The Foundation of Astrological Self-Discovery
Defining the Natal Birth Chart
The exact moment and location you are born your cosmic blueprint called the natal birth chart is formed. It represents where the planets are positioned in the sky at your time of birth. Your chart is unique and reveals who you are. In the chart below, Frida Kahlo has Sun opposite Mars in her natal chart an aspect that is a classic indicator of accident proneness.
The Purpose and Power of This Cosmic Map
Your unique cosmic blueprint is a key to understanding yourself. Your blueprint offers insights to your personality traits, potential strengths, inherent challenges, emotional needs, life purpose and overall destiny.
Deconstructing the Components of Your Natal Chart
The Planets: The “What” of Your Personality
Each celestial body represents a different aspect of your personality and life energy:
Sun: Core ego, identity, vitality
Moon: Emotions, comfort needs, inner world
Mercury: Communication, intellect, though processes
Venus: Love, relationships, women, personal values
Mars: Drive, action, assertion, ambition
Jupiter: Growth, Luck, belief systems, abundance
Saturn: Commitments, discipline, restrictions, boundaries, life lessons, structure
Outer Planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto): These are more generational patterns and deeper psychological patterns.
Uranus: Sudden, unexpected, change
Neptune: Dreams, fantasies, fogginess
Pluto: Transformation, power
The Twelve Zodiac Signs
The signs describe the “how” or the style in which planetary energies are expressed. For example, Moon in Cancer will express comfort differently than Moon in Aquarius.
- Aries, a cardinal fire sign ruled by Mars, is action oriented, impulsive, competitive, and playful almost child-like.
- Taurus, a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus, is the reliable, sensual, grounded, and stubborn.
- Gemini, a mutable air sign ruled by Mercury, is social, curious, adaptable, and dualistic
- Cancer, a cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon, is nurturing, comforting, and emotional.
- Leo, a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun, is expressive, generous, and performer.
- Virgo, a mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury, is service-oriented, perfectionist, and critical thinker.
- Libra, a cardinal air sign ruled by Venus, is diplomatic, balance-and-justice seeking, and partnership-oriented.
- Scorpio, a fixed water sign ruled by Mars, is magnetic, fearless, commanding, and private.
- Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign ruled by Jupiter, is philosophical, adventurer, and teacher.
- Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign ruled by Saturn, is hardworking, ambitious, and practical.
- Aquarius, a fixed air sign ruled by Saturn, is innovative in thoughts, quirky, and humanitarian.
- Pisces, a mutable water sign rule by Jupiter, is compassionate, sensitive, and imaginative.
The Twelve Astrological Houses
The Houses represent the “where” – the specific areas of life where the planetary energies and signs play out.
- Body, health, vitality
- Money, possessions, resources
- Communications, siblings, local neighborhood, short travel
- Home, fixed property, family
- Creativity, children, pleasure
- Health, daily routines, employees, work place environment, small animals
- Spouse, partnerships, one-to-one relationships
- Spousal money, bank loans, investments, inheritances
- Higher education, foreign travel, philosophy, book publishing
- Career and reputation
- Great financial gain from career, windfalls, money from benefactors, allies, benefactors
- Hospitals, jails, confinement, mental illness, and self-undoing
The natal chart below is of Frida Kahlo who was one of the most famous artist in Mexico City.
For example, Frida Kahlo’s Sun is in Cancer in the 12th house. Her vitality and identity (Sun) are imaginative and emotional (Cancer) expressed in her artwork which she did alone in isolation and self-undoing (12 house). The first house of body rules her Sun and her art depicts many different moods of herself. She turned to drugs and alcohol to endure the pain with 30 operations following her teen accident.
How to Access and Interpret Your Own Birth Chart
Step 1: Gather Accurate Birth Information
To generate a precise natal chart, you need three vital pieces of information:
Your exact date of birth
Your exact time of birth (down to the minute is highly recommended).
Your exact location of birth (city, state/province, country).
If you are unsure of your birth information, you can obtain a copy of your birth record from the hospital your birth took place or seek the help of an astrologer specializing in birth chart rectification. I personally had my birth chart rectified and the timing of transits are spot on unlike my husband’s chart, which is not.
Step 2: Generate Your Chart Online
There are many websites available to generate a free natal chart calculator. My personal favorite is Astrodienst (astro.com) due to its ease of use and vast number of asteroids. All you need to do is enter your birth information and receive a visual chart along with basic interpretive text.
Step 3: Analyze the Placements and Aspects
Aspects (e.g., conjunctions, squares, oppositions, trines, sextiles) are the cornerstone of an astrological chart’s interpretation, serving to connect the various planets and points into a cohesive whole which reveals a complete story. They act as a binding agent, transforming what would be isolated pieces of data into an integrated picture of the individual’s personality and potential.
Example: The Meaning of Mars in conjunction with Uranus
The above natal chart is Frida Kahlo who suffered a debilitating accident during her teen years that led to lifelong, excruciating pain. Located in her 6th house (health, service work and illness) is a Mars-Uranus conjunction which points to potentially violent event (Mars) and sudden, shock (Uranus). This manifested as a literal sudden, violent accident (the bus crash with a trolley car) that abruptly shifted her life’s direction and fueled her artistic path. She transformed her suffering into art.
Frida also has a Sun-Neptune conjunction which fuels artistic abilities and a strong inclination toward healing or helping others.
Las dos Fridas (the two Fridas), 1939.
A picture I captured during a tour of her home in Mexico City at the Frida Kahlo Museum also known as La Casa Azul (the blue house).
Why Understanding Your Birth Chart Matters
1 – Fostering Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
A natal chart provides insights to your distinctive strengths and highlights the areas where you need to work consciously to develop.
2 – Improving Relationships Through Empathy:
By understanding your personal emotional requirements (indicated by your Moon sign) and your typical communication approach (shown by your Mercury sign), you can compare charts with others to cultivate deeper empathy, lessen disagreements, and enhance your relationships. I have found this quite useful with helping me improve my relationship with my spouse and family members.
3- Navigating Life’s Cycles with Greater Ease:
Your static birth chart is used alongside current planetary movements (transits) and to cast solar return charts to predict your future, understand your present situation, and give you context to plan ahead. It helps you connect with your purpose and provides vital clues about the experiences waiting for you throughout your life.
