How to read your birth chart

This is the methodology I use to read a birth chart. I will use Barack Obama's chart as the example. Start from the houses and, for each one, ask the same simple questions.

The first house

First ask: who rules this house? To answer that, identify the sign placed in it. A birth chart shows the houses as well as a number representing the zodiac sign. In this chart, the first house falls in the 10th sign, Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn. His personality is therefore governed by Saturn. If the meanings of planets, houses and signs are unfamiliar at this stage, the first article on the Farfaraway blog may be helpful.

Saturn ruling the first house indicates a service-oriented person. It shows that whatever he does will carry a sense of seriousness, and that he will be hard-working.

Next ask: in which Nakshatra does the planet fall? Saturn is in Uttara Ashadha. Given its nature, this shows the ability to fight a big fight and the persistence to overcome large challenges. Uttara Ashadha is about doing big things in life, and those things can be related to government because the Nakshatra's planetary ruler is Sun.

To understand the Nakshatra further, examine its classification. Uttara Ashadha has a Dhruva, or fixed, nature, indicating that the person will be highly persistent. It belongs to the Kshatriya caste, indicating leadership potential. Its Guna is Sattvic, which translates to selfless behaviour. I am not saying that he is 100% selfless. Each one of us has planets in Nakshatras with Sattvic qualities as well as Tamasic qualities, which translate to darkness. There will always be a mixture. His first-house analysis, however, largely indicates selfless public service.

Nakshatra ruler, aspects and conjunctions

To understand Saturn's position further, read the Nakshatra's ruler. Uttara Ashadha is ruled by Sun. In this chart, Sun is in the seventh house, rules the eighth house and falls in Ashlesha. To me, this indicates that his work may involve strategic planning and secret government work. The secrecy comes from the eighth house and Ashlesha, while government work comes from Sun.

Saturn in Uttara Ashadha shows large-scale endeavours, while the Nakshatra ruler's position suggests that they may involve secret government work. Then look for aspects on the first house and on its ruler. Sun and Mercury from the seventh house influence the first house and Saturn itself. His personality is therefore also shaped by Sun and Mercury. Read their positions to understand that influence.

Lastly, ask whether there is a conjunction. Two planets placed close together form a conjunction. Saturn and Jupiter form a strong conjunction because both are in the first house and the same Nakshatra. To me, this is the highlight of his chart. We can all aspire to do big things, but nothing can be worse than not being guided in the right direction. Jupiter in the first house indicates that his big dreams and endeavours are guided by Jupiter's wisdom. He understands what he is doing and why, and sees life philosophically.

Jupiter and Saturn together make him likely to be seen as someone who can take responsibility for a major challenge. I see this conjunction as a sign of success. Success is strongly associated with Uttara Ashadha: the Nakshatra is not only about doing big things, but also about finding success. Saturn gives persistence and Jupiter gives wisdom.

Jupiter's position reminds me of a quotation from the Bhagavad Gita: that which many consider day is night to a sage, and that which is night to many is day for a sage. With Jupiter's presence, the person understands the meaning behind the actions. It is not only about occupying a position of power or making a name, but also about public service, selfless behaviour and doing something that might benefit the world.

Saturn in the divisional charts

At this stage, look at the Navamsha and Dashamsha charts to understand Saturn further and thereby understand the personality. In the diagram used for this reading, the houses occupied are shown on the left and the houses ruled on the right. The signs and Nakshatras, followed by their rulers, run along the vertical line. The outer circle is the main chart, the second concerns the Nakshatra and the third is the Navamsha.

In the Navamsha, Saturn rules the sixth and seventh houses and is placed in Capricorn in the sixth house. Capricorn, sixth-house rulership and sixth-house placement all point towards public service, while Saturn also gains strength.

In the Dashamsha, I have consistently found that the ruler of the 10th house determines one's career. Here Saturn rules the ninth and 10th houses and is placed in Virgo in the fifth house. Saturn is therefore not only shaping his personality, but also determining his career. Virgo is again directly related to public service.

The fifth-house association is strong throughout this chart. I read the fifth house as an indicator of good luck and promised fortune. In my reading of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra on the Dasha system, I found that an Antardasha planet placed five houses away from the Mahadasha planet was considered good luck. The broader point is that a fifth-house association is a good sign. Saturn in the fifth house of the Dashamsha indicates promised fortune being bestowed on the native.

The 10th house and Venus

Apply the same method to the 10th house. Venus rules that house and is placed in the sixth house. Venus also rules the fifth house. By connecting the fifth and 10th houses, Venus indicates that the person is bestowed with good luck. Its sixth-house placement points towards work related to public service.

Venus is in Ardra. This can show love for those who are suffering and an ability to restore or reconstruct what has been destroyed, which is part of Ardra's nature. Venus in Gemini indicates an excellent speaker or even a showperson. I would go so far as to say that this person could be a public speaker. Venus ruling the fifth house and occupying Gemini both support that.

Venus in Ardra can also indicate a love of wildlife. I searched for Barack Obama's contribution to wildlife and found many examples, including nine creatures named after him. I do not know whether that level of contribution is common among United States presidents, but he has certainly contributed. I believe this is related to Venus in Ardra: Ardra connects to wildlife and Venus represents unconditional love and affection.

The caste term in this part of the transcript is unclear, but the stated interpretation is that his work is likely to be research-driven. Ardra also indicates someone who can reconstruct what has been destroyed and go to an extreme. Its Tikshna nature translates to sharp, so the person is not afraid to take a strong stand when required. Its Guna is Tamasic. Some endeavours may therefore involve darkness. As with the earlier Sattvic classification, every person has a mixture. In his career, some choices may not have been driven by selflessness; they may also have been driven by a desire to create change at any cost.

Venus, Rahu and the divisional charts

To understand Venus further, identify Ardra's ruler. Ardra is ruled by Rahu, which is in the eighth house in Magha. Rahu represents desire and Magha represents a position of power. Venus in Ardra, ruled by Rahu in Magha, indicates an extraordinary desire to be in a position of power. Given Ardra's nature, the person may have done extreme things to reach that position.

I am not saying that the person became violent. I am suggesting that the desire for power was very strong and that, in the process, some decisions may not have been driven by selflessness. Many people have strong combinations for extraordinary achievements but do not have the desire. Venus in a Nakshatra ruled by Rahu, with Rahu in Magha, strongly shows that desire.

In the Navamsha, Venus rules the third and 10th houses and is placed in the fifth. This again connects work to communication skills and repeats the fifth-house pattern. It indicates good luck, promised fortune and the ability to be a public speaker or showperson. Venus is in Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, so the desire shown by Venus is guided by Jupiter's wisdom rather than being misguided.

In the Dashamsha, Venus rules the first and sixth houses, another sign of public service, and occupies Leo, ruled by Sun. My method is to take the sign occupied by a planet in the Navamsha or Dashamsha and then return to the main chart to study that sign ruler. Here the relevant Sun is in Ashlesha. This suggests not only a desire for power, but also the strategic planning needed to hold on to it. Sun in the seventh house in Ashlesha can also indicate strategic partnerships, including partnerships with people or organisations that help the person remain in power.

I am not trying to paint a negative picture; I am sharing the facts as I read them. A person in such a position naturally has to think strategically. Through Venus, the chart gives us a picture of his career: a strong desire, involvement in public service and the ability to be an excellent public speaker, along with the strategic thinking needed to retain power.

The 11th house and Mars

The 11th house concerns money and material desires. In this chart it falls in Scorpio, ruled by Mars. Mars is in the eighth house in Uttara Phalguni. In my experience, Mars in Uttara Phalguni is a combination associated with lawyers. I knew he was a lawyer, then researched his background and found that he practised law for a long time and taught law at a university. Mars in Uttara Phalguni therefore links his source of income to law. If this combination rules a career or money house in another chart, there is a strong possibility of a legal career.

Uttara Phalguni, like Uttara Ashadha, belongs to the Kshatriya caste, indicating positions of power, especially government positions because Sun rules the Nakshatra. Four planets in this chart occupy Kshatriya Nakshatras, giving a strong Kshatriya influence to the personality and career.

Mars in Uttara Phalguni indicates someone honest in the effort to achieve one's desires. Nobility and honesty are strongly associated with this Nakshatra. Its Guna is Rajasic, which is about going after things in the world. His desire is for a Kshatriya-like position of power, and he makes an honest effort towards it. The Nakshatra ruler is Sun, which is in Ashlesha, so the effort is honest but the planning is also strategic. The desires may be fulfilled in government work and may significantly transform his life because Mars occupies the eighth house.

Mars in the divisional charts

In the Navamsha, Mars rules the fourth and ninth houses and is placed in the fifth house. The strong fifth-house connection to career, money and personality appears again, indicating the ability to fulfil desires and the good fortune to do so. Mars occupies Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, so the desires are not misguided. Jupiter is playing an important role, something we can discover only after examining the divisional charts.

In the Dashamsha, Mars rules the seventh and 12th houses and is placed in the first house in Taurus. To me, this indicates foreign exposure, relationships with people who are foreign to him, and a desire for a position that also brings fame. With Mars occupying a sign ruled by Venus, he wants not only power but also a name for himself.

Most people may want those things, but some draw a line in the sand and can work only so much. Others pursue their desires relentlessly. I think that was his case, largely because Venus is in Ardra, Ardra is ruled by Rahu and Rahu is in Magha. There would have been a relentless desire to achieve something extraordinary. With the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, his desires and actions were not misguided.

The sixth house and Mercury

The sixth house relates to the nature of day-to-day work. Here it falls in Gemini, so Mercury is its ruler. Mercury occupies the seventh house and also rules the ninth. Linking the sixth and ninth houses indicates work driven by communication skills and knowledge-sharing. What he learns through the ninth house is shared with large numbers of people through Mercury in the seventh. I see this as a combination for a public speaker.

Mercury is in Pushya. He is not merely speaking; he is sharing philosophies, knowledge and experience, which are strongly associated with Pushya. The Nakshatra has a Kshatriya classification, so he shares knowledge from a position of power. Its Kshipra nature translates to quick movement, indicating quick thinking and a smart speaking style. Its energy is Tamasic, so at times the person may say things that benefit him. Every one of us carries Sattvic, Tamasic and Rajasic energy, and sometimes a person pursuing a particular life path has to be smart.

Pushya is ruled by Saturn, which is in the first house in Uttara Ashadha. This shows that he shares knowledge and experience with many people, but does so responsibly. His communication can also be related to government work. I would classify Mercury in Pushya as suitable for a teacher of law. Pushya and the ninth house are both linked to law. Before becoming a senator, he taught constitutional law at a university, which fits the chart.

In the Navamsha, Mercury rules the second and 11th houses. In the Dashamsha, it rules the second and fifth. Mercury occupies the second house in both charts, creating a strong pattern. The second house represents voice and truthfulness, so Mercury's influence indicates a very smart speaker. Mercury also gains strength by occupying Virgo and Gemini, signs it rules. He is likely to be an intelligent and spontaneous speaker who forms an opinion quickly and expresses it in a smart way. That is my reading of Mercury.

The seventh house, Moon and Darakaraka

The seventh-house ruler is Moon, which is in the fifth house in Rohini. To me, this indicates an attractive partner, as Rohini is considered one of the most beautiful Nakshatras. Rohini has a Shudra classification, translating to public service, so the partner may work in public service or social work. I am assuming his partner has been active in social work, and she was also a lawyer. Moon occupies its own Nakshatra in the fifth house, indicating that he is extremely fortunate in marriage.

In the Navamsha, Moon is in the ninth house. This can show a partner from a foreign culture and a meeting connected to a place of learning. Michelle Obama was born in Chicago, whereas Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, so there is a difference in background. When they met in 1989 at a law firm, she was assigned to mentor him while he was interning. They did not meet in an educational institution, but they met in circumstances where learning and guidance were involved.

I also look at the Darakaraka. In this chart it is Saturn, the planet with the lowest degree outside Rahu and Ketu. Saturn also represents the partner, so the partner is not only Moon-like but Saturn-like. Saturn in Uttara Ashadha suggests someone pursuing large goals, service-oriented, mature and caring, and perhaps similar in age. Moon and Saturn together can indicate a social worker. This reminds me of George Clooney's chart, which has a similar combination.

Moon in the Navamsha occupies Aries, ruled by Mars. Returning to the main chart, Mars is in Uttara Phalguni, which I directly connect with law. Michelle Obama was a lawyer. Moon in the ninth house suggests foreignness or a learning-related meeting; Moon in Aries leads us to Mars in Uttara Phalguni and a legal background; and Saturn as Darakaraka suggests social work. This is how I combine planetary positions and divisional charts.

Dashas and life events

I then use the Dashas and transits. From April 1981 until August 1983, while Barack Obama was completing a bachelor's degree in political science at Columbia University, he was in Rahu Mahadasha and Jupiter Antardasha. In my view, Jupiter Antardasha inherently creates an opportunity to learn.

I completed my own master's during Jupiter Antardasha. I had tried to begin earlier but could not, and it happened only after I entered that phase. Jupiter can bring a bachelor's or master's degree early in life, later training through work, or foreign travel, which is the original form of learning.

The next event was his study at Harvard from 1988 to 1991. At the end of 1988 he was in Mercury Antardasha. Jupiter and Mercury inherently create learning opportunities: he completed his bachelor's under Jupiter Antardasha and began the later programme under Mercury Antardasha.

In February 1990 he entered Venus Antardasha, which lasted for the next three years. He received an award after graduating from Harvard Law in 1991. Venus inherently brings fame, and an award would naturally have made him known. He was also in a relationship with Michelle Obama throughout this Venus period. They had met in 1989 and married on 3 October 1992. Venus can create an opportunity for a man to begin his personal life. I have seen many examples of Rahu and Venus periods creating that opportunity. His previous Venus period had been in 1977, when he was naturally very young, so the first mature Venus Antardasha brought marriage.

He entered politics in 1996, at the beginning of Jupiter Mahadasha. After many years in Rahu Mahadasha, Jupiter began a new chapter and his first step towards a political career. Donald Trump also became president during Jupiter Mahadasha. Jupiter is strongly linked to career growth, and here Jupiter is in Uttara Ashadha, so that growth could take place in public service.

Within Jupiter Mahadasha, he entered Venus Antardasha in June 2004 and became a national figure as a United States senator. Venus again brought recognition and fame. Jupiter-Sun began in February 2007. Sun is the king, so this was an important Antardasha for someone seeking a king-like position. He began his presidential campaign at the start of that phase, which laid the foundation for the presidency. He was elected on 4 November 2008 during Moon Antardasha. Moon in Rohini may also have brought fame.

Transits and timing

After the Dashas approve a life event, I use transits to narrow the time window. A 10-year transit table gives the planetary positions for each day. Because generating that amount of data can take time, first select the 10-year range and then use the search box, or the browser's find command, to locate the year, month and date.

On the election date, Mercury, Sun and Mars were transiting the 10th house. The house number appears in square brackets in the table. The transit of Sun and Mars over the 10th house could naturally bring the news that he had been elected president. I believe the foundation for the presidency had existed since the beginning of Jupiter Mahadasha, but the transits also make sense.

The planets transiting a house, their nature and the nature of that house help us understand a particular phase. Dashas must approve the event; transits then help narrow its timing. He married during Venus Antardasha, for example, while favourable transits could narrow the window. That is the methodology I follow.