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Compatibility
Aquarius Sheep and Taurus Rat

It may appear to be something of an energy minefield, but there is real potential here—provided the famously disagreeable combination of firstwest and secondwest fulfills its potential for life-changing personal growth, and the precarious firsteast and secondeast match is carefully controlled.

Western Zodiac sign, Aquarius
Western Zodiac sign, Taurus

Western Zodiac

Aquarius and Taurus

Compatibility overview

The whirling, combustible match between firstwest and secondwest is one of the most powerful energies in the Western zodiac. Plain sailing this is almost certainly not, for on any given topic these two are probably more likely to disagree than agree. Yet conflicts here tend to be essentially constructive rather than destructive, meaning relationships have terrific potential for impact and personal growth.

Aquarius and Taurus - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the AQUARIUS and TAURUS zodiac signs...

Read more about the AQUARIUS SHEEP and TAURUS RAT combined zodiac signs...

Signs that are three steps apart around the Western zodiac wheel, like Aquarius and Taurus, form a Square interval, a hard angle of 90°. This is basically as much tension as it's possible to find in Western astrology. Challenges, contrasting opinions, or outright confrontations are likely to emerge fast.

Aquarius, an Air sign, is typically high-spirited, cerebral, and unconventional. Air may be generally the most adaptable of the elements, but it is still an uneasy mix with the solidity and determination of Taurus' Earth element. Hence Taurus often finds Aquarius to be disconcertingly changeable, abstract, or unpredictable. Aquarius, on the other hand, can consider Taurus something of an immoveable object, whose lack of flexibility stifles precious freedom of thought and action. Even seemingly innocuous topics can provoke opposing responses between these two.

Taurus likes to build a secure existence from the ground up, and they usually have resolute opinions about behaviors they think are desirable or not. Aquarius, however, is defined by a wide acceptance of viewpoints and people, and they are much more interested in universal concerns than local ones. These differences might be less conspicuous if Aquarius and Taurus did not share a Fixed modality, with its emphasis on achievement, implementation, and realization. Without the balancing influence of a different modality, neither sign will want to give an inch.

The success of the Aquarius/Taurus combination therefore depends more on how the signs' opposing instincts are managed, rather than trying to avoid them. For one thing, disagreements need not cause displeasure. Quite quickly, sources of potential tension can become so obvious that they contribute playfulness, humor, or flirtatiousness to the relationship. More importantly in the long term, sites of contestation can become invaluable for personal growth. Square energy is essentially both transformative and positive. Through this relationship, Taurus and Aquarius can crystallize what is most important to them: things that can be compromised, and things that cannot.

Square relationships like this may need to evolve or compartmentalize, in order to benefit rather than suffer from the intense energy at play. However, one way or another, the result is capable of being profoundly enriching and inspiring for this contrary astrological pairing.

Celebrity Aquarius/Taurus Pairings*

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

George Lucas and John Williams
George Lucas and John Williams (click for attribution/s)

George Lucas (5/14/1944, Taurus Monkey), John Williams (2/8/1932, Aquarius Monkey) : The composer and film director/producer shared one of the most iconic collaborations of all time in the Star Wars movies. In a recent interview, Williams remembered that Lucas originally wanted to use pre-existing classical music for the film, but Williams convinced him to use original music that could be manipulated to suit the drama. Contacted for comment, Lucas' representative responded that the director "never intended to use extant music in the film."

Dennis Hopper (5/17/1936, Taurus Rat), Rip Torn (2/6/1931, Aquarius Horse) : The actor and actor/director were famously in discussions in 1969 for Torn to appear in the Hopper-directed film, Easy Rider. Years later, Hopper accused Torn of pulling a knife on him over a dinner, to which Torn responded that it was Hopper who had pulled the knife on him. Torn sued Hopper for slander, and in 1998 won almost $1 million in damages.

Robert and Leslie Zemeckis
Robert and Leslie Zemeckis (click for attribution/s)

Robert Zemeckis (5/14/1951, Taurus Rabbit), Leslie Zemeckis (2/5/1969, Aquarius Monkey) : The director and actor/filmmaker/author have been married since 2001 and have three children together. Robert Zemeckis described in 2018: "We are very supportive of each other when it comes to our individual endeavors and our endeavors together. We understand the ebb and flow of our careers and sometimes one person’s project takes priority over the other. It’s important to have individual, outside interests to fulfill oneself so as not to become dependent on the relationship for fulfillment."

Shirley MacLaine (4/24/1934, Taurus Dog), Steve Parker (2/6/1922, Aquarius Dog) : The actor and film producer were married from 1954 to 1982 and had a daughter together. Describing their unorthodox relationship, Maclaine has said: "I guess you would say 'practiced an open marriage' in 1954, which was another lifetime. No one understood it. We did. He lived in Japan basically, I lived in America working, and this and that. We'd meet up, always great friends, traveled sometimes together."

Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen
Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen (click for attribution/s)

Valerie Bertinelli (4/23/1960, Taurus Rat), Eddie Van Halen (1/26/1955, Aquarius Sheep) : The musician/founding member of the band Van Halen and actor were married from 1981 to 2007 and had one child (Wolfgang Van Halen) together. In her book Enough Already, Bertinelli described how the couple remained close after separating in 2001: "Ed and I grew even closer together. We couldn’t live with each other, but we found it impossible to live completely apart."

Cate Blanchett (5/14/1969, Taurus Rooster), Andrew Upton (2/1/1966, Aquarius Horse) : The actor and playwright have been married since 1997 and have four children together. Blanchett has described their courtship with characteristic irony: "I cooked him the worst meal. I somehow decided that to stuff a trout with walnuts and goat’s cheese would be a good idea. He ate it and then he asked me to marry him, so clearly he was, I don’t know, hallucinating."

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Chinese Zodiac sign, the Sheep
Chinese Zodiac sign, the Rat

Chinese Zodiac

Sheep and Rat

Compatibility overview

It's well known that the Chinese zodiac does not mince words about combinations that are deemed unfavorable. Unfortunately, the match between firsteast and secondeast has a harsh reputation for conflict, instability, and anxiety.

Sheep and Rat - Relationship Horoscope

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

Read more about the AQUARIUS SHEEP and TAURUS RAT combined zodiac signs...

Among all the combinations in the Chinese zodiac, the six Adversary matches along the fourth degree axis—among them the Rat and Sheep—are said to be the most troublesome. True, there can be some superficial similarities. Both of these signs, for example, possess strongly creative instincts, especially in connection with written and verbal expression. Sadly, any such affinity tends to be fleeting at best. For in this match, secrecy meets openness, thrift meets charity, and cunning meets innocence.

Where the Rat is a celebrated pragmatist, ever alive to opportunities for profit and advantage, the Sheep is a pure-hearted idealist. The instinctually cagey Rat tends to find the Sheep a blabbermouth, whose erraticism—especially in financial affairs—makes them difficult to trust with serious information. The Sheep, on the other hand, is likely to find the Rat's nature coldly calculating and manipulative, a constant threat to their need for benevolence and peace. The result can be a relationship where turmoil is the norm, and neither party is able to settle for long into a comfortable routine.

The turbulence of this Adversary energy is more indirect than direct, indicating that conflict is more likely to fester than explode. In this combination, secrecy may be weaponized in various forms, leading to deviousness, obfuscation, even betrayal. The respective language skills of the Rat and Sheep mean criticism from either party can be stunning and lead to lasting damage. Angst, particularly on the part of the Sheep, may lead to expensive debts or other kinds of profligacy.

In all, this is match that calls for great care. It will take strong countervailing energy on the Western side or two highly-evolved individuals to translate this energy into successful outcomes.

Celebrity Sheep/Rat Pairings*

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

Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher
Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher (click for attribution/s)

Liam Gallagher (9/21/1972, Virgo Rat), Noel Gallagher (5/29/1967, Gemini Sheep) : The brothers and founding members of the band Oasis share one of the most iconic feuds in rock music. In 1995, a fourteen-minute recording of them arguing and swearing at each other during an interview the previous year, entitled "Wibbling Rivalry", became the highest-charting interview release ever in the UK. In 2009, Noel famously said: "[Liam's] the angriest man you'll ever meet. He's like a man with a fork in a world of soup."

Carmen Electra (4/20/1972, Taurus Rat), Dave Navarro (6/7/1967, Gemini Sheep) : The actor/model and musician were married from 2003 to 2007. The lead-up to their wedding was televised in the reality show, 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave (2004). They have remained friendly since their break-up—in 2019, Electra posted to Instagram: "Happy Birthday @davenavarro my eternal love for u is beyond words . We had this strange understanding for each other that resulted in lots of laughter , fun & and understanding ! Ty 4 letting me be my true self and not judging my flaws . I mean .... the time out system really worked 😂🙌🏼 so grateful we are still friends ! I love u DN #happybirthday #tildeathdouspart."

Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna
Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna (click for attribution/s)

Ayrton Senna (3/21/1960, Aries Rat), Alain Prost (2/24/1955, Pisces Sheep) : The intense rivalry between these two Formula 1 drivers is one of the most famous in sports history. In 1990, after Senna deliberately drove his McLaren into Prost's Ferrari to win the World Drivers' Championship, Prost said: "What he did was disgusting. He is a man without value."

Hugh Grant (9/9/1960), Virgo Rat), Julia Roberts (10/28/1967, Scorpio Sheep) : The two actors co-starred in the successful romantic comedy, Notting Hill (1999). Later, Grant famously made a less than complimentary joke, saying that, "[Roberts] had such a large mouth...I was aware of a faint echo as I was kissing her."

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn (click for attribution/s)

Spencer Tracy (4/5/1900, Aries Rat), Katharine Hepburn (5/12/1907, Taurus Sheep) : The two Hollywood icons famously had an affair that lasted 27 years, as Tracy was a Catholic who refused to consider divorcing his wife. According to reports, Tracy was known for his alcoholism and infidelity during the relationship. Hepburn once said: "What would be the point [of leaving Tracy]? I mean, I loved him. And I wanted to be with him. If I had left, we would both have been miserable." She wrote about his death: "[Tracy] looked so happy to be done with living, which for all his accomplishments had been a frightful burden for him."

Marlon Brando (4/3/1924, Aries Rat), John Wayne (5/26/1907, Gemini Sheep) : The two actors shared a famous conflict after Brando refused his Oscar for Best Actor for The Godfather (1973). Brando asked a Native American woman, Sacheen Littlefeather, to refuse the award on his behalf, to protest the treatment of Native Americans in films and on TV. Littlefeather later recalled that six security guards had to restrain Wayne from rushing the stage while she spoke. Wayne said in an interview: "I think it was sad that Brando did what he did. If he had something to say, he should have appeared that night and stated his views instead of taking some little unknown girl and dressing her up in an Indian outfit."


Combined Relationship Horoscope

Final Words

The Square energy between firstwest and secondwest is perhaps as contrary as any in the Western zodiac. However, while it may sometimes feel as if there is nothing these two cannot disagree about, their disputations can yield great positives, offering rare insight into their individual identities, and producing lifelong benefits. In this case, the greater challenge may be navigating the disturbing energy of the firsteast and secondeast, one of the Chinese zodiac’s most notorious combinations. Clear communication, independent roles in the relationship, and encouraging sensitivity wherever possible may be important for these two, if they are to maximize the available prospects for successful collaboration and affection.

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