You Light Up My Life: The Sun in the Houses in Synastry

Where does your Sun fall in another person's chart? When you overlay your Sun onto the chart of your partner, you can gain plenty of insight into how you affect that person, and what areas of their life you take particular interest in. 

The basic idea is this: If your Sun is at, say, 3 degrees of Leo, what house would your Sun occupy in your partner's chart? 

Your Sun in your partner's 1st House: You can't help but notice each other! Generally, this overlay generates approval between the two--more specifically, your approval and affection for your partner is welcomed by your partner, offering a pleasant feeling of being able to be open and free in your presence. You give each other an ego boost, and this overlay tends to offer relationships a feeling of camaraderie and general agreement. You awaken all sorts of issues in your partner, and his or her very identity is on the line in this relationship. You energize and stimulate your partner, making him or her more self-aware. In turn, you feel more valuable, recognized, vital, and important as a result of your partner's reactions to you.

Your Sun in your partner's 2nd House: This position does not indicate a feeling of being true peers as the first or eleventh houses, for example, bestow. Because the second house is associated with the phrase "I want", there is a general sense that there is something concrete to be gained through the couple's association with this overlay. You may feel that you are an object rather than a person in your partner's eyes, or a means to an end. Possessiveness should be avoided, as this can lead to either person feeling stifled. In a sexual relationship, there is likely to be considerable desire, but, again, be sure to avoid treating each other as if you own them.

Your Sun in your partner's 3rd House: This placement is particularly helpful when you are in close contact with each other on a day-to-day basis, as you tend to feel comfortable with each other's ways of dealing with everyday life. Your partnership is generally easygoing. You are seen by your partner as someone who stimulates him or her. This is a somewhat superficial overlay, and if you are looking to be taken more seriously as a partner, check out where your Moon falls in your partner's chart. If it is also found in an outgoing house, you may not have a very profound impact on your partner emotionally.

Your Sun in your partner's 4th House: This position promotes a powerful connection. A very basic sense of shared identity is felt between you and your partner. You have a strong desire to protect and defend your partner, and there is a feeling that you will always be in each other's corner. You affect your partner deeply, and your partner is likely to be very sensitive to your actions. Your partner is likely to feel a strong bond, and might feel somewhat dependent on you for emotional support. This is an intimate and personal connection, and it is not always a rational one. In fact, you may stimulate the inner child of your partner, and he or she may not always respond to you in ways that make sense.

Your Sun in your partner's 5th House: This is generally considered to be an excellent position for romance and fun. You bring out your partner's creativity and sense of fun. Often this pair has a strong interest in making children together, although difficult aspects of the Sun to the partner's planets can point to children as being a source of conflict in the relationship; or, if children are not the issue, your partner may feel stifled by your overpowering need to be the only one who gives him/her pleasure. Jealousies and possessiveness can result, and it generally works both ways, though you may display these things more than your partner. Your partner views you as a vehicle through which he or she can have fun, and perhaps as an ego boost. The success of this relationship will depend much on how you respond to this. This is a creative and dynamic overlay, with plenty of romantic attraction and the promise of some truly pleasurable leisure time together.

Your Sun in your partner's 6th House: This overlay is an interesting, multi-faceted one. For some reason, your partner's day-to-day affairs become your business. In some way, you help organize your partner's life, or vice versa, and want to know the little things that make up their day. Sometimes it is a conscious thing, and you take pleasure in it. Other times, it is hard to explain why you become so involved in your partner's everyday life. This relationship can be an imbalanced, unequal partnership. The danger with this position is that you can become bossy or prying if it's not kept in check, and your partner may feel somewhat dependent on you. Avoid dictating your partner's every move, even if your partner seems to want it. Eventually, the imbalance in your relationship can be a source of resentment. At your best, you show your affection for your partner by doing little things for them or giving them sound advice. At your worst, you end up criticizing the little things that they do. How this position is handled can often be shown by the aspects that the Sun makes to the partner's planets. Difficult aspects can point to a relationship that is imbalanced, eventually turning into a burden. However, flowing aspects can suggest a relationship in which one or the other takes on a helpful role.

Your Sun in your partner's 7th House: This overlay is a magnetic one. This is one of the more powerful overlays in synastry, resulting in a very natural union between two people. Your partner views you as his or her ideal partner. The main caution here, however, is that the union is so powerful that individual identities can feel as if lost—where exactly you and your partner start and finish may be quite blurred.  What starts out as a powerful and natural union might deteriorate into a union comprised of resentment and competitiveness. Although your partner may see you as an ideal mate, you may not reciprocate those feelings in the same way. In some way, you help your partner learn about himself or herself through the relationship. This is because your partner sees in you traits that he or she is unconsciously drawn to in order to effect an inner sense of balance. Compromise is the keyword of this position, as both of you try to maintain balance and harmony in the relationship. Be careful not to let this desire for balance degenerate into a "tit for tat" attitude toward one another. Your partner is not as willing to "share" you with others, preferring some sort of commitment or for the relationship to be one-on-one.

Your Sun in your partner's 8th House: There is a deep fascination with your partner, and either you simply feel unsettled in his/her presence and part ways, or you feel inexplicably drawn to him/her. There is nothing superficial about this union, when it does occur, and you should be prepared for a deep and sometimes disturbing interaction. The attraction on your partner's side is most obvious. You affect your partner in very deep, even primal, ways. As a result, your partner is especially sensitive to your actions. He or she views the partnership as a profound and intimate connection. You may or may not feel the same way about him or her.

Your Sun in your partner's 9th House: Your partner sees you as a person with whom he or she can seek agreement and affirmation for his or her own belief systems. This is a somewhat intellectual partnership, one built on shared visions and ideals. You impact your partner in such a way that his or her belief systems are transformed.  You open up a whole new way of looking at the world in your partner, inspiring and motivating him or her to see the world differently, take a few risks, enjoy different cultures, and to be a little more adventurous. You also have the effect of fueling your partner's confidence, and to look beyond the drudgery of daily existence, to dream, and to do more. You expand your partner's horizons, either mental or physical horizons, or both! You stimulate a more adventurous spirit in your partner.

Your Sun in your partner's 10th House: You take great interest in your partner's place in society—whether that be his or her job or general status. Sometimes this indicates that your partner perceives you to be in a position of authority or status, and he or she naturally tends to follow you along, deferring to that "authority". Some tensions can occur with this position, simply because there isn't a feeling of equality in this relationship. You may feel like an object, or a vehicle, rather than a person, and how you handle your partner's dependency on you can make or break the relationship.

Your Sun in your partner's 11th House: Your partner gets the strong feeling that you are someone with whom he or she can share common pleasures and goals. You are your partner's buddy and comrade, and you fully appreciate spending fun leisure times together. This position offers a wonderful theme of tolerance and acceptance. Neither one of you is judging the other. Problems can occur if you are looking for a tighter, more intimate bond with your partner. He or she might not see you as more than a good friend.

Your Sun in your partner's 12th House: This overlay can be a confusing one. There can be a general sense of mistrust that stems from misunderstanding. In some cases, you might be very fascinated with your partner, as if he or she marches to the beat of a different drummer. However, you may not "get" what he or she is all about, ultimately, and you should avoid finding irrational reasons to mistrust your partner as a result of this. Your actions will have a profound emotional impact on your partner, as you pull up many emotions in him or her. There may be a sense in your partner of having to give up something or to make sacrifices, as being together can bring up some level of pain or heartache, and possibly the need to be secret and private. The relationship can just as easily be very spiritually rewarding.

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Intermediate and advanced students of Astrology might enjoy our article, SoulMate Astrology.

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