How to use birth charts in therapy

If something isn’t working in life as we'd like it to, or we're confused and looking for clarity, many of us look to astrology for help. Astrology is an ancient self-diagnostic tool affording personal direction and insight. In this article, we'll explore how a birth chart (also known as a natal chart) can be used as a guide within counselling, helping you to find meaning and direction.

What is a birth chart?

A birth chart is a map of the solar system at the exact moment, day and year that a person was born. It relates the eight known planets, sun and moon to the horizon and meridian of the earth. Each planet has a different effect on an aspect of our life, and the birth chart helps to illuminate that.

Unique to the individual, the birth chart maps conscious and unconscious behavioural and thought patterns.

Transits help to determine timings in our life when transformation or crisis is likely and there becomes a need for introspective work.

What are the benefits of using birth charts in therapy?

The benefits of referencing the natal chart in counselling include:

• It can help pinpoint where to start - especially if clients have been in therapy for a while feeling stuck. You can think of the birth chart as a blueprint, pointing to potential areas of growth and challenge in your life.

• It speeds up the time spent in therapy. Months can be spent in therapy avoiding the real issue but the chart can help to clearly identify issues.

• Discovering our shadow. Through counselling, we can learn what drives our shadow.

• Understanding our wound (Chiron). Through counselling, we can learn to own our wound and transform ourselves from victimhood. The wound highlights what we can do for others but what we cannot do for ourselves.

• The natal chart itself (i.e. the pictorial map) depicts our oppositions and internal conflicts. Visually seeing this on paper adds another dimension to the therapeutic process and can have a powerful effect on us.

• Self-care - it can help us to understand our makeup and our limitations. Through counselling, if we can reach a point of acceptance, we can provide ourselves with the necessary self-care needed.

However, it is worth remembering that, although astrological methods can be insightful, astrology alone is limited - it doesn't give you the full picture or 'reveal your story'. It can help to pinpoint reoccurring personal patterns - the ‘effect’ - but it does not answer why they are happening - the ‘cause’.

The benefit comes from using it as a self-diagnostic tool in conjunction with a trained therapist. A professional counsellor can facilitate your understanding by engaging with your chart and using it to help you to identify your needs and behaviours.