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Compatibility
Libra Rat and Capricorn Horse

As combative and intense as any relationship under the sun—yet there may be critical benefits here, as firstwest and secondwest offer rare prospects for personal growth, and the firsteast and secondeast can provide extraordinary achievements and social impact.

Western Zodiac sign, Libra
Western Zodiac sign, Capricorn

Western Zodiac

Libra and Capricorn

Compatibility overview

This is a potent, often unstable, connection that is likely to impact both signs dramatically. firstwest and secondwest will likely experience a wide spectrum of excitement and tension, full of debates, disagreements, and confrontations. But though tranquility may be rare for these two, personal growth and advancement is not. In fact, there is every chance that both parties will benefit enormously, one way or another, from this formidable energy.

Libra and Capricorn - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the LIBRA and CAPRICORN zodiac signs...

Read more about the LIBRA RAT and CAPRICORN HORSE combined zodiac signs...

Signs like Capricorn and Libra, that are three steps apart around the Western zodiac wheel, make a hard 90° angle, known as a Square aspect. This is not a match for the faint of heart.

Square energy is notoriously powerful and demanding. These two are likely to realize quickly that there is little they see eye to eye about. Libra naturally tends to consider every question from every possible angle, whereas Capricorn is defined by their motivation for control. Libra thus tends to resent what they see as Capricorn's attempts to force them into decisions or courses of action, while Capricorn worries that Libra will squander time or potential. Part of the problem stems from the respective elements.

Libra's Air encourages intellectual freedom and exciting new possibilities, where as an Earth sign Capricorn is guided by patience, determination, and predictability. Further, these signs share the same Cardinal modality, which emphasizes beginnings and inception. With little to balance this pure, initiating energy, and such differing instincts, these signs can both feel as if joint initiatives are doomed to fail at the first hurdle. This can bring out the worst in both signs, making Libra ill-tempered and indecisive, and Capricorn morose and inflexible.

On the positive side, the magic of Square energy is that it is essentially constructive. For all the tension between Capricorn and Libra, they can also be strongly drawn to one another—intellectually, personally, or sexually. They can also achieve greater self-knowledge and confidence than in just about any other combination. A Square match has a devil's advocate-like quality, as if every motivation is being tested to see how valuable or worthwhile it really is.

Ultimately, whether Capricorn and Libra move beyond their connection or sustain it together, the energy is fundamentally advantageous, with both signs likely to achieve a clarity about themselves and their aspirations they never thought possible.

Celebrity Libra/Capricorn Pairings*

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

Kim Kardashian and Ray J.
Kim Kardashian and Ray J. (click for attribution/s)

Kim Kardashian (10/21/1980, Libra Monkey), Ray J (1/17/1981, Capricorn Monkey) : The media personality and singer/actor were a couple between 2002 and 2006. The relationship has attracted significant ongoing attention because of a sex tape released in 2007. In 2022, Ray J. reportedly criticized Kardashian, saying, "I've sat in the shadows for over 14 years allowing the Kardashians to use my name, to abuse my name, make billions of dollars over a decade-and-a-half talking about a topic I've never really spoken about. I've never leaked anything. I have never leaked a sex tape in my life...She's always had all the tapes...Once I pitched the idea to her, just playing around a little bit, that's when she jumped on the idea, talked to her mom and it was out of my hands from there."

Jeff Goldblum (10/22/1952, Libra Dragon), Emilie Livingston (1/4/1983, Capricorn Dog) : The actor and dancer have been married since 2014 and have two children together. In 2018, Livingston posted to Instagram: "Some people like to play games and play hard to get but we were just honest and aware from day one and took our relationship day by day until I had to express my feelings of wanting a family with HIM and to share the rest of my life with his beautiful soul! That was a scary day, opening myself up completely...we just kept talking about it together and with our therapist until we decided that it was the right thing to do! Ladies stay true to yourself, have fun but when it stops being fun be honest with yourself and your mate and be open to discussions that may be uncomfortable at first but worth releasing in a calm and safe environment!!! I love this man with ALL of my heart! ♥️ Thank you universe 🙏🏻"

Annie Liebovitz and Susan Sontag
Annie Liebovitz and Susan Sontag (click for attribution/s)

Annie Leibovitz (10/2/1949, Libra Ox), Susan Sontag (1/16/1933, Capricorn Monkey) : The photographer and writer were in a relationship for 15 years. Liebovitz has described: "Words like 'companion' and 'partner' were not in our vocabulary. We were two people who helped each other through our lives. The closest word is still 'friend'." About her decision to have children, Liebovitz said: "I think [Sontag] wanted me to herself. I think she didn't think I was serious enough. 'Let's talk about it when you're serious about it,' she would say. And I made a decision myself to have children and then she was very supportive. But it took me making my own decision. She loved [Liebovitz's daughter] Sarah. She just loved Sarah.

Sting (10/2/1951, Libra Rabbit), Trudie Styler (1/6/1954, Capricorn Snake) : The musician and actor/film producer have been married since 1992 and have four children. Their relationship began with scandal, as Sting lived next door to Styler with his previous wife, who was also Styler's best friend. In 2006, Styler described: "I don't know how happy I was when I met Sting. I always had this difficulty of not really knowing who I was. But I'm happy now. I don't look back - it sounds a bit New Age and wanky, but I prefer to look forward. I know where I came from and I hope I don't take anything for granted."

Marcello Mastroianni and Faye Dunaway
Marcello Mastroianni and Faye Dunaway (click for attribution/s)

Marcello Mastroianni (9/28/1924, Libra Rat), Faye Dunaway (1/14/1941, Capricorn Dragon) : The two actors famously lived together in the late 1960s, despite Mastroianni being married at the time. Dunaway wrote in 1995, "There are days when I look back on those years with Marcello and have moments of real regret. There is that one piece of me that thinks that had we married, we might be married still. It was one of our fantasies, that we would grow old together. He thought we would be like Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, a love kept secret for a lifetime. Private and only belonging to the two of us."

John Lennon (10/9/1940, Libra Dragon), Phil Spector (12/26/1939, Capricorn Rabbit) : The musician and music producer (who was later convicted of murder and died in prison) collaborated extensively, including on the landmark Imagine album. Lennon described: "[Spector's] got a tremendous ego. He considers the artist like a film director considers actors, just pieces of garbage… canned goods that you bring on and wheel off. He’d like to bury the artist and so the production is the main thing. But we didn’t allow him to do that to us. So on that level it was very good, because we used what we considered is his amazing ear for pop music and sound, without letting it become [deep voice] ‘Spector’."

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Chinese Zodiac sign, the Rat
Chinese Zodiac sign, the Horse

Chinese Zodiac

Rat and Horse

Compatibility overview

Western astrology is generally more forgiving of potential discord than its Chinese counterpart. Unfortunately, the match between the firsteast and the secondeast has a reputation for seriously destabilizing energy. This can produce a myriad of conflicts. The prognosis is not all negative, however. For as unsettling as it can be for the parties themselves, this match-up is capable of generating some awesomely powerful impacts.

Rat and Horse - Relationship Horoscope

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

Read more about the LIBRA RAT and CAPRICORN HORSE combined zodiac signs...

Facing each other diametrically across the Chinese zodiac wheel are the six infamous Opposite combinations. Traditionally, these matches are understood to involve nearly constant and irreconcilable tension. In the case of the Horse and the Rat, the dashing independence of the former collides with the latter's calculating cleverness.

The Horse is perhaps the sign with the greatest need for freedom. It is almost impossible for them to feel comfortable if they sense they are being controlled. The Rat, on the other hand, is a profoundly social, romantic creature. Their inner fulfilment depends on closeness to others and being able to use their strategic skills to promote their own interests and those close to them. A combination of the Horse and Rat thus tends to produce a vicious circle where both are constantly on edge. The Horse can feel restricted and manipulated, where the Rat feels abandoned, vulnerable, and unappreciated.

Recurrent problems are especially a feature of love affairs. The old adage about opposites attracting can draw these two together initially, and strong sexual tension is not unexpected. But eventually the Horse's craving for independence is likely to lead to withdrawal or selfishness. The neglected Rat may become increasingly needy and could even turn to scheming against the distant, aloof Horse.

Characteristically for Opposite matches, however, the troublesome aspects of this energy can generate extraordinarily potent results. Imagine partner stand-ups, where the force of two people pushing backwards into each other propels them upward. Because the Horse and Rat have so little in common, any kind of collaboration, alliance, even feud, that brings them together benefits from a complete spectrum of energy. The potential for capturing attention or generating triumphs of innovation is virtually unlimited.

To be sure, the partnership may prove too combative for the parties themselves to really enjoy each other's successes. But with soothing influences on the Western side, or earnest mutual understanding, these two may be able to profit admirably from the powerful, if conflictive, energy that unites them.

Celebrity Rat/Horse Pairings*

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

Robin Wright and Sean Penn
Robin Wright and Sean Penn (click for attribution/s)

Sean Penn (8/17/1960, Leo Rat), Robin Wright (4/8/1966, Aries Horse) : The two actors shared an on-off relationship from 1989 to 1995 and had two children together. After separating in 1995, they reconciled and married in 1996. They filed for divorce in 2007, reconciled again for a time, and finally divorced in 2010. Penn said in 2018, "[We] don't have a lot of conversation...We don’t not get along. We have very separate relationships with our kids at this point and it seems to work better that way because they are making their own decisions. As it turned out she and I did not share the same ethical views on parenting, including the continuing parenting of adult children."

David Duchovny (8/7/1960, Leo Rat), Téa Leoni (2/25/1966, Pisces Horse) : The two actors married in 1997 and had two children together. They separated in 2008 before Duchovny received treatment for sex addiction. After reuniting for a time, they divorced in 2014. Leoni has described: "David gave me the two greatest gifts on the planet; I don't know how I could ever hate him...I'm not playing stupid—I understand feelings can get hurt and things can get icky. We've had our moments like that. But these kids are too important, and he feels the same way."

Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant
Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant (click for attribution/s)

Carmelo Anthony (5/29/1984, Gemini Rat), Kobe Bryant (8/23/1978, Virgo Horse) : These US basketball legends shared an amicable but heated on-court rivalry, especially during the 2009 Western Conference Finals. Anthony has described: "You know Kob, man, he going at your neck. He’s saying [expletive] to you, elbowing you. I had my braids back then too, so he’s touching my head. I’m like, 'What the [expletive] are you doing? Don’t touch my head.' You know what I’m saying? Like, 'Don’t touch me no more, dawg.'" When the pair faced each other, they would embrace and say, "It's war."

Jennifer Garner (4/17/1972, Aries Rat), Halle Berry (8/14/1966, Leo Horse) : The two actors testified together before a California State Assembly Committee about the need for their children to be legally protected from the paparazzi. Berry said at one point, "We're moms here, just trying to protect our children."

Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas
Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas (click for attribution/s)

Clarence Thomas (6/23/1948, Cancer Rat), Sonia Sotomayor (6/25/1954, Cancer Horse) : These US Supreme Court judges have starkly different reputations. However, while alluding to conflicts about judicial business, Sotomayor has spoken of the friendship between them: "I see in [Thomas] the basic caring about people that I have. We are both committed friends and committed family members. And so, in seeing that good in him, there is no reason for me to take our personal disputes and translate it into our personal interactions. We work together. We have to work together for the rest of our time on the court."

Marlon Brando (4/3/1924, Aries Rat), James Dean (2/8/1931, Aquarius Horse) : There have been rumours that these two actors shared a disturbing intimate relationship, with Brando attempting to dominate Dean in various ways. What is more certain is that Dean idolized Brando, copying his choices of motorcycle and bongo-playing hobby, while Brando made publicly disparaging comments about Dean. "Mr. Dean appears to be wearing my last year's wardrobe and using my last year's talent," is one quote attributed to Brando; "I gave [Dean] the name of a psycho-analyst and he went. At least his work improved," is another.


Combined Relationship Horoscope

Final Words

The Square combination of firstwest and secondwest may sometimes wonder if there is anything they agree about at all, yet this potent connection also offers rare opportunities for both signs to crystallize who they are and what they want out of life, and to cultivate greater self-awareness, patience and generosity in communicating. On the Chinese zodiac side, the energy between the firsteast and secondeast is similarly powerful and conflictive—though again there are countervailing positives, as few combinations can summon such a spectacular and impactful coalescence of energy. It may take a supreme effort to maintain this ferocious connection over the long term, but for as long as it endures, this is a recipe for a blazing, unforgettable relationship.

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