What is a birth chart?
A birth chart, also called a natal chart or astral map, is a picture of the sky at the exact moment you were born, as seen from the place where you were born. It shows which zodiac sign and which house the Sun, the Moon and the planets were in. Astrology uses it as a symbolic map of your personality: your talents, your emotions, the way you love and the challenges you're meant to face.
What information do I need, and why does the time matter?
You need your birth date, time and city. The date determines the position of the planets; the time and place determine your rising sign and your houses. The rising sign changes about every two hours, and the houses shift every few minutes, so it's best to use the time on your birth certificate. The tool accounts for the daylight saving time that was in effect in your country on the day you were born.
How do I read the wheel?
- The outer ring shows the 12 signs, colored by element: fire, earth, air and water.
- The numbers in the center are the 12 houses. The line on the left is your rising sign (AC) and the one at the top is your Midheaven (MC).
- The golden symbols are the planets. An “R” means the planet was retrograde when you were born.
- The lines in the center are the aspects: blue for the flowing ones (trines and sextiles) and red for the challenging ones (squares and oppositions).
How is it different from a horoscope?
A horoscope only covers your sun sign, the one shared by everyone born in the same month. A birth chart is one of a kind: two people with the same sign have a different Moon, rising sign and houses. That's why many people who don't “feel like” their sign recognize themselves in their Moon or rising sign.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to calculate my birth chart?
Your birth date, your birth time as precisely as possible, and the city where you were born. With those three details, we calculate the position of the Sun, Moon and planets, your rising sign and your 12 houses.
What if I don't know my birth time?
You can check “I don't know my birth time.” You'll see your Sun, Moon and planets in their signs, but not your rising sign or houses, because those change every few minutes. Your birth time is usually listed on your birth certificate.
How accurate is the calculation?
Positions are calculated with high-precision astronomical formulas. We compare them against the Swiss Ephemeris, which professional software uses, and the difference is less than one arcminute.
Which house system does it use?
It uses the Placidus system, the most common in Western astrology, and the tropical zodiac. If you were born near the poles, where Placidus doesn't work, it switches to the Porphyry system.
Is my data stored?
No. Your chart is calculated on your own phone or computer. Only the city name is looked up in a map search service to get its coordinates and time zone; your data is never sent to Portal Místico.
Astronomical calculation with Astronomy Engine, checked against Swiss Ephemeris. City search: Open-Meteo.
Portal Místico readings are symbolic and intended for entertainment and personal reflection. They are not a substitute for professional advice.