Home > Astrology > Love Shack > Attraction > Sun/Ascendant

Sun/Ascendant - Attractions R Us

That's right! We're finally beginning to get a little steamy by discussing astrological romantic attraction!

If Sun Signs are pretty much as far as you've ever gone, then you've likely never even heard of the incredibly important birth chart point called the Ascendant.

The Ascendant (or Rising Sign) is the Zodiac sign that was rising on the horizon at the exact moment of your birth. The Ascendant in your birth chart represents the exact dawning of your life on planet Earth. It's the part of the Sky that literally came out to meet and greet you at the exact moment of your birth.

In a nutshell, the Ascendant aids us in answering the question: "who am I in this world?" The Ascendant colors your approach and outlook on life. The Zodiac sign on the Ascendant represents the "outer package" or "outer behaviors" that you regularly display to the people around you.

FYI: In the not too distant past, the Ascendant of the birth chart was considered to be of (at least) equal import with the placement of the Sun. In ancient Greece, if someone asked what your horoscope sign was, they were asking about the sign located on your Ascendant. In the 20th century, the Sun's placement became much more popular - in part - because you only needed to know the month and day of your birth. The Ascendant, on the other hand, requires knowing the exact time of your birth.

The Comparison - Rule of Thumb
If my Ascendant is located in the same Zodiac Sign (Sign conjunct) as your Sun, then that can spell out a very strong potential for mutual romantic attraction. My Ascendant Sign (my outer behaviors) attract and draw in your Sun Sign (your heart and creative energy).

Example: My Ascendant is located in the Sign of Gemini. When I meet someone whose Sun is located in the Sign of Gemini - then that's often a strong potential for mutual attraction! With my Ascendant in Gemini - I'll give you three guesses which Sun Sign my ex-wife has (and the first two guesses don't count)? I only wish I had a nickel for every synastry comparison I've done for married couples where one person's Ascendant was in the same Sign as the other person's Sun!

Taking this "signature" a little further - Sign conjunctions with the Ascendant are virtually as powerful when comparing one person's Ascendant with the other person's Moon, Venus, and/or Mars.

Sign Conjunctions
I suppose (for the more advanced folks who wandered in here) the fact that I consider "Sign conjunctions" – and choose not to consider any of the other traditional “in orb” aspects – bothers more than a few of you. So I should probably do a little name dropping, and mention that I am not completely alone in my opinion about Sign conjunctions.

Short excerpt from the astrological classic How To Handle Your Human Relations written by Lois Haines Sargent (whose book was highly recommended by Stephen Arroyo):

"Most important in judging attraction is the aspect between the Ascendant of one chart and the planets of the other... Sun, Moon, Venus, or Mars in one horoscope in the Sign ascending or descending in the other horoscope is an astrological testimony of a strong attraction."

Ascending or Descending?
Hmmm... Ascending or Descending... I suppose I should have mentioned that the Ascendant is actually part of a 2 point chart axis, involving the Ascendant and the Descendant?

The Ascendant/Descendant axis of a chart is sometimes called the “magnetic axis.” So when the Sun, the Moon, Venus, and/or Mars in another person’s chart are located on your Ascendant/Descendant axis, the two of you are literally magnetically drawn to each other.

As a birth chart axis, if your Ascendant is located in Virgo, then your Descendant is located in (the opposite sign) Pisces. Or (vice versa) if your Ascendant is located in Pisces, then your Descendant is located in Virgo.

• Aries/Libra
• Taurus/Scorpio
• Gemini/Saggittarius
• Cancer/Capricorn
• Leo/Aquarius
• Virgo/Pisces

Example: Post-marriage, the love of my life has her Venus located in the sign of Gemini.

Summing Up
As Sargent has said... this Rule of Thumb that I have just shared with you is of greatest import when judging attraction and testimony of strong astrological attraction. Whether it becomes "romantic" attraction is yet another matter.

There are 2 or 3 other very important, what I call, "incarnational axes" in the birth chart that I first look at and consider when performing a comparison, however I have just shared with you the initial and/or primary axis that I look for.

Where to get your Birth Chart calculated online.

Home > Astrology > Love Shack > Attraction > Sun/Ascendant

Return to the Love Shack Menu


(back to the Love Shack Menu)