Horoscope Chart

A horoscope is sometimes referred to as a Natal Chart, Radix Chart, Astrological Chart or a "Birth Chart" This chart shows the positions of the planets relative to the Earth at the moment an individual is born This chart can tell an astrologer, or the person having their chart done, all about their personality so that the individual can make wiser choices about how they conduct their daily affairs .

From the Greek horoskopos or horoscope The basic tool of astrology An image or map by which the relative positions of stellar bodies are plotted according to how they appear from the perspective of the earth at a specific time and place, to be accorded meaning through a process of astrological interpretation .

Natal chart

In astrology, a natal chart is a horoscope drawn for the exact time of an individual's birth. Commonly used names for the natal chart include natus, birth chart, nativity, Vitasphere, and soulprint.

There are several software available in the market to automatically generate your horoscope. For example, if you are in Vedic astrology, you can generate your charts by Horoscope Explorer - Highly recommended for vedic astrology.

In addition to the date of birth, an accurate birth time (the first breath is generally agreed upon as the exact time when the chart should be calculated) is very important when setting up a natal chart in order that the primary angles of the chart may be calculated with extreme accuracy. These include the ascendant (or rising sign), along with the midheaven (or medium coeli). In addition to an accurate birth time, the astrologer must also have the place of birth as well because the latitude and longitude of the location is necessary to calculate planetary positions.

The picture above and to the right is a standard example of a natal chart as a modern Western astrologer would most likely use. This particular chart is calculated for a male that was born on June 21st, 1982, at 11:03:00 p.m. EDT in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. (Lon:080W50'36" -- Lat:035N13'37") The twelve segments of arc form astrological houses which have significance for different areas of life. The angles of the chart divide the chart into four quadrants and the three houses within each quadrant are calculated in this chart by means of a "quadrant system" of chart erection, in which the houses usually include portions of more than one astrological sign. Each quadrant has an angular house, which includes one of the angles of the chart, a succedent house following it, and a cadent house at the end of the quadrant.

The time of birth can usually be found on the birth certificate in many countries. In some instances, however, the birth times are rounded off by the nurse or doctor that is present to the nearest half or quarter-hour. Because of this fairly common practice, the parents should always remember to note the exact time of the child's first breath and not rely on the time given on the birth certificate in the event they ever plan on having a fully accurate birth chart calculated for their child.

Because the planets and primary angles in the sky are moving constantly relative to earth, as each second passes the horoscope is changing. A natal chart is extremely personalized and unique, depending on the date, exact time, and precise location of the birth. Even a pair of twins birth charts' are sometimes slightly different because one of the twins is usually born a few minutes apart from the other.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia