Your Natal Chart An Astrological Natal
Chart - as the name suggests – is a chart of the heavens for the exact moment
you were born. From this we can get a thumbnail sketch of who you are. What
makes you tick? What are your strengths and equally important, what are
your weaknesses? By being alerted to possible traits that you have, it may
be possible for you to harness energies which can be used productively, and
again equally important, consider how you can deal with aspects which are
less productive. Awareness is the key, and often it can highlight issues
that you are possibly consciously unaware of, but subconsciously living
through. You are probably aware,
through reading Sun Signs in Horoscope columns, where the Sun was when you
were born. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Not every planet in your
chart is in the same zodiacal sign as your Sun. They are quite probably in different
signs, scattered about the chart at random depending where the planets were
in the sky the moment you came into the world. It is the fact that they are
in different signs to your Sun sign which gives you the complexity of
character which makes up who you are. Not only do astrologers look at the sign in which any given planet
is in, which in itself determines the planet’s strength and efficacy, but
also where within the chart it falls.
Crucially, we also look at what other planet(s) or Fixed Stars it
makes contact with. These are the factors which start to colour any single
planet’s energy, giving either a positive effect, or what astrologers like
to call a challenging effect. « Most people who take even just a
passing interest in astrology are aware in which sign the Sun was in when
they were born. The Sun is astrology denotes the self, who you are at core
level. It is what gives you the reason to get up in the morning. What is
your driving force, your will to live, your raison d’ętre. The Sun is the
ruler of Leo. « The Moon represents your
emotional life. How you respond emotionally – is it cool or warm. It also
rules your home life, your early home life as well as your home now, and
somehow tends to govern habits which we carry from childhood on into later
life. It is interesting to note that the positions of the Sun and the Moon
will govern more about your ability to respond within relationships than
almost any other planets, and it is when the Sun and the Moon are in
incompatible signs within a chart that there are likely to be issues within
relating. The Moon is the ruler of Cancer. « Mercury is the planet of the
mind. It shows how we think, how we communicate, and one’s intellect. It
shows whether we are broad or narrow minded, and one’s levels of
understanding. It will also tell us how fixed your views are or whether you
have the ability to ‘go with the flow’’. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo. « Venus is the planet of love and
art. What are you attracted to? Not just physically, but aesthetically too.
One’s ability to appreciate art – in all its forms – through music,
painting, dance, etc. It also denotes one’s social skills, and what gives
you pleasure in terms of relationships. Venus rules Taurus and Libra. « Mars is the planet of energy,
one’s will power, energy levels, determination and fighting capabilities,
most obviously today demonstrated within the workplace. Obviously
conversely – if poorly positioned it can show one’s weaknesses, one’s
ruthlessness, or where one wastes energy. Mars rules Aries and Scorpio. « Jupiter historically is known as
the Greater Benefic. That is, it is the planet which brings opportunities,
growth and expansion of situations. It can be the benevolent figure who
assists your cause, whether teacher, parent, or a fortunate turn of fate.
It rules the signs of Sagittarius and in traditional Astrology, Pisces. « Saturn is known as a Malefic,
and where Jupiter expands through experience, Saturn constricts. It is the
method from which we grow through the hardships of lessons and hardships.
It can again be the teacher, but in this case the teacher who is a
disciplinarian through which we learn lessons, although less pleasant, but
who ultimately teach us. Saturn rules two signs, Capricorn and Aquarius. « The Outer Planets, - Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto are all used within Chart analysis. Whilst they all have
tremendous influence when in contact with other planets, they are often
seen as having more of a generational slant to a Birth Chart than the more
‘personal’ planets. « One of the other major factors
within a birth chart is the Ascendant, or the Rising Sign. This is - to be
technical - the sign which was on the horizon at the moment when you were
born. Technical or not, it represents
how you present yourself to the world in terms of your appearance, your
dress code, and your physical attributes. In today’s appearance-obsessed
society, it can be seen as your Image.
It more often than not has no bearing on the sign in which your Sun
is in, and can disguise and cloak the inner you, which can work in your favour or can equally undermine you. As you may have gathered in reading
this, Astrology is a complex subject which takes a considerable length of
time to learn. There is no ‘one size fits all’ in terms of your Sun sign,
or indeed any of the planets within your chart. It is the very fact that
your own Birth Chart is so incredibly unique which determines your own
exceptional individuality. It is for this reason, and many others which are
too complex to mention here, which renders ‘free’ computer print outs which
are available as redundant. It takes considerable time, knowledge, and not
least, a human being to evaluate a natal chart!
Above: The ten
symbols or GLYPHS which represents the planets in Astrology Below: The Twelve
Symbols or GLYPHS which represent the twelve signs of the zodiac
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