I’ll be honest—I never expected to care about astrology. But one night, a friend asked for my birth time “for fun.” Moments later, they showed me a strange circular chart full of lines, symbols, and signs I’d never seen before. That was my birth chart, and it somehow felt deeply personal—even though I didn’t understand it yet.
Since then, I’ve spent time learning how to read that map. If you’re curious too, here’s how I began decoding mine.
To begin, you’ll need your birth date, exact time, and birthplace. Then go to a site like AstroSeek or Cafe Astrology. After entering the info, you’ll receive your chart—it looks like a wheel filled with symbols. At first glance, it’s confusing. However, once you break it down, it starts to click.
The first step in interpretation is to locate your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. These three create the foundation of your personality.
For instance, I’m a Leo Sun, Pisces Moon, and Virgo Rising. After learning this, I understood why I’m emotionally deep but often come off polished and perfectionistic.
After that, dive into where the planets fall in the 12 houses of your chart. Each planet represents a type of energy. Each house represents an area of life—career, love, communication, etc.
Let’s say your Venus (planet of love) sits in the 5th house (creativity, romance). You might express affection through playful or artistic means. For me, Mercury in the 7th house explained my obsession with talking things out in relationships.
Now, look at the lines connecting planets—these are aspects, and they show how parts of your personality interact.
In my chart, a square between Mars and Saturn made so much sense. I’d always struggled to act quickly or confidently. Once I saw that pattern, I stopped beating myself up for being slow to start.
Ultimately, reading your birth chart isn’t about predicting your fate. It’s about understanding your wiring—why you think, feel, and relate the way you do. Start with your Big Three. Then gradually explore one house or one aspect at a time.
Above all, let your birth chart be a tool for compassion, not judgment. The more you read it, the more it reveals.