Astrocartography is one of several methods of locational astrology

Locational astrology

Locational astrology is an umbrella term used to describe various types of astrology at specific locations on the Earth...

, which purports to identify varying life conditions through differences in location.

Technique

Developed and popularized by American astrologer Jim Lewis

Jim Lewis (astrologer)

Jim Lewis was the developer of modern Astrocartography. For his work in this field, he received the Marc Edmund Jones award in 1978, and the Regulus Award for Discovery, Innovation, and Research at the United Astrology Congress in 1992.Locational astrology is an old concept, but Lewis developed...

 (1941-1995), astrocartography is a locational astrology system that focuses on elements of the natal chart

Natal chart

In astrology, a natal chart is a stylized map of the universe with the "native" at the center. It is calculated for the exact time and location of the native's birth for the purposes of gaining insight into the native's personality and potential...

, by identifying these factors on a world "Astro*Carto*Graphy Map." Lewis' Astro*Carto*Graphy maps show all locations on the earth where planets were "angular" (rising, setting, on the zenith or nadir) at the moment of an event like a person's birth. An "angular" planet is one that is conjunct one of these four angles (Ascendant

Ascendant

The ascendant , or rising sign, is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the specific time and location of an event. According to astrological theory, celestial phenomena reflect or determine human activity on the principle of 'as above so below'...

, Descendant

Descendant (astrology)

In astrology, the descendant is the point directly opposite, or 180 degrees away from the ascendant. The descendant forms the cusp of the seventh house of the horoscope and refers to partners or relationships. The descendant is ruled by the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra, and its ruler planet,...

, MC

Midheaven

The midheaven is a point of definition in the ecliptic coordinate system. It aims to find the part of the ecliptic that corresponds to the highest point in a celestial object's apparent daily traverse of the visible sky, midway between its ascension on the eastern horizon and descension on the...

 or Immum Coeli

Ic

IC, ic, or i.c. may stand for:In computing and technology:* .ic.gov, a second-level domain name administered by the US Government for members of the intelligence community* Integrated circuit* Initial condition...

). These locations are displayed in the form of lines on the Astro*Carto*Graphy world map.

Theory

According to traditional astrology and verified by the empirical studies of Michel Gauquelin

Michel Gauquelin

Michel Gauquelin was a French psychologist and statistician. Along with his first wife Françoise Schneider-Gauquelin , he conducted statistical research in an attempt to develop a scientific basis for astrology.-Early interest:Although he was highly critical of certain areas of the art, Gauquelin...

, if a person is born when a planet was "angular", the corresponding planet is said to be prominent and influential in the birth chart. Jim Lewis took this basic astrological idea one step further by postulating that if a person later travels or visits such a location, the planet would have a similar prominent role in the person's experience of that location.

Application

These maps are widely used to plan for relocation or travel. As such, they are part of a general branch of astrology known as locational astrology or "relocation astrology". Other techniques used for this purpose include local space mapping, relocated birth charts, and city incorporation charts.

A*C*G Map Sources & Variations

Lewis created the trademark "Astro*Carto*Graphy" (A*C*G) to refer to his map and granted licences to three companies to customize his authorized maps and accompanying material: Astro Numeric Services (USA), Equinox Astrology (UK and Australia) and Astrodata (Switzerland). Other similar maps were developed showing additional locational factors Lewis rejected. One example is the "Astrolocality Map" developed by Astro Computing Services of San Diego. In addition to the A*C*G lines showing conjunctions

Conjunctions

Conjunctions, is a biannual American literary journal based at Bard College. It was founded in 1981 and is currently edited by Bradford Morrow....

 to the angles, this version includes planetary squares

Square aspect

In astrology, a square is an astrological aspect formed when two planets or other heavenly bodies form a 90 degree angle to each other. For example, if the Sun is posited in 10 degrees Aquarius and Neptune is posited in 10 degrees Scorpio then those two bodies are said to square each other.The...

, trines, and other aspects.

Further reading

• The Astro*Carto*Graphy Book of Maps, with Ariel Guttman. Out of print.
• The Psychology of Astro*Carto*Graphy (Contemporary Astrology), (posthumous), by Jim Lewis and Kenneth Irving. ISBN 0-14-019512-2.
• From Here to There - An Astrologer's Guide to Astromapping, an anthology of articles by locational astrologers edited by Martin Jay Davis
  Martin Jay Davis
  Martin Jay Davis is a leading astrologer and author specializing in locational astrology. He was a member of the US fencing team and competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. During the 1963 Pan American Games he won a gold medal with the US fencing team...
  
  . Published by the Wessex Astrologer. ISBN 9781902405278.
• Astro*Carto*Graphy - Explanatory Handbook, by Jim Lewis
  Jim Lewis (astrologer)
  Jim Lewis was the developer of modern Astrocartography. For his work in this field, he received the Marc Edmund Jones award in 1978, and the Regulus Award for Discovery, Innovation, and Research at the United Astrology Congress in 1992.Locational astrology is an old concept, but Lewis developed...
  
  .