UNDERSTANDING THE NATAL CHART

In order to understand how a natal chart works, firstly it helps to understand how a natal chart is drawn up, and how the different energies affect our psyche. Astrologers use three "great circles" in order to fix the position of the planets, and the signs that make up the natal chart. These three circles are the horizon, the equator and the ecliptic. The equator is projected onto an imaginary celestial sphere, which is right above the Earth's equator. This celestial equator divides the heavens into the northern and southern hemispheres. The ecliptic is the imaginary path of the Sun as it appears to move through the sky; and this ecliptic line is divided into twelve equal segments to represent the signs of the zodiac. The space surrounding the Earth is then divided into twelve to represent the houses; these houses represent a sphere of human life. From this point, and with the help of an ephemeris, [which shows the position of the planets on any given day], we can draw up the natal chart; bearing in mind that the planets represent energy; the signs show how we direct that energy, and the house shows in what sphere of our life that energy is directed.

The first six houses are said to be beneath the horizon, and are the most personal; whilst the six houses above the horizon relate to more external matters, involving other people. Each house has its own particular sign and planet which is deemed to rule that house, and when a planet or sign falls in a house that it rules, its influence is increased. All the signs have their own particular characteristics, as do the planets. The following is a very brief resume of the effects of the houses, signs and planets.

FIRST HOUSE:- Most important as it contains the rising sign. The personality will be shown in this house, as well as health, physical well-being, temperament and physical characteristics. Any planet found within ten degrees of the Ascendant will have a major effect on the persona. Ruled by Aries and Mars.

SECOND HOUSE :- Ruled by Taurus and Venus. Attitude towards possessions, security and partners. Also money and love.

THIRD HOUSE :- Ruled by Gemini and Mercury. Concerned with near relatives,[not parents], brothers and sisters; travel; environment and early education. Communication and speech are also third house concerns.

FOURTH HOUSE :- Ruled by Cancer and the Moon. Concerned with home life, family background and parents, in particular the mother. Homes and land are also areas covered by this house. The Imum Coeli is usually found in either the third or fourth house. This is the lowest point of the chart, and can influence the subjects attitude towards their "roots". Planets conjuncting the I.C. may influence our feelings towards environmental issues.

FIFTH HOUSE :- This is the house where we find the subjects creative potential. This house also deals with love affairs; pleasure; children; risk-taking and the father. Ruled by Leo and the Sun.

SIXTH HOUSE :- Concerned with health matters; general well-being; diet, exercise and routine work. Ruled by Virgo and Mercury. Planets within eight degrees of the horizon will be in opposition to the Ascendant, and in this house may have a detrimental effect on an area of our health.

SEVENTH HOUSE:- Ruled by Libra and Venus. The primary concerns of this house are relationships; and whilst the main focus of attention is on emotional relationships, this house will also deal with friendships and business relationships. This house will indicate our deep rooted needs in what we want from a partner. Planets near the seventh and sixth house cusp will be in opposition to the Ascendant and will have a effect on our attitude towards the area covered by this house.

EIGHTH HOUSE :- Ruled by Scorpio and Pluto, also Mars; as the former ruler of Scorpio; is strong here. Known as the house of "Death". This is the house of self searching, and the reference to "death" is more a rebirth and new beginnings. Also deals with inheritance and investment. This is the house of the "life force"; and the subjects most basic sexual urges will be shown in this house.

NINTH HOUSE :- This is the house ruled by Sagittarius and Jupiter; and here we find our attitude towards further education; [self education, as well as college/university]; long distance travel; dreams; idealistic and philosophical outlook, opinions on spiritual matters.

TENTH HOUSE :- The house of Capricorn and Saturn. This house deals with our aspirations and ambitions; how we cope with authority; social status; family traditions. The Midheaven is usually found in the tenth house, [occasionally the ninth]. The Midheaven represents out "social identity"; how we would like to be seen by others.

ELEVENTH HOUSE :- Ruled by Aquarius and Uranus; Saturn, [as the former ruler of Aquarius], is also strong here. The concerns of this house are with friendships; our social identity; objectives in life that are not career orientated. Also our attitude towards world suffering, ecology; also membership on committees etc.

TWELFTH HOUSE :- Ruled by Pisces and Neptune; formerly ruled by Jupiter, which is also strong here. This house deals with our subconscious, this house will indicate the root of any psychological problems; [the eighth house shows how we deal with them]; quite potent if a planet falls within ten degrees of the Ascendant.

All the signs have there own particular traits; some a very positive, others not so; how a sign works in a particular chart will depend if it falls in a house that is compatible, and if a planet falls in that sign. The characteristics of the signs are as follows:-

ARIES:-Energetic, dynamic, courageous, confident. Also selfish, impatient, quick tempered, foolhardy.

TAURUS:- Patient, reliable, loving, persistent, placid, security loving. Also jealous, possessive, resentful, greedy, inflexible.

GEMINI:- Adaptable, versatile, communicative, intellectual lively. Also nervy, tense, superficial, inconsistent, cunning.

CANCER:- Emotional, loving, intuitive, shrewd, cautious, protective. Also changeable, moody, over emotional, unable to let go, touchy.

LEO:- Generous, warm hearted, creative, expansive, broad minded, faithful, loving. Also pompous, patronising, bossy, interfering, intolerant, over dramatic.

VIRGO:- Modest, shy, meticulous, reliable practical, diligent, analytical. Also fussy, a worrier, over critical, harsh, a perfectionist.

LIBRA:- Diplomatic, urbane, romantic, charming, easy going, idealistic, peaceful. Also possessive, indecisive, gullible, easily influenced, self indulgent.

SCORPIO :- Determined, resourceful, emotional, intuitive, powerful, passionate, magnetic. Also resentful, possessive, jealous, obsessive, secretive, obstinate.

SAGITTARIUS:- Optimistic, freedom loving, jovial, good humoured, honest, straight forward, intellectual. Also careless, over optimistic, irresponsible, tactless, restless.

CAPRICORN:- Practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous. Also pessimistic, miserly, grudging, fatalistic, over conventional.

AQUARIUS:- Friendly, humanitarian, honest, loyal, original, independent, intellectual. Also perverse, intractable, unpredictable, unemotional, detached.

PISCES:- Sensitive, compassionate, kind, selfless, imaginative, intuitive. Also escapist, idealistic, secretive, vague, weak willed, easily lead.

Having just assassinated everyone’s character; now for the planets. Each has its own energy, and its own peculiar traits.

SUN:- Self expression, vitality. Can be pompous

MOON:- Response, instinct, intuition, emotion. Can be unreliable, narrow minded.

MERCURY:- Mind, communication both mental and physical. Can be critical, nervous, tense and secretive.

VENUS:- Harmony, unison, love and peace. Feminine. Can be indecisive, over romantic, over dependant.

MARS :- Physical energy, initiative. Strongly masculine and sexual. Can be aggressive, hasty and rude.

JUPITER:- Intellectual and physical expansion. Optimistic and loyal. Can be conceited, extravagant and self indulgent.

SATURN:- Stability, restriction, control. Can be narrow minded, cruel and selfish.

URANUS:- Change, disruption, shock, sexual excesses, independence. Can be eccentric, perverse and rebellious.

NEPTUNE:- Idealistic, cloudiness, sensitivity. Can be careless, deceitful, indecisive.

PLUTO:- Elimination, eruptive change, unconscious. Can be sly, critical, secretive and cruel.

CHIRON:- Audacity, bravery and recovery. The planet is the "wounded healer". Will help the subject come to terms with their hurts. When plotting a chart, planets will make particular angles, or aspects, with other planets. Sometimes the uniting of this energies is beneficial, and will help the subject make the best use of the energy created; on other occasions the aspects will be detrimental, and as such the subject will experience some problems in the area of their life in which the planets fall.

PLOTTING A NATAL CHART

The starting point before plotting a natal chart is to determine the degree of Ascendant. In English, which sign of the zodiac is rising above the Eastern horizon, and by how far that sign has risen, at the time of birth. This is found by a series of calculations, the accuracy of which is determined by the accuracy of the time of birth. From these calculations the sign on the Midheaven, and the Ascendant can be found. [Some house systems, Placidus, for example, use the Midheaven as the cusp between the ninth and tenth house; others such as equal house, the Midheaven will appear, usually, between the ninth and tenth house]