What Is a Birth Chart? Planets, Signs, Houses and Aspects Explained
A birth chart combines planetary positions with zodiac signs, houses and aspects. Here is the basic structure without the usual jargon.
The chart is a snapshot
A natal chart is calculated for a particular date, time and location. Astronomical calculations provide the positions. Astrology then assigns symbolic interpretations to those positions.
Planets and signs
In traditional astrology, planets are treated as symbolic functions while zodiac signs describe how those functions are expressed.
Houses
Houses divide the chart into twelve life areas. Because the house structure depends strongly on birth time and location, unknown birth time should be disclosed rather than guessed.
Aspects
Aspects describe angular relationships between planets. Tight aspects and repeated patterns are often given more interpretive weight than isolated placements.
Astrology is a symbolic tradition and is not a scientifically validated diagnostic or forecasting method.