What is the Purpose of a Natal Chart?
An astrology natal chart is a map of the sky at the moment of your birth, providing insights into your personality, strengths, and life path. For instance, someone with their Sun in Leo might naturally be inclined towards leadership and creativity. It shows in which signs the nine planets were positioned at that particular time and place. It also states another important aspect of astrology called the Lagna or Ascendant.
The astrology chart plays a significant role in analyzing an individual’s life. The ascendant is calculated based on one’s place and time of birth. The ascendant is your individual 1st house and may fall in any of the 12 signs. From there, the other houses are marked.
The position of the relevant heavenly bodies for a particular day and time is calculated with the help of ephemeris. Accordingly, they are placed in twelve places called houses in an astrology chart.
Each of the 12 houses in the astrology natal chart represents a number of things we should know. But it is enough if we know the important things represented by them, which are as follows:
The 12 Houses of a Natal Chart
1st House (Ascendant)
The 1st house, also known as the Ascendant, is crucial in defining various aspects of an individual’s life. It primarily represents your physical appearance, including body structure and facial features. This house also reflects your mental characteristics and innate nature, influencing how you project yourself to the world. It denotes your personality traits like confidence, approachability, and temperament.
Furthermore, the 1st house impacts your early life experiences, general health, and overall vitality. It can shed light on your childhood and initial life circumstances. Success and recognition, whether in fame or defame, are also connected to this house. Essentially, the 1st house encompasses all personal traits that shape who you are and how others perceive you.
- Physical Appearance: Body structure, facial features, and general looks.
- Mental Characteristics: Cognitive traits, emotional responses, and innate temperament.
- Personality Traits: Confidence, approachability, and overall demeanor.
- Health and Vitality: General health, physical strength, and vitality.
- Early Life Experiences: Childhood circumstances and nature of birth.
- Fame and Defame: Success, recognition, and public image.
This house provides a foundational understanding of your identity, shaping the core aspects of how you interact with the world and how the world perceives you.
2nd House
The 2nd house is crucial in astrology as it encompasses various material and emotional well-being aspects. It signifies wealth, financial prosperity, and how one earns and manages money. This house also relates to family values and early childhood influences, shaping one’s sense of security and self-worth. Additionally, the 2nd house governs speech and communication, impacting how effectively you express yourself. Vision and the ability to see opportunities are also linked to this house. Furthermore, it touches on themes of charity and generosity, reflecting how you share your resources. Lastly, it provides insights into mortality and the end of life.
3rd House
The 3rd house plays a significant role in shaping various aspects of your life. It signifies relationships with younger brothers, sisters, and relatives in general, highlighting familial bonds and interactions. This house also governs courage, determining your ability to take risks and face challenges. It is concerned with the throat and ears, influencing communication and auditory functions. The 3rd house also touches on aspects of your father’s death. Furthermore, it is associated with communication skills, encompassing writing, speaking, and other forms of expression. Sports and physical activities, business ventures, and personal talents also fall under the domain of the 3rd house, indicating your interests and abilities in these areas.
4th House
The 4th house is a cornerstone of the astrological chart, encompassing various vital aspects of life. It primarily represents your relationship with your mother and her influence on your upbringing and emotional foundation. This house also governs immovable properties such as real estate and your family home, reflecting your domestic life and living environment. Education, particularly early education, and the quest for knowledge are also associated with the 4th house. Mental peace and emotional stability fall under its domain, highlighting the importance of inner harmony and personal well-being. Additionally, the 4th house is linked to vehicles and modes of transportation, signifying your means of mobility. Ultimately, it represents general happiness and contentment, emphasizing what brings you joy and fulfillment in life.
5th House
The 5th house is a vibrant and dynamic area of the astrological chart, representing several key facets of life. It signifies children, encompassing your relationships with them and your role as a parent. This house also governs your emotions and feelings, highlighting your love, joy, and creativity capacity. Religious beliefs and spiritual practices fall under its domain, reflecting your faith and moral values. Intellect and creativity are central to the 5th house, indicating your artistic talents, innovative ideas, and intellectual pursuits. Additionally, it is concerned with speculative tendencies, including gambling and investments, revealing your approach to risk and reward.
6th House
The 6th house is a vital part of the astrological chart, encompassing various daily life and challenges. It represents health and wellness, highlighting how you manage your physical well-being and deal with illnesses or injuries. This house also signifies accidents, reflecting potential risks and how you navigate unforeseen events. Enemies and adversaries are governed by the 6th house, indicating conflicts and your approach to overcoming obstacles. Mental affection and psychological health are also linked to this house, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being and coping mechanisms.
Additionally, it relates to sports and physical activities, showcasing your involvement in exercise and competitive events. The 6th house includes relationships with maternal uncles and extended family, adding another layer to familial dynamics. Lastly, it touches on themes of misfortune, representing challenges and how you handle difficult periods in life.
7th House
The 7th house is a crucial astrological chart area focusing on partnerships and relationships. It primarily represents marriage and marital happiness, indicating the nature of your romantic partnerships and approach to long-term commitments. This house also governs sex and reproduction, highlighting your intimate relationships and capacity for creating life. Enjoyment and pleasure in partnerships fall under its domain, reflecting the joy and fulfillment you find in shared experiences with others.
Additionally, the 7th house covers business partnerships and collaborations, emphasizing cooperation and mutual benefit in professional relationships. Understanding the dynamics of the 7th house can help you navigate and enhance both personal and professional partnerships, leading to more balanced and harmonious connections.
8th House
The 8th house is a profound and transformative area of the astrological chart that delves into some of life’s most intense aspects. It represents longevity and the circumstances surrounding one’s lifespan, indicating factors influencing endurance and vitality. This house also governs legacies and inheritance, highlighting the wealth and assets you receive from others, such as gifts and unearned wealth. The nature of death and its details fall under the 8th house, providing insights into the transition and what it entails. Themes of disgrace and degradation are also linked to this house, reflecting periods of personal downfall and how you navigate through such crises. Additionally, the 8th house covers occult sciences, transformation, and regeneration, emphasizing your ability to undergo profound personal growth and change.
9th House
The 9th house is an expansive and enlightening area of the astrological chart, encompassing various growth and higher understanding aspects. It represents your relationship with your father and father figures, reflecting their influence on your life. The 9th house governs righteousness and moral values, indicating your sense of justice and ethical principles. This house also covers your connection with preceptors and mentors, highlighting the importance of guidance and learning; grandchildren and the joy they bring also fall under this house.
The 9th house is deeply connected to intuition and religious beliefs, showcasing your spiritual practices and connection with higher powers. It also governs sympathy and empathy, revealing your ability to connect with others deeply. Fame and recognition can be influenced by this house, indicating your potential for public acclaim. Charities and acts of generosity are also linked here, emphasizing your philanthropic efforts.
The 9th house highlights leadership qualities, showing your ability to inspire and guide others. Long journeys and travel, especially to foreign lands, are a significant part of this house, representing your quest for adventure and knowledge. Communication with spirits and mystical experiences may also be explored through the 9th house, along with foreign trade and international business ventures, reflecting your global connections and pursuits.
10th House
The 10th house is a significant area of the astrological chart, focusing on your public life and career. It represents your occupation and profession, highlighting the paths you take to achieve success and fulfillment in your work. This house also governs temporal honors and recognition, indicating the awards and accolades you may receive for your achievements. Authority and power are central themes, reflecting your ability to lead and influence others effectively.
The 10th house nurtures self-respect and dignity, showcasing how you build and maintain strong personal pride and integrity. It also highlights your pursuit of knowledge and the accumulation of wisdom, emphasizing continuous learning and intellectual growth. The 10th house outlines your means of livelihood, detailing how you earn your income and sustain your material needs.
Furthermore, this house is associated with your social standing and reputation, illustrating how you are perceived by society and your professional network. Understanding the 10th house can provide valuable insights into your career trajectory, leadership qualities, and the legacy you wish to leave behind.
11th House
The 11th house is a vibrant and expansive area of the astrological chart, encompassing various aspects of social connections and aspirations. It represents relationships with elder brothers and sisters, highlighting the influence and support of siblings in your life. This house also governs friendships, emphasizing the importance of a strong social network and the joy of friendship.
Acquisition and financial gains are significant themes in the 11th house, indicating how you attract wealth and resources. This house is associated with freedom from misery, symbolizing the attainment of happiness and relief from difficulties. Happy tidings and positive news also fall under its domain, reflecting the overall sense of well-being and joy in your life.
To some extent, the 11th house concerns marriage, particularly the social aspects of partnerships and the support system within a marriage. It also highlights your hopes, dreams, and long-term goals, illustrating your aspirations and the steps you take to achieve them.
12th House
The 12th house is a deeply introspective and mystical area of the astrological chart, encompassing various aspects related to the subconscious and spiritual realms. It represents losses and expenses, highlighting how you manage and perceive financial and material depletion. Extravagance and waste are also associated with this house, reflecting tendencies toward overindulgence and the need for moderation.
This house governs bed comforts, indicating your sleep patterns and the importance of rest and retreat. The 12th house is linked to the left eye and feet, emphasizing physical health and areas requiring attention. It also covers interactions, particularly those that are private or secretive, shedding light on hidden relationships and behind-the-scenes activities.
Divine knowledge and spiritual growth are central themes in the 12th house, showcasing your connection to higher wisdom and the pursuit of purity. This house also signifies final emancipation, representing the ultimate liberation from worldly attachments and the journey towards enlightenment.
By understanding the 12th house, you can gain insights into your inner world, spiritual path, and the areas of life that require introspection and healing.
In an Astrology Natal Chart:
Trine Houses
The 1st, 5th, and 9th houses are known as the trine houses and are considered the most powerful. The 1st house, or Ascendant, represents the self and one’s approach to life. The 5th house governs creativity, children, and pleasures, highlighting joy and personal expression. The 9th house is associated with higher learning, philosophy, and long-distance travel, emphasizing spiritual growth and expansion.
Quadrant Houses
The 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses are known as the quadrant houses and are also powerful, next to the trines. The 4th house relates to home and family, focusing on roots and emotional foundations. The 7th house governs partnerships and marriage, reflecting relationships and cooperation. The 10th house is linked to career and public reputation, showcasing achievements and societal roles.
Houses of Growth
The 3rd and 11th houses are considered the houses of growth. The 3rd house covers communication, siblings, and short trips, emphasizing learning and interaction. The 11th house relates to friendships, social networks, and aspirations, highlighting collective efforts and goals.
Challenging Houses
The 6th, 8th, and 12th houses are often called challenging or “bad” houses. The 6th house deals with health, work, and daily routines, usually indicating challenges in these areas. The 8th house is associated with transformation, death, and shared resources, reflecting deep changes and regeneration. The 12th house governs the subconscious, spirituality, and hidden matters, emphasizing introspection and ego dissolution.
Houses of Wealth
The 2nd, 6th, and 10th houses are the houses of wealth. The 2nd house focuses on personal finances, values, and material possessions. The 6th house, besides its challenges, also highlights service and employment, impacting financial stability. The 10th house, as previously mentioned, reflects career and public standing, influencing professional success and earnings.
The Role of Planets on Astrology Houses
In Vedic astrology, planets significantly influence the houses they occupy or aspect in a natal chart. Each house represents specific areas of life, such as career, relationships, or health. The planets in these houses bring their unique energies, shaping how those life areas manifest. For example, if Mars, a planet of action and aggression, is in the 10th house of career, it might indicate a dynamic, assertive approach to professional life. Conversely, Venus in the 7th house of relationships could bring partnership harmony and affection.
To find out more, check out our article ‘The Role of Planets in Vedic Astrology Houses‘.
Author Bio - Jayanti Ghosh and Soumen Ghosh
Embark on a journey of astrological discovery with confidence, guided by our resident Vedic astrology experts, Jayanti Ghosh and Soumen Ghosh, who have over 20 years of experience in Vedic astrology. Our content is meticulously curated, drawing from esteemed astrological texts and research from prominent astrologers like B.V. Raman and Dr David Frawley.
Learn More About Vedic Astrology
History of Vedic Astrology
Three main branches of Astrology exist to date. Though there are a few more, people are mostly familiar with the names of Western, Indian, and Chinese Astrology. We find the presence of it for the first time in Mesopotamia and the Babylonia (then Chaldea) in and around 3600 B.C. In that era, the subject was being used to predict or forecast the weather or the possibility of disaster and even to find the chances of wars that might occur in the future.
Vedic Astrology Basics
People interested in studying or learning about astrology basics generally need help understanding all the words found on the pages, either on a website or in related books. There are many terminologies used in astrology basics which are not found in the lexicons that we commonly use in our day-to-day life, and even if the words are available, you will find the meanings described from an astronomical point of view rather than an astrological one. It may cause problems, when you study your natal chart prepared by an astrologer.
Significance of the Planets
In Vedic astrology, the significance of planets is paramount as they play a pivotal role in shaping the course of an individual's life. Each planet represents specific qualities, energies, and influences that contribute to the overall astrological profile. The positions of these celestial bodies at the time of one's birth are meticulously analyzed to derive insights into personality traits, relationships, career paths, and various life events. The nine planets, or Navagrahas, are considered cosmic forces that exert both positive and challenging influences, guiding individuals on their karmic journey.
Characteristics of Zodiac Signs
Astrology signs play a very important role in unfolding individuals’ inner or hidden traits. Twelve astrology zodiac signs provide some general descriptions of the subjects. All individuals come under any of the twelve signs according to their date of birth. You may be interested to know how the signs in heaven can influence or control the lives on the earth. To understand better, we must know how the signs themselves are characterized.
