When my boyfriend and I first started dating, we spent one night eating pizza and asking questions about each other’s families. At one point, he mentioned his brother’s upcoming wedding would fall on the same weekend as his birthday, in late October. I nearly choked on a piece of pepperoni.
“Are you a Scorpio?” I asked. He continued chewing, blissfully unaware of the existential crisis I was currently enduring, and shook his head.
I cannot describe the relief that washed over me in that moment. As a Leo – and an astrology enthusiast – I have nothing against Scorpios, but I have oft been warned (and warned others) against the endurance of a lion/scorpion pairing. It’s not that I would’ve ended the budding relationship right then had his answer been yes, but the diagnosis would’ve been enough to give me pause as we endured our first fight: Maybe we’re arguing because he’s a water sign and I’m a fire sign and our communicative styles are essentially antagonistic! Maybe we’ll never learn how to talk to each other properly!
The Fate of Your Relationship, According to the Zodiac
Luckily for me, his birthday falls on the last day of Libra season, and we continue to eat pizza and discuss personal information to this day. A tale as old as time. But while Leo and Libra are highly compatible signs, many astrologists would argue that the pairing is not necessarily soulmate material.
There are multiple gauges by which to judge astrological compatibility. One dominant theory would say to go by your sign’s element. There are four elements in the zodiac – fire, earth, water and air – so there are three signs that belong to each. As a Leo, some might say I should exclusively date fellow fire signs (Aries and Sagittarius). Another measure of compatibility falls upon the “ruling planet” of each sign and whether your sign shares its planet with another (Leo is the only sign ruled by the sun, so no worries there).
Recently, one of the more popular guidelines for soulmate-hunting is to look to your “sister sign,” which is the sign directly opposite from yours on the zodiac wheel (meaning they’re six months apart). Sister signs often have many traits in conflict, but astrologists argue that they share a unique ability to balance and complement each other.
I looked carefully into each of these prevailing theories, judged them on a case-by-case basis and chose the ideal pair for each sign. In my opinion, this is the ultimate compatibility list. I’m not saying you should use astrology as your sole relationship barometer, but if you’re a Leo and fall in love with a Scorpio, just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Aries and Scorpio
This is the embodiment of a power couple. Think Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, but exclusively that one time they coordinated those all-denim red carpet looks: unexpected, iconic and the type of thing that people model Halloween costumes after.
Aries, the ram, is famous for its passion and ambition. They’re the kids who always took gym class way too seriously. Scorpios are influential, natural leaders. 
They’re the kids who refused to even change into gym clothes and all the teachers just kind of like, accepted it. Both are ruled by Mars, the planet of conflict and action, so although they seem different on the surface, they share similar values and prefer the same sort of purposeful, individualistic lifestyle. They like to face challenges head-on, stick to their guns and get shit done on their own terms.
Put together, Aries and Scorpio will find an easy symbiosis. They’ll respect each others’ goals and feel motivated to achieve their own. They’re both eloquent and intelligent signs, but their knacks for manipulation won’t work here: Scorpios are excellent at understanding someone’s intentions and an Aries will always call someone on their bullshit.