A Beginner’s Guide to Astrological Rising Signs and What They Mean

Emily Simone

As astrology has entered mainstream conversations, more people are going beyond their sun signs for knowledge about their birth charts. That means folks are taking an interest in their moon signs, rising signs, and more natal chart information beyond those, what many call “the big three.”

But even some who are aware of their rising signs may not know exactly what it means for them, so that’s what we’re here to explain: what exactly a rising sign is, how to find it, and a basic breakdown of how your rising sign may be expressed in your life.

What to Know About Rising Signs

The sun spends about 30 days in each sign and the moon spends roughly two and a half days in each sign. The elusive rising sign is so-called because it denotes which sign is on the horizon at the time of birth. This is why astrology requires a precise birth time rather than an estimate to create a proper natal chart. (For the longest time, we had the wrong birth time for my sister and thought she was a Sagittarius rising, when she’s actually a Pisces rising. Now it makes so much more sense.)

The sun is your deepest self, the moon is your inner emotional landscape, the rising sign (or ascendant) is both your outlook on the world and the first impression you give to others. At a first meeting, job interview, or party, people will perceive you as your rising sign. As they get to know you better, they come to see the rest of your chart. This can happen at different paces depending on the relationship.

The rising sign is often called “the public mask” or “front door.”

This type of sign is also often called “the public mask” or “front door.” The rising also denotes your ruling planet, which carries the energy of that sign. This planet carries extra meaning in your chart. When we’re looking at signs, houses, and planets, we are also always looking for the ruler of that sign, house, or planet. So there’s a lot more to a birth chart than your sun, moon, and rising signs. If you find you don't identify with those, just remember there are other factors at play.

How to Find Your Rising Sign

To find your rising sign, it's crucial to know your exact time of birth. Don’t just rely on your parents' memories. Every state in the U.S. formats birth certificates differently but requesting your “long-form birth certificate” will ensure that you get your birth time.

Once you have your birth time, most astrologers swear by Astro.com to create a proper chart. Not only will its tried-and-true system calculate your sun, moon, and rising signs, it will provide snippets of a free personal portrait with some horoscopes too. There are also apps available, including Costar and TimePassages, that calculate birth charts using the same information, but you can’t go wrong with Astro.com.

A Deep Dive Into Every Rising Sign

Astrology is a nuanced topic. If you find that descriptions of your rising sign don’t resonate with you, please keep in mind that it's just a tiny piece of the puzzle. A full rundown of your rising sign includes not just the sign but also the house your ruling planet is in, and other nuances in your personal chart, such as where the planets are in relation to one another. There are infinite possibilities and combinations, but the following breaks down rising signs in their basic forms, without any of this additional information.

Aries

If you’re an Aries rising, chances are you come off as brave, opinionated, and independent. You have a very strong and commanding presence, and may even be seen as intimidating. You are the fierce warrior of the zodiac. Being the first sign, you lead the cavalry. As the first fire sign of the zodiac, you are intensely competitive and view the world as a series of competitions. Aries, you are a trailblazer who leaps before you look and asks for forgiveness, not permission. You also act on your instincts, which are usually spot-on.

Taurus

If you’re a Taurus rising, it's likely you give off fierce, dependable, and strong-willed vibes. But you also have a softer side. You enjoy the good things in life, including beautiful clothes, fine food, and massages. Taurus sometimes gets pigeonholed as materialistic, and while you do like to surround yourself with gorgeous finery, you're also hardworking enough that you've earned a bit of luxury. You’re the first earth sign and you represent earthiness in its purest form. This means you like being active and creative with your hands — for you, this could mean gardening, cooking, knitting, or even the challenge of finding a creative new makeup look.

Gemini

If you’re a Gemini rising, people likely perceive you as talkative, bright, and curious. You are probably the social media expert of your group, with your fellow air sign, Aquarius. You are always doing 18 things at once and working on multiple projects. Being one of the double signs, like Libra and Pisces, you can sometimes come off as two different people, but that’s not a bad thing. We need your boundless energy and inexhaustible resources. Your highly creative mind can spit out ideas a mile a minute. Sometimes you might get overwhelmed by the desire to do everything, but unfortunately doing everything at once is impossible — try sticking to one or two things you really care about and focus on the rest of your list later.

Cancer

If you’re a Cancer rising, then warm, nurturing, and sensitive may be at the top of the list for those who describe you. You are likely seen as the mother among your close friends. You are a homebody and deeply value your family connections, whether blood or chosen. You like your routine — after all, you’ve taken time and care to establish yourself and make things exactly the way you want them to be. You might also be the person people come to with problems because you know how to hold space for people.

Leo

If you’re a Leo rising, people probably think of you as confident, vibrant, and fun. You have a flair for the dramatic, and people immediately notice when you walk in the room. You are also extremely creative, whether you express yourself with a vlog, a gorgeous social media feed, or through creative outfits and makeup. Seeing you live your best life inspires others to do the same. Leo season is the summer and you carry that carefree, sunny spirit with you. Leo is also known as the child of the zodiac. Like children, you live in the moment, but can also be a little demanding. Not everyone can keep up with your fiery energy.

Virgo

If you’re a Virgo rising, people who meet you may describe you as organized, put together, and reliable. Friends often go to you in a crisis. You know how to deal with things in order of importance and are a natural caregiver. Being an earth sign, you are also connected to nature and probably love animals. You know this planet is precious and that we have to be cognizant of how we use its resources.

Libra

If you’re a Libra rising, those who come into contact with you likely think of you as pleasant, sweet, and charming — whether or not that’s what’s going on below the surface. Since Libra is an air sign, you are social, enjoy being around others, and collaborating on projects. You may have heard that Libras are indecisive, and while this may be true it comes with good intentions because you generally want everyone to be happy. Though you want the best possible outcome for the most people, it’s important to recognize that’s not always possible. Note that Libra is the diplomat of the zodiac. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Scorpio

If you’re a Scorpio rising, you may come off as mysterious, quiet, and alluring. It’s not always a sexually charged charm, although it can be. Most of the time there’s so much going on behind that cool, pristine face, and people want to know more. Rising Scorpios are intense, and you have your reasons. You’ve likely had some experiences that have caused you to put up your guard, especially if you have other Scorpio influence in your chart, and it may take time to get to know you.

Sagittarius

If you’re a Sagittarius rising, people may describe you as fun, vivacious, and bright. You have a zest for life that’s contagious and are known as the optimist of the zodiac. The glass is always half full for you. This may be a bit difficult right now, and your serious side may be coming out as a result. You are also known as a wise teacher and seeker of truth. You are outspoken, opinionated, and say what other people aren’t saying. You can often be quite blunt and sometimes it backfires.

Capricorn

If you’re a Capricorn rising, you come off as mature, organized, and driven. You are always put together and prepared. You strive for greatness, and you expect a lot of yourself and of others. You scale unscalable heights and often do things others wouldn’t dream of. However, given that Capricorn is an earth sign, you are also grounded in your quest for greatness. You work within the system and then defy expectations.

Aquarius

If you’re an Aquarius rising, you may be perceived as intellectual, innovative, and a humanitarian. Some think the “aqua” in Aquarius means you're a water sign, but Aquarius is actually the third air sign (along with Gemini and Libra) and a symbol of the water bearer. This sign has much more to do with community and being part of the collective; it’s about sharing the water, not being the water. You're also known for being very individualistic, and it’s possible to see a rising Aquarius coming a mile away given your turquoise pixie cut, your razor scooter, or maybe you’re just singing at the top of your lungs as you walk down the street. In any case, you stand out and you march to the beat of your own drum.

Pisces

If you’re a Pisces rising, people likely describe you as dreamy, compassionate, with your head a bit in the clouds. That’s because sometimes you have a deep connection to other worlds whether you know it or not. Pisces is known as the psychic of the zodiac and since it’s the last sign, it carries all the other signs in it. Therefore, you are intrinsically linked to all of humanity. When someone meets you for the first time, you may seem like you’re not paying attention and your mind is elsewhere. That may be partially true, but you are also taking in everything, including the person's words, their body language, and underlying emotions.

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Originally Appeared on Allure