If you peruse your monthly horoscope and searched for your astrological compatibility with that attractive Bumble date, you already understand that astrology can serve as a valuable tool for self-awareness, gauging current vibes (hello, intense eclipse season), and comprehending relationship dynamics. However, were you aware that it can also inform your yearning for travel or even a significant relocation?

Introduced by an astrologer named Jim Lewis in the 1970s, astrocartography (also known as locational astrology) is a system that enables you to perceive how your perspective on the world, energy, love, and career prospects may be influenced when you travel or establish new roots.

“Life may feel excellent for you in one location but challenging in another due to your distinct astrocartography profile,” explains Ralph MacIntyre, an astrologer based in San Diego who specializes in astrocartography. “There are places on Earth with energies that can positively impact your work or love life, for instance, or promote good health, while other locations may hinder these developments. Astrocartography maps indicate where your unique astrological influences present opportunities for growth and highlight challenges or disadvantages associated with specific areas.”

Here’s what you need to understand in order to utilize astrology as your life — or vacation-planning — GPS.

The Fundamentals of Astrocartography

If you have ever generated your astrological birth chart using a website, an app, or ideally, through the guidance of a professional astrologer, you already comprehend that it acts as a “snapshot” of the sky at the moment of your birth. Receive numerous “HBD” messages every August 3rd? You’re a Leo. Born on New Year’s Day? You’re a Cap, obviously. However, while individuals often identify themselves solely by their sun sign, it is comparable to a doctor examining lab results and noting your age. Your sun sign — the zodiac sign that the sun occupied at the time of your birth — is merely one aspect among many that constitute your individual astrological profile. and once you have your unique birth chart available, you can utilize it to comprehend how you might be influenced when you reside in or visit a specific location on Earth, according to the theory of astrocartography.

Astrocartography contrasts your birth chart with the position of the sun, moon, and planets relative to the Earth when you were born. By delving into these specifics, you can gain insight into where you may find pleasure or encounter difficulties with specific energy shifts (and employ that information to plan an exciting vacation or a contemplative yoga retreat).

How an Astrocartography Map Appears & Signifies

To acquire your astrocartography map, you have the option to consult with a professional astrologer, like MacIntyre, or utilize an online tool, such as astro.com’s AstroClick Travel feature. To make use of AstroClick Travel, you will need to input your birthdate (including the time) and birthplace, and voilà, your AstroClick travel chart.

If you access your customized astrocartography map, you will observe lines running vertically or curving across the map. One line might run directly down the east coast, another directly through the middle of the Pacific. Each corresponds to a planet and its position in the sky during your birth

Explore the energetic impact of each planetary line:

• Sun: An esteem-boosting line, the sun line can uplift your spirits, causing you to feel harmonized with your fundamental self.
• Moon: Correlated with sentiments, the moon can enhance feelings of vulnerability and sensitivity.
• Mercury: As the planet of communication (as well as transportation and technology) Mercury’s line enhances self-expression, as well as travel and intellectual pursuits. (And, yes, it also experiences retrograde periods occasionally.)
• Venus: The planet of romance, beauty, and money, the Venus line can amplify all of these themes, leading to enduring love and partnerships, creativity, as well as feeling and appearing exceptionally attractive.
• Mars: Governing action, athleticism, energy, and sex, the Mars line can stimulate combativeness — but intensify excitement and passion.
• Jupiter: The largest planet in the solar system is associated with expansion and fortune, hence it is considered one of the most fortunate areas.
• Saturn: The strict disciplinarian planet, Saturn oversees hard work and uphill battles that are intended to impart crucial lessons. Being near a Saturn line might make life seem laborious, but ultimately, it can enhance your maturity and personal growth.

Uranus: Revolutionary Uranus revolves around sudden, unforeseen shifts, change, and freedom. The influence of the line can leave you feeling invigorated (typically in an anxious manner) and determined to defy convention.

Neptune: The planet of dreams, spirituality, and intuition, Neptune clouds logical thought, so its line elevates creativity — but also illusion.

Pluto: The planet of transformation also deals with deep-seated, psychological issues and power struggles, so it can be an emotionally demanding area to spend time in.

And because the sun is always rising in one place while setting in another, there are four lines for each celestial body, known as the “four angles” or cardinal points:

1. Ascending or Arising (AC): Your ascending line is linked to your outward character, and you’ll resonate with the energy of whichever planet(s) was closest to your ascendant when you were born. Traveling or relocating to your sun ascending line may make you feel more self-assured and grounded in how you present yourself to others in the world.
2. The Opposite (DC): The opposite line relates to your connections with others. For example, your Venus opposite line could be particularly significant for finding love.
3. The Bottom of the Sky (IC): The IC line is connected to your origins, home, family, security, and how that foundation influences your sense of self. It has a introspective impact, so your moon IC line could be a place where you can make progress with a practice like therapy or meditation, exploring deep-seated emotions.
4. The Middle of the Sky (MC): The MC line represents social status, public reputation, who you are — or aspire to be — at the highest level of success. Spending time on your Mars MC line might ignite your passion to pursue ambitious professional goals.

Combine these angles with your Astroclick Travel lines (or the planetary lines provided by an astrologer), and you’ll gain an intriguing understanding of the lessons or energies you might encounter in a specific part of the world. For example, if you attend college in Boston, right on your Venus ascending line, it could indicate that you’re more likely to be sociable, form vibrant connections, and develop a strong sense of self-worth. Or if you relocate to Los Angeles, where your Mercury IC line lies, it might be easier to express your emotions and inner life or learn more about yourself through therapy or researching your genealogy.

How to Utilize Astrocartography Prior to Relocating

Suppose you were born in Chicago and want to gauge how you’ll feel if you accept a job in Miami. You can also apply the concept of astrocartography to relocation astrology, which involves “shifting” your birth chart.

“For instance, if two people are born at the same instant, but one is in California and the other in London, their perspective on the sky is very different,” explains astrologer April Elliott Kent of Big Sky Astrology and the Big Sky Astrology Podcast. “The stars and planets are in the same signs and relationship to one another, but [people’s] viewpoint on them shifts depending on their geographic location.”

Here’s an example: If Pisces is ascending in the east in California, a child born there will approach unfamiliar situations in a Pisces manner — gentle, compassionate, says Kent. And if a child is born in London at the same moment, Leo would be ascending — a authoritative, expressive personality. “If that child grows up and moves to California, they’ll align with the Pisces that was ascending there at the time of their birth,” she explains. “[It would be] very disorienting for a Leo ascendant person to have to behave in a Pisces way.”

The Final Verdict

According to MacIntyre, astrocartography is not a quick fix.

It’s simply a method to tap into the energies of a given location, which might impact you in a specific, preferable manner. “You will still need to exert effort to alter or embrace new opportunities that come your way,” he states.

Kent reinforces that point by reminding that even if you enhance or moderate inherent tendencies and opportunities by altering your chart, you’re not going to disregard your fundamental wiring as dictated by your birth chart. “You’re still you, wherever you go,” she emphasizes, but by comprehending and implementing astrocartography, you might be able to gain a better understanding of yourself — and gain an advantage in pursuing your dreams and goals.

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