What is a Natal
Chart?
If you look at the words 'natal
chart' you could read them another way 'birth map' - this
may help you understand what is being talked about. Basically,
the natal chart is a map of the sky including the positions
of the planets for the time that you were born. Where you
are born has an impact on what is seen in the sky, e.g., if
two people were born on the same day and at the same time
but in a different city and country, what is seen overhead
would be different. This would mean that their natal charts
showing planetary placements would be different from each
other.
So, the first step in using
astrology is to draw a map of the sky for the moment a person
is born, this map includes all the planets, plus a few other
points of interest such as the horizon and the middle of the
sky directly over the birthplace. The time of birth is important
for detailed work because it affects the position of the various
parts of the chart, in particular the zodiac sign on the eastern
horizon (this gives the Rising Sign/Ascendant) and position
of the point over the birthplace (this gives the position
of the Midheaven).
If the time of birth is unknown
it can be worked out through major life events by an experienced
astrologer who specialises in this branch of astrology: this
is known as rectification. To do this you would need to give
the astrologer as many major life events as possible such
as: marriage; birth of children; major moves; divorce; death;
new business ventures or jobs; and/or any other significant
changes to your life.
Another way of finding out
what time you were born is to contact the hospital you were
born in, in the majority of cases they have this information
recorded on the mother's file. I know this is the case in
Australia but I'm not sure about other countries but it is
still worth a try!
Natal Chart Interpretations.
Once the natal chart has been
prepared, the positions of the planets in different zodiac
signs (ie, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc) can be 'interpreted'.
This is an area that people interested in astrology usually
become a little skeptical about the validity of astrology
because the interpretations can vary greatly from one astrologer
to another. One way to understand these differences in interpretation
is to understand that the planets and other points in the
natal chart are used as symbols: as such, they have quite
a broad ability to represent different qualities depending
on the age, sex, marital status, belief system, etc of the
person whose natal chart is being interpreted.
Interpretation is also affected
by the particular areas of interest of the individual astrologer.
For example, some of the areas of specialisation include psychological,
past-life, medical, child-based, and the list goes on!
The type of information gained
from the natal chart includes understanding the early home
life, relationship with parents and how these affect adult
relationships.
There are many others areas
that can be looked at in quite a comprehensive way such as
how you are perceived by the people around you, emotional
needs, how you express love and affection, etc. The information
found in the natal chart can also provide an insight into
what talents a person may possess that have not yet been realised
or used to full potential.
Natal charts offer the benefit
of self-understanding which may give a person a whole new
perception of themselves, direction in life and open up possibilities
for new directions in life; both in the physical and psychological
sense.
Forecasting.
Now that I have explained
what a natal chart is, it's time to have a look at a basic
system of forecasting.
One way to understand what
type of information forecasting can provide is to think of
weather forecasting: looking at the general conditions in
a person's life at various times - sunny, cloudy, windy, etc.
Basically, if you knew it was going to be raining on a particular
day, you probably would organise a picnic for another time.
The same applies to using astrology for everyday life.
There are various ways to
use prepare a forecast, the simplest being transits. Another
word for transits would be movements - this refers to the
movement or transit of planets. If you think of the natal
chart, this is a map of the sky showing the planetary placements
at the time, date and place of birth and does not change or
move. In reality the planets do not stop moving, but continue
their journey around the Sun - these continual movements of
the planets are what are being referred to when an astrologer
talks about transits. The transiting planets are then looked
at in relation to the natal chart.
Forecasting can be a valuable
aid in understanding and making the most of opportunities
coming your way and also in dealing with some of the difficulties
that life can bring.
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Astrology Articles in the Astrology Section) |
