Astrology is an interesting field because of how polarizing it can be and this applies to birth charts as well. Some people may study their birth chart for fun while others take it very seriously. Regardless of whether or not you believe in birth charts and astrology in a literal sense, exploring these concepts can help you learn more about yourself and how you interact with the world around you. This can be especially helpful in matters of relationships, your career path, and the financial decisions you make.
What Are Birth Charts?
When people think astrology, they usually think of the 12 signs that make up the Zodiac (13 if you count Orpheuchus) but birth charts are a little more complicated. This is because a complete birth chart will take into account not only the Zodiac sign of your birth but also factors such as planetary alignment and the sun and moon. In essence, a birth chart is a more complete way of looking at the astrological factors that were present at the time of your birth. This means that understanding your birth chart will give you a more complete insight into who you are than a simple Zodiac horoscope. You can then take this increased insight and apply it to your business dealings and financial decisions.
Dealing in Specifics
To get a horoscope reading, you typically only have to know your date of birth. While the Zodiacs don’t line up with the 12 months perfectly, they come close. This means that certain signs are associated with certain months such as Leo being associated with August.
While birth charts will take this information into account, they require much more specific information for an accurate reading. One example of this would be the need to know your birth location (country, city, province/state) and the exact time of your birth down to the minute.
It is also worth mentioning that when it comes to birth charts, Pluto is still considered a planet. Also, the Sun and Moon count as inner planets, making the total number of relevant celestial bodies 10.
Interpreting Your Birth Chart
If you’re looking up your birth chart online by entering your information into a generator, then you will probably be confused when your chart is generated. You’ll likely recognize the Zodiac signs around the outer edge of the circle, but the alignment of the planets and how they connect can be confusing. You’ll also see terms like North Node, Venus Sextile Uranus, and Sun Octile Ascendant.
This information can be a lot to take in and if you’re not familiar with the more esoteric aspects of astrology, you may feel lost. This being the case, birth charts are oftentimes better left to the interpretation of someone who understands them unless you want to spend the time learning what these dozens of terms mean and the relationships between them.
Creating a Synastry Birth Chart
Unlike the Zodiacs where certain signs are said to be compatible with one another while others repel one another, birth charts require a little more thought and effort when it comes to gaining information on relationships. This is usually done using a method known as “synastry” which sounds a lot like “synergy” for a reason.
The process is very simple. Two birth charts will be compared by overlaying them on top of one another transparently so that you can see both at once. One chart will be yours, the other will be your partner’s. This will then give you insight into your compatibility, and other factors governing your relationship.
Keep in mind that doing a synastry will make things twice as complicated. This is because you not only have to determine how the celestial bodies interact with one another in your chart but also how they interact with the celestial bodies in your partner’s chart. Again, it may be best to let your synastry be interpreted by someone who fully understands astrology.
Creating a Composite Birth Chart
If the concept of a synastry birth chart doesn’t sound complicated enough, you can take things one step further and use your synastry chart to create a composite birth chart. A composite birth chart is exactly what the name sounds like, using the two synastry birth charts to create a new one.
This is a fairly simple process. When you look at the combined synastry birth chart made by using your and your partner’s charts, you then find the middle point between each celestial body to create a new one. For example, you would look at where Venus is on each birth chart, then make a new Venus right in the middle. Doing this for all celestial bodies will create a composite birth chart for you and your partner.
By creating a composite chart you get a representation of you and your partner as a completed whole. This can lead to new insights not only for your relationship but also for your strengths and weaknesses as a couple. Using this information, you can make better decisions as a couple concerning your careers, living arrangements, and other important events.
Outer Planets vs. Inner Planets
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to birth charts is the role that the outer and inner planets play. This can help you to focus both on the here and now as well as plan for future events.
Inner Planets
The inner celestial bodies, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars could be considered short-term indicators. This is because they take much less time to travel around the Sun, or in the Sun’s case, it just spins in place. This being the case, they govern things like our personalities and our events during our daily lives.
Consequently, studying the inner celestial bodies will give you a greater understanding of the day-to-day aspects of your relationship with your partner when you look over your synastry or composite birth charts. This can help resolve conflicts and tie up loose ends that could be dragging down your relationship.
In matters of business and finances, the inner planets govern your daily expenses, work relationships, and immediate financial decisions. If you’re having trouble financially or at the workplace, this can give some insight into what the problem is and how to fix it.
Outer Planets
The outer planets consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and of course, Pluto even though it is considered a dwarf planet by scientists. The outer planets can be thought of as long-term indicators and will govern major life events and even experiences that span entire generations. This is because the outer planets move very slowly and take much longer to complete a cycle around the sun.
When studying the outer planets, you’ll get insight into your overall life trajectory. This involves major events such as your career path, health, marriage, major purchases, and things of that nature. When looking at your synastry and composite birth charts, the outer planets can help you avoid pitfalls that could cause your path to diverge from your partner’s.
Making the Most of Your Birth Charts
Whether you believe in astrology or not, taking a look at your birth chart can get you thinking about things that are important in your life. You may gain new insight into your relationship with your partner or you may realize that your career path isn’t what you thought it would be and seek a new one. You may also become more aware of your spending habits and discover new ways to invest or come to realize that you should be saving more. The better you understand your financial and career situation, the better decisions you’ll make.
In any case, birth charts are very complicated. If you want to understand your birth chart, especially if you plan on creating a synastry or composite, you’ll need to study astrology or reach out to someone who already understands it. Regardless, you’ll be sure to find plenty of insight into your relationships, finances, and career path that will be useful moving forward.
