Birth Chart Part 3: Rising Sign
Professional astrologers spend a lot of time explaining why the Sun sign you’ve been focused on reflects only a part of your life plan. We analyze the Big Three comprised of the Sun, Moon and Rising Sign, which is also called the Ascendant, to determine your overall life path, power, and emotions.
The Rising Sign shows the life path you have come to explore in this lifetime. This journey may have twists and turns, but it is constant. Learning more about your Life Path will help you navigate life’s challenges and celebrate your opportunities!
Here is a brief overview of each Rising Sign, depicted by the zodiac sign on the eastern horizon at the time of your birth. A full birth chart reading would connect the dots of your path with your Rising Sign, Sun, Moon, and other chart placements.
Aries: As a fire sign Aries is all about action. When you are born with an Aries ascendant, you are exploring your sense of identity in this lifetime. Your childhood may have had obstacles and you felt like the lost or invisible child. With a good dose of optimism you forged ahead trying to find your own path in life. As an adult you are good at starting but not as good at finishing. You have an affinity for athletics, exercise, or anything that keeps you in motion and helping to release your deep-seated frustrations. Your personality may be direct but you are also compassionate and care deeply about social issues. Traveling and having friends of different backgrounds leads to personal growth.
Taurus: Taurus is an earth sign, ruled by Venus, and works under the Law of Attraction. Learning to be clear in your communications will attract the right situations and people into your life at the right time for your life lessons. This life path focuses on developing a sense of values. What do you value and why? Your actions and responses are slow and methodical. You tend to be skeptical and can be convinced through facts. You have deep-seated instincts that may be difficult to articulate. Money and possessions are always a key part of this life path. How you accumulate and use your resources is the path towards fulfillment.
Gemini: Gemini is an air sign ruled by Mercury which is considered in mythology to be “the fast winged messenger of the Gods”. You are learning the power of ideas and words with this life path. You may have trouble deciding on work and career since Gemini often gives you two options. This rising sign is usually talkative and very versatile, making friends easily. These relationships are important to achieving the rewards of a Gemini path, which is typically not straight and narrow. Your energy is fast moving and you may change direction often in life. You value your freedom and do best in work or personal situations where you can have a variety of experiences.
Cancer: Cancer is a water sign, ruled by the changing moon, that is highly sensitive, nurturing and emotional. This is the sign of home and roots in astrology, providing the Cancer rising with a lifelong quest for the security of home. You are tied to your mother, for positive or negative. Your childhood was full of difficulties and you felt alienated from the rest of the family. Being a sensitive and receptive energy, the Cancer rising retreats when faced with negativity. Difficulties with relatives can be a karmic situation, so you would feel safer and happier living away from siblings.
Leo: As a fire sign the Leo Rising has great vitality and can be the at the center of any situation. This life path is learning self-expression and self-love. As a result the Leo Rising can exhibit the best and worst of this energy on its way to self-acceptance. There is a light that shines brightly through a Leo Rising and they can attract powerful situations and people into their lives. When they misuse their great charisma and power, the result can be detrimental to those around them. Leo is a generous and giving energy that can benefit many. The lesson here is to live honestly and with integrity.
Virgo: Virgo rising is ruled by Mercury (similar to Gemini) but it’s an earth sign so the energy is more grounded in the day-to-day routine of living. Virgo is learning to use the mind for critical thinking, analysis, and decision making. You will find yourself handling the endless details that others ignore in your quest to get to the bottom of any problem, situation, or relationship. The major task for the Virgo Rising is to find work that is fulfilling, keeping your active mind occupied with a larger purpose and far-reaching goals. When this occurs you find less to be dissatisfied with in life.
Libra: Libra rising, an air sign is symbolized by the scales, putting you on a continual search for harmony and balance. Libra is the path of relationship, so a Libra rising likes to operate through and with others. While you can be charming and easygoing on the surface, there is a tenacity and workaholic attitude that can underlie this rising sign. Similar to Virgo, the Libran can experience health problems when their work situation is difficult or conflicted. Most likely, your childhood experience was one of fitting in and not rocking the boat. Now, you want your close relationships to be harmonious and peaceful.
Scorpio: Scorpio, a water sign, has Pluto as its ruling planet, representing power (seen and unseen) and transformation. There is no middle way with this rising sign. The energy of Scorpio transmits deep feeling that may be difficult to express. Many healthcare practitioners, therapists and healers channel their intense pain and suffering through their work in serving others. Scorpio rising individuals often do not understand their own power to transform any situation, causing great confusion and pain. It can be common for death, addictions, and financial resources to be catalysts of inner transformation. The gift of this placement is great compassion and understanding for the woes of others.
Sagittarius: Sagittarius rising is a fire sign of optimism and having adventures in life. You could say this is the most fun you could have when Sagittarius is in full bloom. This rising sign learns life lessons from a wide variety of experiences. The overall themes of truth seeking and finding faith continue throughout life. The symbol of a half man-half horse centaur expresses the earthly and spiritual nature. You have chosen this path to have a wide variety of earthly experiences in an effort to expand your consciousness. One of the biggest challenges is the scattering of your energy due to underlying nervous tension. Physical exercise helps you to release this chronic tension.
Capricorn: Capricorn rising is an earth sign ruled by Saturn, making you responsible and adult-like, even during childhood. You have an inner fear of being dependent on others and put your strong mental skills to the task of creating your own journey. Saturn energy can be heavy causing you to have health issues in early childhood. You also like to conceal any problems as you don’t want to burden others. You expend a lot of energy trying to take care of everyone around you, but your life takes off when you learn to care for yourself and create your own destiny.
Aquarius: Aquarius rising is an air sign ruled by Uranus, which is unique and eccentric. You want to express your unique self and often feel that you don’t “fit in”. Your outward friendliness hides your stubborn streak and rebellious nature. Any constraints on your freedom become hard on you physically. You need physical exercise since you tend to hide your true intentions, causing a build up of tension in your body which may result in illness. You tend to be too worried about what others think and not willing to compromise. Your path is to find and express your unique gifts while sharing your insights with others and creating a humanitarian mindset.
Pisces: Pisces rising is a water sign that has no bounds. This energy is like being a drop of water in an ocean - you don’t know where the droplet ends and the ocean begins. Your nature is quite sensitive and you have emotional reactions to most of life. You can be a dreamer and lose yourself in your work or relationships. The key to your path of higher spiritual knowing is to Let Go of the past and anything that holds you back. You are highly impressionable and the environment around you can be either supportive or draining. Learning healthy boundaries with people would be critical to living your path of enlightenment.
