Certain planetary combinations are definitely more attractive or attracting than others. Planets are generally more attractive when well placed by either sign, element, or simply gender. Forget houses, aspects, and degrees, these are distant secondary considerations. After over 40 years of observing planetary placements, in the end, a planet's attracting power all boils down to its sign, element, or gender placement.

There are eleven well-estabished planetary bodies to consider -Rising(Ascendant), Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The Midheaven may also be important but there is not enough research here. All other bodies or points are minor, speculative, or largely unproven. The single most important factor is the Ascendant or Rising Sign which stands for Earth, Terra, or Gaia. This is the most salient or observable factor in any chart and has more to do with physical appearance and attraction than any other factor. Next in importance are the Moon or a large grouping of planets(usually 3 or more) in any one sign.

When people see you, the first thing they see is your Ascendant or Rising Sign, and depending on the observer, they may or may not like what they see. Normally, the observer is the Sun Sign, which is the core essence of the individual. We do not always see a person's Sun Sign, but we certainly feel it. It emanates strongly or weakly depending on the element it's in. Fire Sun Signs emanate the strongest followed by air(both positive), and then water and earth (both negative). The Ascendant individual picks up on this emanation and reacts accordingly. Mars or even Mercury has a similar emanating effect but less so than the Sun. That is why the Sun/Ascendant relationship in any partnership is the most immediate or revealing in terms of attraction and rapport.

From long observation, I have observed that masculine Rising Signs(Fire or Air) make the most attractive physical bodies. Yes, the other factors can add or detract from this, but the Ascendant is primary. Because of lack of knowledge or experience as well as skewed or biased perception and inacurrate birth times, there will always be people who label or identify one rising sign for another. It takes a lot of experience to gauge the correct rising sign and even "experts" can sometimes be thrown off. I have often, for example, mistaken someone's Moon sign for his or her Ascendant, since the Moon is often the 2nd most obvious factor in a chart. Celebrity charts can be notoriously off, sometimes because of plastic surgery, but mostly because of false or innacurate birth data. The observer is often left to him or herself to make the final conclusion. One fireproof way to determine the correct Rising sign is to see whom the individual attracts or is attracted to. Often, close mates or partners have their Sun sign opposite or conjunct the other's Ascendant or Rising. Sun square Ascendant, which establishes both tension and importance, is common between parent and child or boss and employee, and Sun sextile Ascendant is common between casual friends or light acquaintances. The semi-sextile and inconjuct are generally negative or irritating. with a few exceptions

Using only Sun signs to gauge attraction or compatibility, while not wholly erroneous, is highly misleading and irresponsible, and yet I see this all the time on the internet or in publications. Its done because it's quick and easy and doesn't require looking into a birth chart. Astrology is far more complicated than Sun Signs. We are multi-level beings as denoted by the other bodies in our chart such as Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, etc. Each one of these bodies can have an important effect on attraction or compatibility.

The most popular planetary combination for affection or sexual compatibility for either sex is a harmonious relationship (by sign or element) between one person's Venus and another's Mars, preferably both ways, and while this is a major consideration, it is NOT the only one. Venus/Venus and Mars/Mars are important too. Even harmonious Moon/Moon and Mercury/Mercury links can show strong attraction and compatibility. Every planet has a certain attraction component to it. In my opinion, mutual(same planet) comparisons are primary or more important than interfunctional(different planet) comparisons, and it doesn't even have to be by degree, but just by sign or element. The more harmonious mutual comparisons the better. I find the strongest interfunctional comparisons are Rising to planet, and Moon to planet, in that order.

Since the Ascendant and Moon positions have so much to do with the physical appearance and temperament, and the Sun is the core or observer side of the individual, it only makes sense that Sun/Asc and Sun/Moon comparisons are the strongest in terms of attraction, both physical and personal. Sun conjunct, oppose, trine, or sextile Ascendant by sign is a powerful link for attraction, even though it may be temporal or superficial. Sun conjunct, oppose, trine, or sextile Moon is also powerful and actually longer-lasting than Sun/Asc. The other planets support or detract from these first considerations. Synastry can get quite complicated. There are many different factors to consider, and sometimes the individual gets to decide or control which planets interact with which.

All conjunctions are potent and attracting in nature, whether, mutual or interfunctional. First come the mutual links, like Sun/Sun, Moon/Moon, etc, then the inter-links like Sun/Moon, Venus/Mars etc. Closeness by degree INTENSIFIES the link ( I do not consider "out of sign" aspects), and in that sense, close aspects single out the strongest or most intense links. Venus or Mars conjunct or oppose the Sun or Rising are powerful interfunctional sexual aspects. Uranus to Venus can be highly erotic and experimental while Neptune to Venus can be highly romantic or glamorous. Pluto to Venus or Mars can be intensely sexual, whether natal or by transit. Venus to Rising is highly pleasureable, especially to the Rising person. Mars to the Moon or Sun is also a highly sexual or passionate link.

Even Jupiter and Saturn can be sexual or intimate planets! In mythology, Jupiter or Zeus was quite a flirt and had many affairs, with other gods, demi-gods, and even humans. The fire planets, Sun(Leo), Mars(Aries), and Jupiter(Sag) are all highly sexual or passionate in nature seeking immediate expression here. Saturn(Capricorn) is highly reserved and controlled on the surface, but this hides a seething inner sexuality. Saturn is actually lust personified, but it is expressed coldly and quietly or secretly, and this can translate into prostitution, perversion, sadism etc. Pluto(Scorpio) is similar to Saturn but has the choice to either elevate the passions for a higher purpose, or be consumed by them. Even Mercury(Gemini/Virgo), which has an almost sexless or bisexual nature, can get pretty kinky or twisted. The mind or brain which Mercury rules, has no limits as to what it can create or imagine, and this can challenge or excite no end.

Fifth house(lower trine) relationships are also important for sexual expression. Your fifth house sign is irresistible to you. Aries, for example, finds Leo incredibly sexy, Taurus is turned on by Virgo, Gemini by Libra, and so on around the wheel. We are talking here about the Sun's relationship to either the Sun or any other planet. Sun in Scorpio, for example, has a natural sexual attraction with another Sun in Scorpio, but is equally attracted to a Moon or Ascendant in Scorpio, or any other planet in that sign. The more of your planets are fifth housed(by sign by your partner's planets) the more appealing that partner will be. In other words, take all of your occupied signs and see how many are fifth house complemented by your partner's. If you have Aries, Taurus, Virgo, Leo, and Aquarius occupied by one or more planets, for example, then a partner with one or more planets in Leo(to Aries), Virgo(to Taurus), Capricorn(to Virgo), Sagittarius(to Leo), and Gemini(to Aquarius) would be most attractive to you. The diagram below clarifies this...