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Astrology Birth Chart Lines Explained

Understanding birth chart lines is a vital part of learning astrology. This includes aspects, but also houses, degrees, and other crucial angles that can’t be ignored when interpreting a natal chart.


Push your knowledge of the craft further by learning about all types of chart lines, the role it plays, and the meaning it holds for you.

birth chart lines feature

1. House Lines

House lines, also referred to as house cusps, divide the chart into 12 pie-shaped pieces

There are 12 houses in a chart and each represents a specific area of your life.

house lines in a birth chart

I think of the houses as the verbs of astrology because they describe things that you do. 

The 2nd House, for instance, describes how you relate to, spend, make, or behave with your money and resources.

The houses are numbered in order, counter-clockwise, from 1 – 12 with the 1st House always found on the left side of your chart. It represents the eastern horizon at the exact moment of your birth.

House lines in your chart may or may not be equally spaced so the houses could be different sizes, as seen in the example chart below.

a natal chart example showing house lines unevenly spaced

This will be dependent on which house system you are using, your birth city’s distance from the equator, and what time of year you were born in.

Even though all house cusps are vitally important chart lines, there are a few that hold extra significance. These are referred to as angular houses.

The Ascendant (AC)

One very important birth chart line is the cusp, or boundary, of the 1st House which is also called the Ascendant in astrology and is considered one of the angular houses. It represents the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth.

a special line in a birth chart called the ascendant

Along with your Sun and Moon, your Ascendant is considered part of the “Big 3” in astrology because it contributes so heavily toward how you experience life.

Some astrologers call this special angle the “mask you wear” because it describes how you interact with the world. Astrology.com describes your Ascendant as the way in which you present yourself to the world.

The Zodiac sign that your Ascendant sits in is referred to as your rising sign.

The Descendant (DC)

Directly across from your Ascendant in your chart, you will find your 7th House cusp and another significant angular house, your Descendant. This line symbolizes the western horizon at the time you were born.

special birth chart line called the descendant

You can think of this angle as “who you are not” as it represents traits, desires, and motivations that you may not recognize in yourself.

Because you may feel as though this line describes characteristics that aren’t strong in your personality, these may be the exact things that you are naturally attracted to in other people as they may “balance you out.”

Some astrologers even go as far as to describe your Descendant as your soul mate.

Together, your Ascendant and Descendant divide your chart into two half circles, the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.

The Nadir (Imum Coeli, IC)

Toward the bottom of your chart is another vital astrological chart line and that is the Nadir, which is also the cusp of your 4th House. This line is also called your Imum Coeli.

special birth chart line called the nadir

This crucial, angular house in your chart represents the most private version of yourself.

It encompasses the ingrained thoughts you have about yourself, both good and bad, that you have probably held since childhood.

I have seen the Nadir described as your roots, your inner center, and the place where you hold the greatest dreams and worst nightmares for yourselves.

The Zodiac sign and condition of your IC give hints as to what family baggage helped to form your sense of self and who you truly believe yourself to be.

The Midheaven (Medium Coeli, MC)

The cusp of the 10th House is also known as your Midheaven or  Medium Coeli. The line for this angular house is found at the top of your chart and lies opposite of your Nadir.

special birth chart line called the midheaven

The Nadir is the most personal point in your chart, but the Midheaven is your most public point. 

This line represents your public image and reputation. This is different than the “mask” of the Ascendant that you show to the people you interact with day in and day out and describes your more general social standing.

Your Midheaven also indicates the kind of work that may bring you the most satisfaction. This line points toward the greatest goals you hold for yourself and what kind of career you may feel the most ambitious about.

Together, the Midheaven and Nadir divide your chart into 2 parts, your eastern hemisphere and western hemisphere.

2. Aspect Lines

One type of birth chart line that you need to understand is aspect lines.

Aspects describe specific angles that are made between two different points on your natal chart. The size of the angle defines which type of aspect is made. 

example natal chart showing aspect lines

In the chart above, all of the lines crisscrossing in the middle of the circle are aspects, specific angles, between two points.

Think of aspects as relationships between two points, such as two planets. Depending on the aspect, or size of the angle, these relationships can be friendly or stormy, although every type of aspect has its drawbacks and its potential for personal growth.

Soft aspects

The blue lines in your chart symbolize soft aspects which are characterized as harmonious types of relationships. 

example chart detail showing soft aspect lines on a birth chart
Soft aspect lines

Two main types of soft aspects are trines and sextiles and they depict relationships where there is rapport and support. 

These types of aspects seem agreeable and the placements involved, such as two planets, may cooperate well, with one supporting and encouraging the goal and desires of the other.

Hard aspects

Hard aspects are considered the most difficult types of aspects and these are often shown as red lines in your chart.

example chart detail showing hard aspect lines on a natal chart
Hard aspect lines

Two types of hard aspects are called squares and oppositions and they represent relationships that seem anywhere from tense to nearly impossible.

Of course, these aspects aren’t necessarily “bad,” Where there is friction there is the spark to grow, and where there is agreement there can also be stagnation. 

It just depends on how you work with what you have!

an infographic showing birth chart lines to master in astrology

3. Degree Lines

One last vital style of astrology chart line to understand is the degree lines, or marks

In Western Astrology, astrological charts are circular. And, as you learned in geometry class, circles are measured in degrees. 

Birth charts are no different.

Just like every other circle, your chart can be divided into 360°.

These degrees are used in astrology to describe the exact placements of anything from the planets to the nodes to the house lines themselves.

When you look at your chart, the degree lines are marked on the outer circle. 

a diagram showing degree lines in a birth chart and showing that pluto is 20 degrees scorpio

You can pinpoint anything on your chart by referencing the Zodiac sign, and degree of that sign, it sits in.

Understanding how to read degree lines in your birth chart is crucial. Dive deeper in degrees in astrology in our article that teaches you everything you need to know, found here!

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