Have questions about AstralWise, Hellenistic astrology, or how our tools work? Below you will find answers to the most common questions we receive.
AstralWise is a free online astrology platform specializing in Hellenistic astrology — the original Western astrological tradition practiced from roughly the 2nd century BCE through the 7th century CE. We offer precise birth chart calculations, synastry compatibility reports, daily horoscopes, and an extensive library of educational articles, all grounded in classical techniques such as Whole Sign Houses, planetary sect, and annual profections.
Hellenistic astrology is the earliest systematized form of Western horoscopic astrology. It emerged in Greco-Roman Egypt around the 2nd century BCE, blending Mesopotamian omen traditions, Egyptian decanic astrology, and Greek philosophical thought. Unlike modern psychological astrology, Hellenistic astrology uses concrete predictive techniques — including planetary sect, essential dignities, Arabic Lots, annual profections, and zodiacal releasing — to analyze a birth chart with remarkable specificity. Many of these techniques were lost for centuries and have only recently been recovered through the translation of ancient Greek and Latin texts.
Our planetary calculations use the Swiss Ephemeris, the same high-precision astronomical engine trusted by professional astrologers and researchers worldwide. Planetary positions are accurate to within fractions of an arc-second. We compute all charts using the Whole Sign House system, the original house system of Hellenistic astrology, and factor in the seven classical planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) along with the Lot of Fortune and other Arabic Lots.
To calculate a complete and accurate birth chart, you need three pieces of information:
Yes. We take your privacy seriously. Birth data you enter is stored locally in your browser using localStorage — it never leaves your device unless you explicitly create an account. We do not sell, share, or monetize your personal information. For geocoding (converting your birth place to coordinates), we use the open-source Nominatim service, which does not retain your queries. For full details, please read our Privacy Policy.
Our free plan gives you access to full birth chart calculations with Whole Sign Houses, basic natal interpretations, daily horoscopes, and our entire blog of educational articles. The premium plan ($9.99 one-time payment) unlocks advanced features including:
Modern astrology (developed primarily in the 20th century) tends to be psychological and character-oriented, focusing on personality traits and inner potential. Hellenistic astrology, by contrast, is a predictive and event-oriented system. Key differences include:
In Hellenistic astrology, the seven classical planets are the celestial bodies visible to the naked eye, each governing specific areas of life:
These seven luminaries and planets formed the complete toolkit of the ancient astrologer. The outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) were unknown to the Hellenistic tradition and are not used in our calculations.
Sect is one of the most important concepts in Hellenistic astrology. It divides charts into two teams based on whether you were born during the day or night:
A planet "in sect" — meaning it is on the correct team and in the correct position (e.g., a day planet in a day chart above the horizon) — operates at its best and most constructive. A planet "contrary to sect" tends to produce more challenging or difficult results. Sect is the single most reliable factor for determining whether a planet will express itself positively or negatively in a given chart.
The Lot of Fortune (also called the Part of Fortune) is the most important of the Arabic Lots — mathematical points calculated from the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant. For a day chart, the formula is: Ascendant + Moon - Sun. For a night chart, the formula is reversed: Ascendant + Sun - Moon. The Lot of Fortune represents physical well-being, material circumstances, and overall fortune. Its sign, house placement, and ruling planet reveal key information about your health, livelihood, and worldly success. In Hellenistic astrology, the Lot of Fortune is as important as the Ascendant itself.
For the most accurate chart, yes — your birth time matters significantly. The Ascendant (rising sign) changes roughly every two hours, and many Hellenistic techniques depend on knowing the correct Ascendant. If your birth time is off by even 15-30 minutes, it can change your rising sign, house placements, and the interpretation of your entire chart. That said, if you do not know your birth time at all, we can still generate a chart set to noon that provides useful information about planetary signs and aspects — you simply will not have accurate house placements or Lot calculations. We recommend checking your birth certificate or contacting the hospital where you were born to obtain the most precise time possible.
Absolutely. AstralWise is fully responsive and works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. The entire experience — from entering your birth data to viewing your chart and reading interpretations — is optimized for mobile screens. There is no app to download; simply visit astralwise.com in your mobile browser, and you are ready to go.