Zodiac Rising Signs

The Rising Sign, also called the Ascendant, is the zodiac sign that falls on the cusp of the first house in a birth chart wheel. It signifies the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth and is determined by the time of day we were born. Since the Earth is always rotating, the zodiac signs don't stay in the same place for long.

Most people, if they know anything about astrology, know their Sun sign. And they think their Sun sign is everything they need to know about themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Our Sun sign is our inner desires, will, or ego expression. Our Rising Sign is the obvious, outward personality that we allow others to see. It's our outlook on life; our mannerisms and attitudes; and the wall, façade, or mask we hide behind to keep ourselves safe. Inner and outer, two sides of a coin. Sometimes both fall under the same zodiac sign. Often they do not.

Many of us are not aware of how we present ourselves to others. It took me a long time to realize how other people saw me. Since internally I was in touch with my Aries energy, that's what I thought I was always projecting. I was unaware that my Aries energy was being filtered through my Leo Rising.

For as long as I can remember, people have told me their life stories and deepest, darkest secrets, even total strangers I've just met. I could never figure out why this happened. There was nothing special or different that I said or did to elicit this information. Sitting next to someone on an airplane or going through the checkout line at the grocery store, I'd be the recipient of personal information from only having smiled at someone or said, "Hello." Often the storyteller would say to me, "I don't know why I'm telling you this." Or "I've never told anyone this before." Once I understood Leo Rising, it made perfect sense.

Of course the Rising Sign, like the Sun sign, is only part of a person's birth chart. Other chart elements can influence both. The value in knowing our Rising sign is understanding how effectively we are using its qualities to get what we want by complementing our Sun sign characteristics rather than overshadowing or conflicting with them.

When we learn to synthesize our external personality with our inner self, we release energy that gives us the balance we need to lead a successful life.