Do You Need a Birth Time?

In episode 270 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim discuss which techniques you can use in natal astrology to interpret a birth chart even when you don't have a birth time. Western astrology has focused very heavily on using timed birth charts since about the 1st century BCE, and there are many techniques in natal astrology that can only be employed if you know a person's exact time of birth. While in many western countries the birth time is usually recorded on a person's birth certificate, not everyone knows or can obtain their birth time, which means that there are some techniques that simply cannot be applied to their chart. In this podcast we set out to discuss which techniques can be applied to a person's birth chart even if their birth time is unknown, and what we discovered along the way is that there is actually a lot that you can still do without a birth time. Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download the recording. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Episode Outline and Show Notes Introduction What techniques can be applied to a natal chart when there is no birth time? Assuming that rectification is out of the question. Both interpretive techniques for the birth chart on its own and timing techniques. I put out a survey on Twitter and Facebook, so thanks everyone who answered   Preliminary Matters First we have to start by explaining why a birth time is important. Western natal astrology is very much centered around knowing the time of birth. The time of birth is needed to calculate the Ascendant or rising sign From the Ascendant one calculates the houses, which designate areas of life. Other techniques like the Lots or Arabic Parts depend on having a birth time By extension some timing techniques like zodiacal releasing require a time Even the basic method of annual profections requires the rising sign If a person is born close to a cusp the Sun can change signs in a day Moon moves about 13 degrees in a day, so changes signs every 2-3 days Rising sign changes every 1-2 hours The original word for the Ascendant is Horoskopos or Hour-Marker Horoscopic astrology is any type of astrology that uses the Ascendant   Try to Find Your Birth Time First First things first, make sure you’ve exhausted all options for finding your birth time Try really hard to find your birth time Talk to your parents or other relatives who may know Trying to find your birth certificate Baby book Family bible Either the original copy of your birth certificate or order a copy from the state Get the long form birth certificate State sometimes makes digital copy that may not have the time Birth certificate usually more accurate because parent’s memories notoriously unreliable Even if you can’t find the time, see if you can narrow down what part of the day it was Knowing it was definitely daytime or nighttime will tell you the sect of the chart If you narrow it down to a few hour span it is easier to rectify the rising sign See ep 169: Rectification: Using Astrology to Find Your Birth Time Try building a time machine If most of this fails then proceed as follows   Setting Up the Chart Some people use a Sunrise chart Selecting the time that morning when the Sun was on the Ascendant Solar houses But if they were born at night, lunar houses might be more appropriate? (We forgot to mention this issue in the recording) We prefer to use a noon chart (set the chart for 12:00 PM the day of the birth) Because then you know the Moon can only be 6 degrees off Signs and aspects correct, but disregard the houses House placements depend on the Ascendant and birth time Also ignore Lot of Fortune and other lots   Natal Interpretive Techniques Without A Birth Time