Understanding Your Cosmic Blueprint

Astrology illuminates our unique strengths, challenges and life path. It highlights our inherent gifts and innate Universal support network, and allows us to align with our soul's highest purpose.

The specific placement of planets at the time of your birth reveals why you were incarnated and how you can help seed change in our world. Mastering the basics of your birth chart unlocks this knowledge.

Sun Sign

Your Sun sign—also called your zodiac or star sign—is the one that illuminates the light within you. It's the core of your identity, ego, and your most pronounced personality traits. Your Sun sign is the most prominent feature of your natal chart, the snapshot of the sky at the time you were born based on not only the month, day, and year, but also the hour, minute, and place.

It's the one that most people will know when they ask you what your sign is. The broad brushstrokes of characteristics attributed to your sign can be a little off at times, which is why many people feel misunderstood by their horoscopes or end up shrugging off astrology altogether. But the confusion, indifference, and full-on grouchiness most often stems from a lack of understanding that your Sun sign is just one part of a much bigger picture known as your birth chart or natal chart.

Astrology is a science and it's based on mathematics, geometry, and the way the planets move in relation to each other. The planets influence your chart on a daily basis through planetary current events, such as full moons or eclipses. Professional astrologers look at your entire chart to gain a greater understanding of what's going on in your life, and why, from a soul-level perspective. They can even compare your chart to another person's to see how you might organically connect with them, a practice known as synastry. what is the ugliest zodiac sign

Whether you're an astrology buff or just curious, it's important to get the basics down first. Below, Tali Edut, one half of The AstroTwins and ELLE's resident astrologers, breaks down the iceberg that is astrology and how the Sun sign, houses, planets, and modalities all fit together to create a unique cosmic blueprint for each of us.

Moon Sign

Astrology is so much more than sun signs and casually checking Co-Star. The ancient language of the stars uses planets, zodiac signs and houses to create a unique cosmic signature called your birth chart that reveals your soul’s journey, talents and Universal support network. Whether you’re just beginning your astrological journey or you’ve been a lifelong student, here’s the lowdown on how to start understanding your cosmic blueprint.

The moon sign is another key piece in the puzzle. It’s the sign that governs your inner world, your emotions and the ebb and flow of your moods. It’s a part of your personality that often goes unnoticed by others, but plays an important role in your character and the ways you react to life’s experiences.

If you have a sun sign of Cancer but a moon sign of Aquarius, that can indicate you are both practical and intuitive. This can be a balance that’s helpful in career and relationships, or it could also be a double-edged sword if you are overly analytical and miss out on the joys of spontaneity.

Moon sign lore says your emotions and feelings are deeply rooted in your subconscious and reveal the things you may not even be fully aware of. It’s the part of your character that reveals how you tend to nurture yourself and gives insight into how you respond when you feel pleasure and pain.

For example, lunar Virgos are often plagued with a low-level anxiety that makes them hypercritical of themselves and those around them. However, if they can learn to let go of their need for perfection, they can experience emotional fulfillment by being productive and helping others find betterment in their lives.

If you look at an actual astrological birth chart, it’s sliced into 12 slices and each celestial body “resides” in a specific house. This is why the information in your horoscope is so useful, as it reveals how various events and planetary currents affect you on a daily basis. These factors can be a great way to gauge your current state and identify opportunities for growth.

Ascendant

Astrology is an ancient practice that utilizes planetary bodies, zodiac signs and houses to communicate your unique cosmic signature known as your birth chart. It outlines the position of the sun, moon and planets at the exact moment you made your earthly debut. It's the framework that gives shape to your individuality, relationships (your soulmate could be written in stars), and life purpose.

Your birth chart is a circular map that's comprised of 12 astrological houses that represent different aspects of your personality and the ways in which you relate to others. It also includes the ascendant and descendant, as well as the medium coeli or midheaven (MC), which is located at the very top of your chart and speaks to your one-on-one relationships. Each house, sign and planet has an innate resonance with one another, and astrologers are skilled at zeroing in on the conversation between them to uncover your deepest strengths and challenges.

While most people understand their sun sign, they may be less familiar with the rising sign and its importance to their horoscope. Your rising sign represents the zodiac sign that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the time of your birth, and astrologers often say it's the "image" you project out into the world or the mask you wear. It also offers insight into the skills, talents and strategies you might employ to make your way in this life.

If your ascendant is in cardinal fire sign Aries, ruled by action-oriented Mars, you're likely to move through life at breakneck speed and follow your instincts. You exude real energy, and you're the kind of person who doesn't like to stop until you've achieved your goals. If your rising is in mutable water sign Pisces, ruled by dreamy Neptune, you're naturally sensitive and empathic. You're a healer at heart and you're always looking for the good in other people.

If you don't know your exact time of birth, some astrologers practice what's called rectification astrology, where they track major events in your life and work backward to determine which sign was rising at the time of your debut. If you're curious to find out more about your rising sign, Cafe Astrology has a handy calculator that will give you the lowdown.

Synastry

Astrology can provide a framework for understanding our complex layers of personality and relationships. However, astrology is a complex science that requires an intermediate level of knowledge to interpret and make judgments about. In particular, astrologers who study synastry (the comparison of two people’s birth charts) must take into account all aspects of the chart and not just the Sun signs or Venus-Jupiter relationships.

For example, when two people’s planets conjunct in their synastry charts, it often indicates a bond that goes beyond physical intimacy. The energies of these planets blend together, amplifying and reinforcing one another. In other words, a couple with this connection feels like they’re “one.” It may also mean that their core identities align well, which is important for a healthy relationship. Expert astrologers suggest that this connection is a powerful indicator of spiritual soulmate bonds.

In contrast, a square aspect in synastry can be a difficult influence in a relationship. This is because when the angles of two planets are 90 degrees apart, they signify tension and challenge. The energy of this aspect pushes each individual to confront their deepest fears and insecurities, helping them grow and evolve in the process. It is also common for a couple with this aspect to work through their karmic lessons together.

When a planet is in conjunction with the Moon’s North Node, it can indicate a soulmate connection that spans several lifetimes. It’s considered a powerful indicator of spiritual soulmate bonds, and it can indicate shared goals, passions, and a strong sense of destiny. These soulmates are often able to relate on a deep, emotional level and easily find common ground in their life path.

Likewise, when the planets are in conjunction with each other, it can suggest a mutually beneficial relationship, where each person offers support to the other. These are usually relationship partners with similar values and ideals, and they can help each other achieve their personal and professional goals. They can also be very supportive friends and companions. However, the conjunction can also indicate that there are likely to be disagreements and conflicts over certain issues.