The popularly held belief that the stars and other celestial bodies scattered throughout the skies are instrumental in arranging and influencing the lives of human beings on earth. An astrologer believes that the arrangement of the stars, planets, and constellations at the time of one's birth sets a determined pattern in the life of that person. The horoscope outlines the twelve signs of the zodiac and categories people by the particular signs under which they have been born.
Source: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions by Larry A. Nichols
A birth or natal chart is a map of where the planets were at the exact moment a person was born. A birth chart uses the placement of the planets and luminaries at that exact moment to create a blueprint that gives insight into aspects of an individual's personality, as well as pinpoints the timing of key life events. To get your birth chart you need to know: your exact time of birth, your date, and the location of your birth.
Source: What is a birth chart in astrology--and how do you read one? By Kyle Thomas
Examples of Birth Charts
The sun sign represents our ego and motivations; the moon governs our emotional nature, and the ascendant or rising sign speaks to the energy that we put into the world. Put together, these signs offer up a brief blueprint of your personality, according to astrology.
Sun sign
Astrologically, the sun represents our drive, ego, and pride. Sun signs describes our overall attitude and spirit — our cores. Essentially, the sun sign is the key factor in assessing our overall and generalized personality.
Moon sign
Within astrology, moon signs represent a part of ourselves we can’t express literally, but feel on a deep and soulful level. The moon speak to our memories or our conception of the past, as well as our idea of comfort. Moon signs also capture our maternal instincts and the relationship we may have our the main maternal influences.
Rising Sun or Ascendant
The ascendant is the energy that we put out into the world, or the vibe that people pick up and notice about us off the bat. Rising signs also represent the way we carry ourselves, process information, and connect with others.
Source: What your sun, moon and rising signs say about you. By Lisa Stardust
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