What Is Part of Fortune in Astrology & What Does It Mean?

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Learn how your Part of Fortune influences your life (and luck)

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: May 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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Meaning

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Calculating Part of Fortune

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Interpreting Part of Fortune

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Sign Placements

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Your astrological birth chart is more than just planetary placements—and the Part of Fortune (or Pars Fortuna) represents a particularly favorable point. Essentially, your Part of Fortune sign placement reflects the areas of life where you find the most luck and success. Thus, it reveals a lot about how to overcome challenges and achieve your goals! Read on for a complete guide to Part of Fortune in astrology, including how to calculate it and what each sign placement means.

Things You Should Know

Your Part of Fortune is the intersection between your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs on your birth chart. It represents areas where you find luck and success.
Calculate your Part of Fortune with the formula Ascendant - Sun + Moon if you have a day chart (meaning your Sun sign is in houses 7 - 12)
Use the formula Ascendant + Sun - Moon to calculate your Part of Fortune if you have a night chart (meaning your Sun sign is in houses 1 - 6).

Section 1 of 4:

What does Part of Fortune mean?

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Also called the lot of fortune or Pars Fortuna, your Part of Fortune is essentially the intersection of your “big three” (Sun, Moon, and Rising signs) on your birth chart. Your Part of Fortune’s sign placement foretells your most lucky or favorable attributes and where in life you’ll be successful.Your Sun, Moon, and Rising (also called “Ascendant”) signs are called the “big three” because they typically present a well-rounded overview of your personality: your core principles and identity (Sun), emotional needs (Moon), and perspective on the world (Rising).Thus, putting the big three together to find your Part of Fortune is thought to reveal a point where things are easier for you or seem to have the most harmony. It also shows how you can use your strengths to navigate challenges (or catch a lucky streak).

Section 2 of 4:

How to Calculate Your Part of Fortune

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Depending on whether you have a “day chart” (meaning you were born during the day) or a “night chart” (meaning you were born at night), the formula to calculate your Part of Fortune differs. If your Sun sign falls in houses 7 through 12, you have a day chart. If it falls in 1 through 6, you have a night chart.
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Find the degree of your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant signs. There are 30° of each sign (for a total of 360°). Birth charts typically display how many degrees into a sign each placement falls, so first, check yours for each value. For example, if you’re a Virgo Sun, your chart might say “Virgo: 19°,” meaning your Sun placement falls 19 degrees into Virgo. Then, since Virgo starts at 150° on a 360° birth chart, that means your Sun sign is located at 169° on the chart overall (since 150 + 19 = 169).Do this for your Moon and Ascendant signs, too! Using the 360° circle:
- Aries starts at 0°
- Taurus starts at 30°
- Gemini starts at 60°
- Cancer starts at 90°
- Leo starts at 120°
- Virgo starts at 150°
- Libra starts at 180°
- Scorpio starts at 210°
- Sagittarius starts at 240°
- Capricorn starts at 270°
- Aquarius starts at 300°
- Pisces starts at 330°
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Follow the day chart formula Ascendant - Sun + Moon. Once you’ve figured out the exact degree of your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant, simply follow the formula to figure out where your Part of Fortune placement falls. If you have a day chart, subtract your Sun sign from your Ascendant and then add your Moon.^{[1]
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Research source} For example:
- Say your Sun sign in Virgo is 169°, your Moon sign in Taurus is 33° and your Ascendant in Libra is 200°.
- That means the formula for your Part of Fortune would be 200° - 169° + 33°.
- The result is 64°, which means your Part of Fortune placement would be in Gemini (since Gemini starts at 60° and ends at 90° on a 360° birth chart).
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Use the night chart formula Ascendant + Sun - Moon, alternatively. If you have a night chart, use the same degree values for your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant in a slightly different order. Add your Sun and Ascendant, then subtract your Moon to find your Part of Fortune placement.^{[2]
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Research source} For example:
- Say your Sun sign is Aquarius at 323° (300 as the starting point for Aquarius + 23 degrees into Aquarius on your birth chart).
- Then, say your Moon sign is Leo at 146° and your Ascendant in Libra at 180°. That means your formula would be 180 + 323 - 146.
- The result is 357°, which means your Part of Fortune would fall in Pisces (since Pisces starts at 330° and ends at 360°).

Section 3 of 4:

Interpreting Your Part of Fortune

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Look for planets that are conjunct your Part of Fortune. While all sign placements for your Part of Fortune have benefits, a conjunct is particularly meaningful. When your Part of Fortune forms a conjunction with a point or planet (meaning it falls next to them), it’s an indicator of likely career paths, talents, and paths to success for you.
- For example, a Part of Fortune conjunct with Jupiter (the planet of luck) is especially powerful.
- It signifies that you’ll be especially lucky in whatever areas of life are represented in your Part of Fortune sign placement.
- So, if you have a conjunct with Jupiter and your Part of Fortune is in Leo, that means you’ll be especially lucky when embracing self-expression to the fullest.
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Consider your Part of Fortune's sign placement. Sign placement (meaning Part of Fortune in Aries, Taurus, Cancer, and so on) determines the areas of life where you’ll be most successful—so it’s important to take note of it. Beyond that, the planet that rules your Part of Fortune sign placement is also influential.
- For example, if you have Part of Fortune in Gemini, then Gemini’s ruling planet (Mercury) determines areas in which you’re likely to find success.
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Find planets on your chart in the same sign as your Part of Fortune. Any planets in the same sign as your Part of Fortune (regardless of whether they’re conjunct) may also speak to your ideal profession or career path. So, look over your birth chart and take note of any notable planets.
- For example, if you have a Part of Fortune in Capricorn and Sun in Capricorn, that means you might be particularly ambitious and excel when taking the lead at work.
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Check for a conjunct with your North Node. Your North Node is an invisible point where the moon’s orbit intersects the Earth’s orbit around the sun. It’s associated with fate, and it’s believed to reflect your life’s spiritual purpose. Thus, when your North Node is conjunct with your Part of Fortune, it indicates your potential to make a lasting impact on the world.
- Keep in mind that everyone has a Part of Fortune, and there’s no “bad” placement—so don’t worry if you don’t have a conjunct North Node.
- Ultimately, your Part of Fortune exists to show you that there’s always an aspect of life you can tap into to invite luck and success!

Section 4 of 4:

What Does Your Part of Fortune Mean?

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Aries If your Part of Fortune placement falls under Mars-ruled Aries, you may have a tendency to get lucky after impulsive decisions. Playing it safe isn’t your style! Mars is the planet of energy and assertiveness—so if your Part of Fortune is in Aries, you definitely have a gift for initiating new projects, being a leader, and projecting confidence.^{[3]
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- Listen to your gut and follow your initial impulses; they won’t steer you wrong!
Part of Fortune in Taurus means you tend to be most successful when prioritizing self-care and mindfulness. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of beauty, so you may also find the most success and opportunity when using your natural artistic and creative gifts to make something beautiful.
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Gemini Part of Fortune in Gemini means your success comes from communication. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication—so anything that involves speaking, gathering information, and connecting with people is sure to bring you fortune and opportunity. You likely excel at public speaking, writing, and similar skills.
- Even if you’re shy, having a Part of Fortune in Gemini typically implies that by practicing and honing your skills, you’ll get more confident in time.
If your Part of Fortune falls under Cancer, that means you tend to find success in matters related to family and your home. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which governs your innermost emotions—so Part of Fortune in Cancer also speaks to the way you cultivate a sense of security inside yourself while caring for others at the same time.
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Leo Leo is ruled by the Sun, which speaks to your core identity—so if you have this placement, you’ll find the most luck when doing things that let you fully express yourself without conforming to others’ expectations. Leo is all about soaking up the spotlight, and that’s exactly where you’ll find success with a Part of Fortune in Leo.^{[4]
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- With Part of Fortune in Leo, you might make a great actor or singer (and excel at anything that lets you unleash your inner playfulness and dramatic flair).
Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication and information. With Part of Fortune in Virgo, you may find success through detail-oriented work or through work that enables you to be of service to others. However, since Virgo relates to health and well-being, you’ll also find success while taking care of your physical health.
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Libra Like Taurus, Libra is ruled by Venus—so a Part of Fortune in Libra makes you especially lucky while prioritizing beauty and diplomacy. You may also find success by working to improve your relationships with others and putting their needs before your own (though, of course, it’s important to strike a balance and ensure you’re taken care of too).
- For a Part of Fortune in Libra, house placement is also a factor.
- For example, Part of Fortune in Libra in the 4th house means you likely need to feel connected to your family.
- Meanwhile, Part of Fortune in Libra in the 7th house means you’re skilled at forming partnerships between people.
With a Part of Fortune in Scorpio, you find the most luck during periods of major transformation. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, which is the planet of death and rebirth—so don’t be afraid to embrace change or start from scratch when things don't work out. Additionally, engaging in regular self-reflection may help you feel more grounded.
Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion. When you have a Part of Fortune in Sagittarius, you find luck when you explore, challenge your own perceptions, and seek out new experiences. Deep thought and philosophizing often bring you satisfaction, as do travel and higher education.
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Capricorn Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of responsibility and work. Thus, if you have a Part of Fortune in Capricorn placement, you’re most successful when you persistently work through any challenge life throws your way. You’ll also find luck when you trust yourself and can assert yourself in leadership positions.^{[5]
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- Part of Fortune in Capricorn is also a natural healer, and you may excel at taking care of yourself and the people in your life.
Aquarius has a modern-day ruler (Uranus, the planet of innovation) and a traditional ruler (Saturn). Thus, when you have a Part of Fortune in Aquarius, you find the most luck when you embrace change and pursue humanitarian goals that benefit the greater good. You might also have a knack for technology or science-related careers.
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Pisces Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of dreams and creativity. Thus, if you have a Part of Fortune in Pisces, you tend to find success in healing and spirituality. You may even have heightened intuition and psychic abilities that guide you toward success, and practicing mindfulness can help you unlock those abilities to the fullest.
- This Part of Fortune may also help you connect to a higher power—and communicate more effectively (and insightfully) with other people.