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Basics of Chart Interpretation

Theres a big sky-full of stars out there along with a handful of planets. Where to

begin? To what should we give the most credence? As a starting point, lets examine

the basic components of an astrological chart. From these building blocks, we can

form more complex pictures.

First of all, most of astrology looks particularly at just the swath of the sky where

the planets appear to circle us. This is the path of the earth around the sun and from

our viewpoint, the apparent path of the sun around the earth, called the ecliptic. Its

basically a belt about the width of your hand when you extend your arm fully. Along

this belt are the constellations of the ram, the bull, the twins, etc., which form the

zodiac (from the Latin word for zoo, since theyre mostly animals in the zodiacconstellations). All the planets travel on this track.

An astrological chart is a map of the heavens at a moment in time, freezing the

positions of the planets, which are continually in motion. The chart is viewed from a

particular spot on earth and is oriented toward that place, lined up with the directions

from there. The directions on a sky chart are the opposite of those on an earth map

since were looking up at the heavens instead of down at earth. East is on the left,

west is on the right, north is at the bottom and south is at the top.

Since astrology is like a language (a foreign one to many!), an analogy from language

class will help:

Planets are like verbs. They express drives that humans have in common, or they show

energy in action.

Signs are like adverbs. They modify the expression of the planets influences, showinghow they are being expressed.

Houses are another form of adverb, showing where planets energies operate. Houses

are a segment of the sky relating to a certain direction. There are twelve houses and

each represents different departments in our lives.

There are two key connections between houses and planets. First, a planet influences

the matters of the house in which the planet is located. Second, by virtue ofrulership, a planet has an impact on any house that begins with a sign that the planet

rules (see the table below).

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The final type of adverbis an aspect. This is an interaction of energies between two

planets, showing whether they harmonize or clash. Aspects are divisions of the zodiac

circle into various fractions. Oftentimes, when you see a chart wheel, there is a

pattern of interlocking lines drawn between the planets these represent the

aspects. I usually say this is like your own printed circuit board and shows how youre

wired.

Where is the subject? you might well ask. The subject is the person, entity or event

that the chart is describing. A chart can apply to anything with a beginning moment in

time, whether thats a person, animal, company or event. Now you know why beginning

moments are so important: because any entity takes on the energy present at the time

it begins. With that in mind, carefully choose the times you begin actions. When an

astrologer searches for a good beginning time, thats called electing the moment (or

an electional chart). My Janets Plan-its calendars are a tool to help you elect good

moments for your most important activities.

There is some correspondence between the planets and signs associated with the

houses in what is called the natural zodiac. In her book, Finding the Person in the

Horoscope, astrologer Zipporah Pottenger Dobyns referred to these as the 12-letter

alphabet of astrology. You can almost think of them interchangeably (but with the

nuance of the distinctions listed above).

The Natural ZodiacDirection House Sign Ruling Planet of Sign

East 1 Aries Mars

Northeast 2 Taurus Venus

N. Northeast 3 Gemini Mercury

North 4 Cancer Moon

N. Northwest 5 Leo Sun

Northwest 6 Virgo Mercury

West 7 Libra VenusSouthwest 8 Scorpio Pluto (modern), Mars (ancient)

S. Southwest 9 Sagittarius Jupiter

South 10 Capricorn Saturn

S. Southeast 11 Aquarius Uranus (modern), Saturn (ancient)

Southeast 12 Pisces Neptune (modern), Jupiter (ancient)

To illustrate one of these letters, day begins with the sunrise in the east, at the

first house, which represents the self, aligned with Aries, a sign that actsindependently, ruled by Mars, the planet of self-preservation and survival.

Using the 12-letter alphabet, look for potentials that are said more than once in a

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chart (repetition between planet/sign/house themes). These are the most

emphasized traits in a person. An example might be a person who has the Sun (no

matter what the sign) in the 7th House (which rules relationships), and the Moon in

Libra (natural sign of relationships), along with Venus (ruling planet of love) conjunct

(meaning teamed up with) Jupiter (a beneficial influence of increase). This person

loves easily, perhaps too easily!

If you dont already have your birth chart, do your best to find out your exact time of

birth (the Hall of Records at your birthplace usually has that information), and then

calculate your chart for free here: www.alabe.com.

Here is a good plan of attack for reading a chart:

First look at the Sun and Moon to understand their signs and houses, as well as the

lunar phase during which you were born (discussed in my article Overview ofAstrology). Theres a good discussion of the lunar phases at

http://groups.msn.com/HOROSCOPESCHAT/lunarcycles.msnw.

Next peruse the Ascendant or rising sign (the sign that starts the first house). It

shows the lenses through which you look at life and the personality you show the

world.

Then check how many of your planets are in each of the elements and qualities (alsocalled modes). Do you have a lot of planets in one or two of the elements? Are you

missing an element altogether? You probably have a strong modus operandi (this is a

favorite term in detective work, meaning a way of operating) according to which of

the modes you have the most planets in.

Next, examine the inner planets (Mercury, Venus and Mars), the signs and houses

theyre in and the houses they affect by rulership. These describe your most personal

experiences.

Dont miss the lessons that your Nodes want to teach you!

Then consider Jupiter and Saturn, the generational planets. Their signs and houses

have to do with your socialization and the role you play in your age group.

The outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto), called the transpersonal or

transcendental planets, have more to do with big changes and slow long-termdevelopments, both in society and in our personal lives (mostly according to the houses

they occupy and rule, since they remain in a sign for many years). Along with them, you

will probably also want to check out Chiron, an asteroid with almost planetary

http://groups.msn.com/HOROSCOPESCHAT/lunarcycles.msnwhttp://astrologybooth.com/study/AstrOvervw.shtmlhttp://www.alabe.com/

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importance that acts as a bridge between the everyday world and the spiritual realm.

Now that Ceres has been promoted to a dwarf planet (formerly it was called an

asteroid), youll want to see what she can tell you about where and how you want to get

things to grow and what you can harvest in your life.

The aspects in your chart show how all the pieces fit together (or which pieces are

left out). I usually look at these last after I have an understanding of all thecomponents, but there might be some aspects you just cant ignore while examining

the planets, signs and houses.

After you have a good understanding of your birth chart, you will know what parts of

your life are affected and which of your potentials are activated as the moving

planets (transits) make aspects to your chart. Thats when the fun really starts

because thats the major component of forecasting on a personal level. But thats a

topic for another time.

2001-2011 Janet Booth for JanetsPlan-Its.com and AstrologyBooth.com