Last week I wrote about the astrology chart and the way it is set into 12 houses to reflect 12 different areas of your life. Today I will explain what a rising sign is and the first house. An important thing to remember when reading a horoscope for the general public (as opposed to one written specifically for you based on your chart) you should look at both the sign your sun is in AND your rising sign. Most horoscopes discuss the energy of a planet in a particular sign and house – the house will change based on your rising sign. I have often found my rising sign horoscope to be just as accurate if not more than my sun sign.
If you don’t know your rising sign, you can go to www.astro.com and make a chart for yourself for free. You should know the exact time and place of birth to get the most accurate chart, this information should be on your birth certificate. When you look at your chart sign all the way to your left that begins the first house is your rising sign. This is the sign that would be cresting the horizon at the moment of your birth. The sign here represents your personality, the “you” that the world sees and experiences. The first house is all about how we project ourselves into the world. This is why birth time and place are important, two people could be born on the same day but different times and have a very different natal chart interpretation based on where the planets fall in the houses. Two people could be born at the same moment but on different sides of the world and have different house placements.
The first house is all about “Me” – the self, the identity, the mask we wear. It is ruled by Mars and Aries. Both the planet Mars and the sign Aries are action orientated as is this house. Any planets that are in this house will strongly influence your personality. The sign on the cusp of this house will tell you about how others perceive you and possibly even how you look. A Leo rising may have a beautiful mane of hair that people often comment on, someone with a Taurus ascendant could have large soulful eyes that catch the attention. A Sagittarius rising may be athletic or exotic looking. Of course, there are many ways for the flavor of the sign to manifest in a personality or appearance.
Knowing your ascendant is helpful not only in reading astrology charts but in embracing the energies that make you who you are. Rather than fighting a Cancer rising and wondering why people will tell you their life story in the checkout line at the store, you can find a profession where that approachability and empathetic look is helpful. I have a Leo rising and even though I am shy and very much an introvert I admit I do like the spotlight on me from time to time.
I hope this is helpful and if you have questions about rising signs or the first house, please let me know in the comments below. Next week we will continue our journey through the chart with the second house.
Alison's Tarot & Astrology 
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