What place does your ascendant, perhaps better known as your “rising sign”, have in your astrological portrait? To begin with, your rising sign is defined as the sign of the zodiac that was on the Eastern horizon when you were born. Rising signs change quickly, having a two hour duration. Each of the twelve signs takes its place during a twenty-four hour period.

Your ascendant is how other people see you – it governs “first impressions”. I have my Sun and Moon in Capricorn, which can be a fairly rigid sign. However, my rising sign is Cancer, which gives people a completely different picture of me. (My ex had his Sun and Moon in Cancer, with a Capricorn rising sign.)

Here is a quick look at the twelve astrological signs as they move through the Eastern horizon:

• Aries Rising – Here we have an outgoing, energetic personality. This person lives life to the fullest, and can be impulsive. They are ready for any and all challenges.
• Taurus Rising – This person has a quiet, strong personality, and can be stubborn. This person exhibits a great deal of integrity.
• Gemini Rising – This person is quite the talker! They have charming personalities, and love the social scene.
• Cancer Rising – This is a quiet, sensitive person who has a hard time fitting into new environments. They are extremely intuitive, and very aware of the needs of those around them.
• Leo Rising – This is a self-confident, assured person. They are the “informed” risk takers of the zodiac.
• Virgo Rising – This person is quiet and reserved, with a high intelligence. They can tend to be perfectionists.
• Libra Rising – These people love to see balance in their lives, and can be very persuasive. They socialize well, but not for personal gain.
• Scorpio Rising – These people are quite intense, self-reliant and goal oriented.
• Sagittarius Rising – These people love to be on the move, ever looking for the next new thing. They have a great sense of humor, and find it important that everyone be treated equally.
• Capricorn Rising – Capricorns are the leaders of the world, and have often had to overcome obstacles to get where they are. They are serious individuals, with a sense of determination and drive.
• Aquarius Rising – This person will stand out in a crowd. They have eclectic tastes, are very independent and non-conformist by nature.
• Pisces Rising – This person is gentle and thoughtful. They have great intuitive ability, and can be easily overwhelmed by their environment.