Your Moon and Rising Signs & You

In astrology, there are three key pillars of a birth chart. These are your sun, moon, and rising (or ascendant) signs. Today in Part II of "The Sun, Moon & You", astrologer Julie Starr introduces the moon and rising signs from the perspective of Western astrology, and unpacks what they mean for you.

Moon Sign

As the archetype of the mother, the placement of the moon in your chart tells you about your emotional needs—it’s how you nurture others and how you need to be nurtured. The moon corresponds to motherhood, the home, and family. You could say the sun is what you want and the moon is what you need.

Our moon sign asks us to contemplate: What feeds my soul? What do I need to feel nurtured?

Rising or Ascendant Sign

The rising or ascendant sign describes how you present yourself to the world. It is the “mask” or persona that others see. This doesn’t mean that it’s fake or that it’s not authentic; it’s just how you appear to others.

Our rising sign asks us to contemplate: How do I show up in the world?

Putting It Altogether

When you know your sun, moon, and rising signs, you can begin to get a good sketch of who you are according to your birth chart. The element and mode of each of these signs, plus the house where they reside, will tell you how these energies are functioning in your chart and in your life.