Tips for Reading Children's Natal Charts

Who said that children don't come with an instruction manual? A natal chart provides all the instruction a parent needs to raise their child well.

When I meditate or do oracle card readings for myself, I keep receiving the message to teach astrology workshops about children's natal charts or to read charts of children for new age parents. 

This seems an odd request to me since I have no children and my experiences with children have seemed limited beyond the occasional child I meet on a bus or at an event.  However, I have had experiences with Indigo and Crystal Children (plus I'm Indigo born in the 1960s) and I feel like I can help parents understand their children better by seeing their child's blueprint in the form of an astrology chart.  I'm also Cancerian with a Pisces Moon so I feel deeply for anyone who appears vulnerable in the world, which includes children and the elderly, or anyone who feels like an outsider (Indigo Children feel like outsiders).

For infants and young children, I think it's best to focus on the personal planets (Moon, Sun through Jupiter and include Saturn when they enter school).  However, in the case of a child with Sun conjunct Neptune, Uranus or Pluto, consult with a professional astrologer versed in transformational astrology and not one that makes unwanted predictions about your child's future. 

While the outer planets represent generations or at least larger groups of people born during the same time period, (such as Uranus-Pluto conjunct in Virgo in the 1960s or the triple conjunction of Saturn-Uranus-Neptune in Capricorn from 1988-1990 which astrologer Donna Cunningham mentions in her books and articles), the outer planets become more personal when conjunct to the AC, Moon, or Sun. 

They also have a powerful influence when conjunct to the Mercury, Venus, and Mars.  Strong outer planets in a chart could also reflect a child coming in the world as an Indigo, Crystal or Rainbow child, especially with strong aspects to Neptune and Uranus (which from my own experiences leave a person feeling like an outsider or in some cases, a freak).

If you suspect that your child fits into one of those categories, I recommend reading The Indigo Children (The New Kids have Arrived) by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober or a similar title.  Doreen Virtue has also written extensively on Indigo and Crystal children.  For now, I'm giving you an alternate view of the natal chart that focuses on children. I've played around with the themes of the houses and attributes of the personal planets.  I advise serious students of astrology to pick up books on yods, stelliums, and the outer planets which play a bigger role as your child develop, especially in the teen and young adult years.

Planets

Sun-Self-identity, youth, creativity, radiance, ego, strength, courage, and heart-center

Moon-Emotional-self, feelings, nurturing, caring, how we are mothered, our mothers, home life (especially early home life), secrets, feminine energy, spirituality, childhood

Mercury-Learning, communication and thinking style, how we use language, siblings, siblings, short distance travel, school (K-12)

Venus--How we attract, beauty, attractiveness, connection to the earth, girlfriends, artistic ability, aesthetic tastes, interest in gardening

Mars--Ambition, how we get our needs met, drive, how we stand up in competition, boys we attract or pursue, the hunt, the chase, sibling or peer rivalry, action-oriented, athletes and sports, this could also represent competitiveness in academics

Jupiter--Religion, philosophy, foreign countries, culture, higher education, sense of expansion, where we feel happy-go-lucky, love of food, parties, good times, a sense of what is fun, humor, there is some risk-taking here

Saturn--Discipline, how our parents discipline us, responsibility, adults, teachers (also teachers under Jupiter), hardships in early childhood, developing grit, maturity, wisdom, structure, skin, teeth, bones...

Leaving out the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto since these planets tend to represent trends and generations more so than individuals.  These planets are slow moving and matter later as a child reaches teen and adult years

Houses:

These 12 Zodiac Wheel Houses are interpreted for a child’s chart so the themes of the houses differ from the usual natal chart read for an adult or teen.

First House--Natural Ruler is Aries (Mars)

The key words are to act or action. This is the house of self-identity where we find our ascension sign and where we give off our first impression to others.  This house represents new beginnings and birth.

Planets in this house could overshadow or color the Sun Sign.  Mercury causes this child to become talkative or interested in learning, and he or she learns quickly.  The Moon in this house colors the child’s emotions and a parent needs to ward off selfishness, but at the same time encourage a healthy expression of emotions and feelings.  The Sun further emphasizes ego and core identity.

Saturn brings a sense of responsibility, usually for the parent and siblings.  The Sun in this house could represent the eldest child or the one who feels like he or she is responsible and more mature than the parents.  Here we find the little mother or father or the caretaker child.

Jupiter in this house the child loves to indulge, especially in food and anything he or she finds fun or funny.  This child seems happy-go-lucky and loves parties.  He or she probably has lots of friends and acts generously with time and other resources.  The child is an optimist but might have pie-in-the-sky ideas.  However, allow this child to dream and use his or her imagination.  Let them believe in wishes on stars. They can always develop practicality at a later age.

Uranus could represent a rebellious or innovative genius type.  Neptune represents a dreamer or artist of some kind.  Neptune in the first house walks the line between intuitive and delusional, especially if Neptune is on the cusps.  Pluto gives this child a sense of authority. The child could be secretive or enjoy solving mysteries or have a passionate interest in medicine and healing.

Second House--This is the house of steadfastness, peace, and serenity and the natural ruler of this House is Taurus and Venus.  This is a down-to-earth house where we find talents, gifts, and personal resources.  Depending on the planets in this house and their signs determine whether or not a child is given the opportunities to pursue gifts and talents.

Third House, ruled by Mercury and Gemini, represents learning/communication/thinking style/siblings, cousins, K-12 education and short trips.  Planets that land in this house color these areas.  Mercury in this house could represent a more rational child bent on learning new and interesting things or a child who is talkative (a chatterbox) depending on the sign Mercury lands.  The Moon in this house represents a child with tender emotions and sensitive feelings that make him or her vulnerable.

Fourth House ruled by Cancer and the Moon represents the child’s mother and early home life. A child with many planets in this house might do quite well with homeschool and might not want to venture outside of the home much.  This child could be shy, introverted, tender in emotions and attached to his or her mother.  This child prefers home cooked meals to restaurants and might be phobic of food cooked by strangers.  This is the Moon house feels nurturing and intuitive.

In the Fifth House, we find fun and games since Leo rules this house.  This is naturally the house of children so, in this case, would represent the parents’ attitude towards children. This is the house of sports, games, competition, theatre, dressing up in costumes, play, imagination, and let’s put on a show.  We also find parties, holidays, favorite plays, television shows in this house.

Sixth House ruled by Virgo represents the daily environment.  Do parents work from home, is the child homeschooled or does this house represent the public or private school?  We find health issues (usually psychosomatic), allergies, services such as children volunteering and this house could represent work for older children, such as pet sitting, a newspaper route in this house. 
Planets here color the daily environment, health, and the people we spend our daily lives with.  Children with personal planets in this house are also mommy or daddy's little helper.  This is also the house of childhood pets and in traditional astrology, household servants.

Seventh House ruled by Libra, represents balance, parents’ marriage, projections on others, childhood sweethearts, and a sense of balance and justice.

Eight House ruled by Scorpio, family secrets, death, birth, rebirth, regeneration, taboo topics, other people’s resources (parents, teachers and other adults) and in this house, we find childhood soulmates that come along and change our lives leaving us to remember them 20+ years later. On a darker note, planets here could also represent violence and abuse in the home or at school (use caution with this description).

Ninth House ruled by Sagittarius represents long-distance travel, living overseas or in another country and being born to a religious or military family. This is a nomadic house or one of higher education, philosophy, world cultures, and anthropology. Exposure to other cultures or a foreign teacher leaves a profound effect on the child.  This house represents freedom and how we find freedom.

Tenth House ruled by Capricorn represents the father, father figures, the father’s career, or absence of a father.  In a child’s chart, this house represents the child’s views on work, career, and public figures such as government, banks, and other institutions.  For the younger children, this house represents the type of fathering he or she receives.  Children with a 10th House Sun or Saturn enjoy playing with money.  I suggest opening a savings account early for these children and teach them the value of money.  They enjoy having jobs too such as pet sitting, babysitting, or a paper route (do we still have these?) as they grow older.

Eleventh House ruled by Aquarius represents the house of friends that are part of a group or sports team or even debate team, school band, or peers at school.  In this house, children are impressed by humanitarians or choose to serve in a humanitarian way.  This house represents the community, social behavior among peers, peer pressure and the need to be different.

Twelfth House ruled by Pisces represents spirituality, intuition and the need to escape into addiction or imagination.  This is the house of religion, spiritual experiences such as epiphanies. Think of Joan of Arc and other child saints.  We also find mental illness, psychiatric treatment, and psycho-somatic illness and for older kids experimenting with drugs and alcohol in this house. 
For the younger children, this house focuses on religion and spiritual yearnings.  Children might also recall past lives if they have Moon Nodes or planets in this house, especially Neptune or Pluto.