How To Erect An Astrological Chart Without Using A Computer

Does Astrology Just Disappear In The Absence Of Wifi?

Whereas it takes 10 seconds to erect a chart in Astrodienst or Solar Fire, it could take 2 or 3 hours to do it using an ephemeris and table of houses. It is definitely inconvenient – and actually pretty tedious and difficult for most people (myself included). But there is something to be said for erecting a chart from scratch; it seems to strengthen the Hermetic bond between the astrologer and the cosmos. Personally, I’m not sure how I justified calling myself an astrologer before learning this crucial skill.

Astrologers were called mathematici, after all – and for good reason. A certain degree of mathematical proficiency was, until very recently (like the 1980’s or so), requisite to the art of astrology. Computer programs are a wonderful addition to an astrologer’s toolkit; they’re accurate and easy to use – but what if your computer crashes? What if you have no wifi connection? What if the grid goes down for good? Is astrology over at that point? Would we have to relearn the entire system?

Erecting an astrological chart is not easy. I have listed the essentials here, summarizing the method I had learned through the American Federation of Astrologers’ (AFA) excellent accreditation course. I encourage any interested parties to take a course on the subject because there are invariably little anomalous issues that arise, and I couldn’t address all of them here. These are strictly the basics…

Reference Material Needed

Ephemeris

Table of Houses

Access to longitude/latitude coordinates

Solar Sidereal Time Correction Table

Time Correction for Longitude Table

To Calculate the Planets

Get the birth date, exact time and location with long. & lat.

Take daylight savings time into consideration (+/- 1hr).

Convert the local time into 24 hr time (4:30pm becomes 1630).

Convert 24 hr time to EGMT interval (1630 in NYC becomes 2130 EGMT – date may change).

Convert EGMT interval to decimal (2130 becomes 20.18).

Divide decimal EGMT interval by 24 to get constant multiplier (20.18/24=.84).

Find date in ephemeris, as well as day after; notate D:M:S for each planet, later date on top.

Subtract earlier date from later date; convert to minutes (this is daily motion).

Multiply difference in minutes by constant multiplier.

Add the product to the earlier date.

Do this for each planet; notate degrees and minutes in zodiacal sign.

To Calculate Placidus Houses

Get sidereal time (at midnight) from ephemeris.

Add sidereal time, EGMT interval and solar/sidereal correction factor.

This product is Greenwich Sidereal Time (GST).

Convert longitude into time; add to GST if east, subtract if west.

The product is Local Sidereal Time (LST); add 12 hrs for south latitude, if applicable.

In Table of Houses, calculate difference between greater and lesser listed sidereal time.

Calculate difference between lesser sidereal time and LST; convert to decimal.

Divide decimal by difference between greater and lesser listed sidereal time (usually 4).

This is the constant multiplier for cusp movement.

For lower latitude (beneath given), subtract lesser listed sidereal time from greater.

Convert the product to minutes and multiply by constant multiplier.

Add product to lesser listed sidereal time.

Notate degrees and minutes in zodiacal sign for MC, 11th, 12th, ASC, 1st, 2nd and 3rd house cusps.

Do the same as above (last 4 steps, excluding MC, which is done) for higher latitude.

Subtract lesser latitude from given latitude; divide by 60; this is final constant multiplier.

Subtract LST at lower latitude from LST at higher; multiply product by final constant multiplier.

Add product to LST at lower latitude; notate degrees and minutes in zodiacal sign.

Opposite houses (IC, 5th, 6th, DSC, 8th, 9th and 10th) are same degrees and minutes, in opposite signs.

Notate all data on a chart wheel and – presto! – you have an astrological chart. Simple as that…lol.