Sabian Symbol Calculator
Discover the Sabian symbols for each degree occupied by your planets. These ancient symbolic images reveal archetypal meanings, hidden messages, and deeper themes in your astrological chart.
Select your birth month
Select your birth day
Enter your full birth year
Select your birth time (approximate is fine)
Enter the city where you were born
Enter the region, state, or province (optional but recommended for accuracy)
Enter the country where you were born
What are Sabian Symbols?
Ancient Symbolic System
Sabian symbols are a set of 360 symbolic images - one for every single degree of the zodiac wheel. They were channeled in 1925 by psychic Elsie Wheeler and astrologer Marc Edmund Jones. Each symbol is a poetic image that reveals the deeper archetypal meaning of that specific degree.
How They Work
Every planet in your birth chart sits at a specific degree (like Sun at 15° Aries or Moon at 22° Cancer). That exact degree has a Sabian symbol - a picture-like description that adds another layer of meaning to your astrological chart. It's like poetry for your planets!
Why They Matter
While your zodiac sign tells you the general energy (like "Aries is assertive"), the Sabian symbol tells you the specific flavor and nuance of that placement. Two people with Sun in Aries can have totally different Sabian symbols depending on the exact degree, making each chart unique!
Archetypal Language
Sabian symbols speak in images and metaphors - like dreams! They bypass your logical mind and speak directly to your intuition. A symbol like "A woman feeding birds in winter" carries deep meaning about nurturing life even in difficult times. They're meant to be meditated upon, not just read.
Round Up Rule
Important! The Sabian system always rounds UP to the next degree. So if your Sun is at 15°23' Aries, you use the symbol for 16° Aries (not 15°). This is because each degree represents the experience you're moving toward, not where you've been.
Personal Messages
Each Sabian symbol in your chart is like a personal message from the universe about that area of your life. Your Sun symbol reveals your life purpose, Moon symbol shows your emotional needs, Rising symbol indicates how you meet the world. Together they create a symbolic story of your soul!
How to Find and Use Your Sabian Symbols
Step 1: Get Your Birth Chart
First, you need to know the exact degrees of your planets. Use a birth chart calculator (you'll need your birth date, time, and location). Your chart will show something like:
- Sun: 15°23' Aries
- Moon: 22°47' Cancer
- Rising: 8°12' Libra
Step 2: Round Up the Degrees
Take each planetary position and round UP to the next whole degree:
- • Sun at 15°23' → Use 16° Aries symbol
- • Moon at 22°47' → Use 23° Cancer symbol
- • Rising at 8°12' → Use 9° Libra symbol
Step 3: Look Up the Symbols
Enter your planetary positions in our calculator above, or look them up in a Sabian symbol book. Each degree from 1-360 has its own unique symbolic image and meaning.
Step 4: Meditate on the Images
Don't just read the symbols - sit with them! Ask yourself:
- What does this image make me feel?
- How does it relate to my life right now?
- What story is this symbol telling me?
- What lesson or gift does it offer?
Step 5: Journal Your Insights
Write down your reactions and insights for each symbol. The meanings will deepen over time as you live with them. Many people find that their Sabian symbols become more relevant and meaningful as they mature and gain life experience!
Quick Tips
- Start with your Sun, Moon, and Rising symbols first
- The images are symbolic, not literal predictions
- Trust your intuition about what they mean for you
- Revisit them during major life transitions
✨ Important Note:
Sabian symbols are deeply personal and their meaning unfolds over time. What speaks to you today might reveal different layers tomorrow. They're not fortune-telling - they're symbolic mirrors reflecting your soul's journey. Be patient and let them speak to your intuition!
Understanding Your Personal Symbols
Sun Symbol - Your Life Purpose
What it reveals: Your core identity, life purpose, and soul's mission
How to use it: Meditate on this symbol to understand what you're here to do. It shows the archetypal story your life is meant to tell. This is your spiritual assignment!
Moon Symbol - Your Emotional Nature
What it reveals: Your emotional needs, instincts, and how you nurture yourself
How to use it: This symbol shows what makes you feel safe and emotionally fulfilled. Use it to understand your emotional patterns and create nurturing environments.
Rising Symbol - Your Life Approach
What it reveals: How you meet the world, first impressions, and life path
How to use it: This is your "mask" or approach to life. It shows the attitude and style you naturally adopt when facing new situations and people.
Mercury Symbol - Your Communication
What it reveals: How you think, communicate, and process information
How to use it: This symbol shows your mental style and communication approach. It reveals how you learn best and express your ideas to others.
Venus Symbol - Your Love Nature
What it reveals: How you love, what you value, and your aesthetic sense
How to use it: This symbol shows what you find beautiful and how you express affection. It reveals your relationship style and what makes you feel loved.
Mars Symbol - Your Drive
What it reveals: How you take action, assert yourself, and pursue desires
How to use it: This symbol shows your fighting spirit and how you go after what you want. It reveals your courage style and how you handle conflict.
🌟 Reading Your Symbols Together:
Don't just read each symbol in isolation - look for themes and patterns across all your symbols! Do you see repeated images of nature? Water? People? Buildings? These recurring themes reveal important archetypal patterns in your life.
For example: If you have several symbols involving children, teaching, or nurturing, your life path likely involves caring for others or bringing new things into being. Multiple symbols with mountains or heights might indicate a path of spiritual ascension and achievement!
Famous Sabian Symbol Examples
Let's look at some famous people and see how their Sabian symbols perfectly capture their life story! This shows how accurate and revealing these symbols can be.
Oprah Winfrey
Sun at 10° Aquarius: "A man who has for a time become the embodiment of a popular ideal"
Perfect! Oprah literally became the embodiment of empowerment and success that millions look up to. Her symbol predicted her role as a cultural icon!
Albert Einstein
Sun at 25° Pisces: "A religious organization succeeds in overcoming corrupting influences"
Einstein overcame the "corruption" of outdated physics with his revolutionary theories. He brought spiritual/universal understanding to science!
Martin Luther King Jr.
Sun at 25° Capricorn: "An oriental rug dealer"
An rug dealer brings together different threads into one beautiful pattern - just like MLK wove together different communities into one vision of equality!
Lady Gaga
Sun at 8° Aries: "A large hat with streamers flying, facing east"
This IS Lady Gaga! Outrageous fashion, dramatic presentation, and always looking toward the new dawn. Her symbol literally describes her style!
Princess Diana
Sun at 10° Cancer: "A large diamond in the first stages of the cutting process"
Diana was royal (diamond) but went through intense pressure and "cutting" to become the People's Princess. Raw potential refined through difficulty!
Steve Jobs
Sun at 5° Pisces: "A church bazaar"
Jobs created the ultimate "bazaar" - the Apple Store and App Store! He made technology spiritual and brought community together through products. Commerce meets higher purpose!
🎯 See the Pattern?
These symbols aren't random - they capture the essence of each person's life path with stunning accuracy! The universe really does speak in symbols. Now look at YOUR symbols with fresh eyes...
Try this: Look up the Sabian symbols of your favorite celebrities, historical figures, or family members. You'll be amazed at how perfectly the symbols describe their life stories and missions!
How to Work With Your Sabian Symbols
1. Meditation Practice
Close your eyes and visualize the image of your symbol. Let it come alive in your mind. What do you see, hear, feel? What is the energy of this image?
Spend 5-10 minutes with one symbol at a time. Journal what comes up. The symbols reveal themselves gradually through this practice.
2. Creative Expression
Draw, paint, or create a collage of your most important symbols (Sun, Moon, Rising). The act of creating the image helps you embody its energy. You don't need artistic skill - just express what the symbol means to you visually!
3. Life Events Mirror
When major events happen, check which planetary symbols they relate to. A career breakthrough? Look at your Sun or Midheaven symbol. Relationship issue? Check Venus or Mars. You'll see your life playing out the symbolic themes!
4. Yearly Focus
Pick one symbol to focus on each year. Study it deeply, meditate on it, look for it in your daily life. By the end of the year, you'll have integrated that archetypal energy in powerful ways!
5. Dreamwork Connection
Notice when elements from your Sabian symbols appear in dreams! Your subconscious is communicating through the same archetypal language. Keep a dream journal and note the connections.
6. Affirmation Creation
Turn your symbols into personal affirmations. Example: If your Sun symbol is "A rainbow," your affirmation could be "I am a bridge between heaven and earth, bringing hope after storms." Speak it daily!
7. Transits and Progressions
When transiting planets cross your natal degrees, the Sabian symbols activate! If Saturn is transiting your Sun degree, that Sun symbol becomes especially important. Study it for guidance during that time.
8. Share with Others
Compare Sabian symbols with friends, partners, or family. Understanding their symbols helps you see their soul's journey and creates deeper compassion and connection!
💫 Advanced Practice:
Create a Sabian Symbol Mandala: Draw a circle and divide it into sections for each of your main planetary symbols. In each section, draw or write that symbol and its meaning. Hang it where you'll see it daily. This creates a visual map of your soul's journey!
Remember: The symbols aren't static meanings - they're living archetypes that grow with you. What they mean at 20 may be different from what they reveal at 40. Keep exploring them throughout your life!
Sabian Symbols vs. Traditional Astrology
How do Sabian symbols fit into astrology? Think of them as an additional layer of detail that makes your chart more personal and specific. Here's how they compare and complement traditional astrological interpretations.
Traditional Astrology Says:
"Your Sun is in Aries, so you're pioneering, assertive, and energetic."
Sabian Symbols Add:
"But your Sun is at 15° Aries: 'An Indian weaving a ceremonial blanket.' So your pioneering energy is expressed through creating meaningful, ceremonial work with patience and cultural significance." See the difference? Way more specific!
Zodiac Signs (General) vs. Sabian Symbols (Specific)
Zodiac sign: Describes the broad energy (like saying "You're from California")
Sabian symbol: Pinpoints the exact flavor (like saying "You're from Venice Beach" vs. "You're from San Francisco")
Two people can both have Sun in Aries, but if one is at 5° and another at 25°, they have completely different Sabian symbols and therefore express their Aries energy in unique ways!
Why Use Both?
Traditional astrology tells you WHAT: "You have communication challenges" (Mercury square Saturn)
Sabian symbols tell you HOW: "Through the theme of 'A student of nature lecturing' (your Mercury symbol), meaning you need to teach what you've learned through direct experience to overcome those challenges."
They work together! Traditional astrology gives the structure, Sabian symbols add the soul and story.
When to Use Sabian Symbols
- When you want deeper, more poetic understanding of your chart
- When traditional interpretations feel too generic
- For meditation and spiritual work with your chart
- To understand the "why" behind your astrological placements
- When you need guidance during planetary transits to specific degrees
- For creative inspiration and self-discovery work
🎨 Think of It This Way:
Traditional astrology is like looking at a map that shows cities and roads. Sabian symbols are like having detailed photographs of each location showing what it actually looks like, feels like, and means to the people who live there. Both are valuable! The map helps you navigate, the photos help you understand the soul of each place.