Some of astrology’s biggest naysayers base their claims off the fact that they don’t identify with their Sun signs. And…that’s actually fair! But sorry, haters, there’s actually an astrological explanation for that. Yep. Depending on where all the planets were at the time of your birth, you might feel like you most strongly identify with a completely different sign. It’s all about your Rising sign.
Let’s say you are a Cancer Sun but have a Sagittarius Rising (also sometimes referred to as your Ascendant). When you first meet people and say you’re a Cancer, they’d expect you to be shy or maybe even moody. But your Sagittarius Rising will actually offset those Cancerian traits with a happy-go-lucky attitude and charm that could sell sand to a desert. That’s where the Rising sign comes into play—it’s a major factor in shaping and defining one’s attitude, first impressions, appearance, and demeanor.
What is a Rising sign, exactly?
If you’re new to astrology, you might know only your Sun sign. But we all have many other signs too—a Moon sign, Mars sign, Pluto sign, etc. Think of your birth chart as a snapshot of the sky at the moment you were born. Each type of sign describes where that planet or luminary (that’s astro speak for the Sun and Moon, btw) was when you made your earthly debut. And then there’s your Rising sign, also called your Ascendant. This one describes which zodiac sign was ascending the eastern horizon at the moment you were born.
What does your Rising sign tell you?
Your Rising sign determines the way others see you and what you expect from the world around you. Some astrologers refer to the Rising sign as a “mask” people wear—it can shed light on the first impressions you make as well as your initial reactions and responses to various situations. Some suggest that you read both your Sun and Rising sign horoscopes in order to get a better picture of what’s ahead for you.
What's the difference between a Rising sign and an Ascendant?
They're the same thing! So if you look up a birth chart and see "Ascendant" but not "Rising sign," you *do* still know your Rising sign. They're different words for the same thing.
How do I calculate my Rising sign?
The Ascendant changes every two hours, which is why it’s so important to have an accurate time of birth when interpreting a birth chart. All you have to do is plug in your birthday, time of birth, and location of birth into the birth chart calculator below.
This birth chart calculator was created by www.astro-seek.com in collaboration with astrologer Narayana Montúfar. Learn more about Narayana's work on her website www.naramon.com.
How do I find my Rising sign if I don't have my birth time?
If you don’t have your birth time, try to find out—even something as simple as "morning" or "afternoon" can get you a pretty good estimate. If you have no idea, don't worry! You still have options. You up the time of sunrise on the day you were born for something called a “sunrise chart” or put 12 p.m. for something called a “noon chart.” You can do both and see which Rising sign "feels" more like you. And if you’re super into astrology, you can pay for an in-depth reading with an astrologer for something called a “natal chart rectification”—where an astrologer asks you detailed questions about your life to essentially work backward to discover your birth time.
Your Rising sign and the houses
This is going to get a little complicated, so stay with me. Your birth chart not only contains all the planets and your Rising sign, but it also contains 12 houses. If you look at a birth chart, it's a circle divided into 12 sections—and these 12 sections are each called a "house." Each house "rules" over a different area of life, and the houses each planets fall into can tell you a lot about the course of your life. Your Rising sign always falls on the cusp of your 1st house, so you can use yours (or anyone else's) to figure out which sign each subsequent house falls into.
Your Rising sign and your chart ruler
In astrology, knowing your Rising sign means you also know your chart ruler. Your chart ruler is the ruling planet of your Rising sign, which means it's extra powerful in your birth chart. You'll want to you look at the sign and house your chart ruler is in when examining your birth chart, as well as the relationships it forms with other planets.
Sound complicated? For example, maybe you're a Cancer Rising. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, so your chart ruler is the Moon—even if you're an Aries Sun or Capricorn Sun. Your Moon sign will be extra important and you might feel the effects of Full Moons more dramatically than others.
"Traditional" vs. "modern" rulers
Check the list below and you'll see that some signs, such as Scorpio and Aquarius, have two rulers, one traditional and one modern. This is because some of the outer planets weren't discovered until relatively recently (Uranus in 1781, Neptune in 1846, and Pluto in 1930). Practitioners of traditional astrology look to the planets that have been known for a longer time, while practitioners of modern astrology incorporate all of them.
The 12 Rising signs
Aries Rising
Chart ruler: Mars
You’re the friend who always wants to go out. Spring break in Cabo? You’re there. There’s a ton of energy with this placement, and you’ll generally be viewed as overzealous and passionate about life. You tend to act before you think, which makes you a ton of fun to be with but might also get you in some sticky situations. Aries Risings are all about leadership and taking charge, but there’s also a tendency to come off as aggressive or bossy.
Taurus Rising
Chart ruler: Venus
As a Taurus Rising, you have a practical approach to life. You are attuned to the finer things in life and aren’t shy about indulging yourself in life’s greatest pleasures (e.g., eating as many pints of ice cream as you freakin’ please). A strong work ethic is at the core of your ethos, and you can expect an unrivaled stubborn streak with this ascendant. You’re resistant to change, slow moving, and cautious when confronted with new situations. You’re an incredibly loyal friend, but you can be cautious when getting to know new people.
Gemini Rising
Chart ruler: Mercury
You can’t sit still. Think about it—when was the last time you focused on one thing for more than five minutes? Gemini Risings have the gift of gab—your brain moves a mile a minute and you’re eager to suck up as much knowledge as possible. You’re super curious about the world and always ready to share a random fact. There’s a restlessness with this Rising sign, which can cause some to come off as nervous. Exercise is a successful way to mitigate this energy. You’re highly social, flirtatious, impulsive, and notoriously difficult to pin down. It’ll take some real charm and intellect to woo you.
Cancer Rising
Chart ruler: The Moon
Everyone loves to come to your house for wine night. You may be shy and reserved when you first meet someone, but once you’ve deemed them worthy of friendship, there’s no match to your loyalty. You may be a bit of a homebody and are probably the “mom friend.” You’re always taking care of your loved ones and inviting them over for a home-cooked meal or your signature ’tinis. While you’re sipping with friends, you’re probably breaking out an old box of Polaroids because you are sentimental and love a visit down Memory Lane. You’re an empath who can easily tap into your psychic abilities.
Leo Rising
Chart ruler: The Moon
People can spot you by your gorgeous hair from a mile away. Having your Ascendant in Leo can make you quite the showstopper when it comes to your physical appearance. Couple that with a gregarious nature and a warm, outgoing personality and you’re impossible to ignore. You’re always the one in the group who declares, “Let’s take a selfie!” and tries about 37 angles until you get the right one. There is no such thing as too much attention for you—you are all about a public moment and probably kill at karaoke. You’re incredibly driven and you probably think you should’ve been a child star (you absolutely should have). You’re the friend who’s always going live on Instagram.
Virgo Rising
Chart ruler: Mercury
Some might accuse you of having Resting Bitch Face—but you’re really just shy and taking it all in. Overthinking is the name of the game and you tend to process information in an analytical manner. You can be reserved and don’t eagerly wear your emotions on your sleeve—instead, you display your love for someone by doing small things to make their lives easier. When your BFF is going through a horrible breakup, you’re the one who sends a care package of food and whatever else they’re too devastated to remember to buy at the moment. You’re also all about health and wellness space—you might do yoga daily, collect crystals, or be a recipe genius.
Libra Rising
Chart ruler: Venus
If you’re a Libra Rising, you probably take at least 30 minutes to make the simplest of choices. You’re plagued by indecision—if you and your friends are going out, you’ll need an extra two hours to decide which shirt you want to wear. You spend a lot of time on your appearance and probably have a favorite beauty YouTuber. There is unparalleled charm to your personality—you’re warm and welcoming, especially because you don’t tend to form judgments right away. You also hate conflict and avoid it at all costs, which can sometimes lead to passive-aggressive behaviors. On the flip side, you’re excellent at meditating other people’s conflict.
Scorpio Rising
Chart ruler: Mars (traditional) and Pluto (modern)
Turn up the intensity! With a Scorpio Rising, others naturally feel your power in a room. Whether quiet or loud, you definitely make an impression—and others have strong opinions about you too. You’re dedicated and passionate to those you love and causes you stand for, but you can also be extremely secretive and enjoy your privacy. You demand respect and can accidentally intimidate people for that reason. There is a need to be in control with this placement, and you might have an interest in the occult (or just reading your horoscope every day).
Sagittarius Rising
Chart ruler: Jupiter
Always down for a party and always seeing the glass as half full, Sagittarius Risings are entertaining and full of posi vibes. You’re likely also prone to word vomiting—bluntness is an extreme and unavoidable trait, and sometimes what you think is kind honesty can be taken VERY personally. Aka you might need to work on your tact and delivery. You also might have a desire to travel the world or make multiple moves in your lifetime—you are probably always planning your next trip and have strong opinions on suitcase brands. Besides traveling, knowledge and learning never grow old—you’re a student of the world, always studying a new language or watching a new docuseries.
Capricorn Rising
Chart ruler: Saturn
You might come off as a snooze initially—but that’s just because you’re too busy making money moves. Capricorn Risings are reserved, responsible, and serious—but once people get to know you, they appreciate your dry, deadpan sense of humor. You’re big on tradition, rules, and structure and you were most likely the responsible kid at the high school parties. Security is fundamental to earning your trust as well. Your work ethic is unchallenged and you eternally strive to achieve more and more—especially when it comes to providing for your loved ones. You’ve got a detailed 10-year plan, and you’ll follow it to a T.
Aquarius Rising
Chart ruler: Saturn (traditional) and Uranus (modern)
We get it. You’re weird. You’re a weirdo. You don’t fit in and you don’t want to fit in. Aquarius Risings are like no other—unique personalities that rarely conform or give in to watching a Netflix show just because it’s trending on social media. Social justice is a massive point of interest and you find peace within larger social groups or organizations. You’re wise, curious, and essentially out of this world. Your eccentricity only adds to your desire to combat social norms, and your innovative nature makes you the perfect group-project partner. Your friends love the offbeat way you look at the world, but people who don’t know you well might think you seem standoffish or stuck-up—really, you’re just a little reserved until you get to know someone.
Pisces Rising
Chart ruler: Jupiter (traditional) and Neptune (modern)
Hello, anyone in there? With a Pisces Rising, you might be a little busy dissociating. You are adaptable and typically have a strong sixth sense. You are a true empath, possess an innate healing power, and feel the pain and beauty the world offers on a deep level. You keep an open mind, so much so that you might take on others’ opinions rather than forming your own. Pisces Risings have an artistic nature—they’re natural painters, writers, photographers, and so on. You can struggle with indecision and escapism, which you should watch out for. But ultimately, you’re the gentlest, most open-minded sign.
Stephanie is an astrologer, psychic medium, and witch. She's studied the mystical arts for over a decade including the stars, mediumship, palm reading, tarot, curanderismo, and more. She is the author of Seasons of the Zodiac: Love, Magick, and Manifestation Throughout the Astrological Year and host of the podcast Daily Horoscope for Your Zodiac Sign. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Well + Good, Bustle, among other publications, and she has appeared on the Today Show as an astrology expert and modern mystic.
Erika W. Smith (she/her) is the current Senior Astrology Editor at Cosmopolitan. In her 4+ years at Cosmo, she's worked on everything from editing weekly horoscopes, to reporting on how astrology influences album release dates, to launching The Cosmo Tarot. Before joining Cosmopolitan in 2020, she worked at Refinery29, HelloGiggles, and BUST magazine. Her book series Astrosex: How to Have the Best Sex According to Your Star Sign was published in 2021. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @erikawynn.
