TheAscendant

TheMostImportantPointinTheHoroscope

byHankFriedman

InbothWesternandVedicastrology,theAscendant,alongwiththe
FirstHouseLord(ruler),andFirstHouseoccupants,areamongthe
mostimportantfactorsinapersonschart.Someastrologersthink
thattheAscendantisjustonesimage,ormask,butinreality,the
Ascendantisthemostindividualpointinthechart,theplacethat
trulyrepresentsyou.Thatswhytwopeoplewillbemuchmore
similarborntwodaysapartatthesametimeofday(i.e.withthe
sameAscendant)thanpeopleborntwohoursapartonthesameday.
ThatsalsowhytheAscendantisconsideredtobethemost
importantpointinbothVedicandTibetanastrologies.

PartOne:TheWesternAscendantand
Temperament

ThefollowingsectionsarebasedontheTropicalzodiac(asusedin
Westernastrology),andtheEqualHouseSystem,andusetheword
Ascendanttorefertotheactualrisingsign.Allofthefactors
influencingtheAscendantandtheFirstHouse(i.e.occupantsofthe
FirstHouse,thelordoftheFirstHouse,andaspectstotheAscendant
anditslord)maymodifythesedelineations.

TheAscendantrepresentsmanyfacetsofaperson:

1.TheGatekeeper.

TheAscendantasGatekeeperdetermineswhichplanetsina
personschartwillhavefullexpressionandwhichwillnot.

ThepersonidentifieswithplanetsinthesamesignastheAscendant,
andtheseplanetsbecomeabletoexpressthemselvescompletelyand
withoutrestraint.PlanetsinthesameelementastheAscendant,but
notthesamesign,canusuallyexpressthemselveswithouteffort,too.

Peopledisidentifywithplanetsintheoppositesigntothe
Ascendant(andinthatoppositesignselement),andasaresult,the
personhasmuchlessconsciousaccesstothem,andcannotembody
orexpressthemaseasily.

Oneofmybestfriends,forexample,hastheSuninLeoand
theMooninAries,buthisLibraAscendantisthepredominate
influence,andheoftenoverdefersinsteadofassertinghimself.

PlanetsinthenextsignaftertheAscendant(andinthat
element)canalsoexpressthemselvesrelativelyeasily,astheyare
likelytofallinhouses1,5,and9,buttheyexpressthemselvesina
mannerthatismodifiedbytherisingsign.

Examples:

JuliaRobertshasCancerrising.Sheisoftenreferredtoas
doeeyed,andherobvioussensitivityandvulnerabilitycreateagreat
dealofherappeal.TheseareWatersignrisingqualities,andher
risingsignalsofacilitatestheexpressionof,andsoftens,herScorpio
Sun,andmakesherFirstHouseLeoMooncomeoutinagentler
manner.

WarrenBeattyhasanAriesSun,buthasoftenbeen
characterizedastoosubduedandtoounexpressive.Whilehis7th
houseSunhasclearlyexpresseditself,especiallyinhispatternof
initiatingmanyrelationships,hisVirgorisinghaskepthimmuch
morereticent,introverted,andinhibitedthanmostpeoplewould
expectofanAries.

HenryKissingerisworldrenownedasadiplomat,andhis
GeminirisingallowedhisLibraMoonfullexpressioninlife.Allof
hisAirplanets,allowedexpressionbyhisAirrisingsign,havemade
himarticulate,adaptable,andsupremelyintellectual.

2.TheInterfacewiththeWorld.

Theascendingsigndeterminesapersonsrelationshipwith
theworld.Thepersonapproachestheworldtrustinglyand
enthusiasticallywithaFiresignrising,cautiouslyandsensitively
withaWatersignrising,pragmaticallyandprofessionallywithan
Earthsignrising,andintellectuallyoraestheticallyorsociablywith
anAirsignrising.

TotheWatersignrisingperson,theworldisloud,intense,
andimpactful.TotheFiresignrisingindividual,theworldistheir
playgroundandanaudiencetoexpressthemselvesto.TotheEarth
signrisingperson,theworldisaplacetoprovethemselvesand/orto
conformto.ToAirsignrisingperson,theworldisinteresting,anda
niceplacetovisit.

Examples:

OprahWinfreyowesmuchofherassertiveness,leadership
qualities,andherabilitytoreboundfromlifesadversitiestoher
SagittariusAscendant.Eventhoughhertwofireplanets(Moonin
SagittariusandPlutoinLeo)aremutedbytheirrespective12thand
8thhouseplacements,shehasbecomeanincrediblepioneer.Clearly
herrisingsignhashelpedhertoaccessthesequalitiesandto
approachtheworldwithcourage.

Similarly,PaulGauguin,thegreatpainter,wasabletobreak
newgroundinartduetothestrengthofhisLeorising,which
enabledhimtodepartfromconvention(eventhoughhehadaVirgo
MoonintheFirstHouse)andtolivepassionatelyinsteadofjust
livingalifeofthemind(GeminiSun).

ThemusicstarPrinceisclearlyanintrovert,withlarge
privacyissues,whospendsmuchofhistimeathome.HisScorpio
risingshowstheneedtoretreat,andtokeeptheworldatbay(in
spiteofhisextrovertedGeminiSun).

3.TheEmbodiment.

Individualsembodyverydifferentlydependingupontheir
risingsign.Apersonsenergylevel,wayofcaringfortheirbodyand
handlingtheirphysicalneeds,andeventheirawarenessoftheir
physicalityarelargelygovernedbytheAscendingsign(andfactors
thataffecttheAscendantandFirstHouse).

ThosewithEarthsignsrising,especiallyTaurus,arelikelyto
beveryembodiedandgrounded,butsometimesusetheirbodiesas
tools,asmeanstoanend.

Firerisingsignfolkfeeltheenergyandvitalityoftheirbodies,
buttheiremotionsstronglyaffecttheirbodysenergylevel.

WithWaterrising,onesbodycanbedepletedbynegative
moods,andtherecanbetroubledigestingifoneeatswhileupset.

Airrisingpeopletendtodisassociatefromtheirbodiesand
theirembodiedfeelings,andtherebylosesightoftheirbodiesneeds.
Thismayresultinbodilyneglect,physicalproblemsorrunningout
ofsteam.

4.TheSelfImage.

TheAscendantshowshowapersonconceivesofthemselves,
howmuchtheythinkaboutthemselves,howmuchtheyinhibit
themselves,andhowmuchtheytrustthemselves.

Earthsignpeopleusuallytendtobemoreselfcontained,self
controlled,perfectionistic,andconsciousoftheirreputations.(E.g.
WarrenBeatty,mentionedin#1.)

Firesignpeopletendtobeconfident(orevenoverconfident),
uninhibited,andfreelyexpressive.BetteMidlerhasabrash,bawdy,
andouttherepresentationthatiscompletelycongruentwithher
Ariesrising.

Watersignpeopleareoftenquitevulnerabletocriticism,are
likelytoalternatebetweenintimacywithothersandwithdrawal,can
mergewithotherpeoplesprojectionsonthem,andsometimesfeel
ashamedoftheirsensitivity.(SeeJuliaRoberts,mentionedin#1.)

Airsignpeopleoftensmoothoverinterpersonalissuesandtry
topleaseothers,thencanbecomeveryupset,theykeepthemselves
separatefromtheirownfeelingstoolong,andcanlosesightoftheir
ownperspective.JimMorrisonsiconoclasticimageanddisdainfor
conventionareperfectlyrepresentedbyhisAquariusAscendant.He
indeedseemedcold,separate,andstrange(fittinglytheauthorofthe
song,PeopleareStrange).

PartTwo:TheVedicAscendantandSuccess,
Popularity,andEffectiveness

ThefollowingsectionsarebasedupontheSiderealZodiac,Whole
SignHouseSystem,andTraditionalRulerships(e.g.Jupiterrules
Pisces,MercuryrulesVirgo,SaturnrulesAquarius,andMarsrules
Scorpio).

1.VitalityandAthleticAbility.

TheAscendantisconsideredstronginVedicastrologyifitis
occupiedandaspectedbybenefics(Moon,Mercury,Venus,and
Jupiter)andnotoccupiednoraspectedbymalefics(theSun,Mars,
Saturn,andNodes)anditslordisstrong(initsownsign,exalted,
retrograde,orwithdigbala).ApersonwithastrongAscendant
tendstobebothenergeticandathletic.Iwassurprised,forexample,
tofindclientswithSiderealMoonorMercurynotplanetsWestern
astrologersassociatewithphysicalityintheirownsignintheFirst
House,whohavebeenextremelyathletic.

ArnoldSchwartzeneggerisanexcellentexampleofthis
configuration,withMercuryinGeminiintheFirstHouseconjunct
theAscendant.AwinnerofMr.Universetitles5times,hewasa
naturalinbodybuilding.

VenusWilliams,atennischampsincetheageof18,hasher
Ascendantlord,againMercury,inGemini,withVirgorising.
Mercuryisnotablyunaspectedbymalefics(byVedicmethods)andis
thereforeapureandstrongbenefic.

2.SuccessinLife.

WhentheAscendantisstrong,theindividualexperiencesthe
fullabilitytosucceedatwhattheyundertake.Theyareblessedwith
commonsense,theabilitytoutilizetheirgifts,andgoodfortune.

PaulNewmanisaprimeexampleofanindividualwhocando
nowrong.Hehasbeentremendouslysuccessfulasanactor,andalso
sponsorsanimportantdrugabuseprogram.HisNewmansOwn
foodbrandiswildlylucrative,outgrossingallofhisfilms(andhe
giveseverypennyofprofitgenerouslytocharities).Newmans
AscendantlordJupiterisintheFirstHouse(initsownsign).

JamesDean,ontheotherhand,seemedtodonoright.
Reckless,selfdestructive,moody,andalienatedfromhisfamily,
JamesAscendantlordisinitsweakestsign(MarsinCancer)and
undoubtablyleadtohisearlydeath.

(Note:InVedicastrology,itisactuallycommontohavefactorsina
chartthatameliorateandevenenhancetheplacementofaweak
planet.WhileJamesDeanhadnochartfactorsamelioratinghis
weakAscendantlord,butmanyfamouspeoplewithweakAscendant
lordsdo,suchasDorisDayandAlbertEinstein.)

3.Wealth,Influence,andPower.

AstrongAscendantisoftenfoundinthechartsofthemover
andshakersofsociety.Thehealthoftheirselfhoodenablesthemto
scaletheheightsandhaveamajorinfluenceontheworld.

TonyBlair,theBritishPrimeMinister,hasbeenbothvery
influentialandpopular,andthroughhismarriage,acquired
considerablewealth.HisAscendantlord,Venus,isinitssignof
exaltation,andastrongJupiterisintheFirstHousenearhis
Ascendant.

BillGates,oneoftherichestmenintheworld,andthecreator
ofMicrosoftWindows,thedominantoperatingsystemforpersonal
computers,hasadisputedbirthtime.Myteacher,HartdeFouw,
usesaGeminiAscendant,andaccuratelypredictedMr.Gatesrecent
legalproblemsinadvance.WithaGeminiAscendant,thechartruler
Mercuryisonceagainexaltedinanangle,anexcellentindicatorof
influenceandpower.

4.Health.

TheAscendantisoneoftheprimaryfactorsinlongevityand
generalwellbeing.ThosewithastrongAscendantcanfightoff
diseaseandthrive.

GingerRogers,famousdancepartnerofFredAstaire,was
healthythroughoutherlife.HerAscendantisunaspected(byVedic
aspects)andherAscendantlord,Venus,isstrongbyvirtueofbeing
inthe4thhouse(whereitgainsdirectionalstrengthordigbala)and
isalsoaspectedbybenefics(withoutanymaleficinfluence).

ChristopherReeve,ontheotherhand,hasseveralproblems
withhisAscendant:itisexactlyconjunctKetu,theSouthLunar
Node,anditslordisdoublyweaktheMoonisdarkandinits
weakestsign(thelatterpartiallyamelioratedbyitsassociationwith
itsdispositorMars).NeitherhisAscendantnoritslordhastheaspect
ofanybeneficplanet.Asmostofmyreaderswillknow,hesuffereda
greataccidentthatlefthimparalyzedandunabletobreathonhis
own.Hediedatayoungage.

5.PopularityandManner.

TheAscendantdetermineshowlikeableapersonis.Those
withAscendantswithoutbeneficinfluencemayfindithardtobe
accepted,whilethosewithsupportedAscendantsmaybecome
popularwithouteffort.

HarrisonFordisanincrediblypopularactor.Hismanneris
wellliked,andheisconsideredhandsome,friendly,andkind.His
Ascendantlord,Mercury,isexaltedinthe10thhouse,andassociated
withJupiter,too.

JanisJoplin,contrawise,wassoundlyrejectedbyherpeers.A
socialmisfitandanunhappyandoverweightchild,sheonlygained
popularitytowardstheendofhershortlife,andhadahardtime
receivingit.HerAscendant,likethatofChristopherReeve,isexactly
conjunctKetu.Herfameandsuccesswereindicated,however,both
bythestrengthofherAscendantlord,andtheaspectofJupiteron
theFirstHouse.

6.TheAbilitytoUseOnesGifts

AVedicchartmayhaveplanetsinpowerfulpositionsor
combinationswithotherplanets(thesearecalledyogas),butfor
theirgiftstomanifest,suchplanetsmusthavearelationshipwiththe
Ascendant.Theplanet(s)canoccupytheFirstHouseoraspectthe
Ascendantoritslord,orbetheAscendantlordoroccupythesame
houseastheAscendantlord.

Forexample,BobbyFischersexaltedMarsaspectsboththe
FirstHouseandtheFirstLord(whoisinMarsownAriesTenth
house),enablinghimtobeabletoeasilyaccesshisfiercely
competitivespirit.

Forthisarticle,Ispentanhoursearchingforfamouspeople
lackingintegratedgifts, tonoavail.Theveryfactthatthey
succeededmeantthattheirinnerresourceshadtobeintegratedwith
theAscendantanditslord.

Butonce,Ihadaclientwithmanyplanetseitherexaltedorin
theirownsigns,andnoneofthemwereconnectedtotheAscendant
orAscendantlord.Infact,hehadSaturnandMarsaspectinghis
FirstHouse,andhismannerwasindeedintenseandabrasive.He
hadbeentoldbyotherastrologershowgreathischartwas,buthe
neverunderstoodwhythatgreatnesshadnevermanifested.He
understoodthathehadtalent,buthejustcouldntexpressorusehis
giftseffectivelyinlife.

PartThree:Appearance:TheEffectofPlanetary
InfluencesontheAscendant

BothVedicandWesternastrologyseetheAscendant,the
planetsaspectingit,andotherfactorsinfluencingtheAscendantsuch
asFirstHouseoccupants,asthekeytotheappearanceofaperson.

ItisoftenstatedthatthosewithVenusrisingareattractive,
forexample.

InbothWesternandVedicastrology,eachplanet,andthe
risingsignsitrules,correspondstoaparticularlook.InVedic
astrology,onesprimarydosha(Ayurvedicconstitution)isindicated
byplanetsinfluencingtheAscendant.

Ifthebirthtimeisuncertain,theseattributionscanbevery
helpfulinascertainingapersonsrisingsign,butitisveryimportant
tounderstandthatoneseldomfindsapureAscendantwhereonly
oneplanetaryfactorhasinfluence.

Commonly,manydifferentplanetsaffecttherisingsignand
FirstHouse(includinganyplanetsinthe7thhouse)andsoit
becomesmuchmoredifficulttoisolateasingleplanetorsignasthe
predominateinfluenceonapersonsappearance.Forexample,inmy
chart,IhaveLeorising,sotheSuninfluencesmyappearance,but
SaturnisintheFirstHouse,andJupiterisinthe7thhouseand
aspectsboththeSunandSaturn,soIhavethreeprimaryplanetary
influencesuponmyappearance.

ThefollowingaresomethemesIhaveobservedwithaplanet
risingand/orintheFirstHouse.(Thesearenottextbook
delineations,butinsteadpersonalinsights.)Pleaseunderstandthat
thesigneachplanetisin,andanyotherplanetsinfluencingthe
Ascendant,canaltertheexpressionofeachplanetgreatly.Also,in
thecaseswhereIspecifygender,itisdeliberateInotedthepattern
formenorwomen,butnotboth.Notealsothatthecloseraplanetis
totheAscendant,thestrongertheeffect.Iusea5degreeorbinmy
work.

Sun:WiththeSunrisinginamanschart,thepersonislikelytobe
comfortablewithhimself,communicateeasily(andsometimes
volubly),andtochampionhisownideas.

Moon:ThephaseandsignoftheMoonaresuchprimaryfactorsthat
theystronglycolorthetypeofeffectthattheMoonrisinghasina
personschart.Muchtomysurprise,however,Ihavenotfound
womeningeneralwiththeMoonrisingtobeparticularlywarmor
affectionate,buthaveseenthembeveryinvolvedwiththeirchildren.

Mercury:Anactiveandcommunicativemindisoftenpresentin
thosewithMercuryrising.

Venus:WithVenusrising,thepersonseemsaccessible,approachable,
andattractive.

Mars:Marsrisinggivesthepersonadirectnessintheirapproach
thatcanappearbossyordominanttoothers.Theseareoftenvery
fastpeopletheythink,walk,andtalkquickly.

Jupiter:JupiterrisingorintheFirstHousecansometimesadd
weighttothebody,especiallyinwomenscharts.Ingeneral,the
personlikesthemselves,andhasanopenandoutgoingmanner.

Saturn:ApersonwithSaturnrisingoftenseemsserious,and
sometimesinsecure.Theymayindeedbeinhibited,selfcontained,or
haveselfdoubt.

Uranus:ThosewithUranusrisinghaveamindoftheirown.Their
nervoussystemmaybesensitive,butinanycase,theyfollowtheir
ownbeat.

Neptune:BecauseNeptuneisaveryabsorbingplanet,its
expressioninapersonschartwilldependuponlifesinfluencesupon
theperson.

Pluto:InchartswherePlutoisrisingwithoutotherinfluences
Iveoftenseenthatthepersonisoutoftouchwiththeirownpower
(suchpeopleoftenprojecttheirPlutos/powerontoothers).Inafew
cases,Ivealsoseentheactingoutofgreatintensity.

Rahu/NorthNode:TheNorthNode(akaRahu)issuchachameleon
thatpredictingitseffectisdifficult(ittakesonthequalitiesofallof
theplanetsthatinfluenceit).Nevertheless,Iveseenextremesof
eithernarcissismorselfeffacementwithRahurising,andinsome
casesveryshortorverytallstature.

Ketu/SouthNode:Herethepatternofselfeffacementisoften
present.Thepersonismildmanneredandcanbeeasilyoverlooked.

PartFour:TheAnglesandTheStrongestPlanets

WhenIfirststarteddoingastrology,IusedthePlacidusHouse
Systemforallofmywork.AtoneofmyvisitstotheSphinx
metaphysicalbookstoreinBoston,Iwaspsychicallyinstructed(by
myAngels)topurchaseanastrologybook,<I>TheAstrologyof
InnerSpace</I>byCarlPayneTobey.

InthisbookIdiscoveredacompellingargumentfortheuseofthe
EqualHouseSystem,wherethedegreeoneachhousecuspisthe
sameasthedegreeoftheAscendant,insequentialsigns.For
example,ifIhave25degreesofLeoasmyAscendant,thenIhave25
degreesofVirgoasthebeginningoftheSecondHouse,etc.Inthis
system,theMidheavenisnotthebeginningofthe10thhouseinstead
the10thhousecusphasthesamedegreesastheAscendant,andits
signistensignsforwardfromtheAscendant.

Ibegancomparingandtestingthetwohousesystems,andfoundthat
theEqualHouseSystemwasbyfarthemoreaccurateone.(I
subsequentlydiscoveredthatthelargestresearchstudyeverdonein
astrologywasonhousesystems,andafteradecadeofresearch
involvingscoresofastrologersandthousandsofcharts,itreached
thesameconclusion:thatforbothnatalandpredictivework,Equal
Houseswerethemostaccurate.)

WhetheryoudecidetousetheEqualHouseSystemoranother
housingmethodIrealizethatdifferentsystemsspeaktodifferent
peoplealwayspayattentiontoplanetsthataspecttheAscendant.
ThatsbecauseplanetsatthesamedegreeastheAscendant,inany
sign,areamongthestrongestplanetsinapersonschart.For
example,AntonioBandarashas6degreesPiscesrising,andMarsin
Geminiat5degrees,sohisMarsbecomesgreatlystrengthened,and
oneofthemostpowerfulplanetsinhischart.Nowonderhehasoften
beenchosenformartianroles(e.g.thegunfighter,bandit,rebel,
etc.).

AsIlearnedVedicastrology,IcameacrossaverseintheVedic
classicalworkPhaladeepika(oneoftheforemostclassicsinJyotish)
thatstated:ifaplanetisatthesamedegreeastheAscendant,itgives
itsfulleffect.Inotherwords,thisancientworkconfirmedmyown
findings.

TheStrengthofPlanetsasaresultoftheirAspecttotheAscendant

Angletothe Orbtobeused StrengthofPlanet

Ascendant
Square,atTopof 5degrees ++++++++
Chart
 Conjunct 5degrees +++++++
Square,atBottom 5degrees +++++
ofChart
Opposite 5degrees ++++
Trine 2degrees +++
Sextile 2degrees ++
Quincunx, 1degree +
Semisextile

Astheabovetableillustrates,planetsatthetopofthechart(square
totheAscendant)andrisingarethestrongest,whileplanetsthatare
trineoroppositetheAscendantarestillemphasized,butmuchless
so.IhavenotyetresearchedtheresultofcombiningtheVedic
principleofdigbalawiththeaboveweightingsystem,butiftheydo
synergize,thenSaturnattheDescendant(orMoonorVenusatthe
bottomofthechart)wouldbecomevery,verystrong.

Remember,however,thattheclosertotheactualdegreeofthe
Ascendant,thestrongeraplanetis.Soforachartwith15degreesof
Ariesrising,aplanetat17degreesofAries(2degreesawayfromthe
Ascendant)wouldbestrongerthanaplanetatthetopofthechartat
10degreesofCapricorn(5degreesawayfromthesquaretothe
Ascendant).

Onefinalnote:Ihavetwoclosefriendswithverysimilarcharts,but
onehasNeptuneatthetopofhischart(squarehisAscendant)by
EqualHouses,andtheotherhasNeptuneconjuncttheMC.Thefirst
personisapioneerinNewAgemusicandart,andisveryNeptunian
inhisstyleandtastes.Thesecondperson(withNeptuneconjunctthe
MC)hasabusinesswithNeptunethemes(fountains,etc.)butisnot
veryNeptunianinotherways.Inotherwords,planetsatthe
AscendantdegreesaremuchstrongerthanplanetsattheMCs
degrees.

PartFive:Conclusion

TheAscendantinfluenceseverythingaboutus,ourcomfortin
beingaliveandembodied,ourselfconfidence,ourabilitytoutilize
ourgifts,ourhealth,andoursuccessinlife.Wecancertainlylearn
howtosupportourselvesiftherearefactorschallengingthe
 Ascendant,andwecangivethanksforwhatalreadystrengthens
ourselvesandourAscendant.

WecanbolsterourAscendantinmanyways.Wecanpace
ourselves(andacceptourphysicallimitations)ifourenergyis
uneven.Wecanlearnhowtopropupourselfesteemandrid
ourselvesofthenegativemessageswevereceivedaschildren(and
thatwehaveperpetuatedourselves).Wecanaskforfeedback,and
applyit,ifourmannerunconsciouslyalienatesothers.Andwecan
worktodevelopourgiftsifaccessingthemdoesntcomeeasily.

Inanycase,acarefulexaminationofourownAscendant,and
thoseofothers,givesusmanygreatinsightsintothenatureofeach
personslotinlife,andtheirlifesjourney.

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