It turns out we might not have the right idea about rising signs after all.
Your Birth Chart is essentially a snapshot of the heavens at the precise moment you entered the world. Rising signs, or ascendants, play a crucial role here, as they mark the beginning point of the chart.
However, Aliza Kelly, an astrologer and influencer, suggests that we have been misinterpreting what these signs really mean and how they function in our lives.
To determine your rising sign, you need to know your exact birth time and place. This information reveals which Zodiac sign was on the eastern horizon as you took your first breath.
It’s straightforward enough.
For those curious about their birth chart, you can look into various online resources to find out more.
If you’re searching for your rising sign, it can typically be found along the line marked at 9 AM on the chart.
The rising sign is often viewed as the first house, representing your home. In this domain, characteristics and perceptions are shaped by the influences governing them.
Rising signs also relate to the MC or Midheaven and Imum Coeli, which many astrologers consider to be some of the most significant points in a natal chart.
Describing the rising sign as merely a “mask” gives a misleading impression that it can be shed away, as if it were just a facade hiding our true selves.
Many astrologers, including Kelly, argue that this view is off-base. She points out that your rising sign should not be seen as the mask you wear in public; true understanding of astrology goes beyond that.
Historically, rising signs were considered just as critical as sun signs before the latter became popularized in daily horoscopes, particularly since the 1930s. Kelly notes that the “mask” idea likely arose in the 1970s when astrologers sought to clarify the differences between sun and rising signs in a relatable way.
A thoughtful commentator once expressed, “The rise is our perception. Our perception shapes the mask, but not the mask itself.”
And yes, she means that the earlier astrologers who suggested rising signs were more about appearances certainly had a point. Our perceptions indeed shape what we project outwardly. But it’s more complicated than just creating a facade.
Rising signs aren’t something you can simply discard; they represent energies we have to acknowledge and nurture to truly understand ourselves. They illuminate our natural talents and struggles rather than disguise them.
In essence, every planet in your chart connects back to your rising sign. This sign anchors your reality. It’s not just a superficial mask; it’s foundational.
The more you understand about it, the more it can guide you.
That same commentator’s words resonate well: “The rise is our perception. Our perception shapes the mask, but not the mask itself.”
