Your Sun sign, Moon sign, and rising sign, also known as ascending sign, are the three most important places in your birth chart. Your Sun sign is the foundation of your personality and who you are as a person. Your Moon sign indicates your emotional side and who you are when you’re alone. Finally, your rising sign is the initial impression others get of you and how you appear on the outside.
In This Article...
What are the zodiac sign placements known as the Big Six?
In astrology, your “Big 6” or “Big 3” refers to the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and your rising sign, which are the most important planets in your natal chart.
These planets, together with the rising sign, work together in your birth chart to describe your self-expression. Each of these celestial bodies has its own distinct meaning, and when combined with the zodiac signs, they add to your astrological compass (also known as your birth chart) and provide insight into a variety of your behaviors.
While the rising sign isn’t a planet, it is in the sign that represents the start of your consciousness. The sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars all reflect various elements of your life, personality, and how you connect with others, among other things.
Because these are the nearest celestial bodies to Earth, they have a greater impact on us than the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto). The sun and moon are the “mom and dad” of the sky, working together to transform light and being the only planets that never station retrograde.
Mercury, Venus, and Mars, on the other hand, station retrograde on a regular basis and have an impact on how we interact, connect, and express ourselves based on their direct or retrograde movement, as well as the signs and houses in which they are positioned in our birth charts.
What are the three major zodiac signs?
Growing up, you were undoubtedly asked what your zodiac sign was a few times. Perhaps you recognized yourself in the description, or perhaps it didn’t feel quite right. The reason for this is because your zodiac sign (also known as your sun sign) is simply a small part of your horoscope, whereas each of us has a full map of planets that influenced our birth. You may receive a much more realistic picture of your personality by learning about your full horoscope and all of its placements!
Finding out what your “big three placements” arethe sun, the moon, and the ascendantis the first step in getting to know your horoscope. These three planets each represent a different aspect of you, and when combined, they form a remarkably accurate portrait of your personality. Here’s a quick rundown of these opportunities.
What is your rising position?
Your ascendant, also known as your rising sign, is the zodiac sign that was rising over the eastern horizon at the time you were born, which is why it is so unique to your life. Consider this: Everyone born during Aries season will have an Aries sun, however their rising sign will fluctuate depending on their time of birth. Here’s a rising sign calculator to assist you figure out which sign your rising sign belongs to. You’ll see that your rising sign is located in the first house on your natal chart once you know your exact time of birth and have already pulled up your chart.
The First House Of Self, Appearance, And First Impression
Because an individual’s first house/rising sign represents their birth date and personality attributes, it may also be used to define their physical appearance. If you were born with Leo rising (which means Leo is the sign in your first house of appearance), you are likely to have lion-like characteristics. Those born with Leo rising have beautiful hair, a pleasant demeanor, and possibly even cat-like characteristics. Although it may appear ludicrous, Leo is a member of the feline family, and those born with Leo placements will undoubtedly reflect its sassy and oh-so-majestic personality. Meow.
Here’s a basic rundown of how each rising sign appears in general:
- Ascendant, outgoing, and ambitious Aries
- Taurus ascendant: quiet, inventive, and patient.
- Gemini is a gregarious, flirtatious, and fun sign.
- Cancer is a nurturing, sensitive, and shy sign.
- The rising sign of Leo is gregarious, fun-loving, and proud.
- Virgo ascendant: practical, orderly, and productive
- Libra rising: creative, charismatic, and outgoing.
- Scorpio rising: fiery, determined, and alluring.
- Sagittarius rising: extroverted, free-spirited, and adventurous.
- Capricorn ascendant: goal-oriented, rational, and diligent.
- Rising Aquarius: humanitarian, unconventional, and rebellious
- Rising Pisces is perceptive, dreamy, and adaptable.
Remember that the sign on the cusp of the first house in your birth chart is your rising sign. It was the sign rising on the eastern horizon at your exact time of birth, which is why it’s termed a “rising sign.” It’s impossible to miss.
What do the astrological positions mean?
Planetary placements, or where a given planet was when you were born based on your geographic location, are included in natal charts. The planets are represented on natal charts by glyphs, and while there are other variants of these glyphs, the one seen here is the most common. These planets and their positions have a lot of meaning since they reflect different facets of your personality. When an astrologer says things like “your Venus is in Gemini” or “your Venus sign is Gemini,” they’re referring to the fact that a particular star sign (in this case, Gemini) influences whatever personality attribute the planet (Venus) is associated with.
What is the nature of my Stellium?
When you map your natal chart, you can see the positions of all the planets in the sky at the time of your birth, not simply where the sun rises and sets.
“A stellium occurs when three or more planets are concentrated in a single zodiac sign or house in someone’s chart,” the twins explain. “Babies born in the summer of 2020 will have a stellium in Capricorn, because Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are all in Capricorn,” they explain. Having Mars, Mercury, and Saturn all in the fifth house is another example (which relates to romance, love, and creativity).
In some cases, people’s charts may have more than one stellium (i.e., three planets in Sag and three in the eighth house).
What is your ascension?
Your rising or ascendant is the sign that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth. It refers to the picture you put out into the world, or the mask you wear, and it provides insight into your abilities, talents, and tactics for navigating life. If you’ve ever felt like people don’t recognize you as your sun sign right away, it’s because they’re probably seeing your rising.
What are the meanings of my rising and moon signs?
It’s essentially the sign that was rising on the Eastern horizon at the time of your birth. While your moon sign is considered to represent your inner self, your rising sign is said to represent your exterior self and how others see you.
What does my horoscope say about me?
If you check your horoscope every day, have CoStar and The Pattern downloaded on your phone, or dabble with tarot cards, you probably think you’ve got astrology down pat. But, according to personal astrologer Hedy (also known as Nymph of Neptune), your birth chart is where it all begins and ends. “Reading a birth chart may really expose areas of your life that you may not be aware of, both conscious and unconscious,” she explains. “It’s about finding psychological equilibrium and taking charge of your life so you can better regulate your tendencies,” says the author.
Do you want to learn more? We turned to Nymph of Neptune for all of the answers to this ostensibly complicated process.
What exactly is a birth chart?
In a nutshell, your birth chart depicts the position of the planets in the sky at the time of your birth. Nymph of Neptune explains, “It’s a snapshot or map of the position of the planets or stars at the time you were born.” “Each planet has a unique impact on a different part of our lives, as this demonstrates.”
In essence, this means that we all have personality traits from numerous zodiac signs in our horoscopes, and these traits correspond to different aspects of our lives. Venus, for example, regulates relationships, so if your Venus is in Scorpio, it implies you embody those qualities in your relationships, such as passion, intensity, loyalty, and sexuality.
How do you read your birth chart?
You’ll need the date, exact time (to the minute, if possible), and location of your birth to get your birth chart.
You can use an astrology app online or utilize apps like The Pattern and CoStar to get the details of your birth chart and make horoscopes based on that information. However, Nymph of Neptune strongly advises that you have yours read by a personal astrologer first. “Apps don’t give the whole story,” she says, adding that having your chart reviewed by an expert can reveal all of your behavioral tendencies. “Astrologists are able to see everything that is put out in front of them, including patterns, needs, and actions. And I believe that many have problems in relationships because they are chasing someone who will not meet their requirements. Seeing an astrologer, on the other hand, may assist someone in identifying their wants, which may be something they aren’t aware of.”
What are the key components of a birth chart?
A birth chart, as Nymph of Neptune explained, shows where each planet was at the moment of your birth, and each planet governs a distinct part of your life. When you read your horoscope, you refer to your sun sign, which essentially represents who you are at your heart. Your moon sign, on the other hand, is significant since it relates to your emotional self and the type of nurture you had as a child. Nymph of Neptune explains, “It connects to your relationship needs and what you need in your adult life.” Your rising sign is determined by the constellation that was visible in the sky at the moment of your birth, and it describes how people see you when they meet you for the first time: “basically, what external features you present to the world.”
The other planets reflect other elements of your life as well.
Venus represents relationships, Mercury represents communication, Mars represents action and aggression, Jupiter represents expansion, Saturn represents self-discipline and fears, Uranus represents innovation and progress, Neptune represents the subconscious and healing, and Pluto represents power and intensity. You’ll be able to detect your traits, habits, and actions if you know which sign each planet belongs to. This will show you both your strengths and areas where you need to improve.
The houses, which symbolize the earth’s rotation around its axis, are another feature of your birth chart. “There’s a 12-house system,” Nymph of Neptune explains, “and each house represents a distinct life topic or sector.” Depending on whatever planet and sign they’re in, the houses provide greater insight into each part of your life.
The first house represents your ego and sense of self; the second house represents material possessions; the third house represents community and communication; the fourth house represents home and family; the fifth house represents creativity and romance; the sixth house represents health and work; the seventh house represents partnerships; the eighth house represents death, sex, and transformation; the ninth house represents travel and philosophy; the tenth house represents public image and career; the eleventh house represents death, sex, and transformation; the twelfth house represents death
Does it appear to be difficult? Consider the following scenario: Your birth chart uses the formula “planet + sign + house,” which helps you comprehend your patterns when added together.
How would your birth chart differ from someone else’s?
Quite a bit, actually. Your personal planets, like as the moon, Venus, rising, Mercury, and Mars, can change signs every few hours to days, which is why your horoscope might differ dramatically from someone born only a few days later.
Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune, on the other hand, are quite sluggish, changing signs only every few years or so. As a result, these planets recognize generational shifts and qualities, and they will be comparable to your peers of a similar age. “Pluto was in Scorpio at the time, which regulates sex, which explains why people born in the 1990s are hypersexualized. This suggests that this generation is more sexual than past generations “Nymph of Neptune opined.
What can a birth chart teach you?
Reading your birth chart, according to Nymph of Neptune, can reveal areas in your life that need improvement and help you understand why you act the way you do in all facets of your life. She claims that it “illuminates all of our behavioral patterns, both good and harmful.” “It allows us to emphasize the positive aspects while highlighting the negative ones. You can stop them in their tracks once you grasp why they happen.”
Consider the following scenario to see how that works in practice: “If you have Mercury and Mars in your horoscope, you’re more likely to have angry outbursts. However, if they realize this and perhaps take up a sport like boxing, it may be possible for them to regulate their fury in this way “Nymph of Neptune opined. “Or it could simply make them more aware of the fact that they’re doing it.”
Can you read your birth chart multiple times over?
Yes, and depending on what’s going on in your life, you might even find yourself yearning to return to it. “There’s more depth in your birth chart every time you look at it,” says Nymph of Neptune. “I go back and check what I’ve missed when things happen. It gives me a mental boost and clarifies what I’ve been missing because we all go through stages of spiritual development. So, in January, we may be really focused on how we express anger and how we deal with our feelings, but by June, we may need to be reminded of that.” For example, let’s say your chart indicates that you overlook your personal needs in a relationship and that you’re having relationship problems. Reading your chart can then serve as a reminder of this propensity, allowing actual transformation to take place.
How would each year be affected by your birth chart?
The planets are constantly moving and hence appear in different positions at different times throughout the year. This implies that a planetary retrograde or transit into a particular sign can have an impact on your life in ways you may not be aware of unless you have your birth chart to show you which sign and house each planet is in. This is why the Nymph of Neptune recommends year-ahead chart readings so you can see what the following year holds for you.
Mercury retrogrades, which occur three times a year, are an excellent example of this. Mercury is traditionally associated with communication and technology, but you may experience a retrograde if Mercury is in your home sector, for example. “Mercury could show up during the retrograde in this situation by causing a leak on your roof, which is completely different. It could be happening in a less visible area, or it could be happening in a more internal setting, such as your intimate home. It won’t effect your work, house, or travel in this situation, but it could suggest that you’re thinking about some things more and processing them differently “Nymph of Neptune opined.
Can a birth chart determine relationship compatibility?
“Without a doubt,” says Nymph of Neptune. “You’d be able to see each individual’s trends in relationships and whether they had similar needs for relationship compatibility. The moon, Venus, and Mars are the most important planets in this sign. In fact, incompatible sun signs may have Venus indications that are quite similar, which is more relevant.” Perhaps you should already inquire about your crush’s birth date?

