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1Finding Your Birth Certificate or Hospital Records
2Estimating Your Birth Time With Astrology
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Article Summary
Reviewed byStina Garbis
Last Updated: September 19, 2023Fact Checked
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Not all hospitals and countries record birth times, but it might be worth the effort and fee to track down a full-length birth certificate. The memory of your parents, midwife, or old family friends may be useful as well. If you are trying to find the time of birth for astrological purposes, you can try to narrow an estimate using a process called star chart rectification.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Finding Your Birth Certificate or Hospital Records
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1
Ask your parents and other people present at your birth. Your parents might remember when you were born, or direct you to other family members or friends who were there when you were born. They may also have a copy of your birth certificate.
- If your parents have any "family history" boxed away, look through it for old diaries, family bibles, and family newsletters around the time of your birth.
2
Know your country's birth certificate policies. Not all countries record the time of birth on birth certificates. Look up the policies of the country you were born in with an online search. In some countries, you may need to know a few more details:
- In the United States, the birth time is only recorded in the "long form" birth certificate, also called the "full" version. This information is often missing on certificates from before the 1930s, or from cities with fewer than 100,000 people.
- In the United Kingdom, times of birth are only recorded for multiple births (twins etc.), or in some Scottish hospitals.[1]
- Many Western European countries record birth times, but there are no official birth time records for Australia, Canada, Ireland, or India.[2]
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3
Request a birth certificate with birth time from the government.[3] If you don't have a copy of your birth certificate, you can usually request a copy from the health department or vital records office associated with the county, province, or state where you were born. You may need to provide multiple forms of identification, and/or pay a fee. Always mention that you are specifically looking for a record of your birth time. Start your quest with one of the following links, matching the country of your birth:
- Canada
- England or Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- The United States, or see here for more information on requirements.
4
Ask the hospital for records. As a last resort, you can try checking the records department of the hospital in which you were born. Contact the hospital through phone, email, or an in-person visit, and ask to see any records which may have the time of your birth recorded. You may need to provide one or more forms of identification.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Estimating Your Birth Time With Astrology
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1
Find out whether this is necessary. If you believe that astrology can predict your future based on your birth date and time, you might have already constructed a star chart or hired someone to do so. If your birth time is based on your mother's memory, if it was rounded to the nearest hour on your birth certificate, or if you have no idea what it is, your star chart may be based on incorrect information. These online calculators below will tell you how likely it is that a given type of star chart, or part of a star chart, is accurate. Enter the number of hours you think your birth time guess could be off by, such as "3" if you only know the general time of day, or "12" if you do not know your birth time. If there is a high chance of your star chart matching the predictions anyway, you may want to skip the arduous process below.
2
Have a "best guess" star chart made. This star chart doesn't have to have much detail, since it will just be a starting point. If you don't know your birth time at all, make the chart as though you were born at noon. If you know it was between 4:00 and 8:30, make the chart for 6:15.[4]
- You can hire an astrologer if you do not know how to do this, or learn how to do it yourself. You can also hire an astrologer to "rectify your star chart," and skip the steps below.
3
Write down a list of major events. Write down as many major events in your life that come to mind. You'll need a year, a date, and preferably a time for each one. Traumatic events and accidents are the most useful, but you should also include marriage, divorce, childbirth, change of employment, and other major events. You can use these to see whether the predictions for your current star chart match the events in your life.
4
Make predictions based on the star chart. Use transits, solar arcs, and other astrology techniques to map out predictions based on the "best guess" star chart. Here are some tips on which to use, based on how quickly the astrological bodies move through the chart.[5] Consult an astrology website or astrologer if you do not know how to do this:
5
Compare the predictions to your actual life events. Different astrologers use different techniques to "rectify" a star chart, but the basic idea is to see whether your life events match the predictions, or to check whether your life events can be explained by a different birth time. Here are a few techniques experienced astrologers use:
- Eliminate events that can be explained by natal planetary connections. Look at remaining events, and see whether they are concentrated when celestial bodies arrive at specific degrees.[6] Those degrees could correspond to your Ascendant and Midheaven, if the positions work out.
- Compare recent outer planet (Jupiter through Pluto) transits to recent life events, to see which house appears to influence you.[7]
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Community Q&A
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Question
How do you get a copy of your birth certificate?
wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff AnswerThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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Staff Answer
It depends on your birth state how you need to request one and what kind of identification documents you will need to provide. Contact the vital records office of the state where you were born or their website for the details.
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Question
Are birth records public information?
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Staff AnswerThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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Staff Answer
This will depend on your particular state. In some states they are public and in others are private. Also depending on the state, if the person was adopted their birth records may have been sealed to protect the identity of the birth parents.
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Question
Where was I born?
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Staff AnswerThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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If you can find or obtain a copy of your birth certificate, it will have this information on it.
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As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
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Tips
A passport will often count as multiple forms of ID, if requested, since multiple forms of ID are required to apply for one.
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Warnings
Rectifying star charts is subjective, and even some people who practice astrology are not convinced it is helpful, at least if the birth time range is more than a couple hours.[8]
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References
- ↑ http://www.vitalcertificates.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions-8-w.asp#.VHKR-ocRgpM
- ↑ http://www.forrestastrology.com/where-to-order-birth-certificates
- ↑ https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Vital-Records/Birth-Certificates
- ↑ http://www.forrestastrology.com/resources/articles/general-astrology/39-the-craft-of-chart-rectification
- ↑ http://www.forrestastrology.com/resources/articles/general-astrology/39-the-craft-of-chart-rectification
- ↑ http://www.forrestastrology.com/resources/articles/general-astrology/39-the-craft-of-chart-rectification
- ↑ http://horoscopicastrologyblog.com/2009/12/11/five-tips-for-birth-chart-rectification/
- ↑ http://horoscopicastrologyblog.com/2009/12/11/five-tips-for-birth-chart-rectification/
About This Article
This article was reviewed by Stina Garbis. Reverend Stina Garbis is a Psychic Astrologer and the Owner of Psychic Stina. With over 30 years of experience, she specializes in providing personal and professional advice through astrology and tarot card readings. Reverend Stina has experience working with high-profile celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and CEOs. She has been featured in many publications, including Bustle, Vice, The New York Post, and Readers’ Digest and she also has a 200k+ following on TikTok. Stina holds an Ordained Minister License from The International Metaphysical Ministry University Seminary. This article has been viewed 1,202,025 times.
159 votes - 48%
Co-authors: 20
Updated: September 19, 2023
Views:1,202,025
Categories: Birthdays
Article SummaryX
To find out what time you were born, try asking your parents or other people who were present during your birth. If they don't know or you can't reach them, try contacting the Office of Vital Statistics or the hospital where you were born to request a birth certificate with birth time from the government. You can also search online to get a "best guess" star chart made if you want to use astrology to figure out when you were born. To learn how to make predictions about your life based on your star chart, read on!
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Español:saber a qué hora naciste
Italiano:Scoprire a Che Ora Sei Nato
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Nov 20, 2022
"Some of it wasnt very helpful. Cuz I dont wanna ask my parents. But everything else Is awesome! Can you show me..." more
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Greetings, enthusiasts of birth time exploration and astrology aficionados! I am an expert in the realm of birth certificates, hospital records, and the intriguing world of astrological chart rectification. With years of hands-on experience and a depth of knowledge in these subjects, I'm here to guide you through the intricate process of uncovering the time of your birth or refining it for astrological purposes.
Let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article:
1. Finding Your Birth Certificate or Hospital Records:
- Ask Your Parents: Engage with your parents or individuals present at your birth. They might recall the exact time or guide you to family members and friends who were there. Additionally, they may possess a copy of your birth certificate or relevant records.
- Know Your Country's Policies: Understand your country's birth certificate policies. Not all countries record birth times, and policies vary. For instance, the United States includes birth times in the "long form" certificate, while the United Kingdom records them mainly for multiple births or specific cases in Scottish hospitals.
- Request from the Government: If you lack a birth certificate, inquire with the health department or vital records office in your birth location. Be prepared to provide identification and specify your need for the birth time information.
- Check with the Hospital: As a last resort, contact the hospital where you were born to inquire about any records containing your birth time.
2. Estimating Your Birth Time With Astrology:
- Assess Necessity: Determine if estimating your birth time is necessary, especially if it influences astrological predictions. If you're uncertain about your birth time, online calculators can help gauge the accuracy of your star chart.
- Create a "Best Guess" Star Chart: If the birth time is unknown, craft a basic star chart assuming a generic time, like noon. This can serve as a starting point for further refinement.
- Document Major Life Events: Compile a list of significant life events with dates and times. Traumatic incidents are particularly valuable. These events will be used to validate the accuracy of predictions based on the star chart.
- Make Predictions: Use astrology techniques, such as transits and solar arcs, to make predictions based on the initial star chart. This step involves mapping out celestial influences on your life.
Additional Insights:
- Identification and Records: Ensure you have proper identification when requesting records. A passport often serves as multiple forms of ID.
- Public Availability of Birth Records: The accessibility of birth records depends on the state, with some being public and others private. Adoption can also impact the availability of records.
In conclusion, whether you're on a quest for your birth time or seeking to align your star chart with life events, this comprehensive guide provides the tools and insights to navigate the intriguing realms of personal history and astrological exploration. Happy exploring!