To begin the process of understanding your natal chart you must first understand what you are even looking at. When you look up a chart you are usually presented this information on the astrology wheel. To a complete newcomer this wheel is usually a confusing diagram full of lines, symbols, angles and numbers. Trying to understand the 3D mechanics of what the wheel is showing you in the 2D is a lot to grasp, so I will try to visually set the scene for you.
The What
We all know that scientifically speaking, the sun is the center of our solar system. For envisioning what it means when you are told you have “the Sun in Libra”, or “Venus in Aquarius”, you have to switch your point of view to a geocentric (or earth centric) one. As a human on earth this is, by default, also a self centric view of the solar system and universe.
Now that you are at the center of it all, we move onto the next and most important factor: understanding, accepting and believing that these planets, stars and other celestial bodies can and do have an affect on us here on earth. This is where some people tend to become skeptical or have a hard time “believing in” astrology. To that I would simply point out the sun and it’s obvious affects on us as evidence that it is not only possible, but happening every day. As far away as the sun is, do you not feel its warmth on your skin? Wether you can see the rays, touch them or even understand how they work, they are there. The moon will move the tides like clockwork every day. All of which is not dependent on your belief or understanding of it.
This should be enough to, at the very least, open your mind to the possibility that these objects are able to have some affect on you. Despite their distance, despite the fact you cannot necessarily see it happening, there is possible contact being made. With this understanding in place we continue.
We now travel back to the date, time and location of your birth. The very moment you take your first breath we pause. We imagine that at in that instant everything around you freezes. This means everything from you to the ends of the universe itself is suspended where it was in that instant. Keeping that self centric point of view in mind- you begin to look around you. In different directions you see the sun, moon and all the planets, frozen in place. Next you notice the constellations of the zodiac as well, all 12 signs creating the starry backdrop where the planets sit.
Imagine that there is a direct line connecting you to every planet. A direct line like that ray of sun light. A direct line in the form of a moon beam. Whatever the physical make up of it, there is a direct connection between you and each of these planets in that moment of birth. The same goes for the constellations.
As you look out towards each of the 12 constellations surrounding you, there may or may not be a planet in that same direction. In some cases the planets will be scattered evenly in different directions, falling in front of various signs. In other cases they may seem to be bunched up in groups, all landing in the direction of the same sign. Where they’ve landed in this frozen moment in time, from your point of view, is how we decide that your Sun is “in” Aries. Or your Mars is “in” Pisces. It means that from your view point you are looking at the sun and further on the constellation of Aries. That direct line from the Sun to you is overlapping with and combining with the direct stream from Aries. When you look towards Mars, it is the constellation of Pisces that is the backdrop.
This is what it means when a planet is in a sign. The planet being in the sign essentially means that the behaviors or actions represented by that planet will be colored by the traits of that sign. Ex: you will express Mars behaviors in a Piscean way. The planets are always in a sign. But a sign does not necessarily always have a planet in it, due to the obvious that there are less planets than signs.
Going back to that moment of birth and the universe that is still suspended in time around you, you now look towards the eastern horizon. The way the sun rises over the horizon, so do the constellations if you are looking for them. Your rising sign is the constellation that was rising over the horizon at that exact moment. This sign will be considered the sign of your first house, the starting point of the 12 houses.
The houses are not physical objects in the sky. You will not look out and see them the way you can see the planets or stars. Due to this, the invisible division of the skies into 12 parts needs a starting point. This point is your rising sign.
The houses represent different areas of life. When a sign and/or a planet fall in a certain house, it means that that area of life is being infused in some way by the traits of that sign or planet. As with the 12 signs, there are more houses than planets. So although all planets will fall in a house, not every house will have a planet in it.
In addition to the sun, moon and planets, there are also various points often included in a birth chart. These points are usually not physically there, but more so an imaginary point in space that is calculated based on the locations of these other physically present parts of the chart. But as with the planets, these points also fall “in” a sign and house.
Now, we know that the universe did not actually freeze when we were born. Everything continued on as it always does. But the idea behind your chart is that somehow these placements and combinations at that moment in time are what make you, you. That frozen in time or not, they all imprinted on you and play a significant role in the person you will be.
This is not to say that your chart will predict your future or has any control over you and your decisions. This in no way takes away your ability to choose the things you do and the life you lead. Consider these to be the starting points, the ingredients, the celestial DNA, the star filled computer code of you.
As you go through your chart you will look into the various placements and what they mean. What does the location and combination of your Sun and the sign it is in mean in regards to who you are? How will the combination of a certain planet in a certain house show itself? You will come to see that the various details of your chart will cover a whole spectrum of personality traits, mental and emotional functions or behaviors, areas of your life and more. You will get an idea of your communication style, of your temperament, areas of interest, strengths and gifts, flaws and challenges.
This is not a quick process. You will not understand your whole chart over night. In fact, the longer you look into it the more you’ll realize that you will always find a new detail or layer of interest or use to you.
The Why
But what is the point? If this is true and these celestial bodies actually have any affect on you, why look into them. If it is not even predicting a guaranteed future, why bother? The answer to that is that it gives you a place to begin. A starting point for self exploration and personal reflection. An (almost) clear layout of yourself on all levels.
To some it is considered to be a literal guide to your soul’s plans, lessons and purpose for this life. A plan concocted by your past self, your own soul, before you were even born. A plan full of ups and downs for your own growth, all of which you chose for yourself with the belief that you were capable of it all in this current incarnation. A very spiritual way to look at it, but not the only way and not necessarily needed to continue.
To others, breaking down their natal chart is more of a psychological exercise. It’s as simple and non-spiritual as any personality quiz online. It is done solely for the sake of better understanding yourself. Whatever your beliefs, reasons or approach you are almost guaranteed to benefit from it.
I believe that going through your natal chart piece by piece (all at once or over time) you will come out of it a more self aware and self assured person. As you go deeper you become more clear on who you are, how you function, what you have to offer, where you are flawed, where your talents lie, what you value and how you want to live your life.
Knowing the details of your chart does not in any way guarantee success or happiness. It isn’t a magic solution to sorting out your life. Every part of a chart, as well as every chart itself, has both strengths and weaknesses. And the option for both is always there. Your chart gives you insight on your predispositions, your nature, your truest self.
But you are a human with free will and in constant flux. You are capable of leaning into both the good and the bad. A “negative” placement in a chart doesn’t confirm failure, just as a “positive” placement doesn’t guarantee your success. Your life and how you live it is always up to you at the end of the day. But being aware of yourself can save you a lot of time and trouble.
Knowing what you’re good at can help you hone in on and cultivate those skills. It can keep you from wasting unnecessary time figuring out where to put your focus. Not to mention give you the confidence of knowing that yes, you are in fact skilled in that certain area you thought you were. Additionally, being able to acknowledge where you’re lacking or where you are outright flawed is the first step in being able to overcome both.
It is no different than knowing you have a predisposition for a certain illness. Knowing this gives you the opportunity to be proactive and make the efforts needed to eliminate or lessen these weaknesses. Knowing in itself doesn’t fix a problem, but it makes it a whole lot more likely to get the attention it deserves if you are aware of it.
This process of breaking down the various parts of yourself and beginning to understand all of their underlying ingredients is not going to happen over night. You can take in plenty in even just one sitting, but it is meant to be an ongoing process. You are not meant to be an expert of astrology and your natal chart right away, if ever.
This should be a task that you take on at your own pace, in your own way. And ideally, it should be something you will genuinely want to continue. There are always new layers and connections to be made, and the act of looking into them will likely be therapeutic and enlightening. There will be endless sources with endless interpretations of what the various placements of your chart could mean.
My hope is that you will use your deck and journal to take notes as you make your way through many, many sources. The more the better, because you never know whose delivery or explanation will resonate and make things click for you. When it comes to something as ancient, complex and somewhat intangible as astrology, there is always something to gain and no harm in hearing varied interpretations.
Reaching the point where you are able to be clear, honest, and fully aware of who you are is how you become somewhat invincible. When you truly know and believe in your best qualities, no one can take them from you or convince you otherwise. When you already know your worst flaws and greatest weaknesses, no one can throw them in your face or use them against you. When you KNOW what you want for yourself and are firm in what you value, no one can sway you or lead you astray.
So although your chart will not solve your problems, erase the past, or even guarantee a perfect future - it will show you that you are capable of doing this yourself. It will bring you something to work with. It will give you a handle on it all, to the point that everything just feels a bit better. Even the bad begins to have its purpose. The good provides you with more than it once did. And even the once insignificant in-betweens begin to have significance.
Wether you choose to approach this from a spiritual, psychological, or just-for-fun point of view, you will learn and grow from it. Take it as deep or as surface level as you would like. Whichever you choose, you will slowly but surely, consciously or unconsciously, begin to alter your life.