Your date of birth tells an astrologer where the Sun, Moon and planets were. Your time of birth tells them how that sky was oriented to the place you were born — and that orientation decides your rising sign and all twelve houses.
How fast things move
The rising sign changes roughly every two hours, and the degree on the horizon moves about one degree every four minutes. Near the edge of a sign, a short difference can change the reading.
Where to find an accurate time
- A full birth certificate, where your country records the time.
- Hospital or midwife records.
- A baby book or a parent's diary written at the time.
- Family memory is a last resort; ask more than one person.
If you cannot find it
A reading is still worthwhile. We can work with the planets by sign and aspect, and chart rectification can estimate your time from the dates of major life events.
