The Importance of a Correct Birth Time
The moment when you are born and take your first breath is the moment that you begin your current journey on Earth.
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At that moment, the planets in our solar system had a particular position in the heavens and those positions are noted in your astrological chart which can then be read by an astrologer. The chart provides a blueprint that you can work with.
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Slower moving planets will not change their position very much throughout the day you were born but the Moon moves quickly and will certainly change its degree position during that day, and may even change its sign. The exact position and sign of the Moon is essential for a satisfactory chart reading. The Moon tells us about your physical, emotional and psychological needs. It tells us (symbolically) what you need in order to live out your life's purpose. An inaccurate time can place the Moon in the wrong house and/or the wrong sign which will not be helpful to you as a client.
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Another very personal factor of the Horoscope is the Ascendant; also called the Rising Sign. The Ascendant is the sign, and degree of that sign, rising on the Eastern horizon at the time of your birth. Due to the daily rotation of the Earth around its own axis, a different sign of the zodiac rises on the Eastern Horizon every 2 hours. This translates to a 1 degree change every 4 minutes. The Ascendant tells the astrologer a great deal about your persona and your approach to life. In addition, the Ascendant is needed in order to create the houses of the chart which in turn tell us about various parts of your life such as relationships, career, family, money and so on.
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It is important that you make every attempt to provide an accurate birth time.
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What to do if you don't know your birth time.
Leave no stone unturned.
If there is research to do, please do it.
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There are many countries that do not list the birth time on the birth certificate. Some countries might not list it on a short form certificate but it can be found on a long form certificate, which can be ordered from the appropriate bureaucracy in your country. Do not assume that the birth time will be on a long form certificate though. Check before ordering.
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You can try contacting the hospital where you were born to see if they have records or to ask where those records are now kept. As you get older, hospital records may become harder to find.
The next thing to do is to go sleuthing. Parents, caregivers and family friends are all people who can be approached to see what they remember. Then there are old baby books, photo albums, boxes in the attic, the family bible and old diaries. These are all places to find information.
If it has been impossible to find your exact time of birth or if you only have an approximate time like, 'it was after supper and it was dark but my parents hadn't gone to bed yet', then rectification is something to consider.