Astrology Basics: Sun, Moon, and Rising Signs Explained

Sun signs and moon signs and rising signs… oh my.  What does it all mean?  

Is it just me, or is astrology starting to eek more and more into the mainstream?  Maybe it’s just the world I have immersed myself in or maybe it really is the world we live in.  Either way, I have come across plenty of comments on various platforms showing that while astrology (appears to be) more and more TALKED about, it is not more TAUGHT about.  So, I’m here to break down the basics of each of the most common three types of “signs” you might come across.  

Sun Sign - The main character of astrology

This is the one you are probably most familiar with.  This is the one you find when you look up your horoscope or when someone asks you, “Hey baby, what’s your sign.”  This was the location of the sun at the time of your birth.  Your sign correlates to the core aspects of your personality.  It is a general, overarching theme of who you are.

Moon Sign - The sidekick of astrology

The moon sign is, like the sun sign, exactly what it sounds like… where the moon was at the time of your birth.  This sign speaks to who you are at your innermost emotional core - who you are when no one else is around.  This is who you are at the moment you wake up in the morning.  

Rising Sign - The alter ego of astrology

Your Rising Sign (also sometimes called your Ascending Sign or your Ascendent) is a little more difficult to determine.  It is the zodiac sign that was “rising over the horizon” at the exact time (date and time of day) at the exact location you were born.  This sign is the characteristics and personality profile you present to the world.  This is who you are when you first meet someone or when you are being your “presentable” self.  It is often how others see you.  

So who cares?

Why should one care about what their sun, moon, and rising signs are?  If you are just learning about astrology or on a quest to learn more about yourself, this is a great place to start.  While there is a lot more that makes up a person than can be gleaned from these three signs, they can definitely offer insight into how or why we do things.  They might give insight as to why someone describes you in words you would not use to describe yourself (they see your rising sign whereas only you are likely familiar with the side represented by your moon sign).  They might help explain certain behaviors or thought patterns.  They are also a great starting point for learning more in depth about all aspects of your birth chart (a topic for another time.)

So while understanding these three signs that contribute to who we are in our personality, our emotions, and our world-facing selves, there is a whole lot more to uncover about ourselves using the stars, planets and other aspects of the sky.  This can lead to a journey of self discovery and realization.  It can provide an objective view of how we think, feel, and live.  Or it can just be fun to compare notes (and signs) with our friends and loved ones.