Customer Reviews

Composite Charts; The Astrology of Relationships

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John Townley's text is one of the leading sources for understanding composite charts. Townley came across this method of analyzing relationships in 1973 when a Mensa-member friend of his mentioned it to him in New York. He proceeded to chase down its origins to understand it better. He discovered that it was not a new technique and that "Dr. Walter Koch (of the house system) apparently knew of it back in the 1920s" (p. xviii). Townley then discovered published writings from 1919 by biologist Paul Kammerer. Townley believes that the founding concepts that explain what a composite chart is and why it works can be derived from Kammerer's theory of "imitation effect." Townley explains this theory in the chapter "Some Theoretical Groundwork" (p. 3-12). The composite chart is defined by Townley as "a horoscope made up of the mutual midpoints between the natal charts of two persons-the composite Sun is located at the midpoint between the two natal Suns, the composite Moon is at the midpoint between the two natal Moons, and so on" (p. 11). Townley reasons "the composite Sun is precisely the point at which rhythms shift over from one person to the other, and shift from relative increase to decrease and vice versa, one to another. It is really a critical, phase shifting point where one person (usually unknowingly) 'hands the ball' to the other with a mutual shift of energy and responsibility. It is a point of mutual empowerment, the swing point where one gives to the other at the most primal level" (p. 12). Hence, "just as the composite chart itself describes the subtleties of mutual empowerment, the use of the technique further empowers those involved individuals and allows them greater control over their lives" (p. 14)

I have presented excerpts from the book to help you understand the basis of how and why a composite chart works. These excerpts are important keys concepts that shed some light and understanding on the composite chart. Basically, the composite chart is the critical point between two people where a third powerful force is created, which represents the relationship. Townley explains the hows and why of the composite chart in the chapter "Some Theoretical Groundwork" (p. 3-11). When a relationship is formed it develops its own intensity and strengths, which impacts the individuals who comprise the relationship. This means that although synastry, which is another relationship analysis method, may be quite good between two people, the composite chart suggests the kind of relationship produced when two people come together. In other words, the composite describes what the couple undergoes within the relationship and sheds light on how they can cope with it.

Townley's book is geared overall towards understanding relationship dynamics. The first few chapters explain Townley's belief of the scientific groundwork on which the composite chart is based. The rest of the book discusses the composite chart and its key components elucidating how it works. All in all, this is an excellent book to own because it is a comprehensive survey. However, as with all books that cover a lot of ground, it presents comprehensive generalized meanings. In other words, it is not all-inclusive but it includes the most important key points that you should know. This text therefore makes a good starting point for those who take the time to read it in its entirety. I did not find his scientific explanations too difficult to follow, but I would recommend reading it more than once and to truly understand it, because when you do, then you'll understand why the composite chart is so powerful. The Scientific part is in the first chapter or so, and the proceeding chapters cover interpretations, which are Townley's suggestions on how you can read the chart symbolically. Having said that, I will also add that after 25 years of practicing astrology and relationship analysis, it takes a while to really understand how to read and interpret any astrological chart. The reason is that it takes a while to understand what the individual aspects mean, and then to understand what the sum total of all the aspects represents and what it's trying to tell you. Astrology takes time to know. Fortunately, with practice it gets easier. Some math skills will be needed, if you erect a chart by hand. Otherwise, you may want to take advantage of computer programs to help you erect a chart. Many programs are free of charge and can be downloaded at such sites as zdnet or tucows; just type "astrology" in their search engines. Townley's book is a fabulous starting point, especially if you read his book in its entirety.

This book was a major disappointment - shallow and written in the typical "You are ...!"-style (or in this case rather "This aspect/placement, shows that it is extremely important for you to..."), as if each and every single aspect/placement in the chart is THE most important. I actually got the feeling that the main idea with the whole thing, is to provide "computerized" interpretations that can be used on sites...
It also feels as if the author and his friends (Hand et al), believes they are the "elite astrologers" who knows best (and that other astrologers, like Ron Davison, are on a lower level).
If you are already an astrologer, with at least average intelligence, chances are great that you could come up with more insightful interpretations than this book does.

I believe in composite charts, and I've worked with them since 1992. Regarding "Why does it work!?", I simply conclude that composite charts DO seem to work.

I would actually recommend E.W. Nevilles "Planets in Synastry" instead. Perhaps for the beginner, I would instead recommend Robert Hands "Planets in Composite".

The book was helpful to me for the simple fact that I dont have any other book on composite charts. However, the interpretation of each aspect was rather bland. Outer planet aspects were interpretted on an individual level, rather than composite, which does not help at all. Aspects to the North Node were mentioned rarely.

My main difficulty with this book is that 1/4-1/2 of each interpretation involves work relationships. This could be helpful to some, but was a waste in my case. The rest of it was about love, which is what I was focusing on, but the amount spent on work relationships could have been spent on friendships or family relationships. Hopefully, they come out with a stronger, expanded edition.

What I like about this book is that it is a wonderful reference for working with composite charts. It takes Hand's "Planets in Composite" a step further by speaking to the signs involved. It is not only a reference for insights into composites someone might be working with, but it also is a teaching tool through its examples of composites of US Presidents' charts and the USA's chart. As Hand states in the foreward to the book, using composites in an evolving technique, and Townley's work is based on research and experience. The writing is clear and succinct. Anyone practicing astrological relationship work should have it.

I was surprised to discover that the charts of two (people) always create a third entity which has it's own powerful aspects! I have not been a student of astrology, so the way this information is clearly presented is highly appreciated. I don't have to "study" a whole lot to get the benefits from these concepts. I expect the free composite chart to be very useful to me and my partner in our fledgling Web Services business!

THis is an interesting book and maybe even an important one, since the author is one of the inventors of Composite charts, but it ends up being little more than a cookbook and at times is a stretch of the imagination because the theory of composites is a little too neat. I expected a little more : you'll be disappointed if you're looking for a serious book for professionals.

A significant other has entered your life... and you have fallen in love... and this love has created a third entitiy... Now what? Best thing I can suggest is for you to get a copy of this wonderful book! It is well written - loaded with insight into the dynamics of what you are creating as a couple. The way in which it is written will appeal to a novice as well as to the seasoned astrologer. You really don't have to be an astrologer to read this material, as it is written in such a way that anyone interested in learning about their relationship will easily understand. John Townley is one of my most favorite writers and I have enjoyed his material since the 1970s. I not only recommend this book... I will be using it in an upcoming class on AOL. I would also recommend Townley's other books: Planets In Love and Dynamic Astrology.

If you are just entering into a significant relationship, or if you are already in it, you can certainly use composites (as revealed in this book) to "predict" and understand the unique characteristics of your SPECIFIC relationship. Imagine having one person's chart and then another's, and out comes a whole new chart that gives birth to a new opportunity.... I recommend it to any of my students and clients who are open to using an astrological perspective for additional insight! Even for those not into using astrology, with the free chart offer from the book, folks can explore.~:)

John Townley appeared on my TV show Psychic Perceptions (Long Island Ch27) 3 years ago , while this book was in process, and my audience has been calling me about it ever since. It is the very best Composite Book that I have read and I recommend it highly.

Lee Moorhead

Starting with the chapter on how to construct a chart, the first sentence is, "Mathematically, constructing a composite chart from two natal charts is simple," what followed, left me in utter confusion. The author lets you know you can contruct these charts on a computer, but doesn't expound. The best thing I found in this book, is the form you can mail in, and have them do a chart for you.