Astrocartography

Astrocartography is a branch of astrology that examines how a person’s birth chart may activate differently across geographic locations. By projecting the planetary positions from a natal chart onto a world map, practitioners identify lines associated with the Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven (MC), and Imum Coeli (IC), as well as planetary lines. Each line is thought to indicate places where specified energies or life themes might be experienced more strongly.

Origin and method: The technique was popularized in the 1970s by Jim Lewis and is part of the broader practice known as relocation astrology. Using birth data—date, exact time, and birthplace—an astrologer generates a map in which each planet or angle produces a line on the globe. Locations near a given line are interpreted as more receptive to that planet’s influence, such as career emphasis along a MC line or personal relationships along a Venus line.

Applications and use: Some individuals use astrocartography to inform decisions about relocation, travel, or business expansion, and to interpret past life or present events in different regions. The method is widely seen as a psychological or symbolic tool within astrology rather than a proven science, and interpretations vary among practitioners.

Limitations and criticism: Critics note that astrocartography lacks empirical support, is highly subjective, and can produce ambiguous results. Outcomes depend on chart accuracy, interpretation, and projection methods, and findings are not falsifiable. It remains one of several locational astrology techniques and is typically considered supplementary to a natal chart and transit analysis.