Natal Astrology

If you are ever to learn how to interpret a chart, you must first learn how to read it! It can be very confusing, what with all the symbols, numbers (which represent degrees) and lines all through the center. We are going to start very basic here.

Visit Astro.com . This link will take you directly to the page where you will be able to make your own natal chart. All the options, drop-down boxes, etc. are just the way they need to be, so no need to worry about that. Next choose “Click here to show the chart” and input your data. You may choose to register if you like, but it isn’t necessary. Remember, the more accurate the data you have (and enter), the more accurate a chart you will make. I suggest printing out the chart, as it will be much easier to look at a page while looking at the screen rather than switching between tabs/windows. While still on the webpage of your natal chart, in the upper left corner you will see an option for viewing additional tables in PDF reader.

This is very handy, as it contains the degrees for the House cusps, which are not visible anywhere on the natal wheel chart. Continue Reading »

First off, I want to apologize for not posting this yesterday. If you were looking forward to learning how to read natal charts, I’m afraid it will be postponed until tomorrow.

In this installment, I will discuss the Houses of natal astrology. For purposes of simplicity, I will focus on Placidus style Houses. There are numerous ways to calculate the Houses and the preferred method can vary from astrologer to astrologer. I am most familiar (and therefore most comfortable) with the Placidus system. This style is typically used most often in the West.

Continue Reading »

In this post, I will discuss the rest of the Planets as they relate to (tropical) natal astrology. If you missed the first half of the discussion, please do go back and read the first half . It is helpful to have a natal chart of your own, which you can make for free at Astro.com .

Jupiter is the natural ruler of Sagittarius and often considered the co-ruler of Pisces. It represents expansion, good fortune and prosperity. Positive expressions of Jupiter are idealism, faithfulness, philanthropy, understanding and reverence. Negative expressions of Jupiter are impracticality, fanaticism, extravagance, indulgence and bigotry.

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The Planets (and other heavenly bodies) and their placement in one’s chart are a key part to understanding Natal Astrology. In the West, we typically give weight (importance) to the Sun and Moon’s placement in the natal chart. The chart can be further weighted by a number of other factors, namely the planets, the sign and house where the planets are located and so on. Further, the aspects (relationships, if you will) the planets have between one another in a chart are also significant.

In this post, I will go over about half of the Planets, what sign they naturally rule and what they signify in the natal chart in both positive and negative expression. If you haven’t yet, head over to Astro.com with your birth information to get your free natal chart.

Continue Reading »

There are three astrological qualities: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Each of the 12 astrological signs falls into one of the three categories, one from each element.

Fire:
Aries - cardinal
Leo - fixed
Sagittarius - mutable

Earth:
Taurus - fixed
Virgo - mutable
Capricorn - cardinal

Air:
Gemini - mutable
Libra - cardinal
Aquarius - fixed

Water:
Cancer - cardinal
Scorpio - fixed
Pisces - mutable

Cardinal - open to change, emphasis on action, tries to change environment, projects self onto surroundings (Aries, Libra, Capricorn, Cancer)
Fixed - resistant to change, single-minded in pursuits, not easily swayed, tries to mold environment to the will (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius)
Mutable - changeable and flexible, mentally explorative, emphasis on intellectual activity, adaptable to environment (Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, Pisces)

In the next installment, I’ll discuss the planets and their significance.

In the west, we identify ourselves as a “Taurus” or “Libra” (or whichever sign) based on the day we are born. The sign we are identifying ourselves as is the Sun Sign since the Sun’s presence occurred on one of the 30 or so days within the sign with which we identify ourselves.

The Astrological year begins with the Sun in Aries on March 21, during Ostara or Vernal (spring) Equinox.

Aries, the Ram: March 21 – April 20

Taurus, the Bull: April 21 – May 22

Gemini, the Twins: May 22 – June 23

Cancer, the Crab: June 24 - July 23

Leo, the Lion: July 24 - August 23

Virgo, the Virgin: August 24 - September 23

Libra, the Scales: September 23 - October 23

Scorpio, the Scorpion: October 24 - November 22

Sagittarius, the Archer: November 23 - December 21

Capricorn, the Goat: December 22 - January 20

Aquarius, the Water Bearer: January 20 - February 19

Pisces, the Fish: February 19 - March 21

Since some of the days overlap and due to imperfections of our calendar, it is important to accurately find your sign if your birthday is near the end/beginning of a sign change by having a chart drawn up. This is free to do at Astro.com .

In later installments, I will more thoroughly investigate each signs’ significance.

In Natal Astrology, there are 4 elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac falls into one of these element categories, as followed:

• Fire: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
• Earth: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
• Air: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
• Water: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

Each of the elements are characterized by specific traits.

Fire - energetic, enthusiastic, passionate, a need to express oneself, impulsive, takes initiative, outgoing, tend to be extroversive.

Earth - practical, stable, places importance of security, patient, industrious, strong-willed, able to apply oneself toward long-range goal.

Air - communicative, intelligent, likes to deal on a mental plane, quickly grasps ideas, can speak or write effectively, takes a rational viewpoint.

Water - emotional, intuitive, sensitive to surroundings and other people, creative, good powers of imagination, empathetic, a person of hidden depths.

It is easy to remember that some elements are more compatible than others. Water and Earth are more harmonious than say, Water and Fire, for obvious reasons. I find it interesting that all the elements sort of rely on one another. Air feeds Fire (just as Fire consumes Air), Water nourishes Earth and so on.

Welcome to the Natal Astrology blog at Today.com! This blog is dedicated to discussing natal astrology.

So, what is natal astrology? Good question!

Natal astrology is the study of the planets as they were located in space at the time and place when someone was born and looks very much like a map. Natal Astrology is not foolproof. I think of it as a tool that will help me better understand my tendencies and potential. Please always keep this in mind on your learning journey. Moreover, Natal Astrology will focus on Tropical Astrology.

Not very long ago, it was quite a task to have a chart drawn up. With the advancement of technology, it is very simple (and quick!) to have a natal chart made. If you haven’t gotten one yet, I recommend visiting Astro.com for your free natal chart. Remember, the more accurate information that you provide, the more accurate your natal chart will be.

While it is much easier these days to have a natal chart made, it is still confusing to interpret the chart. The goal of this blog is to help you learn how to interpret your own chart.

In our first installment, I will discuss the elements as they relate to astrology.