Astrology 101: Why Your Rising Sign Is So Important And How To Find It

Many of us know about our Sun sign: whether we are an Aries, Pisces, Leo, etc. This is decided by the month we were born in.

This info is just the tip of the iceberg in Astrology. Digging a little deeper, we can uncover much more.

What is a rising sign?

Your rising sign is your spirit and essence. What motivates and moves you, and stirs you to take action. It is the starting point for how the cosmic confetti lands and shapes you. It forms the foundation of your birth chart and opens up a whole world of self-discovery.

Your rising sign, also known as your Ascendant, is determined by your time of birth.

The Ascendant is the name for a point in the sky that was on the Eastern horizon as you came into the world. The zodiac sign that Ascendant point was in, is your rising sign. For example, if Libra was on the Ascendant when you were born, you would be a Libra rising.

The rising sign marks the foundation of your Astrology and the first step on the wheel of your birth chart.

Your rising sign also determines what Planet you are ruled by, which I have covered below by each rising sign. This alone can give you lots of information about your world.

How to find your rising sign

To keep things simple, use a rising sign calculator like this one. You’ll need your date, time and location of birth.

If you don’t know your time of birth, this may be a little trickier for you, but not impossible.

You could ask relatives or friends you’ve known for a while who may have a rough idea. You may be able to request a copy of your birth certificate, which (depending on your age) might have your time of birth on it.

You could also enlist the help of an Astrologer who uses a technique called “rectification” where pivotal moments in your life are analysed to try and work out your ascendant sign. I also came across this website during research for this article where you can answer questions and it could potentially narrow down your time of birth.

Full disclosure I have not used this website myself, so can’t fully vouch for its accuracy. They also recommend only those over the age of 25 start this process. Use your discernment and seek credible sources and practitioners as this is a very specialised subject.

Either way, you can still get a lot from Astrology without your time of birth, and you can still uncover where each planet and sign was for you just by the date and location. This is still useful information even without the rising sign.

What does your rising sign mean for you?

The following is a brief summary of each rising sign and the energies they hold.

Please bear in mind that Astrology is all about opposites. The light and shadow. I would not be doing my job properly if I didn’t highlight the best parts about each rising sign without acknowledging the challenges.

We all hold this inner tension, and it’s okay! Take it all with a pinch of salt and feel comfortable letting go of anything that doesn’t click with you. Do your own research and use this as the first step in your self-discovery pilgrimage.

If, after this, you want to dive deeper, take a look at this post all about your Moon sign and see where that takes you.

Aries Rising:

You are ruled by Mars, the warrior planet. You may be very passionate, possess leadership qualities or enjoy entrepreneurship. You are likely quite assertive, so watch out for being overly dominant. You can do anything you set your mind to and have an innate drive to succeed and get things done. You want solutions and results. You are fiercely protective of your loved ones, and your enthusiasm and bravery is inspiring.

Taurus Rising:

You are ruled by Venus and likely enjoy the finer things in life. Comfort and pleasure are important to you, so you work hard to get them, but only when you want to. You won’t be told what to do or be rushed into anything. You prefer slow and steady progress to build a strong and solid foundation for yourself and the people you hold most dear.

Gemini Rising

You are ruled by Mercury, and this makes you a great thinker, but you may overthink at times. You may also be good at writing, teaching or communication in general. Gemini’s seem to get a bad rap for being “two-faced”, but I think this has been a bit twisted. Gemini is able to see more than one perspective, and so can be a great mediator and very open-minded. Maybe this means they prefer not to take sides.

Cancer Rising:

You are ruled by the Moon, so your emotions ebb and flow just like the tides. People may call you sensitive, which is actually a gift. You may be quite psychic. Be mindful of being a fixer and absorbing other people’s emotions. Energetic cleansing and hygiene is really important for Cancer energy. You may love being in your hermit shell and be a homebody too, your home is your sanctuary.

Leo Rising:

You are ruled by the Sun, and so you naturally shine brightly. You may enjoy the creative arts. You are warm-hearted and generous, but watch out for overshadowing others. Leo energy is often accused of being egotistical or over-confident, but in their highest expression, they just really value themselves and know their worth. This can be great energy for their friends and family, as healthy Leo energy will light the way for others.

Virgo Rising:

You are ruled by Mercury, so gathering the facts and being well-prepared is important to you. You also want to share what you’ve learned, but be mindful to wait for the invitation and only pour your energy where it is appreciated and needed. You are likely intelligent or scholarly. Anxiety may be an issue if you try too hard to be perfect. Nervous system regulation and soothing are great tools for Virgo energy.

Libra Rising:

You are ruled by Venus. Relationships and connections are important to you. You are a great networker and friend. You may find deep fulfilment through your friendship groups but also be prone to people-pleasing. Libra energy tries to keep the peace, which can lead to holding things in and not speaking up. Libra appreciates beauty and art and may find success in the arts, fashion or aesthetics.

Scorpio Rising:

You are ruled by Mars and Pluto. You are likely very driven and passionate about the things you care about. You are probably highly creative and intuitive. You might hold your cards close to your chest and want to be alone more often than not. Once you find your trusted circle, you create deep bonds where you feel freer to share your rich inner world.

Sagittarius Rising:

You are ruled by Jupiter. You may feel a driving force to explore, evolve and expand your horizons. You may have a lack of focus at times because you really want to fully immerse yourself in this human experience. You might be suited to travelling or teaching. Sagittarius energy loves to feel free, so can sometimes struggle with limitations. Over time, you will find your own balance between freedom and structure.

Capricorn Rising:

You are ruled by Saturn. This might make you quite a driven and disciplined person who works very hard towards your goals. You may be a little too serious at times. You have the ability to build a path for yourself from scratch, with a strong determination to climb to success. Capricorn risings often make great entrepreneurs and do well in business endeavours.

Aquarius Rising:

You are ruled by Saturn and Uranus. You may be interested in collaborative projects that drive change and evolution for your community. You may need lots of space and get lost in your head sometimes. You might find so much satisfaction in spending time alone with your thoughts, that you need to remember to ground yourself back to Earth and connect with loved ones.

Pisces Rising:

You are ruled by Jupiter and Neptune. You think in an imaginative way and may prefer making decisions based on intuition rather than logic. You may feel very sensitive and soft. Protect your energy, and try not to take on others’ problems as your own. Pisces are known for being very empathetic and compassionate, which can make them great healers and artists.

Final thoughts

I hope you found this article helpful in discovering your rising sign placement in Astrology, what it means for you and how to work with it. If you would like to learn more about the Zodiac signs and Astrology, please follow along on my socials below, where I post Astrology flashcards, info sheets, Full and New Moon reminders, Tarot and much more.

Don’t forget to read all about your Moon sign here!

Lots of love

Joey Clare

xxx