What Is a Birth Chart in Astrology?
A birth chart, or natal chart, is a snapshot of the sky at the exact moment and place you were born. It's the full map astrologers read, far beyond a single sun sign.
Planets, signs and houses
A chart places each planet in a zodiac sign and a 'house' (an area of life). The combinations describe how different energies play out for you.
Why it needs your birth time
Because the houses and the ascendant depend on the exact time and place, an accurate birth chart needs all three: date, time and location.
Reading a chart
Start with the big three — sun, moon and rising — then explore the other planets. It's a lifelong study, but the basics are approachable.
Start with the basics
Find your sun sign and estimate your rising sign as your first two pieces of the chart.