Wondering how to read a natal chart in astrology?
Experts explain how to interpet your natal chart using planets, houses, and zodiac signs.
Its believed that this can give remarkable insight into your personality and life experiences.
Note: this article will focus on natal chart interpretation through a Tropical and Whole Sign House lens.
What is a birth chart?
Think of it as a cosmological snapshot that paints a unique portrait of your personality and desires.
writer, Senior Editor at Horoscope.com
If this feels overwhelming, dont stress.
For starters, your Sun sign isnt the most important element of your astrological birth chart.
As youre reading your birth chart, you will follow the pattern of house + planet + sign.
[Also,] to read books to learn random new skills and information.
However, there are many free options to choose from.
What if you dont know your birth time?
Your birth time determines your rising sign, which determines where the houses fall in your birth chart.
If this is the case, however, all is not lost, according to Ash.
However, your moon and rising signs could change drastically depending on your time of birth.
writer, Senior Editor at Horoscope.com
So, if youre guessing, remember that those two placements might not be correct.
How do I know which planet rules my chart?
Your chart ruler is a planetary placement that can give targeted insight into your personality.
This is an essential part of learning how to read a natal chart.
you could look to both chart rulers if your rising falls in one of these signs.
Its likely because we are talking about Venusthe planet of love and beauty.
Love languages have nothing on your Venus placement!
Called the taskmaster of the zodiac realm, Saturn rules over discipline, responsibility, limitations, and restrictions.
Uranus is the planet of rebellion, pushing us to look at things from a new perspective.
Neptune enjoys living in a state of delusion, for better or worse.
Pluto isnt afraid to get down and dirty, and it wont always be pretty.
However, one thing is surethingswillbe different.
This means the planet was in retrograde at the time you were born.
Despite all the fear-mongering you may hear aboutmercury in retrograde, a planet in retrograde isnt bad.
What do the 12 houses of astrology represent?
Each of these pieces is called a house.
Each zodiac house shows which major area of life your planets and signs will impact.
What do the zodiac signs represent?
In short, yes, Rising is the same as Ascendant in astrology.
Unlike many other parts of your chart, though, the Rising/Ascendant isnt a planetary placement.
It shows which zodiac sign rules your 1st House and which zodiac signs rule the other houses.
What are the four elements of the natal chart?
Every birth chart contains each element.
Some charts lean heavily toward one or two elements, while others may be pretty balanced among all four.
Ahead, see which zodiac signs are associated with each element and what that might say about your personality.
Earth:Earth signs are known for being practical, down-to-earth, and seeking security.
The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Air:Air signs are clever, sociable, and intellectual.
The Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Fire:Fire signs are active, spontaneous, and passionate.
The Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Water:Water signs are sensitive, intense, and caring.
The Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
What are the three modalities of the natal chart?
There are three modalities: cardinal, mutable, and fixed, with four zodiac signs in each category.
Cardinal:Cardinal signs are innovative and big initiators.
They are often natural leaders and arent afraid to get things started.
The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
Mutable:Mutable signs are flexible and adaptable.
These signs are known to think on their feet and do well with rolling with the punches.
They may not always have a determined path, but they will keep moving.
Mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Fixed:Fixed signs are rooted and determined.
These signs are often set in their ways, but they are reliable and steadfast in their beliefs.
They may not always adjust well to change but can see things through.
Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
What is the strongest aspect in a birth chart?
These angles are called aspects, and they represent how the planets of your chart interact.
It can be helpful to think of these aspects as conversations between the planets.
Which aspect should you pay the most attention to?
Lewis-Herbert says conjunctions are always the first thing she looks for.
Conjunctions are really important because its when two planets…are basically working together in unison, she says.
Think about a conjunction as two planets working on a school project together.
The closer in degrees, the stronger the conjunction.
Conjunctions arent the only aspects youll see in your chart.
Can a natal chart predict the future?
According to Lewis-Herbert, a natal chart can predict the futurewith some nuance.
There are no guaranteesbut there are patterns.
Astrology is a system of setting patterns and correlations, she says.
The more you read your chart, the better your grasp of what it means.
Oh, my goodness, absolutely, says Lewis-Herbert.
you could use astrology to predict what kind of partner you might have…or even your children.
If all of this feels overwhelming to you, its more than understandable!
Learning how to read a natal chart can be a lot to take in all at once.
The more you practice, the easier it will become!
…
Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.
