Astrology, particularly through the lens of a birth chart or Kundli, offers a detailed map of an individual’s life. The chart is constructed based on four fundamental components: Houses, Signs, Planets, and the Ascendant. Each of these components has a unique role in shaping an individual’s destiny and experiences. Here’s an overview of each:

1. Houses

In astrology, houses represent specific areas or domains of life. There are 12 houses in a birth chart, and they remain fixed, with each house corresponding to different aspects of our life. Planets and signs will rotate through these houses, influencing the way energy manifests in those life domains. The houses provide a structural framework where planetary energies act. Below is a brief description of each house:

• 1st House (Ascendant): Represents the self, physical appearance, attitude, and personality. It signifies gains through self-effort.
• 2nd House: Family, accumulated wealth, childhood, speech, food intake, and banking.
• 3rd House: Communication, younger siblings, media, marketing, short travel, hobbies, writing, and printing.
• 4th House: Mother, home, early education, real estate, vehicles, and immovable property.
• 5th House: Love, creativity, children, entertainment, learning, advising, speculation, and mantras.
• 6th House: Health, competition, enemies, loans, job, service, disease, and litigation.
• 7th House: Spouse, partnerships, marriage, business dealings, and daily interactions with others.
• 8th House: Occult, inheritance, sudden gains or losses, chronic disease, surgery, technical work, and deep transformations.
• 9th House: Religion, law, higher education, long-distance travel, guru, father, luck, and spirituality.
• 10th House: Career, fame, status, karma, government, politics, and recognition.
• 11th House: Gains, profits, fulfillment, friend circles, NGOs, societies, and philanthropic activities.
• 12th House: Investments, expenditures, foreign affairs, hospitals, meditation, research, and spiritual liberation.

2. Signs

In a birth chart, signs are the 12 zodiac sectors that span the 360° of the chart, each occupying less than 30 degrees. They represent different qualities and energies, and as these signs fall into different houses according to the Ascendant, they modify the influence of those houses.

The 12 zodiac signs in astrology are:

1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4. Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
9. Sagittarius
10. Capricorn
11. Aquarius
12. Pisces

Each sign corresponds to different personality traits, strengths, and areas of focus in life. They also have ruling planets and elements (fire, earth, air, water) that further influence their characteristics.

3. Planets

Planets in astrology represent cosmic forces that influence human life, each planet governing specific types of energy or activities. These energies manifest in the areas of life indicated by the houses where the planets reside. The sign a planet occupies shows how that planet’s energy is expressed.

For example:

• Sun: Represents vitality, self-expression, ego, and personal identity.
• Moon: Governs emotions, instincts, and subconscious mind.
• Mars: Energy, drive, action, and passion.
• Venus: Love, beauty, art, relationships, and values.
• Mercury: Communication, intellect, and reasoning.
• Jupiter: Expansion, growth, wisdom, luck, and benevolence.
• Saturn: Discipline, responsibility, restrictions, and karma.
• Rahu and Ketu (North and South Nodes): Represent karmic lessons, desires, past experiences, and life path.

4. Ascendant

The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the zodiac sign that was rising on the Eastern horizon at the exact time of your birth. It determines the 1st house of your birth chart and sets the foundation for how the signs are distributed across the 12 houses. The Ascendant represents your outward persona, physical body, and how you are perceived by others. It is the most personal point in the chart and governs your approach to life.

How it All Works Together:

• The Houses represent specific life areas.
• Signs provide the flavor or character of these areas.
• Planets bring energy to these areas, influenced by the sign they are in.
• The Ascendant sets the chart’s structure, determining how signs and planets align within the houses.

Together, these four components form the intricate web of astrology, offering insights into personality, life events, relationships, career, health, and much more. Each birth chart is unique, symbolizing the complex interaction of cosmic forces at the moment of an individual’s birth.