Astrocartography, also known as locational astrology, is a practice developed by astrologer Jim Lewis in the 1970s that maps an individual’s unique birth chart onto a world map. This technique helps predict how a change in location could affect various aspects of a person’s life by revealing planetary lines that indicate the energies of specific locations. The underlying premise is that you can choose a new city or country based on how well its unique energy aligns with your personal astrological chart.

Key Aspects of Locational Astrology

Locational astrology utilizes several key components to interpret the energies of different places:

Planetary Lines

There are 44 longitudinal planetary lines that crisscross the world, representing your birth chart on four key angles that define different areas of life:

• ASC (Ascendant): Relates to your sense of self, identity, and how others perceive you.
• IC (Imum Coeli): Focuses on your home, family life, roots, and foundation.
• DSC (Descendant): Governs your relationships, partnerships, and interactions with others.
• MC (Midheaven): Represents your career, public reputation, and worldly ambitions.

Each line is associated with a planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, North and South Node, and Chiron), and the specific energy of that planet combines with the area of life activated by the angle. For example, a “Sun MC line” crossing a specific city might suggest that this location would enhance a person’s vitality, confidence, and leadership abilities (Sun), particularly within their career and public life (MC).

The astromap above is a client’s natal chart mapped onto a world map

Parans (Parantellontae)

Parans are points where two planetary lines cross, forming latitude lines on an astrocartography map. These points can have a dramatic effect on how a person feels in a location, especially in areas without a prominent planetary line. Parans can help determine where within a country might be more favorable. For instance, moving to a city further away from a challenging paran line could be a more beneficial choice.

For example, the astromap above shows parans the client is living on. She is living 35 miles from her Moon Chiron paran which is associated with emotional pain and healing, mother wounds. She is indeed healing past mother wounds which I think most of us do around the age of 30. In addition, she is living 10 miles from her Moon Saturn paran which is associated with homesick, isolated, suppressed, lonely, emotionally cutoff. Growing up and living most of her life in Puerto Rico, she finds herself having crying episodes mourning the life she once knew.

Relocated Chart

A relocated chart adjusts your birth chart for a new location by shifting the angles and the house placement of the planets. This shift reveals which new areas of life are being activated or highlighted, potentially bringing out dormant energy or new aspects of your personality and experience. By exploring how moving might change your experiences, a relocated chart can uncover new opportunities or challenges related to love, career, and family experience.

For example, you can see in this relocated chart a shift from a challenging Pluto IC placement in one location to a more favorable Sun in the ninth house in another, can significantly change one’s life. Sun is at home in the ninth house.  Although, she does not live on the most favorable paran lines, she is happy here in Winston Salem, North Carolina living with her husband who she met in South Korea while serving in the United States Army.

Unlock your geographical destiny—your perfect location is written in the stars.