The Four Angles in Your Astrocartography Map
In your birth chart, there are four key angles that represent the major themes of life. When reading your astrocartography map, the four key angles - Ascendant (ASC), Descendant (DSC), Midheaven (MC), and Imum Coeli (IC) - show how planetary energies express in those different areas of life. Each planet can appear along any of these angles, creating unique experiences in that location.
Example birth chart of Pablo Picasso showing the AC, IC, DC and MC angles
New to astrocartography? Start with Your Beginner-Friendly Guide to All the Astrocartography Lines to learn each planet’s meaning and what the lines represent before diving into angles.
The Four Angles
Your astrocartography map shows where planets cross one of four key angles, each revealing how that planet’s energy expresses in different areas of life. Understanding these angles is essential for interpreting your map.
Ascendant (ASC):
The ASC line represents your self-expression, how you project yourself to the world, and the qualities you show outwardly. It’s linked to the sign rising on the Eastern horizon at your birth and interacts closely with your Sun and Moon.Example: A Mars ASC line may make you more assertive or energetic in this location, encouraging you to take action and show confidence. A Chiron ASC line might bring subtle self-healing or awareness of personal vulnerabilities.
Imum Coeli (IC):
The IC line is at the bottom of your chart, representing home, family, roots, and your emotional foundation.Example: A Venus IC line can create a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing home environment, while a Saturn IC line may bring structure and responsibility to family life or inner foundations.
Descendant (DSC):
The DSC line highlights partnerships, key interactions, and the qualities you attract in relationships.Example: A Jupiter DSC line may bring supportive or expansive relationships, opening doors through others, while a Neptune DSC line could encourage spiritual or creative connections but may also blur boundaries.
Midheaven (MC):
The MC line represents your vocation, public life, and career aspirations. It’s the highest point of your chart, showing where you can gain visibility or professional success.Example: A Mercury MC line might enhance communication, teaching, or writing in your career, while a Pluto MC line could bring transformational experiences or power dynamics into your professional life.
How many lines is that?
Each planet can appear along any of these angles, creating a slightly different flavor of its energy depending on location. With 9 planets × 4 angles, you have 36 planetary lines. Add to that the nodes and other asteroid lines like Chiron, and you have 44 + lines that create a rich array of influences to explore all over your world.
Orb of Influence
Remember: you don’t need to be exactly on a line to feel its energy. Most astrologers suggest an orb of ~300 miles (~500 km) up to around 600 miles. When multiple lines are nearby, their energies blend - creating unique combinations that affect your experience in that location.
Parans & Other Lines
To help determine where to move north or south, we have paran lines.
Parans occur when two planetary lines cross on the map and form a new horizontal line that wraps around the earth. They create blended energy effects, but we cover this in-depth in my separate post on The Importance of Parans. For now, focus on understanding planets through the four angles as your primary layer.
Horizontal lines on the map are called parans and they combine the energy of two planets
Next Steps: Putting It All Together
Once you understand how planets express through the angles, you can start exploring practical applications - whether relocating, traveling, or connecting to these energies symbolically. For actionable guidance, see How to Use Astrocartography for Travel, Relocation & Personal Growth.
Interested in discussing if an astrocartography reading is right for you?