Astrocartography: What is it?

Astro=relating to the stars. Cartography=Mapping.

I'm giving you a quick primer to acquaint you with Astrocartography and how it intersects with your natal chart. This more advanced topic covers how certain places may make you feel a certain way depending on what planetary lines cross the locations. Therefore, it’s helpful if you already understand your natal chart and the planet placements in each of the twelve houses.

Let’s dive in.

I first learned of Astrocartography in my late teens when it was newly coming out in the early 1980s. I was eager to learn more as I am an adventurous person who loves to travel and wanted to see what the planetary lines would tell me if I visited a certain place.

Excited, I ordered an Astrocartography chart from Astro.com. [It is now called AstroClick® Travel]

I had already been studying Astrology, so it was easy to understand what it meant if my Sun line crossed over Denver, Colorado, for example. (It means that it would be a good place for me to express my true self).

Putting it to the Test: What are all those lines?

When you first get your Astrocartography chart, you will see a lot of colorful lines with symbols at the top and bottom of each line spread across a world map.

If you click on a line, a paragraph of information will open up on the right, explaining what that particular line means for you.

You will also need to know what your MC, IC, and DC lines represent.

• MC=Midheaven or Medium Coeli. It is the apex point of a career, worldly success.
• IC=Lower Midheaven or Imum Coeli. It is in the lower half of your natal chart in the 4th house. It represents your home and family.
• DC=Descendant Line or Point of Descent. This line relates to your partnerships.
• AC=Ascendant Line or Point of Ascent. The Ascendant is your personality line. For example, if you are an Aquarius with Taurus rising (like I am) then your Ascendant is in Taurus in your First House.

Complexities of Crossed Lines in Your Chart

Crossed lines are neither “good” nor “bad”; it just means there’s a more complex type of energy at that cross-point. For example, if Venus energies combine with your IC, it might be a good place to set up a home.

The World Map Divided by Continents

Several choices in the drop-down menu depict a closer look at a location, starting with one of the seven continents. From there, you can choose harmonious or disharmonious aspects.

You should already be familiar with astrology's primary types of aspects. There are 360 degrees forming the circle of 12 houses on a typical natal chart. There are conjunctions (0 degrees), sextile (60 degrees), squares (90 degrees), trine (120 degrees), and oppositions (180 degrees).

• Conjunctions = When one planet is on the same degree as another, it is said to be conjunct.
• Sextiles = Planets 60 degrees apart, usually 2 signs over, are generally favorable energy.
• Squares = Planets 45 degrees apart. This type of energy means a challenge to work through or confrontations.
• Trines = Planets 120 degrees apart. Smooth energy.
• Oppositions = Planets 180 degrees apart signify a see-saw effect of energy.

Questions on what to do with the definitions; Should you move? Should you go there?

Here comes the fun part. You can try putting these personal descriptions in your chart, to the test, when you travel. Or, if you have already gone somewhere, think back to what it was like and how it relates to what you read about it in your own AstroClick® Travel chart.

It can be very complex to understand the energies involved. Don’t shy away from a place if it seems challenging. Other places may post great locations for love, sex, money, home, family, and even illness. So be sure to check where those places are and be on the lookout for the signs when you travel. Sometimes the best reveals itself over time.

Let me know in the comments if you've tried this before or want to learn more. While it's not an exact science, it makes for interesting entertainment.