The big three
“The starry vault of heaven is in truth the open book of cosmic projection.”
— Carl Gustav Jung
Understanding your rising, moon and sun signs (the big three in astrology)
Your rising sign (ascendant sign)
The common idea in western culture is that a person’s sun sign is the most significant. To put it plainly - this is wrong; and we can blame the craze of daily horoscopes for that misunderstanding. A craze that took over western media – with newspapers printing daily horoscopes as far back as the late 1800s and early 1900s – which arguably gave astrology a bad reputation for being nothing more than a trashy pseudoscience. Your rising sign, or ascendant sign, is the zodiac that is on the eastern horizon about to rise at the time of your birth. These signs change every two hours, give or take - of course. Thus, it’s far better suited (in comparison to your sun sign) as an articulation of who you are due to it being much more precise and specific in comparison to any other sign.
Your ascendant sign, or rising sign, dictates where your first house on your natal chart begins. The first house, like your rising sign, is undoubtedly the most significant representation of your essence as it’s the only house in astrology that’s entirely about you. What your rising sign (or ascendant sign) represents is akin to the Jungian explanation of the ego - the lower case ‘s’ self. Your projected external character. It can tell how you interact with others. For example, a sun sign Taurus with a rising sign Gemini can be down to earth, peaceful and practical in their private environments but, when around people, present more of the lofty and even capricious qualities of the intellectual and chatty Gemini. Speaking personally, I can attest to this. As a Virgo sun and Gemini rising with an introverted nature my duality never ceases to astound me. I’m a methodical and meandering character who takes pride in my solitude, finding comfort and strength in the font of my aloneness. Until I’m around a close relationship, that is. I find that I, rather immediately, without my conscious control, leap into a lubricated socialite!
Your sun sign
When we come to your sun sign, we arrive at the place that people identify with the most. Whenever you hear someone say “I’m a Scorpio!” or “I know right? I’m such a Pisces!”, they’re referencing their sun sign. The origins of your sun sign is an easy one to understand. What zodiac was the sun in at your birth? If Taurus, your sun sign is Taurus, obviously. Though, we shouldn’t dismiss the significance of what your sun sign represents, just because it’s simple. When you mix astrology with eastern wisdom, you get the idea that your sun sign is home to your karma; housing the karmic lessons you are here to learn within this incarnation. Alongside this, your sun sign denotes your innate skill sets, natural talents and also hints at the path to your greatest possible destiny.
The sun is one of the five personal planets (along with the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) and is associated with the influences from your father. It is said that the sun represents your childhood. The sun is the embodiment and symbol of masculine yang energy. The astrological house that your sun resides within is also a significant factor to consider within your natal chart. The house that your sun is in not only shows where your unique individuality shines but it indicates what, in your life, gets most vitalised when you are in your true natural flow. A good example to understand this – If I do say so myself – is, in fact, with myself. My sun sign is Virgo and my sun is in my fifth house. The fifth house in my natal chart is in Leo, a fire sign. The fifth house, universally speaking, is ruled by the sun and the element of fire. So, I can deduce from that rulership information that my sun is more than comfortable in this fifth house. The fifth house of fertility and creation is a succedent house that provides support to the ‘seat of your soul’ of the fourth house. As a Virgo with a busy fifth house, my vitality flows in abundance when I am being creative and expressive. Though, I have a very particular, comprehensive and often pedantic way of being so. How very Virgo of me!
Your moon sign
There is no more mystical planet than the moon and, mystically speaking, the moon is synonymous with the astral body and the astral plane. According to the great mystics of the world and initiates of mystery schools (past and present) such as the Rosicrucians, everyone has an astral body and your astral body goes with you through each incarnation. This astral body is the bearer of feeling and as the Buddha said - all feeling is indeed routing in desire and all your desires can be found within your astral body.
What’s all this got to do with your moon sign? Well, your moon sign denotes your emotional quotient, your subconscious and all the impulses that spring from that unseen place. Your moon sign can indicate why you say what you say and why you do what you. Your natal moon is often used as the first point of research within a past life astrology reading, too. Thus, there’s an abundance of mystical insight to be gained from your moon sign regarding what’s lying deep within your soul. The moon is one of the five personal planets (along with the sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars) and is associated with the influences from your mother. It is said that the moon represents your adulthood. The moon is the embodiment and symbol of feminine yin energy. The house that your moon resides in within your natal chart is a key area for introspection and contemplation. I’m a Scorpio moon and the moon is in my sixth house. The sixth house is a cadent house that denotes your everyday life. So, to say that I have a passionate subconscious underbelly that drives everything I do would be the greatest understatement of my life!
