How Understanding Your Birth Chart Can Help You Live More Authentically

For centuries, people have looked to the stars for meaning and guidance. But for local astrologer Samata Russell, the night sky isn’t about prediction - it’s about perspective and self-understanding

When Sam discovered astrology during a difficult time, it offered her a sense of order and meaning, and a reminder that even life’s challenges can be part of a greater story. That shift in perspective sparked a lifelong fascination with how the universe mirrors our inner world. Now, through her birth chart readings and art, she helps others find that same sense of alignment.

Read on to find out how it all began for Samata and, with major planetary shifts continuing into 2026, how understanding your birth chart can help you live a more authentic life.

 

 

'It was incredibly reassuring and made me feel like my suffering wasn't chaotic or random, it was a pre-plotted sojourn on my soul’s adventure.'

 

Finding Meaning in the Stars.

I’ve always been curious about astrology. In my teens and early 20s I’d pore over astrology books, trying to figure out which sign my future husband might be. Then life happened and I didn’t think too much about it.

Years later, during a tricky time, I started painting and it was always the moon and the night sky that came onto the page. Around the same time, my son became fascinated by space, and we’d spend hours together reading about the solar system. That curiosity drew me back to the cosmos, and before long I fell down a research rabbit hole that became a genuine passion.

When I properly analysed my own birth chart, I realised I was experiencing a Pluto transit - a phase linked to death, rebirth, transformation and finding inner power.  It was incredibly reassuring and made me feel like my suffering wasn't chaotic or random, it was a pre-plotted sojourn on my soul’s adventure. That shift in mindset helped me accept Pluto themes as part of life and gave me the perspective and strength I needed to move forward.

 

 

'True astrology is so much more than your sun sign - it’s an intricate web of patterns that uniquely describe who you are.'

 

What Your Birth Chart Really Tells You.

A birth chart is a map of the sky, as seen from Earth, at the exact time and place you were born. It uses detailed geometry to show where the sun, moon and planets were positioned, setting them against zodiac signs and houses to show how they interact with one another.

Think of it like a cosmic play: the planets are the actors, the zodiac signs are their personalities and costumes, and the houses are the stage settings where the action takes place. It’s a dynamic, ever-shifting conversation between these parts of yourself.

True astrology is so much more than your sun sign - it’s an intricate web of patterns that uniquely describe who you are. Every four minutes, the Earth rotates one degree on its axis, meaning your exact birth time can change the layout of your chart completely, which is why accuracy matters - especially for understanding your rising sign, which colours how you express yourself to the world.

 

 

'For me, understanding my birth chart brought enormous validation and self-confidence.'

 

Living in Alignment with the Sky

Your birth chart can tell you so much - from your natural gifts and what kind of work might fulfil you, to how you communicate, what you need to feel happy, and even the kind of people you are attracted to. It can also reveal the energy or karma you’ve carried forward (either from past lives or ancestrally) and what your soul needs to create balance.

For me, understanding my birth chart brought enormous validation and self-confidence. It helped me to start trusting my own rhythm. We’re all different, yet we often compare our lives to others or seeking happiness in ways that work for them but not for us.

I like to think of your birth chart as your soul’s blueprint, or a sheet of music for your personality. It can’t tell you what to do, but it can show you the rhythm you’re meant to play. For example, if your Mercury - the planet that governs communication - is in Leo, you might find fulfilment in expressing yourself creatively or speaking from the heart. Astrology doesn’t dictate your fate; it simply highlights the notes that help you live more in tune with who you really are.

Your chart also evolves with time. The planets keep moving, interacting with the positions they held when you were born. For example, around the age of 29,  Saturn will have made a full cycle of the zodiac and returned to the same place it was when you were born. This is synonymous with hard work and tough love and is  often linked to growth, responsibility and getting more serious.

 

 

'I wanted to turn that complexity into something both beautiful and practical - a painting you could hang on your wall and also learn from.'

 

Bringing Birth Charts to Life.

Birth charts are complex. At first it’s like learning a new language made up of planets, signs and houses. Personally, I’m drawn to evolutionary astrology - a school of thought that doesn’t see your fate as fixed. The planets point to the questions or the lessons you will face, but you are the one who must come up with the answers. 

For me, astrology has always been visual. Each zodiac sign has an element - fire, earth, air or water - and the more I learned about birth charts, the more I wanted to capture them in a way that is more than just squiggles on paper.

Normally, birth charts are tricky for beginners to decode, with lots of indecipherable signs and glyphs. I wanted to turn that complexity into something both beautiful and practical - a painting you could hang on your wall and also learn from.

Each piece I create is a reflection of a person’s birth chart, showing the elements, planets and angles in a clear and artistic way. It’s a piece of art, but it’s also a reminder of your unique connection to the universe, expressed through colour, texture and form.

 

 

'Astrology is pointing to a huge change in technology and how we communicate - shifts that will inevitably influence our sense of spirituality and belief.'

 

A Time of Collective Transformation.

The skies are shifting in powerful ways. Over the next year, several of the slower-moving outer planets are changing signs - a rare alignment that signifies massive shifts in thinking on both a personal and collective level.

The outer planets define generations. For example, millennials all have Pluto in Scorpio, which means they’re here to confront the emotional and psychological depths of society and bring hidden truths to light in ways that previous generations did not.

Not only are all the outer planets shifting signs, but Neptune and Saturn are journeying together across Pisces into Aries - the symbolic end and beginning of the astrological cycle. Neptune is the mystic planet, associated with compassion, confusion and spiritual oneness, while Saturn represents discipline and structure. Together, they suggest a rebirth in how we understand spirituality, religion and our connection to something greater.

At the same time, Pluto’s move into Aquarius - the sign of higher mind, individuality and technology - is transforming our collective relationship with innovation and human progress. And Uranus, the planet of electrifying change, is moving into Gemini, the sign of communication and community.

These four key planets are all aligning, amplifying and harmonising with each other. Astrology is pointing to a huge change in technology and how we communicate - shifts that will inevitably influence our sense of spirituality and belief. It’s a profound time - the likes of which may never have been seen before. 

It’s a time of accelerated personal and collective transformation into a new way of thinking, living and being.

 

 

'Each chart is both a work of art and a reflection of your unique cosmic blueprint.'

 

Bringing It All Down to Earth with Samata.

In a world that often feels uncertain, astrology can be a reminder that there’s meaning and movement even in the chaos. Understanding your birth chart isn’t about predicting the future - it’s about recognising your own rhythm and learning to live more authentically in tune with it.

For those drawn to explore it in a more tangible way, Samata also creates personalised birth chart paintings: one-of-a-kind pieces that capture the sky as it looked at the moment you were born. Each chart is both a work of art and a reflection of your unique cosmic blueprint. 

They’re now available with an exclusive launch offer of £165 if purchased before 1 December. Thoughtfully personal and visually stunning, they make a truly special Christmas or Christening gift - even for those who simply love the idea of having their moment in the stars hanging on their wall.

 

Samata also offers New and Full Moon gatherings each month. You can find out more on her website.