HORIZON ASTROLOGY

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility
Rat and Snake

Compatibility overview

The combination of firsteast and secondeast is sometimes overlooked by devotees of the Chinese zodiac, but there are excellent prospects for any relationship between these kindred spirits. Not only are there some strong synergies between these personalities, but the lovely energy surrounding them lends itself to a close, supportive connection.

Rat and Snake - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the RAT and SNAKE zodiac signs...

Central to the Chinese zodiac is the concept of the four Trine Families, comparable to the elements in Western astrology. Among these four families, there are two compatible pairs, one of which consists of the Rat's family (with the Dragon and Monkey) and the Snake's family (with the Ox and Rooster). Among this inter-family group are some of the most famous of all Chinese zodiac matches. While the combination of the Rat and Snake is not singled out quite as often as some others, these two share in the same delightful surrounding energy.

Initial meetings are likely to be immediately blessed with friendliness and respect. These two signs are both celebrated for their great wisdom and insight—don't be surprised if they are making headway with the meaning of life before the main course has even arrived! The Snake tends to be impressed by the practical and financial direction of the Rat's intelligence, where the Rat can be similarly taken with the Snake's abstract, philosophical qualities. The Rat has a peerless way with words, and the Snake tends to be fabulously attractive, so compliments and attention can be expected to bring much mutual pleasure. As the relationship deepens, more profound gifts may well be revealed.

In other contexts, these signs can both lean towards supportive roles. Together, however, they can truly bring each other into the limelight, leveraging their significant abilities towards independent and combined successes. Neither of these signs has much of a reputation for hot-headed confrontation, so challenges are likely to be expressed in indirect or subdued fashion, even if quite unsettling. The Rat's secretiveness, invaluable in some contexts, can be problematic here, as the Snake is unusually prone to jealousy. If the Snake gives in to their weakness for vanity or self-indulgence, little will escape the notice of the shrewd Rat. Financially, these two make a formidable team but potentially difficult opponents. On balance, the relationship does need some space and understanding to diffuse potential tensions and make sure the abundant potential is realized.

Given favorable conditions, this can be a real gem of a connection, with terrific prospects for pleasure, nourishment, and warmth.

Celebrity Rat/Snake Pairings^*

^*Click on the names to see both Western and Chinese zodiac matches for that pairing.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin (click for attribution/s)

Gwyneth Paltrow (9/27/1972, Libra Rat), Chris Martin (3/2/1977, Pisces Snake) : The actor and singer were married for 14 years from 2003, and had two children together. After their split, they introduced the phrase "conscious uncoupling" to the lexicon of contemporary relationships. Paltrow explained in 2021, "Chris is like my brother. You know, he's my family. I love him."

Jude Law (12/29/1972, Capricorn Rat), Sadie Frost (6/19/1965, Gemini Snake) : The actors were married between 1997 and 2003, and have three children together. Frost wrote about her relationship with Law in her 2010 autobiography, Crazy Days, saying: "The force of the love I felt for Jude and his intense ambition made me feel out of control."

Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant (click for attribution/s)

Hugh Grant (9/9/1960, Virgo Rat), Elizabeth Hurley (6/10/1965, Gemini Snake) : The two actors dated for 13 years before breaking up in 2000. They have remained close friends. Hurley explained in 2021 that: "We haven't been romantically involved for 20 years, I think, even though we have such a strong friendship. But we're always very aware that there are other people in our lives. There's partners, there's children. You can't just, sort of, live in a lovely, rosy, mist of the past. You have to move with the times and be very respectful of the present, which we are."

Antonio Banderas (8/10/1960, Leo Rat), Dakota Johnson (10/4/1989, Libra Snake) : The two actors were stepfather and stepdaughter during Banderas' marriage to Melanie Griffiths, with Johnson calling him, "Paponio," a mix of "papa" and "Antonio". At the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards, Johnson described: "I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life. When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light and a whole new world of creativity and culture...[Banderas] was so vibrant and so fun and so funny and his English was abstract and we found it absolutely amazing. He loved my mother, and my siblings and I so big, and so fiercely and so loud, that it would change all of our lives together."

Dr. Dre and Eminem (click for attribution/s)

Eminem (10/17/1972, Libra Rat), Dr. Dre (2/18/1965, Aquarius Snake) : The two rap legends have been close friends since the 1990s, when Eminem released his major-label debut through Dre's Aftermath imprint. Speaking at Eminem's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Dre described: "The first time I put on a beat, [Eminem] got on the mic and said, 'Hi, my name is Slim Shady.' That was it, and that was the beginning of what became an amazing creative collaboration. Then came the backlash. 'Look at him, Dre. This guy has blue eyes. We can’t sign him.' There was a massive amount of resistance from my whole team and people around me that didn’t want me to work with him simply because he was white...I knew that his gifts were undeniable. His raw, dark, humorous lyrics, coupled with an impeccable cadence, stood out from everything I had ever heard before. And he was humble. Both of us were. We were two artists in do-or-die situations. He was desperate to find a way to feed his family, and I was searching for something that I could sink my teeth into creatively. Each of us were exactly what the other one needed. And I was willing to bet my entire career on that. Facts."