A natal chart is just a circular wheel divided into twelve
pieces, whether equal pieces or not depends on the type of charting
you use. Each piece on the wheel represents a house and a sign. The
details of your birth will determine which planet goes into which
of the houses and which of the signs. A natal chart can be
described as a photograph, it stills the movement of the planets
during your time of birth. It is useful as it can help one
inteprete the own personality and explore the hidden side, as well
as help one understand another. It can also offer a glimpse into
the our past and future and some say even the past life and the
future lives. However, It needs to be understood that we are born
with certain predispositions, reflected in our natal chart, which
then predispose us to meeting that particular experience. It just
means that there is a high possibility, a susceptibility. Not that
the chart says like that means like that. 
The planets and houses have their own... meanings.
Here are some common terms that I'll explain:
Moon sign
The Moon Sign is very simply- which sign the moon is parked in
duing the time of our births.
The moon represents our instincts, moods, feelings, mothers,
domesticated matters, inherited traits, unconscious responses to
everyday situations, behavioural patterns and mannerisms, the
ability to attract people (personal magnetism), imagination, and
empathy. It also shows how you get along with woman, -regardless of
your gender. The moon can show where your strong emotional
attachments are. In a guy's chart, the moon/venus whows which type
of female (male) he is drawn to, and for the gals, it's the
moon/mars placement to note. A moon's position on the natal chart
also shows where there is a strong, major interest in life.
Ascendant/ Rising Sign
Usually symbolises by initials ASC on the birth chart. The
ascendant is also the first house. For example your first house is
cancer, then your rising sign is cancer. The natal chart is cast
counter-clockwise from the 9 o'clock position, and exactly at cusps
of the first house, there you'll find the loyally waiting ascendant
The ascendant represents our external approach towards life.
Refering to the way in which we choose to view life and will often
reflects the general impressions that we make. The ascendant will
affect how much of ourselves we'll reveal to another or can be used
to conceal another part of our nature. With the asc, only the outer
facade will be revealed and not the essential person. It is said
that if the sun acts as our essence then the acsendant is our
image. The Ascendant
effectively represents the outer surface of the personality, or the
'persona', as it's sometimes called. It will also influence
external physical appearance and characteristics. The relationship
between the Sun Sign and the Ascendant is moderated by the
influence of the Moon, representing our instinctive reactions to
life, where the adjustment of one's instinctive
reactions/feelings/emotions requires energy from the Sun, one's
essence, which is then transformed by these requirements of the
Moon and passed onto the Ascendant. This end result is projected
into the outer world.
The planet ruling the Ascendant is referred to as the Ruling Planet
and its influence will be strongly felt in the birth chart. Any
planets within close proximity to the Ascendant will also strongly
influence the individual.
Descendant
The Descendant is directly opposite (180 deg) of the ASC. Falls on
the cusps of the 7th house.
The Descendant relates to our experience of other people: that
which we seek from them, give to them, and receive from them. It
also indicates our capacity for commitment and intimacy. By
understanding our descendants, and that of our partners, we can see
how easily our energies blend others and recognizes where we might
have to make adjustments... The sign on the descendant indicates
the attributes we will project onto others, or the things that we
seek to live through them, rather than us recognizing those
qualities in ourselves. Also, our interaction with others is
strongly coloured by planets near to the descendants. (For eg,
Uranus close to descendant has the same effect as an aquarian
descendant. Pluto close to desc has the same effect as a scorpio
desc, saturn as capricorn, neptune as pisces etc. People with
neptune close to desc or pisces desc may idealize their partner,
not seeing them clearly and expecting love, rather than seeing
their own capacity for unconditional love, or deception. )
When we recognizes the energetic qualities of our desc, we can
understand our need for partnership and the terms on which we can
enter into initmate relationships.
