"Everyone knows their zodiac sign—it’s pretty hard not to, actually, since zodiac signs are all over social media these days. But your sun sign (what you typically answer when someone asks what your zodiac sign is) is just one piece of the puzzle. There are many other parts of your birth chart that make up your personality, and one of the most important of these parts is your rising sign.
100 hours of hydration, plump skin, and a finish so soft it feels like July. Consider this your winter skincare soulmate.
The rising sign, aka the ascendant, isn’t a planet like your sun or moon signs. It actually represents the zodiac sign that was rising over the horizon at the time you were born. Your rising sign can tell you a lot about your outward persona and how others perceive you. One way to think of it is as the first impression you make or the first thing people notice about you. It’s also how you interact with the world around you. Sometimes, people will say your rising sign is a “mask” you wear in public, but that’s not really a great metaphor. Your rising sign is just as much a part of your personality as your sun and moon—it’s just the more public-facing image of you, whereas your moon is your private side, and your sun represents how you view yourself or your ego.
Want to know more about your rising sign? We’ve got all the info below.
Why knowing your Rising sign is important
It sets up the whole layout of your birth chart
Your rising sign is the key to your whole birth chart. Think of the birth chart as a pie divided into 12 slices—one for each astrological sign. The rising sign determines what the first slice (or house) is. The location of your first house is majorly important because it lays the blueprint for the rest of your chart. So, if you’re an Aries rising, the houses will look like this:
- Aries
- Taurus
- Gemini
- Cancer
- Leo
- Virgo
- Libra
- Scorpio
- Sagittarius
- Capricorn
- Aquarius
- Pisces
But if you’re a Taurus rising, the houses would look like this:
- Taurus
- Gemini
- Cancer
- Leo
- Virgo
- Libra
- Scorpio
- Sagittarius
- Capricorn
- Aquarius
- Pisces
- Aries
Knowing your rising sign helps you identify where the rest of your placements fall in your chart. Everyone has all 12 houses, but which sign is in which house can have a huge impact. The order of your houses is separate from your sun and moon sign and doesn’t determine them, but knowing both the sign and house of your placements gives you a deeper understanding of your chart.
The houses have their own themes associated with them. For example, the first house usually deals with your sense of self, the second with finances and possessions, the third with communication, and the fourth with home and family. Looking at the charts above, we can see the Aries rising example has Taurus in their second house. This person probably values financial security, independence, and comfort when it comes to money. They also most likely love to treat themselves to the finer things in life. The second chart has Leo in their fourth house, which could mean they have a very warm home life. They might love entertaining guests and have a creative energy in their home.
It makes reading your horoscope more accurate
For the casual astrology fan, reading your sun sign horoscope is fine, but if you want it to be really accurate, you should look at your rising sign. To understand why this is, we have to start with how astrologers actually write horoscopes.
When astrologers write horoscopes, they look at the houses that planets are moving through. Each house represents a different aspect of your life, so the house a planet is transiting reveals the themes you can expect to encounter for a particular time period. As we learned above, the order of houses in your chart is determined by your ascendant, so basically, astrologers are writing horoscopes specifically for your rising sign.
For example, when the sun moves into Gemini, it’s moving into the house that’s ruled by Gemini in your chart. If we’re looking at an Aries rising again, that means the sun is in their third house, which will bring up themes of communication, learning, and short-distance travel. For a Taurus rising during Gemini season, the sun is in their second house, which is associated with values, skills, and money.
How to find your rising sign
Go to a birth chart calculator like this one. Enter your date, year, place, and time of birth to figure out your rising sign.
When looking at the drawing of your chart, your rising sign will be marked by a line labeled “ASC” in the first house. You can also scroll down to the section labeled “Planets” to find your ascendant sign.
What each rising sign means
Aries Rising
Aries risings come across as passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic. Others may gravitate toward you as a natural leader. You give off an air of confidence and fearlessness, but you also might be a bit impulsive or eager to jump into things without fully thinking everything through. You could be seen as somewhat quick to anger or hotheaded, too.
Taurus Rising
Taurus risings have a levelheaded disposition. Your dependability means that friends and family know they can always count on you. With your deep need for stability and stubborn nature, you might be hesitant to make changes. You also like to take things slow and really think through decisions. Thanks to your ruler, Venus, you might seem materialistic to those who don’t know you well, but in reality, it’s just your appreciation for all things luxury shining through.
Gemini Rising
Gemini risings are quick-witted and might be the comic relief in almost any situation. Your infinite curiosity means you’re constantly asking questions and have a knack for communication. While you’re chatty and social, people might find it difficult to pin down your personality, as you’re good at shape-shifting to fit different scenarios. You have many interests and want to try so many different things that you might seem a little scattered at times.
Cancer Rising
Cancer risings are slow to let people in, but once they feel comfortable around someone, they’re loyal and enjoy taking care of others. You come across as highly emotional and sensitive, and you may be particularly in tune with the emotions of those around you. People often feel safe around you, making you the person friends want to turn to for support.
Leo Rising
Leo risings are dramatic, and as natural scene-stealers, they draw attention wherever they go. While they love being in the spotlight, they enjoy lifting up and supporting others just as much. As a Leo rising, you’re also creative and fun-loving. You can be seen as a little vain since you always want to make sure your hair and outfit are perfect, but that’s just because you’re very aware of how others perceive you.
Virgo Rising
Virgo risings are meticulously organized and hard workers. You have a grounded energy and tend to lead with your head over your heart. You’re a great planner and take a practical approach to everything you do. Being ruled by Mercury, you’re also a strong communicator and have a love of knowledge. Because you’re a perfectionist, you might seem overly critical at times since you want everything to be up to your high standards.
Libra Rising
Libra risings are ruled by Venus, making them hopeless romantics and giving them an appreciation for art and aesthetics. You’re a social butterfly and can make conversation with almost anyone. As a textbook people pleaser, you’re highly conflict-avoidant and have a strong need to keep the peace in all situations. Because of this, you might be reluctant to share your actual opinions, which can make you come across as a little indecisive or wishy-washy.
Scorpio Rising
Scorpio risings are intense and super emotional, but they hide their feelings well and can seem aloof. Some might have a hard time reading you, but your secretive personality often intrigues people and makes them want to get closer to you. And once you get to know someone, you’re a true ride or die.
Sagittarius Rising
Sagittarius risings come across as adventurous and full of life. You have a positive, can-do attitude that makes others want to be around you. Others can see you as impulsive because you always want to try something new and don’t spend a lot of time mulling over decisions. You make an interesting conversationalist because you love learning and have endless travel stories to share.
Capricorn Rising
Capricorn risings are seen as all-business types because of their hard-working, tenacious personality. You’re stoic and tend to keep your feelings to yourself. Instead of rushing into things, you prefer to spend time thinking and planning ahead. Your friends and family probably see you as someone they can go to for advice because of your maturity and responsible nature.
Aquarius Rising
Aquarius risings stand out because of their uniqueness; instead of doing what everyone else does, they like to set their own trends. Other people see you as independent and individualistic. You’re always thinking, and you might come off as standoffish since you’re more preoccupied with your thoughts than with what’s happening around you. Despite that, people likely still see you as a kind person, as you care deeply about justice and making others feel welcome.
Pisces Rising
Pisces risings are intuitive and empathetic. You can easily pick up on the vibes people are giving off, and your sensitivity means you might feel affected by others’ emotions. Thanks to your active imagination, you’re seen as a super creative person and probably have a talent for different kinds of art. While you’re not exactly a realist, you can always show people the positive side of a situation.
Lauren E. Taylor, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Lauren is an experienced writer who specializes in zodiac signs and pop culture. With a talent for combining astrological insights with the latest trends, she has captured our audience’s attention and helped them better understand themselves through astrology.