.

Paul Newman and Joanne had one weak compound mars/saturn set and two compound golden benefics, one of which was exceptionally powerful.

Also important, they had a three interactions of moon/venus or moon/venus/mars between them. Any couple is fortunate if they have even one.

Moving on the our malefic couples:

David Arien killed his wife, Jonelle, and then himself. They started with four compound mars/saturn sets—before progressions, and before locality Angles. In earlier papers I referred to mars/saturn sets as dark malefics. I am not happy with the term but use it to represent, so-to-speak, the “opposite” of golden benefic.

O.J. and Nicole Brown Simpson started with two compound mars/saturn sets, one lighted and both with Angular influence. They experienced a confluence of them (four) through progressions and locality Angles at the time of her death. All four influenced at least one Angle, often more. They started with two very weak compound benefic sets. A third compound benefic was strong—Nicole’s San Francisco locality Angles picking up O.J.’s venus/jupiter.

The A’s started out with two very strong and one weak compound mars/saturn sets. It is doubtful any relationship, regardless of strength of benefic sets, can find the right path with that much affliction. They had a fourth, progressed compound mars/saturn set at the time of her death. His chart supplied both the mars and saturn, but their conjunction to her moon (as well as her death) let us know that she, too, was experiencing their malevolence.

Their compound benefic sets gave us a little more information on their relationship. Three of his venuses (and only one jupiter) were involved in compound sets. All four of her jupiters (and only one of her venuses) were. Attraction (venus) was stronger on his side. Forbearance (jupiter) was stronger on hers. Even had they had no compound malefic sets, forbearance alone is not enough to make a good relationship. With their four compound malefics, good will (jupiter) did not stand a chance.

The fourth afflicted couple, the Damons, started with two compound mars/saturn sets (independent of locality) with influence to three Angles (one of the same ones twice). At the time of their death, it could be said they had acquired tighter and more influential sets such that they had three compound mars/saturn sets with influence to six Angles.

The fifth afflicted couple, Stephen and Barbara F., started with two compound mars/saturn sets, each with lights and multiple influence to Angles, that is, they were strong. They also shared an important negative set containing only saturn. By contrast, they started with one compound golden benefic and only one noteworthy Angle/jupiter set. They actually had two mutually receptive moon/venus sets, normally considered positive for relationship, but these were part of one of their compound mars/saturn sets. Moon/venus is not going to fare as positively in the same set with mars/saturn as it does alone.

The Gauquelins, married 28 years and the sixth afflicted couple, separated and divorced with great bitterness. Their relationship started with one each of compound mars/saturn and compound venus/jupiter sets. About twenty years into their marriage, they incurred two progressed compound mars/saturn sets which lasted for several years before one of them went out of orb. The stronger of the two negative sets then continued right up through their separation, their divorce, and his suicide (at which time he had recently experienced separation from his second wife). Since I did not have the birth data on his second wife, I could not include it here. What is certain, however, is that their separation and divorce occurred during the time they were laboring under the negative influence of two compound mars/saturn sets.

This is the last in this series of 12 charts on synastry. As I have mentioned before, there is much more to synastry that compound malefic and benefic charts. At the same time, the occurrence in these sets for these twelve couples clearly separated the successful and happy marriages from the unsuccessful and sometimes tragic ones. They showed a strong separation of happy couples from unhappy couples that correlated with emphasis on compound benefics for the former and emphasis on compound malefics for the latter.

Further Work
Ultimately, for the data on synastry to be reliable, further work is required. Preferably such a study would be with volunteer couples who provided honest information on their relationship over a long period of time, that is, genuine case studies.

Star Flower, a rare 7-petaled flower
From Wildflowers of Michigan Field Guide, by Stan Tekiela

Contact the author at sleeweidner@yahoo.com