
{"id":34374,"date":"2016-08-26T09:48:54","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T13:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/?page_id=34374"},"modified":"2025-04-07T13:39:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T17:39:40","slug":"birth-chart","status":"publish","type":"as_learn_article","link":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/birth-chart\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is An Astrology Chart? The Birth Chart Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">They say human beings don&#8217;t come with an instruction manual. We beg to differ! Your astrology chart holds the key to your personality and path.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an astrology birth chart?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An astrology <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/birth-chart\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34374\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">birth chart<\/a>\u2014also called an astrology natal chart\u2014is a map of where all the planets were in their journey around the <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/ruling-planets\/sun\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34727\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sun<\/a> (from our vantage point on earth) at the exact moment you were born.&nbsp;An astrology chart reading can reveal&nbsp;your strengths and weaknesses, your opportunities for soul growth, the best timing for&nbsp;your most important moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calculating your astrology birth chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To calculate your astrology birth chart, you&#8217;ll need your time, date and place of birth. Some people don&#8217;t know their birth time. If you can&#8217;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&#8217;t work, make as close of an estimate as you can or enter 12:00 noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a birth time,&nbsp;you won&#8217;t be able to accurately learn your rising sign, or ascendant. Nor will you correctly know&nbsp;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\u2014so don&#8217;t let that stop you from checking out your astrology natal chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">VIDEO: Learn to Read Your Astrology Birth Chart with The AstroTwins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KffYbcazCJM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download supplemental PDFs mentioned in the video:<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-025b56d3\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-fe30d4b8\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-d8d3a1e1\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-d8d3a1e1\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/charts101\/astrotwins-astrology-bookmark.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"188\" height=\"188\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37843\" src=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/resource-download-buttons-bookmark-e1547414550652.png\" alt=\"\"><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/charts101\/astrotwins-astrology-bookmark.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Astrology Symbols Bookmark<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-450fcc57\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-450fcc57\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/charts101\/Keywords-3-Part-Puzzle.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"188\" height=\"188\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-37842 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/resource-download-button-keyphrases-e1547414519650.png\" alt=\"chart interpretation\"><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/charts101\/Keywords-3-Part-Puzzle.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">3-Part Puzzle Keyphrases<\/a> <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/charts101\/AstroTwins-Charts-How-To.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Birth Charts 101 printable worksheet&nbsp;<\/a> <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #fc17a4;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">What can an astrologer see in your astrology birth chart?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Astrology birth charts can turn up surprising insight about your patterns and preferences. They&#8217;re an excellent way of understanding your own &#8220;blind spots&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What an astrologer looks for in a birth chart:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What <a href=\"\/astrology\/zodiac-signs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">zodiac sign<\/a> and which of the <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/learn-astrology\/the-12-zodiac-houses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12 houses<\/a> each planet in the chart is in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/ruling-planets\/venus\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34789\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Venus<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/ruling-planets\/mars\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34791\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mars<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/ruling-planets\/moon\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34785\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moon&#8217;s<\/a> zodiac sign and house for love<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/ruling-planets\/saturn\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"34795\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saturn<\/a> for where you may need to work harder, Jupiter for where you could be lucky<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/aspects\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"32945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">aspects<\/a>&#8221; or angles formed between any two planets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there&#8217;s a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/stellium\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"42591\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stellium<\/a>&#8221; (3 or more planets in one sign), which creates a heavy concentration of one specific energy for the person<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The balance of <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/elements-fire-earth-air-water-signs\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"3175\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">elements<\/a> (planets in fire, earth, air and water signs) in the chart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The balance of <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/cardinal-mutable-fixed-signs\/\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"3186\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">qualities<\/a> in the chart (planets in cardinal, mutable or fixed signs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pattern formed by the planets (there are 7 classical chart &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/chart-shapes\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"37990\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shapes<\/a>&#8220;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An astrologer will add up the elements and qualities and &#8220;score&#8221; the chart. If there&#8217;s a lack of one trait or a predominance of another, they&#8217;ll advise the client on how to practically bring more equilibrium into their lives. We call this <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/astro-ayurveda\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"36840\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Astro-Ayurveda<\/a>, because it&#8217;s the art of balancing your chart!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #fc17a4;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">The power of transits<\/span><\/span> in your astrology birth chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two times when it&#8217;s especially fruitful to look over your astrology chart: at the beginning of every year and on your <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/solar-return-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">birthday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the new year, we&#8217;d suggest doing what&#8217;s called a transit chart (also called a &#8220;natal plus transits&#8221; chart). This may require the guidance of a professional astrologer because the interpretation work can get complex!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the example below, the inner wheel (with blue planetary symbols) is our birth chart\u2014which is a fixed map that never changes. The orange planetary symbols in the outer wheel represent the <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/transiting-planets\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"44101\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transiting<\/a> (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s ascendant\/rising sign, something that only occurs every 29 years. Advice would be given accordingly\u2014in this case, to get very serious about personal goals, since Saturn is moving through the chart&#8217;s first house of self. (Like we said\u2014this can take years of practice or a trained astrological eye to interpret, but the foresight can be a game-changer!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Another way to use transit charts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Transit charts aren&#8217;t only for New Year&#8217;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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Transit charts are also great for historical perspective: You can look back at important moments in your life\u2014new love, relocations, deaths, breakups, career coups, job losses. Do a chart (or an estimated one) to see what was happening in the stars then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\" \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-23-at-7.05.27-PM-1024x726.png\" alt=\"astro-seek natal plus transits chart to explain the astrology birth chart\" class=\"wp-image-37989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-23-at-7.05.27-PM-1024x726.png 1024w, https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-23-at-7.05.27-PM-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-23-at-7.05.27-PM-768x545.png 768w, https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-23-at-7.05.27-PM.png 1554w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of a natal plus transit chart (via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.astro-seek.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Astro-Seek<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #fc17a4;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">What other kinds of astrology birth charts are there?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Solar Return Charts<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Also known as your &#8220;birthday chart,&#8221; 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! <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/solar-return-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Watch a simple video tutorial on solar return charts here &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Compatibility Astrology Charts<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the astrology birth chart, you can do an astrology compatibility chart to see how you&#8217;ll get along with other people. You can cast two types of compatibility charts. A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/synastry-relationship-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"43978\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">synastry chart<\/a> compares and contrasts the planets in your chart and the other person&#8217;s. A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/composite-relationship-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"43977\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">composite chart<\/a> averages out your two charts using a &#8220;midpoint method.&#8221; 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 &#8220;person&#8221;&nbsp;(which in many ways is true!). <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/love-compatibility-charts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Try a compatibility astrology chart here &gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Astrology Charts for Planning Events<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;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&#8217;s happening right now? Do <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/charts-readings\/free-birth-chart\/\">today&#8217;s astrology chart<\/a> by simply entering today&#8217;s date instead of your birth details. Wondering what the year ahead holds? <strong>Check out an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/charts-readings\/annual-forecast-chart-full-length\/\">annual forecast chart<\/a> that maps out the next 12 months.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #fc17a4;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">What about Vedic astrology charts?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Western astrology chart is depicted as a wheel divided into&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #fc17a4;\"><span style=\"color: var(--dark-main);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">How long have these types of astrology charts been around?<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At&nbsp;Astrostyle, we work with the <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/what-is-astrology\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"44416\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Western astrology system<\/a>, which <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/astrology\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"as_learn_article\" data-id=\"36456\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dates back thousands of years<\/a>. 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.&nbsp;Around 3300 B.C. the Babylonians (also known as the Chaldeans) began expanding&nbsp;upon&nbsp;what the Sumerians started, developing&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do a <a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/charts-readings\/free-birth-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free astrology chart<\/a>&nbsp;on Astrostyle!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/birthchart\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Free-Astrology-Chart-AstroTwins-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"do a free astrology chart with the astrotwins\" class=\"wp-image-37810\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Create your free astrology birth chart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RRqtwEeTL3U?si=N6OHWUJMhU6QJL_Z\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An astrology birth chart is a map of the planets when you were born<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1319,"featured_media":46002,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"as_learn_tag":[8968,8983,9559,9697],"as_learn_topic":[5403],"as_signs":[],"class_list":["post-34374","as_learn_article","type-as_learn_article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","as_learn_tag-astrology-birth-chart","as_learn_tag-birth-chart","as_learn_tag-natal-chart","as_learn_tag-pushly-post","as_learn_topic-charts","article-link","infinite-scroll-item","no-featured-image-padding"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained.jpg",960,740,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained-300x231.jpg",300,231,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained-768x592.jpg",768,592,true],"large":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained.jpg",960,740,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained.jpg",960,740,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/birth-chart-explained.jpg",960,740,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>An astrology birth chart is a map of the planets when you were born<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"The AstroTwins","url":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/author\/astrotwins\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_learn_article\/34374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_learn_article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/as_learn_article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1319"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_learn_article\/34374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"as_learn_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_learn_tag?post=34374"},{"taxonomy":"as_learn_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_learn_topic?post=34374"},{"taxonomy":"as_signs","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astrostyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/as_signs?post=34374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}