Last week I did something I would not have ever thought to do: read my astrology birth chart. One of my closed friends, Amanda, has been learning the science of astrology for about 11 years and recently began testing her knowledge by offering free birth chart readings to her friends and family. Before we began the reading on the floor of my apartment, I was filled with questions and little bits of doubt.

“I am so excited to do this!” said Amanda. “Are you ready?” She explained how it was going to work, explained the bare basics of astrology, the houses, the planet symbols, and showed me where most of my planets are, my midheaven, my moon sign and started telling me about myself.

Weird, right?

Let’s break it down. Astrology is something that has fallen in and out of the "mainstream" for decades; yet, we all read our horoscopes, right? There are tons of misconceptions and misunderstandings. Your birth chart (also called natal chart) goes far beyond your Sun Sign—which is the “main sign” people identify with from your birthday. As Amanda explained, your Sun sign is “who you be,” it is your general essence. We all have other signs, like our Mercury, our Venus, our Uranus, etc. Our Sun sign only cover a portion of our individual selves. Birth Charts use the “Whole Sign House system.” The Zodiac, which is the band of the sky in which the planets move is divided into 12 Signs, the natural order being Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The Zodiac is then divided into four groups: Fire, Air, Earth and Water. The positions of the planets, the houses they fall in, their points and elements, are all collectively interpreted. In order to get an accurate reading, you need to know your exact minute of birth. This will completely change how your chart reads. For a total newbie to astrology—a system that has existed since the Babylonians—it is a lot to take in and definitely not something that can be explained in 500 words. But, after my experience, I think everyone should have their birth chart read at least once.

Amanda and I sat on the floor for over an hour. By the end, I felt like I had been exposed in some way I couldn’t explain. I had heard my other friends get their birth charts read—friends that I would never think to be interested in astrology—and some described the experience “transformative,” while others simply felt reaffirmed. One cried. One had the courage to ask for more advice. No matter what the circumstance, the experience was a positive way of analyzing their lives.

Birth charts will not tell the future. Astrology is not a “religion,” a cult, fortune telling, or voodoo, it is a “series of calculations and interpretations to be read about and studied,” as Amanda explained. Your astrology signs may not fit your personal beliefs, or maybe it is something you can identify with; either is OK! What I quickly figured out after my reading is that your birth chart will not provide answers or give you any advice. But, your birth chart will give you are a different set of tools to examine yourself and your life, understand more of your essence and the energies you exert in to the world. It can provide a new way to think about the whys or the whats. For me, it gave me a push to be introspective, just enough to understand a little bit more and discover more about my journey here; the areas I should pay more attention to, the ways I feel comfortable, the love I search for, my interaction with society, daily inner conflict.