How to Read a Birth Chart Explained: First Steps

We discuss how to read a birth chart, and explain the first steps you should take and which techniques you should use to interpret an astrology chart, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim.

New students of astrology often learn a number of different techniques, but they are often unsure of the order and priority that you should give different factors when you are first looking at a new natal chart.

Since there are many different approaches to astrology, astrologers will tend to develop different approaches or prioritize different things, and this became clear in a thread we started on Twitter in preparation for this episode.

Our goal with this episode was to outline our approach to what we prioritize when looking at a new chart, although many of these factors are generally consistent with most major traditions of western astrology.

What to Prioritize When Reading a Birth Chart:

Rising sign/Ascendant Ruler of the Ascendant: house, sign, aspects

Sect - day or night chart

Sun: sign, house, aspects

Moon: sign, house, aspects

Most positive benefic based on sect (Jupiter by day, Venus by night)

Most negative planet based sect (Mars by day, Saturn at night)

Stationary planets (within about a week before/after birth)

Notable chart patterns: a stellium, T-square, etc.

Planets conjunct the degrees of angles, and angular planets by sign

Elemental or modality emphasis

Close aspects, applying aspects, hard aspects

--------------------------

This is episode 260 of The Astrology Podcast:

#TheAstrologyPodcast

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro
00:06:55 Looking at what stands out
00:09:26 Tradition-specific approaches
00:11:50 Sun, moon, rising
00:12:50 Birth time and ascendant degree
00:16:20 Day or night chart
00:17:25 Sun and moon locations
00:19:00 Ruler of ascendant
00:23:53 Houses ruled by sun and moon
00:24:40 Planets in first house
00:27:07 Analyzing the big three
00:29:56 Moon and emotions
00:36:09 Positive and challenging planets
00:46:28 Judy Blume's chart
00:52:47 Stationary planets
00:57:09 Chart patterns
01:01:14 Planets conjunct degree of the angles
01:07:00 Elements and modalities
01:11:49 Close and hard aspects
01:13:39 Summary
01:17:02 Chart example Scorpio rising
01:22:08 Chart topics
01:25:50 Chart example Taurus rising
01:33:35 Chart example Virgo rising
01:39:45 Timing techniques
01:40:22 Annual profections
01:42:42 Transits
01:44:22 Saturn and life stage transits
01:46:42 Eclipses
01:49:03 Secondary progressions
01:51:12 Zodiacal releasing
01:53:46 Context importance
02:00:00 Final remarks

[ClaireBear]

Been studying for a year now. Astrology has always been a thing in my life but all I really knew was sun signs. But then It really all started when I looked up my birth chart last year and realized I couldnt interpret it barely at all. I decided id do a little research on how to read a birth chart and that should get me a better understanding 😂😂😂 Iaugh now because I had NO idea the depth of learning one must do to properly read a chart. I also had no clue that typing into youtube "how to read a birth chart" would send me down a YEAR LONG rabbit hole...and ive only just BEGUN to really scratch the surface. This stuff is fasicnating and beautiful and astrology is now not only an interest of mine but also a passion and something I am studying seriously so I may help others decipher their charts eventually. Coming back to this video after a year makes me feel so many emotions! I now understand it much better...but I also have so far to go. I would not be where I am without Chris Brennan. What a legend..

[clay]

This is so incredibly helpful for an amateur like me who wants to master natal chart reading! I really appreciate this and all of your content, Chris; it truly means a lot.

[TheAstrologyPodcast]

Let me know what the first things are that you look at when you pull up a new birth chart in the comments below!

[lovejustlied]

generally i immediately look at:
1) sect
2) rulerships and dignities and adversities
3) ascendant and ascendant ruler
4) signs ruled by planets in the ascendant and what houses they're in (if any)

[MayasDream]

Chris, you are amazing! Thank you for bringing back this ancient wisdom!! Your research is top-notch! We appreciate you, your writings, your talks, and your videos so much.

[snickersluvsu]

This is so helpful. Astrology has been difficult for me to catch on to but I want to understand so bad! This was great, thank you so much!

[michellecav]

astro hobby enthusiast here, have learned so much watching your program for the last 12months. was validating watching this episode to realise just how much i now know 😃

[omorikayoko]

Thank you Leisa and Chris, I love how thorough, clear and systematic Chris is with any material. Such intense focus and dedication!! I love that these astrologers are all seasoned yet are perpetual serious students. It's so invigorating to watch- THis particular podcast was SO helpful, and Chris thank you always for mentioning related topics. This way, it's a self-paced learning course so you can pick and choose appropriate topics. Thank you for mining and disseminating a historical, conceptual and empirical depth to astrology, so that new students can filter out more hypey, flimsy, subjective views of modern astrology.

[LanaK]

Chris I hope you know how many people you reach and touch with your knowledge. You and your guests have been such helpful addition to my learning process. Every episode I am so grateful that this material is accessible to public. Please don’t stop. Thank you
Lana

[gracielavazquez]

Chris is an extraordinary and excellent Astrologer! I'm addicted to his Astrology Podcasts! 🙏❤👍😍

[marilynnyoung]

You have absolutely become my favorite and primary go-to astrology podcast/video series! Thank you for all your hard work, both of you! And since I've been getting a huge plethora of info from so many episodes lately, I felt that it's only right to support your work, & I just made a yearly payment on Patreon. Thanks again! ❤❤

[healthwhatelse]

Chris: -"in this chart (pause)- in this episode" 😄
I loved that "Freud" mistake! He is a real astrologer, I learnt so so much from you! 🙏🏻

[andrearonnberg]

Interesting podcast overall! A big thanks to you for such a great material! One thing that catched my eyes was the birth chart of the author of children’s books you used as an example, namely Judy Bloom, I would add to your interpretation that Jupiter being the most benefic planet in her chart naturally rules publishing of books and it is the ruler of her 3rd house of information and learning, and is placed in her 5th house of children.

[gangabraun]

This is a great episode, and to add an anecdotal confirmation of what is shared around 1:00:00- my husband has Mars conjunct IC and he and his family's primary way of keeping connected is through sports. Pre-covid they were constantly in touch about intricate behind the scenes details within the sports world, and my husband gets pretty defensive whenever people (like me) make light of sports. Also all of his most joyful and most painful memories from childhood somehow have to do with sports, whether it was a game he attended with his grandfather or a lesson his father taught him while coaching his travel soccer team.

[Whymee]

I typically start with the ascendant, ascendant ruler, planets in the 1st, and then the sect light. However, if something catches my eye (ex: a huge stellium), I might go there first.

[trixy]

I immediately look for Saturn. Then I find it opposed to Sun in my chart. Then I cry and realize why life is so miserable and difficult lol

[EVschoice]

So I listen to these podcasts while staying home with my 6th month old. We both fell asleep and I had a dream that I was in a room with a bunch of astrologers and someone was telling me all this info and I woke up an hour later or so later this was still playing and on topic in my dream. I pressed rewind and clearly remembered all the info from the dream. What placement/aspect is this lol 😂

[Pandamind]

Thanks. It’s surprising how many astrology courses don’t cover the different systematic approaches to analysis that one can take. At the end of the day it is a series of steps one embarks on when they begin analysis, interpretation

[Loufi]

Does leisa have her own channel? She needs one. You two have fabulous voice chemistry if that's a thing lol

[Sophie-pycr]

SOOO helpful, thanks a million! I so appreciate you for making these podcasts available to the public! Thank you!