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How to Read an Astrology Chart

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1 Reading Your Sign
2 Interpreting the Houses
3 Understanding Your Planets
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Article Summary
Co-authored by Jessica Lanyadoo

Last Updated: June 8, 2024 Fact Checked

Astrology studies the interactions between planets, stars, and personality. Astrology charts are
used to help interpret a person's nature and make predictions about their future. Learning how to
read an astrology chart can give you insight into your inner self.

Part 1

Reading Your Sign

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1.

Locate your sign. The outer rim of a Zodiac chart is divided into 12 sections. Your birth
date will fall into one of those sections. The section in which your birth date falls is your
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Zodiac sign. There are 12 signs of the Zodiac, all of which represent different personality
traits. Locate which section you fall into in order to identify your Zodiac sign.

o On your astrology chart, a small person is drawn on the globe in the center. The
person is drawn on the top of the longitudinal point of your place of birth. You
can draw a straight line from the little person to the out rim of the chart. This will
show you your Zodiac sign.
o The stars, planets, and signs are drawn in relation to how they appeared on your
date of birth.
2.

Learn the meaning of your sign. Your Zodiac sign supposedly has an influence on your
personality. For example, if you're an Aries you are supposedly passionate, driven,
ambitious, and outgoing.[1] You can find information about personality traits associated
with the Zodiac online. You can also check out a book from your local library, or
purchase one online or at a bookstore, about astrology. This can help you learn about
yourself by using your Zodiac sign.

3.

Understand what can affect how your sign is read. Keep in mind your Zodiac sign is
only one small component of how you read an astrology chart. A variety of aspects
influence how your sign is read. You have to take all other aspects of the chart, such as
your houses and planets, into consideration to completely read an astrology chart and
develop a better understanding of its meaning. This information is dependent on both
your place and date of birth.

Part 2

Interpreting the Houses

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1.

Find the ascendant. The ascendant is a very important part of an astrology chart. It is the
point, by sign and degree, that was rising above the Eastern horizon at the exact moment
of your birth. You need to find the ascendant (sometimes known as the rising sign) to
know how the houses will be labeled in your chart.

o If the Zodiac wheel was a clock, your ascendant can be found at 9 o'clock. This
points to the cusp of your first house.[2]
o The astrology chart is divided into 12 inner sections, in somewhat triangular
shapes. Count the houses counter-clockwise, the ascendant marking the first
house.
o The opposite point from the ascendant is the descendant. The descendant is
thought to affect your relationships with others.
2.

Learn about the first 6 houses. The different houses point to different aspects of your
life. What sign rules the differing houses will influence your astrology chart.

o The first house represents you at birth. That is, your identity, physical appearance,
attitude, temperament, and other inherent qualities. Planets and signs found in the
first house have a huge influence on your personality.[3]
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o The second house represents your money, personal assets, self-worth, and attitude
towards such things. Financial security and emotional well-being throughout your
life can be evaluated by what sign and planet are found in the second house.[4]
o The third house represents communication and transportation. How others
communicate with you, physical forms of communication like letters, and short
distance travel is found in the third house. This also points to your mental attitude,
learning style, self-expression, and manner of speech.[5]
o The fourth house represents home, family, and property. Your roots, background,
childhood, and the inner emotions that stem from these areas of your life are
dominated by this house.[6]
o The fifth house represents children and how you relate to them. Romance and
love affairs are also found in the fifth house as are how you approach pleasure and
fun.[7]
o The sixth house is the house of health and service, representing your general
physical well-being throughout life.[8]
3.

Learn about the last 6 houses. In addition to the first 6, there are another 6 houses.
Where these houses fall on your chart, and what planets and signs rule these houses, help
you read your astrology chart.

o The seventh house represents serious, committed relationships. Things like

marriage and romantic partnerships are controlled by this house. It can show what
you need in a long term romantic partner.[9]
o The eighth house is the house of regeneration and rebirth. Birth, death, decay,
healing, surgeries, and injuries are found in this house. Sex is also found in this
house.[10]
o The ninth house represents long distance travel. Journeys found in the ninth house
are both physical and metaphorical. In addition to long trips, of 500 miles and
more, emotional journeys and transformations are found in the ninth house.[11]
o The tenth house represents career and status. Your ambitions and aspirations are
found in this house. It also reveals your place in a community.[12]
o The eleventh house is known as the house of hopes. It represents when and if your
dreams will come true. Supposedly, you should wait until you have a significant
planet transitioning through this house before taking big risks.[13]
o The 12th house represents secrets. Things that are hidden, like hidden emotions
and secret aspects of one's past, are revealed by the 12th house.[14]

Part 3
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Understanding Your Planets

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1.

Locate the planets. Planets that pass through the different houses of your chart affect
your reading. Planets are scattered throughout the chart, represented by different symbols.
According to astrologers, the movements of the planets can activate specific energies that
may have an impact on the events of your daily life.[15]

o The sun is represented by a circle with a dot in the center. The moon is a small
half-crescent moon shape.
o Venus is the symbol for female while Mars is the symbol for male. Mercury is the
female symbol, but with two small lines jutting out of the top circle.
o Jupiter is represented by a symbol that looks something like the number 4. Saturn
is represented by a symbol that resembles 5.
o Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all have fairly intricate symbols representing them.
Uranus looks something like an upside-down female symbol with 4 lines on either
side, 2 on each side, that curve outward in opposing directions. Neptune looks like
an upside down cross with 2 lines on either side, looping upward. Pluto is a kind
of combination of Neptune and Uranus. It's a female symbol facing upward, with
2 lines on either side that loop upward.
2.

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Learn about personal planets. The planets are divided into 2 types: personal planets and
outer planets. Personal planets include the sun, the moon, mercury, venus, and mars.

o The sun represents a person's basic identity and purpose. The moon represents
how a person reacts and reflects on the events experienced in life.[16]
o Mercury is your ability to relate to and perceive individuals and objects. Venus
illustrates what you're comfortable with and what you enjoy. Mars represents your
will and your actions.[17]
3.

Learn about outer planets. The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, and
Neptune. They point to different aspects of your personality than the inner planets.

o Jupiter represents how you integrate yourself into society as well as your personal
growth.[18]
o Saturn represents your personal responsibilities as well as personal rules you
develop for yourself over time.[19]
o Uranus represents your ability to learn and grow. Neptune points to your ideals
and imagination.[20]
o Pluto represents your capacity for change and inner growth, pointing to very deep
and personal types of change.[21]
4.

Interpret your planets using your houses and signs. In order to read an astrology chart
accurately, you will need to take into consideration where the planets appear. What house
do they appear in and under which sign? This will give you insight into your personality
and life path.

o Planets represent what you do, that is, what you enjoy and what drives you. Signs
represent how, which is your manner of accomplishing a given task. Houses
represent where, as in which areas of your life you can expect certain aspects of
growth or change.[22]
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o Say you have a Uranus in Aries in your fourth house. Uranus represents your
ability to learn and grow. Aries is a sign that points to ambition, passion, and
strong emotions. The fourth house points to home, family, and property. This
could mean you feel passionate about personal relationships and tend to learn and
grow most through your family. You may be more emotionally invested and
introspective when dealing with your family.