Astrology Unknown
How to use astrology without birth information
I absolutely love astrology. The first time I read about my Aquarian Sun as a teen, I felt seen. Learning about my Scorpio Rising and Aries Moon just made so much sense to me. I have found following the astrological calendar is more fulfilling than the gregorian one.
While I feel very seen, I know astrology can be othering. It's a language. Like when my Korean mother would get together with her Korean friends and they would have these loud, energetic conversations. I thought I was keeping up through their body language and facial expressions, but all of sudden there would be thunderous laughter. I was not in on the joke. I know astrology can feel that way to people. Especially people who do not know their birth information.
My Korean mother does not know her exact birth information. In early 60s Korea, parents were required to register their children births. My mother's birth wasn't deemed necessary to register until the birth of her brother 3 years later. Why register another daughter when you already had 2 of them? But a son! By that time they didn't remember and just made it up. I thought her experience was unique, but it is not. A lot people from all parts the world do not know their birth information.
Exact birth date, time, location, is required to calculate the Rising sign/Ascendent and chart ruler. This is the basis for natal astrology and a birth chart reading. What if you don't know this information? If you know your birth date and location, you can still calculate a birth chart using a generic time. Some astrologers use noon and some use time of sunrise. The Moon placement will not be exact and may be up to 6 degrees off either way. If the Moon falls between 0-5 or 25-30 degrees, it could be in either sign. Trust your gut and go with the sign that feels right for you.
Personally, I like to ignore the ASC and house system when I examine birth charts of unknown time. Plus I just like making up my own shit loosely based on traditional and esoteric astrology. Please remember all of this stuff was just thought up by other human beings. Infuse your own magic into your meanings and correspondences.
When I did a quick Google search for "how to use astrology without birth info," most of the results were about how to find your birth info or chart rectification. Chart rectification is having an astrologer review the timing around important life events to determine the most likely Rising sign. This also requires date and location. My niece is from India. She was abandoned on the steps of a child care home when she was a baby. My sister-in-law chose her birthday. There are no bio-family members to interview or baby photos to investigate.
Astrology is a zesty, cerebral language that can tell many stories. As gratifying as a birth chart deep dive can be for self-awareness, it is not the only way I use astrology.
Seasonal Living
The Wheel of the Year is the first concept that drew me into witchcraft. Living by the Wheel for the past few years, I feel a deeper appreciation for all seasons. My fellow Midwesterners are griping about dirty, dreary Spring and I'm searching for the new tree buds and pops of green. I look forward to the big snowfalls and dark Winter days for rest as much I look forward to long sunshine of the Summer Solstice. This past year I started to include astrological transits.
Aries season coincides with Spring Equinox/Ostara and is the start of the zodiacal year. Another chance for a New Year's observance. Honestly, I celebrate the gregorian New Year, my February birthday, and Aries season with the same fresh start energy. Astrology embeds layers of significance into my timekeeping.
One of my biggest gripes with astrology is how certain transits are hyped up and FOMO can strike. I know the Moon is a popular guide, but I found the longer transits gave me more time to focus. Mercury, Venus, and Mars transits last from 2 weeks to 2 months compared to the Moon which switches signs every 2-3 days.
You can be a heliotrope or a lunar lover. Maybe you are focusing on your mindset and Mercury is your chosen guide. Last Autumn when I stopped my graduate school program, I wanted to transition from an academic brain to a creative one. I did a series of candle spells with the Mercury transits. This year Mars is guiding me out of my head and into taking initiatives.
Reflection
Reflection is one of my favorite ways to grow astrologically. I use the outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto, as their transits last at least a year or more.
Using Jupiter as an example, it is currently in Gemini and will be there until June 2025. The last time Jupiter was in Gemini was June 2012-June 2013. Think about where you were and what you were doing at time. Reflect on Jupiter themes of expansion, fortune, and abundance and Gemini themes of duality, intellect, and communication.
My spouse and I were dating at this time and we fell deeply in love with each other. I found my other half intellectually and emotionally. My abundance grew as we moved in together and I finally had another income to match mine. By the end of that transit I was pregnant. More expansion! This reflection reminds me how wonderful my spouse is and how lucky I am to have met him.
Tarot
In the late 1800s, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn formed and blended various esoteric practices, including tarot and astrology. They created their own tarot deck with each card having an astrological correspondence. The popular RWS and Thoth decks are based on the Golden Dawn deck. Astrology is my first love, but tarot is definitely my second. Once I found out each tarot card had an astrological correspondence, I was determined to learn them all. Here is a link to a comprehensive correspondence guide.
Continuing with the Jupiter in Gemini transit, I would pull and meditate on the corresponding cards. Jupiter = Wheel of Fortune. Gemini = The Lovers. Knight of Swords is the court card and Eight of Swords is the minor card. This transit may be about taking control over your values and choices. While the Wheel constantly spins and fate comes for all, we can decide how we live our lives and who we spend our time with in this lifetime. Gemini is Mutable Air, duality, waxing and waning. Knight of Swords can be your ally, charging forward to cut through tangled thoughts. Helping to escape the perceived restrictions of the Eight of Swords. Jupiter in Gemini is here to expand your mindset. You can shake loose from your tethers and step forward whenever you are ready.
These are just a few ways that I use astrology without my natal chart. Of course if you know your birth information, you can add that layer into the mix. There are multitudes of ways I weave astrology and tarot into my everyday and I could keep going on and on, but I won't. Maybe another time, another transit.
I have decided to focus less on writing and more on cultivating this website. I have created a page dedicated to Astrology where I will have links to my personal zodiac sign posts and resources. If you would like to know how I thrive with each astro szn, please check it out. It is a living page and will continue to grow and flourish. If anything resonates with you, please drop me a line at perpetual.introvert.ghost@gmail.com. Thank you for reading!