A map of Your birth
The birth chart, also known as a natal chart, is basically the map of Your birth, based on the date, time, and place. It precisely maps the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets at a specific moment as seen from a specific place from the Earth. This map is a significant tool for a few reasons. Firstly, it allows each individual to be unique while at the same time approaching general psychological principles. It is also useful in many counseling situations, where it provides a tool of personality testing with objective measures. Given data of birth always shows the same patterns regardless of who is making calculations. By analyzing the birth chart like a map, we can see that astrology is an insightful tool for self-discovery, it helps to see the higher meaning behind or makes it easier to see things objectively.
Components of Birth Chart
Nowadays a horoscope is drawn as a circle (though different in Vedic astrology). Generally, charts use symbols rather than words. If You‘re looking at a chart produced by a computer, you will see that the signs, planets, and aspects are indicated in symbols. It is agreed in astrology that the three basic components of the birth chart are Planets, Signs, and Houses. These are the main tools for understanding how all the energies work. Planets in this approach are the forces that act, signs represent HOW they act, houses represent WHERE the planets act. Houses are twelve parts of the horoscope. There are lots of additional information which can be found in the birth chart, such as:
- Polarity, Elements, Modes – helps to identify the basic orientations of the character;
- ASC, SUN, MOON – fundamental to the individual’s character, called the BIG 3 in astrology;
- Angular planets – loom large in the life of the individual;
- The Lunation Phase – calculation of the phase assists in identifying the psychological orientation of the person;
- Nodal Axis – shows the path of destiny, challenges of life;
- Aspect Patterns – identify psychological impulses that are inherited or show themselves clearly;
- Planetary Imbalances – also serve to identify psychological impulses;
- Planetary Distribution within the houses – highlights the areas of experience that dominate in life.
Interpretation of the whole chart
It is useful to develop a methodological and clear approach, at least at the beginning of the astrological journey. It enables us to see the most important details, by at the same time focusing on all the elements. Otherwise, if we don’t have a clear and methodical approach, it can be easy to go “off the road” and to dive deep, start having our own emotions and opinions involved. Our opinion and emotions might become diffused with the information which astrology provides. On the other hand, when having a clear step-by-step path, we can follow it unconsciously and feel or use our intuition to see “something behind”.
When working with people, it is important to know that truth is many-sided and often not that simple. The psychological approach helps to take this into account, by also turning negatives into positives. During the session, clients are encouraged to help themselves and to develop their own strengths. The goal is also to see the whole picture and the whole personality potential.
Predictions are another important topic to discuss. The more astropsychologist know of an individual’s background, the more likely he/she will be able to choose the most probable pattern for given details. The most important question with the predictions – does it empower the client? It’s important to give examples of possible outcomes to the clients, in order to illustrate the principles involved. When clients understand the issues they are facing, they can manifest many different details and they don’t feel “locked-in”.
The birth chart holds a wealth of possibilities and offers itself to our imagination, our inclination to question, explore, discover and decode.
