Why Time Is So Important
In Doing A Chart

by Lanny Logan

I often get questions about why the time of birth is important to preparing and understanding transit readings. To understand the importance of the exact birth time, you first have to understand the framework upon which transits are evaluated.

Transits are plotted on the individual’s natal chart for which the reading is being prepared.

The natal chart is a static chart created for the exact moment of the person’s birth. When he or she draws their first breath as a unique individual separated from their mother they are considered a person, astrologically. None of the “when is an embryo a person “ argument, found in today’s media and throughout society apply here.

I use the term static in reference to the natal chart, because the natal chart is set at birth and remains constant throughout a person’s life. The chart is divided into a 12-house framework with the first house, the ascendant, set at the degree of the zodiac rising over the horizon at the moment of birth. In my readings, I use the equal house system, meaning that each house boundary is exactly 30 degrees apart. In this house system, each house has the same degree on it as the ascendant. For example, if the ascendant is 5 degrees Aries, the second house will start at 5 degrees Taurus, and so on. I find this house system the most revealing, because each house is a harmonic of the first house of the Self.

As indicated above, the degree of the zodiac sign on the horizon sets the starting point of the natal chart. Approximately one degree of sign passes over the horizon every 5 minutes. So a child born between 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM could have a 6 degree difference. In a specific reading, that might not make a difference depending on the location of the planets. If Uranus was at 15 degrees Virgo, for example, and the ascendant was between 2 degrees Aries and 10 degrees Aries, Uranus would still be in the 6th house. However if Uranus were at 5 degrees Virgo, it could be in either in the 5th or 6th house.

Of greater concern, particularly in evaluating a natal chart is that the child could only have one of the two ascendant or rising signs. The ascendant effects three parts of the individual; their Self-awareness (approach to life), their physical attributes (how they look), and their personality (the mask that they project to the world). The location and aspects of the ascendant’s ruler also hold a great deal of importance in natal evaluation. Obviously, if the ascendant sign could be either of two signs, this greatly effects the evaluation.

Transits provide the dynamic component of chart. As the natal planets continue to move through the natal chart structure they bring their energy to the various houses that they transit and combine their energy in one way or the other with natal planets that they aspect.

Content has been reprinted with permission of the author.

For more astrology information, see:

Astrology Charts, Readings plus Free Daily Horoscopes
Birth Charts - Custom Astrology Birth Charts and Readings
Horoscope Compatibility - Discover How Compatible You and Your Partner Are
Astrology - Basic Astrology Information
Astrology, Planets in Signs, Key words, Characteristics
Astrology Articles
Ancient Divination and Astrology
Activities With Astrology 

To Get Your Own Personal  Astrology Reports, See:
Horocope Compatibility - Discover How Compatible You and Your Partner Are
Astrology Birth Chart Reports - Custom Birth Charts and Readings
Astrology for Children - Great Child/Teen Astrology Reading Guide for Parents
Daily Horoscopes
Tarot Reading - Free or In-Depth Tarot Reading