Mariem Bier / Staff Writer“Hey baby, what’s your sign?”
Most have heard this classic pick up line multiple times. Although some people do find sign compatibility to be reliable, it is not something to base a relationship on.
There are many different subparts that make up each zodiac sign, also known as a sun sign. One of these subparts includes the four different elements. Fire is home to Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Earth represents Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo. Air describes Libra, Aquarius and Gemini and water symbolizes Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
There are some natural connections made between zodiac signs that have harmonious elements. For example, a fire sign will most likely get along with someone who has the same element, because they feel as if they understand each another. However informative this might be, sign compatibility could also be attributed to a simple match of personality traits.
“Sun sign compatibility is a poor way to predict a successful relationship,” an astrologer and member of the San Diego Astrological Society Jannine Oberg said. This is because sun sign compatibility only takes into account certain factors that could make a couple compatible such as a Libra needing a patient partner or a Cancer needing a sensitive partner.
Kevin Burk, another member of SDAS, gave some more insight as to why sun sign compatibility is not a reliable source to predict couple compatibility.
“Astrology can provide powerful insights into human relationships,” Burk said. “(But) what may be compatible for you may not be compatible for someone else.”
The astrological information found in magazines and newspapers such as horoscopes and sign compatibility is known as “party astrology,” according to SDAS member Celeste Kelley. It should be considered just entertainment. Although it’s fun to compare sun signs and see what Astrology has to say regarding relationships, it’s important to understand that each partner has control of the relationship and its outcome.
For example, psychologist Bernard Silverman of Michigan State looked at 2,978 couples who were getting married and 478 couples who were getting divorced in Michigan in a given time period. He found no correlation to people getting married with compatible signs and people getting divorced with incompatible signs, according to www.astrosociety.org.
A relationship can be based on a friendship that develops into something potentially serious, that keeps both party’s needs in mind. Some of these needs can be emotional, physical, spiritual or social. When all of these needs are kept in mind, the success of the relationship is more likely. If one’s partner is kept happy and satisfied with the relationship, then his or her zodiac sign may be simply irrelevant.
When zooming through the horoscopes on the Back Page of The Daily Aztec, keep in mind that everyone is different and sign compatibility is only one of the many possible guidelines for making the most successful relationship.
