What is the Ascendent?

Most people know their Sun sign because it is easily determined by the date of birth. The Rising sign (or the Ascendant), however, is determined by the time of birth. It is this sign of the Zodiac, which rises above the eastern horizon at the time of birth. Since the Earth rotates around its own axis, the Rising sign changes every two hours. This means that every two hours or so, all the planets in house positions and the Rising sign will change. Obviously people born on the same place and the same date, but with more than 2 hours difference in the time of birth, will have very dissimilar charts. Sometimes even 2-3 minutes can make a difference.

People who are born approximately around the Sun rise will have their Sun sign and their Rising sign the same. These people are known as double Gemini, double Leo or whatever the case might be, in which case the characteristics of this sign will be powerfully enhanced. However, this is relatively rare occurrence (about 8% of the cases) and for most of us the Sun sign and the Rising sign will be different.

The Sun sign determines our outer projection, or the way the other people perceive us, while the Ascendant determines the hidden, inner forces that drive us through life. In short, it determines our psychological motivation in life and it will be known only to the people, who are very close to us. The characteristics of the Ascendant will be most likely unknown to our mere acquaintances, who will most probably describe us according to our Sun sign characteristics.

If I can give you an analogy with the car, the outer appearance of the car, the colour, the model, the number plate and so on will relate to the Sun sign. However, if we open the bonnet and inspect the engine, which is in fact driving the car, this will reveal to us the Rising sign. Thus, a car can look like a powerful Ferrari, but may have a very sensitive and moody engine and vice versa. The ideal situation is when the person can integrate successfully within himself both the Rising and the Sun signs, which produces balanced and harmonious people.        

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