Astrology Charts in LaTeX

Question

Is anyone here using LaTeX to typeset astrology charts? Would pgf/tikz be an appropriate tool to use for that purpose?

Answer 1

You can use the marvosym font package. It has some astrology symbols in it. I am not sure though if it is adequate for what you are looking. However, with a special font it will be much easier than pgf/TikZ.

Answer 2

Matthew Skala has a few resources on this topic:

• http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/astrology/astro-latex.php
• http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/entry/107

Here is an example chart from the manual:

Answer 3

This is what I came up with for a Traditional/Vedic style chart. It could probably use some improvement, but I'm still learning TikZ, so I'd appreciate helpful edits.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{through}
\usepackage{starfont}
\usepackage[top=1in,bottom=1in,left=1in,right=1in]{geometry}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
  \draw (-3in,-3in) -- (-3in,3in);
  \draw (-3in,-3in) -- (3in,-3in);
  \draw (3in,-3in) -- (3in,3in);
  \draw (-3in,3in) -- (3in,3in);
  \draw (-3in,-1.5in) -- (3in,-1.5in);
  \draw (-3in,1.5in) -- (3in,1.5in);
  \draw (-1.5in,-3in) -- (-1.5in,3in);
  \draw (1.5in,-3in) -- (1.5in,3in);
  \draw (0in,1.5in) -- (0in,3in);
  \draw (0in,-1.5in) -- (0in,-3in);
  \draw (-3in,0in) -- (-1.5in,0in);
  \draw (1.5in,0in) -- (3in,0in);
  \node [text width=2.75in] at (0in,0in) {
      \begin{center}
       Larry Coleman \\
       November 12, 1967 
       7:20 AM EST \\
       Belleville, MI 83:29W 42:12N \\
       Natal Chart
       \end{center}
  };
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (-3in,0in) {
    I. Scorpio. \\
    \begin{tabular}{ll}
    Mercury & 1:45 \\
    Ascendant & 18:29 \\
    Sun & 19:26 \\ 
    Neptune & 23:55 
    \end{tabular}
  };
  \node [below right] at (-3in,-1.5in) {II. Sagittarius.};
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (-1.5in,-1.5in) {
    III. Capricorn. \\
    \begin{tabular}{l l}
      Mars & 15:14
      \end{tabular}
    };
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (0in,-1.5in) {
    IV. Aquarius.};
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (1.5in,-1.5in) {
    V. Pisces. \\
    \begin{tabular}{l l}
      \Chiron & 25:16 \Retrograde \\ 
      \Moon & 28:40
      \end{tabular}
    };
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (1.5in,0in) {
    VI. Aries. \\
    \begin{tabular}{ll}
      Saturn & 6:17 \Retrograde \\
      North Node & 26:37 \Retrograde
      \end{tabular}
    };
  \node [below right] at (1.5in,1.5in) {VII. Taurus.};
  \node [below right] at (1.5in,3in) {VIII. Gemini.};
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (0in,3in) {
    IX. Cancer. \\
    \begin{tabular}{l l}
      Fortune & 9:15 
      \end{tabular}
    };
  \node [below right] at (-1.5in,3in) {X. Leo};
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (-3in,3in) {
    XI. Virgo. \\
  \begin{tabular}{ll}
    Midheaven & 0:23 \\
    Jupiter & 3:25 \\
    Pluto & 22:21 \\
    Uranus & 27:58
    \end{tabular}
  }; 
  \node [below right,text width=1in] at (-3in,1.5in) {
    XII. Libra. \\
    \begin{tabular}{l l}
      Venus & 2:53
      \end{tabular}
  };
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}