Expertise in Your Birth Chart

When it comes to developing a particular expertise in your lifetime, there's some quick and easy analysis you can perform on your birth chart to determine where yours lies and may improve over the course of your life.

First, as an evolutionary astrology, it's my belief that we are given the charts we come in with not because we're experts in those energies, but because we're here to integrate and learn them. You are growing INTO your sun, you don't arrive with those skills, traits and that wisdom. Which, brings me to the first place you can look for personal expertise:

1. You will have an innate understanding of any element you lack in your birth chart. Low on fire? You came in with the spark of life, creative bursts, and an understanding of how to assign your will to what matters most. Low in earth? You've got the fortitude, stamina and grounding to complete tasks, move toward what you love and stay present. Low in air? Analysis, connecting disparate ideas and communication may be natural skills sets for you. Low in water? Intuition, emotional processing and transformation are gifts you arrived with.
2. Wherever your south node is in your birth chart,  you have a PhD level of knowledge in that sign and house. Locate your south node by finding your north node and tracing a line directly opposite it on your chart. If the south node is symbolized, it will look like an upside down horse shoe. This energy is a comfort zone, so you're meant to grow out of it toward your north node in this lifetime, but that's not to say that you can't embrace and relish in the gifts it's given. Maybe it's not your future, but it has been your past (quite literally, it represents karmic inheritance), and you may as well use what it's taught you in this lifetime.
3. Locate your Mercury. This is something you will grow and develop during your lifetime, so if you're in your twenties or younger, perhaps your Mercury sign and house don't feel like places where you have an edge, intellectually. However, given time, this will naturally pick up steam because Mercury not only rules external communication, but learning processes and your internal dialogue. Where you find Mercury you will find the place your mind keeps wandering day in and day out. Come to love it, and let yourself shine.
4. If you have Pluto aspects to your Mercury, you will be able to find more depth and nuanced understanding of topics. Pluto lends a skill for getting underneath what's comfortable and accepted into the dark, taboo sides of things.
5. If you have Saturn aspects to your Mercury, you will be pushed further, to do more and do better. Saturn expects diligence, thoughtfulness, and a foolproof approach. With aspects between Saturn and Mercury you can expect that you're going to be thorough in how you approach learning, and what information you feel competent enough to share.
6. And finally, as Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo, wherever these lie in your chart you will find you learn and adapt quickly. Gemini will lend itself to easy acquisition of knowledge, an edge for technology and the ability to communicate ideas in ways people can understand. Virgo will lend itself to integration, process development and a knack for organizing information and tools so that they can be put to their greatest effect.

Enjoy your areas of wisdom, and develop them throughout your life. You'll find much satisfaction in the process!