Astrology gives us another lens for understanding who we are and how we move through the world. At its heart, it’s the practice of reading the sky — tracking the planets and constellations in relation to Earth — and interpreting how those celestial patterns echo through our personalities, our growth cycles, and the collective energy around us.
Your natal chart (also called a birth chart) is essentially a snapshot of the heavens at the exact moment you arrived. From Earth’s perspective, the planets sit against the backdrop of the zodiac, forming a cosmic map divided into four key components: the planets themselves, the aspects they form with one another, the zodiac signs, and the 12 houses.
Each planet represents a core drive or instinct. Venus speaks to how we love and connect, Mercury to how we think and communicate, Mars to how we pursue what we want. Traditional astrology focuses on the planets visible to the naked eye — from the sun and moon out to Saturn — while modern astrology also incorporates Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and even smaller bodies like Chiron.
Aspects describe the dynamic between planets. Just like people, some planetary energies collaborate beautifully, some challenge each other, and some merge so tightly that they amplify one another. These relationships shape how the different parts of your chart interact and express themselves.
The zodiac signs function like the “homes” of the planets. In classical astrology, each of the seven visible planets has signs where it feels strong and signs where its energy is a bit more complicated. Understanding these placements helps us see not just what a planet represents, but how it expresses itself in your chart.
Learning about and understanding your birth chart can be helpful and eye-opening, but birth charts can also be overwhelming. If you are new to natal charts, starting with your big three can be a fun and easy way to get into reading charts. One of the more popular aspects of a birth chart is learning about your big three signs. Typically, if someone talks about ‘the big three,’ they are referring to your sun astrological sign, your moon astrological sign, and your rising astrological sign. Why do astrologers feel that these three placements are the most important?
The sun is the most prominent body in our sky. In astrological terms, the sun represents our will; it is who we are. The sign it is in describes how we express our personality as a whole. We are a complex mix of many energies but we express our sun sign energies more fully than we do other aspects. Our sun sign is not only our will in this world but also our life force and everything we do is motivated by it. Our personality may be tempered by the positions of other planets, but we are, first and foremost, our sun signs.
The moon is our emotional response to people and situations. The sign that your moon is in shows how you feel about things, as well as what brings you comfort and nurtures you.
Your rising sign is not a planet, but the astrological sign that is rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth. We use our rising signs as a mask or filter when meeting new people. Hiding behind our rising sign gives us time to decide if we want to allow a new person to get to know us better. Your rising sign can be any of the 12 zodiac signs because our planet is constantly turning. The rising sign changes every two hours which is why it is important to know your exact time of birth.
Astrology offers a rich, compassionate framework for understanding the many layers of who we are. By exploring your natal chart — starting with your sun, moon, and rising signs — you begin to see how your inner drives, emotions, and outward expression weave together. These insights can be both grounding and empowering. If this glimpse into your chart sparks curiosity, consider diving deeper into your own celestial blueprint and discovering what the stars have been reflecting about you all along.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.