An astrology birth chart—also called an astrology natal chart—is a map of where all the planets were in their journey around the Sun (from our vantage point on earth) at the exact moment you were born. An astrology chart reading can reveal your strengths and weaknesses, your opportunities for soul growth, the best timing for your most important moves. You can calculate yours here. All you need is your time, date, and place of birth. (If you don't know the time, put in 12 noon.)

There are two times when it's especially fruitful to look over your astrology chart: at the beginning of every year and on your birthday.

For the new year, we'd suggest doing what's called a transit chart (also called a "natal plus transits" chart). This may require the guidance of a professional astrologer because the interpretation work can get complex! In this case, you start with your own natal (birth) chart and compare it to the transiting (moving) planets, i.e., the current positions of the planets in the sky.

In the example below, the inner wheel (with blue planetary symbols) is our birth chart—which is a fixed map that never changes. The orange planetary symbols in the outer wheel represent the transiting (moving) planets on January 1, 2019. A trained astrologer would compare and contrast the two charts. When a transiting (orange) planet makes contact with one of the natal (blue) planets, it activates specific energy, one that can be either opportune or challenging. Knowing this allows you to plan ahead.

In this example at what would be 9 p.m. on a clock, a trained astrologer would see that transiting Saturn (which rules leadership and authority) was making contact with the natal chart's ascendant/rising sign, something that occurs only every 29 years. Advice would be given accordingly—in this case, to get very serious about personal goals, since Saturn is moving through the chart's first house of self. (As we said—this can take years of practice or a trained astrological eye to interpret, but the foresight can be a game-changer!)

Transit charts aren't only for New Year's Day, though. You can plug in any date, past or future, and run a transit chart that compares the planets in motion to your birth chart. Transit charts are super helpful for planning. If you're picking a wedding date, booking travel, or scheduling an important career move, check out the transit chart to see if the skies are clear.

Transit charts are also great for historical perspective: You can look back at important moments in your life—new love, relocations, deaths, breakups, career coups, job losses. Do a chart (or an estimated one) to see what was happening in the stars then.

An astrologer will add up the elements and qualities and "score" the chart. If there's a lack of one trait or a predominance of another, they'll advise the client on how to practically bring more equilibrium into their lives. We call this Astro-Ayurveda because it's the art of balancing your chart!

Also known as your "birthday chart," the solar return chart gives you a one-year chart that lasts from your current birthday until your next one. These charts will vary depending on location. Align your celebrations with the stars for best results! Check out a video tutorial on calculating these here.

In addition to the astrology birth chart, you can do an astrology compatibility chart to see how you'll get along with other people. Synastry charts compare and contrast the planets in your chart and the other person's while a composite chart averages out your two charts using a "midpoint method." It creates a single, blended chart that reveals the essence of your relationship. A composite chart treats your relationship as if it was its own entity or a third "person" (which in many ways is true!).

You can also calculate charts for people and events. Just put in the time, date, and location of the event in question and you can cast an astrology chart for it. For example, if you're planning a party or a big pitch meeting, you can enter the time, date, and location to see how the stars align. Want to know what's happening right now? Do today's astrology chart by simply entering today's date instead of your birth details. Wondering what the year ahead holds? Check out an annual forecast chart that maps out the next 12 months. 

We work with the Western astrology system, which dates back thousands of years. Humans have tracked the movement of the heavens since civilization dawned. As far back as 6000 B.C., the Sumerians noted the journeys of planets and stars. Around 3300 B.C. the Babylonians (also known as the Chaldeans) began expanding upon what the Sumerians started, developing the first astrological system over thousands of years. They created the zodiac wheel that we use today (with planets and houses) around 700 B.C. The oldest known horoscope chart is believed to date to 409 B.C.!

If you still have questions about how to read your birth chart for max insights, check out the tutorial below: