Decoded: Mars conjunct Venus
Sexual chemistry and the Beckhams
Welcome to Decoded! Formerly known as ‘Practical Magic’, this will now be (and remain) as my monthly series where I breakdown astrology in its many forms, and sometimes share easy to follow and non-scary spells as well as tarot.
A little guidance from the universe, if you will.
Star Language
I was recently having lunch with a Gen Z’er (I’m hip, I’m young!), and she was showing me the natal chart of someone she’s getting to know. I noticed the person’s chart had Venus in Capricorn, and immediately a memory of a previous lover with this aspect came to mind. There were a lot of things I loved about his chart, but this placement stood out at the top of the list, and I’ll tell you why.
Lets call him Milo.
The Chemistry Between Charts
In astrology we have something called synastry, the art of overlaying two birth charts to see how they interact. It’s a comparison of two natal charts, revealing where your planets fall within each other’s houses and what aspects form between them. Think of it as the cosmic blueprint of your connection with another person, showing where you naturally harmonize and where friction might spark. Synastry isn’t about predicting compatibility; instead it reveals the texture of your bond, what gets activated when you’re together. I love doing this with the charts of friends, or collaborators (and of course lovers).
Understanding Venus and Mars
Before we dive into the main topic for this month, let’s talk about what these planets represent. Venus brings peace, harmony, and grace to any kind of collaboration. Its insistence on interdependency and cooperation is what fuels romantic, familial, and platonic unions. Venus rules Libra and Taurus, signs known for their love of beauty, comfort, and connection.
Mars, on the other hand, is the warrior planet. Ruler of Aries and Scorpio, Mars energy is exemplified by the battle between a rams need for domination and the sharp sting of a threatened scorpion. Exalted in headstrong Capricorn, its energy suffers in hyper-sensitive Cancer. Mars is the engine that won’t quit. It’s the first step taken, the boundary drawn, the first hand up when called to a challenge. It’s how we pursue what we want, how we defend what we love, and how we channel our raw, unfiltered desire. On a basic level, Mars represents our aggression, our drive, and our sexual motivations.
Notice how the natural rulers of Mars (Aries and Scorpio) oppose the natural rulers of Venus (Libra and Taurus). They are cosmic opposites, one soft, one sharp. One receptive, one assertive. And when they meet? Sparks, they go flying.
The Venus-Mars Conjunction: When Opposites Collide
A Venus and Mars conjunction in synastry is usually an indicator of attraction. The Mars person embodying what Venus desires and Venus finding Mars’ mannerisms desirable. Conjunctions occur when your Venus and your partner’s Mars are between a 0-10° angle. This usually signifies an instant connection, where you feel your partner’s motivations, desires, and interests match your own. It’s an aspect that sparks kinship and closeness that formulates rather quickly.
Milo and I had this conjunction. His Venus in Capricorn met my Mars in Capricorn, and made our chemistry undeniable from the moment we met. Typically, the Mars person is the more aggressive individual while the Venus person is more passive. However, this will depend on the other aspects in the chart as well as the signs.
In our case, I was the Mars person, and Milo was Venus. I found myself being the more serious of the two, the one who had to keep us grounded in the relationship (I wouldn’t consider that aggressive though). My Mars is in Capricorn while it is exalted, it is also contained. There’s a Saturnian quality to how I pursue: deliberate, strategic, built to last. Mars in Capricorn doesn’t rush; it climbs. It assesses the terrain, plans the route, and moves with conviction. I wanted to go further, slower, with more intention.
Milo, on the other hand, was a Sagittarius Sun; expansive, optimistic, always wanting to go big and go fast. His Libra Moon and Venus energy brought a touch of care in service, always tender, always present, but there was an impatience to his joy. He wanted to leap; I wanted to build. He wanted the adventure; I wanted the foundation. This created a fascinating dynamic: I was the Mars person, but my Capricorn Mars combined with my Taurus Sun made me the anchor. The one saying, “Not yet. Not like this. Let’s do it right.”
His Mars also fell in my 2nd house (the house of values, security, and self-worth), which added another layer of depth. He made me feel valuable, not just desired. His pursuit of me wasn’t just physical, it affirmed my worth in a way that felt stabilizing, grounding. Which is exactly what a Taurus Sun with Mars in Capricorn needs: proof that the slow build is worth it.
Do you see the astrological conundrum?
The Texture of Our Connection
Because this aspect is sexually magnetizing and romantically intense, it creates a kind of pull that’s hard to resist. When Milo and I were around each other, there was constant physical touch and tenderness. Not just sex (though, yes, 10s across the board), but the kind of closeness where you reach for each other without thinking. Where your bodies seem to understand something your minds haven’t caught up to yet. Venus softens Mars’ edges, while Mars gives Venus the courage to act.
Unfortunately, this aspect can be particularly favorable for short-lived unions. Although the couple is attracted to each other, they also get under each others’ skin, which can make for a lot of passionate arguments followed by physical “making up.” The intensity of this aspect, if not balanced by other planetary interactions, can convert into bickering and friction as the initial magnetism settles into the logistics of daily life.
We have to remember that sex is not a purely physical act in every relationship, sometimes it transcends the earthly and flesh, which is not Mars’ or Venus’ forte. Therefore, this “going beyond” must be down to the interactions of other planets. Which is where looking at Mercury synastry (communication) or Neptune (spirituality) becomes essential, something we’ll explore in future posts.
When the Universe Writes the Love Story: The Beckhams
A few weeks ago I was watching the Victoria Beckham documentary on Netflix, and I couldn’t help but think: these two must have some seriously good synastry. So naturally, I pulled up their charts. And boy was I right.
David’s chart has Venus in Gemini at 21° and Mars in Pisces at 15°. Victoria has Venus in Pisces at 11° and Mars in Gemini at 28°.
Are you kidding me?!
This is what astrologers dream of finding in a couple’s charts: a double whammy where not only do their Venus and Mars signs swap, but they create two powerful conjunctions. His Venus conjuncts her Mars. Her Venus conjuncts his Mars. It’s a mirror: each person’s way of loving perfectly matches the other’s way of pursuing, and vice versa. Think about what this means in practice.
David, with Venus in Gemini, loves through communication, playfulness, and mental stimulation (I have this same placement btw!). Victoria’s Mars in Gemini pursues through wit, words, and constant engagement; she goes after what she wants with sharp intelligence and adaptability. Meanwhile, Victoria’s Venus in Pisces craves romance, devotion, and emotional depth. And David’s Mars in Pisces? He pursues with sensitivity, creativity, and an almost artistic tenderness. They’re speaking each other’s love languages fluently, without translation. When you watch them together (even after decades) you see it: the way he lights up when she’s witty and sharp, the way she softens when he’s romantic and devoted (in an interview with Call Her Daddy, Victoria talked about how romantic he is and how he’s always showered her with gifts). Their chemistry isn’t just physical, it’s a perfect feedback loop where each person is both the lover and the beloved in exactly the way the other needs.
Now let’s look at the degrees these signs are in.
In degree theory, certain degrees carry specific meanings and energies. David’s Venus at 21° Gemini is at a critical degree. 21° is a Sagittarius degree (associated with expansion, philosophy, and faith in the relationship), while Victoria’s Mars in Gemini at 28° is a Cancer degree (associated with nurturing, protection, and emotional security). These aren’t just conjunctions; they’re conjunctions that speak to sustaining love, not just sparking it. Similarly, Victoria’s Venus at 11° Pisces (an Aquarius degree, associated with friendship and independence) and David’s Mars at 15° Pisces (also a Gemini degree, tied to communication and adaptability) suggest that even in their romantic pursuit of each other, there’s room for individuality and evolution.
The Sun-Moon Dynamic: Independence Within Partnership
And we can’t ignore their Sun and Moon placements. David is a Taurus Sun with a Capricorn Moon, double earth energy that values stability, loyalty, and tangible results. He’s the kind of person who shows love through doing, through building something that lasts. Victoria is an Aries Sun with an Aquarius Moon, fire and air, independence and innovation are at the core of how she functions. She’s a trailblazer who needs freedom to create, to lead, to carve her own path.
On the surface, you might think these energies would clash. But I think this is precisely why they work. There’s an equal appreciation for independence here. Victoria’s Aquarius Moon needs space, needs to be seen as her own entity, not just “David Beckham’s wife.” And David’s earthy grounded-ness? It doesn’t cling. Evolved Taurus and Capricorn energy understands that real security isn’t about control, it’s about foundation. It’s about being solid enough that your partner can soar.
This shows up in how they support each other’s work and ambitions. When Victoria’s fashion line was suffering, David reportedly helped bail it out financially. Now, I’m not going to give astrology all the credit for that, partnership is partnership, and love is love. But I will say that his earth energy would absolutely show up in that way. Taurus Sun, Capricorn Moon? That’s someone who sees their partner’s dream struggling and thinks, “What can I do? What can I build or stabilize or provide?” It’s not about saving her, it’s about being the foundation so she can keep creating.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s Aries Sun and Aquarius Moon energy respects his own empire. She’s not threatened by his success; she’s inspired by it. Aries doesn’t want a partner who dims their light, they want someone who burns just as bright. And Aquarius Moon? It understands that love doesn’t mean merging into one entity. It means two whole people choosing each other, again and again, while maintaining their own orbits. This is the kind of synastry that doesn’t just create passion, it creates partnership. The kind that lasts.
And the Beckhams are a great example of this astrology at play.
See you next time,
xo
Yari B.