Written in THE STARS

The lowdown on astrological birth charts

- MADISON BOGISCH

The very first thing you’ll encounter once you graduate beyond your garden-variety horoscope is your birth chart (aka your natal chart or natal horoscope). It looks kind of overwhelming and, to begin with, it can be.

But spend a little time learning the ins and outs and you’ll find that it’s one of the most amazing tools you can master to live life with a deeper sense of awareness, intention and curiosity. To help you understand the power of your birth chart Emma Vidgen, astrologer and author of The Astrology of You, breaks it down.

YOUR BIRTH CHART IS A MAP

Your birth chart is like a picture of the sky from the moment you were born. It tells us exactly where the planets were (from the perspective of standing on Earth looking up, known as the “geocentric perspective”) when you came into the world.

The position of the planets and the patterns they make – “aspects” – weave an intricate tapestry of energy that describes everything from what you look for in a relationship to how you are with money.

To cast your birth chart, you need to know where and when you were born. The more precise you can be with the time you were born, the more accurate your chart.

YOUR BIRTH CHART IS AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR YOUR LIFE