The ascendant sign
The Ascendant Sign (also called the Rising Sign) is determined by your time of birth – it is the Zodiac Sign rising on the Eastern horizon at your birth time. (If you were born at a time of year that had Daylight Saving Time you will need to take 1 hour off your birth time). The Ascendant is an important part of a horoscope – it represents your persona or face that you show the world, it has a bearing on your physicality, health, appearance, manner and clear characteristics of the ascendant sign will appear in your nature; it is usually very accented in childhood years; sometimes, it can feature as we get into our 40’s and beyond.
There is a basic method you can use, to gauge an approx. ascendant, if you have a vague birth time or just want an estimate. This basic method will help you find the most likely ascendant options; then, as the Zodiac Signs bordering each other are so strikingly different, it will be easy to choose which one of them fits you.
Here is the method:
It takes approx. 2 hours for each Zodiac Sign to rise over the horizon. Write a list of the 12 zodiac Signs in their correct order so it is easy to count through them. Then start with your Sun Sign:
If you’re an Aries – at sunrise Aries will be rising; 2 hours later Taurus will be rising, 2 hours later Gemini and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Libra will be rising; 2 hours later Scorpio and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Pisces will be rising, before that Aquarius and so forth.
If you’re a Taurus – at sunrise Taurus will be rising; 2 hours later Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Scorpio will be rising; 2 hours later Sagittarius and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Aries will be rising, before that Pisces and so forth.
If you’re a Gemini – at sunrise Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Sagittarius will be rising; 2 hours later Capricorn and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Taurus will be rising, before that Aries and so forth.
If you’re a Cancer – at sunrise Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Capricorn will be rising; 2 hours later Aquarius and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Gemini will be rising, before that Taurus and so forth.
If you’re a Leo – at sunrise Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Aquarius will be rising, 2 hours later Pisces and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Cancer will be rising, before that Gemini and so forth.
If you’re a Virgo – at sunrise Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra will be rising, 2 hours later Scorpio and so on. At Sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Pisces will be rising, 2 hours later Aries and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Leo will be rising, before that Cancer and so forth.
If you’re a Libra – at sunrise Libra will be rising, 2 hours later Scorpio, 2 hours later Sagittarius and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Aries will be rising, 2 hours later Taurus, and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Virgo will be rising, before that Leo and so forth.
If you’re a Scorpio – at sunrise Scorpio will be rising, 2 hours later Sagittarius, 2 hours later Capricorn and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Taurus will be rising, 2 hours later Gemini and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Libra will be rising, before that Virgo and so forth.
If you’re a Sagittarius – at sunrise Sagittarius will be rising, 2 hours later Capricorn, 2 hours later Aquarius and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Scorpio will be rising, before that Libra and so forth.
If you’re a Capricorn – at sunrise Capricorn will be rising, 2 hours later Aquarius, 2 hours later Pisces and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Sagittarius will be rising, before that Scorpio and so forth.
If you’re an Aquarius – at sunrise Aquarius will be rising, 2 hours later Pisces, 2 hours later Aries and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs- for 2 hours before sunrise Capricorn will be rising, before that Sagittarius and so forth.
If you’re a Pisces – at sunrise Pisces will be rising, 2 hours later, Aries, 2 hours later Taurus and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Aquarius will be rising, before that Capricorn and so forth.
I hope you have fun working out your ascendant and the ascendants of those around you.
When you work out your ascendant – can you relate to it? Do you look like it, act like it, or is there a streak of that sign in your personality? This is where understanding the Zodiac signs well will help you to determine which one of the possible options with your birth time is the right one.
There is a basic method you can use, to gauge an approx. ascendant, if you have a vague birth time or just want an estimate. This basic method will help you find the most likely ascendant options; then, as the Zodiac Signs bordering each other are so strikingly different, it will be easy to choose which one of them fits you.
Here is the method:
It takes approx. 2 hours for each Zodiac Sign to rise over the horizon. Write a list of the 12 zodiac Signs in their correct order so it is easy to count through them. Then start with your Sun Sign:
If you’re an Aries – at sunrise Aries will be rising; 2 hours later Taurus will be rising, 2 hours later Gemini and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Libra will be rising; 2 hours later Scorpio and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Pisces will be rising, before that Aquarius and so forth.
If you’re a Taurus – at sunrise Taurus will be rising; 2 hours later Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Scorpio will be rising; 2 hours later Sagittarius and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Aries will be rising, before that Pisces and so forth.
If you’re a Gemini – at sunrise Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Sagittarius will be rising; 2 hours later Capricorn and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise, Taurus will be rising, before that Aries and so forth.
If you’re a Cancer – at sunrise Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Capricorn will be rising; 2 hours later Aquarius and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Gemini will be rising, before that Taurus and so forth.
If you’re a Leo – at sunrise Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra will be rising and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Aquarius will be rising, 2 hours later Pisces and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Cancer will be rising, before that Gemini and so forth.
If you’re a Virgo – at sunrise Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra will be rising, 2 hours later Scorpio and so on. At Sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Pisces will be rising, 2 hours later Aries and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Leo will be rising, before that Cancer and so forth.
If you’re a Libra – at sunrise Libra will be rising, 2 hours later Scorpio, 2 hours later Sagittarius and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Aries will be rising, 2 hours later Taurus, and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Virgo will be rising, before that Leo and so forth.
If you’re a Scorpio – at sunrise Scorpio will be rising, 2 hours later Sagittarius, 2 hours later Capricorn and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Taurus will be rising, 2 hours later Gemini and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Libra will be rising, before that Virgo and so forth.
If you’re a Sagittarius – at sunrise Sagittarius will be rising, 2 hours later Capricorn, 2 hours later Aquarius and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Gemini will be rising, 2 hours later Cancer and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Scorpio will be rising, before that Libra and so forth.
If you’re a Capricorn – at sunrise Capricorn will be rising, 2 hours later Aquarius, 2 hours later Pisces and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Cancer will be rising, 2 hours later Leo and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Sagittarius will be rising, before that Scorpio and so forth.
If you’re an Aquarius – at sunrise Aquarius will be rising, 2 hours later Pisces, 2 hours later Aries and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Leo will be rising, 2 hours later Virgo and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs- for 2 hours before sunrise Capricorn will be rising, before that Sagittarius and so forth.
If you’re a Pisces – at sunrise Pisces will be rising, 2 hours later, Aries, 2 hours later Taurus and so on. At sunset, the opposite Zodiac Sign Virgo will be rising, 2 hours later Libra and so on. If you’re born before sunrise, move back through the signs – for 2 hours before sunrise Aquarius will be rising, before that Capricorn and so forth.
I hope you have fun working out your ascendant and the ascendants of those around you.
When you work out your ascendant – can you relate to it? Do you look like it, act like it, or is there a streak of that sign in your personality? This is where understanding the Zodiac signs well will help you to determine which one of the possible options with your birth time is the right one.
Key lunar/solar themes and terms
Here are key lunar/solar themes, terms and what they mean astrologically:
What is a New Moon?
A New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are in the ‘same’ Zodiac Sign and the same degree of that
Zodiac Sign i.e. in conjunction. (Because of their different orbits, they seem together when they’re
actually in alignment.) Hence the new Moon always falls in the Zodiac Sign we are in. It represents
new beginnings. Astrologically, the tone of the Sign it falls in influences the new beginning e.g. an Aries
new Moon will have quite a different energy to a Taurus New Moon.
A Solar Eclipse is an ‘exact’ new Moon – the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth and there is an
exact alignment. Astrologically, this has an intense energy.
What is a Full Moon?
There’s a Full Moon when the Moon is in the ‘opposite’ Zodiac Sign to the Sun and the same degree as
the Sun. Hence, when it is full, the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun i.e. when the
Sun sets in the west, the Moon will rise in the east. The Full Moon is always in the opposite Zodiac Sign
to the one we are in. When we are in Aries Zodiac time the Full Moon will fall in Libra; when we are in
Taurus Zodiac time, the full Moon will fall in Scorpio, and so on. Astrologically, the Full Moon signifies
a strong energy and represents emotions, situations and plans coming to a head; it can be exciting or
challenging. However, an Aries Full Moon will have a different tone to a Taurus or Cancer full Moon;
Full Moons aren’t all the same.
A Lunar eclipse is an ‘exact’ Full Moon: the Sun, Earth and Moon are in an exact alignment.
Astrologically the energy is intense.
What is a waxing Moon?
The Moon’s waxing cycle begins on the New Moon and ends at the full Moon. It is a cycle of growth.
What is a waning Moon?
The Moon’s waning cycle begins on the Full Moon and ends on the New Moon. It is a cycle of consolidation or retraction.
What is a New Moon?
A New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are in the ‘same’ Zodiac Sign and the same degree of that
Zodiac Sign i.e. in conjunction. (Because of their different orbits, they seem together when they’re
actually in alignment.) Hence the new Moon always falls in the Zodiac Sign we are in. It represents
new beginnings. Astrologically, the tone of the Sign it falls in influences the new beginning e.g. an Aries
new Moon will have quite a different energy to a Taurus New Moon.
A Solar Eclipse is an ‘exact’ new Moon – the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth and there is an
exact alignment. Astrologically, this has an intense energy.
What is a Full Moon?
There’s a Full Moon when the Moon is in the ‘opposite’ Zodiac Sign to the Sun and the same degree as
the Sun. Hence, when it is full, the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun i.e. when the
Sun sets in the west, the Moon will rise in the east. The Full Moon is always in the opposite Zodiac Sign
to the one we are in. When we are in Aries Zodiac time the Full Moon will fall in Libra; when we are in
Taurus Zodiac time, the full Moon will fall in Scorpio, and so on. Astrologically, the Full Moon signifies
a strong energy and represents emotions, situations and plans coming to a head; it can be exciting or
challenging. However, an Aries Full Moon will have a different tone to a Taurus or Cancer full Moon;
Full Moons aren’t all the same.
A Lunar eclipse is an ‘exact’ Full Moon: the Sun, Earth and Moon are in an exact alignment.
Astrologically the energy is intense.
What is a waxing Moon?
The Moon’s waxing cycle begins on the New Moon and ends at the full Moon. It is a cycle of growth.
What is a waning Moon?
The Moon’s waning cycle begins on the Full Moon and ends on the New Moon. It is a cycle of consolidation or retraction.
THE ELEMENTS
The Elements - Fire, Earth, Air, Water – are the very roots of astrology.
Understanding how the Sun, Moon, ascendant and planets have a different tone in each element is fundamental to astrology and provides useful insight into the nature of an individual and the cycles in their life.
Let’s start with your Birth Sign/Sun Sign.
If you’re an ARIES, LEO or SAGITTARIUS, you’re a FIRE sign; when a goal or situation requires it, you’ll have energy to burn and be action-orientated!
If you’re a TAURUS, VIRGO OR CAPRICORN, you’re an EARTH sign; your nature values practicality and consolidation.
If you’re a GEMINI, LIBRA or AQUARIUS, you’re an AIR sign; your nature revels in diversity and communication.
If you’re a CANCER, SCORPIO or PISCES, you’re a WATER sign; your nature is essentially emotional and intuitive.
Understanding how the Sun, Moon, ascendant and planets have a different tone in each element is fundamental to astrology and provides useful insight into the nature of an individual and the cycles in their life.
Let’s start with your Birth Sign/Sun Sign.
If you’re an ARIES, LEO or SAGITTARIUS, you’re a FIRE sign; when a goal or situation requires it, you’ll have energy to burn and be action-orientated!
- Fire is resourceful, enterprising, creative, confident, passionate, exuberant, keen and enthusiastic.
- Fire is also headstrong, fiery and impatient.
- Fire shows initiative and get-up-and-go, gets a lot done and makes things happen, is spontaneous, determined, courageous and a risk-taker.
If you’re a TAURUS, VIRGO OR CAPRICORN, you’re an EARTH sign; your nature values practicality and consolidation.
- Earth is down-to-earth, sensible, a realist, sincere and constant, has clear priorities, has quiet inner strength, a deep sense of duty and takes responsibilities seriously.
- Earth is also reserved, critical, cautious, gravitates to routine, set habits and ways, and rationalizes life.
- Earth likes to plan, be organised and prepared, is thorough, enduring and seeks security and stability.
If you’re a GEMINI, LIBRA or AQUARIUS, you’re an AIR sign; your nature revels in diversity and communication.
- Air is open-minded, inquiring, forward thinking, logical, objective, inventive and looks on the bright side.
- Air is also restless, elusive, detached, easily bored and needs personal space.
- Air relishes informative, stimulating, fun and challenging communication, is versatile, experimental, innovative, and enjoys diverse pursuits.
If you’re a CANCER, SCORPIO or PISCES, you’re a WATER sign; your nature is essentially emotional and intuitive.
- Water is reflective, searching, insightful, imaginative, creative, caring, empathetic and sentimental.
- Water is also introspective, over-sensitive, moody, over-reactive, defensive and intense.
- Water makes emotional decisions and ‘feels’ life, has strong home and family values; you’ll excel when you do what you love.
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