In astrology, the rising sign (also known as the Ascendant or ASC) is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth. It represents your outer image, first impressions, and how you face the world. If your sun sign is your core essence, then your rising sign is the 'mask' you present to the world.
The importance of the rising sign is often underestimated. In reality, when people first meet you, they often see your rising sign traits rather than your sun sign. This is why some people feel that their sun sign description doesn't quite fit them—they may be expressing more of their rising sign characteristics.
To calculate your rising sign, you need to know your exact birth time and location. This is because the rising sign changes approximately every two hours, so even people born on the same day may have completely different rising signs.
The rising sign can also influence your appearance and body type. For example, Leo rising individuals often have striking hair, while Scorpio rising may have deep, mysterious eyes. Of course, these are general descriptions, and individual birth charts bring more variations.
Understanding your rising sign can help you: better understand others' first impressions of you; present yourself more comfortably in social situations; understand why certain sun sign descriptions don't match you; and gain a more complete understanding of your personality traits.
If you want to deeply understand your rising sign, we recommend looking at your complete birth chart. The rising sign's interaction with its ruling planet and aspects with other planets all influence its final expression. Remember, astrology is a complex study, and the rising sign is just the starting point for self-understanding.