Author: Alison Price – Updated: January 2026

💚 Relationships, Love and Romance Astrology

This article is part of my Relationships, Love and Romance series, where I explore compatability, the Part of Marriage, synastry, composite midpoints charts, Davison Relationship charts and wedding elections.

Synastry: Chart Shapes

Chart Shapes in Relationships

Two Parts as a Whole

When you look at two charts together the overall shape they form can tell you a surprising amount about how the couple meet life and each other.

Chart shapes can describe how planetary energy is distributed. In synastry this spread of planetary energy shows how easily two people blend their rhythms or where they may feel out of step.

Jigsaw

Some pairs of charts will click into place just like a jigsaw piece.

Chart shape analysis is not black and white or about discovering good or bad pairings. It is about understanding how two people, when together, naturally move through the world and how those movements interact when they come together.

Some relationships feel instinctively wholesome from the start. Others take more adjustment. The principles of chart shapes may help to explain why this is so.

How to Determine the Shape

What to Look For

To determine a chart shape, I only consider the planets from the Sun through Pluto.

Leave out Chiron, the Asteroids the lunar nodes the Part of Fortune the Vertex and similar points. What matters here is the core planetary spread.

Do not include any chart points like the Midheaven, Lunar Nodes, Part of Fortune or Vertex in your shape analysis.

Once you see how the planets cluster or spread around the wheel a pattern may emerge.

The Eight Basic Chart Shapes

Bundle

In the bundle chart shape, all the planets must fall within a trine. The leading and trailing planets may actually be trine to each other but this is not always the case.

A bundle chart creates focus intensity and a strong sense of purpose. Bundle people tend to be specialists rather than generalists.

More on the Bundle Chart Shape

Fan

Like the bundle but with one planet acting as a handle. That handle planet becomes a key outlet for the whole chart. The handle planet can form a grand trine with the leading and trailing planet in the group, but not always. You can also have a two-planet conjunction as the handle as well.

In a fan the energy is expressed through the handle.

In relationships this planet often plays a pivotal role.

Bowl

In the bowl shape of natal chart, all the planets are found within one half of the chart often, but not always, held by an opposition at the rim. This is known as a rim opposition.

Bowl people feel driven to fill something missing. The rim opposition pair of planets needs close attention in synastry.

If the bowl is in the top part of the chart it acts like an umbrella.

A bowl will have a leading planet which is the one most clockwise of them all.

Bucket

A bucket is basically a bowl shape chart with a handle planet opposite the cluster. Again, the handle is crucial and the bucket handle can be a two-planet conjunction.

In a bucket the energy is expressed through the handle. The handle planet is typically square to the rim opposition planet, but not always. This adds tension.

Buckets shows where energy seeks expression and often where relationship themes are lived out.

See-saw

In a see-saw chart shape there are two groups of planets facing each other across the chart.

This chart shape has many conjunctions, oppositions and no squares.

These people are born negotiators. They naturally see both sides of a situation but may live with projected tension.

Splash

In a splash chart shape the planets are spread evenly throughout the chart. This is the most common shape of chart.

Splash people are curious, adaptable and open to many experiences. They often bring variety into relationships.

Splay

In a splay chart shape, there are three main groupings usually linked by one element. There are frequently multiple grand trines in a chart with the splay shape.

This shape suggests ease in life, talent, versatility and a selective approach to life and to bonding.

Locomotive

In the locomotive chart shape, the planets follow one another like a train covering up to two thirds of the chart. For it to be considered a locomotion there has to be one trines worth of empty space in the chart.

The leading and trailing planets are sometimes trine to each other. Here the leading (or cutting planet) planet is important.

The locomotive shape creates momentum, drive and a strong sense of direction. There is often a feeling of always moving forward.

Compatible Chart Shapes

Opposites Attract

When you lay one chart over the other in a bi-wheel look at how much of the zodiac is covered between the two charts.

Full coverage is generally supportive. Although large shared empty spaces can feel limiting over time.

Some shape combinations naturally complement each other. Not all chart shapes lend themselves to synastry compatibility, but a few of them do.

Let’s take a look at some of the combinations which support relationships between two people.

Fan and Locomotive

This is a great combination if the two charts do not overlap.

When together they cover each other’s empty space and the handle planets form a conjunction

Bowl and Bowl

The bowl and bowl couple is good when each partner’s planets fill the empty half left by the other. Here they complete each other.

Bowl and Bucket

A bowl and bucket person too is good when the empty spaces are covered and the bucket handle planet forms a conjunction into the partners bowl.

See-saw and See-saw

With two see-saw charts, when the planetary placements activate different parts of the zodiac they create trines and sextiles which soften the many oppositions. This is useful for relationships.

Sometimes there are multiple squares from one chart to another which can create inner tension or drive within the couple.

Bundle and Locomotive

With a bundle and a locomotive person, when the bundle fills the open arc left by the locomotive this combination works well for relationships.

Overarch

Chart Shape

It is always useful to consider chart shape when working with synastry and bi-wheels to determine just how well two people will get along.

Chart shapes can be used for all connections in your life and not just for love and romance.

These combinations do not guarantee happiness but they can sometimes suggest an easier flow of energy because each person brings something the other naturally lacks.

Chart shapes in synastry remind us that relationships are not just about attraction. They are about balance, movement and how two lives can make room for each other.

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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