Astrology has always found a way into my life. Although it was never on my radar to professionally study or practice astrology, it kept coming up in random conversations in different areas of my life. I was the one who’d randomly ask: What is your rising sign? If you didn’t know, I’d get the birth time, go home and find out. I could recall everyone’s star and rising sign, a trivia which was my concern only. The funny thing is I couldn’t expand anything at that time beyond your rising sign might play a greater role than your star sign. I’m an Aries with a Pisces Ascendant is far more nuanced than I’m an Aries.
Truths & myths about the Ascendant
When I was a teenager, a myth was circulating around saying that your rising sign would be more prominent in your personality after age 30. Mysteriously, no one could pinpoint its logic, so I didn’t question it. Now I realise there must be a correlation to the Saturn Return, which happens in your late twenties and roughly lasts 2.5 to 3 years. During this time, more often than not, there is a feeling of coming into oneself and gaining insight and awareness into your own life’s purpose. By this time, you had made important decisions regarding your career, relationships, family, children, finances, and fully entered adulthood. It’s not that your rising sign is now more prominent; it is you who has a broader and deeper understanding of your needs, limits and who you are. In other words, you approach life through the lens of your rising sign.
What is the Ascendant all about?
I say this to every friend, colleague, family member, and client who asks for an astrology consultation. The Ascendant is the most intimate part of your chart. It symbolises your first breath and represents the exact moment you entered this world. It also marks the zodiac sign that is on the eastern horizon at the location and the specific time you are born. The ascendant is a significator of your body and general health, vitality, constitution, character and how you start things in life.
In modern interpretations, the rising sign is often described as putting on a mask or crafting a persona. You can influence how others perceive you; therefore, the Ascendant becomes a construct, a fabricated image (not sure if I agree). However, at its core, the Ascendant describes one’s character/personality and motivations in life. I still haven’t met a Libra rising for whom relationships and a sense of harmony aren’t essential, a Gemini rising not buzzing with ideas and random curiosities or someone with an earth rising sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) who isn’t concerned with a deep feeling of physical or material security. Each sign brings in its own set of qualities and difficulties.
Also, any planets placed near the Ascendant will reflect through your personality and motivations and play a significant role in how life unfolds.
The story of my Ascendant’s ruling planet
One of the first things I look at in a chart is the Ascendant’s ruling planet. It reveals a priority focus for the individual and, more often than not, something profoundly embedded in their unique life’s journey. You can’t escape its pull, and sooner or later, when that placement gets strongly activated, external events or some internal turmoil marks a turnover or a new beginning. There is a wide variety of timing techniques in astrology; however, I’ll stick solely to a particular transit and not overcomplicate things. This shows how powerful even one transit can be.
It was around 2017 when I started questioning my life/career choices. Everything was going well; I was on the path I wished to be on, and I couldn’t have asked for more. At that time, Uranus was in Aries and was conjunct my Ascendant’s ruling planet, the Moon in Aries, in the tenth house of career and reputation.
Uranus has a rebel-like quality; it stirs things up and makes you wonder if your choices feel authentic and worthwhile. It might suddenly feel like you’re in a cage and you traded your freedom for the wrong things. Pair all this symbolism with the energy of a Moon in Aries, and you get a fiery combo. Around the time of the last conjunction Uranus made to my Ascendant’s ruling planet (must have been April 2018), I decided to leave everything behind and move to a different country. It came out of the blue; it didn’t make sense, and I didn’t have a plan or money. But I was determined to make it happen. By the end of 2018, I was already in the UK. I had one suitcase and two boxes and was about to start a life from scratch with little support.
Was it impulsive, reckless, risky? Absolutely. It had all the characteristics of a Uranus in Aries transit, and it activated all Moon themes – home & family, intense emotions (it was also the time I started therapy the first time), health & vitality (I’ve no clue where I got the energy from to pull off such an extreme move). It also activated the first and tenth house themes – rethinking my life direction and career and marking a massive turnover point. Although I don’t feel as courageous and determined daily as in 2018, the Uranus transit over my Ascendant’s ruler offered a glimpse of who I am in unusual circumstances.
A few considerations
Not all transits are equal, and not all planets ruling the Ascendant are so loud and obvious. It depends on the house they’re in, the energy and characteristics of the sign, their visibility, and so much more. Some transits might manifest through more external events, and others might feel more intense inward.
I remember being rather shocked that I didn’t move countries precisely under Uranus in Aries transit to my Moon. But then I recalled all the build-up that eventually led to taking the decision right on the month of the last hit. That’s why every chart is deeply personal, and the planet ruling your Ascendant will have a significant say in your life when the right time comes.
If you’re curious about exploring the meaning of your Ascendant, its ruling planet and when and how it will be activated, then the natal chart & current timing consultation is a great start.
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