Love and attraction may bring two people together, but it’s commitment that makes them stick to their relationship. In astrology compatibility, you look to the planet Saturn to see how likely a couple will stay together and fulfill their duties to each other and their relationship, especially a marriage.

According to astrology, Saturn shows us how we bring stability to our world by setting limits and rules, perhaps symbolized by its rings. This is why Saturn has a very bad reputation among astrologers. It’s that voice of authority telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. In relationships such as marriage, this is clearly important because every relationship has its rules that the partners must abide.

Saturn’s power is felt in aspects (a certain number of degrees) between it and other planets, such as the moon or Mars. When there are strong Saturn aspects in someone’s astrological birth chart, that person is apt to be self-controlled and hardworking if positive, or fearful, harsh, inhibited or a mixture of the above.  Saturn stays in a zodiac sign for about two years, so those born close in age may have the same Saturn sign.  In a relationship or marriage, partners with Saturn in the same zodiac sign can relate to each other’s fears, worries and ambitions much easier than those with different Saturn signs.

In horoscope sign compatibility, or synastry, look for aspects between one partner’s Saturn and planets in the other partner’s chart, especially the sun, moon, Venus or ascendant (first degree on the east in the chart).  Easy aspects – the trine and sextile – add responsibility, loyalty and steadfastness.  Hard aspects – square and opposition – often cause inhibition and one partner holding back the other.  The conjunction – when Saturn is in the same sign and the same degree as the other planet – draws the partners to each other as if by fate or “karma.”  In fact, Saturn is commonly believed to be “lord of karma” in astrology because the hardships and duties it seems to impose on people are said to come from past actions and past lives.

When interpreting Saturn in astrology compatibility charts, look to the meanings of the planet(s) it aspects. For instance, a Saturn to Venus conjunction is different from a Saturn to Sun conjunction, or sextile, or square, etc.

Saturn is always important even if it’s tough to deal with. Often the areas in a relationship where you two have to work the hardest, also end up giving you the goodies later on.