Understanding the Language of Your Birth Chart

A birth chart has its own language, built from signs, houses, planets and timing periods. Learning a few core terms makes the whole chart easier to follow.

Lagna

Lagna is the ascendant: the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth. It is one of the starting points used when interpreting a chart.

Nakshatra

A Nakshatra is one of the 27 lunar mansions used in Vedic astrology. The Moon’s position is considered alongside the rest of the birth chart.

Dasha

A Dasha is a planetary period. Dashas and their subperiods, called Antardashas, are considered when discussing timing in a reading.

Read the factors together

These terms describe parts of an interpretation. A consultation brings the relevant factors together rather than treating one placement as the whole story.