Rectification: Using Astrology to Find Your Birth Time

In episode 169 of the podcast astrologers Chris Brennan, Leisa Schaim, and Patrick Watson provide a detailed introduction to the topic of rectification, which is a procedure used to find a person’s birth time when it is otherwise unknown or uncertain.

Rectification is often regarded as one of the most difficult things to do in astrology, since it is essentially an investigative process that involves taking into account many variables.

It is also very important though, because having an accurate birth time is it is often crucial in order to use many techniques in astrology, ranging from simple ones like the twelve houses, to more elaborate timing techniques.

As a result of this, it may be necessary to employ rectification in some capacity when someone doesn’t know their birth time, or the recorded birth time is only approximate and needs to be fine-tuned.

Leisa and Patrick both do rectification work for clients on a regular basis, and you can find out more about their work here:

* Leisa Schaim rectification consultations

* Patrick Watson rectification consultations

Chris is not currently doing consultations, but has a course on birth chart rectification where you can learn his approach.

Rectification is a pretty big topic, so we had a lot to cover, and this ended up being a long 3-hour episode. There is both an audio version and a video version of this episode available below. The audio quality on the audio version is better than the audio in the video version, but they are both the same in terms of content.

Below you will find the show notes, followed by links to download or stream the recording of this episode of the podcast.

Rectification Outline

* Rectification: defining our terms.

* Rectify:  to set right, to put right, to correct.

* A procedure usually used to find a birth time when it is unknown or uncertain.

* Many techniques in astrology require an accurate time.

* Both natal interpretation like houses, as well as timing techniques.

* Makes rectification necessary in some instances.

* Sometimes the term is used more broadly to reverse engineer a chart in general.

* Earliest historical reference I could find was from 1st century BCE (Varro).

* Attempt to find the chart for Rome and its founder.

* Basic premise is that the birth chart will describe quality of life and events in future.

* By extension, one should be able to reverse engineer a chart from known events.

* Rectification applies this theory in practice, usually in cases of necessity.

* When is rectification usually necessary?

* Limited known time window vs. 24-hour rectification.

* Rough birth time recorded but need more exact for particular technique.

* Worst case scenario is if there is absolutely no birth time in entire 24-hr period.

* Less worst case scenario is if they have some general idea of time of day.

* Best case scenario is when they have a rounded time that just needs fine tuning.

* Although even this can be tough for people with cuspy Ascendants.

* Rectifying out of necessity versus as a matter of principle.

* Chris always saw rectification as a matter of necessity.

* But I’ve met some astrologers who believed every chart should be rectified (e.g. Axel Harvey).

* Argument in favor is that many times may be rounded.