What's my big 3 and big 6 in astrology: The meaning behind the inner planets

Spiritual Guru Chanya Chupzda Pransheed April 12, 2023 • 12 minutes read

Ever met someone with your zodiac sign yet felt like you’re from two different planets? That’s because astrology, contrary to popular belief, is about much more than the sun sign we usually read in our horoscopes.

Your big 3 and big 6 are other major players in your astrological profile — and they’re equally important in helping you better understand yourself! We’ll explore what they mean and more in this article! We’ll let you know the meaning behind the inner planets, how they impact your life, and how you can use them to your advantage. Let’s get started!

Have you ever wondered what the symbols in your birth chart mean? Learn how to interpret your birth chart with this comprehensive guide.

What is my big 3 or big 6 in astrology?

If you’ve ever known someone into astrology, you’ve probably heard them talk about the big 3 or big 6. These six signs are one of the most prominent elements in an individual’s astrological profile and can largely determine how they interact with the world around them.

What are the big 3 or big 6?

The big 3 or big 6 in astrology refers to a combination of the six crucial placements in your birth chart: the Sun, the Moon, and the rising or ascendant sign, plus the three planets of Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These placements often reveal vital features about your personality and how you interact with others.¹

Each placement gives us insight into how we perceive the world, our personality traits, and what drives us. When taken together, they form a powerful combination that can be used to understand yourself better and how you interact with the world around you!

What each placement means

These six placements symbolize different aspects of your life and how you relate to the world around you. They are the building blocks of your astrological chart, and each sign has a unique meaning that you can use to gain more insight into yourself. ¹

1. Sun

If you’ve read horoscopes before, chances are you’re familiar with the sun sign. The sun is one of the most significant components of a birth chart and signifies the symbol the sun was in when you were born.

The sun represents our ego, sense of self, and individuality and symbolizes our vitality, creativity, and self-expression. Depending on its placement in the chart, it can influence our personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses.²

Many often turn to horoscopes to learn about their sun sign and its influence on their life. However, the sun is just one of many components in a birth chart that can provide insight into your unique personality. The position of other planets, such as the moon, the rising sign, and the different houses, also significantly shapes a person’s character and life path.

2. The moon

The moon is another major planetary player in your birth chart. It symbolizes our innermost needs, emotions, and instincts, and it is how we handle our feelings, our instinctual reactions, and our ability to nurture ourselves and others. ²

The moon moves quickly through the earth, changing signs approximately every 2.5 days, so its position at the time of our birth is significant. Its sign placement describes how we express our emotions and can indicate what we need to feel secure and comfortable. ¹

Get a deep understanding of your emotional nature and behavior by discovering the meaning of your moon sign. Learn how it impacts when it’s in the 12 signs here!

3. Rising/Ascendant

The rising or ascendant sign was the zodiac sign on the eastern horizon when you were born. It is a significant component in understanding how we present ourselves to the world and can tell us much about our external persona.

The rising sign is often associated with how we face challenges, how we handle relationships, and how others perceive us. It symbolizes our public image and how we interact with people.

Discover how your rising sign affects you and read about its unique traits. Learn more about what it means when someone says their rising is ‘in’ a certain sign, and explore the power of your rising sign.

4. Mercury

The planet mercury is considered the messenger of the gods and rules communication, learning, writing, and thinking. Similarly, in your natal chart, mercury symbolizes your mental process and how you interact with the world.

It’s associated with our ability to think logically and rationally, as well as our ability to communicate effectively. This planet can also reveal our learning styles, how we speak, and how easily we connect with others.

Unlock your true potential by discovering the power of astrology. Explore the significance of mercury’s influence on our lives and how it is expressed through each sign.

5. Venus

The goddess of love and beauty, venus, symbolizes our capacity to love and be loved. It can tell us a lot about how we relate to others, the kind of partners and friends we attract, and how we express our love.

Venus also rules over our values, what we find attractive, and how much we value ourselves. Its placement in the birth chart can indicate what kind of relationships we create and how comfortably we express affection.

Discover the secrets of your love life with a closer look at your venus in the 12 signs. Unveil the deeper meaning behind this powerful celestial body.

6. Mars

Known as the warrior of the gods, mars represents courage, ambition, and action. This planet symbolizes how we pursue our goals and use our energy, and it reveals how assertive we are, the kind of activities we enjoy, and how we approach competition. ¹

Regarding relationships, mars is associated with our sex drive and physical desires. Its placement in the birth chart can indicate what type of partners we are drawn to, how passionate we can be, and the intensity of our sex life.

Are you looking to learn more about how your sign interacts with the planet, mars? Discover how it affects your personal drive and ambition across all 12 signs.

How to calculate your big 3 and big 6 astrology

Knowing your big three and big six in astrology can be a great way to gain insight into yourself, your relationships, and how you interact with the world. To calculate your placements, all you need is your birth date, birth time, and place of birth.

Free birth chart calculator

Many free online calculators can generate a complete birth chart for you in just a few minutes. Some of the most popular ones are the following:

• Café Astrology: Enter your birth information into the calculator to get a full chart with all your placements. The website also offers detailed interpretations of every placement.
• Astrodienst: This calculator is great for beginners as it allows you to select a chart wheel with or without aspects. You can also display only the big three and six placements in your chart.
• Astro-Seek: This calculator can provide a full chart report with all of your placements, plus helpful interpretations and explanations of each one.
• Co-Star: This app that’s available on both Google Play and iOS allows you to sync your birth information with their database to get a detailed birth chart. It also offers personalized readings that are tailored to your chart.
• The Pattern: This app offers a free birth chart calculator that can generate a full report with all your placements in seconds. It also has detailed interpretations for each one.

How to use your Big 3 and Big 6 astrology information

Once you have your big three and big six placements, it’s time to start exploring! You can use your placements to gain insight into yourself, identify patterns in your life, and better understand how you interact with the world around you.

Personal growth and development

Your big 6 in astrology is a powerful tool for personal growth and development, providing insight into your personality and emotions. For example, your Sun sign represents your core self and can help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and unique gifts. By understanding your sun sign, you can tap into your innate talents and develop a greater sense of self-confidence.

Your Moon sign represents your emotions and inner self and can help you understand your emotional patterns and tendencies. By becoming more self-aware of your emotional triggers and patterns, you can work towards managing your emotions more effectively and finding greater inner peace. ¹

Additionally, your rising sign represents how you appear to others and can help you develop your social skills and become more comfortable in social situations. By understanding your rising sign, you can identify any areas where you may struggle socially and work to improve your interactions with others.

Enhancing relationships

Mars and venus are two components of the big 6 in astrology that can provide valuable insights into your approach to relationships and how you can enhance them. Mars represents your drive, ambition, and sexuality, and can reveal important aspects of intimacy and romantic relationships. ¹

Venus, on the other hand, represents love, beauty, and creativity. It can reveal important information about your approach to romance, including your values, communication style, and ideal partner.

Apart from understanding your placements, comparing them with your partner’s or potential partner’s placements can also be helpful. By understanding these placements, you can become more self-aware of your relationship approach and expectations for your partner.

Career guidance and decision making

The big 6 in astrology can also provide valuable insights into career guidance and decision-making, with the Sun, Mercury, and Mars placements being particularly relevant. The Sun represents your core identity and life purpose and can reveal the types of careers and pursuits that will bring you the most fulfillment.²

Your Mercury placement can indicate your communication style, thinking patterns, and areas of expertise, which can help you determine the careers best suited to your strengths. Meanwhile, your mars placement can reveal your ambition, drive, and work style, providing vital clues about the types of work environments and career paths that will be most fulfilling for you.

In addition to understanding the individual meanings of these placements, it’s also important to consider the aspects between them. For example, if your sun and mercury are harmonious, such as a conjunction or trine, you may excel in careers involving communication, writing, or teaching.

On the other hand, if your Sun and Mars are in a challenging aspect, such as a square or opposition, you may struggle in career environments that are highly competitive or conflict-driven.

Discover how the outer planets can also influence your life and uncover hidden meanings behind their movements. Learn what to look for and how you can use these meanings to your advantage!

FAQs about big 3 and big 6 astrology

1. Is there a big 3 and 6 astrology calculator available online?

Yes, there are several online tools available that can calculate your big 3 and big 6 in astrology based on your birth date, time, and location. These calculators are easy to use and can provide valuable insights into your astrological makeup.

Some popular astrology websites, such as AstroSeek and Astrodienst, offer free online calculators to determine your big 3 and 6 placements. However, it’s important to note that these tools should be used as a starting point, and it’s always best to consult with a professional astrologer for a more detailed analysis of your chart.

2. How does my big 3 and big 6 astrology chart differ from my full birth chart?

Your big 3 and big 6 astrology charts are a simplified version of your full birth chart, which includes the positions of all the planets and celestial bodies at the exact moment of your birth. While the big 3 and big 6 focus on your chart’s three or six most important components, your full birth chart provides a more comprehensive understanding of your astrological makeup.

The full birth chart can reveal additional information about your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and potential challenges and opportunities you may face in life. It can also provide insights into other areas of your life, such as family relationships, spirituality, and career. However, the big 3 and big 6 can still offer valuable insights into your personality and how it relates to your relationships and career, making them a useful starting point for exploring your astrological chart.

3. Can my big 3 and big 6 astrology signs change over time?

Your big 3 and big 6 astrology signs are determined by the placement of the sun, moon, rising, mercury, venus, and mars in your birth chart, which is calculated based on your date, time, and place of birth. These placements are specific to the moment of your birth and do not change over time.

However, the transits and progressions of the planets in the sky can affect how these placements express themselves in your life. You may develop different aspects of your personality as you grow and change. It’s also worth noting that the interpretations of astrological placements are not fixed or absolute and can vary based on the perspective of the astrologer and the context of your life experiences.

While astrology can offer guidance and insight into your personality traits and potential life experiences, it cannot predict the future with absolute certainty. Your big 3 and big 6 placements can serve as tools for self-discovery and personal growth, but it is ultimately up to you to make decisions and take actions that shape your life.

Spiritual Guru

Chanya Chupzda Pransheed

Chanya Chupzda Pransheed is a psychic, astrologer and tarot reader who has been using her gifts for almost 25 years. She has helped people in need of guidance from all walks of …

Read full bio