HOW A NATAL CHART WORKS

The natal chart is a theoretical map of the heavens, from the viewpoint of the part of the Earth where you were born, at the moment of birth, with the parts of the zodiac above and below the horizon included. The zodiac is divided into 12 signs and 12 houses, through which the planets continue to move.

Your basic personality is determined by the sign in which the Sun fell at time of birth. Nothing can alter this, but its effect, especially regarding how you are seen by others, is modified by other factors of the chart

The Moon, representing your innermost self, feelings and responses, is the next most important factor.

Then there is the line which crosses the chart horizontally; the left hand section is known as the Ascendant (AS). If the sign in which this falls differs from your Sun sign, as is likely, the qualities of that sign overlay the features of the personality to some extent. Thus the physical appearance and the persona are considered to be determined by the Ascendant sign, and may be used to disguise the 'real you' in public. The effect of this may fade as age increases and there is less need to hide your basic self from others as you become more self-accepting. The right hand half of the line is known as the Descendant, and represents the point at which you draw others into your life, and indicates the qualities you are likely to seek in them in friendships and relationships. This polarity, signified by the whole axis, is an indicator of the qualities, and possibly signs, you will relate to regardless of your Sun sign. Known as the 'feeling' axis, it also shows the karma of who you have chosen to relate to in the world in this lifetime, and how you have chosen to experience life.

As far as the major structure is concerned, the vertical line culminates at or near the top of the chart as the 'Medium Coeli' (r) or Midheaven. This represents,the point at which you project yourself into the world in a meaningful way, and is therefore associated with career and world status. The line's nadir or 'Immum Coeli' (IC) marks your roots as a person and the factors which influence what motivates you; therefore, it also indicates your family background. Known as the 'thinking axis', it shows the karma of what you have chosen to do in the world in this lifetime, and how easy or difficult you will find it to succeed in this.

There are many other components which require interpretation. The planets represent the energies available to you. They are placed in signs which determine the manner in which the energies are used. The houses count anticlockwise from the left horizon and indicate the areas of life in which the energies are likely to be most easily available. The aspects represent connections made between planets due to the angles between them, and reflect the degree of ease with which energy flow occurs between planets.