For anyone looking to better understand themselves through astrology, your birth chart is the first place to start! A birth chart, also referred to as a natal chart, is basically a screenshot of what the sky looked like at the exact moment you were born. It shows the location of the planets on their journey around the sun from the vantage point of Earth. Reading this chart can reveal strengths and weaknesses, opportunities for growth, as well as the best timing for decisions.
In order to calculate your birth chart, you’ll need your time, date, and place of birth. Many people don’t know their actual time of birth so, in this case, estimate as close as possible. In the past, people had to diagram their chart but today, you can plug in this information and it will generate something resembling this:
There are several key things that astrologers look for in the birth chart.
- The zodiac sign and the house of each planet in the chart
- The aspects (angles) formed between two planets
- The balance of elements
As I said previously, the birth chart reveals the location of each planet. The location of these planets also corresponds to a specific zodiac sign and house. Particular characteristics of zodiac signs and houses will be coming in a later post; however, this information reveals aspects of one’s personality. Each planet represents one’s behavior in different areas. For example, Mercury is the mind’s planet. It determines how an individual communicates, thinks, and processes information. If Mercury is in the zodiac sign Scorpio, this person would have intense, serious, and obsessive intellect. If Mercury is in the ninth house, this person would be inclined to analyze their beliefs, politics, philosophy, and personal ethics.
In addition to houses and signs, the (aspect) angle between two planets can tell information about someone. The seven major aspects are Conjunct (same sign), Semisextile (1 sign apart), Square (3 signs apart), Trine (4 signs apart), Quincunx (5 signs apart), and Opposite (6 signs apart). These angles are divided into “soft” or “hard” categories. “Soft” aspects allow planets to work together or blend their powers in a sense. For example, if Venus (Love) and Mercury (Communication) have a soft aspect, it may enable you to have a productive conversation with a love interest. If Venus and Mercury have a hard aspect, conversations of this nature would be difficult.
The zodiac signs of planets, as determined by their location on your birth chart, are associated with one of four elements. Fire signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Air signs include Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Earth signs include Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Water signs include Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. When reading the birth chart, astrologers look for balance among these elements and can offer guidance in areas where elements are lacking. For example, Water elements tend to be less grounded and often seek out Earth elements for stability.
The birth chart contains all the information you would need to identify your traits. It comes with a lot! Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t make sense at first. There are several apps that offer descriptions based on a personal chart. I would recommend Costar. Even if you aren’t familiar with astrology, give the chart a read! Who knows what discoveries you could make.
nps5481 says
This is all very interesting and insightful.Iin fact in the middle of reading this, I texted my best friend to find out her sign again so I could match it to what you were saying lol!