What is a natal chart (birth chart)?

A natal chart is a precise snapshot of where the Sun, Moon and planets sat in the sky at the exact moment of your birth. It maps the ten bodies (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) by sign and house, and the angles between them (aspects). It is not just "what sign you are" — it's a complete energy map of your tendencies, talents, emotional patterns and life themes.

What information do I need to cast my chart?

Three things: your birth date, time and place. The date fixes the planets' positions (they move daily); the time fixes your Rising sign and the house layout (the Earth turns one degree every four minutes); the place, combined with the time, pins the horizon. Without a birth time you can still get the planets' signs, but not the Rising sign or houses — losing roughly 40% of the chart's information.

What is a Sun sign, and why is it talked about most?

Your Sun sign is the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at birth — what people mean by "I'm a Leo." The Sun stands for core identity, vitality and conscious will. It's talked about most because it needs only your birth date (the Sun spends about 30 days per sign), not an exact time. But it's the tip of the iceberg: your emotions (Moon), social mask (Rising), thinking (Mercury) and love style (Venus) are set by other planets.

What is a Moon sign, and what does it represent?

Your Moon sign is the sign the Moon held at birth. The Moon changes signs roughly every 2.5 days, so people born the same day can differ. The Moon governs your emotional instincts, inner needs and where you find security — your truest reactions when alone or moved. People who feel "my Sun sign isn't quite me" often find the Moon sign closer to their inner life.

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Natal Chart Basics

From your Sun sign to the full chart — reading the sky at the moment you were born.

What is a natal chart (birth chart)?: A natal chart is a precise snapshot of where the Sun, Moon and planets sat in the sky at the exact moment of your birth. It maps the ten bodies (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) by sign and house, and the angles between them (aspects). It is not just "what sign you are" — it's a complete energy map of your tendencies, talents, emotional patterns and life themes.
What information do I need to cast my chart?: Three things: your birth date, time and place. The date fixes the planets' positions (they move daily); the time fixes your Rising sign and the house layout (the Earth turns one degree every four minutes); the place, combined with the time, pins the horizon. Without a birth time you can still get the planets' signs, but not the Rising sign or houses — losing roughly 40% of the chart's information.
What is a Sun sign, and why is it talked about most?: Your Sun sign is the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at birth — what people mean by "I'm a Leo." The Sun stands for core identity, vitality and conscious will. It's talked about most because it needs only your birth date (the Sun spends about 30 days per sign), not an exact time. But it's the tip of the iceberg: your emotions (Moon), social mask (Rising), thinking (Mercury) and love style (Venus) are set by other planets.
What is a Moon sign, and what does it represent?: Your Moon sign is the sign the Moon held at birth. The Moon changes signs roughly every 2.5 days, so people born the same day can differ. The Moon governs your emotional instincts, inner needs and where you find security — your truest reactions when alone or moved. People who feel "my Sun sign isn't quite me" often find the Moon sign closer to their inner life.

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