Even if we don’t believe in astrology, many of us know our
astrological Sun signs. I’m a Scorpio,
you’re a _______.
But occasionally, we might hear the term Rising Sign.
Someone might say yes, I’m a Sagittarius with Libra rising. Say
what?
What exactly is a Rising Sign (also known as the Ascendant)
and why would it garner so much attention as to be mentioned in the same phrase
as a Sun sign? And, what significance
does it have on your life?
In astrology, there is what is known as The Big Three: Your Sun sign, Moon Sign and your Rising
sign. (For more information on your Moon
Sign, please see my previous blog post on this topic). Granted, your Sun sign is a really big deal: it carries such weight because all of the
stars in our Solar System revolve around the Sun. So it is in our astrological charts: the placement of our Sun by sign and house
tells us about our identity, our self, how we direct our will. This is immense. So why is our Rising Sign of such
import?
Because it is the
literal starting point of our entire chart.
It is the eastern most point on our chart at the moment of our
birth. Thus the Rising Sign determines
where every single planet falls in our chart.
So w-hat does this mean for you? How does it affect you? The Rising Sign indicates our initial
reactions to the world, our perception of
everything. Think about that. Initial impressions count for SO much! They often stay with us and do not change
unless something or someone makes a greater impression to alter our first
reaction. As a result, the Rising Sign
also determines our initial response to
the world. How we engage and
interact.
As Jeanne Avery writes in her book, The Rising Sign, “The Rising Sign/Ascendant can act like a wall or
a façade that an individual erects around himself. It is often like a mask that he hides behind,
simply because it is concerned with survival issues. It describes the part of the personality that
is most easily expressed. It is also how
a person allows others to see him.”
Think of yourself at a gathering of people: backyard barbecue or cocktail party. There might be people there that you know and
some you don’t. Your Rising Sign
determines your initial reaction to a new person at the gathering. How you
interpret their appearance, speech, choice of conversation, etc. Consequently, your interpretation decides your response to all of the above. This is the Rising Sign in action. A Libra Rising will engage with someone new
to them very differently than say, a Leo Rising.
Once we are comfortable interacting with said new person, we
might reveal our Sun sign. And, as
happens, we get really in the flow of
dialogue with that person, we will reveal our Moon sign, our most interior
self. “Hey, let’s meet for coffee next
week. I want to tell you more/learn more
about X, Y, Z…”
And so it goes.
In order to learn your Rising Sign, you need to know your
birth data: exact time, date and place
of birth. This can be tricky as often in
days of yore, hospitals failed to note the time on the birth certificate. However, it
is Federal Law since the 1930s that ALL birth times are to be
recorded. To learn your birth time,
contact the Vital Records department of the City or Town where you were
born. When ordering a new birth
certificate, specifically ask that the time of birth be noted on the new
copy.
Once you have that, any practicing astrologer can calculate
and interpret your natal chart for you.
This is your gift from the Universe!
Your natal chart is a road map that shows where you are going in life, how
you might get there utilizing your blessings and challenges.
Below is a brief outline of Rising Signs and their
mask/worldly perception and interpretation:
Aries: bold,
pioneering, brave, brash, impulsive, impetuous, idealistic
Taurus: sensual,
earthy, demonstrative, material, reluctant, steadfast
Gemini: inquisitive,
quick, talkative, engaging, stimulating, mischievous, agile
Cancer: sensitive, empathic, empathetic, sympathetic,
intuitive, caring
Leo: regal, dramatic,
dominant, sparkling, vibrant, entertaining, humorous
Virgo: objective, analytical, mercurial, questioning,
orderly, clean, decisive
Libra: gracious,
social, diplomatic, refined, charming, polite, harmonious, judicious
Scorpio: intense,
deeply observant, persevering, magnetic, keenly perceptive/aware
Sagittarius: happy-go-lucky, philosophical, optimistic,
enthusiastic, curious, free, dynamic
Capricorn: remote,
shy, determined, practical, serious, mature, proper, stoic
Aquarius: spontaneous,
off-beat, unique, maverick, intellectual, eccentric, individual
Pisces: visionary,
glamorous, adaptable, dreamy, reflective, fragile, innocent, inspirational
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