If you’re a regular horoscope reader, you’ll be right across the ins and outs of your star sign. But you might be aware that there are other planets that also affect your life and personality. Unlike star signs, you can’t just look these up by your birth date, you’ll need to have a birth chart created just for you. If you’ve ever been curious about what goes into this, or how to calculate your birth chart here is a guide to getting started with it.
Before you can create your birth chart, you’re going to need to have a few details to hand. As well as the date you were born (which we assume you already know), you’ll need both the exact time and location of your birth. With this information, an astrologer can use software to determine where each planet was at the moment of your birth.
This is what most people know as their star sign – it’s the sign you’ll be looking for when you read your daily horoscope. Along with the moon and the ascendant sign, the sun sign is one of the three major parts of the birth chart. Your sun sign is the best reflection of your true self, regardless of the path you have chosen.
The second most important part of the chart, the location of the moon at the time of your birth is what governs your emotional side. It’s often a side we don’t show to others, as it determines what we need to feel safe and secure. Its guiding force also has an impact on our decision making.
You might have also heard of this referred to as your rising sign, which is the third major element of your birth chart. It refers to the constellation that was ‘rising’ over the horizon at the time of your birth. The traits of this sign tend to be what others see in us, especially when meeting for the first time.
These refer to the planets that are closest to the sun: Venus, Mercury, and Mars. Where they were at the time of your birth can describe core needs and traits, with each planet ruling a different aspect. Mercury is all about communication, Venus covers your romantic side, and Mars governs your actions and energy.
These more distant planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – have a more abstract influence, due to their slow movement through the sky. Jupiter will govern your fortune, Saturn refers to self-discipline, Uranus governs change, Neptune rules dreams and Pluto is about transformation.
This refers to the planet that is associated with your rising or ascendant sign. For example, if your birth chart shows your rising sign as Gemini, your ruling planet is the one associated with Gemini, which is Mercury. Each ruling planet has its own qualities, which will be reflected in your values and behavior.