Astrology is one of the tools we have at our disposal to help us align with self-care and to understand ourselves. Astrology is the art of interpreting the placement of the planets and constellations in relation to the earth to understand personality, karmic cycles, and collective experiences. Astrologers look up at the skies and interpret how the energy of the planets and constellations might be reflected in our society and individual lives.
Your natal chart, also called your birth chart or astrological chart, is a map of the planets at the moment you were born. The planets are shown from the perspective of Earth, against the ring of constellations called the zodiac. A birth chart is loosely divided into four parts: the planets, the relationships the planets form with each other, the astrological signs, and the astrological houses.
The planets represent the central drives in a chart, such as the drive to love and connect (Venus), think and communicate (Mercury), or win (Mars). Traditional astrologers focus on the planets you can see with the naked eye, from our two light-bearers (the sun and moon) to Saturn. Modern astrologers include Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, which were discovered between 1781 and 1930, as well as asteroids and minor planets, such as Chiron.
Aspects symbolize the relationships planets have with each other. Just like humans, not all planets work well together. The different aspects the planets make in your chart reflect different types of relationships they can create. Some aspects show cooperation of planetary energy, some show opposition, and there is one aspect, a conjunction, that creates a fusion of energies, magnifying the planets’ combined effects.
We can think of signs as the homes of the planets. In the traditional system, each of the seven classical planets (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) have a special relationship to the signs, doing exceptionally well in some places, while feeling challenged in others.
The signs also help to break the 360 degrees of the chart wheel into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees. Recall that a map is a symbolic representation of space. Similarly, the signs of our zodiac offer a symbolic depiction of the constellations that the sun passes through from our point of view on Earth.
This path of the sun from our perspective is known as the “ecliptic.” In reality, these constellations do not form 30 equal degrees. The constellation Virgo is twice the size of Libra, for example. However, like any map or diagram, this visual representation of reality has its own wisdom and efficacy. The drawing doesn’t have to be “to scale” to be useful.
Like the signs, there are 12 houses. The houses represent different areas of your life. For instance, your 11th house represents your friendships and community involvements, while your fourth house represents family, home, and ancestral lineage. While the planets in signs are calculated based on the solar system, the houses are rooted in the time and location of your birth. They’re what personalizes a chart to you.
If the difference between signs and houses still feels murky, it might be helpful to remember that the fastest moving body, the moon, takes two to three days to pass through a sign. However, the moon will pass through every house in your birth chart in a 24-hour window. The same applies for every planet. For example, Pluto takes 12 to 31 years to pass through one sign, but 24 hours to pass through the 12 houses.
To create your own natal chart, you can consult an astrologer or use one of the natal chart generators online. In order to create your natal chart, you will need to know the date, time, and location of your birth. A natal chart can be overwhelming and confusing. It may be a good practice to focus on learning about your sun, moon, and rising signs first before you try to master the entire chart. I recommend working through your natal chart in pieces so that you can process all the information. Natal charts are a fun way to learn more about yourself, and as you learn to read your chart, you will be able to see how astrology reflects your life.
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.