What Is An Astrology Chart? The Birth Chart Explained

They say human beings don’t come with an instruction manual. We beg to differ! Your astrology chart holds the key to your personality and path.

What is an astrology birth chart?

An astrology birth chart—also called an astrology natal chart—is a map of where all the planets were in their journey around the Sun (from our vantage point on earth) at the exact moment you were born. An astrology chart reading can reveal your strengths and weaknesses, your opportunities for soul growth, the best timing for your most important moves.

Calculating your astrology birth chart

To calculate your astrology birth chart, you’ll need your time, date and place of birth. Some people don’t know their birth time. If you can’t find it on your birth certificate, you can try contacting the Vital Records office in your state or area of birth. And if that still doesn’t work, make as close of an estimate as you can or enter 12:00 noon.

Without a birth time, you won’t be able to accurately learn your rising sign, or ascendant. Nor will you correctly know which houses the planets in your chart fall in. But there is still a LOT of data you can glean by entering your date and location of birth—so don’t let that stop you from checking out your astrology natal chart.


VIDEO: Learn to Read Your Astrology Birth Chart with The AstroTwins

Download supplemental PDFs mentioned in the video:


What can an astrologer see in your astrology birth chart?

Astrology birth charts can turn up surprising insight about your patterns and preferences. They’re an excellent way of understanding your own “blind spots” and using that knowledge for personal growth and self-improvement. You can learn which talents to develop and where you may have weak spots to develop.

What an astrologer looks for in a birth chart:

  • What zodiac sign and which of the 12 houses each planet in the chart is in
  • Venus, Mars and the moon’s zodiac sign and house for love
  • Saturn for where you may need to work harder, Jupiter for where you could be lucky
  • The “aspects” or angles formed between any two planets
  • If there’s a “stellium” (3 or more planets in one sign), which creates a heavy concentration of one specific energy for the person
  • The balance of elements (planets in fire, earth, air and water signs) in the chart
  • The balance of qualities in the chart (planets in cardinal, mutable or fixed signs)
  • The pattern formed by the planets (there are 7 classical chart “shapes“)

An astrologer will add up the elements and qualities and “score” the chart. If there’s a lack of one trait or a predominance of another, they’ll advise the client on how to practically bring more equilibrium into their lives. We call this Astro-Ayurveda, because it’s the art of balancing your chart!

The power of transits in your astrology birth chart

There are two times when it’s especially fruitful to look over your astrology chart: at the beginning of every year and on your birthday.

For the new year, we’d suggest doing what’s called a transit chart (also called a “natal plus transits” chart). This may require the guidance of a professional astrologer because the interpretation work can get complex!

In this case, you start with your own natal (birth) chart, and compare it to the transiting (moving) planets, i.e., the current positions of the planets in the sky.

In the example below, the inner wheel (with blue planetary symbols) is our birth chart—which is a fixed map that never changes. The orange planetary symbols in the outer wheel represent the transiting (moving) planets on January 1, 2019. A trained astrologer would compare and contrast the two charts. When a transiting (orange) planet makes contact with one of the natal (blue) planets, it activates specific energy, one that can be either opportune or challenging. Knowing this allows you to plan ahead.

In this example at what would be 9:00 pm on a clock, a trained astrologer would see that transiting Saturn (which rules leadership and authority) was making contact with the natal chart’s ascendant/rising sign, something that only occurs every 29 years. Advice would be given accordingly—in this case, to get very serious about personal goals, since Saturn is moving through the chart’s first house of self. (Like we said—this can take years of practice or a trained astrological eye to interpret, but the foresight can be a game-changer!)

Another way to use transit charts

Transit charts aren’t only for New Year’s Day, though. You can plug in any date, past or future, and run a transit chart that compares the planets in motion your birth chart. Transit charts are super helpful for planning. If you’re picking a wedding date, booking travel or scheduling an important career move, check out the transit chart to see if the skies are clear.

Transit charts are also great for historical perspective: You can look back at important moments in your life—new love, relocations, deaths, breakups, career coups, job losses. Do a chart (or an estimated one) to see what was happening in the stars then.

astro-seek natal plus transits chart to explain the astrology birth chart
Example of a natal plus transit chart (via Astro-Seek)

What other kinds of astrology birth charts are there?

Solar Return Charts

Also known as your “birthday chart,” the solar return chart gives you a one-year chart that lasts from your current birthday until your next one. These charts will vary depending on location. Align your celebrations with the stars for best results! Watch a simple video tutorial on solar return charts here >

Compatibility Astrology Charts

In addition to the astrology birth chart, you can do an astrology compatibility chart to see how you’ll get along with other people. You can cast two types of compatibility charts. A synastry chart compares and contrasts the planets in your chart and the other person’s. A composite chart averages out your two charts using a “midpoint method.” It creates a single, blended chart that reveals the essence of your relationship. A composite chart treats your relationship as if it was its own entity or a third “person” (which in many ways is true!). Try a compatibility astrology chart here >

Astrology Charts for Planning Events

You can do charts for people and also for events. Just put in the time, date and location of the event in question and you can cast an astrology chart for it. For example, if you’re planning a party or a big pitch meeting, you can enter the time, date and location to see how the stars align. Want to know what’s happening right now? Do today’s astrology chart by simply entering today’s date instead of your birth details. Wondering what the year ahead holds? Check out an annual forecast chart that maps out the next 12 months. 

What about Vedic astrology charts?

The Western astrology chart is depicted as a wheel divided into 12 different segments, or houses. It dates back to You can do a Vedic astrology chart (or Jyotish astrology chart) or a Chinese astrology chart, which will calculate the data differently.

How long have these types of astrology charts been around?

At Astrostyle, we work with the Western astrology system, which dates back thousands of years. Humans have tracked the movement of the heavens since civilization dawned. As far back as 6000 B.C. the Sumerians noted the journeys of planets and stars. Around 3300 B.C. the Babylonians (also known as the Chaldeans) began expanding upon what the Sumerians started, developing the first astrological system over thousands of years. They created the zodiac wheel that we use today (with planets and houses) around 700 B.C. The oldest known horoscope chart is believed to date to 409 B.C.

Do a free astrology chart on Astrostyle!

do a free astrology chart with the astrotwins
Create your free astrology birth chart

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The AstroTwins

Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut, known as The AstroTwins, are the founders of Astrostyle.com and the authors of multiple bestselling astrology books. Their horoscopes reach millions here and through their resident astrologer column at ELLE Magazine.

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