Astrology
Understanding Your Natal (Birth) Chart
The 4 Main Parts to natal
astrology
1. The Planets - Each of the planets represents specific functions (i.e., Mercury represents the intellect, communication and perception). The "what" of Astrology.
2. The Signs - The sign that the planet is in represents how that function will be expressed in the world. It is the "how" of Astrology.
3. The Houses - The houses are determined by the time of your birth. They show where in your life the planetary energies will be expressed. The "where" of Astrology.
4. The Aspects - Aspects are the ways that the planets interact with each other. They are the angles that the planets make to each other and describe the effects that the planets have on each other.
It is helpful to remember that the Zodiac is a cycle. Each sign represents a step in the evolution of the soul. The cycle begins with Aries and ends with Pisces.
Aries represents the burst of energy into being. Like the seed summoning its energy to burst forth and become a seedling. It is a Cardinal Fire sign ruled by the planet Mars. The keyword for Aries is "I am."
Taurus represents the seedling basking in the warm spring sun. This sign is the soul assessing what it has materially, mentally and physically. It is a Fixed Earth sign ruled by the planet Venus. The keyword for Taurus is "I have."
Gemini represents the soul's exploration of the world of information and perception. This is the soul examinng the world through the mental function. It is a Mutable Air sign ruled by the planet Mercury. The keyword for Gemini is "I think."
Cancer represents the soul's exploration of the inner world of emotions. This is a sign of feeling. All information and impressions are sifted through the emotions. It is a Cardinal Water sign ruled by the Moon. The keyword for Cancer is "I feel."
Leo represents the exaltation of the ego. In the first four signs the soul has been learning about itself. In the sign of Leo the soul wants to show the world what it has discovered. It is a Fixed Fire sign ruled by the Sun. The keyword for Leo is "I will."
Virgo represents the perfection of the self. It is the sign of the harvest. The soul has learned about and expressed itself and now desires to put everything in its place. It is a Mutable Earth sign and is ruled by Mercury. The keyword for Virgo is "I analyze."
The first six signs are concerned with the self and the ego. The last six signs represent the soul's journey toward awareness of others and eventually to transcendence.
Libra represents the soul's sudden awareness of others that are different from them. Libra is the sould attempting to balance the needs of themselves and others. It is a Cardinal Air sign ruled by Venus. The keyword for Libra is "We balance."
Scorpio represents the soul's desire for deep understanding of themselves, others and the world around them. They look at the world closely and with full awareness of the darkness that is in life and the world. This is a Fixed Water sign ruled by Mars and Pluto. The keyword for Scorpio is "I create."
Sagittarius represents the soul's desire to explore and understand the outer world. The soul seeks new and different situations so that it may gain a wider understanding of life. It is a Mutable Fire sign that is ruled by Jupiter. The keyword for Sagittarius is "I perceive."
Capricorn represents the soul's desire for worldly achievement. The soul seeks to take what it has learned and use it to further its ambitions in the world. It is a Cardinal Earth sign ruled by Saturn. The keyword for Capricorn is "I use."
Aquarius represents the soul's desire to manifest what is inside them to the fullest extent (even if it means being odd or strange) because that is how they can best serve in the world. Aquarius is a Fixed Air sign ruled by Saturn and Uranus. The keyword for Aquarius is "I know."
Pisces represents the soul preparing to retreat from the world. In this sign the soul is seeking to have absolute faith in the universe and the eternity of the spirit. It is a Mutable Water sign ruled by Jupiter and Neptune. The keyword for Pisces is "I believe."
Cardinal - The pioneer signs. The beginning of a new phase in the soul's journey.
Fixed - The energy to carry a new phase to its conclusion.
Mutable - The flexibility to prepare for the next new phase.
Fire - Energy, enthusiasm, inspiriation.
Earth - The material plane, practicality, solidity.
Air - Ideas, ideals, communication, information, intellect.
Water - Emotions, flexibility, responsiveness, receptiveness.
The energies of the houses are similar to the energies of the corresponding signs. (i.e., the first house is energetically similar to the first sign [Aries] no matter what sign is in it.)
The four most important houses are the Angular houses. They are the First, Fourth, Seventh and Tenth houses of the chart. Each house represents a "where" in life and the angular houses represent the most important "wheres". Any planet places in the Angular house gains extra dignity, in particular if it is places on the house cusp. The cusp (the first degree of each house) is the most sensitive part of the house. The cusps of the Angular houses are called the Angles of the chart.
The first house cusp is called "The Ascendant" and is the social mask. It is by exhibiting the qualities in the sign located here that you will be most comfortable socially.
The fourth house cusp is called "The Nadir" and it represents the root of life, the home and the subconscious.
The seventh house cusp is called "The Descendant" and describes what kinds of relationships we most desire.
The tenth house cusp is called "The Midheaven" and it describes our public life and career.
The First House is the ego and the self.
The Second House is resources of all kinds.
The Third House represents perception, communication and early life.
The Fourth House represents the home, the subconscious and the root of life.
The Fifth House represents self expression, creativity, children and pleasurable pursuits.
The Sixth House represents work, health and service.
The Seventh House represents relationships of all kinds.
The Eighth House represents regeneration, sex, death, inheritance.
The Ninth House represents the superconscious, long journeys, philosophy and religion.
The Tenth House represents public life and career.
The Eleventh House represents goals and peer groups.
The Twelfth House represents the deepset subconscious and that which is hidden. Serve or suffer.
Conjunction - (0 degrees) Conjunctions are planets that are located in the same degree of the same sign and house. Their energies then combine. Theis aspect can feel good or bad, depending on the planets involved.
Opposition - (180 degrees) Oppositions are planets that lie opposite each other in the chart. This is considered a "hard" aspect. The planets put pressure on each other, and this may note feel good. But they also help you become aware of the need for balance and partnership in life. When planets are in opposition to each other they are in compatible elements but are 180 degrees apart and in the same mode.
Square - (90 degrees) Squares are considered the hardest aspect, but they also contain our most important life lessons and can generate a great deal of energy for the individual if handled as lessons rather than as something to fight against. The Square is the aspect of conflict or obstacles. When planets are square each other they are in the same mode.
Trine - (120 degrees) The trine is considered the easiest aspect and refers to good things that come into a person's life that they don't really have to work for. The trine is the aspect of harmony. When planets are trine to each other they are in the same element.
Sextile - (60 degrees) The sextile is the aspect of opportunity. This is considered an easy aspect, but the individual must have the energy to take advantage of the offered opportunity. When planets are sextile to each other they are in compatible elements. Earth and Water are compatible to each other and Fire and Air are compatible. The exception to this is the sign in Opposition.
The Sun represents the ego, the drive for self and the sprit.
The Moon represents the emotional, intuitive side of the self as well as the subconscious and the soul.
Mercury represents intellect, intelligence, reasoning, perception and communications of all kinds.
Venus represents relationships of all kinds, the aesthetic response, art, possessions and love.
Mars represents the development of courage and personal boundaries, aggressiveness, initiative and lust.
The first five planets are called the "personal" planets and relate most directly to the personality. They are the planets that move fastest in the sky. The next two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, move slower and are called the "transpersonal" planets. They refer more to the structures, such as society, government and religious institutions and the effect that they have on an individual.
Jupiter represents the structures that help an individual expand, the supportive structures. It also represents an individual's capcity for faith in life and the universe and self confidence.
Saturn represents the more rigid structures in life. What limits the individual. It also represents fears and inhibitions as well as our capacity for self discipline and our ability and willingness to work.
The last three planets are the "transcendental" planets. These planets more very slowly and remain in the same sign for many years. They are generational markers and their expression in the signs have more to do with society as a whole than the individual. The placement by house and aspects these planets make to other planets in the natal chart do have bearing on the personality.
Uranus stays in each sign about 7 years. On the society level it represents sudden change, revolution, scientific discovery, freedom and independence. On the personal level it represents an individual's ability to question societal norms and authority as well as intuition, originality and genius.
Neptune stays in each sign about 14 years, on both the social and individual levels Neptune represents the weakening of the conscious/subconscious barrier, mysticism and spirituality. On the individual level it represents the creation of detached objectivity, the dissoving of the ego, service, divine compassion and psychic ability.
Pluto stays in each sign about 20 years (Pluto has a complex orbit, so its time in each sign is variable). On both levels Pluto represents transformation, regeneration, death, sex and rebirth. Pluto asks us to look at the dark stuff of life with an unblinking eye, recognize our small place in the universe and then be reborn in that knowledge, stronger and wiser than before.
Each sign has planetary rulers. The energies of the ruling planets can help you better understand the qualities of the signs that they rule.
Three other points that are commonly seen on Birth Charts:
The North and South Nodes of the Moon -The North Node represents what you are working toward in this life. The South Node represents familiar life patterns that have been prevalent in past lives and/or genetic and family patterns.
Chiron - Chiron is an asteroid and represents the unhealed wound and the wounded healer.
The following image is a sample of a Birth Chart:
Additional Information and Definitions of Terms:
Retrograde: The term "Retrograde" is used when a planet looks as if it is going backward in the sky. This effect is caused by the way that the orbits of the planets interact with the Earth's orbit. They are, of course, not actually moving backward, they just look that way. It is the same effect that causes a forward moving car to appear to move backward as you pass it. The Sun and the Moon are never retrograde, the the rest of the planets have regular cycles of retrograde motion. There are many opinions as to the effect that retrograde planets have on birth charts. In Eastern Astrology these planets are considered to have extra importance. When the planets are retrograde they appear brighter in the sky, thus increasing their power. In Western Astrology planets in retrograde are sometimes considered to have a more subsonscious, subtle or unusual effect on the individual. They may also represent repressed parts of the individual or parts that were not encouraged by the parents in childhood. When planets are not retrograde, they are called Direct. When they transition from direct to retrograde or from retrograde to direct they are called Stationary. Stationary planets in the birth chart indicate an area of great concentration of energy and life lessons.
The Luminaries: The Luminaries are the Sun and the Moon.
The Prime Triad: The Prime Triad is the Sun, the Moon and the Ascendant. These are considered to be the most important parts of the Birth Chart for describing the personality of the individual.
The Orbs: Orbs are the degree of differences between planets. Say you have Jupiter at 14.5 degrees Capricorn Squared Mercury at 14.5 degrees Libra. That is an exact orb as they are both in the same degree. But if Mercury were at 10.5 degrees Libra the orb would be 4 degrees. In my work I usually allow a maximum orb of 5 or 6 degrees. If the orb is more than that, I do not usually study it. Although there are exceptions, especially with conjunctions.
This is extremely basic information. To explore further I recommend The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest and Astrology: A Cosmic Science by Isabel M. Hickey. But there are many other wonderful books!
If you have any nuts and bolts questions about Astrology please contact me ! Don't feel that any question is too silly. While there are many great beginning Astrology books, when I first studied Astrology I had some moments of frustration trying to find definitions for things like "luminaries"
