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Synastry contacts to the 10th House cusp (MC) are significant, but it’s not always clear what they mean in terms of romance. The 10th House of career is not tops on anyone’s list of love connections. However, when one person’s planets aspect the other person’s MC, it does indicate a powerful connection based on status. And there’s the rub; does external success have any place in romance?

First, a quick review of the MC. This is the gateway to the 10th House, which represents your career, future goals and public status. Unlike the Ascendant (the 1st House cusp) it’s not purely about your personal identity. The MC is what you contribute to the world in a structured way, and how you define your position in society (usually through professional endeavors). The word “status” is important to remember with this house, because it describes your social position. It’s no accident that major transits/progressions to the 10th House can take place when you get married. After all, marriage is a public declaration of your changed status. The success or failure of a marriage certainly impacts your public life.

When a partner’s planets aspect your MC, they influence your social position. The conjunction is strongest, followed by the square. A trine or sextile may only be felt in the background. The inconjunct can range from a minor lack of understanding to a major disconnect between the planet person and your public position. An opposition is a matter for another article, because that would place their planet on your 4th House cusp (IC) which is a whole different story. The orbs I use are (roughly) 4-5 degrees max for a conjunction or square, 2-3 degrees max for a trine, 1-2 degrees max for a sextile or inconjunct.

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Conjunctions to the MC

Let’s say your partner’s Saturn (rules and authority) conjuncts your MC. They focus your attention on your external status. Whether that’s positive or challenging depends on how you deal with that status, and how they deal with their Saturn. If your natal Uranus (liberation) conjuncts your MC, you’re going to blaze your own unique path towards the future. Maybe you run your own business. Your partner might have some excellent ideas on how to make your business more efficient, so they boost your productivity while providing guidance. On the other hand, their Saturn might cast a pall over your “crazy” ideas. They become the disapproving parent, telling you to get a real job. The Saturn person feels this contact as an increase in their authority; they become responsible for your future and public image (whether or not you invite their input). In a different context, this aspect can indicate an employer/employee relationship. But if there are romantic connections elsewhere in the synastry, your lover takes on the role of boss. By itself, this contact does not indicate love, affection or attraction. But this doesn’t mean it invalidates other emotional/sexual connections between you. It’s simply one facet of your relationship, and that facet happens to be all business.

If your partner’s Jupiter (optimism and expansion) conjuncts your MC, they make you look good. Not only do they expand your concept of what you can accomplish, their shine rubs off on you. Perhaps they help you get a promotion because they boost your image at the corporate Christmas party. The Jupiter person senses that the higher you aim in your career, the higher they can fly with you. It’s win-win. This isn’t intimate stuff, but it’s still part of your relationship.

Other Aspects to the MC

Conjunctions are felt most directly, but other aspects to the MC have an impact as well. Let’s say your partner’s Mars falls in your 6th House of work and routine. The way they take action stirs you up on a daily level (perhaps they organize all your paperwork). You may or may not like this, because one person’s assistance is another’s interference. Move their Mars so that it’s within orb of squaring your MC, and suddenly their efforts have a much bigger impact on your life and future. How they impact you on a daily basis clashes with or fires up your Big Picture goals. They may fight with you (over that paperwork) and the daily disagreements disrupt your work to the extent that your performance suffers. On the other hand, they may fire up your ambition about being competitive in your career. They aren’t smoothly supportive, but if you’re passively floating through life, their challenges could be exactly what you need. The Mars person feels unusually assertive about your Big Picture goals. When they’re with you, they see that you “should” be doing so much more, or something different. Your public status triggers a reaction in them. If there were no romantic connections, this person might be the annoying co-worker. But add in intimate contacts, and your lover is the one who pushes your career buttons.

If your partner’s planet trines your MC, they quietly support your public status. Their Venus (in your 5th House of self-expression) trining your MC suggests they are your muse. The attraction you feel for them, and the fun, romantic times you have together, boosts your output as a graphic designer/actor/doctor. You seem to have more inspiration when they’re around. If their Saturn forms a trine from your 2nd House of personal resources, the financial/emotional stability they offer helps you focus on work. You feel more secure, and you’re able to reach your goals as a result. The planet person may not take direct action to influence your career, but the way they express their energy enables your future goals.

Bonus points if you already have a natal planet trining your MC, and then your partner’s planet trines your natal planet and your MC. Now you have a Grand Trine in your chart, courtesy of your lover. They complete you when it comes to focusing your resources/talents towards your future. This is the partner who fills in the blanks on how to make your dream job a reality, or how to present yourself most effectively in your corporate environment. When they’re with you, the planet person may feel they are part of something larger than themselves.

And what if one of their planets trines your MC, while another planet squares it? Their impact on your status is mixed. Their Venus trining your MC indicates that their love, creativity or values are in harmony with your external goals. But a simultaneous square from their Mars means that, despite this harmony, their actions still create tension. They might love the fact that you’re a lawyer, but the way they act disrupts your plans (or stokes your ambitions, depending on what their Mars is doing). Note that any planet squaring your MC will also square your IC, and any planet that trines your MC will sextile your IC. The aspects to your IC are another part of the story, but this article is focusing on the 10th House.

Synastry contacts to the MC don’t usually trigger romantic attraction (unless Venus or the ruler of the planet person’s 7th House is involved). But they are a critical part of any relationship. We like to think that love transcends status; it doesn’t matter what they/I do for a living — our love is all that matters! The truth is, external goals, public status and success often feature strongly in significant relationships.

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