How to use astrology to gauge travel compatibility
Have you ever gone on a trip with someone or even a group of people and it turned out to be a disaster?! Maybe some people were seeking out adventurous experiences while others just wanted to relax and chill out on the beach. Perhaps you or someone else totally wasn’t feeling the destination! One thing is crystal clear; people can have varying preferences when it comes to travel and this applies to the types of destinations they like to visit and what their ideal travel itinerary/routine looks like.
You may be wondering, “But what on Earth does this have to do with astrology?” Well, actually a lot. You see, a birth chart can reveal quite a lot about a person, especially the houses. We look to the 12 houses in the birth chart to know and understand more about the different areas of a person’s life. For example, the 1st house deals with the self, ego, and physical appearance, and the 10th house deals with career, reputation, and public image. When analyzing travel and the type of traveler a person might be, we look at the 9th house in the birth chart, which deals with long-distance travel, higher education, publishing, philosophies, belief systems, and religions.
The zodiac sign ruling over the 9th house in a person’s birth chart can reveal a lot about what they desire out of a travel experience.
Aries 9th House: Having Aries ruling over the 9th House indicates someone who looks for spontaneity when it comes to travel. The concept of travel planning may seem foreign to them because they often prefer to “wing it” and make decisions on the spot. These people also crave action and excitement and may opt for activities like skydiving, ziplining, scuba diving, kayaking, ATV, etc. They are likely to prefer warmer, drier destinations.
Taurus 9th House: Leisure and luxury are major themes for those with Taurus ruling over the 9th House. These people would enjoy high-end resorts, spa days, and sipping a piña colada on a beautiful beach. Moreover, they love to be immersed in beauty whether that’s beautiful natural landscapes or places with stunning architecture and decor.
Gemini 9th House: These folks aim to get the most out of their travel experiences in the most literal sense. Gemini is a sign that loves to learn and share knowledge, giving these people the urge to research as much about the country, culture(s), and customs as possible. They also love variety, which gives them the motivation to visit numerous places in a country rather than a single destination. Museums, libraries, historic monuments, and cultural centers are places that could appeal to Gemini 9th house people.
Cancer 9th House: Family and community are important to Cancer 9th House people, and this motivates them to travel to visit relatives, friends, and loved ones. They could be especially curious about their heritage and ancestry, as Cancer is the default ruler of the 4th House, which deals with our roots and origins. Moreover, being that Cancer is ruled by the moon, these people could have an inner need to travel or relocate frequently (think digital nomads.) When traveling, they like to feel comfortable and “at home”, relishing in quaint, cozy environments. Being that Cancer is a water sign, they can be drawn towards visiting or living near a large body of water.
Leo 9th House: Lavish, luxury travel experiences are likely a priority for Leo 9th House people. Like the other fire signs, Leo craves adventure, so if someone has this sign ruling over their 9th House, they will want to maximize their travel experiences by jam-packing activities into their schedule each day. They are also keen on seizing opportunities to socialize and network when traveling. When traveling with these folks, get ready to dish out $$$$ at the trendiest bars, restaurants, and shops.
Virgo 9th House: Virgo 9th House people make amazing travel planners because they’re typically the type to want everything in order when it comes to their travels. They, more than anyone, crave a seamless travel experience, because they are prone to stressing out about things going wrong. The influence of Virgo also makes them super detail-oriented and knowledgeable about the place(s) they’re visiting, making them some of the best people to get travel recs from. Overall, their motto is "Overprepared is never underprepared."
Libra 9th House: Libra is known to appreciate beauty, culture, and the arts. They value aesthetics in every facet of life. Those with Libra ruling over their 9th House seek to be immersed in beauty wherever they go. Now, this shouldn’t be conflated with a need for luxury, because these people prefer elegance over anything too tacky or extravagant. Some of their favorite travel activities include visiting stunning natural sites, going to fashion/art museums, eating at restaurants with fine decor, and shopping at cute local boutiques.
Scorpio 9th House: People with Scorpio ruling over their 9th House typically seek out intense, transformative travel experiences. They are introspective by nature and take travel as an opportunity to get to understand themselves on a deeper level. Because of this, solo travel or traveling in small groups often suits them best. “Off the beaten path” type destinations attract them most, and they often rely on their intuition when deciding where to travel and when. Lastly, superficial, overly-commercialized experiences also aren’t their cup of tea!
Sagittarius 9th House: In astrology, Sagittarius is regarded as the traveler. People born under this sign or with strong Sagittarius influence in their chart tend to love exploring and wandering, treating life like a journey. Being the 9th zodiac sign, Sagittarius is the default ruler of the ninth house in Western astrology. Because of this, people with Sagittarius ruling over their 9th house are likely to travel frequently and could prefer a nomadic lifestyle that’s rich with exciting, memorable, “expansive” experiences (remember, they’re ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion!) For them, travel is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Finally, these people strongly value their independence, sometimes preferring to go off and do their “own thing” as opposed to staying in the same group for a long time.
Capricorn 9th House: Those with Capricorn ruling over their 9th house may choose to prioritize traveling later in life. That is not to say they never travel, but typically when they do, they like to have a concrete reason for it, be it work, networking events, visiting close friends and family, or otherwise. This is because they might choose to focus on their career or business to achieve financial stability before traveling. Capricorn is also an Earth sign represented by the mountain goat, so these folks are likely to enjoy visiting mountainous areas and hiking.
Aquarius 9th House: Aquarius 9th House people tend to thrive in group settings when traveling. This is because Aquarius, by nature, is a very community-oriented sign. These are the people would would be most likely to embark on a trip with a group of people who they don’t even know! When it comes to the types of places and experiences they seek out, Aquarius 9th House people, similar to Scorpio 9th House people, tend to prefer alternative activities and atypical locations that haven’t been plagued by mass tourism.
Pisces 9th House: This placement in the birth chart points to someone who looks at traveling as a spiritual experience. These people are probably the first to sign up for spiritual retreats and other events that allow them to reflect and recharge. Furthermore, they typically love being near a large body of water, remember that Pisces is symbolized by “the fishes.” Traveling, in their mind, should be a quieter, more peaceful experience, so loud, chaotic cities probably won’t be their destination of choice.