I’ve been thinking a lot about outer planet archetypes for awhile, but recently was taking it into some careful consideration when looking at relationship compatibility.

Of the 10 main planets we first look at in a natal chart, the first 5 are personal (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) and the last 5 are transpersonal (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto).

The first 5 are considered personal because their orbits move quite a bit faster than the transpersonal, since they are much closer to earth. These are what instruct our fundamental toolkit of personality and identity.

The transpersonal, however, are also vital to how we move through the world archetypally. Jupiter has its own archetype, as does Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

So let’s start with the Jupiterians.

Jupiterians have Jupiter in hard aspect with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars or angles (conjunction, opposition or square), or even if Jupiter is your chart ruler (Sagittarius). Since Jupiter is a benefic and the other 4 transpersonal planets are considered more malefic, we interpret the energy differently.

This does not mean that the Jupiterian archetype is not equally complex. It is a mutable energy so it doesn’t have its own distinct identity per se, other than a kind of majesty in whatever it touches. Jupiter tends to magnify whatever energy it is in close contact with.

When it conjuncts the Sun, it magnifies the native’s identity/personality, making the person seem warmer and sunnier. When it conjuncts Venus, it makes the native magnanimous with love and finances. When it conjuncts Mars, it makes the native more energetic and motivated.

This means when Jupiter touches the more “malefic” planets, the energy of that planet becomes magnified. The Jupiterian archetype is characterized by expansiveness. Positively, Jupiter can reveal generosity, spirituality, or even a desire to experience other cultures on a grand scale. But it can also produce paranoia (Jupiter-Neptune), depression (Jupiter-Saturn), Unpredictability (Jupiter-Uranus) and extreme, wide-lens focus (Jupiter-Pluto). The Jupiterian archetype subscribes to the tenet: “Go big, or go home”.

Not let’s look at Saturnians.

If you have Saturn in hard aspect with at least two of your personal planets or angles (conjunction, opposition or square), or even if your chart ruler is Saturn, then you likely behave in very Saturnian ways. You are serious and take life seriously, fearing judgement but also judging yourself quite harshly. Its as if a dark cloud is following you most of your life.

You are dependable, responsible and likely a little depressive, but you often accomplish quite a bit – once you stop judging yourself and take action.

If you have Saturn in hard aspect with Venus, then you take romantic relationships quite seriously. So seriously that you often avoid them. Relationships are distracting and cause you to lose your focus.

If you have Saturn in hard aspect with your Sun, your entire identity is centered around being taken seriously. If you have Saturn conjunct the South Node, you work tirelessly (and often exhaust yourself) with the past-life baggage of always needing to be working towards a goal.

Saturnians make great friends – when you can get them to spend time with you! They are often too busy or feeling too depressed to be readily available. They are often great at offering advice, though if you are more of a rebellious free spirit, they might seem like a wet blanket to your hopes and dreams. Deeply pragmatic.

Let’s move on to Uranians.

So again – with Uranus in hard aspect to your personal planets or angles, you are definitely out of the box. Not easily defined though never following the pack, you have always stood out as different. Your ideas are definitely not mainstream. This is the signature of the iconoclast. A traditional life will never appeal. This can, of course, be quite stressful for Uranians living in what is currently a very Saturnian world. The energy is far more erratic for Uranians than what Saturnians experience as pressure.

Next are Neptunians. Neptunians, like Uranians, do not really relate to this world, but see it in a much more mystical way. They would prefer to live in a fantasy world, where mundane concerns do not exist. This is the tribe of no boundaries; those who exist for love and beauty and see no reason why fantasies cannot be the norm. This is what gets them into trouble. They are hard to pin down and easily the most misinterpreted of the archetypes.

They often feel victimized; not truly understanding what issues are theirs and which belong to others. While they don’t often observe boundaries, somehow their boundaries often get violated – either getting blamed for things for which they feel innocent or blaming others unfairly. Innocence is a constant theme for Neptunians who are often unable to see how they can disturb others who do not see the world as they do.

Last but not least, the Plutonians.

They are the most impactful of the archetypes. Plutonians are powerful and determined to accomplish anything they put their minds to. Many successful people are very Plutonian (particularly those with Mars in hard aspect with Pluto). They are often misinterpreted as well for being powerful, sexual and controlling, but they don’t really care. Unless they are a mix of Plutonian and Neptunian. Those “Neptonian” natives will have a blind spot when it comes to how they appear to others. They won’t always be aware of their powerful energy.

So how do these archetypes affect relationships?

Let’s say you meet someone with whom you have Sun trine Sun, Moon Sextile Moon, Venus in the 7th house, Mars conjunct Mars and Ascendant opposite Ascendant. You might feel like you met your ideal match. You feel instantly comfortable and imagine you found your soul mate. But then you discover that they are inconstant and would prefer an open relationship.

You, being Saturnian and Plutonian, cannot accept their inconstancy. It makes you feel not only unloved, but dismissed. Like your version of love is outdated or oppressive. Looking more closely at their natal chart, you discover that they are mostly Neptunian. It is a crushing blow. They also feel deeply misunderstood by you.

Though Plutonians might stick it out, Saturnians will consider the long haul in regards to compatibility – how this relationship will not ultimately work. Being split by both archetypes might make the decision a little harder, but Plutonians will also want absolute commitment and will not accept wishy washy engagement with anyone.

What about Uranians? They will need a lot of space and freedom. Living with a partner might pose a problem if their partner doesn’t have enough independence. Stressful outbursts are not uncommon when too much codependency kicks in. Uranians and Neptunians can work for a little while, until the Neptunian decides that the erratic nature of the Uranian feels too stressful or even abusive. Again – very different, often incompatible ways of relating become the primary issue between these two.

I think these archetypes definitely need to be given careful consideration in synastry or even composite charts. No ideal alignment will be able to weather the storm of archetypal dissonance. Of course there are many factors involved in determining relationship compatibility, but this one I feel is often overlooked.

Saturnians need other Saturnians or Plutonians. Uranians can work with Plutonians if given enough independence. This might be extreme, but I do think pure Neptunians need other Neptunians generally to feel deeply understood in relationships. If they are a mix of Saturnian and Neptunian, they will likely find a Saturnian partner more of a stabilizing influence.

As a “Saturanian”, I have managed to end up with quite a few Neptunians (since I am also very Venusian – but this personal planet archtype deserves a different post). It always ends badly. I need directness and boundaries while they prefer to live in a fantasy world.

I know someone who is split between all five archetypes. One of the rarest individuals I know, but he really struggles in intimate relationships. He has many friends and acquaintances, however. Probably because he can find something to relate to in anyone!