Your rising sign, or ascendant, is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment and place you were born. It describes how people meet you and how you meet the world: your first impression, your instinctive approach, the door into the rest of your chart. Enter your birth date, time and place below and the calculator works out your rising sign to the degree.
The rising sign changes roughly every two hours, so it needs your birth time, ideally to the quarter of an hour, and the place you were born. Without a time the calculator cannot give a reliable rising sign; it will still show your Sun and Moon. Your rising sign appears in the title of your result, and your own reading is below it.
your sky
your sky as three cards
The cards your sky points to
In the old tradition every sign belongs to a card of the Major Arcana. These three are yours: one for your Sun, one for your Moon and one for your rising sign.
exactly where everything stood
Every planet in your chart
the shape of your chart
Your balance, your Moon, your direction
how your planets talk to each other
Your closest aspects
for the people you love
Your sky next to someone else’s
Add a partner, a crush, a friend or your mum. You’ll see where your two skies flow, where they spark and where they ask something of you both. Always a description of two people, never a score.
How to read your rising sign
Think of your chart as a house. The Sun is who lives there, the Moon is how it feels inside, and the rising sign is the front door: what people see first, and how you step out into the day. It also sets the houses of your chart, which is why astrologers ask for your birth time. Your rising sign often explains why people read you differently from how you feel inside.
Your rising sign, sign by sign
Aries · Taurus · Gemini · Cancer · Leo · Virgo · Libra · Scorpio · Sagittarius · Capricorn · Aquarius · Pisces
Aries rising
People meet you as direct, quick and unafraid, and you tend to approach life head first. You start well and fast, and you are often the one who goes first. The lesson of your rising sign is patience with the middle of things.
In the cards: The Emperor, the major arcana card of Aries. See also the tarot card for Aries, today’s card for Aries and Aries in 2027.
Taurus rising
People meet you as calm, warm and steady, someone easy to be around. You approach life slowly and sensibly and rarely rush. The lesson of your rising sign is that not every change is a threat.
In the cards: The Hierophant, the major arcana card of Taurus. See also the tarot card for Taurus, today’s card for Taurus and Taurus in 2027.
Gemini rising
People meet you as quick, curious and talkative, and you approach life by asking questions. You make friends easily and can seem younger than you are. The lesson of your rising sign is depth: staying with one thing long enough.
In the cards: The Lovers, the major arcana card of Gemini. See also the tarot card for Gemini, today’s card for Gemini and Gemini in 2027.
Cancer rising
People meet you as gentle, caring and a little guarded, and you approach life by first testing whether it is safe. Once you trust, you look after everyone. The lesson of your rising sign is letting others look after you.
In the cards: The Chariot, the major arcana card of Cancer. See also the tarot card for Cancer, today’s card for Cancer and Cancer in 2027.
Leo rising
People meet you as warm, bright and confident, and you approach life with a certain style. Rooms tend to notice when you arrive. The lesson of your rising sign is that you are worth noticing on quiet days too.
In the cards: Strength, the major arcana card of Leo. See also the tarot card for Leo, today’s card for Leo and Leo in 2027.
Virgo rising
People meet you as composed, helpful and observant, and you approach life by noticing what needs doing. You seem modest and very capable. The lesson of your rising sign is to stop auditing yourself.
In the cards: The Hermit, the major arcana card of Virgo. See also the tarot card for Virgo, today’s card for Virgo and Virgo in 2027.
Libra rising
People meet you as charming, graceful and fair, and you approach life by finding the balance in it. You put others at ease almost without trying. The lesson of your rising sign is letting people see when you disagree.
In the cards: Justice, the major arcana card of Libra. See also the tarot card for Libra, today’s card for Libra and Libra in 2027.
Scorpio rising
People meet you as intense, private and magnetic, and you approach life by reading what lies beneath the surface. You give little away at first. The lesson of your rising sign is that not everyone is a risk.
In the cards: Death, the major arcana card of Scorpio. See also the tarot card for Scorpio, today’s card for Scorpio and Scorpio in 2027.
Sagittarius rising
People meet you as open, funny and restless, and you approach life as an adventure. You are often the one who suggests going somewhere. The lesson of your rising sign is follow through.
In the cards: Temperance, the major arcana card of Sagittarius. See also the tarot card for Sagittarius, today’s card for Sagittarius and Sagittarius in 2027.
Capricorn rising
People meet you as serious, reliable and older than your years, and you approach life with a plan. You are often trusted early. The lesson of your rising sign is play.
In the cards: The Devil, the major arcana card of Capricorn. See also the tarot card for Capricorn, today’s card for Capricorn and Capricorn in 2027.
Aquarius rising
People meet you as friendly, original and a little detached, and you approach life on your own terms. You are hard to put in a box. The lesson of your rising sign is letting people close.
In the cards: The Star, the major arcana card of Aquarius. See also the tarot card for Aquarius, today’s card for Aquarius and Aquarius in 2027.
Pisces rising
People meet you as soft, dreamy and kind, and you approach life by sensing the mood of a room. You adapt easily, sometimes too easily. The lesson of your rising sign is boundaries.
In the cards: The Moon, the major arcana card of Pisces. See also the tarot card for Pisces, today’s card for Pisces and Pisces in 2027.
Questions people ask
What is a rising sign?
Your rising sign, also called the ascendant, is the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the time and place of your birth. It describes your first impression and your instinctive approach to life.
Why do I need my birth time for my rising sign?
The rising sign changes roughly every two hours as the Earth turns, so without a birth time it cannot be worked out reliably. The place matters too, because the horizon depends on where you were born.
What if I do not know my birth time?
Look on your birth certificate, ask a parent or relative, or ask the hospital or registry where you were born. Without it, read your Sun and Moon signs, which the calculator still shows.
Is the rising sign the same as the ascendant?
Yes. Rising sign and ascendant are two names for the same point in your chart.
