Rectification: correcting your birth time
Birth time rectification is a method of working backwards from the dates of events in your life to find your birth time. If your birth certificate doesn't list a time, if your family only remembers roughly, like "just before dawn" or "around noon", or if you suspect the recorded time was rounded, this tool searches for the most likely time.
The rising sign and the houses move about one degree every four minutes. That is why a small difference in birth time changes the most personal points in the chart. The calculation treats every minute in the range you give as a candidate and checks how strongly that candidate's angles are activated on the dates of events such as a marriage, a move, a job change or the loss of a loved one.
For the best result, enter six to ten events whose exact dates you know, and keep the range narrow if you know your time roughly. The result is a suggestion: compare the candidate times, consider whether the rising sign descriptions fit you, and explore your birth chart with the time that was found.
How does rectification work?
A birth chart has four points that are most sensitive to time: the Ascendant, the Descendant, the Midheaven (MC) and the IC opposite it. While the planets shift very little over a day, these four points move about 15 degrees an hour. Life-changing events often coincide with periods when these points are strongly activated, and rectification uses this relationship in reverse.
For every candidate time in the range you choose, the tool measures these contacts: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Mars forming a conjunction or square to these four points on the day of the event; the angles directed by solar arc reaching natal planets, and directed planets reaching the angles; and the secondary progressed Ascendant and progressed Moon touching these points. The tighter the contact, the higher the score.
Each event type has its own related points and planets. For a marriage, the Descendant and Venus carry more weight; for a move, the IC and Uranus; for a career change, the MC along with Jupiter and Saturn. Explaining one event with many contacts doesn't raise the score without limit; the highest score goes to the time that explains the most of your events together.
Which events should I enter?
The most useful events are ones whose dates you know precisely and that changed the direction of your life: a marriage or engagement, a divorce, having a child, moving to another city or country, a first job, a promotion or losing a job, graduation, the loss of a mother or father, a serious accident, surgery or illness.
If you don't have the exact day, you can enter the middle of the month; solar arc and progression contacts are hardly affected by a deviation of a week or two, but transit contacts are more sensitive. Choose events spread across the years rather than several from the same period. A move in childhood, a marriage in your twenties and a job change in your forties carry far more information than three events close together.
Choosing the right event type matters, because different points and planets come to the fore for each type. For an event that doesn't fit any type but that you feel changed your life, use the "Another life-changing event" option.
How should I read the result?
The results page shows the most likely time, along with the rising sign and MC for that time. The curve below it is the score for every minute in the range; the bands in the background show which sign is rising at those times. A single sharp peak is a strong result. If there are several peaks close together, adding a few more events to the list will sharpen the distinction.
The confidence indicator looks at how far the best time stands apart from the second candidate. With a "Clear" result, the first candidate is clearly ahead. With a "Moderate" or "Weak" result, weigh the times in the candidate table together: read the descriptions of the different rising signs and consider which one matches your appearance and the first impression you make on people.
Under each event, the contacts that explain that event at the time found are listed. If no contacts appear for an event, check its date; if the date is correct, that event does not support this time.
Limits of the method
Rectification is not an exact measurement but an interpretation that looks for the most consistent explanation. Even astrologers disagree about which techniques and orbs to use, and the same events can lead to different times. This tool uses the widely accepted techniques of transits, solar arc and secondary progression.
The result depends on the information you enter. With only a few events, or when scanning the whole day, more than one time can receive a similar score. If you know your time roughly, narrowing the range improves the result noticeably. Choosing the correct birthplace also matters, because the rising sign changes with latitude and longitude.
Astrology is not a scientific method. Treat the time found as a starting point; if you have any way of obtaining an official record, look for that first.
Frequently asked questions
How many events does rectification need?
At least three events are required. The result is much more reliable when you enter six to ten events; enter more events especially if you are scanning the whole day.
I have no idea what my birth time is. Can I still use it?
Yes. If you tick the "I have no idea of my time" option, your entire birth day is scanned. In this case the chance of a wrong time coming out ahead by coincidence increases, so enter as many events as you can and weigh the times in the candidate table together.
I don't remember the exact date of an event. What should I do?
If you know the month, you can enter the middle of the month. Solar arc and progression contacts are hardly affected by a deviation of a few weeks, but it is better not to enter events for which you only know the year.
The time found differs from the recorded time. Which one should I trust?
The time on an official record is usually the best source, but it may have been rounded or written down later. If the difference is a few minutes, go with the recorded time; if the difference is large, compare the charts for both times and see which one describes your life better.
Can I save the result?
If you are a member, you can save the result to your account with your own note using the save section on the results page, and reopen it later with the same details.
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