He asks: “To what extent, if at all, do the relative positions of planets to the geographical location and time of birth correlate to a person’s character traits?”

There is a rough correlation, but it is not a causal factor as much as a consequence of the juxtaposition arranged by divine timing for the launch of the new life into a new incarnation. The timing with the astrological configurations is chosen by the incoming soul, with divine consultation to be complementary to the karmic makeup and predisposition for the life purpose to be experienced in that new incarnation. Those who propose astrology as the roadmap are trying to make the tail wag the dog, so to speak.