Rising Sign

The Ascendant or “rising sign” is the sign of the Zodiac on the Eastern Horizon at the moment and place of birth. This location is also known as the First House cusp (corresponding to the 9 o’clock position on a clock face). A key for the zodiac symbols can be found at the bottom center of the following chart.

The rising sign suggests to a large degree the manner with which we present ourselves—the impression given to others when we initially meet them. Specific rising signs correlate with anticipated behaviors.

In this example chart the Rising Sign (look at the 9 o'clock position) is Libra.

Rising Sign	Typical Keyword Associations
Aries	Assertive, aggressive, leadership qualities, competitive, perhaps self-focused, egocentric
Taurus	Solid, loyal, reliable, materialistic, predictable, perhaps stubborn or inflexible
Gemini	Diversification, communication-focused, energetic, perhaps scattered or distracted
Cancer	Nurturing, emotional, home-loving, safety and security-oriented, perhaps overly sensitive, may withdraw into “shell” when feeling threatened
Leo	Proud, needing respect, honor, and recognition, perhaps vanity
Virgo	Discriminating, analytical, detail-oriented, perhaps overly critical or compulsive
Libra	Peace-loving, objective, seeking balance, appearance conscious, perhaps self-compromising to maintain peace
Scorpio	Intense, control-oriented, passionate, perhaps secretive
Sagittarius	Opinionated, needing respect of opinions, outgoing, cheery demeanor (can hide inner turmoil and upset beneath)
Capricorn	Organized, ambitious, driven, traditional, serious, reserved, perhaps overly cautious
Aquarius	Intellectual, innovative, individualistic, unique, freedom-loving, perhaps detached or eccentric
Pisces	Sensitivity, compassion, socially orientated, perhaps vulnerable or easily taken advantage of

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