# Natal Astrology — Agent Interpretation Guide

> For agents using the astro MCP to perform natal chart interpretation.
> Resource URI: `astro://guides/natal-astrology`

## Quick Reference: Tool Call Strategy

```
natal chart basic       → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data)
natal + overview        → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data, include_overview=true)
natal + patterns        → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data, include_patterns=true)
natal + karmic          → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data, include_karmic=true)
natal reading (full)    → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data, include_overview=true, include_patterns=true)
karmic natal reading    → calculate_natal_chart(birth_data, include_overview=true, include_patterns=true, include_karmic=true)
transit check           → get_transit_preview(birth_data, start, end)
current transits        → get_transit_preview(birth_data, today, today+30d)
```

---

## Framework

A natal chart is a symbolic map of personality, potential, and life themes. The art of interpretation is **synthesis** — weaving individual data points (planets, signs, houses, aspects) into a coherent narrative about the person.

**Core Principle:**
- **Planets** = *what* is happening (psychological functions)
- **Signs** = *how* the energy behaves (style, flavor)
- **Houses** = *where* in life it plays out (life areas)
- **Aspects** = *how the parts interact* (support, tension, fusion)

---

## Standard Natal Reading Workflow

### Step 1: Chart Overview

**Call**: `calculate_natal_chart` with `include_overview=true`

Process the `overview` section:
1. **Element balance** — Which elements dominate? Which are missing? Missing element = compensatory life area.
2. **Modality balance** — Cardinal (initiating), Fixed (persistent), Mutable (adaptable). Dominant modality = core approach to life.
3. **Hemisphere emphasis** — Upper (7-12, outer/public), Lower (1-6, private), East (10-3, self-driven), West (4-9, relational).
4. **Stelliums** — 3+ planets in a sign/house = intense focus on that theme.
5. **Empty houses** — Life areas that operate more unconsciously, less self-directed.
6. **Chart ruler** — The planet ruling the Ascendant sign is the most important planet. Its sign, house, and aspects show where life energy is directed.

### Step 2: The Big Three

**Data from**: Step 1 planets list (Sun, Moon, Ascendant angles)

1. **Sun** (sign + house): Core identity and purpose
2. **Moon** (sign + house): Emotional needs and instincts
3. **Ascendant** (sign from angles): Persona and approach to life
4. **Chart ruler**: Ruler of the Ascendant — its sign, house, and aspects (from overview)
5. **Sun-Moon phase** (from lunar_phase): New moon (beginning), waxing (building), full (culmination), waning (releasing)

### Step 3: Angles and Angle Rulers

**Data from**: Step 1 angles + overview house_rulers

- Signs on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th house cusps
- Rulers of these angles and their condition
- Planets conjunct any angle (highly emphasized)

### Step 4: Personal Planets

**Data from**: Step 1 planets list + aspects (filter for tight orbs, ≤3°)

- **Mercury**: Thinking and communication style
- **Venus**: Love style, values, aesthetics
- **Mars**: Drive, assertiveness, conflict style
- For each: sign + house + key aspects

### Step 5: Social and Outer Planets

- **Jupiter**: Growth, opportunity, faith
- **Saturn**: Challenges, lessons, mastery
- **Uranus/Neptune/Pluto**: Generational themes; personal when tightly aspecting angles or personal planets

### Step 6: Aspect Patterns

**Call**: `calculate_natal_chart` with `include_patterns=true`

Use the `aspect_patterns` output:
- **T-squares**: Stress + potential; apex planet is focal point
- **Grand Trines**: Natural talent and ease; can indicate complacency
- **Grand Cross**: Intense tension requiring balance and flexibility
- **Yods**: Fated, sensitive points; apex planet is destiny focal point

Also check `chart_shape`:
- **Bundle**: Intense focus, specialized life approach
- **Bowl**: Self-contained, collecting experiences in one direction
- **Bucket**: Handle planet directs all the energy
- **Splash**: Diverse interests, scattered or universal
- **Locomotive**: Driving force, the gap is where they push forward
- **Seesaw**: Two opposing pulls that need balance
- **Splay**: Multiple talents, needs integration

### Step 7: Synthesis

Identify 3–5 **recurring themes** across the chart:
1. **Repeated elements**: Sun + Moon + Ascendant in fire = fire-dominant personality
2. **Contradictions**: Sun in Aries but Moon in Libra = inner tension between assertion and harmony
3. **Compensations**: Missing fire element but Mars in 1st house = fire through action
4. **Dominant aspects**: Multiple squares to Saturn = a "Saturnian" life with heavy lessons
5. **Unaspected planets**: Function operates independently, sometimes unconsciously

### Step 8: Current Transits (Optional)

**Call**: `get_transit_preview` with a date range around today

Shows which natal planets are being activated by transits right now. Focus on:
- Transits to Sun, Moon, Ascendant (personal activation)
- Saturn transits (life structure changes)
- Jupiter transits (growth opportunities)
- Pluto transits (deep transformation)

---

## Output Structure for a Natal Reading

1. **Overview**: Core personality in 2–3 sentences (from element/modality balance, chart shape)
2. **The Big Three**: Sun, Moon, Ascendant — identity, emotions, persona
3. **Chart Ruler**: Where life energy is directed
4. **Key Planet Placements**: 3–5 most significant planet-in-sign-in-house combinations
5. **Major Aspects**: 3–5 tightest/most significant aspects with interpretation
6. **Aspect Patterns**: Any T-squares, grand trines, grand crosses
7. **Chart Shape**: Overall life approach pattern
8. **Life Themes**: Recurring patterns across the chart
9. **Strengths and Gifts**: Natural talents and supportive aspects
10. **Growth Edges**: Challenging aspects and what they're teaching
11. **Current Transits** (optional): What's activating the chart right now

---

## Interpretation Templates

### Planet in Sign in House
> **[Planet]** in **[Sign]** in **[House]** → [Planet function] expressed in the style of [Sign keywords] through the life area of [House].

Example: "Mars in Capricorn in the 6th house → Drive and initiative (Mars) expressed with discipline and ambition (Capricorn) through daily work and health routines (6th)."

### Aspect
> **[Planet A]** in **[Sign X]** **[aspect]** **[Planet B]** in **[Sign Y]** → The [Planet A function] and [Planet B function] are [blended/in tension/in harmony], creating [dynamic] between [life area A] and [life area B].

Example: "Venus in Taurus trine Saturn in Virgo → Love and affection (Venus) flow naturally with discipline and commitment (Saturn), creating a stable, enduring approach to relationships and values."

### Chart Ruler
> The chart ruler is **[Planet]** in **[Sign]** in **[House]** → Life energy is strongly directed toward [house themes], expressed through [sign style].

Example: "The chart ruler is Mercury in Sagittarius in the 9th house → Life energy is directed toward higher learning, philosophy, and travel, expressed through an optimistic, exploratory communication style."

---

## Common Pitfalls

1. **Sun sign only**: The Sun is important, but it's only one piece. Always read the full chart.
2. **Overemphasizing hard aspects**: Squares and oppositions are growth opportunities, not curses.
3. **Ignoring the chart ruler**: The ruler of the Ascendant is often the most important planet.
4. **Reading planets in isolation**: Always consider sign + house + aspects together.
5. **Deterministic language**: Avoid "you will" — use "you tend to," "you may find," "there's a theme of."
6. **Missing the forest for the trees**: Step back and identify the 3–5 big themes before diving into details.

## Interpretation Tone

- **Empowering, not deterministic**: The chart shows potential and tendencies, not fixed fate
- **Strengths-first**: Lead with gifts before discussing challenges
- **Actionable**: For each challenge, suggest what the person can *do* with it
- **Plain language**: Avoid jargon when possible; translate technical terms
- **Holistic**: Weave individual placements into a coherent story, not a list of bullet points