It has long been a source of amazement how marriage between incompatible signs of the zodiac can quickly turn vitriolic simply because the parties involved have not checked their zodiac matching. On-lookers have often been aghast at the tantrums and possible split-ups of couples who, individually, are extremely nice people, but when married are objectionable.

The glamor of courtship is not always a good way to test long-term understanding. Little wonder then, that marriage has been called a gamble. One way to improve your odds is by making sure that you and your partner are the best zodiac match.

The twelve signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups of three (triplicities) as below:

THE FIRE TRIPLICITY ARIES : LEO-SAGITTARIUS
THE WATER TRIPLICITY : CANCER-SCORPIO-PISCES
THE EARTH TRIPLICITY : TAURUS-VIRGO-CAPRICORN
THE AIR TRIPLICITY : GEMINI-LIBRA-AQUARIUS

People who belong in the fiery triplicity, for instance, are as different from those who belong in the watery triplicity as fire is different from water; the air people are entirely unlike the earth folks, and so on.

So when people born in the Fire, Earth, Air and Water domains embody the qualities of their triplicities we can easily understand that an unhappy marriage may follow as a consequence from trying to unite the incompatible elements.

For instance, those born in the domains of Fire and Water should not marry as water will put out fire, but fire can have little effect upon water. Marriage in these domains usually splutter and spatter, with hissing and steam - metaphorically, of course.

Fire and earth work better together. The earth is cold, and likes and needs the vitalizing and vivifying flame; and fire likes to give of itself. Yet even with this combination great care is needed, as fire is impulsive and dominant, even domineering, and wants a speedy response, which the earth is not always ready to give. Before bringing together these domains in marriage it's sensible to inquire into the signs under which they were born, with thought in relation to how well they can adjust to each other.

Fire and air do not unfailingly make a harmonious combination. They have similar inspirational goals and aspirations, but the two are explosive, and sometimes the inborn independence of air, together with its scattering qualities, prevents it from coming satisfactorily under the influences of fire. Those from these domains make good friends and neighbors, and are admirable workers in all reforming movements. Marriage is advised between particular signs in these domains, and more detailed advice should be looked into.

Earth and Air are not particularly congenial elements. Earth takes Air as a matter of course, and Air is apt to feel superior as the breath of life.

Earth and Water interblend pretty well, although mud can be the outcome. Nevertheless, water moulds the earths so if these elements come together the outcome can be all those things that make the earth harmonious to live in.

Air and Water are always more or less hostile elements in the marriage partnership. Air people scatter, and Water people are restless. They have no more bonds of harmony for each other than a robin and a goldfish, an eagle and a whale.

The above notes have only been able to hint at the possibilities, and have not been able to discuss all possible combinations so involved readers should enquire further into these topics and draw their own conclusions.

In matters of star sign compatibility it is best to get a professional romantic compatibility reading.