5 Gems You Can Gain From Your Natal Chart

It all begins with your natal chart.

In this new age of information, we are all constantly seeking to know more about ourselves. Whether that be through researching our family tree, consulting horoscopes, or using divination, the phrase “know thyself” has become increasingly important and a mantra by which many of us live.

Astrology, in particular, can provide us with valuable insights into who we are. Astrology is more than just your sun sign horoscope that you read every month - it’s a tool used to understand and decipher the infinite and seemingly unknowable cosmos in a way that’s meaningful and personal. Above all else, Astrology is the perfect mix between science and divination.

In the quest for knowledge of self, there are quite a few tools you need to have in your toolbox, and the first of these is your natal birth chart. There’s a lot that you can learn from your natal chart - it all depends on how deep you want to dive. Here I will outline five gems to get you started on the road to self-discovery. But first, we must start at the beginning.

What is a Natal Chart?

In the same way that someone can take a picture of you the moment you are born, a natal birth chart is like a snapshot of the cosmos at the moment of your birth. The natal chart is a map of all the planets as they were stationed the exact moment you were born. The natal chart is composed of a 360-degree wheel, broken up into 12 parts. Each of the 12 parts is called a “house,” and each house corresponds to a different area in our lives. Each house also has a corresponding zodiac sign.

To draw this map, three things are required: 1) your exact birth date, 2) your exact birth time, and 3) your exact birth location. The most accurate charts are drawn using this information. If you can’t get your exact birth time, all hope is not lost. A natal birth chart can still be calculated using your birth date and location; concerning the birth time, an approximate time is used. While this chart won’t be 100% accurate, you can still gain a lot of information.

#1: Your Natal Chart Can Give You Profound Insight Into Your Personality, Strengths, and Weaknesses

The very first thing you’ll learn is that you have three main signs. Most people are familiar with their Sun sign - it represents where the Sun was when you were born and is directly related to your birth date. But there are two other signs that are very important in terms of your personality. You have a Moon sign and a Rising sign.

Your Moon sign is the sign that the Moon was in at the time of your birth. Your Rising sign refers to the zodiac sign on the horizon at the time you were born. The Moon changes signs every 2 ½ days, and the rising sign changes signs every 2 hours - this is why it’s so important to have your accurate birth time.

All three signs - Sun, Moon, and Rising - can tell you a lot about your personality and characteristics. Your Sun sign represents the core of who you are - it’s the essence of you. Your Moon sign represents your inner personality - that part of you that you often keep hidden. Emotions and inner moods are the realms of your Moon sign. Finally, your Rising sign represents that version of yourself that people see first - it’s your personality projected onto the world.

The zodiac signs of your Sun, Moon, and Rising, as well as the houses where they are placed, can tell you a great deal about your strengths, weaknesses, personality traits, hopes, fears, and aspirations.

#2: Your Natal Chart Can Show You Where You Are Headed in This Lifetime

To a certain extent, we all believe that our lives are headed in a certain direction and that certain things are meant to happen to get us there. Well, your natal chart can tell you where your life is headed by examining The North Node.

The North and South Nodes are two focal points in your natal chart that are like opposite ends of the spectrum. The North Node represents where you are headed in this life, and the South Node represents where you’ve been. These concepts can be tied to the ideas of dharma and karma. The nodes are calculated using the same three pieces of personal information - your birth time, date, and location.

Examining the location of your North Node with what house and zodiac sign it falls in and what aspects it makes to other planets and asteroids can give you very keen insight into where you are headed in this lifetime. This information is valuable in terms of self-development.

#3: Your Natal Chart Can Tell You About All Your Different Relationships

Although your natal chart is a snapshot of your life, some aspects can provide information about the relationships you have with other people. As mentioned earlier, each of the 12 houses in the chart governs a different area of life, and several of those houses cover various relationships. There’s a house that covers siblings, another that covers romantic relationships, and one that covers friendships.

In addition to the houses, certain planets can give us insight here as well. Most notably, Venus - the planet of love, fairness, and harmony - directly impacts our relationships. Her placement in your natal chart and her aspects to the other planets can give you some seriously invaluable information and advice.

#4: Your Natal Chart Can Give You Insight Into Your Career

There may be a big difference between the career you have, the career you want, and the career you are aligned with. Hopefully, all three are the same! If they are not, however, you can learn about all three via your natal chart.

There’s a house devoted to career and public life. Planets in that house, and the aspects those planets make to the other planets, can tell you which career suits you and what parts of your personality can help you in your career. Different sections of your chart can tell you about your co-workers, what service you can provide to the world, and what you can do to stand out at your job.

#5: Your Natal Chart Can Tell You About Your Past Life

This assumes that you believe in reincarnation. If you do, your natal chart can give you clues as to what was the central theme of your past life. There are several approaches to this, but each method uses the same information found in the natal chart - the houses, planets, placements, and aspects - to arrive at this information.

It All Starts With Your Natal Chart.

I can’t stress enough how vital your natal birth chart is to your self-discovery and personal growth. You can glean so much information from this one chart - it’s mind-blowing! Working with an astrologer to interpret your chart can open many doors and, most importantly, can get you on track to living your best life.