Astrology, Plain & Simple: The Only Book You'll Ever Need - Cass Jackson, Janie Jackson (2016)

Chapter 5. Your Rising Sign, or Ascendant

Your rising sign—also know as the ascendant—is determined by the exact hour of your birth, not just by day, month, and year. The rising sign indicates the starting point of a horoscope. It occupies the eastern horizon (dawn) at the time of your birth. The terms “rising sign” and “ascendant” are interchangeable; although to be precise, the ascendant is the exact degree of the sign that is rising. The ascendant (or rising sign) is found at the left hand side of the chart at the nine o'clock position. The ascendant is important in horoscopes because it describes the manner in which your personality is expressed. The ascendant also explains why two people with the same birthday can seem so different; because they are born at different hours, and even in different time zones, their personalities will express in quite distinct ways.

The details below explain a basic method for determining your rising sign:

1. The figure below shows the face of what appears to be a 24-hour clock. It is divided into 12 sections, each of which represents two hours.

2. Now draw on it the Sun symbol (a circle with a dot in the center) at the position that corresponds to the time of your birth. The example shows the position for someone who was born at approximately 3 a.m.

3. Draw the symbol for your birth sign on the line at the end of the section in which you have entered the Sun symbol. The example given is for someone born under the sign of Pisces.

4. Draw the symbols for the other zodiac signs in the 2-hour intervals around the chart. Be careful to enter them in their correct order—that is, in an counter-clockwise direction.

5. The symbol that appears at 6 a.m. (dawn) on the clock face is your rising sign (AC).

You will now see that the rising sign for the person used in the example (having a Pisces Sun sign) is Aquarius.

NOTE: If you are not yet confident about how to recognize and draw the Sun sign symbols on your “clock face,” just write the names of the signs instead.

Rising Sign Characteristics

Ever met a Virgo who you could have sworn was really a Gemini? Confusingly, some people appear to be more like their rising sign than their Sun sign.

This is because your rising sign represents the face you show the world—it is your outward Self. Your Sun sign is who you are deep inside—and that's someone we don't often share with others, and often a Self we haven't yet discovered for ourselves.

Most often, the rising sign will show the influences of our childhood. We tend to grow up “being” (or outwardly expressing) the person our parents treated us to be.

This section will give you an overview of what you can learn from your rising sign, and how it affects your overall makeup.

Aries Rising

If you have Aries rising, you're likely to be reserved and even slightly shy, which is probably due to a strict, though loving, childhood. However, this reservedness never holds you back from achievement. A career in an area that serves the public or in the armed forces will suit you well.

Taurus Rising

You are likely to be something of a materialist though you possess a lot of creative talent. Financial security is important to you, possibly because of childhood influences. You're a hard worker and completely reliable.

Gemini Rising

You're one of the talkers of the zodiac, though in childhood adults were probably too impatient to listen to you. As a result, you turn to friends and colleagues for support. Communication is certainly the name of the game for you, as far as a career is concerned.

Cancer Rising

Your mother has probably been the strongest influence on your life and you are family oriented. In fact, your own parental instincts are strong and you are likely to be the “agony aunt,” or confidant, to everybody you know. Even so, when it comes to business, you're a shrewd cookie.

Leo Rising

Your family undoubtedly expected a great deal from you. Their expectations could make you either conceited, or lacking in self-esteem. Either way, you work hard to succeed in all your undertakings because you love to be the center of attention.

Virgo Rising

Being of service to others is likely to be your main aim in life, but you also do like to have your kindness appreciated. You're likely to be heavily involved with charitable organizations but always have time to love and support your family.

Libra Rising

You're always able to see both points of view in an argument. This is a valuable attribute, but other people may sometimes regard you as indecisive. You have a most attractive personality and enjoy nothing more than bringing people together

Scorpio Rising

You tend to be secretive, probably due to childhood problems. This means you are likely to undertake confidential work of some kind. It's also important to you to work for the good of humanity.

Sagittarius Rising

Freedom is essential to you, as is the companionship of other people. That being said, you're likely to take on a job that entails a fair amount of traveling. Emigration is a strong possibility for you, but you will make friends wherever you go.

Capricorn Rising

Events in your childhood taught you the importance of saving money, the value of hard work, and gave you a cautious attitude. You're ambitious, but overnight success is not for you. You're a plodder, climbing slowly and steadily toward your goal.

Aquarius Rising

Anything that is new and unusual will appeal to you. This, in addition to your urge to help others, can lead you into a variety of humanitarian or ecological interests. You go your own way and don't readily accept advice.

Pisces Rising

Although you can be dreamy and impractical at times, childhood experiences have given you a lot of common sense. This, combined with your intuition, can make you highly successful in any job you undertake.